Day 1: Mid-morning departure from North Wales and travel to York. Enjoy some time at leisure in this historic city before we continue to Hull for our overnight ferry crossing to Rotterdam. Tonight enjoy a 5-course evening meal followed by on-board entertainment.
Day 2: After breakfast on-board the ferry we disembark and continue our journey into France and the city of Dijon, the capital of the historical Burgundy region. We stay overnight at the 4-star Hôtel Mercure Dijon Centre Clemenceau.
Day 3: After breakfast we continue our journey south through France and into Italy, arriving in Diano Marina for 5-night stay at the 4-star Hotel Toscana.
Day 4: Menton Lemon Festival
Join in all the fun of the ‘La Fête du Citron’ with a visit to Menton for the Lemon Festival (seated ticket included). Each year, the people of Mention try very hard to outdo each other with their lemon-inspired creations that require more than 145 tonnes of citrus fruit. The festival has a different theme each year, so the designs are always new and innovative. Visit these giant sculptures in the Biovès Gardens, which becomes a sea of orange and yellow, with some creations exceeding heights of 10 metres! Then take your seat and enjoy the procession of citrus fruit-decorated floats, marching bands and drum majorettes before returning to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 5: Nice & Nice Carnival
This morning, travel to Nice where there’s time to explore the Old Town and take a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais. Nice itself is a great place to shop, dine and watch the world go by from a picturesque café.
In the afternoon, it’s time to take your seats for the Corso Carnavalesque, the carnival parade (seated ticket included). Dozens of brightly coloured and decorated floats, all created by local people, follow a circular route around the city centre accompanied by musicians and dancers. On each float, costumed models throw flowers to an enthusiastic crowd. This ‘Battle of the Flowers’ is an elegant show with around 3000 stems per float ranging from roses to carnations to gerberas. This is a truly unique and memorable spectacle.
Head back to the hotel in time for dinner.
Day 6: At Leisure in Diano Marina
A day at leisure in Diano Marina, known as the ‘jewel’ of this region. Set in a wide sweeping bay with safe sandy beaches, it offers elegant shops, restaurants and cafes along its palm fringed promenade.
Day 7: Monaco & Monte Carlo (inc. Guided Tour)
Full day to Monaco and Monte Carlo. Accompanied by an experienced guide, discover one of Europe’s smallest countries. Nestled in a cove along the coast close to the French/Italian border, it is the home of the rich and famous. The atmosphere here is both big city and miniature operatic. Monaco refers to the principality, located high on the rock, where you will find the Royal Palace, the church where Princess Grace is buried, the famous Oceanographic Museum and the old town. Down from the rock you find the newer 19th-century area of Monte Carlo made famous by the Grand Prix motor race. Enjoy some free time at the Casino Square or ‘Golden Square’ with prestigious shops, amazing restaurants and luxury cars.
Day 8: We depart Diano Marina after breakfast and journey north to our overnight hotel, the 4-star Hôtel Mercure Dijon Centre Clemenceau.
Day 9: Today, we make the return journey to Rotterdam to board the overnight ferry back to Hull. Enjoy another 5-course meal followed by entertainment on the ferry this evening.
Day 10: Enjoy a final breakfast on-board before we disembark in Hull and make the return journey to North Wales, stopping en-route in Chester.