Day 1: London to Turin
We set out from St Pancras International on a morning Eurostar departure bound for Paris Gare du Nord, where we are picked up by coach and whisked across Paris for the next leg of our journey.We catch our high-speed TGV from Paris Gare du Lyon, travelling through France and into Italy to Turin and an overnight stop at the Hotel Dock Milano. (D)
Day 2: Turin to Lake Garda
Leaving Turin, we travel by rail through the bustling city of Milan to Brescia where we transfer to the 4* Park Hotel Casimiro in San Felice del Benaco, set on the picturesque shores of tranquil Lake Garda. (B,D)
Days 3-8: At leisure on Lake Garda
The next six days are free for you to spend as you wish.You can set the pace, be it lazing by the pool with a good book, discovering the charming towns around the lake, or hiking into the hills for beautiful views over the countryside. Set on the shores of Italy’s largest lake, the Park Hotel Casimiro enjoys incredible views over the water, with the imposing Dolomite mountain range rising in the background. Further down the shore, Porto Portese is a very attractive town close to San Felice and Salò, with the village of Portese perched higher on the hill. Take a stroll around the harbour, before ambling along to the promontory of San Fermo which reaches out into the lake. The wooded Isola del Garda, the biggest island in the lake, lies off San Fermo. Dominated by an impressive neo-Gothic villa and surrounded by beautifully manicured terraces running down to the water, the island can only be reached by boat, and an optional excursion runs out to see the elegant house and flower-filled gardens.
Further afield, Garda has many captivating towns to attract visitors, including Peschiera, with its picturesque Old Town surrounded by imposing fortifications, and Sirmione, located on the tip of a long peninsula protruding from the southern shore of the lake. Sirmione has thermal springs and was a spa destination in Roman times and you can visit some impressive Roman ruins at the end of the promontory. Desenzano is also a popular destination on the lake.Why not visit on market day, when the Old Town is filled with colourful stalls selling locally produced food and crafts? Malcesine, set at the foot of the dramatic Monte Baldo, also has a lot to offer, including a cable-car which carries passengers to the top of the mountain for incredible views of the lake and countryside beyond. (Days 3-8: B,D)
Day 9: Lake Garda to Würzburg
We leave Porto Portese by coach for Verona, where we join our train for the scenic route across the Brenner Pass into Austria.We then travel through Bavaria and arrive in historic Würzburg, where we stay at the Hotel Amberger for one night. (B,D)
Day 10: Würzburg to London
We travel from Würzburg by rail to Cologne, where we join our onward service to Brussels and connect with Eurostar bound for St Pancras International. (B)
Your hotel
The 4* Park Hotel Casimiro in San Felice del Benaco enjoys some of the most beautiful views in Italy. The hotel has a small beach, swimming pool, wellness centre with sauna, Hammam and gym, two bars and a restaurant with wonderful views across Lake Garda. All en suite rooms have a telephone, satellite television and air conditioning.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday.
back to top
