Lake Maggiore, Piedmont & the Matterhorn

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Discover blue waters, vibrant gardens, and a very famous mountain in one of Europe's most scenic corners. From an elegant base on the shore of glittering Lake Maggiore, visit idyllic islands, sumptuous villas and world-class gardens. Take a journey into the Piedmont region to visit Alba, a gourmet paradise, and Barolo, a centre of world-class wine production. Head into Switzerland, to the famous resort-town of Zermatt, where one of the world's most iconic peaks – the towering, triangular Matterhorn – draws the awe-struck eye, and where you'll have the chance to board a mountain train for a ride through the alpine meadows.

Highlights

Tour Lake Maggiore's exquisite Borromean Isles
Have the chance to visit beautiful Lake Como
Embrace the delights of Belgirate or Stresa
Cross into Switzerland to stop at the foot of the Matterhorn
Visit Verbania’s stunning Villa Taranto gardens
Taste some of Italy’s best red wine at Castello di Barolo
Discover Turin, the capital of Piedmont, on an optional excursion
Enjoy a guided tour of Alba - home of white truffles and dark chocolate

Inclusions

Seven nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation at the three-star Hotel Boston, Stresa (upgrade hotel available for a supplement)
Lake Maggiore boat trip
Visit to Verbania and the gardens of Villa Taranto
Tour of Alba
Visit to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn
Return flights to Italy
Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable

Day 1

Fly to Italy and transfer to your hotel in either Stresa or Belgirate. In the evening, depending on your arrival time, perhaps take a stroll along the promenade that fringes the lake, before enjoying dinner.

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 you may choose to enter the 17th-century Baroque palace, 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. Then return to your hotel for dinner.

Day 3

Today you're free to enjoy the delights of Belgirate or Stresa. Wander past the elegant villas that line the shore, or take in the view from above the lake. Alternatively, board another lake steamer to travel further afield and enjoy a leisurely lunch in the sunshine or a delicious ice cream on the water’s edge. You'll also have the opportunity to head into Lombardy on an optional excursion to Lake Como. Discover another of Italy’s most picturesque places, and enjoy visits to exquisite Bellagio and elegant Como Town before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Day 4

Your second included excursion takes you south on a panoramic tour of Langhe, where the UNESCO-protected hillsides are covered in cascading vineyards and hazelnut groves. Take a tour of Alba to see the historic centre and 100 towers of the town, which is best known for being the gastronomic home of white truffles and dark chocolate (and the headquarters of Ferrero Rocher). After a fascinating few hours, you'll head further south to the vineyards of Barolo, which produce the "king of Italian wines". No visit to this region is complete without enjoying a glass of wine at Castello di Barolo, an enoteca housed inside the turreted walls of Barolo's ancient castle. It's the final highlight of a really enjoyable day.

Day 5

Today is another on which you can enjoy your hotel and its surroundings. In Stresa you'll find piazzas filled with the bustle of the cafés and – this being Italy – any number of gelataria.

Day 6

Saving the best till last, today’s included excursion takes you to the world-famous Swiss resort of Zermatt, beneath the craggy pyramid of the Matterhorn. Travel via the Simplon Pass into Switzerland, climbing high into the Alps, hoping for clear skies so you can catch your first sight of the mighty mountain peaks as you go. Once in Zermatt, why not join an optional journey on the famous Gornergrat Railway, and head through alpine meadows to the summit station? From here, on a clear day, some 29 peaks – including the Matterhorn – and great glaciers offer visitors an unforgettable view. Head out on a mountain trail, or simply take in the view before enjoying lunch in the mountain restaurant. Return to Belgirate or Stresa this evening.

Day 7

You have one final full day to soak up the atmosphere of this idyllic corner of the world. Why not take a last cruise on the water, enjoy a long leisurely lunch, or join our optional excursion to the stately capital of Piedmont, Turin? This ancient city nestles at the foot of the Alps, and boasts a delightful Baroque heart that seems somehow at odds with its modern reputation for industry. Wander down Via Roma past ultra-chic stores, and cross grand Piazza San Carlo with its elegant facades. Stop for coffee or bicerin – a Torinese speciality that combines espresso, high-quality drinking chocolate and milk – in one of the many ornate, traditional cafés. Petrol-heads can head to the city’s predictably fine motor museum - Fiat once employed over 120,000 of its inhabitants - while the curious might visit the cathedral, where the Turin Shroud is kept under lock and key.

Day 8

Leave Maggiore’s beautiful shores behind, and return to the airport to board your flight back to the UK.

Further Information

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

Entrance fees

Since some attractions visited offer free admission to visitors at certain times of year, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable. This applies to excursions that are included in the price of your holiday and to excursions booked as optional extras.

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, 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.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be less than 10 years old on the day you return home – please check the 'date of issue' and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home – please check the 'expiry date'. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay. Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure. Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required. Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Terms and conditions

Save up to 10% discount applies to specific 2022-2024 holidays and tours only. All tours are marked with the discounted percentage. The ‘See it.’ offer applies to new bookings only for 2022 -2024 departures booked between 1 September and 30 September 2022 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu, and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have percentage discount applied on our website. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.