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Southern Europe & The Mediterranean

Lake Maggiore

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4.5 stars(27 reviews)
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Fabulous scenery and a relaxing lakeside destination

You are viewing the 2022 itinerary. Select your departure year
20212022
8 days From £1,199 per person
Regional Travel Offer

Free Standard Class return rail tickets: from your local station to London (excluding any Transport for London travel in London and Gatwick/Heathrow Express) available on all Rail Discoveries 2022 European Holidays by rail

Terms & Conditions

2022 Tour code: 22LMS

About the tour

This wonderful holiday takes you to the shores of beautiful Lake Maggiore. Set among the stunning peaks of the Italian Alps, enjoy an escape filled with beauty as you cruise to the lake's idyllic islands and journey on the scenic Centovalli Railway.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London & Strasbourg

You meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris. Here, you change trains and continue to the city of Strasbourg, where you spend the night in a local hotel.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Lake Maggiore

Continue to Italy, taking the train to the small and pretty town of Stresa, one of the most popular resorts on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Although a highly popular Italian resort, Stresa is small enough to explore on foot, rewarding its visitors with medieval buildings, opulent and historic villas, delightful public gardens and several fascinating museums. You check into your hotel for the next five nights, which enjoys superb views overlooking the lake and the surrounding Italian Alps.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Isola Bella

Cruise to picturesque Isola Bella, a small island in the middle of the lake. Transformed by the aristocratic Borromeo family in the 16th and 17th centuries, today it's dominated by the sumptuous Borromean Palace. You visit the palace before free time to explore the Italian gardens, which are equally as opulent as the interiors. Continue by boat to Isola dei Pescatore, also known as Fisherman's Island, another of the Borromean Islands and home to a quaint fishing village which has only 50 or so permanent residents. While here, you could sample one of the traditional fish restaurants, the local speciality being perch from the lake.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Isola Bella
Day 4 - Stresa

Today you're free to relax in Stresa. Perhaps take the time to head out and explore the delightful town and all that it has to offer. You could follow in the footsteps of prestigious guests to the area including Ernest Hemingway and Princess Margaret as you enjoy a scenic stroll along the pretty lakeside promenade. Alternatively, take advantage of the hotel's comforts and enjoy a relaxing day. Lounge on the hotel's sun terrace, drinking in the spectacular Alpine views that spread out into the distance, or enjoy the nearby pool at your hotel's sister hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Stresa
Day 5 - Centovalli Railway

Enjoy a journey on the Centovalli Railway. With a name meaning "One Hundred Valleys", the railway connects Locarno in Switzerland to Domodossola in Italy. The line opened in 1923 and has remained popular ever since, with its beautiful bridges crossing over incredible lakeside and valley scenery. You wind through valleys and past deep ravines, over bridges and through tunnels, between Domodossola and lakeside Locarno. On arrival in Locarno, you're free to grab lunch and explore. Perhaps visit the Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso, a historical site perched above the village, where you'll be treated to fantastic views over Locarno and the lake. Later, take the scenic route back to the hotel, with a pleasant cruise across the lake to Stresa.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Centovalli Railway
Day 6 - Lake Orta

Travel by coach to tranquil Lake Orta, an unspoiled lake with an enchanting atmosphere that's one of Italy's quieter lakes. Situated on the lake is the charming town of Orta San Giulio, where you have some free time to explore. Perhaps admire the paintings in the UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte di Orta here. You also enjoy a boat ride to the Isola San Giulio, a tiny yet delightful island topped with a Benedictine monastery, Basilica di San Giulio.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
View of Lake Orta
Day 7 - Mulhouse

You begin your journey home today. You travel first to Basel, where you change trains and continue to Mulhouse. You spend the night here in a local hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - London

Leaving Mulhouse, you travel by high-speed rail to Paris. Here, you connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour 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

Milan Speranza Hotel au Lac, Stresa

Milan Speranza Hotel au Lac, Stresa

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Trains

Centovalli Railway
Eurostar
The TGV

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 27 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (16)
  2. 4 stars
    (9)
  3. 3 stars
    (2)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Mr G Trent

5 stars

Submitted 06 Nov 2019

Our first group organised holiday and we really enjoyed it!

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mrs M Standing

5 stars

Submitted 28 Oct 2019

Every thing about this holiday was most enjoyable .the staff at the hotel were very friendly and the rooms were a nice size .

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr G Gibbons

4 stars

Submitted 22 Oct 2018

A well thought out and organised trip. Stresa was a lovely friendly destination to stay on the beautiful Lake Maggorie. The excursions were good, although we would have liked to have had some guides included as time is very limited on these trips to take it all in.The hotel was good, rooms nice, friendly, efficient staff with plenty of food which was adequate. Out tour manager went out of his way to ensure everyone had was happy.

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr N Burr

5 stars

Submitted 27 Aug 2018

Completely met my expectations

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr R Stevens

3 stars

Submitted 06 Nov 2017

The accommodation bedrooms were not four star as in your brochure.

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr P Greenhalgh

4 stars

Submitted 06 Nov 2017

overall the trip and the organisation were good.

Collected by Rail Discoveries

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European Escorted Holidays by Rail 2022

European Escorted Holidays by Rail 2022

The definitive guide to European rail tours and holidays by rail.

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Lake Maggiore

Fabulous scenery and a relaxing lakeside destination

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