Northern Italy's Highlights & Cinque Terre

From Spain to France to Italy, this affordable tour along the Mediterranean Coast, features vibrant cities, historic sites, and stunning scenery. You’ll stay in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Marseille, the Venice area, and Rome. You'll also overnight in the French Riviera and the Cinque Terre area. The highlights of this budget travel adventure across the Mediterranean region include an excursion to the famous Cinque Terre area, a name given to five medieval fishing villages on the sea. The area is noted for its natural beauty with terraces built into the mountainside on cliffs that drop down into the sea and for its breathtaking views. You'll also spend time on the French Riviera, where you'll have the chance to visit a perfume workshop in Èze and time to explore on your own. Plus, enjoy stunning scenery as you drive along the most fascinating landscapes and visit cameo villages such as Cuenca, Collioure, Cassis and iconic cities like Verona or Barcelona! Your Local Guides will reveal the must-see sights on your sightseeing tours of Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, and Rome. You’ll see Rome’s iconic landmarks, such as the Vatican and the Colosseum. You’ll be introduced to Venice with a boat ride to world-famous St. Mark's Square. In Marseille, France's oldest city, visit the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde, which sits at the highest point in Marseille with stunning views of the city. In Assisi, visit the St. Francis Basilica, burial place of the saint and home to beautiful frescos by Giotto. Designed by a team of experienced Tour Directors, this Mediterranean tour to Spain, France, and Italy has been perfectly planned for value-minded travellers wanting a wonderful, yet affordable, Mediterranean holiday.

Experience the sights and bites of delicious Rome, Sorrento, and more with an off-season escape to Italy—without the higher prices and crowds of the busy season. Begin in the eternal city of Rome. Visit the Colosseum to imagine the spectacle of gladiator games, and see the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome. Join an exclusive visit to the centuries-old Papal Palace and Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo. Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Also visit St. Peter’s Square and Basilica to see the artist’s magnificent La Pietà. Sculpted in Carrara marble, this Renaissance masterpiece depicting Christ in his Mother’s lap is the only piece Michelangelo signed. Visit Capua’s Amphitheater and hear of Spartacus’ gladiator training here. In lovely Sorrento, see St. Antonino’s church, named for the city’s patron saint, and enjoy a free day to relax in this beautiful setting. En route back to Rome, explore legendary Pompeii—the excavated Roman city that was destroyed in 79 AD by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption, and preserved by ash. Conclude your Italian escape in Rome with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

The breathtaking Alps span the borders of several European countries, and this holiday gives you the opportunity to see the best of the alpine region. This scenic Alps tour includes overnights in Munich, the Innsbruck area, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bolzano, St. Moritz, Lake Como, Turin, Täsch, the Lucerne area, and Zurich. Every day you’ll marvel at stunning scenery: lush dairy pastures, picturesque quaint villages, imposing peaks and enchanting forests. You will drive along Grossglockner Pass, Austria’s highest pass with inspiring views of 12,460-foot-high Grossglockner Mountain; visit Cortina d'Ampezzo, home of the 1956 Olympics in the spectacular Italian Dolomites, the Italian "Rocky Mountains,"; take in views of Italy’s Lake Carezza, a small, emerald-green mountain lake; see the Austrian and Italian Tyrolean Alps; discover Switzerland’s Engadine National Park, considered by some to be the world’s most beautiful mountain area with deep-blue lakes and mountain peaks exceeding 12,000 feet,; experience beautiful Lake Como, one of Europe’s deepest lakes; get to know Kitzbühel, with its classic Tyrolean chalets and striking cobblestone center and car-free Zermatt, a picturesque cluster of rustics chalets beneath the Matterhorn, and much more. But it is not all about alpine scenery; you will also get to know Turin, an Italian city set at the foot of the Alps, and on the included city tour, you’ll discover all the secret treasures this winter Olympic city has to offer. In Bavaria, you will also visit charming Linderhof Castle, the smallest but maybe the most elegant of the three King Ludwig fairy-tale castles. One of the highlights of this Alps tour is a memorable trip aboard the Glacier Express from Zermatt to glitzy St. Moritz. From your train windows, marvel at the thundering waterfalls, impressive snow-capped peaks, glacial ice fields, forests, lush meadows, and picture-perfect villages. Passing over hundreds of bridges and through dozens of tunnels, this is Switzerland’s most famous mountain railway along with the journey aboard the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano, Italy. Travelling on the highest railway across the Alps, witness glistening glaciers, stunning mountain streams, and alpine scenery. You will have many opportunities to practice your photographic skills on this amazing Alps tour designed for savvy travellers! It’s a dream holiday!