Northern Gems by Rail | 9 Days

Day 1:                   VENICE

Arrival in Venice. Make your own way to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Venice.

Day 2:                   VENICE

After breakfast at the hotel, take a guided tour through the history of Venice in the 1600 years since its foundation. You will be taken through palaces on an exciting journey through the secrets of Casanova, discovering treasures stolen from Constantinople, relations with the Orient and the legend of St Mark. We will unveil the many mysteries about Marco Polo and the Silk Road. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Venice. (B)

Day 3:                   VENICE – LAKE GARDA

After breakfast, make your own way to the train station for your train to Desenzano in Lake Garda. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Lake Garda. (B)

Day 4:                   LAKE GARDA

Breakfast at the hotel. Day is at leisure to utilise your full day ticket for the public boat on Lake Garda. Overnight in Lake Garda. (B)

Day 5:                   LAKE GARDA – MILAN

Make your own way to Desenzano station and take the train to Milan, the ‘capital of the North’. Arrival in Milan and make your own way to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the beauty of the fashion city: the Duomo with its terraces, the Sforzesco Castle, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the famous fashion and shopping streets. Overnight in Milan. (B)

Day 6:                   MILAN – LAKE COMO – MILAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover the beauty of Lake Como, in the stretch of the lake that leads from Como to Bellagio. Make your own way to Milan train station, reach Como by train and board one of the public boats that navigate the lake. Your ticket allows you to get off at each stop and visit the various villages on the western shore. Upon arrival in Bellagio, situated exactly between the two arms of Lake Como, be sure to dedicate some time to visiting this romantic village known for its cobbled streets, elegant buildings and the Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th-century terraced garden overlooking the lake. Be careful not to be distracted by such beauty and be sure to check the ferry return times to Como! On the way back to Como, you can admire the changing colours of the lake in the late afternoon light. Return to Como and then to Milan by train. Make your own way to the hotel. Overnight in Milan (B)

Day 7:                   MILAN – MONTEROSSO AL MARE (CINQUE TERRE)

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to Milan station and depart for the Cinque Terre and the town of Monterosso al Mare. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel. Monterosso is the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with 5 fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains and local buses that connect the villages. Overnight in Monterosso al Mare. (B)

Day 8:                   MONTEROSSO AL MARE – CINQUE TERRE – MONTEROSSO AL MARE

Breakfast at the hotel, then a free day to continue exploring the Cinque Terre. Overnight in Monterosso. (B)

Day 9:                   MONTEROSSO AL MARE

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before checking out. End of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

SUPERIOR CLASS:

VENICE: Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal Or Hotel Amadeus

GARDA LAKE (Desenzano del Garda): Hotel Villa Maria

MILAN: NYX Hotel Milan

MONTEROSSO (CINQUE TERRE): Hotel Palme

Includes:

• 8 Nights accommodation with daily breakfast in 4* hotels (2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Lake Garda, 2 nights in Milan, 2 nights in Cinque Terre area)
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Venice to Desenzano
• One way arrival transfer from Desenzano station to the hotel by private car
• One full day ticket for public boat on Lake Garda
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Desenzano to Milan
• 1x Return ticket 2nd class Milan – Como – Milan – local train
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Milan to Monterosso al Mare – local train
• 1x Half day Walking Tour of Venice (multilingual group tour)
• 1x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Garda (southern lake basin only)
• 1x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Como (Como – Bellagio – Como)
• 1x 2-Days Cinque Terre Card

Excludes:

• Transfers from/to the rail stations except where specifically mentioned. Note: The hotels are located walking distance from the rail stations.
• Tourist city tax, to be paid on the spot
• Lunches and dinners
• Optional tours and experiences
• Extras, tips, porterage, and everything not expressly listed as inclusion is not included and to be paid on the spot

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.

–          City taxes are not included and are to be paid directly to the hotel.

–          The itinerary of the tour and the days of excursions may be modified for technical reasons. In any case, all visits and excursions mentioned on the itinerary will be guaranteed or replaced by similar ones.