Compare Sun, Sand, Wine & Culinary Adventures by Gourmet Touring vs Mediterranean Journey - Start Paris, Classic Group Start Paris Classic Group by Insight Vacations
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 5 days | 16 days |
Price From | $ 1,379 | $ 4,940 |
Price Per Day | $ 276 | $ 309 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
Breakfast as mentioned |
N/A |
Description |
During this 5 days tour, with GPS guided car explore St Emilion. Pre-paid visit and tasting at an exclusive St Emilion Grand Cru Classé château and visit to the places near Atlantic coast, climb up the largest sand dune in Europe |
Marvel at Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, spot locals sipping pastis in Nice and admire Florence the home of Michelangelo's David, as you circle the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Embrace a day of Pisa sightseeing 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 before a sumptuous farm-to-table dinner in Avignon with a menu that showcases traditional French, home-style cuisine. 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, the dish du jour is, of course, handmade pasta and seasonal flavours. |
Day 1: St Emilion
Collect your hire car & drive to St Emilion and check in to your 4 star hotel, Château Grand Barrail, near St Emilion town.
Free time to exlore St Emilion’s romantic little cobbled streets on foot.
Dinner suggestions are provided in your guidebook (sent before you arrive). Choose to eat at your hotel, drive in to St
Emilion or to a romantic restaurant in the surrounding countryside. GT can reserve your table.
Day 2: St Emilion & Entre-deux-Mers
Use your GPS & guidebook to direct you to a food market or explore Pomerol before your first appointment.
See famous châteaux of note - all described in your guidebook and pre-logged in your bespoke GPS system.
Pre-paid visit and tasting at an exclusive St Emilion Grand Cru Classé château.
Join a pre-paid guided tour, in English, of St Emilion’s incredible underground monuments.
Select a suggested route from your guidebook - passing through the picturesque countryside of Entre-deux-Mers.
Check in to your countryside accommodation in Entre-deux-Mers.
Pre-paid meal (including wine) at your accommodation.
Day 3: Entre-deux-Mers & Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Morning free to use your guidebook to explore the numerous and varied cultural sights of Entre-deux-Mers.
Lunch (excl drinks) at a wonderful out of the way restaurant frequented predominantly by locals.
Welcomed by the owner of a small family run vineyard in Premières Côtes de Bordeaux for a pre-paid visit & tasting.
Restaurant suggestions will be provided & a table booked for you if you wish or you can dine at your accommodation
Day 4: Atlantic coast - Gujan Mestras & Arcachon
Drive to the Atlantic coastal region where a new host of interests (none related to wine!) exist.
Enjoy an oysters and prawns lunch in a quaint oyster farming village (alternatives dishes available upon request!).
Check in to Hotel Gueriniere in Gujan Mestras.
The afternoon to explore the coast - climb up the largest sand dune in Europe, take a boat trip in to the Arcachon bay to see bird island or enjoy a nice walk along long secluded stretches of beach. All this & more is detailed in your guidebook.
Dinner suggestions will be provided & a table can also be booked for you at your hotel’s own Michelin-starred restaurant.
Day 5: Atlantic coast
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast & perhaps a morning swim in your hotel’s pool.
Drive to a caviar farm where a pre-paid visit will be organised for you followed by a tasting of their refined delicacy.
Return car to airport, post the GPS in its pre-paid envelope and depart with incredible memories
Day 1: Welcome to Paris
Welcome to Paris, enjoy time at leisure to settle into your hotel. During your time here you will see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe. At 17:00 join your Travel Director at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris for a fabulous Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Paris, the City of Light
Your exploration of Paris today begins with an Insight Choice. Choose between exploring aristocratic Marais district with your Local Expert, including a visit to beautiful Sully's Mansion garden, or alternatively join a Local Expert who is an avid foodie, to explore the local market and sample local treats and delicacies. With the afternoon free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city.
Day 3: Amboise and on to 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 that were created on vast estates as outdoor living areas. Visit the majestic Chenoneau Castle, an elegant French château spanning the River Cher. Continue on to the bustling seaport of Bordeaux with its unique 18th century character.
Day 4: Bordeaux and San Sebastián
Join a Local Expert for a guided tour of France's best 18th century architecture. The facades of the quaysides, the Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or and magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces all contribured to Bordeaux earn inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Next, continue to picturesque San Sebastián where you will have the chance to dine with the locals in the evening. In small groups, wander through the Old Town for a progressive dinner, as you enjoy the gastronomic Basque tradition of pintxos. Similar to tapas, enjoy a variety of snack-sized treats to make your meal and be sure to try some of the local Txakoli wine.
Day 5: On to Madrid Relaxed Start
Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spain's elegant capital of Madrid. In the evening, why not see the city lit up it all its glory, with a drive along the grand avenues and past the spectacular fountains?
Day 6: Madrid
Join your Local Expert for a sightseeing tour of the Old Town as well as, along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana and past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles. Explore Madrid with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Reina Sofia Museum with an art historian to see Picasso's Guernica. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a neighbourhood walking tour to learn about the history of women's movements in Spain.
Day 7: Madrid and beautiful Barcelona
Cross the Castilian plain, past Zaragoza, and continue to the vibrant port of Barcelona. In the evening, why not try delicious local Catalan cuisine and as night descends, view the city from the heights of Montjuic, with lights sparkling below from the mountains to sea.
Day 8: Barcelona, City of Gaudi
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.
Day 9: Avignon, the City of Popes
Journey to Avignon to see the famous Pont d'Avignon, once spanning the Rhône and immortalised in songs. Walk within the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to stand in the shadow of the old Palais des Papes, resembling a fortress. Learn about olive oil and enjoy a tasting of the freshest produce. After, indulge in a Farm-to-Table dinner, a delicious insight into traditional French home-style cuisine.
Day 10: On the shores of Nice
Journey along the French Riviera to the elegant town of Nice, where the rest of the day is at your leisure to stroll along the fabled Promenade des Anglais or relax on the beach.
Day 11: Monaco and Pisa
Travel to Monaco where you are driven along part of the Grand Prix circuit, before walking with your Travel Director through the old town. See the Royal Palace where the Grimaldi family live, the yacht-filled harbour and visit the cathedral, housing the tombs of the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. 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.
Day 12: Florence Sightseeing Relaxed Start
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 Vecchio. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather and there's free time to shop or continue exploring.
Day 13: The Eternal City of Rome
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.
Day 14: Exploring Papal Rome
A Local Expert introduces the grandeur of the city, starting with the Vatican State, the richest community on the world. Visit the Vatican Museums, full of priceless treasures collected by the Popes. Insight provides special, fast-tracked entry to avoid the crowds, together with behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase - a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally off-limits to the general public. Once inside the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Next door, visit St. Peter’s Basilica to admire Michelangelo's emotive 'Pieta' and see Bernini's intricately carved Papal Altar. The rest of the day is yours to shop in the trendy boutiques or relax at a sidewalk cafe. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests, and see the Roman Forum?
Day 15: Rome at Leisure Relaxed Start
The day is yours to enjoy Rome at your own pace. 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? As night falls, why not sip on prosecco at a sidewalk cafe in Piazza Navona - the Living Room of Rome - and enjoy life's pageantry pass by?
Day 16: Arrivederci Roma
Bid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 and 09:30.