Italian Christmas and Swiss New Year

We meet at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar service to Paris. From here, we transfer to Turin for the night. On Day 2, we travel by rail to Desenzano on the shores of Lake Garda before transferring to our hotel in Bardolino. Set on the shores of the lake surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, this is a beautiful, quintessentially Italian place to spend Christmas. On Day 3 it's Christmas Day, and we have plenty of free time to relax amidst our stunning surroundings. You could take a morning walk along the shores of the lake, admiring the glass-like waters, and in the evening, head into the town centre to see the lit-up Christmas decorations. We sit down to a festive turkey Christmas lunch accompanied by a glass of Prosecco, and later on, we celebrate the day with a delicious three-course dinner.

• Day 1 - Eurostar meal, Dinner
• Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 3 - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our excursion today takes us to Verona for a walking tour followed by free time to explore at your own pace. Verona is a city of great romance and culture, and the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. At Christmas time, it's transformed with pretty lights and a charming, traditional market, where you could grab a mug of mulled wine or an indulgent hot chocolate.

We journey to the captivating 'Floating City' of Venice on Day 5, where we enjoy a guided walking tour of its main sights including St Mark's Square. Venice is one of Italy's most unique cities, set on a shimmering lagoon, its narrow lanes linked by a series of beautiful bridges that cross the labyrinth of canals. Visiting during the festive period gives a different experience of the city, as fairy lights are strung up by the waters and the city takes on a magical, festive atmosphere.

• Day 4 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 5 - Breakfast, Dinner

Today we travel by rail to Interlaken, a charming Swiss town nestled between two lakes. On arrival, we check into our hotel for four nights. On Day 7, we embark on a spectacular journey aboard the Jungfrau Railway to the summit of Jungfraujoch, also known as the 'Top of Europe'. After a wonderful journey, in part travelling through tunnels hewn out of the rock of the mountains, we arrive at the summit station. Here, we're greeted with stunning panoramas; frosty mountain peaks stretching as far as the eye can see, and the vast and ancient Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps. After enjoying the snowy vistas, we head back to our hotel. Day 8 is free for you to relax.

• Day 6 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 7 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 8 - Breakfast

Today is New Year's Eve and we journey through the spectacular Bernese Oberland to Grindelwald, a traditional Alpine village dominated by the north-face of the Eiger. We have free time here to explore the traditional wooden chalets and festively-lit streets. Perhaps take a horse-drawn carriage ride, a magical way to take in your surroundings. We return to Interlaken where we sit down to a magnificent gala dinner. After a delicious meal and time to enjoy the festivities, we enjoy a special toast as we ring in the New Year together at midnight. We transfer by rail to Strasbourg on New Year's Day, where we stay overnight. On Day 11, we return to London St Pancras on the Eurostar.

• Day 9 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 10 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 11 - Breakfast, Eurostar meal