DAY 1 - UK/Strasbourg
Local departure and a mid-morning crossing to Calais. Continue to your overnight stop in the Strasbourg area of France on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 2 - Riva del Garda
Continue your journey via Switzerland into Italy, arriving at Riva del Garda in the early evening for a seven night stay.
DAYS 3 TO 8 - Riva del Garda
Free to relax and enjoy our excursion programme. The following three-quarter day excursion is included:
Verona - This three-quarter day excursion takes you to one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic cities. Don’t miss the impressive square, Piazza Bra, with its ornate fountains and delightful pavement cafés, dominated by the magnificent Roman Arena, the third largest in the world. Continue through to Piazza Erbe, the old Roman forum, where nowadays you will find a large open-air market selling an assortment of local produce. There’s plenty of time to stroll around this delightful town and browse around the varied selection of shops in Via Mazzini, or even visit the famous balcony, as featured in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The following excursions are optional:
Lake Garda - Full day tour to see some of the beauty spots of this fabulous lake, surrounded by lush groves of olives, vines and citrus trees. We will stop at one of the many delightful resorts where you can shop, relax, take a glass of wine and enjoy the spectacular scenery. You will also enjoy a boat trip on the lake.
The Dolomites - This full day excursion takes you through the dramatic scenery of Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. The spectacular landscape is filled with jagged granite peaks which tower over the picturesque towns and villages at their feet. You will pay a visit to attractive Alleghe, nestled by a lake at the foot of Monte Civetta, before continuing to Sottoguda to see its dramatic gorge and crystal-clear Lake Fedaia.
‘Cliff-hanger lunch’ - A superb half day trip to Tremosine, a resort high above Limone for a ‘cliff-hanger lunch’ at the Hotel Paradiso, so-called because of the ‘Balcony of Thrills’ setting with stunning panoramic views over the lake.
Venice - There is nowhere on earth like this extraordinary city of canals, palaces and Renaissance architecture. See many of the main sights on our full day excursion. Visit St. Mark’s Square, where you will find two of the most important buildings in Venice, the Doges’ Palace, once home to the Venetian rulers and the Basilica di San Marco with its Romanesque carvings and beautiful mosaics.
Take a walk over the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most famous sights located in the heart of the city, an ideal spot to watch the activity of boats on the Grand Canal below. Enjoy a stroll around the hidden piazzas or perhaps relax on a gondola ride through the network of canals.
DAY 9 - Strasbourg
Begin your journey back through Switzerland and into France for your final night’s stay on a bed and breakfast basis.
DAY 10 - Strasbourg/UK
Continue to Calais for a late afternoon crossing back to the UK, returning to your original departure point in the evening.