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Italian Lakes: Como, Maggiore & Orta

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You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
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8 days From £1,699 £1,499 per person
4.1 stars(58 reviews)
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Experience three of Italy’s best-loved lakes, visiting historic lakeside towns, cruising to picturesque islands, and encountering Switzerland’s most iconic mountain, the Matterhorn

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Save up to £200pp on Europe 2025 holidays when you book by 31st October 2024.

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Mobility Rating 3

2025 Tour code: 25ORL

About the tour

Soak up the beauty and relaxed ambience of three of Italy's lakes. Staying in a hotel on the peaceful shores of Lake Orta, quieter than its famed neighbours, we explore Como's lakeside towns and elegant Stresa on Lake Maggiore, Italy's second largest lake.

On this holiday of picturesque lakes, mountains and stunning views, cruise to tiny islands such as Isola San Giulio and enjoy a day trip to the idyllic Swiss alpine resort of Zermatt, nestled beneath the mighty Matterhorn.

Unforgettable Experiences

Sailing to the tiny islands of Lake Orta
Sailing to the tiny islands of Lake Orta
Enjoy a gentle cruise on Lake Orta, seeing the towns along its shores from a different perspective, visiting the medieval island of Isola San Giulio and the pretty town of Orta San Giulio.
Discovering historic Stresa on Lake Maggiore
Discovering historic Stresa on Lake Maggiore
Visit the town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, discovering the history, natural beauty and charm of this elegant resort which has been popular with artists and writers for over 200 years.
Visiting the tranquil, car-free Alpine resort of Zermatt
Visiting the tranquil, car-free Alpine resort of Zermatt
Explore Switzerland’s peaceful mountain resort of Zermatt, with free time to look around this historic town below the famous Matterhorn mountain.
Cruising across Lake Como, visiting lakeside towns
Cruising across Lake Como, visiting lakeside towns
Discover beautiful lakeside towns on the shores of Lake Como, one of Italy’s most celebrated lakes, on a cruise from the classic town of Menaggio to glamorous Bellagio.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London to Turin for an overnight stay

Your holiday starts when you meet your Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras this morning, before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. In the French capital, we change to the direct train to Turin, where we arrive this evening. A coach transfers us to our overnight hotel then, after checking in, we walk a short distance to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Please note: If travelling by air, your holiday starts on Day 2 of the itinerary and ends on Day 8.

Includes
  • Dinner (Rail departures only)
Day 2 - Through the Alps to Lake Orta

After breakfast in Turin, we are taken on a guided walking tour of the city, followed by free time over lunch.

Our journey continues in the early afternoon when we travel by coach to the peaceful village of Pettenasco on the secluded shores of Lake Orta where we check in to our friendly, family run hotel - home for the next six nights. With a modern environment, and great views across the lake, this tranquil location is a relaxing base for your tour. Unlike the more famous lakes, Garda and Como, Lake Orta's seclusion makes it a peaceful alternative, where you can experience an authentic and relaxed Italian way of life.

Tonight, and each evening of our stay at Lake Orta, we have a three-course dinner with selected drinks.

If travelling by air, your holiday starts today at London Gatwick where you meet your Tour Manager and group before flying to Milan Malpensa. In Milan we are transferred directly to our hotel on Lake Orta.

Includes
  • Breakfast (Rail departures only)
  • Dinner
Day 3 - Boat cruise to Orta San Giulio and Isola San Giulio

Today is a highlight of our holiday, as we board a boat from our hotel's private jetty for a cruise across the lake to the pretty town of Orta San Giulio. Here, whitewashed townhouses with terracotta roofs are set against forested mountains. There is free time to look around this beautiful medieval town, maybe relax in a piazza or wander down to the lakefront, dotted with small fishing boats. With its peaceful atmosphere, well-preserved buildings and scenic surroundings, Orta San Giulio is a UNESCO World Heritage site, that has attracted writers and poets since the 19th century.

Our cruise continues to Isola San Giulio, a tiny island village, dominated by an ancient monastery. There is free time over lunch and into the afternoon to discover the pretty island.

Isola San Giulio has an intriguing history and the inside of the basilica is well worth a visit, for its frescoes and the crypt of the 4th century Greek evangelist who the island is named after. We sail back to our hotel later, with time to relax, or maybe to enjoy the hotel pool and spa before dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Into Switzerland, to Zermatt and the Matterhorn

This morning brings another high point of our tour, as we transfer to the city of Domodossola where we join the train to the alpine town of Brig in Switzerland, then continue by rail to the peaceful mountain resort of Zermatt. With the towering presence of Switzerland's famous pyramid-shaped mountain, the Matterhorn, and car-free streets, the town has a tranquil atmosphere.

You are free to wander through this picture-book location, and maybe relax in a café or restaurant with some typical Swiss fare. One of Zermatt's attractions is the Matterhorn museum which gives an insight into the history of this area and the famous mountain, where modern mountaineering first began. Another option from Zermatt is to take a trip on the Gornergrat Railway for fantastic views of the Matterhorn summit. We return by the same route to our hotel, arriving in time for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - A day to relax on the shores of Lake Orta

Today you have a full day ahead of you to spend as you choose. It is market day in the nearby lakeside town of Omegna and you could hop on one of the boats from our village if you feel like visiting (payable locally). You could browse the many stalls of produce and local crafts and maybe enjoy a coffee in the square.

Alternatively, you could visit the museum of Pettenasco, dedicated to the town's wood-working industry. The Romanesque church may also be of interest, with its two bell towers and pretty entrance. With lovely lakeside views from the hotel terrace, you might be content to linger over a coffee there, and drink in the scenery.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - A day trip to Lake Como

We head to another beautiful location today by coach - picturesque Lake Como, with a backdrop of the Alps and shores dotted with luxurious villas, orange trees, and sunlit village squares. Our first stop is the lakeside town of Menaggio, on the western shores of Lake Como, which has classic Italian appeal. You are free to explore here, and could wander down to Piazza Garibaldi, in the heart of the Old Town - a relaxing place to enjoy a gelato and watch the world go by.

We then cross the lake by ferry to Bellagio, a stunning location known as 'the pearl of Lake Como', on the edge of a peninsula. There is time to wander the cobbled streets independently and visit a café, or browse shops of locally produced crafts. You could choose to visit Villa Melzi D'Eril and its gardens just outside the compact town centre, commissioned by Duke Melzi D'Erlil, an assistant to Napoleon Bonaparte. Later, the coach takes us back to Lake Orta, where we arrive at our hotel with time to freshen up before dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - An excursion to Stresa, on Lake Maggiore

This is our last full day in the Italian Lakes and we make the most of it. A coach takes us to the elegant town of Stresa, overlooking Lake Maggiore, which has welcomed visitors - including the writers Lord Byron and Robert Browning - to its luxurious villas and hotels since the 19th century. There is plenty of free time to discover its medieval buildings, public gardens and museums.

You could stroll along the promenade and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, or might choose to take a scenic boat trip to the Borromean islands. There are frequent ferries from the port and fares start from 3 euros. The small island known as Isola Bella is a popular place to visit, known for the opulent Borromeo Palace and its formal Italian Gardens.

Tonight is the last dinner at our hotel, and the final night of our holiday.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Homeward bound, by air or rail

After breakfast, it's time to say a final goodbye to Italy. If returning by air to London, your group will be transferred to Milan Malpensa airport this morning before your flight to London Gatwick.

If returning home by rail, we transfer by coach to Stresa for a rail connection to Paris, travelling via the lakeside city of Lausanne. There's time on this scenic journey to look back on your time in the Italian Lakes and the idyllic mountain resort of Zermatt, set beneath the Switzerland's famous Matterhorn.

On arrival in Paris, we join the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco

Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco

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Trains

Eurostar
TGV

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Upgrades

Upgrade to Standard Premier Class on Eurostar
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Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 58 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (18)
  2. 4 stars
    (32)
  3. 3 stars
    (7)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

A Lassam

4 stars

Submitted 26/Sep

The tour was wonderful,well led by the tour manager

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs Judith Henderson Smith

4 stars

Submitted 14/Jul

It was a lovely holiday, but we felt we would have preferred not to visit Lake Como which was rushed, poorly served by the ferry service, busy and commercialised. The trip to lake Maggiore, was wonderful, despite poor weather

Collected by Trustpilot

Helen

4 stars

Submitted 2/Jul

Wonderful tour and Stella our giude did a super job, well organised,cheerful, caring and friendly and approachable! Pity the weather was a bit hit and miss, some rain which dampened things a bit but still had super time, stunning scenery. Our hotel was fabulous, lovely staff and meals were lovely ??

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Margaret Duff

4 stars

Submitted 29/Jun

Very good destination hotel, situated right on the lakeside. The excursions were well planned and organised. The return to London in one day made for a very long day, but overall we enjoyed the holiday.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr B.R.Thatcher

4 stars

Submitted 28/Jun

An enjoyable experience. An excellent Tour Manager. Thank you.

Collected by Trustpilot

I Smith

3 stars

Submitted 28/Jun

Ok but hard work changing trains so many times

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Ingrid, Thank you for your review. We do appreciate that train travel can be strenuous as you work to get to and from your main destinations, especially on the first and last days. We are constantly reviewing the transport on our trips and will make sure to look into this tour for the future. Sophie
1 comment

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