Lake Maggiore

Itinerary

Day One

Fly to Italy and transfer to your hotel on beautiful Lake Maggiore.

Day Two

Relax and enjoy the hotel and its surroundings, or join our optional day trip to explore beautiful Maggiore; Italy’s second largest lake, mountain-backed and famed for the beautiful gardens that line its shores. Board a water-taxi or steamer for the crossing to the idyllic Borromean Islands. Visit stunning Isola Bella, with its 17th-century Baroque palace and water gardens, charmingly picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, inhabited by a community of fishermen and a perfect stop for a lunch of lake fish.
A perfect day is completed with a visit to Verbania, where the world-famous gardens of Villa Taranto, created by an ex-pat Scotsman, are even more stunning than those of the islands’.

Day Three

Choose to explore under your own steam or join our optional excursion to beautiful Lake Como and head into Lombardy to discover another one of Italy’s most picturesque regions. Enjoying visits to exquisite Bellagio and elegant Como Town before returning to your hotel.

Day Four

Explore at your leisure or take an optional excursion to visit Alba & Castle Barolo. Enjoy a tour of Alba, with its historical centre and 100 towers, best known for being the gastronomic home of precious white truffles and dark chocolate.
After a fascinating few hours, head further south, where the vineyards of Barolo produce the ‘king of Italian wines’. No visit to the area is complete without enjoying a tasting at the Castello di Barolo, an enoteca within the turreted walls of the ancient castle – the final highlight of an enjoyable day.

Day Five

Relax today and enjoy the hotel and its surroundings.

Day Six

Choose to join an optional excursion to world-famous Swiss resort Zermatt, towered over by the craggy pyramid of the Matterhorn. Travel via the Simplon Pass into Switzerland, climbing high into the Alps, hoping for clear skies to catch your first sight of perhaps the world’s most photographed peak. Take the optional journey on the famous Gornergrat Railway, an experience enjoyed by countless passengers for over 100 years, heading through alpine meadows to the summit station. From here, on a clear day, some 29 peaks – including of course the Matterhorn – and great glaciers form an unforgettable view. Head out on a mountain trail or simply take in the view before enjoying lunch in the mountain restaurant.

Day Seven

A final day to soak up the atmosphere of this idyllic corner of the world brings the chance to join an optional excursion to the stately capital of Piedmont, Turin. The city sits nestled at the foot of the Alps and boasts a Baroque heart at glittering odds with its industrious reputation. Wander down via Roma, with its ultra-chic stores, cross grand Piazza San Carlo with its elegant facades, and perhaps pause for coffee and a pastry in any number of ornate, traditional cafes. The curious might check the cathedral, where the Turin Shroud is kept under lock and key.

Day Eight

Bid farewell to your hotel, returning to the airport and board your flight home. Back to top

Accommodation

Hotel Royal, Stresa

This friendly hotel is charming and elegant, with delightful outdoor areas and is located just 100 metres from the lake.

Hotel Flora, Stresa

In a quiet location ten minutes from Stresa’s heart, this hotel has an outdoor pool and terrace.

Hotel Boston, Stresa

A stone’s throw from the lake, offering simple comforts and Italian elegance.

Hotel Primavera/Hotel Meeting, Stresa

In the pedestrianised heart of town, and close to the lake.

SHG Hotel Villa Carlotta, Belgirate

Set in beautiful gardens overlooking the lake, and now under new management, the Villa Carlotta has been welcoming guests since the 19th Century.

Back to top

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 15 minutes from Milan Malpensa and two hours from Bergamo.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Passengers travelling on tours departing after September 2018 will be offered different excursions on Days Four, Six and Seven. Please see the itinerary for further details. Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas. You will be allocated a room at either Hotel Primavera or Hotel Meeting upon arrival. Since some attractions visited offer free admission to visitors at certain times of year, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information. Back to top