Fly to Milan, and upon arrival transfer to Lake Como and your chosen hotel. Settle into your surroundings and enjoy your first dinner.

Today introduces you to Como's most sparkling jewel, stunning Bellagio, often described as Italy's most beautiful town, as you cross by ferry to discover its elegant villas and glorious gardens. Following a short walking tour, you are free to enjoy Bellagio's wondrous surroundings, perhaps taking a seat in a cafe, enjoying a delicious gelato, or simply strolling the lakefront promenade before returning across the water at your leisure.

Another relaxed day sees you take to the lake again to enjoy more of Como's idyllic shoreline, boarding a lake cruiser to sail past yet more elegant villas and their stunning gardens, as well as some of the lake's highly favoured settlements. We include a visit to the gardens of Villa Balbianello, then sit back and relax, enjoying the joys of cruising under hopefully sunny skies.

Today brings the opportunity to rest and relax in the hotel and its surroundings, or perhaps join the optional excursion to Milan, one of Europe's most exciting cities, a centre of worldwide fashion and home to some of the world's most important art collections. The Sforzesco Castle, the famous shopping Galleria, La Scala - one of the world's greatest opera houses - and the great cathedral, Il Duomo, one of the world's largest Gothic churches, are amongst the highlights of a guided tour, after which you are free to enjoy the city at your leisure.

The last included excursion is to fabled St Moritz, set high in Switzerland's Upper Engadine Valley. Journey aboard the Bernina Express from the Lombardy town of Tirano, through some of the Alps' most stunning scenery, crossing viaducts - including the famous spiral at Brusio - and heading through the Bernina Pass to the famous playground paradise, before returning by coach to Como.

Another free day brings opportunities to explore your surroundings, as well as the chance to join today's optional excursion to Lugano, one of Switzerland's most stylish lake-side resorts. Around the lake, pretty villages nestle amidst luxuriant vegetation, and the shoreline is dotted with villas and summer homes. After a short sightseeing tour, explore under your own steam, or to take the funicular ride up Monte Bre for a panoramic view, before returning to Como.

Join today's final optional excursion to the 'twin' city of Bergamo, the modern Lower City overlooked by the walled Upper City, and where the 14th-century Citadel and ancient Piazza Vecchia (Old Square), enclosed by the Venetian walls, are highlights of a place also famed for its food, and which boasts a host of reasonably priced cafes and osterie.

Bid "Arrivederci" to your hosts and transfer back to the airport for the return flight, at the end of a wonderful stay in a beautiful corner of the world.