COTE D’AZUR THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Upon arrival in Nice, proceed to immigration, baggage claim, and after clearing customs you will be met by the tour director and transferred to the hotel. Spend the rest of your day enjoying the festive spirit of this lovely city from its idyllic beaches to the medieval Old Town filled with art, music and culinary delights waiting to be discovered. Check-in to your hotel, relax or go out and explore. Your tour director can answer your questions regarding nearby attractions but be back in time for the Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant! (D)

After breakfast take a guided morning walking tour through the most famous attraction in Old Nice--the lively open market “Cours Saleya.” France’s National Council for the Culinary Arts has awarded special status to this market. Explore Nice’s Old Town, a characterful district in the south of the city pastel colorful street. Discover the ”socca” truly authentic “cuisine niçoise.” Enjoy a light lunch on your own and the reminder of the day at your leisure to stroll, shop or relax or perhaps join the optional afternoon tours to Cannes and Antibes. (B)

Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full day tour to Eze, Monaco & Monte Carlo. On the way to Monaco, enjoy the panoramic drive along the coast, over Nice, Villefranche bay, and Monaco. Stop in Eze, an amazing medieval village perched on a rocky hill above the sea. With narrow cobblestone, pedestrian- only streets, beautiful views of the surrounding hills and the azure water below, it is just as it was centuries ago. Stroll in the tiny streets, see the changing of guards precisely at 11:55A, or perhaps visit the Oceanographic Museum, the Prince’s Palace, and the Cathedral. Along the way, there is free time for lunch and then our Cultural Discovery Series with a visit to the Fragonard perfumery to discover the trade secrets of fragrances and the history of perfume- making from its beginnings to the present day. We continue to the Principality of Monaco. Discover the Casino of Monte Carlo on the Golden square with luxury shops and cars. Take a ride on the Formula 1 circuit and reach the old town. Tour of the old town on the rock. (B)

After your hotel breakfast we board our private coach for Visit Saint Paul-De-Vence to admire the jewel of Provence, where many painters and artists of ancient times have passed. You can feel the history and artistic creativity of this enchanting place. Its cobbled stone streets, many galleries and nice view overlooking the sea make it a unique place. Continue to Medieval village Tourette Sur Loup, installed on a rocky buttress, overhanging precipices. Also known as the City of Violets, this village became a meeting place for musicians, painters, writers, and poets in the mid-1920s. Today, more than thirty workshops and galleries make the village a Mecca of art and crafts on the Riviera. Then Discover Gourdon one of the most beautiful perch villages in France and admire a breathtaking panoramic view of the Riviera. You will visit the castle, built in the 9th century, and its sumptuous garden, designed by Lenôtre. After a full day of touring, return to the hotel where the evening is free at your leisure. (B)

Enjoy your breakfast early because today we embark on a is a full day tour to Menton and the San Remo Italian markets by private coach. San Remo is one of the most famous cities of the Ligurian Riviera, often called the capital of flowers and Italian music. Every February, the city hosts the Italian Song Festival, which once opened with vocal stars as Toto Cutugno and Adriano Celentano. Midday we have time for shopping at the market where there are vendors selling clothes, accessories, household goods and food. Enjoy an Italian lunch. As we make our way back we make a stop in Menton. Menton, the last French Riviera town before you reach Italy, is one of the Côte d’Azur’s most blissful stops, Menton is a city rich in history where tradition, culture and relaxation come together. Menton will charm you with its aromas and colors. Many interesting international events take place here, as well as the famous Lemon Festival. We drive back to in the late afternoon as your evening is free to discover or rest. (B)

Today after breakfast this morning use the day to relish in the beauty of the town on your own or join the optional full day tour to St. Tropez with sightseeing of this international tourist capital of the world and a thousand-year-old vineyard and winery of the region. In the evening, raise a toast to the end of your adventure as the group gathers for a “bon voyage” dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

This morning after breakfast, say farewell to Nice as you transfer to the airport for your return flight home to the USA or extend your stay to Paris. (B)