Italian Lakes: Orta, Como & Maggiore

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.

• Dinner (Rail departures only)

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.

• Breakfast (Rail departures only)
• Dinner

Today is a highlight of our holiday, as we board a boat from our hotel's private jetty to visit Isola San Giulio, a tiny island village, dominated by an ancient monastery. 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.

From here we cruise to the pretty town of Orta San Giulio, where whitewashed townhouses with terracotta roofs are set against forested mountains. There is free time over lunch and this afternoon to look around this beautiful medieval town, full of shops and restaurants, where you could 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.

We sail back to our hotel later, with time to relax, or maybe to enjoy the hotel pool and spa before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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 Heathrow.

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.

• Breakfast