Jewels of Lake Maggiore & the Centovalli Railway
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Holiday Highlights
Explore Italy’s lesser known lakes with Travel Department on this 7-night holiday that offers the perfect combination of activity, exploration and recreation. We’ll take in the crystal blue waters of Lake Maggiore and Orta with panoramic boat rides, stopping to explore some of the lakeside towns and the famous summer palace on Isola Bella, one of the Borromean Islands. We will also visit Lake Orta, considered a hidden gem by locals who refer to it as “La Cenerentola” or Cinderella, because it’s even more beautiful than its sisters Como and Maggiore. We’ll take a scenic train journey, between Locarno and Domodossola which runs through the magical “Hundred Valleys”. This Italy holiday also offers plenty of free time to stroll around the Lake Maggiore, relax with a gelato or explore the surrounding area with tips from your expert guide.
What's Included
Fully guided
7 nights 3* half board
Flights & Transfers
Itinerary
Day 1 to 8
Day 1: Upon arrival in Italy, we will be met by our local representative and transferred by coach to our hotel.
Day 2: Today is free to enjoy as you please. Check out the local cafes and lovely lakeside walks, while enjoying splendid views across the lake to the Borromean Islands. Ask our guide to recommend some places of interest for you according to your tastes.
Day 3: Today, we’ll enjoy a full day excursion visiting the Borromean Islands by boat. Isola Bella is one of the most admired destinations on Lake Maggiore and here we’ll visit the famous Baroque Palace and Italian style terraced gardens, famous for its white peacocks. After some free time, our next visit will be to Fisherman's Island (Isola Dei Pescatori), the only permanently inhabited island, which is famed for its narrow lanes and Church of San Vittore. We’ll have some free time for lunch (under own arrangements), before we continue to Isola Madre, the largest of the three islands. With its 20 acre park, the rare plants and exotic flowers in the English styled botanical gardens will enchant us, before we finish up with a visit to the 16th century home where the Borromean family spent their summers.
Day 4: We will have a full day to relax and take it easy today! Our guide will be happy to offer suggestions for activities and places to see in the surrounding area.
Day 5: Following breakfast, we’ll travel by coach to Omegna at the northern tip of Lake Orta. Next, we’ll continue onwards through quaint villages to the southern end of the lake, where we’ll board a boat and sail to the medieval village of Orta. Known as the 'Venice without water', Orta is a maze of picturesque streets and narrow cobbled lanes with many chapels dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. We’ll return to our hotel in the afternoon.
Day 6: Today we have a further opportunity to relax and enjoy this lovely region of Italy. Our guide will recommend some places of interest for you according to your tastes.
Day 7: After breakfast, we’ll travel by coach along the Ossola Valley floor towards Domodossola. Here, we’ll board a narrow gauge railway for our scenic rail journey travelling over 83 bridges and through 31 tunnels into the Swiss town of Locarno at the northern tip of Lake Maggiore. We’ll have free time at leisure for lunch (under own arrangements), shopping and sightseeing in Locarno before returning to our hotel by coach in the afternoon.
Day 8: Return home
Hotel Beau Rivage
Located on the lakeside in the heart of scenic Baveno, the family-run Hotel Beau Rivage offers pleasingly decorated, comfortable accommodation and is a perfect base for sightseeing in this beautiful region. A 5-minute stroll along the lakeshore promenade brings you to the departure point for the public boat service to the Borromean Islands. Hotel facilities include a seasonal outdoor swimming pool set in terraced gardens, plus spacious and charming lounge and bar areas in which you can relax and enjoy the company of fellow travellers.