We Love —
- Enjoy this enchanting Italian region, you will be blown away by breathtaking scenery of the Italian lakes, alongside the renowned Swiss locations of Zermat and St Moritz
- This tour will take you to a fairy-tale land - a unique opportunity to discover wonderful European destinations
- There are plenty of highlights included, such as trips to Lake Maggiore, Bellagio and Lake Como - a truly unforgettable holiday!
Book Now, Pay Later —
Booking 35 days in advance and spending over £500 per person? No need to pay in full today! Just select the 30% deposit option on our payment page (terms & conditions apply)
Your Itinerary —
Fly to Milan where you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in the Lake Maggiore area, enjoy some time at leisure to marvel in the spectacular Lake Maggiore.
Dinner included.
Day 2 (Fri): Lake Maggiore - Isola Bella - Lake Maggiore
After breakfast, catch a boat for your full day excursion to the famous Borromean Islands sitting on the lake. Your first stop is the small Isola Bella for a fascinating guided tour of its magnificent Baroque-style Palace and gardens, which are terraced and overflow with exotic plants, statues, basins and fountains.
After a stroll through the gardens, cruise on to tiny Isola Pescatori, home to a small fishing community for over 1,000 years, to see its narrow cobbled streets, pretty harbour and charming houses. This afternoon, visit Isola Madre, the biggest of the group, and enjoy a tour of its Palace and glorious, flower-filled gardens.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Today brings a scenic road journey across the Simplon Pass in the Alps. Follow the Ossola Valley as it’s ascends through the Alps away from Lake Maggiore and to the Simplon Pass. Here, stop at the highest point - the Belvedere viewpoint - to enjoy epic, 360° views over the Swiss and Italian Alps.
Delve deeper into the Alps along the Matter Valley and at Tasch, take a short train ride to Zermatt. Situated at 4,478 meters above sea level, pedestrianized Zermatt is ringed by famous peaks, including the mighty Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and the Gornergrat. Once here, perhaps choose to take one of the optional activities to immerse yourself into the alpine atmosphere. Alternatively, explore on your own and just bask in the views and location.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Bid farewell to Lake Maggiore this morning and travel to Milan. Meet your local guide and enjoy a fascinating half-day panoramic tour of this vibrant city, one of the world's fashion capitals.
Witness the magnificent Duomo, the world's largest Gothic cathedral; the glass-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and other landmarks, and admire the historic Castello Sforzesco. Later, enjoy time free in the city to shop, relax or explore before continuing to your hotel in the Lake Como area.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 (Mon): Lake Como area
Today is at leisure, relax amidst your beautiful surroundings or perhaps stretching your legs to explore the lake on a bike ride or by foot. Alternatively, why not take an optional excursion to visit Lugano & Monte Tamaro?
Breakfast and dinner included.
Lake Como awaits you today on this not-to-to be missed full day tour. A favourite of Shelley and Wordsworth, the delights of Lake Como are many and varied and this morning you can enjoy a private boat tour of the beautiful 18th century Villa del Balbianello, one of the finest villas surrounding the lake.
It features a renowned collection of art as well as stunning gardens with a series of manicured terraces full of fragrant roses and colourful borders. The boat then moves on to the elegant and exclusive resort of Bellagio which, with its idyllic location on a promontory on the lake, is often described as the most beautiful town in Italy.
Once the haunt of European monarchs, today the attractive pastel-coloured buildings, line the lake shore and narrow cobbled streets and lanes climb their way to the hilly centre. Awash with colourful flowers Bellagio cannot be bettered for a long lazy lunch in one of the many lakeside restaurants, followed by a stroll amongst the many typically formal Italian gardens. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace before returning by boat.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Be prepared for a day of spectacular scenery and extraordinary Swiss engineering. Ascend the Valtellina, a classic alpine valley with soaring peaks rising steeply on both sides, to Tirano to board the famous Bernina Express.
One of the slowest 'express' trains in the world, this remarkable Swiss train twists upwards in an amazing sequence of spirals, loops and tunnels to the summit at Ospizio Bernina, the highest station in Europe. Here, you are surrounded by stunning vistas over snow-clad peaks and ice-cold glaciers. Your descent is through the pretty pastures and dense pine forests to the chic resort of St Moritz, home of the famous Cresta Run toboggan track.
You'll have time for a spot of window shopping or perhaps afternoon tea and cake. Listen carefully to the locals and you may notice them speaking an unusual language, Romansch, an ancient and little known Latin tongue. Your return journey takes you through yet more spectacular scenery to the Lake Como area in time for dinner.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 (Thu): Como area - Milan
Transfer to Milan airport for your flight to the UK.
Breakfast is included.
Your Hotels —
Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard will be provided. You will stay in a standard double room and enjoy half board dining along the way (as per itinerary).
Hotel Simpleton 4*
Nestling in a magnificent ancient park of 20,000sqm, with its characteristic pink façade recalling the color of the famous local marble, the Simplon is the ideal solution for guests looking for a relaxing stay.
Hotel Como 4*
Hotel Como reopened on March 1st 2016 with a total refurbishing of all rooms, lobby and reception.
Some services may incur additional charges, payable locally.
Your Journey —
Flights: Are included with Easyjet & 20kg of hold luggage per person
Outbound
Depart London Gatwick: 06:55
Arrive Milan Malpensa: 09:55
Inbound
Depart Milan Malpensa: 22:00
Arrive London Gatwick: 22:55
OR
Outbound
Depart London Gatwick: 08:55
Arrive Milan Malpensa: 11:50
Inbound
Depart Milan Malpensa: 10:30
Arrive London Gatwick: 11:25
OR
Outbound
Depart London Gatwick: 13:05
Arrive Milan Malpensa: 16:00
Inbound
Depart Milan Malpensa: 14:00
Arrive London Gatwick: 14:50
OR
Outbound
Depart Manchester: 07:15
Arrive Milan Malpensa: 10:25
Inbound
Depart Milan Malpensa: 11:15
Arrive London Gatwick: 12:25
OR
Outbound
Depart Manchester: 07:15
Arrive Milan Malpensa: 10:25
Inbound
Depart Milan Malpensa: 14:30
Arrive London Gatwick: 15:40
All flight times are local
Transfers: shared transfers are included as per itinerary.
Just for you: free VIP chauffer service if you live within 50 miles of your departure airport (excess mileage is charged at £1.70 per mile and payment will be required at time of booking)
Please note: flight details are given as a guide only and may change. We will however notify you in advance if flights are more than 2 hours outside the time range given. Specific flights cannot be selected and confirmed timings will be shown on your official documentation from the tour operator. Flights are non-changeable and non-refundable at time of booking.