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The Italian Dolomites

8days from

£1,144^*per person

Overview

Explore one of Europe’s most special corners as you journey through a picture-book land of vineyards, orchards and castles.

Enjoy discovering the joys of life in the slow lane in this part-Italian-speaking, small part-German-speaking, sun-kissed region. Journey, from your hotel base near the shores of Italy’s most beautiful lake, on an interesting mix of rail and cableways. Visit charming towns and villages that radiate the warmth and sense of well-being created by their idyllic Alpine surroundings, and enjoy some of Italy’s most delicious food and wine along the way.

Itinerary

Fly to Verona - Fly to Italy, meet your tour manager and transfer to your chosen hotel on the shores of Lake Molveno. Idyllically set in the shadow of the soaring Brenta Dolomites, Molveno is a haven for nature-lovers and a climbers’ Mecca, and a perfect base from which to explore this very special region. Enjoy a first dinner in the hotel this evening.
Journey by rail from Mezzolomardo to Caldes - The first day of your Italian escape sees you head across the vineyard-covered Rotaliana plain to historic Mezzolombardo, which sits between two beautiful valleys, overlooked by its two castles. Board a regional train, here, for the scenic, 45-minute journey to Caldes. After passing yet more hilltop fortresses, you'll arrive in Caldes, where the restored 13th-century castle dominates the tiny, delightful, apple-growing village. After time for lunch, you'll return to Molveno where you'll have some free time before dinner.
Optional excursion to Trento - Today brings more opportunities to savour the delights of your hotel and of Molveno's small selection of shops and cafes. Rowing boats are available for hire if you'd like to venture out onto the pristine lake, and you can take a cable car to the heights of beautiful Pradel and the Paganella plateau beyond to wander its walking trails. Alternatively, join today's optional excursion to the former Roman settlement of Trento, the principal town of Italian Trentino, in its mountain-backed setting. Wander the colourful streets, and don’t miss the ancient Duomo cathedral or the vast Buonconsiglio Castle, and perhaps enjoy another leisurely lunch, before completing your day with a relaxing hour or so in Levico, close to the shores of fjord-like Lake Levico.
Included visit to Bolzano and cable-car ride - Set in a broad valley, at the confluence of two alpine rivers, Bolzano makes drifting into holiday mode easy. Relax in countless little cafes and explore colourful shops and stores. German – and English – are widely spoken here despite this being Italy, and a leisurely lunch is more likely to consist of wurst and apfelstrudel than pizza and pasta. After an introductory tour, you'll be free to visit the town’s South Tyrol Archaeological Museum – home to the mummified remains of Otzi (the famous Tyrolean Iceman unearthed in 1991 by two tourists). Hopefully no similar startling discoveries await you this afternoon as you enjoy your scenic journey, first aboard the Renon cable car to Soprabolzano on its sunny plateau. After the chance to take in the idyllic surroundings of the Renon Nature Park, and to see its fascinating Earth Pyramids rock formations, you'll finish your day with a ride on the historic narrow-gauge Renon railway to the mountain village of Collalbo, from where you'll return to your hotel by coach.
Day at leisure - You're free to spend your the day relaxing, and hopefully soaking up the sunshine by the lake or exploring at your leisure.
Optional excursion to Lake Garda - Enjoy another free day in Molveno and its delightful surroundings or join today’s optional excursion south to Lake Garda. Highlights of this tour will include visits to elegant Riva del Garda on the Lake's northern shore, and colourful Malcesine, from where you can take the cable car to the heights of Monte Baldo, above the famous resort town (payable locally).
Included ride on the Mendola Funicular - It’s your final day, and you’ll set off on Italy’s steepest funicular, the Mendola Funicular. Once you’ve travelled up to the mountain station, you can take in a spectacular view of the Valle dell'Adige valley and the South Tyrolean Bassa Atesina area in the south of South Tyrol. This bright red funicular railway dates back to 1903 and was Austria’s first electronically operated cable car, and at the time, the steepest funicular in continental Europe and the longest in the world. You’ll have a break for lunch before heading back to Molveno for a last dinner with your fellow guests.
Fly back to the UK - Transfer to the airport to board your flight home to the UK.

What's Included

Holiday Highlights

Visit to Bolzano and enjoy a cable-car ride
Ride the Renon narrow-gauge railway to Collabro
Choose to travel to delightful Trento on an optional excursion
Have the option to travel around Lake Garda
Sample the region’s celebrated wines in Mezzocorona
Discover medieval Bolzano – a wine-producing gem in the Dolomites
Take the rack railway from San Antonio Mendola to the Mendel Pass
Journey by rail from Mezzolombardo to Caldes

Our Price Includes

Seven nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
Four rail and cable journeys
Return flights to Italy
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable
All mandatory local taxes and charges

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Dates and Prices

Accommodation

Hotel Ariston, Molveno -

★★★

Introduction
This family-run hotel, just a few minutes from the lake’s beach, has an atmosphere of understated tradition and elegance.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel's wood-finished balconies and exterior have an Alpine air, while inside you'll find a traditional restaurant, a lounge, a library and a bar. Back outside you'll find a Jacuzzi and a rooftop terrace solarium with views out over the lake. The hotel also offers bike rental.

Rooms
The guest rooms are spacious, and have balconies with lake or mountain views. Each room has a telephone, hairdryer, safe and TV.

Lago Park Hotel, Molveno -

★★★

Facilities and amenities
The property features a heated outdoor swimming pool, lush tree-lined gardens, and ping-pong tables. There is also a lakeside terrace and a restaurant which serves authentic regional dishes.

Rooms
Guestrooms have been recently renovated and are housed on the second and third floors of the hotel (wheelchair access is available from an elevator). Each guestroom encompasses TVs, safes, and original olive wood flooring.

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Hotel Des Alpes, Molveno -

★★★

Introduction
This welcoming, three-star superior hotel is set against the backdrop of the Dolomite Mountains, and is within walking distance of Lake Molveno and the village centre.

Facilties & Amenities
The hotel has a restaurant, serving local produce, that has views towards the lake, a bar, a lounge and reading room, a terrace, a garden, a lift, and a wellness centre with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam bath and gym.

Rooms
The bedrooms are bright and comfortably furnished, and each has a telephone, TV, safe and balcony.

Other Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 45 minutes from Verona airport.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Meals and dining in Italy

Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour. An authentic dining experience in Italy can often be a bit different to the Italian food that international tourists might be used to, but it’s one of the best ways to truly appreciate the finer cultural differences of this tourist hotspot. From simpler, but more frequent, courses to regional dishes, here are some points to note when dining in Italy. The first major difference you’re likely to notice is that the dining experience as a whole is much longer; you’ll enjoy a much more social experience than the average dinner back home with multiple smaller courses spread across a longer period of time. While each meal will be prepared to order, you may notice that dishes are served cooler than you might be used to – Italian dishes are rarely served piping hot to preserve the more delicate flavours of each ingredient and to provide a more enjoyable dining experience. The final thing to bear in mind is that it may be tricky to find Italian classics in the same form as they are at home. For instance, while Spaghetti Carbonara is a staple in historic Rome – and made traditionally using egg yolks rather than cream – you’ll often find it replaced with a wild boar ragù in Tuscany.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Holiday code

N2383

Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays (for Metro Travel Offers)

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812), you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.

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