Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Nice
Nice- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Reception & Dinner)
Landmarks Nice - Day 2
Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino
Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Culinary Experience in Rapallo (extra expense, must be pre-booked) - 4 hours 45 minutes - Meet local chef Guido at the Musical Kiosk, explore Rapallo's food market, prepare authentic pesto alla Genovese, taste pandolce cake with Moscato wine, and explore Rapallo's waterfront and historic centre
- Portofino & Brown Castle Walk (EmeraldACTIVE) - 2 hours - Guided walk through Portofino's coloured harbour, ascent to Castello Brown fortress with Mediterranean gardens and museum, visit Church of St. George, free time at famous Piazzetta
Landmarks Santa Margherita Ligure Portofino Castello Brown Church of St. George Piazzetta Rapallo Musical Kiosk - Day 3
Porto Venere
Porto VenereIncluded Activities
- Walking tour of Porto Venere with local guide through Roman Gate and medieval village
- Exploration of Genoese-Gothic architecture and historic streets
- Views of Doria Castle
- Tasting of traditional Italian snacks at local café
Optional Activities
- Cinque Terre by Boat - scenic cruise to Monterosso al Mare and Vernazzo with guided walk and pesto bruschetta tasting (extra expense)
- Dances from the Renaissance Period - performance celebrating Renaissance music, dance, and courtly traditions (EmeraldPLUS)
Landmarks Porto Venere Church of St. Peter Doria Castle Cinque Terre National Park Monterosso al Mare Vernazzo - Day 4
Calvi
Calvi- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Calvi Walking tour & Wine Tasting at Domaine Alzipatru (extra expense) - 4 hours 45 minutes - Explore Calvi's Citadel on rocky promontory, historic drawbridge, Place d'Armes, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, house of Christopher Columbus, Governor's Palace, Oratory of St. Anthony, ramparts, waterfront district, Notre-Dame de la Serra viewpoint, guided wine tasting at family-owned winery with traditional Corsican grape varieties
- Discover Old Corsica and its villages (extra expense) - 3 hours 45 minutes - Visit Calenzana at foot of mountains (GR20 hiking trail starting point), Zilia with natural mineral spring, panoramic Col de Salvi, hilltop village of Sant'Antonino (9th century, one of France's Most Beautiful Villages) with narrow cobbled lanes and vaulted passageways, return through Cateri, Lavatoggio, and Lumio
Landmarks Calvi Citadel of Calvi Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Notre-Dame de la Serra Domaine Alzipatru Calenzana Sant'Antonino - Day 5
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking Tour of Saint-Tropez (extra expense) - 2 hours 30 minutes - Guided walk along picturesque harbour passing famous Café Sénéquier, historic centre with narrow streets and charming squares, Church of Saint-Tropez, learn about artistic heritage of painters Paul Signac, Henri Matisse, and André Derain, panoramic viewpoint overlooking red rooftops, luxury yachts, and Mediterranean
- Tour of Gassin and Port Grimaud (extra expense) - 4 hours - Scenic countryside drive to hilltop village of Gassin with narrow alleyways, flower-filled streets, panoramic views over Gulf of Saint-Tropez and vineyards, free time to explore, boat cruise through Port Grimaud (Venice of Provence) with canals, colourful waterfront homes, private moorings, and picturesque bridges
Landmarks Saint-Tropez Café Sénéquier Church of Saint-Tropez Gassin Port Grimaud - Day 6
Cassis
Cassis- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Aix en Provence (extra expense) - 4 hours 30 minutes - Scenic drive through Provençal countryside to historic capital of Provence and birthplace of artist Paul Cézanne, guided walk through Old Town (Vieux Aix) with narrow cobbled streets, Cours Mirabeau tree-lined boulevard with 17th-18th century mansions, Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles, free time to explore shops and cafés
- Boat ride through Calanques & wine tasting (extra expense) - 3 hours 30 minutes - Sightseeing boat cruise exploring three famous Calanques with dramatic limestone cliffs and crystal-clear coves, scenic tourist train ride to Domaine Bodin (late 19th century family-owned winery among pioneers of Cassis Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), learn about winemaking traditions, guided tasting of elegant white wines and rosé and red varieties, return by tourist train
Landmarks Cassis Calanques National Park Cap Canaille Aix-en-Provence Cours Mirabeau Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur Domaine Bodin - Day 7
Roses
Roses- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Girona City tour - guided walk through medieval city including El Call Jewish Quarter, Arab Baths, Bonastruc ça Porta Museum, medieval city walls, Gironella Tower remains, and exterior view of Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants (5 hours, Active level)
- Dalí Theatre-Museum tour in Figueres - explore Salvador Dalí's masterpiece museum with approximately 1,500 pieces including paintings, sculptures, holograms, and installations (4 hours, Moderate level)
Landmarks El Call Arab Baths Bonastruc ça Porta Museum Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants Dalí Theatre-Museum - Day 8
Barcelona
Barcelona- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- The Gothic Quarter & its Public Markets - guided walk through medieval streets, Plaça de Sant Jaume, La Boqueria Market, Cathedral Square, Jewish Quarter, Plaça de Santa Maria del Pi, and Santa Caterina Market with churros tasting (extra expense, must be booked on board, 4 hours, Moderate level)
Landmarks Sagrada Familia Picasso Museum Gothic Quarter La Rambla Plaça de Sant Jaume La Boqueria Market Cathedral Square Santa Caterina Market - Day 9
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Palma de Mallorca - 4 hours - Guided walk through Call Major historic Jewish Quarter, magnificent Cathedral of Santa María (La Seu - Spain's second-largest Gothic cathedral) with soaring columns and elegant interior, Cathedral Treasury Museum with impressive collection of religious art, manuscripts, and historic treasures, scenic Paseo Marítimo lined with luxury yachts and waterfront hotels, Bellver Castle (14th-century circular fortress) with spectacular panoramic views over Palma and bay, revealing fascinating stories from royal and military past
Landmarks Palma de Mallorca Call Major Cathedral of Santa María Cathedral Treasury Museum Paseo Marítimo Bellver Castle - Day 10
Ibiza
Ibiza- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Dalt Vila walking tour (extra expense) - 3 hours 30 minutes - Wander enchanting streets of Dalt Vila (Ibiza's Old Town and UNESCO World Heritage Site), enter through iconic Ses Taules Gate, explore maze of narrow cobbled streets, picturesque squares, and panoramic terraces overlooking Ibiza Town and harbour, view landmarks including Cathedral of Santa María, elegant Episcopal Palace, historic Town Hall, former Dominican Convent, hear stories of island's fascinating past, free time to explore, relax with traditional ensaimada pastry and coffee
Landmarks Ibiza Dalt Vila Ses Taules Gate Cathedral of Santa María Episcopal Palace Town Hall - Day 11
Alicante
Alicante- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Alicante & Downhill hike from Santa Barbara Castle (extra expense) - 3 hours 15 minutes - Guided walk through historic centre passing 18th-century Baroque Town Hall, Museo de Hogueras dedicated to Alicante's famous Hogueras de San Juan festival with fascinating displays about spectacular bonfire celebrations, free time to explore city, coach to impressive Santa Bárbara Castle perched 166 metres above sea level on Mount Benacantil, originally built 9th century during Moorish rule, fascinating insight into Alicante's past with magnificent panoramic views across city, harbour, and Mediterranean
Landmarks Alicante Town Hall Museo de Hogueras Santa Bárbara Castle Playa de San Juan Postiguet Beach - Day 12
Cartagena
Cartagena- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Andalusian Horses Cartagena Spain (EmeraldPLUS) - 3 hours - Visit traditional family-owned ranch where generations of the Conesa family have bred Pure Spanish Horses, meet mares and foals in paddocks, witness impressive demonstrations of beauty and agility, learn about art of breeding and training, traditional Spanish tapas and refreshments, captivating performance combining grace of Andalusian dancer with precision and harmony of beautifully trained stallion
Optional Activities
- Walking Tour of Cartagena with Visit to Roman Theatre (extra expense) - 4 hours - Guided walk from waterfront through historic centre passing Town Hall Square and impressive early 20th-century modernist buildings, visit magnificent Roman Theatre (1st century BC archaeological treasure capable of seating up to 6,000 spectators), free time, walk through charming Old Quarter with centuries of history in streets and grand façades, taste selection of traditional tapas at three local restaurants or bars accompanied by glass of sangría, local wine, or soft drink
Landmarks Cartagena Roman Theatre Roman Amphitheatre Torre Ciega Castillo de la Concepción Town Hall Square - Day 13
Almeria
Almeria- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Almeria City Walk and Tapas (EmeraldACTIVE) - 3 hours 15 minutes - Journey through historic streets of Almería where Moorish heritage, impressive architecture, and Andalusian traditions reveal city's rich past, short drive to city centre, visit impressive Cathedral of Almería (remarkable blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture built as both place of worship and defensive fortress against pirate attacks), walk through historic quarter passing Convent of Las Puras, Episcopal Palace, Cervantes Theatre, Mercantile Centre, learn city's fascinating history, conclude at traditional local restaurant enjoying selection of authentic Spanish tapas with refreshments
Landmarks Almeria Cathedral of Almería Alcazaba Convent of Las Puras Episcopal Palace Cervantes Theatre Tabernas Desert - Day 14
Gibraltar
Gibraltar- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Tour of the Rock (extra expense) - 2 hours - Discover highlights of Gibraltar including Europa Point (southernmost tip) for spectacular views across meeting point of Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea with historic Trinity Lighthouse, Upper Rock Nature Reserve with impressive St. Michael's Cave (vast limestone cavern with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites), King Charles V Wall (home to Gibraltar's famous Barbary macaques - Europe's only wild monkey population), historic Moorish Castle and iconic Tower of Homage as you descend through Upper Town
Landmarks Rock of Gibraltar Europa Point Trinity Lighthouse Upper Rock Nature Reserve St. Michael's Cave King Charles V Wall Moorish Castle Tower of Homage - Day 15
Cadiz
Cadiz- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Jerez and the unique taste of sherry (extra expense) - 4 hours 30 minutes - Step into heart of Andalusia with visit to historic city of Jerez de la Frontera renowned for rich heritage and world-famous sherry, guided walk including impressive Alcázar of Jerez (magnificent Moorish fortress reflecting centuries of Andalusian history), visit renowned Tio Pepe Winery with exploration of historic cellars, learn about traditional art of sherry production, enjoy tasting of celebrated wines, scenic drive back to Cádiz offering final opportunity to admire landscapes of Andalusia
Landmarks Cádiz Jerez de la Frontera Alcázar of Jerez Tio Pepe Winery - Day 16
Málaga
Málaga- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Malaga Tour & Transfer (extra expense, must be booked on board) - 5 hours - Discover highlights of Málaga with panoramic drive through city passing waterfront, beaches, and historic landmarks, stop at Gibralfaro Castle for spectacular views over Málaga, Mediterranean Sea, and historic centre, visit Casa Natal Picasso (birthplace of Pablo Picasso) with museum exhibits revealing artist's early life and connection to Málaga, short walk to traditional tapas bar sampling two authentic Andalusian tapas with drink, guided walk through historic centre viewing exterior of magnificent Cathedral of Málaga, ancient Roman Theatre, vibrant Plaza de la Merced, free time to browse local boutiques, relax at café, or continue exploring, transfer to airport. Available for debarking participants with flights departing after 5:00 pm. Luggage stored securely on coach during excursion.
Landmarks Málaga Gibralfaro Castle Casa Natal Picasso Cathedral of Málaga Roman Theatre Plaza de la Merced
