Magnificent Lakes & Majestic Mountains
Join us for this beautiful scenic tour of Lake Maggiore, a stunning, long glacial lake nestled on the southern side of the Alps.
Book NowPeaceful and serene, Lake Maggiore straddles both Italy and Switzerland, and basks elegantly against the snowy backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Ideally positioned in the beautiful lakeside resort of Stresa, our excellent choice of hotels makes a great base for touring this stunning region. Experience a blend of the highlights on offer, including a visit to delightful Lake Orta and Lake Como, plus wonderful rail and boat journeys offering unforgettable lake vistas.
Your holiday includes: 7 Nights Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, return Ferry Crossings, porterage in Main Hotel, Borromean Islands boat trip, entrance to Palace & Gardens, Lake Maggiore Express Train & Boat. Lake Orta Boat trip, executive coach travel, excursions as described, welcome Drink on arrival. Passports required.
Your Hotel: 4*Hotel La Palma, Stresa
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1 Early morning departure for our Channel crossing to Calais. Once in France we then travel through the lovely countryside making for Dijon for our overnight stay.
Day 2 Travelling through France and into Switzerland at Basle, we head into the Alps, over the famous Gotthard Pass to Lake Maggiore and our luxury hotel in Stresa.
Day 3 Lake Como
After breakfast we take the drive to Lake Como and the capital of the lake itself, Como. This historic town enjoys a vibrant and bustling atmosphere, with plenty of shops, bars and cafes to while away the time and enjoy. We may wish to take the spectacular Como to Brunate funicular, which departs from Piazza Alcide de Gaspari, close to the lakefront. The views from the top are amazing, often referred to as 'the balcony of the Alps'. A leisurely drive in the afternoon takes us back to our home base of Stresa.
Day 4 Lake Orta
Today we explore Lake Orta and one of northern Italy's best kept secrets, its capital, Orta San Giulio, which has a delightful medieval centre full of cobbled streets, galleries, local crafts and cafés. We include a boat cruise over to Isola San Giulio to visit the picturesque monastery.
Day 5 Lake Maggiore Express
Today we enjoy a wonderful full day excursion with a scenic journey on the magical Lake Maggiore Express by rail and boat, taking in the full beauty of this spectacular region along the way. We start with a rail journey from Stresa to Domodossola, at which point we change onto the scenic high-level railway, the Centovalli, which takes us through the mountains and down to Locarno, a bustling town on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore. After enjoying the fabulous views on route, we have time to relax before taking a boat ride from this Swiss corner of Lake Maggiore back down to Stresa.
Day 6 Borromean Islands
We enjoy a leisurely day visiting the stunning Borromean Islands, located just offshore from the centre of Stresa. We can take the boat out to Isola Bella, which houses a beautiful stately home and elegant Italianate gardens, before we continue by boat to Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen's Island), the only island which is currently inhabited. (Not suitable for people with walking difficulties).
Day 7 We leave Lake Maggiore and travel back over the Gotthard Pass making our way to Dijon for our overnight stay.
Day 8 Departing after breakfast we travel back to Calais for the ferry to Dover arriving home
early evening about 8.00pm with wonderful memories of Italy.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
| Name | Address | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Angel | The Angel PH bus stop | View |
| Boarded Barns | Boarded Barns, United Reform Church | View |
| Bodmin Road | Lawn Lane, jct Bodmin Rd opp park | View |
| Brackenden Drive | Bus shelter top of Brackenden Drive | View |
| Castle Stores | Castle Stores, Sandford Road bus stop | View |
| Cherry Wood Grange | Cherry Wood Grange Bus Stop New London Rd | View |
| Chignal Road | Chignal Road Kennet Way Bus Stop | View |
| Crompton | Writtle Road jct Crompton Street | View |
| Days | Days Garage bus stop, Broomfield Road | View |
| Endeavour | Endeavour bus stop/All Saints Close | View |
| Galleywood Rd | Galleywood Road opp bus stop before Dorset Ave | View |
| Garage | Garage High Easter | View |
| Hedge | Writtle Road/Hole in the Hedge | View |
| Henniker Gate | Chelmer Village Way opposite Henniker Gate | View |
| Hungry Horse | Bus Stop Opp The Flyer PH North Melbourne | View |
| Ingatestone The Bell PH | The Bell PH Ingatestone | View |
| KEGS | Bus Stop outside Kegs, Broomfield Road | View |
| Lawn Lane | Lawn Lane bus stop opposite Waveney Drive | View |
| Linnet Drive | Galleywood Road bus stop jct Linnet Drive | View |
| Loftin Way | Loftin Way bus stop St Pauls Church | View |
| Longmead Avenue | Longmead Avenue jct of Tabors Avenue | View |
| Longstomps | Top of Longstomps Ave just before roundabout | View |
| Maldon Road | Maldon Road Opp Fire Station, Great Baddow | View |
| Mary Green Manor Hotel | Entrance to Mary Green Manor Hotel at Brook St | View |
| Meadgate Avenue | Meadgate Avenue, Whitehouse Crescent | View |
| Meadgate Shops | Meadgate Shops bus stop | View |
| Medical Centre | Lawn Lane Bus Stop Opp Medical Centre | View |
| Melbourne Ave Bus Stop | Melbourne Ave bus stop outside St Andrews Church | View |
| Melbourne Ave opp flats | Melbourne Ave opp flats | View |
| Miller & Carter | Miller & Carter Bus Stop Opp Goddard Way | View |
| Moulsham Lodge | Moulsham Lodge bus stop outside shops | View |
| Mount | Mountnessing Outside Prince of Wales PH | View |
| Patching Hall Lane | Patching Hall Lane roundabout adjacent park | View |
| Pertwee Drive | Galleywood Road, 100 yards past Pertwee Drive | View |
| Pollards Green | Bus stop opposite Pollards Green | View |
| Pump Lane | Pump Lane bus shelter, Mountbatten Way | View |
| Railway Station | Bus stop opp main entrance to Railway Station Chelmsford | View |
| Readers Corner | Dorset Ave opp Noakes Avenue bus shelter | View |
| Regency Close | Springfield Rd, Jct Regency Close | View |
| Sawkins Ave | Sawkins Ave Bus Shelter, Beehive Lane | View |
| Shenfield | Eagle & Child PH Shenfield | View |
| Skerry | Broomfield Road bus stop opposite Skerry Rise | View |
| Skinners Lane, Galleywood | Skinners Lane opposite bus shelter | View |
| Springfield Green | Springfield Green Bus Stop Nr Church | View |
| Star | Good Easter Cross Roads | View |
| The New London | London Rd bus stop opp New London PH (Queen St) | View |
| The Rose Shenfield | The Rose, Oliver Road, Shenfield | View |
| Toby Carvery Chelmer Vill | Toby Carvery Entrance to Dukes Park | View |
| Trent Road | Trent Rd Jct Thames Avenue | View |
| Vineyards | Bus Stop Opp The Vineyards, Great Baddow The Causeway | View |
| White Horse PH | Galleywood Rd Bus Stop Nr White Horse PH | View |
| Wilsons Corner | Wilsons Corner Bus Stop near Argos Brentwood | View |
| Woodhall | Patching Hall Lane opp Woodhall Road jct | View |
| Writtle | Writtle Village Hall Bus Stop | View |
| Writtle Road | Savernake Rd/Writtle Rd Layby | View |
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