Back by popular demand is this wonderful trip to an area of Italy that most have not yet discovered. The Italian Lake district is one of the most beautiful areas of all of Italy and maybe the world. This is an area that is graced with shocking beauty and incredible diversity. The setting is the pre-alps, beautiful valleys, and the sparkling lakes of Orta, Maggiore, Como, Lugano, Garda and Iseo. Each lake has its own charm and holds treasures to discover for everyone. Once you’ve visited this area, this wonderland will lure you back again and again. We welcome you to come and discover for yourself the magic of the Italian Lakes and its people.


Itinerary:

Day 1: Depart EWR Airport for your overnight flight to Milan

Day 2 - Milan/Stresa: Arrive Milan Airport and transfer to Stresa aboard your private deluxe motor coach. Your first class Hotel Bristol is set on the shores of beautiful Lago Maggiore, facing the famous Borromean Islands. Lago Maggiore is a lake basin of northeastern Piedmont, on the border of Lombardy and Switzerland, and is the second largest Italian lake. To the tourist, who for the first time arrives in Stresa, is offered a breathless sight. The beginning of the lake front is delineated with lines of palm trees, flourishing gardens and majestic hotels facing the famous Borromean Islands. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring Stresa on your own. Tonight join your group for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 3 - Stresa: This morning enjoy a cruise of the Borromean Islands. Stop at Isola Bella and visit the 17th century Borromean Palces built in 1632. This is a small rocky island in Lake Maggiore, and is wholly occupied by the Borromeo Villa and its garden extravaganza. Designed of Lombard Baroque style, by placing a villa at the centre of a layout and allowing avenues to draw the scenery into a garden, it holds priceless masterpieces and ten terraced Italian Gardens. The stepped terraces remind one of painters’ interpretations of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 - Milan: Today enjoy a full day Milan walking city tour, including Piazza Duomo, Galleria,Scala and other fabulous points of interest. More than 500 years in the making (1386 to 1887), the Duomo dominates Milan’s central square and is Italy’s largest and most intricate example of Gothic architecture. (B,D)

Day 5 - Domodossola/Locarno: After breakfast board your motorcoach for a scenic drive to Domodossola located at the foot of the Simplon Pass. Here you begin your rail journey onboard the Centovalli Express with historical coaches, dating to the beginning of the twentieth century. This is an original and fascinating itinerary and runs through the magical "Hundred Valleys" introducing travelers to a backdrop of deep gorges, ravines, flowery meadows and picturesque villages. After passing the Swiss border you arrive in Lucarno. This characterful old town enjoys the most glorious of locations, on a broad sweeping curve of a bay in the lake, and also clocks up the most sunshine hours of anywhere in Switzerland. The arcades and piazzas of the town centre are overlooked by subtropical gardens of palms, camellias, bougainvillea, cypress, oleanders and magnolias, which flourish on the lakeside promenades and cover the wooded slopes which crowd in above the town centre. (B, D)

Day 6 - Lake Orta: Today enjoy an excursion to Lake Orta, one of the smallest Italian Lakes, but it is perhaps the most delightful and the most gracious of all the lakes. First a visit to Villa Taranto and its famous gardens. Many thousands of plants, brought from the far corners of the world, and rare collections, some of them unique in Europe and acclimatized after long laborious efforts, have been arranged with art in this beautiful setting, between the mountains and the lake. Then take a cable car on Mottarone which summit provides a magnificent panorama of the lake, the Alps and the Monte Rosa massif all around you. Upon return to the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 7 - Lake Como: Today enjoy a full day Lake Como tour. Lake Como, also called Lario, is the third largest Italian lake after Garda and Maggiore. It is one of the most picturesque of the pre-alpine lakes and the only one of the three large northern lakes to be situated entirely in Lombardy. Lake Como has a captivating landscape and villa gardens, which inspired many 19th century Romantic poets and artists and is a jewel-like oasis of tranquility, and is a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. Enjoy a light lunch while on tour. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B, D)

Day 8 - Stresa: After breakfast enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the Town and do some last minute souvenir shopping. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

Day 9: Ciao to Italy. After breakfast transfer to Milan for your return flight home. (B)

*price is per person, based on double occupancy. Tour operation is based on a minimum of 20 passengers. Air taxes are additional an $172.00 and are subject to change prior to final payment. A non-refundable deposit of $300.00 per person is required to hold your reservation by check only. Final payment is due on June 10, 2011. Single Supplement $499.00. Flights, Itinerary & hotels are subject to change. Trip cancellation is available and is strongly recommended. Insurance must be purchased at time of deposit to ensure coverage for pre-existing conditions.