16 days tour

Mediterranean Journey (Classic, Start Paris, 16 Days)

Mediterranean Journey (Classic, Start Paris, 16 Days)

This tour includes:

Others

Choose between two carefully selected activities Paris: Join an avid local foodie on a walk through a local food market - Bastille Marchรฉ. Visit a variety of stalls and sample local treats and delicacies along the way. Paris: We walk up and down the "quartier" and we see the school, the food stores, the housing situation, the heritage landmarks, the sports facilities and the theatres, in this car-free, pedestrianized, neighbourhood. Landmarks will include passages couverts, perhaps also Patrick Blancโ€™s spectacular jardin vertical โ€™oasis dโ€™Aboukirโ€™, the Napoleonic "Egyptian" district etc. Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expertโ€™s fascinating commentary. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - youโ€™ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Vatican: Visit the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peterโ€™s Basilica. Rome: Enjoy exclusive access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes during an after-hours visit. This 9th-century basilicaโ€™s simple facade guards the worldโ€™s best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. The history of the church springs to life as you admire the interiorโ€™s treasured collection, including Berniniโ€™s first sculpture and the renowned mosaics, illuminated for your visit. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a rare and unforgettable insight into Rome and its religious history. Chateau Chenonceau: Visit the majestic Chรขteau de Chenonceau, known as the โ€™Ladiesโ€™ Chรขteauโ€™ it perfectly embodies the elegance of 16th century design in the Loire Valley. Bordeaux: Your Local Expert will show you the quayside facades, Grand Theatre, Triangle dโ€™Or and magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces. San Sebastiรกn: Led by your Local Expert, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Old Quarter including Plaza de la Constitucion. Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Expert. Visit the Old Town, travelling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol. Barcelona: With your Local Expert, drive along the elegant Passeig de Grร cia to witness some of the finest Modernist architecture as you journey through the Eixample district to see Gaudiโ€™s extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Famรญlia. Avignon: View the Pont dโ€™Avignon and walk the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to the Palais des Papes. Nice: Enjoy exploring the beautiful coastal town of Nice on the French Riviera. Monaco City: Explore inside Monaco Cathedral. Pisa: Your Local Expert will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, and the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th-century cathedral - the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the Multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghibertiโ€™s Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Accommodation

2 nights at Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel 1 night at Pullman Bordeaux Lac, Bordeaux 1 night at Barcelรณ Costa Vasca, San Sebastian 2 nights at Hotel Riu Plaza De Espana, Madrid 2 nights at Hilton Barcelona 1 night at Cloรฎtre Saint-Louis, Avignon 1 night at Hotel West End, Nice 2 nights at NH Firenze, Florence 3 nights at Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your clientโ€™s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Transport

Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Enjoy the comfort of Insightโ€™s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

Guide

From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination. Monaco City: Enjoy a drive along part of the Grand Prix circuit and wander the old town with your Travel Director to see the Royal Palace and the yacht-filled harbour. Rome: During your orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, including Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, scattered throughout the city.

Meals

4 Dinner with Wine (DW) 15 Breakfast (B) Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of the city for a delightful dinner served with wine. Paris: Join an avid local foodie on a walk through a local food market - Bastille Marchรฉ. Visit a variety of stalls and sample local treats and delicacies along the way. San Sebastiรกn: Enjoy an evening of pintxos, dining with locals in this Basque tradition. Your delicious dinner includes a wide variety of finger food delicacies, each with their own regional flavour, flair and presentation. Avignon: At a local farm learn about olive oil and enjoy a tasting of the freshest produce before indulging in a farm-to-table dinner of traditional French home-style cuisine. Rome: Toast your Mediterranean journey with delicious Italian cuisine and wine.

Not included:

Optional

MONTMARTRE VILLAGE & ARTISTS SQUARE Discover the bohemian quarter of Montmartre with your local expert. Walk through the historic lower area before ascending by funicular to the Place du Tertre, a favourite haunt of Toulouse Lautrec, Picasso, and Utrillo. Browse for original art or ask a local street artist to capture your likeness in minutes - a great souvenir to take home. Close by you can appreciate the view from the steps of Sacrรฉ-Coeur Basilica. ADULT PRICE: EUR 37.00 MOULIN ROUGE CABARET AND DINNER Enjoy dinner and cabaret, including wine and champagne, at the world-famous Moulin Rouge โ€“ the original Paris Cabaret. Immortalized by the award-winning film of the same name, this Parisian institution features 60 dancers and entertainers and over 1000 costumes! ADULT PRICE: EUR 165.00 SEINE CRUISE AND ILLUMINATIONS The City of Light really lives up to its name when the cityโ€™s monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all of their glory. First, a specially-designed sightseeing boat takes us for an unforgettable cruise along the Seine and beneath famous bridges to appreciate the Left and Right Banks and the รŽle de la Citรฉ and St Louis. Then, weโ€™ll enjoy an illuminations tour, when the rubies and diamonds of the Champs ร‰lysรฉes and the Eiffel Tower are at their magnificent best. ADULT PRICE: EUR 38.00 NOUVELLE EVE DINNER AND CABARET One of the oldest and most elegant revue theatres in Paris, Nouvelle Eve is a hidden gem where youโ€™ll meet the Director and two of the cast members before enjoying a four-course dinner with wine. You will then experience unparalleled Parisian entertainment โ€“ including the world-famous Can-Can. ADULT PRICE: EUR 139.00 MADRILEร‘O DINNER & PLAZA MAYOR First itโ€™s off to Plaza Mayor, once the Main Square dating back to 1617 and dominated by the spectacular faรงade of the โ€™Casa de la Panaderรญaโ€™. Now to our traditional โ€™mesรณnโ€™ to try many of the dishes that Madrid is renowned for. Drinks such as regional wine, beer and soft drinks are included with your meal and will be accompanied by a local โ€™Tuna de Madridโ€™ playing all your favourite Spanish songs on traditional instruments. ADULT PRICE: EUR 61.00 BARCELONA BY NIGHT WITH DINNER After a delightful dinner in a traditional Catalan restaurant, take a sparkling illuminations drive up the hill of Montjuic for spectacular panoramic views over the city and harbour twinkling below. ADULT PRICE: EUR 60.00 CATALAN DINNER & FLAMENCO The food of the Catalan region is quite different from the rest of Spain. Enjoy a buffet dinner of Spanish and Catalan dishes including drinks, followed by the throbbing guitars, fire and passion of Spainโ€™s national dance โ€“ the Flamenco. ADULT PRICE: EUR 87.00 MONTSERRAT & THE BLACK MADONNA Weโ€™ll enjoy a stunning drive to Montserrat, the mystical sacred serrated mountain, with its unique formations and spectacular views. Itโ€™s home to the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat and the โ€˜Virgin of Montserratโ€™, one of the most-venerated Black Madonnaโ€™s of Europe. Catalan landscapes unfold before us, as our Local Expert introduces us to this place of immense beauty and significance. ADULT PRICE: EUR 40.00 RIVIERA โ€™3 CORNICHESโ€™ & MEAL The โ€™Cornichesโ€™ are three stunning serpentine roads linking Monaco to Nice, โ€™where the mountains meet the seaโ€™. The Grande Corniche is perhaps the most spectacular, first constructed as part of the ancient Roman Aurelian Way and rebuilt by Napoleon in 1806. You may recognise its sweeping vistas, pink sunsets and medieval towns from such famous films as Hitchcockโ€™s โ€™To Catch a Thiefโ€™. Your cliff-hanging drive culminates with a fabulous dinner of Provenรงal specialities, wines and aperitifs - all enjoyed while embracing one of Europeโ€™s most breathtaking backdrops. ADULT PRICE: EUR 72.00 JEWELS OF THE RENAISSANCE With our local guide enjoy priority reserved entry into the most important Renaissance museum of Florence, the โ€˜Accademia di Belle Artiโ€™, Academy of Fine Arts. Amongst the masterpieces you will see are an outstanding collection of 15th & 16th Century Florentine paintings by the likes of Uccello, Ghirlandaio, and Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangeloโ€™s four unfinished โ€˜Prisonersโ€™. The highlight of the visit is Michelangeloโ€™s โ€˜Davidโ€™. Created between 1501-1504 it was once the symbol of Republican Florence and is considered by many to be the greatest sculpted masterpiece in the world. This optional involves reservations and entrance prepayments. If you decide to cancel this optional, a 50% cancellation fee will be incurred. ADULT PRICE: EUR 47.00 DINNER IN THE TUSCAN HILLS A fabulous dinner of Tuscan specialities awaits you. We drive into the hills surrounding Florence for a delicious typical Florentine meal complete with Chianti wine, music and lots of fun! An evening to remember. Viva Italia! ADULT PRICE: EUR 65.00 ROME BY NIGHT - ILLUMINATIONS DRIVE Join your Travel Director for a classic journey through one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Rome by night is a vision with its ancient monuments, classical buildings, palaces and churches beautifully illuminated against the evening sky. A wonderful introduction to the Eternal City! ADULT PRICE: EUR 19.00 POMPEII AND THE BAY OF NAPLES We travel south to the famous Roman city of Pompeii, buried in 79 ad, by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Here we visit one the greatest archaeological sites in the world! Our local guide strolls us into a 2,000 year old town revealing fascinating discoveries preserved in time! Later a panoramic tour of the Bay of Naples with the dormant Volcano as a back drop. We then return to Rome passing the formidable Abbey of Montecassino, one of the greatest shrines of Christendom, and the site of the epic battle of 1944. ADULT PRICE: EUR 100.00 GUIDED VISIT TO THE COLOSSEUM With our local expert, step back in time to explore the glorious history of the Roman Empire. Admire the Arch of Constantine and tread in the footsteps of Gladiators and Roman Soldiers. Enjoy priority reserved entrance ahead of the crowds and once inside the mighty Colosseum hear tales of deadly gladiatorial combat and the mighty Roman Empire. Please note: This optional is subject to availability and involves reservations and entrance prepayments. If you decide to cancel this optional, a 50% cancellation fee will be incurred. ADULT PRICE: EUR 53.00 PIAZZAS & FOUNTAINS With our local expert, letโ€™s take a "passeggiata" (stroll) to enjoy the backstreets and secrets of Pedestrian Rome. Be amazed at sights such as the fascinating Pantheon and the beauty of 17th-Century fountains and beautiful Piazzas. Come and enjoy the Rome of the Romans. ADULT PRICE: EUR 33.00 ROMAN DINNER PARTY AND TREVI FOUNTAIN Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks and great Italian ambiance. Then visit the beautifully-restored Trevi Fountain to toss a coin over your shoulder and assure your return to the eternal city. The fountain is a true wonder, a breathtaking jewel of water and stone that is nestled between the palaces of this historic city. Immortalized in Felliniโ€™s โ€˜La Dolce Vitaโ€™. ADULT PRICE: EUR 61.00

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Mediterranean Journey (Classic, Start Paris, 16 Days)

  • Day 1 Day 1: Welcome To Paris
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Elysรฉes and Arc de Triomphe. Later, join your Travel Director at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris for a fabulous dinner.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Paris, The City Of Light
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Paris, The City Of Light

      Your exploration of Paris today begins with an Insight Choice. Choose to explore community life in the picturesque Montorgueil district. Alternatively, join a Local Expert, an avid foodie, as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives to explore small shops 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 Day 3: Chรขteaux Country And Onto Bordeaux
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Chรขteaux Country And Onto Bordeaux

      Head southwards towards Chรขteaux 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 Chenonceau Castle, an elegant French chรขteau spanning the River Cher. Continue on to the bustling seaport of Bordeaux with its unique 18th-century character.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Bordeaux And San Sebastiรกn
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Bordeaux And San Sebastiรกn

      Join a Local Expert for a guided tour of Franceโ€™s best 18th-century architecture. The facades of the quaysides, the Grand Thรฉรขtre, Triangle dโ€™Or and magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces all contribured to Bordeaux earn inclusion on UNESCOโ€™s World Heritage list. Next, continue to picturesque San Sebastiรกn 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 Day 5: On To Madrid Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: On To Madrid Relaxed Start

      Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spainโ€™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 Day 6: Madrid
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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. Enjoy sightseeing with your Local Expert, as they guide you through the most historic neighbourhoods in the Spanish capital. Your drive continues through the Old Quarter to discover the origins of the city. Visit the Reina Sofรญa Museum with an art historian to see Picassoโ€™s Guernica.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Madrid And Beautiful Barcelona
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Day 8: Barcelona, City Of Gaudi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Grร cia. Continue through the Eixample district to see Gaudiโ€™s extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Famรญlia.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Avignon, The City Of Popes
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Avignon, The City Of Popes

      Journey to Avignon to see the famous Pont dโ€™Avignon, once spanning the Rhรดne 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 Day 10: On The Shores Of Nice
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Day 11: Monaco And Pisa
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Day 12: Florence Sightseeing Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Florence Sightseeing Relaxed Start

      Walk with your Local Expert to the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, where Ghibertiโ€™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 thereโ€™s free time to shop or continue exploring.

  • Day 13 Day 13: The Eternal City Of Rome
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Day 14: Exploring Papal Rome
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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. Once inside the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangeloโ€™s famous ceiling. Next door, visit St. Peterโ€™s Basilica to admire Michelangeloโ€™s emotive โ€™Pietaโ€™ and see Berniniโ€™s intricately carved Papal Altar. The afternoon is yours to shop in the trendy boutiques or relax at a sidewalk cafe before an exclusive after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes.

  • Day 15 Day 15: Rome At Leisure Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 lifeโ€™s pageantry pass by?

  • Day 16 Day 16: Arrivederci Roma
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 16: Arrivederci Roma

      Bid farewell to the glories of Italy.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 5 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required