Verona, Venice and Desenzano by rail

Discuss this breathtaking adventure with our dedicated team of travel professionals, telephone: 01904 734 182.

Day 1
We leave from St. Pancras International for Paris in Standard Premier Class, comforted by a complimentary meal and drinks served to our seats. We shall stay overnight Hotel Mecure, situated conveniently opposite Gare du Lyon in advance of our departure the next morning. Tonight you are free to dine out in Paris at the restaurant of your choice.

Day 2
The next morning we journey south from Paris into Italy by high-speed TGV, heading to Milan where we change trains to continue onto Pescheria del Garda and then onto Desenzano, nestled on the south side of Lake Garda. We will be based at Rivoltella near Desenzano for seven nights, staying at the Hotel Piccola Vela.

Day 3
Today you travel to fashion capital Milan. Begin with a guided tour and a visit to the Duomo - the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Also visit the world's most famous opera house and the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade. A definite highlight is the famous church and cloister of Santa Maria delle Grazie, housing da Vinci's painting, 'The Last Supper'.

Day 4
Take today at your own pace. Stroll along the waterfront or explore one of the nearby resorts. Perhaps take a boat to the medieval town of Sirmoine and take in the 13th century Scaligeri Castle or the ruined Roman villa, the Grotte di Catullo.

Day 5
Today we board the train in Desenzano for a full-day excursion to the amazing city of Venice. Arriving at the city's Santa Lucia station close to the Grand Canal, we are greeted by a truly glorious view of the shimmering Venice lagoon. A private boat transports us along the Giudecca Canal - our first chance to soak up the fantastic atmosphere of this unique city. We arrive at St Mark's Square, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful city squares in the world. Our local guide greets us here and takes us on a walking tour of the city, leading us around the narrow winding streets and small squares to visit some of Venice's main sights, including St Mark's Basilica. Your afternoon is free to explore at leisure - take an enchanting gondola ride on the canals or explore using Venice's water-bound public transport network - the Vaporetti. We return to Lake Garda by train at the end of a truly enjoyable day. 

Day 6
Today is another free day in Desenzano, where you can explore winding streets, the medieval castle and the picturesque waterfront or maybe wander over to Old Town, where the market square will be filled with fascinating stalls selling local crafts and produce.

Day 7
A chance to see Verona today which is reached in 45 minutes by coach. During our visit we enjoy a guided tour through the city's narrow streets, which are lined with beautiful medieval buildings and Roman monuments. One such structure, the vast Arena, is an incredibly well-preserved amphitheatre built in 30AD. This evening we dine together at Cascina Capuzza - a local farmhouse and wine cellar in a gorgeous rural setting amidst expansive vineyards. We enjoy a dinner of local ingredients and traditional recipes, complemented by home-produced wines from their own vines. The meal and wine-tasting experience has been hugely popular among Great Rail Journeys customers for many years

Day 8
Travel up Lake Garda's eastern shore to Malcesine, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Perhaps take the cable car to the top of the imposing Monte Baldo, which separates the lake from the Valle d'Adige, the valley of the river that flows through Verona. The cable car climbs up to 1750m, and slowly revolves on the upper sections to provide some truly stunning panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Late that day, return to Desenzano by boat.

Day 9
We leave Desenzano by coach to Milan, then board a train to Dijon. Travel first class on the train that snakes around the shores of the beautiful Lake Maggiore and through Lausanne before crossing into France. AT Dijon, bed down in the 4-star Mercure Dijon Clemenceau.

Day 10
Today, take the TGV to Paris where we connect to the Eurostar to London. Another complimentary meal and drinks are served before our arrival at St Pancras International.

Discuss this breathtaking adventure with our dedicated team of travel professionals, telephone: 01904 734 182.

More about the trains 

 Eurostar: The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris, Lille and Brussels. In your dedicated Standard Premier (the highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers) carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

TGV: Introduced in 1981, France's TGV was the original European high-speed train. First linking Paris to Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer the best option. The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

Where you’ll stay

Hotel Piccolo Vela, Desenzano: The 4-star Hotel Piccolo Vela is situated in the heart of Desenzano, next to the lake. Standing in its own gardens, the hotel has a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool and a sun terrace. The rooms are air conditioned and feature a telephone, television, radio, minibar, safe and a hairdryer.

Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon, Paris: The 3-star Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon is situated beside Gare de Lyon station in the centre of Paris, within reach of the city's many attractions either on foot or by metro. The hotel has a bar serving light snacks and rooms with air conditioning, a telephone, television, radio, safe, minibar and a hairdryer.

Hotel Kyriad, Dijon: The Hotel Kyriad in Dijon is ideally located by the railway station, and is just five minutes' walk from the centre of town. The hotel benefits from a bar and a restaurant, whilst leisure facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna and fitness room. Rooms come with modern conveniences such as air-conditioning, a television, telephone, safe and hairdryer.