A relaxing train-free first day. We explore Trento itself. We meet our local guide for a walking tour around the historic centre, including Buonconsiglio Castle, the largest and most important monumental complex in the region.

Gardens in the huge Buonconsiglio Castle complex.

It was the residence of the prince-bishops of Trento from the 13th century to the end of the 18th century and is composed of a series of buildings of different eras, enclosed by walls and positioned slightly higher than the city. We take a trip up the cable car to the hills on the other side of the River Adige, with time for lunch in a restaurant with great views over Trento. Remainder of the day free for you to explore Trento.

Our first venture into the more German-speaking area around the town of Bozen (or Bolzano in Italian – road signs and railway station names are all in both German and Italian in this area).  On arrival in Bozen, we walk the short distance to the bottom station of the cable car.

The journey to the top, at Oberbozen, is around 10-15 minutes, but the journey is an attraction in itself, with stunning views over the town of Bozen and for some considerable distance down the valley.

At the top we find the Ritten Railway (Rittnerbahn), a short metre-gauge line. We hope to be able to travel on a charter of the historic railcar to Maria Himmelfahrt and back, a section of line with a very sparse public service.

After this we join one of the regular service trains from Oberbozen to Klobenstein, where they store more of their historic railcars. We will use a local bus to travel the short distance to see the amazing earth pyramids, then after that back to Bozen town centre, another amazing journey as we descend back down to the main town.

The remainder of the afternoon will be free to explore Bozen’s charming historic centre, and we return to Trento at the end of the day. Dinner in a restaurant Trento.

Today we catch a train along the scenic branch line to Bassano del Grappa. Our two-hour train journey takes us past lakes and along valleys between high mountains. Bassano del Grappa is a city in northern Italy’s Veneto region known for its wooden Ponte Vecchio Bridge spanning the River Brenta.

The famous bridge has been destroyed many times, but it has always been rebuilt. For a spell during the First World War, the town was on one of the front lines, and the buildings on either side of the river still bear the scars. Return to Trento by train at the end of the day. Lunch will be in Bassano del Grappa.

Another highly scenic rail journey today, this time on the Vinschgaubahn that heads north-west out of Bozen.

The line follows the River Adige almost the whole way to Meran/Merano where we stop for a city sightseeing with a guide and lunch. The rest of the afternoon at leisure. For train funs there is the possibility of proceeding with the train till the end of the line in Malles in the middle of the Alps at 3000ft. Back to Trento by train.

The smallest town in South Tyrol has an eventful history and an interesting past as a late medieval trading centre. The town walls, still fully preserved, lend the little town a unique character with their imposing gates and fortified towers. Historic tree-lined arcades, charming narrow alleyways, elegant buildings – the town is

This morning we have a rail journey on the metre gauge line that runs north-west out of Trento to Caldes. We first pass through a relatively flat part of the valley but after turning west, we find ourselves in the Dolomites with views of the mountains and some of the castles that are in this area. On arrival at Caldes, we visit one of those castles, Caldes Castle, with our local guide.

After this visit, we catch another train to the end of the line at Mezzana before returning to the town of Cles. The town is famous for an important archaeological find, the Tavola Clesiana, dating to the year A.D. 46. Cles, and the Val di Non, are also well known for their apples. Melinda is the brand name given to high quality apples exclusively grown in the Val di Non valley, and you will see many apple trees in the town. Included is a guided visit to the Assessorile Palace, whose walls and ceilings are adorned with centuries-old frescos. After the visit we have some time to see the town and the viewpoint before returning to the station for our train back to Trento. Dinner in Trento.

Today we return to the German-speaking region of South Tyrol, almost as far as the Austrian border. We pass through Bozen and alight from the train at Franzensfeste, the junction of the Pustertalbahn. This line winds its way eastwards and we will alight at San Candido/Innichen station where we can find several restaurants for lunch.

This afternoon you may wish to continue along the line to Lienz in Austria, or head up to the top of the mountains on the cable car, or if you are feeling adventurous, ride on the so-called summer toboggan run! Alternatively enjoy a relaxing afternoon stroll.

We return to Trento at the end of the day. Dinner in Trento.

Our last day is another train-free day, and once again we are joined by our local guide as we first visit Canale di Tenno, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

We then descend to Riva Garda, an attractive town at the north end of Lake Garda.

We will explore Riva Garda with our guide and then catch a ferry to the lakeside town of Limone.

Return to Trento on our coach at the end of the day. Farewell lunch in Riva Garda or Limone.

Depending on your journey home, you will either catch your train at Trento station, or alternatively we return to Verona (or Bergamo) Airport for flights back to the UK.

The objective of this tour is to travel on the scenic branch lines in Trentino and South Tyrol, so there is a lot of rail travel but with the option to opt out of any days as we are at the same hotel for the full 8 nights. There is also some walking on certain days.

Bergamo

It is possible to fly direct from Birmingham, East Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol or Stansted for a pre-tour night or two in Bergamo.

Despite Ryanair putting Bergamo on the radar when it landed at the then tiny airport in 2004, this is still an unsung destination. experience with the Città Alta (upper city) and Città Bassa (lower city) offering dramatic contrast. The former is all cobbled streets and narrow vicoli (alleys) overhung with leafy balconies, centred around the small but immaculately formed Piazza Vecchia. Bergamo Alta crackles with medieval atmosphere, overlooked by the austere clock tower that once rang nightly curfew for Bergamaschi to return within the city walls. Then, fanning out beneath the fortifications, Bergamo’s other half is a handsome Italian conurbation of wide boulevards, opera houses and buzzing bars.

Fly out on Thursday 5 September at 06:00 from Liverpool or 13:05 from Newcastle

Fly out on Friday 6 September at 06:05 from Edinburgh, 07:25 from Bristol, 10:35 from East Midlands, 13:20 from Birmingham, 14:40 from Stansted or 21:40 from Manchester.

Flights back from Bergamo on Sunday 15 September are 15:10 to Liverpool. 12:20 to Newcastle, 17:15 to Edinburgh, 23:15 to East Midlands, 22:40 to Birmingham, 14:50 to Stansted and 16:40 to Manchester. For Bristol you have another night in Bergamo for flight back on Monday 16 September at 05:55.