Wonders of Northern Lake Garda & the Dolomites

Arriving at London St Pancras, your holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager and rest of the group before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. In Plus class seats, sit back and relax with a light meal as we journey towards the French capital. Here, we change trains and continue by First Class rail to Turin.

Surrounded by the dramatic backdrop of the Alps, Turin offers a perfect blend of history, scenic beauty and stunning Baroque architecture. After checking in to our hotel in the city's historic centre, we enjoy our first group dinner together in a traditional restaurant nearby.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

There's free time this morning to explore Turin at your own pace. Once the elegant seat of the House of Savoy, this sophisticated city is often considered Italy's most refined, with grand boulevards, historic cafés and sweeping piazzas at every turn.

After exploring, we regroup and walk to the railway station to continue our journey in First Class to Verona. On arrival, we join a coach and transfer to Riva del Garda, a stunning resort town at the northern tip of Lake Garda and our base for the next seven nights.

After checking in to our hotel - perfectly located on the shores of the lake and within walking distance of the historic centre - we enjoy dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, today is yours to get to know Riva del Garda at your own pace. Located at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites, this area offers a striking contrast to the lake's gentler southern shores. Here, dramatic limestone mountains rise almost vertically from the water's edge, creating a landscape that has long attracted walkers, climbers and nature lovers.

You might choose to stroll along the elegant waterfront promenade, visit the medieval Rocca fortress or ride the funicular to the Venetian Bastion, where breathtaking views stretch across the lake and surrounding mountains. Alternatively, unwind at Spiaggia dei Sabbioni, Riva del Garda's spacious lakeside beach, where you can relax on the grass or pebble shoreline while admiring the spectacular scenery. As you wander, you'll notice the town's unique blend of Italian charm and Austrian heritage, a reminder of the centuries when this region formed part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As evening falls, settle into one of the town's welcoming restaurants or lakeside trattorias. You might like to sample local specialities such as canederli, rustic bread dumplings found throughout the Trentino region.

• Breakfast

Setting out this morning, we travel to the elegant city of Bolzano, often regarded as the gateway to the Dolomites. Nestled between vineyards and mountain peaks, this fascinating city reflects the unique heritage of South Tyrol.

From here, we ascend by cable car to the Renon Plateau, where spectacular views unfold across the surrounding valleys and towards the peaks of the Dolomites. Arriving in Soprabolzano, we board the charming, narrow-gauge Renon Plateau Railway for a leisurely journey through alpine meadows and traditional mountain villages to Collalbo.

Our destination is the remarkable Earth Pyramids, among the tallest and finest examples of their kind in Europe. Formed over thousands of years by glacial deposits and erosion, these natural formations rise like slender, cone-shaped pillars, many crowned with protective boulders that have helped preserve them. There's time to admire this natural wonder before we journey by coach back to our hotel, where we enjoy dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Two of Lake Garda's most picturesque towns await today as we cruise across its sparkling waters. Our first stop is the enchanting village of Limone sul Garda, where colourful houses cling to the mountainside and cobbled streets wind between bustling piazzas. Long renowned for its citrus groves, Limone enjoys a remarkably mild microclimate, allowing lemons to flourish beneath the dramatic cliffs that surround the village. During your free time, you might choose to visit one of the traditional lemon houses to learn about this unique local heritage, browse the quaint shops or relax by the waterfront and soak up this beautiful setting.

Returning to the water, we continue to the medieval town of Malcesine, watched over by the 13th-century Scaliger Castle. Spend time wandering its maze of cobbled streets, discovering welcoming piazzas and artisan boutiques, or visit the castle for sweeping views across Lake Garda.

Later this afternoon, we return to Riva del Garda by coach. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure and dine independently, perhaps savouring more regional specialities in the town's inviting restaurants.

• Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, we travel to the elegant city of Trento, the historic capital of the Trentino region. On a guided tour, we discover some of the city's most notable landmarks, including the impressive Castello del Buonconsiglio, the former residence of the Prince-Bishops of Trento. With included entrance, explore its grand courtyards and historic rooms, where centuries of art, architecture and local history come together.

Continuing our guided tour, we wander through the city's historic centre, soaking up sights such as the Piazza Duomo and its Neptune Fountain, while learning about its fascinating past. There's free time afterwards to continue exploring and enjoy lunch at one of the welcoming cafés that line its streets.

This afternoon, we continue to the family-run Marzadro Distillery, where the art of making grappa has been perfected over generations. During a tour, we gain an insight into the Marzadro family's story and learn how this Italian spirit is crafted, from carefully selected grape pomace to the finished product. Our visit concludes with a tasting of the distillery's renowned grappa, offering an authentic flavour of the Trentino region, before we return to the hotel and dine independently.

• Breakfast

Another free day allows you to explore this beautiful region at your own pace. You may wish to visit the nearby town of Arco, renowned for its medieval centre and dramatic hilltop castle, or follow a section of the spectacular Ponale Path, one of Italy's most famous lakeside walks. Carved into the cliffs high above the water, the trail rewards walkers with breathtaking views across the lake.

Alternatively, head to the picturesque village of Torbole sul Garda, where colourful houses line the waterfront beneath the towering peaks of Monte Baldo. Thanks to the reliable winds that sweep across the northern lake, Torbole has become one of Europe's most popular destinations for sailing and windsurfing, making it the perfect place to relax by the lake and watch the sails dance across the water. This evening, a highlight awaits as we journey to the enchanting Castel Toblino for a memorable dinner. Set beside the tranquil waters of Lake Toblino and surrounded by vineyards, this lakeside castle provides a magical setting for a delicious three-course meal.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel to Caldaro this morning, where we board the historic Mendola Funicular for a scenic ascent to the Mendola Pass. Climbing through vineyards and woodland to over four thousand feet above sea level, this remarkable railway has been carrying passengers into the mountains for more than a century. At the summit, enjoy free time to soak up the fresh alpine air and admire sweeping views across the Adige Valley, with the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites providing a breathtaking backdrop.

Later, we continue to the South Tyrolean Wine Museum in Caldaro, where we discover the region's centuries-old winemaking traditions. During a guided tour, we learn how the area's unique climate, fertile soils and Alpine-Mediterranean influences have shaped its renowned vineyards, before sampling a selection of locally produced wines.

Returning to Riva del Garda, we gather this evening for our final dinner together in the hotel restaurant, providing perfect opportunity to reflect on the memorable experiences of the past week.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a memorable holiday, it's time to bid farewell to this beautiful corner of Italy. From the dramatic mountain landscapes of the Dolomites and the charming lakeside towns that fringe Lake Garda to scenic rail journeys, historic cities and the rich culinary traditions of Trentino and South Tyrol, this tour has showcased the remarkable diversity of one of Italy's most captivating regions.

Today, we travel to Verona Airport ready to board our flight back to London, where your Italian holiday comes to an end.

If you have upgraded to the return by rail option, transfer by coach to Verona and board the train in First Class to Chambéry for an overnight stay.

• Breakfast
• Dinner (return by rail option only)

Boarding a train in Chambéry after breakfast at our hotel, we travel into France and onwards to Paris.   

In the French capital, we change trains and join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling in Plus class with a light meal served at our seats. On arrival, your Italian holiday comes to an end. 

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal