Lake Maggiore, Piedmont & the Matterhorn for Solo Travellers
Holiday Highlights
- Tour Lake Maggiore's exquisite Borromean Isles
- Cross into Switzerland to stop at the foot of the Matterhorn
- Visit Verbania’s stunning Villa Taranto and its gardens
- Taste some of Italy’s best red wine at Castello di Barolo
- Discover Turin, the capital of Piedmont, on an optional excursion
- A guided tour of Alba - home of white truffles and dark chocolate
What's Included
- Seven nights’ half-board accommodation at the Hotel Royal, Stresa
- A Borromean Islands cruise with entrance to Isola Bella
- Entry to Villa Taranto and its gardens
- A guided tour of Alba, entrance to Castello di Barolo with a glass of wine
- Tasch shuttle train ride to Zermatt
- A Welcome Drink on your first evening
- Return flights to Italy
- Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly to Italy and transfer to your hotel in Stresa. In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with your tour manager and fellow travellers.
Day 2
Today you’ll explore beautiful Maggiore, Italy’s second-largest lake, mountain-backed and famed for the beautiful gardens that line its shores. Board a water-taxi or steamer for the crossing to the idyllic Borromean Islands. Visit Isola Bella and its water gardens, where entry to the 17th-century Baroque palace is included, and stop in charmingly picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, inhabited by a long-standing community of fishermen and a perfect place for a lunch of lake fish. Round off your day with a visit to Verbania, where the world-famous gardens of Villa Taranto, created by an ex-pat Scotsman, are even more stunning than those on the islands. Entry to the villa will be included and you'll have time to explore before returning to your hotel for dinner.
Hotel Royal, Stresa
This friendly hotel offers warmth and charm close to the lakefront and Stresa's cable car.
Hotel Facilities & Amenities
- The hotel has gardens and a large rooftop terrace, a pool, a whirlpool, an indoor/outdoor restaurant, a bar and a reading room.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 15 minutes from Milan Malpensa and two hours from Milan Bergamo.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Meals in Italy
Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Italian hotel room tax
Some regions of Italy have introduced a room tax of between 1 € and 3 € per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your Tour Manager in resort if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Airport development fees
An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.