Mediterranean Highlights
Mediterranean Highlights
Mediterranean Highlights
13 Days Starting in Madrid and ending in Rome
Visiting: Madrid, Barcelona, Avignon, Nice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SPROZM19
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 54
Trip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of the Mediterranean with our "Mediterranean Highlights" tour. This unforgettable adventure takes you across Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy, where you'll explore the vibrant cities of Madrid, Barcelona, Florence, and Rome alongside a Local Specialist. Discover the artistic treasures of Arles, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Monaco, and Pisa, including visits to iconic sites like Pont du Gard, the French Riviera, Piazza della Signoria, and St. Peter's Basilica. Marvel at architectural wonders such as La Sagrada FamÃlia, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Colosseum. With luxury air-conditioned coach travel, cherry-picked hotels, and a plethora of included meals, this tour promises a blend of history, art, and scenic beauty, ensuring a memorable experience through some of Europe's most enchanting landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: AC by Marriott Cuzco
Accommodation Name: AC Hotel by Marriott Cuzco
Settle into the passionate embrace of fiery Madrid, your launch pad to an epic journey through Spain, France and Italy, filled with unforgettable flavours and soul-stirring encounters. Join your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation drive past some of Madrid's most iconic sites.
Day 2: Discover Fiery Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: AC by Marriott Cuzco
Accommodation Name: AC Hotel by Marriott Cuzco
Meals Included: Breakfast
We join a Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour of the Spanish capital, during which we’ll see the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Spanish royal family and the Cibeles Fountain. Enjoy an afternoon on your own exploring the world's best collection of Spanish art at the Prado Museum and shopping on Gran VÃa. Or consider joining an Optional Experience to the imperial city of Toledo.
Day 3: Journey To GaudÃ's Barcelona
Location: Barcelona
Accommodation: Barcelona Condal Mar Affiliated by Melia
Accommodation Name: Barcelona Condal Mar Affiliated by Melia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave Europe's highest capital behind, bound for the Costa Dorada and the sun-kissed shores of Barcelona. We venture to the pretty banks of the Ebro River and to mystical Zaragoza, whose centuries of heritage have been shaped by the Romans, Moors and Christians. Continue to Barcelona and enjoy some time to recharge siesta style this evening or dive into the indelible sights, sounds and flavours of this enchanting city on your free evening.
Day 4: Explore Vibrant Barcelona
Location: Barcelona
Accommodation: Barcelona Condal Mar Affiliated by Melia
Accommodation Name: Barcelona Condal Mar Affiliated by Melia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join your Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour, ascending Montjuïc to get your bearings and enjoy panoramic views of the city. See the monument to Christopher Columbus and vibrant Las Ramblas, before stopping at Antonio GaudÃ's unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada FamÃlia. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure indulging in the fantasy world of Gaudà or strolling through the hidden lanes and peaceful squares in the city's Gothic Quarter. You could consider joining an Optional Experience to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat, home to the mystical Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia.
Day 5: Pass The Pyrenees To Arles And Avignon
Location: Avignon
Accommodation: Avignon Grand Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mercure Avignon Gare TGV
Meals Included: Breakfast
We journey via the foothills of the Pyrenees into France. Stop in Arles, where Vincent Van Gogh found inspiration for so many of his paintings, before a visit to the UNESCO-listed Pont du Gard. Later this afternoon we arrive in the Provençal city of Avignon, where we’ll view the Gothic Papal Palace and the bridge made famous in the song 'Sur le Pont d’Avignon'.
Day 6 : Venture Through Pretty Provence To Nice
Location: Nice
Accommodation: Novotel Centre Vieux
Accommodation Name: Novotel Nice Centre Vieux Nice
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Our journey today takes us through the picture-perfect wheat and lavender fields of Provence, immortalised in the works of Van Gogh & Cézanne. We’ll Dive Into Culture in the Provençal town of Aix-en-Provence, founded by the Romans over natural hot springs. Here you can shop for local produce such as wine, olive oil, herbes de Provence and saffron. Later, we visit the tiny Principality of Monaco and see the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly were married. This evening, the glitz and glamour beckon as you join your new friends for a memorable dinner in this playground of the rich and famous.
Day 7: A Day To Enjoy The Riviera
Location: Nice
Accommodation: Novotel Centre Vieux
Accommodation Name: Novotel Nice Centre Vieux Nice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, kick back and enjoy a well-deserved morning at leisure on the glorious French Riviera. Soak up the holiday atmosphere at the beach, or perhaps join an Optional Experience to hilltop Saint-Paul-de-Vence, one of the oldest towns on the French Riviera.
Day 8: Onwards To Colourful Cinque Terre And Pisa
Location: Cinque Terre
Accommodation: NH Pisa
Accommodation Name: NH Pisa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross the border into Italy and join a Local Specialist for a visit of the dramatic UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre, a series of centuries-old seaside villages which cling impossibly to rugged cliffs that plunge into the Ligurian Sea. Admire the expanse of pastel pink, yellow and orange façades that jostle for sea views. Later, we head to Pisa where tonight, you'll dine in your hotel.
Day 9 : Off To Renaissance Florence
Location: Florence
Accommodation: Grand Mediterraneo
Accommodation Name: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
View Pisa's Square of Miracles, where we'll see the famous Leaning Tower. Next, your introduction to Tuscany is an exclusive Be My Guest experience where you’ll Connect With Locals over traditional lunch fare and the legendary hospitality for which the region is renowned. Continue to the birthplace of the Renaissance where we'll dine at our hotel this evening.
Day 10: Uncover Florence’S Treasures
Location: Florence
Accommodation: Grand Mediterraneo
Accommodation Name: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join your Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour of magical Florence. View the multi-coloured Duomo and the almost 700-year-old Ponte Vecchio. Then, walk through what was once the political hub of the city, the Piazza della Signoria, a veritable open-air treasure trove featuring wonderful sculptures and palazzi. Spend the rest of the day on your own exploration of Florence’s iconic and unexpected sights.
Day 11: All Roads Lead To Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza St. Peter's
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Roma - St. Peter's Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey through the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria, past the hilltop villages of Orvieto and Orte, before arriving in Rome, the 'Eternal City' – our home for the next two nights.
Day 12: Discover Ancient Rome And The Vatican City
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza St. Peter's
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Roma - St. Peter's Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we’ll visit the Vatican City and see the imposing St. Peter's Basilica, where Michelangelo's sorrowful Pietà has been admired by millions. We venture into Ancient Rome with a Local Specialist and explore the remnants of Roman rule, enjoying views of the Colosseum and Circus Maximus. On your final afternoon, enjoy some free time to indulge in la dolce vita. Perhaps, sit on the Spanish Steps, visit the Vatican Museum and admire the exquisite frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel or toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain to secure your speedy return to Rome. Join your fellow travellers and Travel Director for an unforgettable Farewell Dinner.
Day 13: Arrivederci Italy
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
For now it's a fond farewell to Rome and your newfound friends as your holiday through Spain, France and Italy comes to an end.
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Optional Experiences and free time
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On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
What's Not Included
International airfare is not included.
Mode of Transport
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Accommodation
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is included?
The tour includes cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
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What are the pick-up and drop-off times?
Pick-up times at Madrid-Barajas airport are 10:30, 13:00, 15:30. Drop-off times at Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO) are 07:00, 09:30.
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What is the ending location of the tour?
The tour ends in Rome.
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Are there any exclusions I should be aware of?
International airfare is not included.
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What countries will we visit on the Mediterranean Highlights tour?
The Mediterranean Highlights tour visits Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour?
Some highlights of the tour include exploring Madrid, Barcelona, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Rome with a Local Specialist, discovering Arles, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Monaco, and Pisa, visiting Pont du Gard in Avignon, the French Riviera, Piazza della Signoria in Florence, and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and viewing La Sagrada FamÃlia, the Papal Palace, the Palace and Cathedral in Monaco, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio in Florence, and the Colosseum in Rome.
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What is the starting location of the tour?
The tour starts in Madrid.
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What type of transportation is provided on the tour?
The tour provides luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys).
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Are meals included in the tour?
Yes, breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals are included in the tour.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions