The Southern Shores of Lake Garda

Day 1 - Lake Garda

Join your tour group at the hotel in Sirmione, on the shores of beautiful Lake Garda.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 2 - Sirmione

Today you’ll savour your first taste of Lake Garda. The lake’s wind-ruffled waters and warm, colourful town of Sirmione are simply captivating. Today is a free day to explore Sirmione under your own steam. Perhaps visit one of Lake Garda’s oldest settlements, which has evidence of fishermen living in stilt houses that date back to the Stone Age. The beautiful setting has made this area a popular place ever since. Scaliger Castle is an incredibly well maintained 13th-century fortification; why not walk the drawbridge and climb the numerous steps to the castle ramparts to view the land and the lake as the medieval guards once did? Or experience a more relaxed side of the town’s history with a visit to the Roman thermal baths. Alternately, visit the Grotto of Catullus to walk amongst the remains of northern Italy’s largest Roman villa.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 3 - The Dolomites

We’ll drive through breathtaking narrow gorges as we head to Lake Carezza, a small Dolomite mountain lake which reflects a rainbow of colours, giving it the second name ‘Lec de Ergobando’. It is said the rainbow was created by a magician who admired the beautiful mermaid who hides within these waters. We journey to stunning Bolzano, where we can take the short cable car over hilly vineyards and valleys to Soprabolzano. We’ll continue exploring the Renon plateau via Ritten’s narrow-gauge railway. Then we're in for a treat as we round off our day with a slice of local apple strudel and a cup of coffee.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 4 - Verona

Verona is best known as the setting of Romeo and Juliet’s love-struck tragedy, but beyond the Renaissance romance Verona is a bustling and beautiful centre. Its heart is dominated not by Juliet’s balcony, but the incredible 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre which still hosts the annual Verona Opera Festival, as well as concerts from world-famous music artists. Entering the centre of Verona, we take a guided walk past numerous Roman and Medieval remains such as Piazza Brá, the main square which is surrounded by magnificent palaces and the Roman Amphitheatre, and holds a statue of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first ruler of Unified Italy. You may also visit the perfectly preserved Roman Mercato Vecchio and Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s commercial centre in the Middle Ages where souvenirs are still sold, or the Scaliger tombs, where the prominent Scala family rest within impressive monuments of Gothic architecture. And of course, we will see Juliet’s balcony. We’ll also enjoy some free time before we return to our hotel this afternoon.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 5 - Sirmione

Fill your day as you wish. Perhaps with sightseeing in Sirmione or enjoy a lovely stroll along the banks of Lake Garda.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 6 - Venice

Discover another Italian classic today. We board a motorboat for the ultimate travel experience; wind through the waterways to arrive in St Mark’s Square, Venice. Home to a rich history of art and wealth and a wonderland of winding canals, higgledy bridges and backstreets; Venice is iconic and we start in perhaps one of the most photographed squares country-wide. We take a walk with a guide through the historic centre and get to know the alleys and the canals. You have the rest of the day to make your own discoveries - take a romantic gondola trip through the canals, or maybe take a boat trip to admire the more prominent islands of this intricate archipelago and their significant sights. Explore the city’s cobblestone streets and you’ll find fabulous palaces, or churches decorated with priceless art and the colourful Rialto market, or climb to the top of St Mark’s iconic Bell Tower for some of the most incredible views over the city.

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 7 - Lake Garda

Today we have a guided tour of Lake Garda, stopping in characteristic villages and at photographic spectacles. We visit the beautiful medieval hamlet of Lazise to explore its narrow alleys and picturesque squares; the pretty village of Malcesine with cobbled lanes and a 13th-century castle; and the bustling town of Riva. Considered the most important town on the lake, Riva has an interesting historic centre with an Austrian flavour, long beaches and a beautiful mountainous backdrop. After time to explore, we cross the lake by ferry to Limone, the most picturesque village on the lake and spend the rest of the afternoon in this town, forever associated with its old lemon groves (although the name derives from the Latin for ‘boundary’, reflecting the town’s history).

Hotel Du Parc, Sirmione (4-star)

Day 8 - Sirmione

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Sirmione