How old are your parents? Are you going on to Mumbai for another vacation or do you live there?

I can see some additional info: from Zermatt to Venice you don't have to go back to Zurich: it is possible to stop at Brig and take a train that passes trough the Simplon Tunnel towards Italy. The Cisalpino train, for example go directly to Venice in less than 5 hours (depart from Brig at 9:44 a.m., arrive at Venice Santa Lucia at 2:40 p.m.).

Frecciarossa (high speed train) links Florence to Milan in 2 hours, from Milan you can take one of the quite frequent train to Zurich (4 hours trip).

See the Trenitalia site for details.

Be optimist: late March in Tuscany could be if not the best at least a very good period.

Hi people,

Just got to know that it is snowing in Switzerland. So we cut short our trip there and spend more days in Italy. Here is what the new iteniary looks like:

12-Mar-09 Sleep in flight
13-Mar-09 Arrive Zurich, travel to Lucerne, sleep in Lucerne
14-Mar-09 Activities in Lucerne, sleep in Lucerne
15-Mar-09 Travel to Interlaken sleep in Interlaken
16-Mar-09 Activities to Interlaken, sleep in Interlaken
17-Mar-09 Travel to Tuscany area
18-Mar-09 Travel to Tuscany area
19-Mar-09 Travel to Tuscany area
20-Mar-09 Travel to Tuscany area
21-Mar-09 Travel Rome, sleep in Rome
22-Mar-09 Activities in Rome, sleep in Rome
23-Mar-09 Activities in Rome, sleep in Rome
24-Mar-09 Activities in Rome, sleep in Rome
25-Mar-09 Travel to Venice, sleep in Venice
26-Mar-09 Activities in Venice, sleep in Venice
27-Mar-09 Activities in Venice, sleep in Venice
28-Mar-09 Travel to Zurich, sleep in Zurich
29-Mar-09 Flight to Mumbai

Question:
1. How best to spend 10 full days in Italy? Our interest is nature, food, driving around, some history.
2. Have no clue where to set base in Tuscany region and what can be covered in the four days of our stay?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Bye.

I like this itinerary much more than your original itinerary.

A few years ago we started our trip in Lucerne, then Lake Como (not a good idea in March), and then Tuscany. You may find something beneficial here. At least I posted lots of photos.

http://travelswithdiane.homestead.co...2006Page1.html

I'm sorry but my jaw is just dropping over this one as I plan so far in advance I can't imagine changing an itinerary so much 1 week before leaving. Do you have a price range for lodging? You could base in Florence with many options for day trips so no need for a car rental...we went to Siena (bus) and Arezzo (train). Both were wonderful and very easy. If you want out in the country more most recommend southern Tuscany in the Montalcino/Montepulciano/Pienza area. From this area you could daytrip to Siena or Orvieto. A car will definitely be needed for this option.

Hotels - These are all in town:
Montepulciano -http://www.laterrazzadimontepulciano.it/index.htm
Pienza - http://www.piccolohotellavalle.it/index_uk.htm
Montalcino - http://www.gigliohotel.com/en/hotel/
http://www.montalcinoitaly.com/home_cesira.htm
http://www.vecchiaoliviera.com/

Good luck with your planning.

If you have only seven days for Italy, think hard about doing Verona and Venice. Two nights in Verona, and five in Venice. Forget Rome. Forget Tuscany.