How much does it cost?

From £1,149 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,552 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains are included?

Eurostar from London to Paris, TGV high-speed trains from Paris to Basel and Lausanne to Paris, and regional trains through the Swiss Alps and into Italy. All in Standard Class with seat reservations.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive directions to hotels, easy-to-follow travel documentation, and ticket despatch, but you travel and explore on your own schedule.

How many nights do I spend on Lake Orta?

Five nights in Pettenasco at Hotel Giardinetto. You arrive on day two and depart on day seven.

When does this tour run?

Low season pricing (November to March) starts from £1,149 per person. High season pricing (April to October) starts from £1,299 per person.

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Lake Orta by Rail

Tailor Made Rail offers an eight-day independent rail holiday from London to Lake Orta in northern Italy, returning via Paris. This journey combines high-speed rail with regional trains and five unhurried nights based in Pettenasco, a medieval village on Italy's smallest lake. You travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, then by TGV through the French Alps and across Switzerland via Basel, passing through the dramatic Lötschberg and Simplon Tunnels before entering Italy. Days three through six are yours to spend at leisure exploring Lake Orta, the harbourside village of Orta San Giulio, the island of San Giulio, and the village of Omegna. On day seven you retrace your route northward, travelling via Lausanne and the Upper Rhône Valley back to Paris for one final night before the Eurostar home. Accommodation is in handpicked three-star hotels with breakfast included. This package suits independent travellers who want a self-guided rail experience with substantial time in one location, couples seeking an unhurried pace, and repeat rail travellers familiar with navigating European train networks.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £1,149 every time.

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. 2 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

Single supplements apply; the from-price is based on two people sharing a room.
Hotels marked 'or similar' may be substituted; confirm your exact properties with Tailor Made Rail.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Hotel Gaia (or similar), Basel
London to Basel
Board a Eurostar at St Pancras bound for Paris, connect at the Gare de Lyon and catch a high-speed TGV service to Switzerland, arriving in time for dinner in Basel.
Day 2railovernight: Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco
Basel to Pettenasco
Catch a train through the Swiss Alps via Bern and Lake Spiez, through the Lötschberg and Simplon Tunnels into Italy, disembarking at Domodossola for a regional train to Pettenasco on Lake Orta.
Day 3overnight: Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco
Lake Orta
Explore Italy's smallest lake, with the medieval village of Pettenasco, the harbourside village of Orta San Giulio and the island of San Giulio.
Day 4overnight: Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco
Lake Orta
Further day at leisure around Lake Orta.
Day 5overnight: Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco
Lake Orta
Further day at leisure around Lake Orta, including a visit to Omegna at the northernmost tip.
Day 6overnight: Hotel Giardinetto, Pettenasco
Lake Orta
Final full day exploring Lake Orta.
Day 7railovernight: Observatoire Luxembourg (or similar), Paris
Pettenasco to Paris
Early start on a regional train back to Domodossola, a quick connection to Lausanne along the Upper Rhône Valley and Lake Geneva, then a French TGV service to Paris.
Day 8rail
Paris to London
Morning stroll in Paris before heading to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar back to St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Train journey through the Swiss Alps via Bern and Lake Spiez, then through the Lötschberg and Simplon Tunnels into Italy.
Day 3Explore Pettenasco, the medieval village and harbourside village of Orta San Giulio, and the island of San Giulio on Lake Orta.
Day 5Visit Omegna at the northernmost tip of Lake Orta during your day at leisure.

Included

Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
7 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
Comprehensive directions to your hotels
Easy-to-follow travel documentation
Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,149 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,552 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains are included?: Eurostar from London to Paris, TGV high-speed trains from Paris to Basel and Lausanne to Paris, and regional trains through the Swiss Alps and into Italy. All in Standard Class with seat reservations.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail provides comprehensive directions to hotels, easy-to-follow travel documentation, and ticket despatch, but you travel and explore on your own schedule.
How many nights do I spend on Lake Orta?: Five nights in Pettenasco at Hotel Giardinetto. You arrive on day two and depart on day seven.
When does this tour run?: Low season pricing (November to March) starts from £1,149 per person. High season pricing (April to October) starts from £1,299 per person.