The Best of Italy's Lakes
14/07/2020 · By Katie Shaw
Italy's landscapes are truly spectacular; endless glittering coastlines, rural regions filled with vineyards, and of course, the lakes.
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2024 Tour code: 24LMS
About the tour
Explore the serene beauty of Italy's lakes from your base in the quaint town of Stresa on the shore of Lake Maggiore.
Enjoy a cruise on Lake Orta to an island monastery and explore the attractive lakeside village of Orta San Giulio.
Savour a journey through the Alps to Switzerland on the Centovalli Railway, passing incredible scenery on the way to Locarno, and cruise along Italy's longest lake back to Stresa.
Experience the delights of Lake Maggiore at your own pace, with free time to uncover the idyllic Borromean Islands and Stresa's elegant villas and charming town..
Unforgettable experiences
What’s included
Itinerary
You meet your group and Tour Manager at London St Pancras International this morning to catch the Eurostar service to Paris. In the French capital, you board the train to Strasbourg, arriving in the Alsace city in the afternoon. Your hotel is near the station, and you have time to explore this pretty city. Strasbourg's impressive main square, Place Kléber, or the half-timbered, riverside houses of La Petite France are only a short stroll from the hotel.
This evening, your group gathers to enjoy a three-course dinner in a local restaurant.
**Please note: For departures 11/05/2024 & 06/07/2024 will be staying in Mulhouse (not Strasbourg).
Additional information
Hotel
Trains
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Reviews
4.0 / 5 · 79 reviews
Gerry
Submitted 20/Jul
Whilst we were disappointed not to visit Strasbourg and ended up going to Mulhouse twice due to inefficient booking by Rail Discoveries ,the overall tour was excellent and really made by a wonderful Tour Manager Chris Reed
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C Phillips
Submitted 20/Jul
Great holiday. Excellent tour manager.
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Paul
Submitted 8/Jul
Getting to the destination was the problem. If one connection is delayed then everything is messed up. There is never a plan B. It's exhausting on the trains when there are problems and we had problems all the way. The hotel was reasonable, but the food was not great. Poor service from restaurant staff. The trips out once we were there were good, and the two free days were welcomed and enjoyable. Good local restaurants. On the return trip the coach driver seemed surprised that there was a Pride March and we were unable to reach are train station without leaving the coach and travelling on the Metro. This is the second time, for us, that a coach used by Rail Discoveries has been unprepared regarding a Pride March. Such marches are planned well in advance and the travel companies should know when disruption is likely.
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Stephen Eggerton
Submitted 7/Jul
Fawlty Towers hotel and lacklustre hotel staff matched by the poor quality of the evening meals, served in a dingy corner away from the "real" guests, as opposed to us merely belonging to a group . Made to feel like 3rd rate guests and something to be tolerated but not indulged. AVOID Rail Discoveries
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Joe McLean
Submitted 6/Jul
As a location, this was ideal. As an organised trip, not great at all. The journeys to and from the location involved around 8 trains, of which on two left and arrived on time. We missed many connections because of late or delayed trains, and the arranged meals at hotels were inedible, which is not something you expect in Italy.
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Mr Michael Kennedy
Submitted 27/Jun
Time spent in Italy was really enjoyable. Lovely area and lots to see and do. However, the rail journey to get there and back was a painfull experience. Stopping in France also on the way there and back was a waste of time. Hotels were good providing really nice breakfasts but the evening meals were of a poor quality and not flexible. You need to be aware that you should be fit enough to be able to carry your luggage up and down railway station stairways and train steps and stairways. Also involves walking a lot dragging your luggage.
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