The Italian lakes conjure a dreamy image of romance and beauty, amongst the bucolic landscapes. All around mountains tumble steeply into ribbons of blue, islands float enticingly just offshore, whilst mellowed villas sit in perfect gardens along the shorelines.
“See the Lakes in style … fold down the roof and follow a specially designed scenic route that snakes around the back roads between Maggiore, Como, Iseo and Garda.” The Sunday Times, Italian Top 20 (Jan ‘06)
This ten day tour will explore Lakes Maggiore, Orta, Lugano, Como, Iseo and Garda, together with the surrounding areas which exhibit an enchanting combination of Mediterranean foliage set against the back drop of snow-capped mountains. There are some of the most beautiful towns and striking gardens in the whole of Europe to be visited. Experience aristocratic villas, glorious sunsets, boat trips to islands with magical villages, a fascinating range of cuisines, truly superb wines and, of course, the lakes themselves and all they have to offer.
Route
Italian Lakes route: Lake Orta to Lake Garda. Click image to enlarge
Accommodation
The Italian section of the tour will stay in three delightful hotels, each on a lake shore. All the hotels have wonderful character and individuality, whilst being of an excellent standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, all the rooms are different, and will vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked and visited each hotel to ensure it has an enchanting atmosphere, as well as suitable parking for your car. All the accommodation includes breakfast.
Itinerary
May be subject to change without notice
Day One
Depart from Dover at 12.40pm to Calais. Drive to Laon and stay in a fabulous chateau hotel just to the north of the city.
Day Two
Drive through France and across the Jura mountains into Switzerland. Visit the medieval hilltop town of Gruyeres, famous for its cheese. Stay in a gorgeous chalet hotel in Chateau d’Oex. Dinner is included.
Day Three
Arrive in Piedmont, Italy. From northern Europe the most spectacular route is over the Alps from Switzerland, via the Simplon Pass. Descend into the Ossola valley and drive along the shores of Lake Maggiore to Stresa. Stay for three nights in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, overlooking the lake and the Borromean Islands. There is a welcome dinner at the hotel tonight.
Day Four
Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the delights of Lake Maggiore. Discover the town of Stresa – perfect for an evening promenade by the lake. Maybe take a boat ride to see the jewel-like Borromean Islands and enjoy the spectacular palace and beautiful gardens.
Day Five
A short tour today to circumnavigate Lake Orta and visit the captivating town of Orta San Guilio, set entirely on its own garden peninsula. Take a short boat ride across to the island in the middle of the lake. Lanes are too narrow for cars so take a few hours to discover the town on foot. The scenic journey around the perimeter of the lake makes for a gentle and interesting drive.
Dinner will involve a boat trip to the Borromean Islands to dine in a local restaurant.
Day Six
Take the ferry across Lake Maggiore to Laveno. Drive up the east shore of Lake Maggiore, which is dotted with religious sanctuaries and churches, decorated with fine frescoes. Head inland on some sensational mountain roads to Sacro Monte, a holy way that winds 2km to the sanctuary at the top, and is lined with 14 chapels decorated with frescoes and statues. Drive to Lake Lugano and cross the border into Switzerland and drive around its northern shore before crossing over to Lake Como, where you will spend the next three nights in the centre of the town of Como. Enjoy the hotel’s splendid position on the shores of the lake, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral and the magnificent Cavour Square right in the heart of town. Dinner is at the hotel.
Day Seven
Discover the lovely little walled city of Como and its fine monuments. Take a scenic drive around the southern half of Lake Como - Italy’s prestigious romantic lake since the early Roman times. Visit Bellagio; a town as charming as its setting.
Day Eight
Spend the day either relaxing or take a circular tour to Como and Bellagio along the lake shore. Or it is not far to the fashion capital of Milan, and Monza, for racing fans.
Day Nine
Drive northwards to Menaggio and take the ferry across Lake Como to Varenna. Drive some fabulous mountain roads, past the spa town of San Pellegrino and onto Lake Iseo. Continue onto Brescia and visit the Mille Miglia Museum. Drive to Lake Garda to stay for three nights on the west shore in Gardone Riviera. The hotel is situated right on the shores of the lake and each room overlooks the lake and has a balcony.
Day Ten
Enjoy wandering around the various little towns along the lake and taking it easy, relaxing in the local vicinity, or take the opportunity to visit the city of Verona, which is about 40 miles away.
Day Eleven
Take a circular tour to drive around the whole of Lake Garda, visiting the charming towns of Riva in the north, Torri del Benaco and Desenzano.
Day Twelve
Leave Lake Garda and start the journey homewards. Either take the fast route on the motorways to Milan, Genva and France, or drive north to the Alps and experience the famous Stelvio Pass and Bernina Pass to Switzerland. Stay overnight in the town of Chur.
Day Thirteen
From Chur you can either join the main motorway network in Europe, or take a leisurely drive through Switzerland to Interlaken and the capital, Bern. Cross over the Jura Mountains to the Alsace region of France. A good opportunity to stock up on some wine! Stay overnight in a wonderful hotel in a pretty Alsatian village. There is a final dinner at the hotel.
Day Fourteen
Drive across northern France to Calais and cross to Dover at 16.10 and then depart for home.
Details
Dates:
Start: 12 May 2008
End: 25 May 2008
Duration: 14 days
Price:
£1,950 per person, based on two people per car and sharing a double or twin room.
£1,440 per person, based on two people sharing a room, if you just wish to do the Italian Lakes section only (nine nights in Italy)
There is now, sadly, a £95 surcharge, per person, due to the fall in the Sterling:Euro exchange rate.
What’s included
- All accommodation for thirteen nights
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner on five evenings. (On the other evenings dinner is available in most of the hotels, or you are welcome to make your own arrangements.)
- Return ferry crossing from Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries.
- Tour book - includes a brief history of Italy, basic Italian dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books.
- Road map of Italy
What’s not included
- Fuel, road tolls and any Italian lake ferry crossings
- eight evening meals, and any lunches
- entry into attractions and activities
- personal travel insurance
- We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.
- Any increase in the rate of exchange leading to the increase in the land arrangements, which may come into effect prior to the departure.
Requirements
- This Italian Lakes Tour is only open to members of the Jaguar Drivers’ Club.
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Italy and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour
- You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
- Please check your travel and motor insurance that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
- You are also required to safety equipment: carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
- The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
