Sirmione on Lake Garda

Our holiday begins at London St Pancras, where we meet our Tour Manager and group of fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. Travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class, we are served drinks and a light meal at our comfortable seats.

From the French capital, we continue by First Class rail to the attractive medieval town of Chambéry, with its wonderful backdrop of the French Alps. On arrival, we take a short walk from the station to our hotel, where we check in for the night. There may be a little free time to look around before our first group dinner together.

Chambéry has a historic Old Town with a characterful square, tall, colourful houses, and is officially listed as a Town of Art and History ('Ville d'Art et d'Histoire').

• Dinner
• Eurostar light meal

After breakfast this morning, we take the train from Chambéry to Milan, passing the Vanoise National Park enroute. In Milan we are taken by coach to the picturesque peninsula of Sirmione, on the southern shores of Lake Garda - Italy's largest lake. The town's most distinctive feature is its handsome fortress castle and drawbridge, which guards the entrance to Sirmione's long, narrow peninsula that stretches out into the shimmering lake. We arrive at the entrance to the town in the late afternoon, then cross the drawbridge and moat on the way to our stylish hotel, 700 metres from the castle.

This family-run hotel is a favourite among our customers and, with its stunning lakeside setting, swimming pools and a fabulous luxury spa whose thermal pool is fed directly by Sirmione's renowned hot springs, it's hardly surprising. After a welcome drink, there's time to settle in to our surroundings and soak up the idyllic setting, before our four-course dinner in the hotel restaurant, which overlooks glorious Lake Garda.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast overlooking the lake, there is a free day stretching out ahead of you. You may like to get to know enchanting Sirmione, which is bursting with history and charm. You could visit the beautifully-preserved medieval Scaligero Castle, which we passed through as we entered the town. The castle was constructed in the 12th century by the Scaligeri, the ruling family of Verona, and it is possible to enjoy great views across the lake from the top of its fortified walls.

Sirmione's old town, signposted as the 'centro storico', is a pleasure to discover. Here you'll find a maze of medieval churches and interesting buildings such as Palazzo Callas, home of the opera singer Maria Callas, in the 1950s. The old town also features an array of tempting cafés, inviting ristorantes, and traditional gelaterias. The Maria Callas Parco, a small park with a viewpoint, is a peaceful green space, just outside the 'centro storico'. The lakefront feels almost sea-like and not far from our hotel, towards the tip of the peninsula is the inviting Jamaica Beach. This evening we dine together in the restaurant of our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today starts with a visit to historic Verona and a guided tour. We see Juliet's famous balcony and the city's 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. Or wander down the main shopping street where Italy's great fashion houses are represented.

Leaving Verona this afternoon, we head to a charming wine cooperative in rural Valpolicella to indulge in one of the highpoints of our holiday. The winemakers of this traditional winery welcome us into their relaxing and tranquil setting as we learn about local wine production during a tour and a tasting of excellent red wines. We then enjoy a private, mouth-watering dinner of homemade traditional dishes at the vineyard, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you have another opportunity to explore lovely Sirmione at leisure. You could visit Grotte di Catullo, the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy, set on a small hill at the tip of the peninsula, where there are wonderful views from the top.

You may like to enjoy coffee, an ice cream or lunch at one of the inviting pavement cafés. Sirmione has an excellent choice of eateries, from traditional osterias or trattorias to fine dining restaurants. Fresh fish, pizzas and delicious homemade pasta, including pumpkin ravioli and a variety of tortellini, feature on many menus. With the famed vineyards of Lombardy and Veneto nearby, it's no surprise that the wine here is notable too. You might choose to take it slow and indulge in an afternoon of people-watching as you soak up the atmosphere while enjoying a glass of local wine.

No doubt you will also find time to make the most of the hotel facilities, including the swimming pool, spa, and its peaceful garden. This evening, we enjoy another four-course dinner at our hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is another highlight of our holiday, starting the day with a First Class rail journey to Venice. Known as 'La Serenissima', this timeless and enchanting city is made up of many islands, linked by bridges and intricate canals, and set in a shimmering lagoon.

On arrival, we are taken by private boat to St Mark's Square - the epicentre of the city, surrounded by the ornate St Mark's Basilica, the delicate pink Doge's Palace, and historic cafés, once frequented by Lord Byron and Charles Dickens. From here we are taken on a guided tour through fascinating streets to see Venice's main sights.

Possibly the highlight of our day is a delightful private gondola ride. Gliding through the luminous canals of Venice - beneath ancient arched bridges, passing exquisite palazzos and iconic Venetian buildings - is the perfect way to soak up the city's ethereal atmosphere. With free time after this experience, you might like to order an aperitif at one of the city's many bars, or relax at a café, watching the world pass by. We return by First Class rail then transfer to Sirmione, and dine at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a free day and evening ahead, today is an ideal time to discover some of the other picturesque towns, villas and gardens of Lake Garda, or maybe to explore a little further afield. The chance to sightsee by boat is a tempting option. Isola del Garda is the most prominent of Lake Garda's islands and has been owned by the Cavazza family for generations. Here, fragrant acacia and lemon trees frame an extraordinary neo-Gothic style villa, making it a lovely place to while away an afternoon.

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 - Japanese gardens, water features and grottoes - decorated with contemporary art sculptures. If you'd like to venture further, there are frequent trains to a number of towns and cities from Desenzano station. This evening you are free to dine independently and there are many enticing eateries to choose from, in Gardone, or Sirmione's old town.

• Breakfast

This morning we travel by coach along Lake Garda's eastern shore to the gorgeous medieval hamlet of Malcesine which has a striking castle and palace, overlooking the fjordlike lake and facing the dramatic mountains of Lake Garda's western shores.

With free time from late morning and over lunch, you may like to visit the impressive 14th-century castle, which dominates the town. There are a number of inviting restaurants, cafés and street food stalls to choose from for lunch in this relaxed and friendly lakeside town.

We make the return journey by boat - a lovely way to experience the fantastic landscape and diverse scenery of Lake Garda from a different perspective as we cruise the length of the lake, back to Sirmione, sailing via the town of Garda.

This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner at this wonderful lakeside hotel, marking our final night on Lake Garda.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We bid farewell to Sirmione and Lake Garda this morning, but our adventure isn't over yet. Our sightseeing continues by train as we head north to Milan - from here we travel by First Class rail, passing Italy's northern lakes, through the Simplon tunnel which connects Italy to Switzerland. Once we emerge from the tunnel, we travel alongside the stunning Swiss alps, then follow the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva.

We arrive in the vibrant lakeside city of Lausanne in the late afternoon, checking in to our hotel for an overnight stay. There's time to explore this fascinating university city - with its cobbled, car-free old town and an exquisite Gothic cathedral - before we gather for the last dinner of our holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, this morning we say farewell to the lovely lakeside city of Lausanne and continue by First Class rail to Paris. As we travel homewards, our train journey provides time to reflect on the special moments and unforgettable experiences of our Italian lakes adventure. From the dreamlike setting of our Lake Garda spa hotel, the timeless cities of Venice, Verona and the wonderful Valpolicella winery we dined at, to the delightful places we have stayed at enroute, this special holiday will leave you with lasting memories to cherish. In Paris, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling in style in spacious Standard Premier class with drinks and a light meal served at our seats.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar light meal