Lake Garda & Hidden Gems of Northern Italy

Your holiday begins today as you arrive at London St Pancras, meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, enjoy a light meal at your seats as we journey towards the French capital. On arrival, we change trains and continue by First Class rail across France, passing the Italian Alps as we travel to Turin.

Surrounded by the dramatic backdrop of the Alps, Turin offers a perfect blend of history and scenic beauty, and is renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture, world-class museums and incredible cuisine. After checking in to our hotel in the city's historic centre, we enjoy our first group dinner together in a traditional restaurant nearby.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, there's free time to explore Turin at your own pace. Once the elegant seat of the House of Savoy, this sophisticated city is often considered Italy's most refined, with grand boulevards, historic cafés and sweeping piazzas at every turn.

After exploring, we regroup and walk to the railway station to continue our journey in First Class. Passing through Milan, we arrive in Desanzano on the southern shores of Lake Garda. This elegant lakeside town boasts an attractive historic centre, a picturesque harbour and a charming waterfront lined with cafés and restaurants - perfect for soaking up the relaxed Italian atmosphere.

On arrival, we check in to our hotel, ideally located just one row back from the lake. Located within walking distance of the bustling centre, it provides a great base from which to explore Desenzano and further afield over the next seven nights. This evening, we dine together at the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings a full day at leisure, providing the perfect opportunity to get to know Desenzano at your own pace.

At the heart of the town is the main square, Piazza Malvezzi, where you'll find cafés, gelateria, boutiques, delicatessens and wine shops. The medieval Desenzano castle, set high above the town, rewards visitors with sweeping views across the bay, while a stroll along the promenade is a wonderful way to take in the lakeside setting, leading to Spiaggia Desenzanino, one of the town's most popular beaches.

For those interested in history and culture, the impressive Roman Villa reveals beautiful mosaics and offers a fascinating glimpse into the area's ancient past. The nearby archaeological museum provides further insight into local history, and the elegant Cathedral of Santa Maria Maddalena is home to a number of notable artworks. Wherever you find yourself today, you can indulge in authentic Italian cuisine for lunch or dinner.

• Breakfast

The enchanting city of Venice awaits after breakfast this morning - a highlight of our holiday. Travelling by First Class rail, we arrive in this unique floating city, where a private boat transfers us along its famous waterways to the heart of Venice, St Mark's Square. Here, you are greeted by the magnificent St Mark's Basilica and the Campanile, set against one of the most iconic backdrops in Italy.

Accompanied by a local guide, we embark on a tour of the city's main sights and hidden gems, discovering a maze of canals, elegant bridges and hidden passageways. We take in sights such as the famous Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, before admiring the graceful palaces along the Grand Canal, where gondolas glide past creating a timeless scene.

Once our tour ends, we are free to continue discovering this wonderful city at our own pace, and you might choose to enter St Mark's Basilica to see its incredible interior or revisit some of the other great buildings we've passed. Later, we return to Desenzano by rail and dine independently.

• Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, we travel by coach to the city of Mantua, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled among three lakes. Often called a 'sleeping beauty' city because of its untouched Renaissance beauty, Mantua charms with its elegant palaces and historic squares, and is also famed as the birthplace of the Roman poet Virgil.

On arrival, we soak up the sights with a local guide before some free time to continue exploring independently. Under the rule of the Gonzaga family, Mantua flourished as a centre of art and culture, and you might choose to visit the vast Palazzo Ducale, a magnificent complex of courtyards, galleries and towers, or the elegant Palazzo Te, featuring spectacular frescoes.

Later, we take to the water for a relaxing cruise, offering a different perspective of Mantua's skyline as it rises gracefully above the surrounding lakes. Continuing into the tranquil Mincio Natural Oasis, we glide through a landscape of peaceful waterways, lush vegetation and abundant wildlife. Returning to dry land, we make our way back to our hotel, where there is time at leisure to unwind before enjoying dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Another free day allows you to explore the beautiful Lake Garda region at your own pace today. Our hotel is perfectly located just one row back from the lake and a short walk from Margy Beach, making it ideal for discovering more of Desenzano and its historic attractions, or for venturing further afield, either by boat or by rail.

You might choose to take a ferry across the lake to the picturesque peninsula of Sirmione, often called the 'pearl of Lake Garda.' Located on the southern shore, Sirmione's pastel-painted buildings, open squares and striking medieval Scaligero Castle make up one of the prettiest towns on the lake. Along with its 13th-century castle, you can visit Grotte di Catullo, the impressive remains of a vast Roman villa overlooking the lake, soak in the town's famed thermal springs or simply wander the winding lanes lined with honey-hued buildings. Cafés and beach bars sit along the charming waterfront, offering the perfect place to relax while taking in views over the lake.

Alternatively, Desenzano has great rail connections, and you could be in Verona in 20 minutes. This UNESCO-listed city is best known as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and its remarkably preserved 1st-century Roman Arena.

• Breakfast

We head out today to explore some lesser-known corners of northern Italy. Travelling by coach, our first stop is the charming lakeside town of Iseo, where there is time to enjoy a gentle stroll along the promenade, browse local shops or simply soak up the scenery of the lake's tranquil waters.

From here, we take to the water for a scenic cruise across the lake to Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Italy, where we enjoy a guided tour. With its narrow lanes and traditional fishing villages, the island offers a glimpse into a slower pace of life. There's free time to relax over lunch, perhaps sampling fresh local produce in one of the island's inviting trattorias.

Returning to Iseo, we continue into the renowned Franciacorta wine region, celebrated for its sparkling wines. At a local winery, we enjoy a guided tour of the cellars, learning about the production process, followed by a tasting of these distinctive wines. Arriving back at our hotel early this evening, there's time to relax before we enjoy dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast, a coach transfers takes us to Vittoriale degli Italiani, the elegant hilltop estate created by poet and playwright Gabriele d'Annunzio, one of Italy's most celebrated literary figures known for his influence on early 20th-century culture. On a guided tour, we explore his former home, wander through the expansive gardens and discover the outdoor theatre and museums, each offering a glimpse into the poet's extraordinary life.

Afterwards, we rejoin the coach to continue to Saló, a charming historic town on Lake Garda's western shore. With a free afternoon here, you can stroll along the lakefront promenade - the longest in the area - enjoy a refreshing drink, admire the 15th-century Duomo or immerse yourself in local history and art at the Museo di Saló.

We enjoy a highlight this evening as we journey to Pratello Winery, a family-run wine estate located in a historic hamlet. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of the estate before sitting down for a memorable final dinner in Italy, savouring carefully selected local dishes paired with some of the estate's finest wine.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Desenzano after breakfast this morning, we leave behind the stunning shores of Lake Garda as we begin our journey home. Travelling by coach to Milan, we arrive at the station and board the train in First Class to France, enjoying ever-changing views, passing the dramatic Vanoise National Park enroute to Chambéry.

Arriving in this attractive medieval town, we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. Set against a dramatic Alpine backdrop, Chambéry reveals a beautiful historic Old Town, with tall, colourful houses and an atmospheric square, officially recognised as a 'Town of Art and History'.

After checking in, we gather for dinner at the hotel restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Throughout this exploration of northern Italy, our stay in the elegant lakeside town of Desenzano provided the perfect base from which to discover the beauty of the region. From the shores of Monte Isola to the iconic canals of Venice, each day revealed a different side of this enchanting corner of Italy. We uncovered the rich cultural heritage of Mantua and Salò, visited the remarkable Vittoriale degli Italiani and enjoyed the region's renowned flavours with a wine tasting in Franciacorta and a memorable farewell dinner at the family-run Pratello Winery.

Checking out of our hotel after breakfast this morning, we begin our journey home. Travelling by First Class rail via Paris, we continue in our Eurostar Plus seats, enjoying a light meal enroute to London St Pancras, where your holiday comes to an end.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal