Agent Diary: Tours are the best way to experience Italy’s lakes and mountains

Thompson Travel’s Sharon Thompson writes while escorting 28 customers to Lake Iseo 

I can’t think of a better word to describe Italy than beautiful.

I’ve been to Lake Garda many times thanks to the direct flights available from Northern Ireland. The area boasts stunning towns like Malcesine and Sirmione, and I imagine many of you will have sent lots of customers to these places if you’ve been in travel for a while.

As I write this, I am escorting a group trip for 28 Thompson customers and we’re staying in Darfo Boario Terme, near to Lake Iseo. There isn’t a lot here – it’s a small village with a few shops and some natural thermal springs – but it’s a great base for travelling to the surrounding larger lakes.

Yesterday, we visited Como and boarded the 10-minute ferry to Bellagio. It’s clear this is a mecca for the rich and famous: George Clooney owns not one but three villas there. Bellagio is idyllic; the narrow streets are lined with pretty shops and there’s fresh pasta and ice cream available on every corner.

Beautiful sights

As we headed north to Tirano, we passed the beautiful ski resort of Aprica before boarding the Bernina Express train. This has to be one of the most majestic train journeys I have taken in Europe. Our two‑and-a-half-hour journey took us to St Moritz in a panoramic carriage. Designer shops lined the streets of the picturesque town, interspersed with gelaterias and Swiss chocolate shops. I sampled the taste sensations of the Läderach chocolate house and think I found the best chocolate ever. I highly recommend the salted caramel and strawberry flavours.

Darfo Boario Terme, our base, is just north of Lake Iseo, which sits between Como and Garda. It isn’t as big as its more well-known siblings and doesn’t attract as many international visitors, which makes it ideal for those wanting to avoid large crowds for a quieter experience.

We also visited Lake Maggiore and stopped off in the town of Stresa. It’s home to Villa Pallavicino, which features beautiful gardens and a zoo, while other landmark buildings include the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées, where Ernest Hemingway once stayed.

Boats run to the Borromean Islands, which are home to grand buildings, pretty villas, a fishing port and a doll museum. Monte Mottarone features a bobsled rollercoaster and botanic gardens, while Isola dei Pescatori, a little fishing village island, was the setting for our lunch.

True taste of Italy

I feel we have had a true taste of Italy on this trip. The locals have been amazing and very accommodating. They have mostly been Italian-speaking, but Google Translate never fails when you get stuck!

Our hotel is family-run and small and the service has been excellent. Meals haven been tasty, with plenty of polenta and pasta, which has gone down a treat with our group. Local supermarkets are well-stocked and a good bottle of red set me back around €7. Believe it or not, that was one of the more expensive options.

There are so many fantastic operators leading tours to the lakes and mountains of this stunning region and that is the best way to experience the area, so my advice would be to capitalise on them.

Arrivederci, Italy. Until next time…

Bus trip to lake’s heaven

Nestled in the mountains, off the beaten track and accessed via a steep winding road, about a 10-minute drive from our hotel, is a little lake called Lago Moro. I took my group there on the local bus, which cost €3 for a return ticket. It was the most magical place, with a little church, cafe and a few restaurants offering perfect views of the lake.

I walked to the top and found a small farmhouse cafe selling 100% organic olive oil from their own groves. The crystal‑clear water was the perfect temperature for a swim. Sometimes it pays to venture slightly off the beaten track.