Lake Garda & Gardone Riviera 2012 

Our journey to Italy begins at St Pancras International, where we board the Eurostar to Paris. We travel in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal and drinks on board before we reach the French capital. On arrival in Paris we transfer across the city to our overnight accommodation at the Mercure Hotel Gare de Lyon, ideally located for our departure by train tomorrow. You are free to dine out in Paris this evening. (E)

We leave Paris this morning and travel south-east through the picturesque French countryside towards the towering Alps. We cross the border into Italy and pass through Turin before reaching the bustling city of Milan, where we transfer to a coach for our onward journey to Lake Garda. On reaching the lake, we travel along the picturesque western shore to charming Gardone Riviera, our resort for the next seven nights. Casual piazzas and relaxing pavement cafés give the town a wonderful, laid-back feel - a perfect match for the glorious micro-climate that Lake Garda enjoys. With a climate similar to the Bay of Naples, citrus fruits flourish on the hillsides around the lake, while the summer sun is cooled by a gentle lake breeze. We spend our time in Gardone at the fabulous Grand Hotel Gardone Riviera, a delightful and elegant Belle Epoque hotel located right at the lake's edge. After checking in to the hotel we dine together this evening. After dinner you could take a stroll along the pretty lakefront promenade lined with colourful flowers, or relax with a cocktail in the piano bar, named after Winston Churchill who was a regular visitor, spending many of his holidays here after the war. (B,D)

This morning we visit the fantastic estate of Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. The impressive house, which he transformed during his time spent here, is set in nine hectares of wonderfully landscaped gardens, and is complete with his legendary aeroplane - which he flew over Vienna, a battleship and various vintage cars. The house itself is well worth a visit, while the gardens are beautiful to relax in. (B,D)

Today we enjoy a cruise across the calm waters of Lake Garda to the wooded Isola del Garda, the biggest island in the lake. Dominated by an impressive neo-Gothic villa, it can be reached only by private boat. We sail across to see the elegant house and flower-filled gardens, scented with lemon and pine. Exotic plants jostle for position among verdant foliage, and beautifully manicured terraces run down to the water. We enjoy a guided tour of the turreted house and some free time to relax under the shade of a cypress tree. Before we return to Gardone by boat there is chance to enjoy a tasting of local olive oils and wine. (B,D)

Your day is free to spend at leisure, exploring Gardone Riviera or venturing further afield. Take a walk through the historic centre of Gardone, located on the hillside above the lakefront, or explore the nearby Heller Botanic Garden - fabulous gardens which take advantage of Lake Garda's climate and feature a mix of plants from all over the world. You could also travel further afield, catching a ferry from Gardone for a cruise on the lake, sailing past pretty villages and beautiful scenery. Catch glimpses of glamorous lakeside villas and stunning gardens, normally hidden from view, and admire houses set against a backdrop of pine-clad hills. You may wish to visit Malcesine, positioned at the foot of the dramatic Monte Baldo. Malcesine has a lot to offer the visitor, including a cable-car which carries passengers up to the top of the mountain for incredible views of the lake and countryside beyond. (B)

Today we board the train on a full-day excursion to the fabulous city of Venice. Arriving at the city's Santa Lucia station close to the Grand Canal, we are greeted by a truly glorious view of the shimmering Venice lagoon. A private boat transports us along the Giudecca Canal - our first chance to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of this unique city. We arrive at St Mark's Square, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful city squares in the world. Overlooked by St Mark's Basilica, the large open space is surrounded by Doge's Palace, the Procurator's residence, the famous Sansoviniana Bookshop and the iconic bell tower, as well as the waters of the lagoon. Our local guide greets us in St Mark's Square and takes us on a walking tour of the city, leading us around the narrow winding streets and small squares to visit some of Venice's main sights, including St Mark's Basilica. Your afternoon is free to explore at leisure - take a gondola ride on the canals, passing Marco Polo's house and learning about the city's history from the informative gondolier, or explore using Venice's water-bound public transport network - the Vaporetti. We return to Lake Garda by train at the end of a truly remarkable day. (B,D)

Today is free for exploration - you could visit the picturesque town of Sirmione, which occupies a peculiar position on a thin and craggy peninsula jutting 4km into the lake. Surrounded on three sides by water, Sirmione is one of the most peaceful towns on Lake Garda. The narrow winding lanes and pretty piazzas of Sirmione are mostly pedestrianised, which makes strolling through the town a pleasure. A panoramic walk leads out around the promontory, and on a clear day you can enjoy great views over the lake and towards the mountains in the north. (B)

Today we travel by coach to the beautiful Roman city of Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. We take a tour of the monumental gates of Verona, including those of the Roman period, and pass the imposing castle, built in the 14th century to give protection to the brutal ruling family of the time, the Scaligeri. The legendary house where Romeo proclaimed his love to Juliet is located in the centre of this charming town, surrounded by medieval streets and ancient piazzas. Climb up to the fabled balcony itself, overlooking a courtyard, and imagine the star-crossed lovers as they declared their devotion to each other. (B,D)

We leave Lake Garda this morning, with a coach transfer to Milan, where we join the train to Switzerland, travelling in First Class through the lovely Rhône Valley. Our journey takes us to the shores of Lake Geneva via Lausanne to Dijon. We spend one night at the 4-star Mercure Dijon Clémenceau, located close to the historic town centre. (B,D)

We leave Dijon this morning, travelling by high-speed train bound for Paris. We cross Paris by coach to the Gare du Nord, where we pick up our Eurostar service to London. We enjoy a light meal and drinks in our seats before our arrival into St Pancras International. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday