Venice, Verona & the Wonders of Lake Garda

Discover and explore an idyllic corner of the world and two of Europe’s most fascinating, enthralling and historic cities.

Rialto Bridge, Venice

Caption Bridge Ponte Pietra, Verona Day One – Fly to Italy Upon arrival, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the journey to Lake Garda and your chosen hotel. You can stay on the lake’s eastern shore, close to delightful Malcesine, with its quaint alleyways and narrow streets, or in sunblessed Torbole, with its vibrant café life, trendy shops and stunning views across the lake. Alternatively choose Riva at the top of the lake, or Limone on the northwest shoreline. Settle into your surroundings, and enjoy a first evening in the hotel, perhaps popping out for a gentle walk after dinner, depending on your arrival time. Day Two – Day at leisure Today is free for you to rest and relax at leisure, either enjoying the facilities of the hotel, or perhaps venturing into the centre of your chosen resort. Favourites with our clients for many years, all the resorts offer plenty of opportunities to rest and relax, to stroll the lakeside promenade, watch the world go by from a seat in a pavement café, shop, or perhaps even take to the water – Garda is a mecca for sailors and windsurfers who revel in the breezy conditions offshore.

Day Three – Included Grand Circular Lake

Garda tour After breakfast today, board the coach for a Grand Circular tour of the beautiful lake, in the company of your tour manager. The fjord-like eastern shores and the northern, mountain backed resorts of sun-blessed Torbole and pastel-painted Riva del Garda give way to the western shoreline of citrus and olive groves. On the southern shore a promontory leads to the spa resort of Sirmione, its healing waters and fairy-tale Rocca Scaligera castle, with its turrets and towers. The tour returns to the hotel via the wine-growing town of Bardolino,and the busy resort of Garda itself.

Day Four – Included Dolomites scenic tour

Today is spent amongst the crags and passes of the majestic Dolomites, which are set to the north of Garda, and provide some of Europe’s most dramatic mountain scenery. There’ll be plenty of stops during the tour at traditional

Available Aug to Dec 2022, Jan to Jun, Sep to Dec 2023, Jan to Jun & Sep to Dec 2024 Apr to Oct 2023

Fly direct (flight upgrades available). Prices from Fly direct from these airports. Prices from

• Heathrow £1,699 • Manchester £1,749* (UK connecting flights available – call us for details) Bristol £1,005 • East Midlands £1,065 • Edinburgh £1,185 • Glasgow £885 • Gatwick £789 Personalise your holiday • Leeds/Bradford £1,105 • Luton £845 • Manchester £975 • Stansted £1,039 • New Orleans City Tour (half day) – from £21Tour Only without flights from £650 • Bayou & Alligators Tour (half day) – from £25 • Memphis: Graceland & Sounds of the South (full day) – from £89Make your own arrangements to the airport or your hotel. • Studio B & the Country Music Hall of Fame (half day) – from £45Room for Sole Use from £28

Room for Sole Use from £592Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour from Verona, two hours from Please note: *Some departures from Manchester into the USA are via Houston instead of Atlanta and will follow a slightly Bergamo and three hours from Milan Malpensa and Venice. different itinerary which can be seen on our website. All of the main tour highlights remain included. The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately three hours.

Riva del Garda Limone Torbole Malcesine

Lake Garda

Milan Malpensa

Lake Garda Dolomites

Bergamo Venice Verona

Italy

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ESCORTED TOUR These hugely popular tours, enjoyed by countless happy customers over the years, have truly stood the test of time.

• Spend a week on the sun-kissed shores of glorious Lake Garda, taking in the charming settlements and enjoying the Mediterraneanlike culture • Enjoy a full-day visit to incomparable

Venice, La Serenissima, with an included tour lifting the veil on this extraordinary city’s finest sights • Discover the glories of Roman Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s timeless

Romeo and Juliet • Journey through the majestic Dolomite mountains, nestled between the sun-kissed

Italian plain of Emiglia-Romagna and the Alps of the Austrian Tyrol • Enjoy a Grand Circular Tour of Lake Garda, taking in sun-blessed Torbole and pastelpainted Riva del Garda • Seven nights’ carefully chosen accommodation at the hotel or resort of your choosing • Return flights to Italy, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable

Juliet’s Balcony, Verona Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Venice Rocca Scaligera, Lake Garda

towns and villages, enabling you to soak up the atmosphere and stunning views of this delightful region, which sits between the sun-kissed Italian plain of Emiglia-Romagna, and the Alps of the Austrian Tyrol, above the wine-growing valley of the Alto-Adige. Day Five – Day at leisure Enjoy a day of rest and relaxation today, bringing plenty of chances to enjoy the facilities of your chosen hotel and resort, and perhaps also to explore the local town under your own steam and enjoying some time observing traditional life on the shores of the lake. Day Six – Included Verona excursion Today you’ll visit the thoroughly charming city of Verona, perched on the banks of the River Adige, with its historic centre and monuments fashioned in pink marble. Amongst the outstanding sights is the bestpreserved Roman amphitheatre in Italy, famed the world over for its summertime opera festival. The sweeping Piazza Bra is crowded with folk watching the world go by from one of the numerous pavement cafés. The ancient Piazza delle Erbe bustles with its colourful market. Nearby the maze of 13th-century streets is redolent with a sense of troubled history, chronicled in Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers. After another marvellous day, you’ll return to Garda’s shores. Day Seven – Included Venice excursion This day will etch itself into the memory like few others, as you board the coach to travel to incomparable Venice, probably the world’s most romantic city. On arrival, in the company of a local guide, you will enjoy a walking tour of this simply breathtakingly beautiful place, where some hundred or so islands are linked by innumerable bridges, and where gondolas and water taxis ply their trades on the beautiful Grand Canal, past the stunning Accademia museum and the iconic Rialto Bridge. The vast expanse of St Mark’s Square, with its sumptuous cathedral, clock tower and the Doge’s Palace – the Palazzo Ducale – is quite simply one of the world’s most iconic sights and one that will stay with you forever. Close by, joining the palace to the prisons, the famous Bridge of Sighs afforded condemned men a last view of the beauty of Venice en route to the gallows. Away from St Marks and the Grand Canal, a labyrinth of narrow streets awaits more exploration, each corner turned revealing another memorable sight of this truly wonderful city. After an unforgettable day in incomparable Venice, you’ll return to Garda in time for a last dinner, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful week spent in Italy. Day Eight – Fly back to the UK Bid farewell to your Italian hosts today, as you board the coach for the transfer back to the airport and the return flight, as your relaxing holiday comes to an end.

fun fact...

Did you know that the city of Venice is actually made up of 118 different islands, each with unique landmarks, and separated by 150 canals?

your hotels

Drago Hotel, Malcesine/Brenzone HHH Half-Board from £789

This popular, stylish hotel is adjacent to the lake, about three miles south of Malcesine. There is a restaurant and bar, beautiful gardens and outdoor pool. Bedrooms offer satellite TV and a balcony. Hotel Cristina, Limone HHH Bed & Breakfast from £789 Hotel Cristina is spread amongst five villa-style buildings on a hillside overlooking Lake Garda. Two outdoor pools, ringed with palm trees, can be enjoyed, and a restaurant and two bars boast magnificent views of the surrounding area. Alexander Hotel, Limone HHHH Bed & Breakfast from £908

Boasting a wellness centre with a sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool, and indoor pool, this hotel promises plenty of opportunities for relaxation. There is an outdoor pool, fitness room, restaurant and bar. Rooms have a TV and fridge. A balcony/ terrace is available at a supplement. Hotel Continental, Torbole HHHH Half-Board from £1,069

In a quiet elevated position close to the village of Nago, with easy access into Torbole, just two miles away. A regular public bus and twice daily free hotel shuttle service operate to the lake. each day. The rooms have air-conditioning, a safe, hairdryer, balcony, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. For more details about the wider range of resorts & hotels featured, please see pages 39-42, or check our website.

Hotel Garda, Riva del Garda HHHH Half-Board from £1,160

Boasting an outdoor pool, sun terrace, cocktail bar and lounge, restaurant, and a sky-terrace. Complimentary tea/coffee and cakes are served

Hotel Cristina