6 Days / 5 Nights: Alpine Elegance and and Lakeside Charm

Day 1| Milan - Lake Como - Lenno - Lugano - Locarno

You travel directly from the metropolis of Milan to Lake Como, the most stunning lake in the region. Framed by the Rhaetian Alps, this Italian slice of heaven’s crystal-clear waters seduced the most famous writers of the 18th and 19th centuries. You may even recognise its sparkling waters from James Bond's Casino Royale (2006).

Admire the mountainous vistas and colourful villas from the unique perspective of the water, as you hop on an included boat trip across to Lenno. Once you’re on dry land, you can grab lunch. The town boasts an 11th-century octagonal baptistry, a Romanesque-style crypt, and enough lovely lakeside views to last a lifetime.

You then cross the border into Switzerland and visit Lugano. You have a couple of hours here to explore however you please. People watch over a coffee in Piazza della Riforma, pour over the frescos at the Church of S. Maria degli Angioli, or feast your eyes on more waterside scenes on the shores of Lake Lugano. You travel to the quaint and cultural town of Locarno for your evening and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Overnight in Locarno in a 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included.

Day 2| Stresa - Ghiffa - Locarno

Wake up, eat a scrumptious breakfast, and get ready for more lakeside adventures. You first travel to elegant Stresa. Here you have the option to take a boat ride to Isola Bella. This island sits in Lake Maggiore and offers visitors a chance to wander through gorgeous gardens and admire the exuberant extravagancies of a wealthy 17th-century family in Palazzo Borromeo.

In the afternoon, you venture to Sacro Monte of Ghiffa. This evocative sanctuary comprises of a trinity of stunning chapels set in a luscious nature reserve with views across Lake Maggiore. Enjoy a stroll through the gardens as you ponder its history. You travel via the lush Campo dei Fiori landscapes back to Locarno for your second night on the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Accommodation: Overnight in Locarno in a 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included.

Day 3| Santa Maria Maggiore - Zermatt - Lausanne

You leave Locarno and head deep into the Alps. Your first stop of the day is Santa Maria Maggiore. You have time to grab a coffee and snap a few pictures of this stunning town before taking the winding roads up to the Simplon Pass. This is a historic location that’s been used as a key route through the Alps by Stone Age dwellers, Romans, and smugglers of the Middle Ages.

Now, it’s time to discover one of the most admired peaks in all of Europe, the Matterhorn. You arrive in Täsch and take a round trip on a train to car-free Zermatt, a “base camp” for aspiring mountaineers, to enjoy the views and grab lunch. Back on our coach, you travel to Lausanne. Overlooking Lake Geneva, this town is home to the Olympic Museum, grand mountain views, and your bed for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lausanne in a 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included.

Day 4| Gruyères - Gstaad - Lausanne

We hope you have an appetite, because your first stop of the day is the home of Gruyère cheese, Gruyères. You have time here to go beyond the dairy delights and discover the Medieval town and its views of the Saane Valley.

You then travel alongside Alpine peaks to Gstaad. This glamourous Alpine village is a favourite hangout spot for ski-loving celebrities; see who you can spot. Near Montreux, you have the option to visit Chillon Castle, an unbelievably idyllic stronghold that deserves its claim as Switzerland’s most visited castle. You arrive back in Lausanne in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lausanne in a 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included.

Day 5| Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken

The valley of 72 waterfalls, an outdoor pursuits paradise, and your first stop today. You spend time in Lauterbrunnen any way you choose today. There are lovely walks, trains to mountain peaks, and more. You’re spoilt for choice, so ask your guide for advice on what you should do.

Once you’ve gratified your senses with Lauterbrunnen’s imposing mountain views and pastoral Swiss splendours, you travel to Interlaken. This small resort town, nestled snug between the mountains, is your home for the evening.

Accommodation: Overnight in Interlaken in a 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included.

Day 6| Entlebuch - Bellinzona - Milan

You leave Interlaken and head through the bucolic landscape of the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. Stroll through typical sound-of-music style scenes of cows chomping through fields of green grass and admire sublime views. Nature may rejuvenate the senses, but it doesn’t fill your belly; so your guide will find you a great place for a lunch break today. We'll continue to explore this wonderful area, making little stops here and there depending on the group and day, perhaps the historic town of Altdorf - we like to stay flexible!

You then descend from the heights of the Alps to Bellinzona. Since Roman times, grand castles, now UNESCO heritage sites, have stoically guarded the access to northern Italy. You have the choice here to visit the castles or relax in the town. You arrive back in Milan in the evening.