Lake Maggiore, Orta & the Matterhorn

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Arrival at Lake Maggiore

  Fly to Italy and transfer to the delightful town of Stresa or Baveno on the peaceful shores of charming Lake Maggiore.

• Day 2 • Lake Maggiore & Borromean Islands

  Unmistakably Mediterranean in character, Maggiore’s shores are lined with oleanders, palms and deeply aromatic verbena with the still waters reflecting the azure blue sky above. Just offshore is one of the real gems of northern Italy, the stunning Borromean Islands, once owned by a Milanese Count who, in the 17th century, created the most amazing ‘belle époque’ villa here of which we have a guided tour this morning.

• Day 3 • Centovalli Railway

  Take a boat to Cannobio for free time before we travel into Switzerland to visit Locarno for a scenic journey on the Centovalli Railway.

• Day 4 • Lake Como

  This morning we explore another of Northern Italy’s most famous lakes and one of its most attractive too. Described by Wordsworth as ‘a treasure the earth keeps to itself’, a favourite of Shelley, Lake Como has attracted visitors for centuries in search of relaxation, culture and inspiration.

• Day 5 • Free Day

  Today you can choose to relax in the hotel, perhaps take a swim in the pool or explore Baveno or Stresa’s many delights. The lakeside exudes an ambience of classic ‘belle époque’ gentility, owing its origin to the days of the ‘Grand Tour’ when Europe’s 19th century aristocracy, having crossed the border from Switzerland, experienced their first taste of Italy. Literary aficionados may like to take a drink at the bar of the Grand Hotel featured in Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’, and frequented by the likes of George Bernard Shaw and Charlie Chaplin.

• Day 6 • Zermatt & The Matterhorn

  Today the views will take your breath away. We firstly climb the foothills of the Alps then cross the Swiss frontier and head into the high Alps themselves. We take the Simplon Pass, once used by the Romans to control their northern provinces with the first actual road constructed by Napoleon.

• Day 7 • Lake Orta

  On our final day we experience one of the tour’s real highlights. Orta is probably the prettiest of the Italian lakes, yet one of the least well-known. You’ll understand why it’s regarded as something of a hidden gem, as there’s an exceptional atmospheric charm that’s immediately discernible.

• Day 8 • Return Home

  Return to the airport at the appropriate time for our flight home.