Lakes Maggiore, Orta & Como

Baveno • Lake Maggiore & Borromean Islands • Cannobio & Villa Taranto Gardens • Lake Como • Zermatt & The Matterhorn • Lake Orta

Lake Maggiore, Orta & Como

A spectacularly beautiful tour taking in the villages and islands of Italy’s most sophisticated lake, Maggiore, visits to Lakes Como and Orta, plus breathtaking alpine scenery, the chic Swiss resort of Zermatt and the iconic Matterhorn.

Isola Bella gardens

Your itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Baveno

Arrive at the airport for your flight. On arrival transfer by coach to Baveno, a quiet town on the idyllic shores of Lake Maggiore. And check in to the historic four-star Hotel Simplon. This evening we enjoy an informal drinks reception followed by dinner. (D)

DAY 2 – Lake Maggiore & Borromean Islands

Lake Maggiore is one of Italy’s best natural treasures, with breathtaking views and lush; unmistakably Mediterranean in character, its green shores are brightened by oleanders, palms and deeply aromatic verbena, while its waters reflect the azure sky above.

We take a relaxing cruise to the ravishing Borromean Islands, calling at Isola Bella, an architectural and horticultural masterpiece, for a guided tour of its Baroque palazzo and terraced gardens. Next, we visit the tiny fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori with its compact latticework of cream-coloured houses. The shore is dotted with vibrant restaurants and cafés overlooking the lake, the perfect spot for lunch at your leisure. Afterwards, perhaps wander through the village’s narrow, winding

As this is a single-centre tour, we stay at the same hand-picked hotel in Baveno for seven nights, with breakfast and dinner.

Hotel Simplon HHHH

Please note: The use of air-conditioning in hotels in Italy is at the hotel’s discretion and is normally restricted to the summer months (mid-May to mid- September), depending on the temperature. Where hotels feature an outdoor swimming pool, this will be open during the summer months (weather permitting). Hotel Simplon

lanes before we cruise back to Baveno this afternoon. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Cruise to the Borromean Islands, visit Isola dei Pescatori and guided tour of Isola Bella

DAY 3 – Cannobio & Villa Taranto Gardens

We enjoy a private boat trip to Cannobio, with picturesque views at every turn and one of the finest promenades on Lake Maggiore. Stroll along the gentle cobbled streets and escape into a timeless world of grand mansions, boutiques and bars. Visit the Santuario della Pietà church with its ornate interior and stop for lunch at one of the many lakeside cafés whilst watching the sailboats and windsurfers in action.

We drive along the shore to Villa Taranto to visit its marvellous gardens, an impressive display of almost 20,000 plants created by Scottish captain Neil McEacharn who is also buried here. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Private boat to Cannobio and visit Villa Taranto

DAY 4 – Lake Como

Described by Wordsworth as ‘a treasure whom the earth keeps to herself’, today we head to Lake Como to visit its main town, Como, renowned for its imposing cathedral, delightful parks, grand hotels and the majestic Villa Olmo. During your free time, you could take the funicular railway up the hill to Brunate for breathtaking views of the lake and town. The shore is lined by attractive pastel-painted villas, faded by decades

SWITZERLAND

Matterhorn

Zermatt Cannobio

Lake Maggiore Baveno

Lake Como

Lake Orta Como

Milan Malpensa airport Bergamo

Milan Linate

ITALY KEY

Arrive Depart of sunshine, with winding lanes ascending to the town’s hilly centre. (B,D) + Included Experience – Visit Lake Como

DAY 5 – Free day

With the entire day at leisure, you can choose to relax at the hotel pool or explore nearby Stresa. The lakeside exudes an ambience of classic belleépoque gentility, legacy of the ‘Grand Tour’ and literary aficionados may like to enjoy a drink at the bar of the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées, featured in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Take a cable car to the summit of Monte Mottarone for panoramic views to the snow-capped Alps. (B,D)

DAY 6 – Zermatt & The Matterhorn

Witness some truly spectacular mountain vistas as we ascend the foothills of the Alps, cross the Swiss border and journey into the high Alps. We take the Simplon Pass and scenery becomes more breathtaking, with wildflower-covered meadows dotted with tiny shepherds’ shelters. Marvel at the engineering feats required to build the road as it traverses towering viaducts and jaw-dropping precipices before we arrive in Zermatt.

The ultimate alpine peak, the Matterhorn is relatively unobtrusive until you reach the end of the village and turn a corner, when the Swiss national symbol is revealed in its magnificent splendour! For an even better view, take the cog railway up 10,000 feet to Gornergrat. Alternatively, relax in one of Zermatt’s many cosy cafés or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit Zermatt and see the Matterhorn

DAY 7 – Lake Orta

Orta is probably the prettiest of the Italian lakes, and we arrive at the romantic lakeside village of Orta San Giulio, with pebble-studded lanes and stepped alleys, lined with picturesque, shuttered buildings and traditional food shops. A boat trip takes you to the island of San Giulio with an impressive basilica. We visit Arona at the southern end of Lake Maggiore to view the monumental

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Your tour includes

• Return flights from a selection of regional airports and transfers to and from your hotel, plus porterage of one item of luggage • Seven nights’ accommodation in a four-star hotel, inclusive of local taxes • A welcome drinks reception to meet your fellow travellers • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager

(B) Daily Breakfast, (D) 7 Dinners For departure dates, prices and flights, please call or visit our website.

YOUR EXPERIENCES • Cruise to the enchanting

Borromean Islands • Guided tour of Isola Bella's

Baroque villa • 6 visits including Lake Como,

Cannobio, the gardens at Villa

Taranto, Isola dei Pescatori,

Lake Orta & Zermatt

Zermatt

statue of San Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan before returning to the hotel. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit Lake Orta and boat trip to Orta San Giulio

DAY 8 – Return flight

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

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