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Rail Tours (rail-tours.co.uk) · Train Tour

Sirmione on Lake Garda

Ten-day Lake Garda base trip from London via Eurostar and TGV trains

Illustration of Sirmione on Lake Garda

Rail Tours' 10-day escorted holiday takes you from London to the Italian lakes via Eurostar and TGV trains, with Sirmione on Lake Garda as your base. You travel to Chambery on Day 1, then onward to Sirmione on Day 2, where you spend seven nights in this medieval lakeside town. From your hotel, you visit Verona with its Roman ruins and medieval streets, the Renaissance city of Mantova, and Venice via guided tour of its lagoon monuments. A coach journey north along Lake Garda's eastern shore brings you to Malcesine, where the landscape resembles Norwegian fjords. You have one free day to unwind and explore Sirmione at your own pace, including its 13th-century castle, the Rocca Scaligera. The tour includes accommodation, a Tour Manager, and organised excursions; the journey home on Day 10 follows the same rail route back to London. This suits travellers who prefer a stable base with carefully planned day trips, escorted comfort, and the cultural richness of northern Italy combined with European rail travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most of the 10 days are spent in Sirmione; rail travel is concentrated on Days 1, 2, 9, and 10 (London to Chambery to Turin and return). Days 3-8 involve day trips by coach from the hotel.
  • The package description mentions a wine tasting and dinner at a wine estate, but this is not detailed in the day-by-day itinerary; confirm these details with Rail Tours before booking.
  • Single-room pricing is not stated in the evidence; ask Rail Tours for single-traveller rates.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Chambery

    To Chambery

    We meet our group and Tour Manager and depart on the Eurostar to Paris and then to Chambery where we overnight.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Sirmione

    To Sirmione

    We continue by rail and coach to Lake Garda, and our destination is the charming town of Sirmione, situated on a peninsula jutting into the lake.

  3. Day 3overnight: Sirmione

    Exploring Sirmione

    Today is yours to spend as you wish. Sirmione is a pleasure to discover; the town is bursting with history and charm, including the imposing Rocca Scaligera - a beautifully preserved 13th century castle surrounded by a large water-filled moat that dominates the Old Quarter of town.

  4. Day 4overnight: Sirmione

    Verona

    This morning we visit Verona - a city of Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance.

  5. Day 5overnight: Sirmione

    Sigurta Gardens and Mantova

    We visit Sigurta Gardens, an oasis of colourful plant life set in the foothills around Lake Garda. Later we drive to the beautifully preserved medieval city of Mantova, a centre of the early Renaissance.

  6. Day 6overnight: Sirmione

    Venice

    We head to the incomparable, romantic city of Venice today. The glorious city is set in its own shimmering lagoon - an incredible environment that has UNESCO World Heritage status. We enjoy a guided tour of Venice's main sights.

  7. Day 7overnight: Sirmione

    Free day

    Enjoy a free day to relax and unwind in the warm local climate.

  8. Day 8overnight: Sirmione

    Malcesine

    We travel by coach up Lake Garda's eastern shore, today we make our way north to Malcesine, where the lake resembles the Norwegian fjords.

  9. Day 9overnight: Turin

    To Turin

    We transfer to the local station by coach as we leave Sirmione and travel to Turin, where we overnight.

  10. Day 10rail

    Return home

    We take the TGV service to Paris. Here we join the Eurostar service back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Explore Sirmione's Old Quarter, dominated by the 13th-century Rocca Scaligera castle with its water-filled moat
  • Day 4Day trip to Verona, viewing its Roman ruins, medieval buildings, and Italian culture
  • Day 5Visit Sigurta Gardens, a colourful garden oasis in the foothills around Lake Garda, then journey to the Renaissance city of Mantova
  • Day 6Guided tour of Venice's main sights in the UNESCO World Heritage lagoon city
  • Day 8Coach journey up the eastern shore of Lake Garda to Malcesine, where the landscape resembles Norwegian fjords

Questions travellers ask

Which trains does Rail Tours use on this tour?
Eurostar from London to Paris, and TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) from Paris to Chambery and the return journey from Turin to Paris and back to London.
Is the train travel included in the price?
The package price of GBP 1,715 per person includes rail travel on Eurostar and TGV, accommodation, and guided visits. Coach excursions and a Tour Manager are included; confirm whether meals beyond breakfasts are included by contacting Rail Tours.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes, Rail Tours provides a Tour Manager who travels with the group throughout the 10 days.
Where do you stay?
One night in Chambery, seven nights in Sirmione, and one night in Turin.
How much free time is there?
Day 3 in Sirmione is free to explore the town. Day 7 is a designated free day to relax. Days 4, 5, 6, and 8 include organised excursions to nearby destinations.
How much walking is involved?
Expect moderate walking on guided tours of Verona and Venice, plus navigating Sirmione's Old Quarter. Day 7 is free for rest, and a coach journey to Malcesine involves little walking.

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