DAY 1 UK/Milan
Meet your travelling companions at your chosen airport and depart on your scheduled flight to Milan. On arrival transfer to your hotel on Lake Como for a seven night stay. In the evening there will be a welcome drink and dinner.
DAYS 2 TO 7 - Tremezzo
Free to relax and enjoy our excursion programme. The following excursions are included:
Bellagio & Villa Melzi Gardens - Our half day excursion by ferry boat takes us to explore one of Lake Como’s most popular sights, the Villa Melzi gardens at Bellagio, built for Duke Francesco Melzi D’Eril in 1808. The magnificent gardens are divided into several sections and adorned with historical statues. Following our visit you will have free time to stroll around the picturesque resort of Bellagio before we return by boat to our hotel.
Lake Maggiore, Villa Taranto & the Borromean Islands - We enjoy a full day scenic tour of Lake Maggiore, fondly known as the ‘Lake of Flowers’. The lake is simply idyllic with deep blue waters, towering mountains, colourful terraced flower gardens, beautiful islands and pretty lakeside resorts. Its timeless attractions have enchanted visitors for generations and an abiding memory will be the sight and scent of flowers, particularly the magnolias and oleanders.
Our first stop will be the famous botanical gardens of the Villa Taranto at Pallanza. The formal gardens of the villa are carefully laid out with ornamental fountains, waterfalls, statues and pools, and feature over 20,000 different species of plants from all over the world – a real gardeners’ paradise.
After walking around admiring the gardens, we enjoy a short boat trip across the lake to Isola Bella, the largest Borromean Island, with its magnificent 17th century palace and impressive terraced gardens.
The following excursions are optional:
Villa Monastero - This half day trip takes us to visit the elegant Villa Monastero in the pretty resort of Varenna on the eastern shores of Lake Como where we can take an enjoyable lakeside stroll through its glorious gardens of rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas.
Milan - We spend the day exploring Italy’s capital of style and fashion with a city guide. Milan has plenty to offer, including the Sforzesco Castle and the elegant shops of the Gallerie. There is also a wealth of architectural treasures to discover such as the magnificent Duomo and the world-famous La Scala Opera House.
St. Moritz/Bernina Express - Our full day excursion features a scenic coach journey to Tirano followed by the superb Bernina Express railway journey (approx. 2hrs) through the spirals and tunnels of the Bernina Pass, climbing to a height of over 7,000ft. Journey’s end is the exclusive Swiss resort of St. Moritz, after which we return by coach directly to Lake Como.
On the final evening enjoy a farewell get-together.
DAY 8 - Milan/UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.