You will remember this holiday with affection for years to come. The scenery is breathtaking; the reflections of Lake Maggiore with the magical and beautiful Borromean Islands as a backdrop are stunning. Our hotel, the impressive lakeside Regina Palace, sets the tone and left all of us marvelling at its splendour and to top it off - silver service in the restaurant!

We visited The Palace Borromeo accompanied by our local guide - a veritable mine of information - then visited the Gardens, which are linked to the RHS in London. This was followed by a fish lunch on Isola dei Pescatori on a verandah overlooking the lake - heaven! Next we had a day in the Monferrato wine region; the highlight of the holiday for me. We visited the family farm of Cascina Moncucchetto, enjoying a lengthy lunch and the owner's wines; we really felt we were part of the family! How does Great Rail find these gems?

Peter Davies, Tour Manager