Riviera Explorer

Stretch your legs on sun-kissed Mediterranean shores, strolling in the footsteps of generations of English aristocrats who once chose Nice to be their holiday retreat. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel and will have the day to embark on your own exploration of Nice, before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Delve into the Italian heritage of Nice's elegant Old Town when you join a 'Local Specialist' for a sightseeing tour that will take you to the heart of the city, Place Massena. You'll see the Promenade des Anglais along which the who's who of Europe once relished beautiful seaside views. Then, see the Bay of Angels, apparently named for the mythical angels who are said to have shown Adam and Eve a new home as lush and beautiful as the Eden they could no longer enter. Your afternoon is free to explore the city your way. Resist the urge to hit the beach and consider an Optional Experience to the medieval hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a favourite haunt of the rich and famous.

Begin your day in the hilltop village of Dolceaqua with its 11th-century castle. Tread in the footsteps of Claude Monet, walking across the picturesque bridge depicted in several of his paintings. Continue with a visit to an Italian agriturismo in Rocchetta Nervina. 'Dive Into Culture' and savour the flavours of taggiasche olives grown on-site during an olive oil tasting and lunch, featuring some of the owner's favourite local dishes using only products grown on their land.

After a few days of sightseeing you may be tempted to spend your full free day sprawled on a sun-lounger with a cocktail but, if you can pull yourself away from the pool, consider a full-day Optional Experience to St. Tropez and Cannes. You'll embark on a drive along the scenic coast to Sainte-Maxime and board a boat to St. Tropez where you'll have some free time for lunch and your own exploration. Returning to Nice, you'll stop in Cannes, and view the Palais des Festivals, home of the annual film festival. Tonight, enjoy a free evening strolling through the elegant streets of Nice in search of a rich Ratatouille, for which the town is justifiably famous.

Follow the scenic Moyenne Corniche, bound for the Principality of Monaco. You'll 'Dive Into Culture' and stop at Fragonard Parfumerie, which has been crafting delicate French scents since the 1920s. A stop in medieval Èze delivers panoramic views of the sparkling Côte d'Azur, before you continue to La Turbie for a remarkable photo opportunity of Monaco. See the remnants of Roman rule before following the winding road down to the coast to the glamour of Monaco. Here you'll visit the Roman-Byzantine Monaco Cathedral and the Prince's Palace, a 12th-century Genoese fortress and the official residence of the ruling Grimaldi Prince of Monaco. Experience lifestyles of the rich and famous at a dinner in Monaco-Ville before we embark on a scenic drive to Monte Carlo, to see the Grand Casino and parts of the Monaco Grand Prix race track.

Follow the Mediterranean coastline south to Antibes, once the haunt of Pablo Picasso. Join your Travel Director for an orientation tour before pounding the pavements on your own. Stroll alongside honey-hued façades and into bustling market squares where you'll have an opportunity to pick from the dizzying array of artisanal fresh produce for lunch on your own. The flavours of cheese, sundried tomato and artichokes lingering on your palate, you'll want to soak up more of this medieval gem, heading down to the harbour to admire the many private yachts moored there.

Get your final fix of Nice on this full free day to explore the city on your own. Explore the legacy of great artists like Matisse and Chagall, spend the morning sunbathing or consider an Optional Experience to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, an elegant seaside villa surrounded by beautiful gardens. Return to Nice in time for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, you'll join your new friends for a rousing Farewell Dinner as you toast to good times, good friends and some French joie de vivre.

Say a fond farewell to your travel companions at the end of our time on the Riviera. Transfers are available. Conditions apply.