Highlights of the Mediterranean: Spain, France & Italy

Your vacation begins in beautiful Barcelona, the capital of Spain's Catalonia region, where you meet the Tour Manager at our central hotel. Checking in to our hotel mid-afternoon, we can look out across Barcelona's unique skyline, with its blend of Baroque and modernist buildings.

The beating pulse of this dynamic city is its colorful art, Modernist streets and fabulous Gothic Quarter. Besides which, Barcelona offers a rich culture, cuisine, and beautiful beaches. After checking in, you are at leisure to explore the local neighborhood of this exciting city before the first dinner of our tour. Overnight Barcelona.

• Dinner

After breakfast, we are introduced to Barcelona by a local guide, exploring by coach and on foot.

Our guide shows us the atmospheric Gothic Quarter, and Las Ramblas, a pedestrianized avenue with street musicians, entertainers, and vendors of art and books. Our tour ends at La Boqueria, the city's fresh produce market, where we enjoy a drinks tasting. From here, you are free to continue sightseeing independently.

Art lovers could visit the Picasso museum in the Gothic Quarter or Gaudi's fabulous Park Güell, overlooking the city. The 18th-century residential area of Barceloneta exudes Catalan coastal charm, with leafy squares surrounded by bustling bodegas. If you enjoy beach strolling you could start from here and walk as far as you wish, maybe stopping at a chiringuito (beach café) for lunch enroute. Barcelona's metro system is regular and reliable so you could always ride back, for example from the trendy district of Poblenou, a former fishing village, a couple of kilometers along the beach. Another place to visit is the expansive park on a hill above the city, where you'll find the Montjüic Castle, the National Art Museum and amazing views. Overnight Barcelona.

• Breakfast

Leaving Barcelona after breakfast this morning, we head for the station to begin our journey by rail to the French city of Carcassonne, changing trains in the cathedral city of Narbonne. Passing the French Pyrenees enroute, we reach our elegant spa hotel on the banks of the River Aude. After checking in, we explore the wonderful walled city of Carcassonne on a guided tour.

This magical medieval citadel is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and crossing the ancient bridge over the moat feels like stepping back in time to romantic medieval France. The fortified walls of the ancient city have turrets with slate roofs and pointed towers. Our tour includes entrance to Château Comtal, the hilltop castle within the walls, which houses a fascinating museum.

After our tour there's a little time to explore independently before dinner at our hotel. Overnight Carcassonne.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we are taken by coach to the noble Château de Pennautier, 15 minutes' drive away. Built in the 17th century, this golden-hued stately home is set within beautiful French-style gardens, and its trailing vines have been cultivated by ten generations of the Lorgeril family.

On arrival, we are given a guided tour of the castle, the King's chamber, and grounds, before we enjoy a highlight of our vacation. Stepping into the château's wine cellar, we are taken on a guided tour of the production room and savor a tasting of the château's wines. This is followed by a four-course lunch served in a rustic restaurant converted from a former sheepfold. Our meal is accompanied by pairings produced in the château's vineyards.

We return to our hotel mid-afternoon and this afternoon and evening is at leisure to enjoy the sights of Carcassonne's walled city as dusk descends and to dine independently. There are several good French bistros and other restaurants in the town surrounding the citadel. Overnight Carcassonne.

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, we transfer to Carcassonne station where we board the train to Avignon. This UNESCO World Heritage site is recognized for its architectural beauty and historic importance.

On arrival, we set out on a walking tour of the sights of Avignon, with an expert guide. Our tour includes the bridge that featured in popular children's song Sur le Pont d'Avignon, the 12th-century Pont St Bénezet. We also stop by the Palais des Papes (the Papal Palace), the seat of the papacy during the 14th century. Forming the largest medieval Gothic palace in Europe, this incredible palace dominates the skyline in a manner befitting its importance.

With some free time after our tour, you could stroll through the city's tree-lined avenues or wander through the Jardin des Doms, with great views of the Rhône. This evening, we regroup for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Avignon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we board a boat for a relaxing cruise down the Rhône River. Enjoying lunch on board, we sail through picturesque landscapes and past the impressive medieval château which stands squarely on the riverbank at Tarascon.

Arriving in Arles, you are free to explore at your own pace and a return rail ticket gives you the freedom to return when it suits you. Blending Roman and medieval architecture, its streets are bursting with history, from the Roman arena to the Place de la République and Romanesque cathedral. One of Arles' most famous residents is Vincent van Gogh, and the artist's legacy is visible all over the old town. The post-impressionist lived in and painted parts of the city and much of his work can be viewed at the Van Gogh Foundation. Alternatively, visit the Place du Forum and bask in the scene which inspired van Gogh's renowned piece 'Café Terrace at Night'. This quaint tree-covered square has many places in which to eat or savor a drink before catching the train back to Avignon for a free evening.

Dining independently tonight, you'll find an abundance of restaurants and bars in Avignon, including on the Place de l'Horloge, Place des Corps Saints and Place Pie. Overnight Avignon.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving the city of Avignon this morning, we head south through picturesque Provence towards the coast. Traveling by motorcoach, our destination is Nice on the glistening Côte d'Azur.

On arrival in this elegant coastal city, we set out on a sightseeing tour. Starting at the elegant Palais de la Méditerranée Casino, a classic building along the waterfront, our local guide takes us to the historic Old Town of Nice where cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, we see the stately Opera House, the city's fabulous flower market, and Nice's striking cathedral. There's also the option to visit the Colline du Château, or castle hill, a park with castle ruins and panoramic views across the Old Town of Nice.

After our tour, there is time to unwind before dinner this evening. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a free day in Nice, you could explore local galleries such as the Musée National Marc Chagall which honors the artist, around 20 minutes' walk from the city center or can be reached by bus. The Matisse Museum in the hilltop Cimiez quarter, contains colorful Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, who spent many years in Nice.

You could also opt to make use of the Côte d'Azur's excellent and affordable train service. The pretty harbor town of Antibes boasts historic streets and has attracted visitors for centuries - including Pablo Picasso, who lived in Château Grimaldi for six months. The castle is now the site of the Picasso Museum. Alternatively, take the train to stylish Cannes. Here, the Croisette boulevard hosts the world-renowned film festival and is dotted with palm trees and upmarket boutiques. In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, near Nice, you could visit the pink villa formerly owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a socialite and art collector of the prominent Rothschild dynasty.

There are many charming restaurants and bistros to choose from in the Old Town this evening to dine independently. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

Soon after breakfast this morning, we begin our journey to Italy, starting with a drive along the scenic Lower Corniche Road to Monaco, a route that has fantastic views of the azure Mediterranean.

The tiny sovereign state of Monaco is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous. Our first stop on a guided tour is Monaco's Old Town and its winding medieval lanes. We then visit the Palais du Prince, home of the reigning monarch Prince Albert II, to witness the Changing of the Guards ceremony, and continue to the Place du Casino, to view the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino. There is some free time after our tour to explore and find lunch on your own.

Leaving Monaco this afternoon we stop at nearby Èze, a medieval village set high on a rocky peak above the glistening sea. Many of its ancient stone houses have been converted into galleries or craft shops. Our journey continues along the coast, across the Italian border, beside the Ligurian sea and into the sweeping bay of the Italian Riviera. We reach Genoa early this evening and check into our hotel on the city's marina before dinner. Overnight Genoa.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we experience the beautiful Italian Riviera on a cruise to Portofino, a picturesque fishing village that has long attracted the glamorous and elite.

Set in a natural harbor dotted with fishing boats and yachts, above are olive groves and Mediterranean pines. An array of buildings painted terracotta, peach and yellow gather round a piazza, with floral terraces cascading from above. Our guide shows us around and we lunch in a restaurant, with views across the harbor.

After some free time here, we sail to San Fruttuoso. This gorgeous cove is only accessible by foot or boat and is dominated by a 10th-century Benedictine abbey. Overlooking the abbey is a 16th-century tower, nestled in the wooded hillsides that encircle the bay. Submerged in the bay is the statue of 'Christ in the Abyss', which is said to protect local sailors. There is time to explore the museum before returning to Genoa where we have dinner. Overnight Genoa.

Please note: if weather conditions mean the boat can't land at San Fruttuoso, we visit Santa Margherita instead, a tranquil village with old-fashioned charm.

• Breakfast

Today we travel by train to three of the charming Cinque Terre villages. The villages date from around the 11th and 12th centuries when residents from inland settled on this 10-mile stretch of the Ligurian coast, where vines and olives could be grown easily, and the sea provided an abundance of fish.

Travelling with our local guide, our first stop is Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the villages. Here, pastel-hued houses are dotted along the steep hillside above the small harbor and emerald bay, with terraces of olive groves above. There is time to explore before sailing to the next location. Vernazza has a 10th-century tower, a piazza and cobbled streets lined by quaint cafés, where you are free to find a place for lunch.

Our next stop is the seaside village of Monterosso, where a spacious piazza leads on to bustling streets with many restaurants and bars. Known for its lemon trees, anchovies and sandy beach, there's time to look around before we travel back to Genoa. On arrival at our accommodation this evening, we gather for our final dinner as a group. Overnight Genoa.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This idyllic Mediterranean vacation has introduced us to several great cities from coastal Spain to the French and Italian Rivieras. From buzzing Barcelona, we explored the medieval citadel of Carcassonne, with guided tours of Avignon, Nice and Monaco on the gorgeous Cote d'Azur. After a private lunch and wine tasting at a French château and a picturesque cruise along the Rhône, we discovered the charming villages of Italy's Cinque Terre, sailed to Portofino and ended our adventure in the coastal city of Genoa.

After breakfast this morning, your tour reaches its conclusion. It's time to check out and, after a transfer to the airport, you are free to catch your onward flight and continue your journey home.

• Breakfast