DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Lausanne by train

Start your rail holiday to Verona and Lake Garda by taking an early morning Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. Transfer from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon by taxi and board the high-speed TGV Lyria train to Lausanne on Lake Geneva, where you arrive just after 16.00 hrs. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring the lakeside city. The promenade at Ouchy Harbour, when lit up in the evening, is one of the highlights of your stay in Lausanne.

Day 2: Lausanne to Verona by train

Depart from Lausanne just before 08.30 hrs on a direct train to Verona. This scenic journey through the Alps takes a little over five hours and takes you through some spectacular landscapes as you follow the Rhone upstream, travelling through the famous Simplon Pass and along the shores of Lake Maggiore, before heading east through Italy. You reach Verona at about 13.30 hrs and are met at the train station by a private car and transferred to your hotel. Stay two nights in Verona.

Day 3: In Verona

You have a full day at leisure in Verona to explore this small but beautiful city, packed full of places of historic and cultural worth, particularly dating from Roman and medieval times. There are not only iconic sights such as the Arena, the venue for the opera performances, and the house said to be Juliet’s but also other Roman remains such as the Roman theatre, the Ponte di Pietra and Porta dei Borsari, and medieval masterpieces such as the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the church of Santa Maria Antica, as well as the Piazza delle Erbe. Within and near the city are several notable gardens worth a visit, including the Giardino Giusti. If your stay in Verona coincides with the opera performances, you may want us to book seats for you in advance.

Day 4: Verona to Lake Garda

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, before being collected by a private car to take you west to Lake Garda. Reach your hotel on the lake in the early afternoon and settle into your room before dinner.

Days 5 & 6: Lake Garda

You have two full days on Lake Garda. On the lower slopes of the hills around Lake Garda are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats moor next to sailing boats. Monte Baldo, above the lake, can be reached by cable car and affords spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Sirmione behind its medieval walls enjoys a beautiful position at the southern end of the lake, dominated by Scaligero Castle. You can also visit the residence of Gabriele d’Annunzio, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera.

Another beautiful excursion is the Isola del Garda, an island in the lake where you can visit the Italian and English gardens and some rooms inside the neo-Gothic Venetian-style villa dating from the early 1900s. In terms of getting around whilst you are staying on Lake Garda, if you don’t want to have the use of a hire car, it is easy enough to use the lake ferries that criss-cross the lake between all the main points.

Day 7: Milan to Paris by sleeper train

You have much of the day at leisure, before leaving your hotel with a private transfer to Desenzano where you take the train to Milan. Change trains and board the Thello sleeper service that leaves Milan at about 23.00 hrs. We include a double cabin aboard the train.

Day 8: Paris to London

You arrive into Paris Lyon at about 09.30am and, after changing stations, you then take the Eurostar back to London where you arrive at lunchtime.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class of about £220 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance and an appropriate driving licence, if you intend to hire a car at Lake Garda. The AA and FCO should also be consulted.