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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

First-Class Lake Maggiore & Stresa

Ten-day Italian lakes tour from London via Eurostar and First Class rail

Illustration of First-Class Lake Maggiore & Stresa

Great Rail Journeys operates this 10-day escorted tour combining elegant rail travel with a relaxed lakeside base. You depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus class, travel through Paris and the Swiss Alps on First Class trains, and arrive in Stresa, a Belle Époque town on Lake Maggiore where you spend seven nights at the four-star Hotel Regina Palace overlooking the water. From there, the itinerary unfolds at a leisurely pace: a boat cruise to the Borromean Islands includes a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace with its formal gardens; a separate boat trip visits the quieter Lake Orta and its island monastery; and a journey on the Centovalli Railway winds through Swiss valleys and past waterfalls to Locarno. On Day 8 you visit a family-run winery for a tasting of Piedmont wines with local charcuterie and cheeses. Two full free days in Stresa offer options to explore the market, visit Milan or Lake Como by rail, or relax at the hotel.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is significantly higher than the per-person double rate: GBP 2,849 versus roughly GBP 1,900 per person on a twin booking
  • Air travellers return on Day 9 with only seven nights of hotel accommodation and four included dinners; the full nine nights and six dinners apply only to rail returners
  • Three of the seven free days in Stresa offer structured options (market day, rail trip to Milan or Lake Como, winery visit, Locarno day trip) but are unguided; confirm independently how to book any optional activities

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Colmar

    From London to Colmar

    Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Paris in Plus class, enjoying a light meal served at seats. Continue by First Class rail to Colmar, a charming Alsace town with colourful half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes and flower-lined waterways including the Little Venice district. Hotel is right outside the railway station. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Note: if travelling by air, holiday starts on Day 2.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal (Rail departures only), Dinner (Rail departures only)

  2. Day 2railovernight: Stresa

    Arrival in lakeside Stresa

    After breakfast, return to Colmar train station and board a First Class train to Switzerland, passing through the Swiss Alps and the famous Simplon Tunnel, arriving in Domodossola. Transfer by coach to Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Check into the luxurious Art Nouveau hotel overlooking the lake, with lush gardens and an outdoor swimming pool. Dinner at the hotel. If travelling by air, meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow, fly to Milan and transfer to the hotel in Stresa.

    Meals: Breakfast (Rail departures only), Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Stresa

    Exploring the beautiful Borromean Islands

    After a leisurely breakfast, join a boat trip from the pier on Lake Maggiore to the Borromean Islands. Sail to Isola Bella for a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace and its Italianate gardens, then explore at leisure. Continue by boat to Isola dei Pescatori for independent exploration with cafés and restaurants for lunch. Return by boat to the hotel. Evening free to dine independently in Stresa town centre.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Stresa

    Discovering the island gems of Lake Orta

    Set off for Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore's smaller neighbour. Sail to Isola San Giulio, an enchanting island village with an ancient monastery and basilica containing pastel frescoes and the crypt of the 4th-century Greek evangelist. Continue to Orta San Giulio, the 'Jewel of the Lake', with cobbled streets and a piazza overlooking the water. Free time to explore the lakefront. Return to the hotel for time to relax, enjoy the pool, spa or terrace, before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Stresa

    A full day to enjoy Stresa on market day or explore further

    Free day to enjoy as you wish. Friday is market day in Stresa with local vendors selling fresh produce, clothing and gifts. Options include walking the lakeside promenade, visiting villas along the lakeshore, taking a sightseeing cruise to Baveno or Pallanzo (Villa Taranto), visiting Isola Madre, or exploring Villa Pallavicino with its English garden and zoo. Evening free to dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Stresa

    Centovalli Railway to the Swiss town of Locarno

    Travel by coach to Domodossola and join the Centovalli Railway (Railway of 100 Valleys), winding through valleys, across wildflower meadows, over high bridges, past wide gorges and rushing waterfalls to Locarno in Switzerland. Free time in Locarno to explore the Old Town with its exotic gardens and lakeside promenades, and enjoy lunch or shopping on Piazza Grande. Return to Stresa by boat, gliding along Italy's second-longest lake past the Borromean Islands. Evening free to dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Stresa

    A free day to discover more of Stresa and Lake Maggiore

    Free day after breakfast. Options include a rail trip to Milan (Teatro alla Scala, the Duomo, Navigli district), continuing to Lake Como, sailing on Lake Maggiore, or relaxing at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Stresa

    Wine tasting at Fontechiara

    After a relaxed breakfast, travel by coach to the Fontechiara winery for a wine tasting. A tour of the winery and cellar by the owner provides insight into production of varieties including Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Rosata. Savour a tasting of three wines with homemade delicacies, local charcuterie and cheeses, followed by coffee and grappa produced on the premises. Return to Stresa in the afternoon for relaxation or revisiting favourite parts of town before the final dinner in Italy.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Dijon (rail) or home (air)

    By rail to Dijon or flying home

    If returning by air: transferred to Milan Linate airport after breakfast for flight to Heathrow. If returning by rail: First Class rail journey to Lausanne passing along the Rhône Valley through the Swiss Alps, then First Class along the shore of Lake Geneva to Dijon. Check into hotel near the station for an overnight stay and final dinner with the group at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Rail departures only)

  10. Day 10rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, leave Dijon and continue by First Class rail to Paris. Join the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal on the way back to London St Pancras, where the Italian holiday concludes. (Air travellers return home on Day 9.)

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Travel by Eurostar Plus class from London St Pancras to Paris, then First Class rail through the Alsace countryside to Colmar, a town of half-timbered houses and flower-lined waterways
  • Day 2Board a First Class train through the Swiss Alps and the Simplon Tunnel, arriving in Italy and transferring to Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore
  • Day 3Boat trip to the Borromean Islands includes a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace and its Italianate gardens, followed by free exploration of Isola dei Pescatori
  • Day 6Centovalli Railway journey from Domodossola winds through valleys, wildflower meadows, high bridges and waterfalls to Locarno, Switzerland
  • Day 8Wine tasting at the family-run Fontechiara winery includes tour of the cellar, three wine tastings, and local delicacies with homemade charcuterie and cheeses

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation (7 nights if travelling by air)
  • Eurostar Plus class travel (rail departures)
  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, boat and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Return flights from London Heathrow to Milan Linate (if travelling by air)
  • Eurostar light meals (if travelling by rail)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 6 dinners (4 dinners if travelling by air)
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus class from London to Paris and back, First Class rail from Paris through the Alps to Italy, and the Centovalli Railway scenic journey. You may choose to fly from Milan on Day 9 instead of returning by rail.
How many nights are included and where do you stay?
Rail returners stay nine nights: one night in Colmar, seven nights at the four-star Hotel Regina Palace in Stresa overlooking Lake Maggiore, and one night in Dijon. Air travellers stay only seven nights (Colmar and Stresa) and return by flight on Day 9.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Rail departures receive light meals on Eurostar, six dinners (four at the hotel in Stresa, two at restaurants in Colmar and Dijon), and included lunch only on the wine tasting day. Air travellers receive four dinners. Other meals are independent.
What activities and excursions are included?
Included are boat trips to the Borromean Islands with a guided tour of Borromeo Palace, a boat trip to Lake Orta visiting Isola San Giulio and Orta San Giulio, the Centovalli Railway journey to Locarno, and a wine tasting at Fontechiara winery. Days 5 and 7 are free in Stresa with optional activities.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the entire journey from London to either Milan or your return to London.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The tour includes boat trips to islands, guided and independent exploration of towns and villages, and scenic train journeys. Free days allow you to choose your activity level; the hotel-based format means no heavy luggage handling.

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