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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted Walking Tour

Walk & Tour: Lake Maggiore & Italian Valleys

Walking tour of Italian lakes and Alps from London with rail and boat excursions.

Illustration of Walk & Tour: Lake Maggiore & Italian Valleys

Great Rail Journeys operates this ten-day escorted walking tour from London to Dijon, combining scenic rail travel with guided walks around alpine Italian lakes. You depart London on Eurostar Plus, travel First Class across France to Chambéry, then coach to Baveno on the northwestern shore of Lake Maggiore, where you stay seven nights in a four-star lakefront hotel. Each day offers a choice of guided walks (ranging from 3.1 to 7.4 miles) through chestnut forests, past traditional villages, and along the shores of Lake Mergozzo and Lake Orta. You also ride the Centovalli Railway, a 1923-built mountain line crossing 83 bridges to Locarno in Switzerland, and take a boat cruise to the Borromean Islands for a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace. Day 6 is free to explore Baveno independently or visit nearby villas. A UK Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and expert local walking guides accompany all excursions. The tour suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking a mix of structure and freedom, and history enthusiasts drawn to medieval towns and period estates.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement price (GBP 3,299) is GBP 100 above half the double-room rate, a modest premium.
  • Lunches are not included; the itinerary specifies breakfast, five dinners, and Eurostar light meals only.
  • The free day (Day 6) is unguided; independent exploration is required if you choose optional attractions such as Villa Taranto or Villa Pallavicino.
  • Only one departure confirmed for October 2026; availability is limited.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Chambéry

    By First Class rail to Chambéry

    Meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras for a Eurostar journey to Paris in Plus class with a light meal served at seat. Switch stations in Paris to catch the First Class service to Chambéry. On arrival, take a short walk to the hotel. This charming French medieval town is framed by mountains with a historic Old Town. Enjoy the first dinner together at the hotel. Note: for the 27th August departure, travel outbound via Grenoble, staying at the Novotel Grenoble.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Baveno

    Arrival in Baveno on the shore of Lake Maggiore

    After breakfast, return to Chambéry station and travel by train to Milan, then transfer by coach to Baveno on the northwestern reaches of Lake Maggiore for seven nights. Check in to a four-star hotel (one of three sister hotels on or near the lakefront, all featuring restaurants and outdoor pools, confirmed 4 weeks prior to departure). Enjoy a three-course dinner at the hotel. Note: on the 29th April departure, meet the Tour Manager at London Gatwick and fly to Milan, then transfer to Baveno.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Baveno

    Lake Mergozzo and Montorfano walk

    After breakfast, a short train journey to Verbania-Pallanzo station for the first guided walks. Option A (3.1mi/5km): scenic walk along the southwestern shore of Lake Mergozzo on paved mule routes with lake views and traditional Italian villages. Option B (7.4mi/11.8km): circular route walking round the lake anticlockwise beginning at Verbania-Pallanza station. Both routes feature great views of the lake and a visit to Mergozzo town with its colourful buildings and 400-year-old elm tree. Return to Baveno for a free evening to dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Baveno

    Riding the Centovalli Railway to Locarno

    Travel by coach to Domodossola to join the Centovalli Railway, in operation since 1923. Wind through the Alps to Locarno in Switzerland, travelling through valleys and over 83 bridges, admiring vineyards, chestnut forests, waterfalls and unspoiled landscapes. On arrival in Locarno on the northern stretch of Lake Maggiore, explore the Old Town with its exotic gardens and lakeside promenades, and enjoy lunch or shopping along Piazza Grande. Return to Baveno for dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Baveno

    Through pastoral villages to glistening Lake Orta

    Transfer to Armeno for guided walks beginning at the ancient 11th-century Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Option A (5.9mi/9.5km): walk through charming countryside on well-trod footpaths and paved lanes to Orta San Giulio. Option B (7.1mi/11.3km): slightly longer route following Option A from Armeno to the village of Ameno, then continuing through Monte Mesma Nature Reserve. Arrive in Orta San Giulio, a gem popular with 19th-century writers including Lord Byron and Robert Browning, for independent lunch and exploration. Return to Baveno for a free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Baveno

    A full day to explore Baveno or further afield

    Free day to enjoy independently. Options include walking along Baveno's promenade, taking a local ferry to Pallanzo to visit Villa Taranto with its world-renowned terraced gardens, visiting Stresa to stroll the waterside or visit Villa Pallavicino, or sailing to Isola Madre, the largest of the Borromeo archipelago. Dine independently this evening, perhaps savouring local specialities such as lake fish, risotto, polenta or mortadella Ossolana.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Baveno

    Discovering the beautiful Borromean Islands

    Stroll to Baveno's pier for a boat cruise to the Borromean Islands. Sail first to Isola Bella for a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace and its elaborate Italianate gardens, then explore at own pace. Continue to Isola dei Pescatori for independent lunch at cafés and ristorantes. Rejoin the boat and cruise back to the hotel. Free evening in Baveno.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Baveno

    Hiking the Anzasca Valley and visiting alpine Macugnaga

    Guided walk along the Anzasca Valley beginning in Piedimulera. Option A (3.2mi/5.1km): scenic views of traditional stone villages and the deep valley backed by snowcapped mountains, concluding in Castiglione. Option B (5.5mi/8.8km): follows Option A to Castiglione then continues beyond the village. Afterwards, continue by coach to Macugnaga, spectacularly located beneath the east face of Monte Rosa, the second highest peak in the Alps, settled in the Middle Ages by the Swiss Walser community. Explore this quiet ski village before returning to Baveno for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9railovernight: Dijon

    Across the Alps to Dijon

    Leave Baveno after breakfast and travel by coach to Stresa. Board a train to Lausanne passing along the Rhône Valley surrounded by spectacular Swiss Alps, then change trains and continue along the shore of Lake Geneva to Dijon. Check in to the hotel near the station. Enjoy the final group dinner at a local restaurant in this former capital of the Duchy of Burgundy. Note: on the 29th April departure, transfer after breakfast to Milan airport and fly back to London Gatwick.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  10. Day 10rail

    Homeward bound

    After a final breakfast in Dijon, travel by rail to Paris and join the Eurostar to London in Plus class. Arrive back at London St Pancras where the holiday comes to an end.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris with light meal served at seat, then travel First Class rail to Chambéry.
  • Day 4Ride the Centovalli Railway from Domodossola, crossing 83 bridges through alpine valleys, chestnut forests and vineyards to Locarno in Switzerland.
  • Day 7Boat cruise to the Borromean Islands with a guided tour of the 17th-century Borromeo Palace and its Italianate gardens on Isola Bella.
  • Day 8Hike the Anzasca Valley from Piedimulera with views of traditional stone villages backed by snowcapped Monte Rosa.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel
  • First Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Expert walking guides with recognised walking, leading and first-aid qualifications
  • Carefully planned walking routes with choice of two options per day
  • All walks with local guides, guided tours and excursions
  • Eurostar light meals
  • Breakfast each day
  • 5 dinners
  • Guided tour of Borromeo Palace and Italianate gardens on Isola Bella
  • Boat cruise to Borromean Islands
  • Centovalli Railway journey to Locarno
  • Transfers, local transport (including cable cars where applicable), entrance fees and permits for guided walks

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Lunches (unless specifically stated)
  • Independent meals on free evenings
  • Personal spending money
  • Optional attractions visited independently

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus class from London St Pancras to Paris, First Class rail from Paris to Dijon, the Centovalli Railway from Domodossola to Locarno, and a local train from Baveno to Verbania-Pallanzo. All transfers and local transport are included.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
Fully escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. Expert walking guides lead all daily walks, and group dinners are included most evenings. Day 6 in Baveno is free to explore independently.
How much walking is involved?
Daily guided walks offer two options ranging from 3.1 to 7.4 miles. You choose the shorter or longer route each day. Walking surfaces include paved mule routes, footpaths, and village lanes.
Where does the group stay?
One night in Chambéry (hotel specified by the departure date), seven nights in a four-star hotel in Baveno (Grand Hotel Dino, Hotel Simplon, or Hotel Splendid on the lakefront, all with restaurants and outdoor pools), and one night in Dijon near the station.
What meals are included?
Breakfast each day, five dinners at hotels or local restaurants, and Eurostar light meals served at seat. Lunches and dinners on free evenings are not included.
When does the tour run?
One departure is confirmed for October 2026. Great Rail Journeys publishes departures subject to minimum group size; confirm availability when booking.

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