This magical festive holiday combines two of Europe’s most delightful destinations – Lake Garda where we spend Christmas, and the charming city of Innsbruck, a seasonal favourite

Meeting the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras this morning, we join the Eurostar. Travelling in Plus class, a light meal is served at our seats enroute to Paris. In the French capital, we change for the First Class service direct to Turin. This scenic journey passes the Alps as we travel in comfort to the Italian city of Turin. Here, we check in to our hotel for an overnight stay.

The city has a dignified ambience and an artistic, cultural and epicurean heritage. We enjoy the first dinner of our tour at the hotel restaurant this evening.

After breakfast at our hotel, there's a full morning to explore Turin at leisure. An important centre of business, finance and technology, it also boats an array of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture. Fringed by the Italian Alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars. Our hotel, the NH Lingotto Congress, has a surprising history which reflects the city's heritage. Housed in the old Fiat factory, the hotel still has the Fiat test track on its roof.

In the afternoon, we continue our journey by rail through northern Italy, passing Milan on our way to Peschiera del Garda. From here, we continue by coach to Bardolino on beautiful Lake Garda, where we check into our four-star lakefront hotel for five nights. We are welcomed with a glass of prosecco before sitting down to a three-course dinner.

On Christmas Eve morning, we travel to the enchanting lakeside town of Sirmione where you are at leisure to look around. Located at the southern end of Lake Garda, this medieval town is a real pleasure to discover, bursting with history and charm. The town is entered via a drawbridge, over a water-filled moat, which surrounds the imposing Rocca Scaligera, a preserved 13th-century castle.

You may like to visit the castle for a view from its ramparts or stroll through the old quarter, maybe stopping for coffee, a glass of wine or a light lunch at one of the characterful cafés or trattorias. Alternatively, you could visit the Grotte di Catullo, the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy.

We return to our hotel in Bardolino in the afternoon, where there is time to relax and enjoy the superb facilities, before we celebrate Christmas Eve with a gala dinner at our hotel this evening.

Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and celebration and, after breakfast, the morning is free to enjoy as you wish. You may decide to take a short walk beside Lake Garda, close to our hotel. A gentle stroll could take you to the small nearby village of Cisano, where pastel-coloured buildings gather round a small square on the delightful lakefront. Alternatively, visit the centre of beautiful Bardolino - about 20 minutes away on foot - where grand, tiled avenues open onto incredible views of Lake Garda.

For the ultimate in relaxation, our spa hotel offers excellent facilities including thermal baths, swimming pools, a sauna and a beauty spa. In the early afternoon, we gather to celebrate Christmas with a festive lunch. There's then the option of a laid-back afternoon before this evening's festivities begin.

A three-course dinner tonight leads into an evening of live music as we get into the Christmas spirit in our wonderful surroundings.

After a leisurely breakfast, we set out on a delightful Boxing Day excursion by coach to the Franciacorta wine region. This area is known particularly for its sparkling wines, and we visit a local winery for a tour that teaches us all about the production process, followed by an expert-led tasting of the vineyard's different vintages accompanied by local specialities.

On our return to the hotel this afternoon, tea, coffee and a selection of small pastries and cakes awaits, then there's time to relax and refresh before sitting down to a gala dinner this evening.

This morning brings yet another highlight of your festive holiday. After breakfast, we take a train to the magical floating city of Venice. On arrival, a private boat transfer takes us straight to the heart of Venice, St Mark's Square, for a guided walking tour of the city's attractions, including the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge. With some free time after our tour, you could take a traditional gondola ride through the winding network of canals or catch a water taxi to the island of Murano, famed for its age-old glass-blowing techniques. Alternatively, simply walk beside the enchanting waterways, over tiny arched bridges and past Venetian palaces, soaking up the unique atmosphere of this timeless city. You could also warm up in a cosy café overlooking St Mark's Square, or along one of the streets which radiate out from here, with a cup of delicious cioccolata calda.

A private boat transfer takes us back to the station to board our train, and we make the return journey back to Lake Garda. This evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner at our Bardolino hotel.

Leaving Lake Garda behind after breakfast this morning, we are taken by coach to Verona, where we enjoy a guided tour of a city filled with Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance - perhaps most famous as the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre, we visit Juliet's iconic balcony and the impressive Roman arena, an open-air venue still used for performances today. After our tour, there's free time which could lend itself to indulging in lunch in one of the many restaurants around Piazza Brà, Verona's main square.

In mid-afternoon, we board the train for a direct journey to Innsbruck in Austria. This spectacular route through the Alps reveals some magical wintry scenes as we leave Italy by the Brenner Pass. Our hotel in the Old Town of Innsbruck has outstanding views of the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps. We check in for five nights and sit down for a three-course dinner this evening.

Travelling on the Zillertalbahn* today, we set out on an atmospheric journey through the Ziller Valley. The railway's distinctive red engine stands out against the snow-clad landscapes as we marvel at sights such as the rushing Ziller river, enchanting Tyrolean towns which appear as if from a Christmas card, and meadows blanketed in thick, fresh snow.

We arrive in the pretty town of Mayrhofen, twinkling with festive lights, where there is time at leisure. You could choose to ride to the summit of Penken via a gondola cable car, walk the cobbled streets or visit the Ahorn Eagle's Stage, an observation point for alpine birds of prey. We take the return journey to our hotel and enjoy dinner together this evening.

After breakfast, we enjoy a guided walking tour of Innsbruck's magnificently preserved Old Town.

The medieval centre is dotted with impressive buildings, particularly along Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse. Here, the ornate Hölbling house and the imposing 14th-century watchtower look out over buildings with arched arcaded frontages. We also view the Golden Roof, a glorious copper-tiled roof built in 1500 to mark the occasion of the marriage of Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza.

The rest of the afternoon is free to continue exploring and you could travel on the Nordkette Cable Car, a hybrid funicular and cable car system designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid. At the top, you are rewarded with otherworldly views across the Tyrolean Alps from a height of more than 7,000 feet. We gather back at the hotel this evening for dinner.

Our New Year celebrations begin after breakfast, with a journey through the idyllic winter scenery of the Stubai Valley aboard the narrow-gauge Stubaitalbahn. From Innsbruck, our train winds up through gentle meadows, providing great views of the city below. Passing sleepy villages, the route then plunges into a landscape of icy forests and alpine meadows laden with snow, before winding its way down to the peaceful valley town of Fulpmes.

Back in Innsbruck, there's time to relax before the festivities get into full swing this evening over a fabulous gala dinner with wine.

Waking up on the first morning of the new year to a picture-book setting of wintry mountains, your day is free to explore Innsbruck. Perhaps take a walk beside the Inn River or past the fountains and pavilion of the Innsbrucker Hofgarten, landscaped royal palace gardens which date from the early 15th century.

Innsbruck is a city of many delightful churches, including the baroque cathedral with its famous Madonna and Child painting by Lukas Cranach the Elder, as well as the gothic Hofkirche.

After sightseeing at leisure, you may choose to relax and make the most of the spa and wellness facilities at our hotel before a three-course dinner this evening.

This morning, we transfer to Innsbruck's station to travel by rail down the Inn valley to Munich, where we change trains and continue through Germany to Cologne.

Passing through the historic cities of Augsburg and Ulm, and fairytale towns such as Schwäbisch Gmünd and Limberg and der Lahn, we then arrive at our Rhine-side destination of Cologne, dominated by its magnificent, twin-spired Gothic cathedral.

We check in to our overnight hotel, where dinner is served this evening.

From shimmering Lake Garda in Italy to picturesque Innsbruck in the enchanting Austrian Alps, we've journeyed through idyllic winter scenery on heritage railways. This celebration of Christmas and New Year has included visits to the glorious city of Venice and historic Verona. Along with traditional seasonal fare, we have also enjoyed a trip to a wine estate in Italy.

After our final breakfast, we take the train from Cologne to Brussels. From the Belgian capital, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, travelling in Plus Class, with a light meal onboard. As we arrive in London, your festive holiday comes to an end, and you are free to make your way home.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus 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.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

The Stubai Valley Railway - Stubaitalbahn, in the native tongue - was opened in 1904 and has grown in passenger numbers ever since, no doubt due to the beautiful scenery it enjoys on its one hour trip between Innsbruck and Fulpmes. From Innsbruck, the narrow-gauge Stubaitalbahnrom winds up through gentle meadows, opening up views of the city below. After passing sleepy villages, the route plunges into a landscape of forests and alpine meadows, frosted or laden with snow in winter, before winding its way down to the peaceful valley town of Fulpmes. Along the journey, the train passes many spectacular sights including the Mutters and Kreither viaduct.

In the heart of Austria's breathtaking Tyrol region, the Zillertalbahn wends its way across open meadows, through the scenic Ziller valley and below the mountains. The train's cheerful red carriages and engine are easy to spot, as the Zillertalbahn crawls like a bright caterpillar across the Ziller valley floor offering a glimpse into the distinct charm of Austria's verdant countryside. Beginning at the market town of Jenbach near the shimmering Achen Lake, the Zillertalbahn snakes its way through the enchanting small Tyrolean towns and villages on its way to the ski resort of Mayrhofen. In winter, the route becomes a dazzling gallery of spectacular winter scenery encompassing frosted forests, white snow fields and awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains. In summer, the flower filled meadows and rolling green foothills are drenched in sunlight, showing an entirely different side of Austria.

The train line was officially opened in 1902, mainly operating as a passenger service for residents of the Ziller valley and the rest of the Tyrol region. The line has expanded to take on freight services, and the line actually owns a series of steam engines which are put on occasionally to take passengers and tourists back in time.

During our stay in Bardolino, we stay in the gorgeous 4-Star Hotel Caesius Spa Resort. Offering comfortable and bright rooms, two restaurants, two bars, a wine cellar, and a spa, this is a truly a wonderful place to relax after a day of festivities or excursions. Guest rooms feature air conditioning, a minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, as well as a bathrobe and slippers.

The 4-Star Hotel Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the Old Town, within walking distance of many of the sights and attractions of Innsbruck. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, a wellness centre with panoramic mountain views, a swimming pool, a steam bath and a sauna. The comfortable and spacious rooms feature flat-screen televisions, safes and free Wi-Fi.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.