¡Bienvenidos a Espana! Welcomed by Catalonia’s volcanic peaks, shimmering lakes and sprawling vineyards, your journey begins in the art and action of Barcelona. Upon arrival at the airport, take a private transfer to your central hotel.
Admire the city’s soul-soaring architecture – including many notable creations of revered Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí – and rolling, forest-clad backdrop. Spend just a moment in Barcelona’s extraordinary streets and it becomes easy to see this as the city that shaped Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.
This evening, meet your fellow travellers and dedicated tour director for a welcome meeting at your hotel.
Embark on a Barcelona tour and become enchanted by its endless surprises and delights. See the Barcelona Pavilion, a minimalist delight built for the 1929 International Exposition, before visiting the exterior of the mighty La Sagrada Familia basilica, Gaudí’s unfinished magnum opus and a shining symbol of Barcelona’s vivid past, present and future.
Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Feast on jamón, savour seafood or pay a visit to the Museu de la Xocolata for a look at the fascinating bean-to-bar chocolate-making process. Wander the streets in search of another architectural masterpiece – there’s one around every corner.
In the evening, enjoy a magnificent welcome dinner with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, head to Catalonia’s stunning northeast and historic Girona, located on the shores of the lazy River Onyar. It’s a place steeped in medieval mystery, with a largely preserved old quarter used in such high-profile television and film productions as ‘Game of Thrones’. Explore the city at leisure – weave through the winding alleyways of the El Call Quarter, walk the ancient Roman walls or cross the city’s famous bridges, including one designed by Gustav Eiffel.
After your explorations, cross the border to France and say bonjour to the historic walled city of Carcassonne. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening freely. Choose to join an optional cruise along the Canal du Midi, gliding along this romantic 17th-century stream with a glass of champagne in hand.
Optional activities:
- Canal du Midi cruise (surcharges apply).
After a hearty breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Citadel – known as the Cite de Carcassonne – dating back to the Gallo-Roman period and recently restored in 1853.
Take your time discovering the city’s historic charms with an afternoon at leisure. Choose to step into the hushed beauty of Carcassonne Cathedral, then sit down at a local restaurant for an adventurous plate of Languedoc-style escargot.
After breakfast, depart for Nimes, once the regional capital of the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago. Thanks to this extensive history, Nimes has earned a reputation as the ‘most Roman city outside of Italy’. The site of several famous monuments, including the Arena of Nimes and the Maison Carree – an ancient Roman temple originally dedicated to Gaius and Lucius Caesar – Nimes is also the famed 17th-century birthplace of denim.
Later, continue to the artistic haven of Avignon. Upon arrival, visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pont du Gard, the tallest and most ancient Roman aqueduct in France. Built to carry water over 50km, this feat of design is a well-preserved example of why the Romans were once considered the greatest engineers in the world.
Today, enjoy an orientation tour of the town, including the dramatic Papal Palace – one of the largest and most significant medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Once the seat of power for Western Christianity during the 14th century, this fortress commands spectacular views over the city and the Rhone River. Witness another of Avignon’s legendary bridges as you survey the surviving arches of the Pont d’Avignon.
The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this charming city when you decide to stroll the tiered gardens of the Jardin des Doms. Alternatively, choose to join an optional Rhone River cruise to visit the medieval village of Villeneuve-les-Avignon.
Optional activities:
- Rhone River cruise (surcharges apply).
Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel, then proceed to the glistening coast. Stop in the charming regional town of Chateauneuf du Pape, renowned for the remains of its ancient papal summer palace as well as its wine production, with around 13 million bottles produced annually.
Enjoy a light lunch and special wine-tasting experience at one of Provence’s most beautiful cellars, and discover how Chateauneuf du Pape’s reputation delivers quantity without sacrificing quality.
Later, continue to your accommodation in opulent Cannes.
Today, embark on a full-day excursion of the glamorous Cote d’Azur – the centre of France’s spectacular perfume industry.
Create your own unique fragrance in a one-of-a-kind perfume school workshop, ready to wear on your return. Continue to Nice, where you’ll have a chance to explore the city and walk the century-old beachfront Promenade des Anglais. Perhaps you’ll stop at a local café for a taste of ratatouille, a regional specialty.
Later, return to your Cannes accommodation for a restful evening spent freely. Get to know the home of the international Festival de Cannes and lose yourself down its idyllic streets.
After breakfast, bid au revoir to France and cross the border into beautiful Italia. Make your way to elegant Milan, considered one of the world’s ‘Big Four’ great fashion capitals, Milan has long been known as a centre for art, culture and ‘alta moda’ (high fashion).
Follow your tour leader as you discover the sights of the city, stopping at Milan Cathedral – one of the largest in the world – and the prestigious La Scala Opera House.
Later, check in at your accommodation and make the most of an evening of leisure. Choose to sate your appetite with a dish of risotto alla Milanese – a creamy local risotto flavoured with golden saffron – and grab a sweet slice of Milan’s very own panettone.
Enjoy a refreshing breakfast, then set your sights east to the rugged countryside and spectacular waters of Lake Garda. Upon your arrival, you’ll be met with the perfect introduction to the Italian Lakes – a stunning boat trip through Garda’s glassy waters, followed by a light lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Verona, positioned on the edge of the Adige River and renowned as the home of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Enjoy the afternoon on a leisurely stroll through the splendid piazzas and along the picturesque riverside, then carry on to the legendary canal city of Venice.
Romance and revelry meet in explosive colour along this spectacular city's shady canals and labyrinthine alleys. Fine seafood, artfully arched bridges and glorious sunsets are just some of the reasons visitors flock to Venice each year. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening freely.
Spend today exploring the magnificent floating city of Venice. Follow you guide as you walk the narrow alleys and cross picturesque bridges over peaceful canals to discover the city's most beautiful sites, including the lively Piazza San Marco with its miraculous Byzantine Basilica, the grand Doge’s Palace and the spectacular Rialto Bridge arching over the Grand Canal.
Later, you're free to explore this glorious city's twisting streets at leisure, perhaps paying a visit to the legendary Bridge of Sighs – a beautiful structure, so-named for its tragic history. Alternatively, choose to join an optional lagoon cruise to Murano and Burano, famous for glassmaking, lacework and brightly coloured stonework (surcharges apply).
In the early evening, climb into a gondola for a magical ride along the canals on your way to a decadent farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Optional activities:
- Murano & Burano Venice Bay cruise (surcharges apply).
Say arrivederci to glorious Italy over one last breakfast, then transfer to Venice Airport (VCE) where your discovery tour of the Mediterranean comes to a close.