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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day one : Arrive in Milan You either join our flight at 09.10 from Heathrow , arriving in Milan Linate at 12.05 or you make your own way either to Milan Linate for this time or directly to the hotel . At Milan you are met by your small coach for up to 14 participants . You arrive at your first hotel on Lake Como in time for dinner .
Day two : Full day to Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero Meet with the local guide whose services you have this morning as you visit and tour the gardens of Villa Monastero ( renowned for a fine collection of Mediterranean and tropical vegetation , as well as fountains and statues ). After the visit there is time for lunch ( own expense ) before a guided visit to Villa Cipressi , poised upon a rocky promontory . You are taken back to the hotel in time to relax before dinner .
Day three : Full day guided tour of gardens This is quite a full day with a total of three gardens to be visited on different shores of Lake Como . First you visit the Villa Melzi d ’ Eril ( at Bellagio with an eclectic collection of sculptures in this essentially English-style park that is full of excellent tree specimens ), time for your packed lunch in between , a short interlude in Bellagio itself , and then on to Villa Balbianello for a guided visit ( in a secluded setting and full of woods of pine , cypress and oak as well as flowerbeds ) and then to Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo for another guided visit ( full of imaginative planting , sunny terraces , with climbers , ferns , giant magnolias and cork oaks . You return to the hotel in good time for dinner .
Day four : From Lake Como to Lake Maggiore Today you leave to drive over to Lake Maggiore heading for your hotel on Lake Maggiore . Settle in and enjoy some free time before a wine-tasting and then the included dinner at the hotel .
Day five : Isola Bella and Isola Madre Today is spent on the islands in Lake Maggiore , described to you by the local guide . You go first to Isola Madre for a guided visit and then by boat to Isola Bella to visit the museum and gardens . Isola Bella is one of the most dramatic 17th Century Baroque gardens in Italy , seemingly floating on the surface of the lake with its ten-terraced garden and marble ballustrades . Packed lunch is provided . Dinner at the hotel .
Day six : Villa Taranto Your guide gives you a tour of the gardens of Villa Taranto , followed by a visit to the Botanic gardens Alpinia above Stresa and reached by cable car . Packed lunch provided . There is free time to visit Stresa itself . Dinner at the hotel .
Day seven : Back to Milan and London You have a large part of the day at leisure on Lake Maggiore today as your flight does not depart until 19.00 from Milan Malpensa . Arrive back at Heathrow at 19.55 hrs .
Dates and prices This tour departs on the following dates from London for these prices per person 14 May 2019 £ 2,630 4 June 2019 £ 2,630 25 June 2019 £ 2,630 3 September 2019 £ 2,630
Prices are based on two people sharing a double or twin room . Single supplement for use of double : £ 320 per person . Deposit payment : £ 300 per person
We include
• Flights with British Airways London Heathrow to Milan in Euro traveller
• Transportation from Milan airport and back to Milan airport in a small coach for maximum 14 people with one piece of
luggage per person .
• Entrance tickets to the gardens mentioned
•
Services of an English speaking local guide for garden visits as mentioned
• Three nights ’ dinner , bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Imperiale in a double or twin park view rooms
• Three nights ’ dinner , bed and breakfast at the Hotel Cannero , Cannero Riviera in rooms with park view . Lake
view rooms are possible at a supplement of £ 28 per person per night .
• Three packed lunches provided per person .
Grand Hotel Imperiale Moltrasio , Lake Como The Grand Hotel Imperiale is a four star hotel and one of the many historical hotels on Lake Como . The rooms , whether in the modern wing or in the original hotel are all elegantly furnished with modern amenities and have either lake views or views over the gardens . The hotel ’ s outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to relax and unwind .
Hotel Cannero Cannero Riviera , Lake Maggiore This hotel is one of our most popular hotels in the Italian Lakes . A traditional , boutique , family-run 4-star hotel on the promenade of Cannero Riviera , the hotel has a garden , swimming pool and a cosy charm .
Different travel arrangements If you want us to arrange flights on other dates and from UK regional airports or to extend your holiday with a stay elsewhere in Italy , just let us know . If you are not arriving from the UK , then we can give you a price that excludes flights and perhaps with extra transfers included . We will adjust the details and the price accordingly .
Villa Monastero
Phone 01392 441275 to make a reservation or to discuss your holiday plans 33