Stresa and Lake Maggiore

We meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris, travelling in Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats. In Paris we continue to charming Colmar where we spend the night.

Colmar, in the Alsace, is a picturesque town of colourful, half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes and flower-lined canals. Our hotel is right outside the railway station and, as we arrive in the late afternoon, there's time to look around and soak up the atmosphere before dinner at a local French restaurant.

Please note: If travelling by air, your holiday starts on Day 2 of the itinerary and ends on Day 9.

• Eurostar Light Meal (Rail departures only)
• Dinner (Rail departures only)

We continue our journey, travelling through the Swiss Alps to Stresa. Proudly situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the town has a sophisticated heritage and overlooks the lake's renowned Borromean Islands, tiny oases built up with exquisite palaces and ornamental gardens. We check into our luxurious Art Nouveau hotel, perfectly positioned overlooking the lake, with lush gardens and a delightful outdoor swimming pool. This evening we dine at our hotel, either inside the dining room or on the terrace overlooking the lake.

If travelling by air, your holiday starts today at London Heathrow where you meet your Tour Manager and group before flying to Milan, where we are transferred directly to our hotel in Stresa.

• Breakfast (Rail departures only)
• Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we join a boat cruise from the pier and set out on Lake Maggiore to discover the Borromean Islands. We first sail to Isola Bella, a tiny island, dominated by the Borromeo Palace. Built for Italian nobility, a local guide introduces us to the palace and its Italianate gardens, which we can then discover at our own pace.

Our cruise continues to the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori, another small island. The island's beauty has transformed it into a popular tourist spot, and the fishing industry now supplies local restaurants. With time to explore independently, you will find some fine cafés and ristorantes here in which to enjoy lunch. After a relaxing afternoon we re-join our boat and cruise back to our hotel. Your evening is free back in Stresa.

When exploring the town centre, a useful landmark is Piazza Cadorna. From here, the streets radiate out in all directions, offering an array of shops, cafés and restaurants. With a free evening you will find plenty of enticing places to eat in the town, or could choose to dine at the hotel.

• Breakfast

This morning we set off for Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore's smaller neighbour. First we sail to Isola San Giulio, an enchanting island village with an ancient monastery. We have time at leisure over lunch and into the afternoon to discover this delightful island for ourselves. Isola San Giulio has an intriguing history and the inside of the basilica is well worth a visit, for its pastel frescoes and the crypt of the 4th century Greek evangelist, after whom the island was named.

We continue our cruise to the pretty town of Orta San Giulio, known as the 'Jewel of the Lake'. Set on a tiny promontory with a backdrop of the Alps, Orta has cobbled streets and a piazza overlooking the lake. You are free to explore, maybe enjoy a seafood lunch, or wander along the lakefront, dotted with colourful fishing boats. With its peaceful atmosphere, well-preserved buildings and scenic surroundings, Orta San Giulio has been popular with writers since the 19th century, including Lord Byron and Robert Browning.

Back at our hotel, there's time to relax and possibly enjoy the pool, spa or terrace, before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a full day at leisure, to enjoy as you wish. Friday is market day in Stresa, and the town comes to life as local vendors set up stalls of fresh produce, clothing and gifts. You could walk along the lakeside promenade, following in the footsteps of historic guests, such as Ernest Hemingway and Princess Margaret.

There are other interesting villas along the lakeshore or islands of Lake Maggiore which you could visit by boat. In Stresa itself, Villa Pallavicino has an English garden and a zoo. You could also take a sightseeing cruise to the nearby town of Baveno, with its pale pink granite buildings.

Further along the gulf is Pallanzo, whose palaces include the Villa Taranto with world-renowned terraced gardens. Another island you could visit is Isola Madre, the largest of the Borromeo archipelago which rises from the lake like a dazzling green gem - a haven of exotic plants and birdlife.

This evening you are free to dine independently, maybe starting with a drink on the hotel's sun terrace, soaking up spectacular views.

• Breakfast

Today is one of the highlights of our tour - a trip on one of Europe's most scenic rail routes, the Centovalli Railway. We walk the short distance to the station to board the train to Domodossola, where we join this picturesque railway. The Centovalli is a Swiss favourite, running since the 1920s, and the name 'a hundred valleys' is an apt description.

Winding our way to Locarno in Switzerland, we travel through a 'hundred valleys' across wildflower meadows, over high bridges, passing wide gorges and rushing waterfalls. In Locarno, you're free to explore the Old Town - with its exotic gardens and lakeside promenades - and maybe enjoy some lunch or shopping along its Piazza Grande. At the end of the afternoon we return to Stresa by boat, gliding back along the length of the shimmering lake, passing the Borromean Islands. This evening you are free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

Today is another opportunity to explore new places, around Stresa, on Lake Maggiore or possibly further afield. One option, is to take a rail trip to Milan, the fashion capital of Italy. Besides the city's many designer shops, Milan is worth visiting to see the superb Teatro alla Scala and its glorious Duomo. The trains to Milan vary in length so we suggest you check before travelling to find the most convenient journey times.

From Milan, it is also possible to continue by rail to Lake Como - a longer journey of around two hours, but with another beautiful lake to explore on arrival. Of course, you may be perfectly happy to spend the day relaxing in the fabulous surroundings of our hotel. This evening dinner is served at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today's excursion is another highlight of our tour, and a perfect way to spend the last day of our Italian Lakes holiday. We are taken by coach to the delightful winery of Fontechiara, for a wine tasting with a light lunch of paired dishes.

After a welcome tour of the winery and cellar by the owner, we settle down to sampling three different wines with homemade delicacies, local charcuterie and cheeses, selected to complement the flavours and aromas of each wine. Our tasting is followed by coffee and a grappa produced on the premises.

We return to the hotel in the afternoon, with time to relax, or revisit your favourite parts of Stresa before our final dinner in Italy.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

If returning by air to London, your group will be transferred to Milan airport this morning before your flight to Heathrow.

If returning home by rail, this morning we take a First Class rail journey to Lausanne, Switzerland - where we change trains and continue in First Class to Dijon, France. We arrive into Dijon in the late afternoon, checking in for an overnight stay, before our last dinner with our group at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast
• Dinner (Rail departures only)

After breakfast we leave Dijon and continue by First Class rail to Paris. As we travel homewards, our comfortable train journey provides time to reflect on our holiday on Lake Maggiore.

In Paris, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling in spacious Standard Premier class with drinks and a light meal served at our seats.

• Breakfast (Rail departures only)
• Eurostar Light Meal (Rail departures only)