Italian Lakes & Tuscany Tour
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Overview
Highlights
- Stay 4 nights in Stresa beside wonderful Lake Maggiore, with private cruises to Villa Borromeo on Isola Bella and Bellagio on Lake Como. Relax by lovely Lake Orta, and experience a scenic train ride to Locarno and Ascona aboard the Centovalli Express
- Spend 2 nights in Liguria, in historic Genoa with its magnificent UNESCO listed palaces and stately homes
- Visit beautiful Santa Margherita Ligure, cruise to world famous Portofino and the hidden Abbey of San Fruttuoso, and spend a delightful day exploring the famous Cinque Terre
- Relax over 4 nights in the San Luca Palace hotel inside the walls of the typically ‘Tuscan’ town of Lucca, visit renaissance Florence, Pisa and enjoy an expert Italian cooking demonstration followed by lunch
- * Please note 20 May and 21 September departures will stay at Hotel Guinigi in Lucca.
- Dine out in the olive groves at a Tuscan Osteria, and enjoy a wine tasting followed by dinner in a vineyard estate in Calvagese, near Lake Garda
- Visit the fantastic Ferrari museum and a private collection of Maseratis, and enjoy light lunch at the Panini Hombre Parmesan cheese farm
- Stay 3 nights in the Grand Hotel beside glorious Lake Garda, sip prosecco in Winnie’s Piano Bar, and explore D’Annunzio’s remarkable Villa and Gardens
- As a finale, stay 2 nights in an elegant Venetian Villa hotel near Treviso, visit Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, romantic Vicenza, and taste Grappa in the hometown of Bassano del Grappa
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Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing (as per the itinerary)
- Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager
- Travel in a first class air-conditioned touring coach
- End of tour tips to Tour Manager and Driver, tips for local guides
- 15 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation
- Hotel porterage (1 bag per person)
- Welcome drinks Stresa, and Winnie’s Bar beside Lake Garda
- Breakfast daily
- 10 dinners including 4 local restaurant dinners - Stresa, Lucca, Tuscan Hills & Lake Garda, plus farewell dinner in our Venetian Villa hotel
- Lunch in Lucca and a light lunch at Panini Hombre
- Wine & olive oil tasting in a Tuscan Osteria, pizza and pasta cooking demonstration in Lucca, ‘Parmigiano-Reggiano’ tasting at the Panini Hombre farm and Grappa Museum tour and tasting
- Entrances: Isola Bella, Abbey of San Fruttuoso, Accademia Gallery Florence, Ferrari Museum Maranello, the Panini family private Maserati collection, Villa and Gardens of Il Vittoriale, Poli Grappa Museum
- Local guides - Isola Bella, Genoa, Florence, Ferrari Museum, Il Vittoriale by Lake Garda, Verona, Vicenza, Poli Grappa Museum
- Private boat rides on Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, panoramic train ride on the Centovalli Express train to Locarno, visit Portofino by boat and Cinque Terre boat excursion
- Personal audio system whilst on tour
- Free WIFI available on most coaches and at hotels
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Itinerary
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Regina Palace Hotel
Commencing in central Milan at midday we will transfer you to Stresa on wonderful Lake Maggiore, where you will stay the next four nights. Join us tonight for a welcome drink before dinner in a local restaurant. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know, your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After a leisurely start to the day we drive north to Domodossola at the foot of the Italian Alps. Here we board the famous Centovalli Express train which runs through the ‘Hundred Valleys’ to Locarno. Relaxing in the panoramic carriages...
Meals: Breakfast
Boarding our private boat we visit Lake Maggiore’s famous island of Isola Bella where we have included entrance and a guided tour of the palatial Borromeo villa and gardens, which dominate the island. The villa boasts Murano glass chandeliers, ...
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we drive to Lake Como where we follow the western shore of the lake to Caddenabbia. Here we board our private boat and enjoy a cruise on Lake Como, past a number of striking lakeside villas, to delightful Bellagio. This beautiful t...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Savoia
Bidding farewell to Lake Maggiore we drive south to the coastal region of Liguria, arriving around midday at Genoa. Once the capital of a naval empire, Genoa boasts the largest intact medieval ci...
Meals: Breakfast
We spend the morning at leisure in the beautiful harbour town of Santa Margherita Ligure with its elegant shops, boutiques and cafes that litter the port. Later we take a boat along the rugged Liguria coastline to the world famous harbour of Po...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: San Luca Palace or Hotel Guinigi (20 May & 21 Sep departure)
A delightful day is planned as we explore the famous Cinque Terre. The name means ‘five lands’ and comes from the five unspoilt fishing villages tha...
Meals: Breakfast
Today is dedicated to nearby ‘Firenze’ (Florence). A local guide will bring to life this truly beautiful city which is otherwise known as the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’. Your tour starts with a visit to the famous Accademia Gallery, home to Mi...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we visit nearby Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery in the magnificent Piazza dei Miracoli. Your afternoon has been left entirely free to explore delightful Lucca. Perhaps visit the former home of P...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After a relaxing start we will visit a cooking school where a member of the Professional Association of Italian Chefs provides us with an Italian Pasta and Pizza cooking demonstration, showing us how pizza, focaccia and various pasta is ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Gardone Riviera
Driving north we visit the fantastic Ferrari Museum at Maranello, near Modena. A local guide will join us and show us around this fantastic exhibition of bright red, old, new and ...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We have left today entirely free to enjoy glorious Lake Garda. Often regarded as the most beautiful of all the Italian Lakes, Garda is also the largest and deepest. Do as little or as much as you want. Perhaps wander around Gardone Rivi...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we have included a visit to one of the strangest museums you will ever visit. The Villa and Gardens of Il Vittoriale degli Italiani was created by D’Annunzio - the remarkable Italian patriot, aviator, hero, writer and poet ...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Contarini Nenzi
Skirting the lake we will visit Romeo and Juliet’s Verona. A local guide will bring to life this beautiful city, where these tragic lovers avowed a love that spanned the centuries. Late...
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our first stop is in beautiful Vicenza where a local guide will join us for a walking tour of the medieval centre. Later we continue to delightful Bassano del Grappa located on the foothills of the Alps. Here we will enjoy a guided visi...
Meals: Breakfast
Sadly, your tour ends after breakfast. We have included a group transfer to drop off at Venice Marco Polo airport, the cruise port and ferry terminal.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Albatross Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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This trip was fantastic from the accommodation, experiences, food and company. Albatross Tours think of everything and provide you with a very magical and well organ...
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Tour Operator
In 2015 Albatross Australia will be celebrating 20 years operating European escorted tours. Since then, thousands of Australians and New Zealanders have travelled with us discovering a much better way of touring Europe. In fact, many of our past travellers have joined us again and again because they love the style of our tours.
Established in 1995 by Euan Landsborough, Co-owner, Managing Director and Tour Designer of Albatross Tours, we are based in Brisbane, Australia and are a division of the award winning global travel company – The Albatross Group.
As a global company we handle in excess of 5,000 European tour groups every year, with offices in Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom.
With Albatross Tours you are in experienced hands. Our sole focus is the design, creation and operation of European tours for Australians and New Zealanders. Our 20 years of European touring experience enables us to provide you with a better and more fulfilling experience.
When you travel on an Albatross European tour, you are looking at value for money, genuine inclusions and better itinerary designs. Why would you choose to travel to Europe with anyone else!
Discover a better way to explore Europe
- Leisurely 2, 3, 4 and even 7 night stops
- Small groups, with a more personal style of touring
- Genuinely inclusive, with no additional 'on tour' optional extras
- Tours designed for Australians and New Zealanders
- Stay in character hotels in superb locations
- See more and experience more of Europe
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Unless otherwise indicated we have not included Flights
- Visas
- Airport taxes
- Port taxes
- Security charges
- Airport transfers
- Items of a personal nature, laundry, drinks and Consumables
All cancellations must be received in writing.
If cancelled outside of 60 days prior to travel a cancellation fee of the deposit applies.
If cancelled after final payment but prior to 45 days before travel a cancellation fee of 50% applies.
If cancelled later than 45 days prior to travel a cancellation fee of 100% applies.
16 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 10 Dinners
Insurance
It is a condition of travel that each passenger is adequately covered by a proper insurance cover. Please also check the contingencies of your prospective insurance cover and ensure you are aware of its conditions and omissions. We strongly advise travel insurance from time of booking to provide full cover
Transportation
When group sizes are considered too small to use a full sized touring coach we reserve the right to use a smaller coach. Smaller coaches and any vehicles used for local transfers and occasional day excursions may not have toilet facilities on board. Individual country and EEC laws regarding coach transportation will be abided by at all times.
Passports And Visas
It is the responsibility of the passenger to have a valid passport and all visas, permits and certificates required for the selected tour. Your special Travel Agent will advise you. If the passenger’s valid passport details are not advised by the final payment due date, then a $25 per person service fee will apply.
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