Italy - Lake Garda Spectacular - 9 Days

Itinerary

Day 1

Join your comfortable coach at any of our convenient local pick up points and start off on your fabulous Italian adventure as you head for Dover and your channel crossing to France. Continue on to your first overnight hotel, stopping en route to pick up some dinner, before arriving and checking in for a good night's sleep.

Day 2

After a good rest and tasty breakfast, rejoin your coach for the drive down through the Alps into northern Italy and Lake Garda. We expect to arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon and in good time for your first taste of Italy at dinner. Unpack, relax and unwind before dinner before enjoying supper and an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.

Days 3 - 8

Enjoy hearty buffet breakfasts every morning that are guaranteed to set you up for whatever your day holds. Take time to enjoy the hotel's facilities or explore the pretty little town of Manerba but make sure you don't miss out on our INCLUDED excursions around the lake and to stunning Verona. Return to the hotel every evening for great food and an opportunity to share your experiences. On one evening, you will also enjoy a fabulous gala dinner!

Day 8

After a final tasty breakfast it is time to bid farewell to Lake Garda and Italy as you board your coach and head back through the mountains to your overnight hotel in France, once again stopping en route for you to grab supper. Check in to your comfortable hotel and enjoy a final night in Europe before the final leg of your journey home.

Day 9

Enjoy another good breakfast before heading back to Calais and your return crossing back to the UK. As you the head back home through England, there will be plenty of time to reflect on the holiday memories you are bringing home with you - and maybe a few souvenirs?

Lake Garda

Garda is probably the best known and largest of all the Northern Italian Lakes. Set against the backdrop of the magnificent mountains of the Dolomites, Garda has long been a firm favourite with British holidaymakers - and it is not hard to see why! Lake Garda is rich with historical monuments, castle and fortresses, all of which provide a unique insight into its history. That is one of the reasons that famous writers and painters have chosen Lake Garda for centuries as a favourite holiday destination that feeds and inspires some of their best work.

The shores of lake Garda provide stunningly beautiful vistas for you to enjoy along with an amazing range of pretty towns and villages on all sides. The climate is wonderfully mild all year making autumn a great time to visit, once the school holidays are over and the place has a more relaxed feel to it. Needless to say, the beauty of the region is complimented by the fabulous food and drink that you can enjoy along with the warm welcome that Garda is renowned for.

Sirmione

Sirmione is one of the most popular towns on Lake Garda and it is not hard to see why. Set on a picturesque peninsula, history plays a larger role in Sirmione than in many other lakeside resorts through its prominent fortress. It also boasts a wonderful grotto and even its' own thermal baths. The castle is flanked by ancient Roman ruins at the entrance to the old town and gives Sirmione a very unique atmosphere. Naturally, the town also has a fabulous range of bars, trattorias and restaurant plus gelaterias boasting every type of ice cream you could ever think of. We know you're going to love it.

Verona

Verona is best known as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet - and yes, you can go and visit 'that famous balcony'! The city is a magnet for tourists from across the world and offers some of the pretties and most impressive sights in all of northern Italy. Stroll through its network of charming lanes and pretty piazzas, all lined with a fabulous choice of boutiques, shop and places to grab something to eat or drink. This is Italy at its best - and its most romantic. In the heart of the bustling centre of Verona is the incredible and remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre which dates back to the 1st century and doubles up as the venue for the city's annual summer opera festival. This is a day out that will live long in your memory!

Malcesine & Riva del Garda

This fabulous excursion will take you up to the north of the lake, where the mountain backdrop is even more stunning. Sit back, relax and enjoy a scenic drive that is a real feast for all the senses.

Our first stop is Malcesine, one of the larger towns set on the narrow strip of flatter land on the eastern shore of Lake Garda running south from Riva del Garda through Torbole to Garda itself. With its historic old town crowned by the Castello Scaligero it is one of the most attractive settlements on the entire Garda lake shoreline and has attracted writers and artists through the centuries who come to admire the panoramic lake views. The medieval town with its cobbled streets is not just a historic location however. It is one of the centres for sailing and windsurfing on Lake Garda and the Monte Baldo cable car offers a stunning lake view from the top station,

Moving on, we visit Riva del Garda, often also referred to as “the jewel of Lake Garda”. Lemon trees, palm trees as well as bay trees are very characteristic for this village at the lake shore. Riva del Garda represents the junction between north and south of Lake Garda. This is also where the Gruppo di Brenta, a mountain massif, begins. Boasting a number of lovely bays and ports, Lovers of culture can look forward to the historical palazzi in the inner city, dating back to a time when the Venetians were reigning the area. The “Rocca di Riva” castle originates in the year 1124 and is completely surrounded by water. Today it houses the urban museum and a picture gallery called “pinacoteca”. This is a great place to simply wander, gelato in hand, and soak up the atmosphere...

Tour Includes

• 2 nights bed & breakfast at overnight hotels
• 6 nights dinner bed & breakfast in Italy
• 1 gala dinner at the Splendid Hotel Sole
• Free use of outdoor pool. Access to indoor pool & spa at extra charge
• Free time to explore Manerba
• Sirmione half day excursion
• Verona full day excursion
• Malcesine & Riva Del Garda full day excursion
• Return ferry crossing
• Direct Coach Travel
• Net Zero Carbon Offset Certificate

NB: Italian Tourist Tax is charged locally at the hotel and is payable by all tourists in Italy at approx 1.5 Euros per person per night (9 Euros in total).

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Accommodation

Hotel Splendid Sole Manerba del Garda

This delightful 4* hotel is set in a stunning location in the town of Manerba del Garda. The hotel has a delightful outdoor swimming pool and terrace for guests to use along with an indoor pool and spa (additional charges apply). The hotel restaurant is well known for its excellent cuisine and they are proud even make their own bread - which means breakfast is a true delight. All of the rooms are well furnished as you would expect, with balconies and air conditioning available in all rooms. The hotel has a number of ground floor rooms. Single rooms are double for sole occupancy.

Visit the Splendid Hotel Sole website

Overnight Hotels

Your overnight hotels will be comfortable tourist class hotels with facilities to match. You will be advised in advance of where you will be staying but our chosen hotel will be well located for your journey to and from your main resort Back to top