Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and settle into your hotel at your own pace. Later in the evening, your Travel Director takes you to a local brasserie in central Paris where you'll have dinner with wine. During your time here, you'll get to see some of the city's major landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Champs Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with wine at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Dinner with wine at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Louvre Place de la Concorde Champs Élysées Arc de Triomphe 
- Day 2
Paris
Today you choose your own path with an Insight Choice. Option one lets you walk through the car-free Montmorgueil district to see schools, food stores, heritage landmarks, sports facilities and theatres, plus the covered passages and Patrick Blanc's vertical garden. Or join a local food expert at Bastille Market to check out various stalls and sample local treats. The afternoon is free to wander around and soak in the city's energy at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Insight Choice - Exploration of Montorgueil district with Local Expert
- Insight Choice - Food market walk at Bastille Market with local foodie and tastings
Landmarks Montorgueil District Bastille Market - Day 3
Paris to Bordeaux
You head south toward Châteaux Country, driving through the Loire Valley, which is known as the Jardins de France for its beautiful gardens and estates. A stop at Château de Chenonceau shows you this 16th century structure that spans the River Cher. From there, you continue to Bordeaux, an inland port with distinctive 18th century character and plenty of history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Gare St Jean, Bordeaux)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
Landmarks Loire Valley Château de Chenonceau River Cher - Day 4
Bordeaux to San Sebastián
A Local Expert guides you through Bordeaux's 18th century architecture, covering the quaysides, Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or and Esplanade des Quinconces. This UNESCO World Heritage listing earned its recognition through these architectural treasures. You then head to San Sebastián where you'll dine with locals in the Old Town, trying pintxos (Basque snack-sized treats) and Txakoli wine in a progressive dinner experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Progressive dinner with pintxos in the Old Town, experiencing the gastronomic Basque tradition with local Txakoli wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux's 18th century architecture with Local Expert
- Progressive dinner with pintxos in San Sebastián with locals
Landmarks Grand Théâtre Esplanade des Quinconces San Sebastián Old Town Plaza de la Constitucion 
- Day 5
San Sebastián to Madrid
You travel through mountains and gorges in the north, then emerge from the Sierra de Guadarrama tunnel onto the New Castile plateau, arriving at Madrid. In the evening, an optional drive takes you along the city's grand avenues and past spectacular fountains to see Madrid lit up at night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Riu Plaza España, Madrid)
Optional Activities
- Evening drive along grand avenues and past spectacular fountains to see Madrid lit up
Landmarks Sierra de Guadarrama 
- Day 6
Madrid
Your Local Expert leads you through Madrid's highlights, showing you the Old Town, Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, then the Puerta del Sol. You'll walk through historic neighbourhoods to understand how the city developed. At the Reina Sofía Museum, an art historian helps you see Picasso's Guernica and understand its significance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Riu Plaza España, Madrid)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Madrid's Old Town and historic neighbourhoods
- Visit Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza de Cibeles, Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace
- Visit Reina Sofía Museum with art historian to see Picasso's Guernica
Landmarks Paseo de la Castellana Plaza de Cibeles Cervantes Monument Royal Palace Puerta del Sol Reina Sofía Museum - Day 7
Madrid to Barcelona
You cross the Castilian plain, pass through Zaragoza, and arrive in Barcelona. The evening brings local Catalan food, and as darkness falls, you head to Montjuïc to view the city from the heights, watching the lights stretch from the mountains to the sea below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local Catalan cuisine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Evening meal with local Catalan cuisine
Optional Activities
- View the city from the heights of Montjuïc at night
Landmarks Zaragoza Montjuïc 
- Day 8
Barcelona
With your Local Expert, you explore Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, starting at the cathedral and walking through the Roman gate into narrow lanes and old squares. Later you travel along the Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia through the Eixample district to see Gaudí's Sagrada Familia, one of the city's most distinctive structures.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Gothic Quarter with Local Expert
- Walk through Roman gate and narrow lanes and old squares
- Travel by Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia
- Visit Sagrada Familia in Eixample district
Landmarks Gothic Quarter Barcelona Cathedral Ramblas Passeig de Gràcia Sagrada Familia Eixample District - Day 9
Barcelona to Avignon
You travel to Avignon to see the famous Pont d'Avignon along the Rhône. Walking through the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town, you'll stand near the Palais des Papes, one of Europe's largest Gothic palaces. After learning about and tasting local olive oil and fresh produce, you enjoy a farm-to-table dinner featuring traditional French home-style cooking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farm-to-table dinner of traditional French home-style cuisine with olive oil tasting)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Centre, Avignon)
Included Activities
- Visit Pont d'Avignon
- Walk through medieval Old Town and view Palais des Papes
- Olive oil tasting and learn about olive oil production
- Farm-to-table dinner with traditional French home-style cuisine
Landmarks Pont d'Avignon Palais des Papes Rhône 
- Day 10
Avignon to Nice
The day takes you along the French Riviera to the elegant town of Nice. From there, your time is yours to use however you like, whether that's walking the Promenade des Anglais or spending time relaxing on the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollinaire, Nice)
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais
- Relax on the beach
Landmarks Promenade des Anglais - Day 11
Nice to Pisa
You travel to Monaco, driving part of the Grand Prix circuit before walking through the old town with your Travel Director. You'll see the Royal Palace (home of the Grimaldi family), the harbour filled with yachts, and the cathedral with tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Crossing into Italy, you follow the arc of the Italian Riviera to Pisa. In the Square of Miracles, a Local Expert shows you the Leaning Tower (where Galileo reportedly studied velocity and gravity) plus the 11th century cathedral and baptistery with their marble mosaics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Drive along part of the Grand Prix circuit in Monaco
- Walk through Monaco old town with Travel Director
- Visit Monaco Cathedral to see tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace
- Visit Leaning Tower of Pisa with Local Expert in the Square of Miracles
- View 11th century cathedral and baptistery in Pisa
Landmarks Monaco Grand Prix Circuit Royal Palace Monaco Cathedral Leaning Tower of Pisa Square of Miracles Pisa Cathedral Pisa Baptistery 
- Day 12
Pisa to Florence
You follow the Italian Riviera arc arriving in Florence. If you haven't yet visited Pisa, you'll stop there, or you can go straight through Tuscany to reach Florence directly.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Italian Riviera Tuscany - Day 13
Florence
Your Local Expert walks you to the marble cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise are displayed in their restored form. Next comes Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery with Renaissance statues like Neptune and David in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Around Santa Croce Basilica, free time lets you shop for luxury gold and leather goods or continue exploring the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Guided walk to Florence cathedral and baptistery with Local Expert
- View Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Visit Piazza della Signoria - the political heart of Florence
- View Neptune and David statues at Palazzo Vecchio
- Explore area around Santa Croce Basilica
Landmarks Florence Cathedral Florence Baptistery Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio Santa Croce Basilica - Day 14
Florence to Rome
Since 2025 marks a Jubilee Year (celebrated every 25 years in the Roman Catholic tradition), Rome is a centre of celebration and itineraries may shift to give you the best experience. You'll relax through the Chianti hills and Umbria, pass the Apennine Mountains and reach Rome, filled with ancient sites, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. An evening meal with Italian wine toasts the end of your Mediterranean journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Italian cuisine and wine celebrating the culmination of the Mediterranean journey)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Journey through Chianti hills and Umbria
- Dinner with Italian cuisine and wine
Landmarks Chianti Hills Umbria Apennine Mountains 
- Day 15
Rome
A Local Expert introduces you to Rome's grandeur, starting with Vatican State. You'll go through the Vatican Museums with their priceless papal collections, then up to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. Next door at St. Peter's Basilica, you'll see Michelangelo's 'Pieta' and Bernini's Papal Altar. The afternoon is free to shop or sit at a sidewalk café. By evening, you get exclusive after-hours access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, a 9th century structure with the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit Vatican Museums
- View Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's famous ceiling
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's 'Pieta' and Bernini's Papal Altar
- Exclusive after-hours visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes with Byzantine mosaics
Optional Activities
- Afternoon shopping in trendy boutiques
- Relax at a sidewalk café
Landmarks Vatican State Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Basilica of Saint Praxedes 
- Day 16
Rome
Rome is yours to explore at your own speed. You can shop the Via del Corso, Via Nazionale or designer stores near the Spanish Steps. An optional excursion takes you to Pompeii, the town frozen in time by Vesuvius's 79 AD eruption, if you're interested. As evening comes, sip prosecco at a sidewalk café in Piazza Navona (Rome's Living Room) and watch the city's life unfold around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Optional Activities
- Visit Pompeii, the town frozen in time from the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius
- Shop in boutiques of Via del Corso
- Shop in Via Nazionale
- Shop in designer stores near Spanish Steps
- Sip prosecco at Piazza Navona
Landmarks Via del Corso Via Nazionale Spanish Steps Piazza Navona Pompeii - Day 17
Rome
Your Mediterranean journey ends today as you depart and say goodbye to Italy's treasures.
