How much does it cost?

From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. Group size is capped at 40 people. Excursions to Verona and Sigurtà are guided.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast and dinner daily. Six lunches on excursion days as picnics. Beer, wine and soft drinks each day from 5pm to 10pm in Garda (35 tokens per guest). Cancellation and travel insurance are not included.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers five departures: April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, July 2027 and August 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Essential Lake Garda

Great Rail Journeys operates this ten-day escorted tour that departs London on Eurostar, travels by rail across France and through the Alps to Italy, and spends seven nights based in the four-star Hotel Centrale in Garda town on the shores of Lake Garda. The itinerary balances structured excursions with free time: a guided tour of UNESCO-listed Verona on Day 5, cruises to the medieval hamlet of Malcesine and the castle town of Sirmione, a visit to the 60-hectare Sigurtà Botanical Gardens with its 400-year-old oak and 30,000 roses, and two full days to explore at your own pace. Days 1 and 9 involve rail travel through the Alps; Day 9 passengers return by train to Chambéry and then Eurostar to London on Day 10. Air passengers fly to Verona on Day 2 and return from there on Day 9. All meals, guided tours, excursions, rail travel, ferry crossings and daily drinks tokens are included. The tour suits couples and repeat rail travellers who value a mix of cultural sightseeing and leisurely lakeside time.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £1,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Rail passengers depart and return via Eurostar; air passengers fly London Gatwick to Verona on Day 2 and return from Verona on Day 9, reducing their itinerary to seven nights in Garda
The from-price covers the all-inclusive package; single supplements and optional extras (Eurostar Plus Class, London hotels, UK rail connections) cost extra
Days 4 and 6 are free days with no group activity; Day 6 options require independent travel by train or public transport

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Turin
London to Turin in northern Italy
Board the Eurostar service at London St Pancras to Paris, then continue by rail across France, passing the Italian Alps, to Turin. Overnight hotel is in a former Fiat factory with a rooftop garden on the old test track. If travelling by air, your holiday starts on Day 2 and ends on Day 9.
Day 2railovernight: Garda
Arriving in the lakeside town of Garda
Time at leisure in Turin, then transfer to Turin station and continue by rail to Desenzano, transferring to the four-star hotel in Garda. If travelling by air, the holiday starts today with a flight from London Gatwick to Verona, transferring directly to the hotel in Garda.
Day 3overnight: Garda
Cruising along Lake Garda to medieval Malcesine
A boat ride along Lake Garda's eastern shore to the medieval hamlet of Malcesine, with free time to visit the 14th-century castle, before returning to Garda in the late afternoon.
Day 4overnight: Garda
Enjoying the serenity of Garda
A free day to explore Garda at your own pace, with access to a swimming pool at a nearby sister hotel, a walk to the Rocca di Garda, or a visit to neighbouring Bardolino.
Day 5overnight: Garda
Discovering Shakespeare's Verona on a guided tour
A coach excursion to UNESCO-listed Verona for a guided tour taking in Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Juliet's balcony and the Roman Arena, with free time to explore Piazza delle Erbe.
Day 6railovernight: Garda
A free day to explore Lake Garda or further afield
A full day at leisure to explore independently, for example a rail trip to Brescia or a visit to Venice.
Day 7railovernight: Garda
Sigurtà Gardens and medieval Borghetto
A coach journey to Sigurtà Garden Park, dating back to 1407 and spanning 60 hectares with a million tulips and 30,000 roses, including a ride on the land train, followed by a visit to Borghetto sul Mincio.
Day 8overnight: Garda
Discovering Sirmione, the 'Pearl of Lake Garda'
A short cruise to Sirmione, a medieval fortress town on a narrow peninsula, with free time to explore the Old Town, the Scaligero Castle and the Grottoes of Catullus.
Day 9railovernight: Chambéry
Crossing the Alps to Chambéry or flying home
If returning by air, transfer to Verona airport for the flight to London Gatwick. If returning by rail, travel by coach to Milan then by train through the Fréjus tunnel to Chambéry, former seat of the Dukes of Savoy.
Day 10rail
Homeward bound
For rail departures, travel from Chambéry to Paris, then take the Eurostar service to London St Pancras International, arriving in the early evening.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Ferry crossing Lake Garda's eastern shore to the medieval hamlet of Malcesine, with time to visit the 14th-century castle and explore cobbled streets
Day 5Guided tour of Verona includes the Roman Arena, Juliet's balcony, and Piazza delle Erbe
Day 7Land train ride through Sigurtà Garden Park, a 60-hectare botanical garden with 30,000 roses, a 400-year-old oak and ornamental lakes
Day 8Cruise to Sirmione on a narrow peninsula to explore the 14th-century church, Scaligero Castle and the Grottoes of Catullus, remains of a large Roman villa

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
9 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation (7 nights if travelling by air)
Standard Class rail travel; all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Return flights from London Gatwick to Verona (if travelling by air)
Breakfast and dinner each day
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,025 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. Group size is capped at 40 people. Excursions to Verona and Sigurtà are guided.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast and dinner daily. Six lunches on excursion days as picnics. Beer, wine and soft drinks each day from 5pm to 10pm in Garda (35 tokens per guest). Cancellation and travel insurance are not included.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers five departures: April 2027, May 2027, June 2027, July 2027 and August 2027.