Simply Lake Garda

Our holiday begins when we meet at London St Pancras, before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. From the French capital, we continue by rail across France, passing the Italian Alps as we travel to the handsome city of Turin, known as the 'Capital of the Italian Alps', where we spend the night in a hotel in the heart of the city's historic centre. We enjoy our first dinner together in a traditional restaurant nearby.

• Dinner

After breakfast there's time at leisure to explore Turin. This dignified city is an important centre of business, finance and technology, and is also a showcase of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture. Fringed by the Italian alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars. Just a short walk from our hotel is a stylish pedestrianised shopping district.

In the mid-afternoon we continue our journey into northern Italy by rail. We pass through Milan before arriving at Desenzano, a large town with an attractive historic centre and pleasant waterfront, on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Here we check into our hotel, situated in a quiet area, overlooking the lake. The town's historic centre is five minutes' walk away and its picturesque piazzas are bordered by cafés, gelaterias and bars. There's also a pretty harbour and lakeside promenade, which you may have time to seek out before dinner at our lovely hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we take a short cruise to our nearest lakeside neighbour, Sirmione, one of Lake Garda's most delightful towns. Set on a narrow peninsula which stretches into the lake, this fascinating fortress town is a pleasure to explore on foot. You are free to discover Sirmione independently, over lunchtime and into the afternoon. Among the old town's medieval streets and colourful piazzas, you'll find beautifully restored buildings, including a 14th century church, inviting trattorias and pavement cafés. For lunch, local specialities include fresh fish and seafood, pizza and delicious homemade pasta, including pumpkin ravioli and tortellini. You could indulge in an afternoon of people-watching and soak up the atmosphere with a coffee or a glass of local wine.

A short walk from the old town is the striking medieval Scaligero Castle, which guards the entrance to the peninsula of Sirmione, where it's possible to enjoy great views across the lake from the top of its fortified walls. Another ancient site to explore is the extraordinary Grottoes of Catullus, the preserved remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy, set on a small hill at the tip of the peninsula, with a museum and wonderful views from the top. We sail the short distance back to Desenzano this afternoon and dine at our hotel restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A free day and evening ahead presents the perfect opportunity to get to know Desenzano, or maybe to venture further by rail. At the heart of Desenzano is the main square, Piazza Malvezzi, behind the Venetian port and below the castle. Besides cafés, restaurants and enticing gelateria, you'll also find stylish boutiques, Italian shoe shops, delicatessens and wine shops. At the water's edge there's a pretty marina with an ancient harbour wall, and a small lighthouse. The Cesare Battisti promenade offers a relaxing walk along the lakefront.

To reach the Castle of Desenzano above the town, follow Via Stretta Castello from Piazza Malvezzi. Built over ten centuries ago on the ancient base of a Roman fort and town, the castle has fabulous views across the bay. You could also visit the Roman villa with its beautiful mosaics, thermal baths and a terrace overlooking the lake. Other highlights include the archaeological museum, and the 16th-century Cathedral of St Mary Magdalene.

Desenzano train station is five minutes' walk away, and offers frequent trains to cities including stylish Milan. An exciting architectural mix of old and new, among the city's most famous sites are the stunning Milan Cathedral, the lively Piazza Duomo and world renowned Teatro alla Scala opera house.

Exploring the lake by boat is another appealing option. Picturesque Bardolino is a great choice, known for its red wine and olive oil production - the town hosts a wine festival every year. This peaceful coastal town has a relaxed ambience and its atmospheric historic centre has bars, restaurants and shops where you can sample local produce. Another place to explore by boat is the UNESCO-listed Roman city of Peschiera, or beautiful Riva del Garda, surrounded by mountains on the northern shore. Shopping and dining continues into the evening in these lakeside towns.

• Breakfast

Today we travel by rail from Desenzano to glorious Venice, a high point of our holiday. On arrival we are transferred by a private boat to St Mark's Square, the heart and soul of Venice. Here we're surrounded by the impressive landmarks of St Mark's Basilica, the beautiful Doge's Palace, and historic cafés. On a guided tour we meander through hidden backstreets, seeing the house where Vivaldi was born, the distinctive Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George, and the Bridge of Sighs - which links the city's prison with the Doge's Palace. Our guide shares stories and details of the different sights along our tour, which finishes back in St Mark's Square, where we see the Clock Tower and the oldest coffee house in the world, Caffè Florian.

After our tour we have time over lunch and into the afternoon to continue discovering this wonderful city at our own pace. You may like to enter St Mark's Basilica to see its atmospheric interior, or take a closer look at some of the other grand landmarks we've passed. Venice has a fabulous choice of places to eat, from upmarket restaurants to bar counters which sell cicchetti, bite-sized open sandwiches, or you could simply stop at a 'pasticceria' for coffee and a Venetian pastry. Wandering beside the city's luminous turquoise canals, passing Venetian palazzos and beautiful bridges, is the perfect way to soak up the ethereal atmosphere. We return to Desenzano by rail and dine at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

By now you'll have embraced the slow Italian pace of life, and you have the luxury of a day and evening to spend as you wish. You might choose to relax at the pool or on the roof terrace of your hotel, to discover more of the sights in Desenzano, or to explore further afield - by boat, or by rail.

The chance to sightsee by boat is a tempting option. On the western coast of the Lake is Gardone Riviera, a hidden gem and one of Italy's most beautiful small towns. Surrounded by mountains, the town features the André Heller Botanic Garden, with unusual plants from all over the world - Japanese gardens, water features and grottoes - decorated with contemporary art sculptures. This evening you are free to dine independently and there are many enticing eating places to choose from in Gardone. Alternatively, you may like to consider one of the options suggested on Day 4.

• Breakfast

This morning is at leisure until after lunch, so there's a chance to enjoy a lakeside walk along the Desenzano promenade, enjoy some more sightseeing, sunning or shopping. This afternoon we cruise across Lake Garda, heading to the wondrous Isola del Garda, the largest island on the lake, which is only accessible by boat. Isola del Garda has been owned by the Cavazza family for generations. Here, fragrant acacia and lemon trees frame an extraordinary neo-Gothic style villa. There's also a small wood of pines and cypresses, acacias and lemon trees, magnolias and agaves. We explore the exquisite villa and extensive gardens on a guided tour before relaxing with a drink, joined by a member of the Cavazza family. We return to Desenzano by boat and this evening we dine at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we travel by coach to historic Verona, a UNESCO-listed city that may be best-known as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. On a guided tour we're introduced to the city's ancient history as we wander beside Roman ruins and medieval buildings, seeing Juliet's balcony and the awe-inspiring Roman Arena, which predates Rome's Colosseum and is now an open-air opera house. With free time over lunch you could stroll into the heart of romantic Verona to the Piazza delle Erbe, the city's oldest square which was originally a Roman forum, now buzzing with cafés and lined with beautiful buildings. Or maybe wander down the main shopping street, where Italy's great fashion houses are represented. Another popular attraction in Verona is an 84-metre watchtower, Torre dei Lamberti, which has fantastic panoramic views across the city to the mountains on the horizon. We return to Desenzano by coach, and this evening we enjoy dinner at our Lake Garda hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely morning we leave the beautiful surroundings of Lake Garda, for a late morning coach transfer to Milan, where we arrive at lunchtime. From Milan we continue by rail to Chambéry, in France, passing Les Deux-Alpes and the Vanoise National Park enroute. We arrive into the attractive medieval town of Chambéry, surrounded by the French Alps, in the late afternoon and transfer to our hotel for the night. This charming French town has a fascinating language, owing to Italian, Portuguese and Spanish influences during its history. This evening we enjoy the last dinner of our memorable holiday at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a night in Chambéry and our final breakfast, we travel by rail to Paris, where we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras, arriving in the early evening. Our return journey provides a chance to reflect on our holiday in Lake Garda, to share experiences and say our goodbyes to fellow travellers and new friends.

• Breakfast