Group Travel Tour Operator for holidays to the Dolomites, Italy

Depart the UK

Travel to Dover and take the ferry across to Calais.  Continue south through France stopping overnight in the Reims area.  Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Travel to Italy

Depart after breakfast and continue through France and Switzerland and into Italy and to the resort of Fondo for the next 6 nights.  After check-in the rest of the day is at leisure before having dinner in the hotel.

Fondo at leisure (driver’s rest day)

Enjoy free time to relax and enjoy the hotel and your resort.  Fondo lies amongst incomparable natural beauty overlooked by the majestic rock faces of the Brenta Dolomites, green hills and Alpine woods.    A narrow gorge, known as the Burrone Walk, connects the centre of the town to Lake Smereldo and features a spectacular ravine.  The path carved into the rock has footbridges and is illuminated at night.  An ancient wash-house, a Roman bridge and the reconstruction of an old mill can all be admired along the way.  Two beautiful churches worth visiting are S. Martino and the age-old S. Rocco church. The frescoes on the façades of the houses in the historical town-centre – dated back between the 14th and the 16th centuries – are a special feature of the area.

Dinner is at the hotel this evening

Trento sightseeing

Trento is located in the shadow on the mighty Monte Bondone and is a magnificent city of art and culture.  During a guided tour see the Piazza Duomo, the gothic cathedral, Neptune’s fountain, the historic Castle of Buinconsiglio and Cesare Battisti Mausoleum which overlooks the city.  Enjoy an optional ride on a cable car to the ‘Busa degli Orsi’, a popular viewpoint that you can reach directly from the centre of Trento.  Sample a glass of ‘Trentodoc’, a local prized sparkling wine, before heading back to the hotel.

Lake Garda and Scenic Drive

Admire beautiful scenery and magnificent views across one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes.   Stop in Arco, a spa town overlooked by a medieval castle and renowned for its olive groves before continuing to Riva del Garda, the main resort of northern Lake Garda  which is dominated by a rocky escarpment and the picturesque old town is a maze of narrow shopping streets.  Wander around the harbour or take one of the many lake cruises that depart from here.  There is also the possibility to walk along a lakeside promenade to the nearby resort of Torbole, a picturesque harbour town with shops, bars and cafes.

Return to the hotel for dinner together.

Bolzano – Cable Car and Historic Train

Bolzano is the capital of the Alto Adige and surrounded by orchards and vineyards.  The cathedral (Bolzano Duomo) is well worth a visit or see ‘Otzi’ the Iceman, a Copper Age mummy, on display in the archaeological museum or maybe stroll around the ‘Piazza del Erbe’ which is permanent plants, fruit and flower market.  After some free time, enjoy a scenic ride on the Renon Cable Car to Soprabolzano (12 minute journey) where the views will take your breath away.  From here board an historic narrow-gauge railway for a ride to the mountain village of Collalbo and then back to the hotel for dinner, by coach.

Merano

Merano is a lovely fusion of Italian and Austrian styles. The pretty spa town enjoys a sunny micro-climate and leafy boulevards and is characterised by spacious parks and botanical gardens.  Glacial snow-covered peaks form a backdrop to the palm trees and exotic plants of the beautiful gardens in the old town or Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle.   On a guided walking tour admire the elegant buildings such as the Kurhaus and the Puccini Theatre in Art Nouveau style, or the beauty of the Gothic architecture of the parish church and walk along the arcades of the Laubengasse.

Return to the hotel for dinner and final evening in the hotel.

Depart Italy

Depart after breakfast and retrace the outbound journey, once again stopping overnight in France.  Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Return to the UK

Continue, after breakfast, heading north to Calais and take the ferry across to the UK, and home.

Scenic Drive and Mendola Funicular

Make the short but steep and winding journey through the Mendola Pass up to Sant’Antonio in Caldaro where you will board the brightly red painted Mendola Funicular, Italy’s steepest funicular railway.  Take in the spectacular views of the Valle dell’ Adige whilst climbing even higher on a journey that takes approximately 12 minutes.  There is a viewing terrace at the top

Trento by Train and Coach (alternative to Day 4)

Instead of driving direct to Trento, make the short drive to the medieval apple-growing village of Caldes which is dominated by a 13^th century castle and board a regional train for a 45 minute journey, passing hillside fortresses, to historic Mezzolombardo which is overlooked by two castles.  Continue by coach to the city of Trento where the afternoon is free to explore.