Italy, Reflection of the Italian Lakes

Day 1

An early departure we travel south to Dover for our ferry crossing to Calais.
We then continue to the Ibis Strasbourg Centre Historique, Strasbourg for our overnight stay. (Evening meal included).

Day 2

After breakfast at the hotel we continue our journey to the Hotel Giardinetto, Lake Orta.

Day 3

Today we travel to Lake Maggiore and the main resort of Stresa, with its lovely lakeside setting facing the beautiful Borromean Islands. We take a boat trip out to Isola Bella and visit its beautiful Palazzo stately home and elegant Italianate gardens where its famous white peacocks roam, before continuing by boat to Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island), the only island which is currently inhabited.

Day 4

After breakfast, we set off for glamorous Lake Como on a journey that takes us from the foot of the lake along the shore, passing the site of the beautiful Villa del Balbianello and up to the hamlet of Cadenabbia where we visit the beautiful gardens of Villa Carlotta. We then take the short ferry journey across the lake to beautiful Bellagio to browse the pretty waterfront and cobbled streets rising up the hill. We can sample an amazing local gelato and watch the world go by in one of the many lovely cafés.

Day 5

Today we have time to relax on Lake Orta, one of northern Italy’s best kept secrets. Its capital, Orta San Giulio – which can be reached by boat from outside our hotel (cost not included) has a delightful medieval centre full of cobbled streets, galleries and local crafts.

Day 6

This morning we travel across the border and into Switzerland to Lugano, a cosmopolitan city with quaint medieval streets, high end shops, a delightful promenade and grand gardens to explore, all set in a lakeside resort setting. We can enjoy a coffee or glass of local wine, while the more adventurous among us can hire a boat or pedalo to explore the lake itself.

Day 7

Today we return to Lake Maggiore, travelling up the west coast to its Swiss shores. We enjoy a stop at the pretty lakeside resort of Ascona, Switzerland’s lowest lying town. Ascona is famous for its mild climate, Old Town and lake promenade dotted with street cafés and boasting a Latin ambience. We then continue to nearby Locarno where we embark on a panoramic train journey on the Centovalli Railway to Domodossola. This two-hour ride takes us through the picturesque ‘one hundred valleys’, passing deep gorges and crevices with glittering cascading waterfalls as we travel across colourful alpine meadows, over numerous bridges, and through vineyards and forests of chestnut trees.

Day 8

Today we depart the hotel and travel back to the Ibis Strasbourg Centre Historique, Strasbourg for our return overnight stay. (Evening meal included).

Day 9

We depart after breakfast and continue our journey home.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner