Simply Lake Garda

Our holiday begins at London St Pancras where we meet our Tour Manager and our group of co-travellers before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. From the French capital, we continue by rail across France, passing the majestic Italian Alps as we travel to the stylish city of Turin, where we spend the night in a hotel in the heart of the city's historic centre.

After checking in to our hotel we join our group for our first dinner together in a traditional restaurant nearby.

• Dinner

After a buffet breakfast there's time at leisure to explore Turin. This dignified city is an important centre of business, finance and technology, and is also a showcase of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture. Fringed by the Italian alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars. Just a short walk from our hotel is a stylish pedestrianised shopping district.

In the mid-afternoon we regroup and walk the short distance to the railway station to continue our journey into northern Italy by rail. We pass through Milan before arriving at Desenzano, a large town with an attractive historic centre and charming waterfront, on the southern shores of Lake Garda.

Arriving late afternoon, we check into our hotel, in a quiet area overlooking the lake. The town's historic centre is 10 minutes' walk away and its picturesque piazzas are bordered by cafés, gelaterias and bars. There's also a pretty harbour and lakeside promenade, which there's time to discover before dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we take a short cruise to our nearest lakeside neighbour, Sirmione, one of Lake Garda's most delightful towns. Set on a narrow peninsula which stretches into the lake, this fascinating fortress town is a pleasure to explore on foot and you are free to do so independently.

Among the old town's medieval streets and colourful piazzas you'll find a 14th century church, inviting trattorias and pavement cafés. Local specialities include fresh fish, pizza and homemade pasta, such as pumpkin ravioli and tortellini. Maybe find an alfresco table for lunch, or enjoy people-watching over a coffee or a glass of Lombardy wine.

Sirmione is known for the striking medieval Scaligero Castle, which guards the entrance to the town. It's possible to enter the castle and climb its fortified walls for views across the lake.

Another ancient site on the Sirmione peninsula is the extraordinary Grottoes of Catullus, the preserved remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy. This afternoon we sail back to Desenzano where there's time at leisure - maybe to enjoy a swim in the hotel pool - before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A full free day ahead presents the perfect opportunity to get to know Desenzano. At the heart of the town is the main square, Piazza Malvezzi, where you'll find cafés, gelateria, stylish boutiques, delicatessens and wine shops. From the pretty marina with its ancient harbour wall you could walk along the lakefront on the Cesare Battisti promenade.

If you'd like to walk up to Desenzano Castle, follow Via Stretta Castello from Piazza Malvezzi. Built on the base of a Roman fort and town, this medieval castle has fabulous views across the bay. Nearby is the Roman villa with beautiful mosaics, thermal baths and a terrace overlooking the lake. Other highlights include the archaeological museum, and the Cathedral of St Mary Magdalene.

With Desenzano train station only 10 minutes' walk away, you could take one of the frequent trains to another city, such as fashionable Milan with its world-famous Duomo and opera house, Teatro Alla Scala. A boat trip is another appealing option. Lakeside towns to visit include picturesque Bardolino, known for its red wine and olive oil production, the UNESCO-listed Roman city of Peschiera, and beautiful Riva del Garda, a charming town surrounded by the Dolomites on the northern shore.

• Breakfast

Today is a highlight of our holiday as we travel by rail from Desenzano to glorious Venice. On arrival, a private boat transfers us to St Mark's Square, the heart and soul of Venice, surrounded by St Mark's Basilica, the beautiful Doge's Palace, and historic cafés. On a guided tour we are taken through hidden backstreets, seeing the house where Vivaldi was born, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George, and the famous Bridge of Sighs.

Our tour ends back in St Mark's Square, where we are free to continue discovering this wonderful city at our own pace. You could choose to enter St Mark's Basilica to see its incredible interior, or revisit some of the other great buildings we've passed.

Venice has a fabulous choice of eateries, from upmarket restaurants to bar counters which sell 'cicchetti', bite-sized open sandwiches, or pasticcerias for coffee and tasty Venetian pastries. Wandering the luminous turquoise canals, passing Venetian palazzos and beautiful bridges, is the ideal way to soak up Venice's ethereal atmosphere. We return to Desenzano by rail and dine at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning is at leisure, and it is market day in Desenzano so you may choose to wander down to the lakeside and join locals in browsing the many colourful stalls of clothing, handcrafted items and fresh produce. This afternoon we walk across to the boat landing and join a cruise across Lake Garda to the wondrous Isola del Garda, the largest island on the lake, which is only accessible by boat.

Isola del Garda has been owned by the Cavazza family for generations. Here, fragrant acacia and lemon trees frame an extraordinary neo-Gothic style villa. There's also a small wood of pines and cypresses, acacias and lemon trees, magnolias and agaves. We explore the exquisite villa and extensive gardens on a guided tour before relaxing with a drink, joined by a member of the Cavazza family.

We return to Desenzano by boat at the end of the afternoon, and there's time to relax and unwind before we gather for dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

By now you'll be enjoying the leisurely Italian pace of life, and today you have a day and evening ahead to spend exactly as you wish. You might choose to relax at the pool or on the roof terrace of our hotel, to discover more of Desenzano and its historic attractions, or to venture further afield, either by boat or by rail.

The chance to sightsee by boat is a tempting option. On the western coast of the lake is Gardone Riviera, a hidden gem and one of Italy's most beautiful small towns. Surrounded by mountains, the town features the André Heller Botanic Garden, with unusual plants from all over the world - a Japanese garden, water features and grottoes - which is decorated with contemporary art sculptures.

Besides the option to explore by boat today, you could also consider a day trip to a city that can be reached efficiently by rail, such as Milan or Florence. This evening you are free to dine independently and there are many enticing eating places to choose from in all the lakeside towns, including of course, Desenzano itself.

• Breakfast

Today we travel by coach to historic Verona, a UNESCO-listed city that may be best-known as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. On a guided tour we're introduced to the city's ancient history as we wander beside Roman ruins and medieval buildings, seeing Juliet's balcony and the awe-inspiring Roman Arena, which predates Rome's Colosseum and is now an open-air opera house.

With free time over lunch you could stroll into the heart of romantic Verona to the Piazza delle Erbe, the city's oldest square which was originally a Roman forum, now buzzing with cafés and lined with beautiful buildings. Or maybe wander down the main shopping street, where Italy's great fashion houses are represented. Another popular attraction in Verona is an 84-metre watchtower, Torre dei Lamberti, in Piazza delle Erbe. The tower has fantastic panoramic views across the city to the river and mountains on the horizon.

We return to Desenzano by coach at the end of the afternoon, and this evening we enjoy another three-course dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely morning we leave the beautiful surroundings of Lake Garda, for a late morning coach transfer to Milan, where we arrive at lunchtime. From Milan we continue by rail to Chambéry, passing Les Deux-Alpes and the Vanoise National Park enroute.

In the late afternoon we arrive into the attractive medieval town of Chambéry, with its wonderful backdrop of the French Alps, and walk a short distance to our hotel for the night. This charming French town has a fascinating language, owing to Italian, Portuguese and Spanish influences during its history. The historic Old Town has a characterful square, surrounded by colourful houses, and is listed as a Town of Art and History ('Ville d'Art et d'Histoire').

This evening we gather with our group to enjoy the final dinner of our memorable holiday at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a night in Chambéry and our final breakfast, we travel by rail to Paris, where we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras, arriving in the early evening. Our return journey provides a chance to reflect on our holiday in Lake Garda, to share experiences and say our goodbyes to fellow travellers and new friends.

The varied impressions from our journey out and homewards, via the dynamic city of Turin and the charming town of Chambéry passing spectacular Alpine scenery, and the many atmospheric images from our stay on beautiful Lake Garda are certain to remain in our hearts and evoke lasting memories.

• Breakfast