France-Italy Explorer

Day 01 Paris, France 10AM (Group Day)

Arrive at Paris airport (CDG) Pick up by a private coach & transfer to your hotel. Settle in for 3 nights.
After arrival into the hotel the group the group meets for lunch (included) for a round of introductions. Get to know you travel buddies and discuss you interests so that you can utilise your Open Days in right company ;)
Late afternoon, we visit the majestic Eiffel tower and then proceed for the relaxed cruise on Seine river cruise. Food and drinks are available on the cruise for purchase.
After cruise, drop back to hotel. Those who want to explore on own can reach the hotel on their own.

Day 02 Paris, France (Open Day)

Today is a Open day – based on your interests, you can either take a hop-on-hop-off bus to for a quick orientation tour or head to one of the bigger museums like Louvre and check out the Monalisa smile!
People who want to go a further afield can take a day tour to following places:
Campagne region including champagne tasting, Loire valley castles, Mont Saint Micheal, Paris Disneyland, Burgundy/Dijon day trip and wine tour, London day trip (requires UK visa), Brugges (Belgium day trip), Brussels day trip on own by train, Versailles palace half/full day trip (can be done on own or using a prebooked sightseeing tour)
All above trips can be booked via us or if you prefer can book them on your own.

Day 03 Paris, France (Open Day)

You can continue to explore the day trips above or visit other local Paris attractions like Orsay museum. See the options for Day 2.

Day 04 Avignon, France (Group Day)

Breakfast & check out. Morning Transfer to Gare de Lyon. Board the TGV from Paris to Avignon. Pick up at Avignon train station by a private coach & transfer to hotel in Avignon for 2 night stay. Later the guide will take you around Avignon and show you around the Palace of Popes and Pont d'Avignon (entrance fee €4 not included)
Optional: You can go in for the visit at Palace of the Popes, the largest gothic palace in Europe (entrance fee €9 not included) Evening free at will.

Day 05 Avignon, France (Group Day) PROVENCE TOUR

After breakfast, Pick up by a private coach at your hotel in Avignon & departure for a full day trip : Provence Le Grand Tour covering Triumphal Arch in Orange, the legendary vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape (wine tasting optional - €10), and the beautiful mountain villages of Gordes and Roussillon.

Day 06 Nice, France (The French Riviera) – Open Day

Breakfast & check out.
Pick up by a private coach at your hotel in Avignon & transfer to hotel in Nice for 3n.
Later you can explore the centre of Nice : The Promenade des Anglais, the waterfront boulevard, is one of the most famous streets in France. Behind the pebbly beach is the old town with its rambling old lanes. This is the charismatic heart of the city and it contrasts well with the belle époque buildings that line the waterfront and the west of the city.

Day 07 Nice, France – Group Day (Monaco tour)

Pick up by a private coach at your hotel in Nice & departure for a full day tour of Monaco. Walk in the small streets of the old town on the rock. See the Prince's Palace and the changing of the guards just before midday. Monte Carlo: Discover the old Casino, the famous Hôtel de Paris and the Café de Paris, the beautiful gardens and deluxe boutiques. Drive on the Monte-Carlo world- famous race- track.
Eze Village: visit of the old medieval village perched like eagles nests. Visit of the Perfumerie Fragonard.

Day 08 Nice, France – Group Day (Cannes & Antibes tour)

Pick up by a private coach at your hotel in Nice & departure for half day tour to visit the region east of West of Nice: Cannes, the star of the Riviera is famous for its film festival, glitzy hotels, shopping, the old port, beaches, exotic sports cars and yachts. Walk the renowned " Croisette Promenade". Then following the coast road, drive through Antibes and the old town where Picasso lived, the incredible harbour and its ramparts built by Vauban.

Day 09 Venice, Italy (Open Day)

Those of us joining only for the France leg of this tour will be transferred to airport for flight back. Rest will proceed after checkout to Venice.
For travellers joining on only Italy leg of tour, join us in Venice. After check in, rest of the day is free to explore the St. Marks and other areas of Venice with our guide. Today you may also be joined by other travellers from our France group who want to continue on to Italy.

Day 10 Florence, Italy (Group Day)

Morning check out after breakfast. Later we take a half-day trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello (Duration:4 hours) After the tour, we proceed to Florence for overnight.

Day 11 Florence, Italy (Group Day)

Post breakfast we leave for a trip to Pisa and Lucca.

Day 12 Florence, Italy (Open Day)

Today you can spend the day visiting the highlights of Florence - the Uffizi Gallery and Il Duomo di Firenze (Basilica d'Santa Maria) or take a day tour to Siena and San Gimiganano or to The Cinque Terre, a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.

Day 13 Rome, Italy (Group Day)

Breakfast and checkout. Proceed to Rome.
Sightseeing of Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's is included in today's plan.

Day 14 Rome, Italy (Open Day)

Recommendations: You can take a day trip to visit the Isle of Capri or the Mt. Vesuvius.
One can spend the day covering other places in Rome like Colosseum.

Day 15 End of tour

Transfer to airport.
You can extend your stay in Rome with a optional post-tour stay or decide to proceed further south and explore more of Italy. We will be happy to offer free planning advice for such travellers.