Austrian Christmas and Italian New Year

We travel on the Eurostar from London St Pancras, changing trains in Brussels for the service to Cologne. On arrival in the German city, we check into our hotel for the night.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

After breakfast, we travel by rail to Innsbruck. On arrival in Innsbruck, we make our way to the Hotel Innsbruck where we stay for the next 5-nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, which is Christmas Eve, we enjoy a guided walking tour of Innsbruck. Our afternoon is at leisure ahead of a special Christmas Eve dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our Christmas celebrations begin with a journey through the wintry scenery of the Stubai Valley, travelling to Fulpmes past icy forests and Alpine meadows laden with snow aboard the narrow-gauge Stubaitalbahn. Back in Innsbruck, the festivities continue this evening with a traditional Christmas dinner

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day to explore Innsbruck further, perhaps heading into the surrounding countryside for a traditional Boxing Day walk.

• Breakfast

Travelling on the Zillertalbahn today, we step aboard heritage carriages for an atmospheric journey through the delightful Ziller Valley. The railway's distinctive red engine stands out against the snow-clad landscapes as we marvel at sights such as shimmering Lake Achen, enchanting Tyrolean towns that looks as if they belong on a Christmas card and meadows blanketed in thick, fresh snow. We arrive in Mayrhofen where you have free time to ride to the summit of Penken via a gondola cable car, walk the cobbled streets or visit the Ahorn Eagle's Stage, an observation point for Alpine birds of prey.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Austria behind, we take the train to Verona, where we enjoy a guided tour of a city filled with Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance, and famous as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. A UNESCO Heritage listed destination, we visit the Roman arena, an open-air venue still used for performances today, as well as Juliet's iconic balcony. Afterwards, we board our coach, bound for Desenzano on the magical shores of Lake Garda. We stay here for the next five nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We transfer by rail to the floating city of Venice for a guided walking tour of its main attractions, including the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Square and the Bridge of Sighs. With some free time afterwards, you may like to take a traditional gondola ride through the winding network of canals or take a water taxi to the island of Murano, famed for its age-old glass blowing techniques. Afterwards why not warm up in a cosy café overlooking St Mark's Square with a cup of delicious cioccolata calda?

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following a relaxed morning, in the afternoon we enjoy an excursion by coach to the Franciacorta wine region. Here, we stop at a local winery for a tour that teaches us all about the production process followed by an expert-led tasting of the vineyard's different vintages.

• Breakfast, Dinner

New Year's Eve takes us to delightful Sirmione where there's free time for you to look around. Located at the southern end of Lake Garda, where the lakefront is almost sea-like, the town is a pleasure to discover, bursting with history and charm. You could stop off at the imposing Rocca Scaligera, a beautifully preserved 13th-century castle surrounded by a large water-filled moat, take a stroll through the old quarter of town or visit the Grotte di Catullo, the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy. Back in Desenzano this evening, we celebrate the New Year with a gala dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is New Year's Day, and is free for you to relax or head out into the town for a walk.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Travelling by train to Turin for the night.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We continue our journey to London St Pancras on Day 13, journeying to Paris where we join the Eurostar service.

• Breakfast