Tour Description

Marvel at Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, spot locals sipping pastis in Nice and admire Florence the home of Michelangelo and the Renaissance, as you circle the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Embrace the city of Pisa with a stop at the famous leaning tower, where Italian astronomer Galileo was said to have pioneered his theories of gravity. In France, work up an appetite in the medieval streets. In Spain, dine with the locals in Basque tradition with an evening of San Sebastian pintxos tastings, snack-sized tapas, while sipping on a refreshing glass of local Txakoli wine. In Rome, taste the seasonal flavours and of course, handmade pasta.

Priced From:

$ 10695pp ^*

From: 2027-04-17

To: 2027-09-25

Start Location: London, United Kingdom

End Location: Rome, Italy

Trip Type: European Discovery

Tour Advisors

Beccy Hayes

Travel Specialist

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Caitlin Lennon

Travel Coordinator

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

London to Paris by Eurostar

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris

Meet your Travel Director and after a warm welcome, transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar. Your comfortable rail journey takes you via the Channel Tunnel to Paris where you can spend the afternoon as you please. Meet your Travel Director for a fabulous welcome dinner at a local restaurant located in the heart of Paris. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the River Seine with its many romantic bridges. See the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe.

Paris, the City of Light

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris

Your Travel Director will introduce you to Paris with an orientation, taking in the Arc de Triomphe, the tree-lined Champs-Élysées and the grand Place de la Concorde. The afternoon is yours to explore – perhaps linger over a cafe crème at a pavement bistro, browse the boutiques of the Marais or stroll through the Tuileries Gardens towards the Louvre’s glass pyramid. Art lovers may wish to step inside to admire masterpieces from the Mona Lisa to the Winged Victory of Samothrace, while others might cross the Seine to the literary heart of the Left Bank. As evening falls, there’s the opportunity to join an Optional Experience at one of Paris’ celebrated cabarets, combining dazzling costumes, live music and a sumptuous dinner.

Onto Bordeaux

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Novotel Gare St. Jean, Bordeaux

Head southwards towards Châteaux Country. Take a scenic drive along the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is known as the Jardins de France for the beautifully maintained gardens created on vast estates as outdoor living areas. Visit the majestic Chenonceau Castle, an elegant French château spanning the River Cher. Continue on to the bustling in-land port of Bordeaux with its unique 18th-century character.

Bordeaux Your Way

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Novotel Gare St. Jean, Bordeaux

You’ll join a Local Expert for a walking tour through Bordeaux, where pale 18th-century façades line the quays and the Grand Theatre stands at the heart of the Triangle d’Or. Continue to the Esplanade des Quinconces and learn why much of the city is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the rest of the day exploring Bordeaux at your own pace or join an Optional Experience to Saint-Émilion. Travel through the vineyards to a Bordelaise château for a tour of the cellars and a tasting of local wines. You’ll also visit Saint-Émilion and its UNESCO-listed monolithic church, carved directly into the limestone.

Bordeaux to San Sebastián

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián

Leave Bordeaux behind and travel south to San Sebastián, where you’ll have the chance to dine across the city’s Old Town. In small groups, move between local bars for a progressive dinner of pintxos, choosing from snack-sized dishes served at the counter. You may also want to try a glass of Txakoli, the lightly sparkling wine produced in the Basque Country.

San Sebastián Your Way

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián

You have a full day to explore San Sebastián at your own pace, whether you spend it beside the bay, among the Old Town’s pintxos bars or simply enjoying time in the city. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience across the border into Basque France with a Local Specialist. Visit Biarritz, long known for its grand hotels and spa culture, then continue to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Here, visit the church where Louis XIV married the Spanish princess Maria Theresa in 1660.

Pamplona and on to Barcelona

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Labtwentytwo, Barcelona, Meliá Sarrià, Barcelona

Leave San Sebastián and travel along the western Pyrenees to Pamplona, the historic capital of Navarre. Explore Plaza del Castillo and step inside Cafe Iruña, where tiled floors, ornate mirrors and dark wood recall the 1920s and Ernest Hemingway’s visits to the city. Continue past Zaragoza and across the plains of Aragón, stopping for lunch along the way before arriving in Barcelona in the late afternoon.

Barcelona, City of Gaudi

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Labtwentytwo, Barcelona, Meliá Sarrià, Barcelona

Join your Local Expert to explore the heart of the Gothic Quarter. See the cathedral and walk through the Roman gate to tour the narrow lanes and old squares. Travel by the Ramblas and along the Passeig de Gràcia. Continue through the Eixample district to see Gaudi’s extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Família.

Journey to the French Riviera

Day 9

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Apollinaire, Nice

Journey around the Mediterranean Sea to the elegant French Riviera. Arrive in Nice and glory in the unforgettable moment you see the Bay of Angels. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais and take in the atmosphere of the Côte d'Azur of one of Europe's popular, cosmopolitan playgrounds.

On the shores of Nice and Monaco

Day 10

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Apollinaire, Nice

Wake up ready to rub shoulders with the jet set on the glamorous Côte d’Azur, a stretch of coastline long favoured by artists, aristocrats and film stars. Enjoy a drive along part of Monaco’s famous Grand Prix circuit, where the roar of Formula 1 cars has echoed through the principality since 1929. With Insight Choice, take your pick; step inside the Oceanographic Museum, founded by Prince Albert I in 1910 and home to over 6,000 marine species, or visit the Royal Palace of Monaco and see the 19th-century Monaco Cathedral, final resting place of Princess Grace. The remainder of the day is yours to soak up the sun-drenched elegance of the French Riviera.

Pisa and Florence

Day 11

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Columbus Urban Resort

Cross into Italy and follow the arc of the Italian Riviera before arriving in Pisa. In the Square of Miracles, stop to see the incredible Leaning Tower of Pisa with a Local Expert, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. Also see the splendid 11th-century cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Continue through Tuscany to the captivating city of Florence.

Renaissance Florence

Day 12

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Columbus Urban Resort

Walk with your Local Expert to the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. The next stop is Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and David along the front of the Palazzo Vecchi, this afternoon there's free time to shop or perhaps continue exploring.

The Eternal City of Rome

Day 13

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Golden Tulip Rome Piram

Relax and enjoy the grand landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria, before passing the Apennine Mountains to arrive at the Eternal City, filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. In the evening, what better way to toast the culmination of your Mediterranean journey, than with delicious Italian cuisine and wine.

Exploring Papal Rome

Day 14

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Golden Tulip Rome Piram

A Local Expert introduces you to Vatican City, the world’s smallest country and home to the Holy See. Explore the Vatican Museums, filled with treasures collected by the Popes. In the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco, then visit St. Peter’s Basilica to view the Pietà and Bernini’s ornate Papal Altar. This afternoon is free for you to explore — shop in nearby boutiques or relax at a cafe in one of Rome’s vibrant piazzas. On some departures, access to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums may be restricted. You'll still enjoy the atmosphere of St. Peter's Square during your visit to the Vatican City, and if tickets are unavailable to the Vatican Museums, you'll instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to iconic Roman art and archaeology.

Rome at Leisure

Day 15

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Golden Tulip Rome Piram

Enjoy Rome at your own pace today. Perhaps take an optional experience to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Alternatively, spend some time in the boutiques of the Via del Corso, the Via Nazionale or the elegant designer stores near the Spanish Steps.

Arrivederci Roma

Day 16

Duration: 1

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2027-05-01

End Date: 2027-05-16

twin

Child Price: 10925

Adult Price: 12125

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12125

triple

Child Price: 11105

Adult Price: 12305

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 14665

Start Date: 2027-05-15

End Date: 2027-05-30

twin

Child Price: 10950

Adult Price: 12150

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12150

triple

Child Price: 11130

Adult Price: 12330

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 14720

Start Date: 2027-05-29

End Date: 2027-06-13

twin

Child Price: 11025

Adult Price: 12225

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12225

triple

Child Price: 11205

Adult Price: 12405

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 14995

Start Date: 2027-06-26

End Date: 2027-07-11

twin

Child Price: 9495

Adult Price: 10695

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10695

triple

Child Price: 9675

Adult Price: 10875

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 13115

Start Date: 2027-07-10

End Date: 2027-07-25

twin

Child Price: 9775

Adult Price: 10975

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10975

triple

Child Price: 9955

Adult Price: 11155

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 13625

Start Date: 2027-07-24

End Date: 2027-08-08

twin

Child Price: 9550

Adult Price: 10750

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10750

triple

Child Price: 9730

Adult Price: 10930

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 13220

Start Date: 2027-08-21

End Date: 2027-09-05

twin

Child Price: 9925

Adult Price: 11125

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 11125

triple

Child Price: 10105

Adult Price: 11305

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 13845

Start Date: 2027-09-04

End Date: 2027-09-19

twin

Child Price: 11150

Adult Price: 12350

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12350

triple

Child Price: 11330

Adult Price: 12530

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 15000

Start Date: 2027-09-25

End Date: 2027-10-10

twin

Child Price: 10975

Adult Price: 12175

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12175

triple

Child Price: 11155

Adult Price: 12355

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 15265

Mediterranean Journey Start London

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices