Lake Maggiore & Alassio, 27 May - 4 June 2027

Day 1

Flight departs Manchester airport for the flight to Nice, transfer to Alassio 

Upon arrival your local guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you on the coach transfer to the hotel.

The local guide will be with you throughout the tour and will provide full timings and details each day. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to relax, prior to dinner tonight. 

You will be Staying at the Hotel Toscana for 3 nights HB.  it’s a good standard hotel in a brilliant location, directly in town. THe hotel offers a minibar and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests.

Day 2

1. Full Day excursion - Ventimiglia & Sanremo -  One of the main attractions is the extensive outdoor market, so this can be included if visiting on a Friday (which this day is), with hundreds of stalls selling everything from clothes to household items. It also has the remains of a Roman theatre and baths, and the stunning Hanbury Botanical Gardens, where walking paths snake through 45 acres of plants, buildings and fountains. Perched on a hill across the river from the new town, discover the beautiful, old medieval town of Ventimiglia Alta. For 300 years, Sanremo has attracted the aristocracy to its palm-fringed shores. Regarded as a key social centre at the end of the 19th century, Italy’s answer to Monte Carlo boasts palatial villas and all the opulence you would expect from the Riviera. Explore the intriguing contrasts – from modern villas to towering medieval houses, and the ornate, domed Russian Orthodox Church.

Day 3

1. 1. Free day – Alassio.  Having been popular with British Victorian holidaymakers, the resort is full of expatriate heritage, including an English language library that is one of the oldest in Italy. Enjoy wandering around the Budello di Alassio, where the history of the town can be most appreciated, with its numerous shops, churches and piazzas or visit the impressive sandy beach

Day 4

1. Travel to Stresa, Lake Maggiore where you will be staying at the Milan e Speranza, Stresa, 5 nights HB – suitable en route stop to be arranged- arrive Stresa.

Day 5

Time in Stresa and Borromean Islands - Visit the stunning Borromean Islands, located just offshore from the centre of Stresa. Take the boat out to Isola Bella, which houses a beautiful stately home and elegant Italianate gardens, before we continue by boat to Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island), the only island which is currently inhabited. Included is admission to the Palace 

Day 6

1. Full day excursion with a scenic journey on the magical Lake Maggiore Express by rail and boat, taking in the full beauty of this spectacular region along the way. Start with a rail journey from Stresa to Domodossola, at which point change onto the scenic high-level railway, the Centovalli, which travels through the mountains and down to Locarno, a bustling town on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore. After enjoying the fabulous views en route,  have time to relax before taking a boat ride from this Swiss corner of Lake Maggiore back down to Stresa.