A White Christmas in the Dolomites

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France.

Continue on to Lake Lugano for lunch (not included) before checking in to Hotel Primiero in the Trentino region of Italy, arriving in time for dinner.

The delightful villages of the Dolomites await on Christmas Eve. We embark on a scenic drive from the hotel and take in the ancient village of Siror, where beautiful frescoes adorn the charming Alpine-style houses, and Mezzano, officially one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.' Admire the stunning views of the dramatic peaks and enjoy a stroll through the narrow, winding streets, passing stone fountains and atmospheric squares alongside traditional wooden and stone houses with artistic woodpiles outside them. Our last stop is Feltre, a breathtaking hill town with Roman origins, 16^th-century buildings dating back to the Venetian rulers, intricate frescoed walls, a pretty main square dominated by the imposing fortress, an interesting museum and ancient city gates. There are also plenty of restaurants to indulge in the delicious local cuisine, including the popular specialty of fried schiz cheese and polenta cake.

Christmas Day is a lovely day of leisure and celebration at our hotel. We enjoy a traditional Italian Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a light buffet in the evening.

Boxing Day is spent in Trentino's regional capital of Trento, famous for its TrentoDoc, one of Italy’s most popular sparkling wines, along with Buonconsiglio Castle with its ancient frescoes and beautiful views. We visit the lovely Christmas market, held in Piazza Fiera and Piazza Cesare Battisti, with festive lights decorating the pretty pastel-coloured buildings. There are plenty of handmade gifts, unique jewellery, traditional toys, leather goods, wooden ornaments and natural cosmetic products to browse in the charming huts and be sure to sample some tempting local delicacies too! We stay until the beautiful sunset here, where the Old Town is bathed in a golden light, before making our way back to the hotel.

Join us for an optional excursion to explore the unique city of Venice. Lining the canals are grand palazzos, many of them dating back to the 14^th century, while other attractions include St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and of course the gondolas that ply their trade up and down the waterways. 

Travel to our overnight hotel in France, with a light evening meal included. Along the way, we stop for lunch at stunning Lake Lugano in Switzerland.

Continue on to Calais for our return ferry home.