Italy’s Enchanting Lakes
11 days, 10 nights - Lake Garda • Lake Como • Borromean Islands • Lake Orta • Lake Maggiore • Verona
Day 1: Dublin-Verona
Your Topflight tour manager and luxury coach will greet you on your arrival at Verona airport* from where you will be transferred by luxury coach to Lake Como. Check in at your hotel, the 3* plus Grand Hotel Britannia Excelsior on an All Inclusive basis staying in a twin room with balcony.
Day 2: Lake Como
Full day boat excursion in Lake Como to Bellagio and Villa Balbianello. Bellagio is an elegant resort with a pretty lakeside promenade and narrow little streets leading up to the main street, Via Garibaldi where you’ll find shops, restaurants and the main square dominated by its Romanesque Basilica. Set at the far end of a peninsula, Villa Balbianello is one of the finest villas on the lake and was the setting for a number of films including Star Wars and Casino Royale.
Day 3: Lake Como
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a half day excursion to Tremezzo where we visit Villa Carlotta, renowned for its exceptional works of art and its beautiful botanical gardens. The afternoon is free to visit Como town by boat or public bus (transport price not included). Como is a lively resort whose historic walled centre is filled with little squares, shops and pavement cafés. Return to Lake Como for dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 4: Lake Maggiore
This morning, after breakfast, we leave Lake Como and transfer to Lake Maggiore, partly by bus and partly by the Lake Maggiore express train from Locarni to Domodossolo. On arrival in the elegant lakeside resort of Stresa in Lake Maggiore, we check in at the 4* Hotel La Palma, a recently refurbished hotel with wonderful lake views. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: At Your Leisure
Today you can relax and enjoy all the amenities of your hotel, or discover the charms of Stresa where you can stroll through the town centre or, if you have a head for heights, take the cable car to Monte Mottarone from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the lakes and the Alps.
Day 6: Borromean Islands
This full day tour takes in the three Borromean Islands, sometimes known as “Three Heavens on Earth.” We visit Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori, all containing beautiful palaces, gardens and lovely restaurants, before returning to Stresa for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Lake Orta
Today we travel west for a full day tour to Lake Orta, including a boat trip along its shores where you can see the mystical island of San Giulio, almost completely covered by its 12th Century basilica and convent. The main town of Lake Orta is Orta San Giulio, a medieval, pedestrianised and largely unspoilt resort which is small enough to stroll through its network of cobblestoned streets, browse through shops and stop for coffee or a bite to eat at any of its lovely restaurants. Omegna on the northern shores of the lake is home to many well known brands of kitchenware including Alessi and Lagostina. Return to Lake Maggiore for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Lake Garda
After breakfast this morning we say goodbye to Lake Maggiore and travel east to Lake Garda. The largest of the Italian lakes, Garda is dotted with beautiful resort towns whose backdrops contrast from the dramatic mountainous landscape of the north to pretty promenades along the southern shores. We check in at the 4* Blu Hotel Galeazzi in Gardone Riviera, 2km from Salò on the western shores of the lake. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: At Your Leisure
After all that sightseeing, you are free to explore the lake as you wish. Gardone Riviera is located at the widest part of the lake with wonderful views to many of the villages beyond. The beautiful, unspoilt village centre is pedestrianised and you can stroll along the tree-lined promenade, stopping off at one of the pavement cafés along the way. Just 2km from the hotel is the village of Salò, where you can stroll along its elegant promenade with a myriad of streets, alleyways and little squares. Places of interest here include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata and the military history museum, and it’s a pleasure to sip a coffee or lemon drink and just watch the world go by.
Day 10: Verona
Today we journey to the city of Verona, whose ancient arena is host to the world renowned Verona Opera Festival. You will have time to visit the house of Juliet and its famous balcony from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the historic Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza Bra where the renowned arena is located, and browse through some of the exclusive shops around the city. At the end of the excursion, sit back and enjoy the views as we return to Lake Garda for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Lake Garda-Milan Linate-Dublin
This morning, after breakfast, it is time to say ‘arrividerci’ to Italy at the end of a magical holiday. Your tour guide will accompany you on your luxury coach to Milan Linate or Verona airport* for your return flight to Dublin.
Dates & Prices
• September 17 €1599
Single Room Supplement €300
Please note: A minimum of 20 persons is required to operate each tour. Insurance is extra.
Please note, the order in which you visit the lakes may change, however the same number of nights will be spent in each.
What’s included in your visit of the lakes:
• Return flights - Airport greeting on arrival
• Coach service for transfers to and from the airport and for excursions as per programme
• 3 nights hotel accommodation on an All Inclusive basis in Lake Como
• 4 nights hotel accommodation on a Half Board basis in in Lake Maggiore
• 3 nights hotel accommodation on a Half Board basis in in Lake Garda
• English speaking tour guide for the various excursions
• Boat tour of Lake Como, visiting Villa Balbianello and Bellagio
• Full day tour of the Borromean Islands
• Full day excursion to Lake Orta, including boat trip
• Full day excursion to Verona
• Return flights from Dublin to Milan Linate or Verona
Accommodation:
Lake Como: 3* plus Grand Hotel Britannia Excelsior
Location: On the main lakefront road in Cadenabbia, 5 minutes’ walk from the village centre.
Lake Maggiore: 4* Hotel Bristol
Location: In a quiet and central position on Stresa lakeside, 3km from the nearest golf course.
Lake Garda: 4* La Locanda Santa Giulia Location: In Padenghe del Garda a few metres from the lake shore. Padenghe is only 4/5km from Desanzano.
Please Note: Hotels may be substituted for a hotel of equivalent standard. A full time guide/representative will not always be present with the group. A Topflight representive will be available in the resorts and a guide will accompany the group on the various excursions.
A minimum number of 20 persons is required to operate this tour.
Tailormade Group Holidays
• If you have a group of 20 persons or more, Topflight can arrange a programme such as Italy's Enchanting Lakes or Treasures of Tuscany, tailormade to your specific requirements such as a particular date, certain standards of accommodation or amended itinerary.
Prices available on request based on your chosen option. Call our specialist Tailormade Team on 01 240 1701 to discuss your ideal group holiday and let us provide you with a competitive quote and arrange all the details to ensure your experience lives up to every one of your expectations.