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. (WR) Stay: Ellington

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. 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. (B)

Begin your day in the hilltop village of Dolceacqua with its 12th-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. (B)

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 beach, 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. (B)

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 and the glamour of Monaco.

Here you’ll visit the Roman-Byzantine Monaco Cathedral, where Grace Kelly was married, 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. (B/RD)

Follow the Mediterranean coastline south to Antibes, once the haunt of Pablo Picasso. Join your Travel Director for an orientation tour before exploring the bustling market squares. Alternatively, head down to the harbour to admire the many private yachts moored there. Later, you’ll enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest experience as you Connect With Locals over a hearty lunch. (B/BMG)

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. (B/FD)

Say a fond farewell to your travel companions at the end of our time on the Riviera. (B)