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 rail travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London to Paris, TGV Standard Class from Paris to Strasbourg, rail travel to Stresa, the Centovalli Railway from Domodossola to Locarno, and return rail to Mulhouse and London.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

It is escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish, and all guided tours, excursions, and transfers are arranged.

How many nights are spent in each location?

One night in Strasbourg or Basel, five nights in Stresa, and one night in Mulhouse.

What hotels are used?

Hotel Milan Speranza au Lac, a four-star property in Stresa overlooking Lake Maggiore, for five nights. Strasbourg or Basel and Mulhouse accommodations are near their respective stations.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Simply Lake Maggiore

Eight-day escorted journey through Italian lakes and Alps from London

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour departing London and concluding in Mulhouse, France. The journey carries you via Eurostar and TGV through France and Switzerland into northern Italy, where you base yourself for five nights in Stresa, an elegant resort town on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Days unfold at a relaxed pace: a lake cruise carries you to Isola San Giulio with its island monastery; the Centovalli Railway winds through alpine gorges and waterfalls into Switzerland; free days allow leisurely exploration of Stresa's promenade or island hopping among the Borromean Islands to visit palaces and gardens. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, arranging all transfers, meals, and guided tours. This trip suits couples seeking unhurried lakeside leisure, repeat rail travellers drawn to named trains and mountain scenery, and photographers eager to capture alpine vistas and historic villages from the water and rail.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 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

Two of the eight nights involve hotels listed as 'near station' or 'or similar' for Strasbourg/Basel and Mulhouse, giving less detail than the five-night Stresa stay.
Two free days (Day 4 and Day 6) include independent dinners not provided by Great Rail Journeys.
The group size can reach 40 people, which is a larger escorted party.
No spa or leisure facilities details are given for the Stresa hotel beyond reference to a sister hotel with pool access.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg
From London to Strasbourg
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, then the train to Strasbourg. Group dinner at a local restaurant. (For departures 16th May and 3rd October, travel is via Basel, staying at the Schweizerhof Basel hotel.)
Day 2railovernight: Stresa
From the Alsace to the Italian lakes
Board the train to Basel, continuing by rail to Stresa, base for the next five nights, with views across Lake Maggiore and the Italian Alps.
Day 3overnight: Stresa
Lake Orta cruise to an island monastery
Transfer by coach to San Filiberto for a cruise on Lake Orta to Isola San Giulio, then a boat to Orta San Giulio, a village that has inspired poets and artists including Lord Byron.
Day 4overnight: Stresa
A free day to explore Stresa and its surroundings
Explore Stresa independently, perhaps visiting Villa Pallavicini's gardens and zoo, or relaxing at the hotel with alpine views.
Day 5railovernight: Stresa
To Switzerland on the scenic 'Railway of 100 Valleys'
Transfer by coach to Domodossola for the Centovalli Railway through the Alps to Locarno in Switzerland, with free time, then return to Stresa by cruise on Lake Maggiore.
Day 6overnight: Stresa
A free day for island hopping or relaxing
A hop on/hop off boat to the Borromean Islands - Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre - or relax at the hotel.
Day 7railovernight: Mulhouse
Leaving Lake Maggiore by rail to Mulhouse
Travel by train through Switzerland to Basel, continuing to Mulhouse in France, with views of the Rhône Valley and Lake Thun en route. Group dinner in Mulhouse.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
Take the train from Mulhouse to Paris, then the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The train climbs from Basel through Swiss lakes into the Alps, emerging into a verdant Italian valley before arriving in Stresa on Lake Maggiore.
Day 3A lake cruise takes you to Isola San Giulio, a tiny island dominated by a monastery with artwork across its basilica walls and domes, followed by a visit to the village of Orta San Giulio.
Day 5The Centovalli Railway winds from Domodossola through alpine scenery, passing ruined towers, gorges, waterfalls, and emerald Lake Palagnedra before reaching Locarno, Switzerland.
Day 6A hop-on/hop-off boat from your hotel allows free exploration of the Borromean Islands: Isola Bella with its palace and white peacocks, Isola dei Pescatori with traditional lakeside restaurants, and Isola Madre with rare plant gardens.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel; all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast each day, 5 dinners
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 rail travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London to Paris, TGV Standard Class from Paris to Strasbourg, rail travel to Stresa, the Centovalli Railway from Domodossola to Locarno, and return rail to Mulhouse and London.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: It is escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish, and all guided tours, excursions, and transfers are arranged.
How many nights are spent in each location?: One night in Strasbourg or Basel, five nights in Stresa, and one night in Mulhouse.
What hotels are used?: Hotel Milan Speranza au Lac, a four-star property in Stresa overlooking Lake Maggiore, for five nights. Strasbourg or Basel and Mulhouse accommodations are near their respective stations.