Italy - The Highlights of Tuscany

Day 1

We head south for our lunchtime crossing to France. Our journey through France takes us to our overnight Hotel in the Reims Champagne area.

Day 2

This morning after breakfast we continue our journey through France, crossing the border into Switzerland to our overnight Hotel in the Interlaken area.

Day 3

This morning our journey takes us over the Simplon Pass. Beautiful views, it is considered one of the most scenic drives in Switzerland. We continue along the shores of Lake Maggiore making a stop in the lakeside resort of Stresa, arriving in Viareggio late afternoon. With the sea on one side and the white peaks of the Apuan Alps on the other, Viareggio is a fabulous base.

Day 4

We spend today visiting one of the most fashionable and stylish resorts of the Italian Riviera. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the coast, around the headland and into the chic and famous resort of Portofino.

Day 5

Optional - Florence is undisputedly the star of Tuscany, and the city’s bold terracotta Duomo defines one of the most iconic skylines in all of Italy. The city may be small, but with so much treasure packed into the Renaissance palaces, wonderful churches and incredible galleries, it really takes some exploring. Enjoy an espresso coffee on the Piazza Santa Croce, where Michelangelo is buried, or tuck into a gelato whilst strolling across the Ponte Vecchio.

Day 6

Today we travel to La Spezia, where we meet our full day guide for a journey into the wonderful and colourful world of the Cinque Terre (the ‘Five Lands’). These quaint and incredibly scenic fishing villages can only be visited by boat or train due to their location on the rugged coastline of the Mediterranean. We travel by boat to Monterosso, the largest of the five Cinque Terre villages, we enjoy time at leisure here, browsing the shops and maybe a seafood lunch before returning by train to Levanto.

Day 7

This morning we head to beautiful Lucca, one of the oldest cities in Tuscany. The elegant Old Town is still enclosed by its ancient walls and is home to a maze of narrow cobbled streets, stunning churches, chapels and Lucca Cathedral, which its magnificent Romanesque façade. Time at leisure to explore before making our way to a wonderful farmhouse in Montecarlo for a fantastic 4 Course Lunch with wine! We complete our day with a visit to Pisa and its most iconic sight - the leaning tower.

Day 8

Enjoy a day at leisure in Viareggio. Once a fishing village, Viareggio is now a thriving resort with a long beachside promenade and shops, with plenty to explore. Stroll along the centre’s charming streets, eat a gelato on the Passeggiata, or in the shade of the pine forest, dine in one of the typical seaside restaurants or simply enjoy a relaxing day surrounding by the sparkling ocean.

Day 9

Sadly, this morning we bid farewell and make our way to our overnight Hotel in the Valence region.

Day 10

We continue today to the outskirts of Paris. Dinner this evening is in Central Paris in a Parisian Bistrot.

Day 11

We head this morning after breakfast to the coast and our afternoon crossing back to the UK. We arrive home late evening.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included