The Cote d'Azur & Nice Carnival 

 Your French Riviera vacation begins today as you meet the Tour Manager and your travel group at London St. Pancras. Together, we board the Eurostar Plus to Paris, with a light meal on the way. In the French capital, we change trains for a journey in First Class to Nice, arriving in the French Riviera this evening.   

Our hotel base for the week is on the famous Promenade des Anglais, the palm-lined seafront looking out onto the Mediterranean Sea. After checking in, the remainder of the evening is free for you to relax at our spa hotel or step out and explore the area at leisure. You might like to explore the local dining scene while enjoying dinner at a restaurant of your choice - perhaps overlooking the water. Overnight Nice.

•  Eurostar Light Meal

 After breakfast at our hotel, we explore Nice on a guided coach tour. Beginning at Mont Boron, an exclusive hilltop neighborhood of beaux arts mansions and a 16th-century fort, we admire panoramic views across Nice and the Mediterranean. From here, we explore the Roman ruins of the Cimiez. Dating from the 3rd century, the site's bathhouse and arena once formed part of the city of Cemenelum, and we view their remains.   

In the historic Old Town, we traverse a jumble of alleyways lined by centuries-old buildings and see the Opera House, the colorful flower market and Nice's striking cathedral.   

  This afternoon, you are free to explore this artistic city at your own pace. The Musée National Marc Chagall honors the Belarussian-born French artist and pioneer of modernism, while the Matisse Museum in Cimiez contains Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, who spent many years in Nice.     

Along the Promenade des Anglais, you could visit the Hotel Negresco for a famous Royal Negresco cocktail containing champagne and flakes of gold before we reconvene for a three-course dinner at our hotel. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The day is yours to enjoy the atmosphere of the city before a highlight of the vacation this evening. You could walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais, strolling under palm trees with the Mediterranean Sea by your side. Alternatively, utilize the area's excellent public transport to visit some of the French Riviera's most renowned towns. Cannes, Antibes, Juan les Pins and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are all within 30 minutes of Nice.   

We travel by tram to the city's Masséna Square tonight to experience this evening's carnival extravaganza from our reserved grandstand seats. Sit back and relax, admiring the innovative floats adorned with meticulously arranged flowers and talented performers in colorful costumes as they wend through the illuminated streets.     

More than one thousand dancers, actors and performers take part in this incredible spectacle, making this an unforgettable experience and an explosion of color and vitality. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

 Heading into the beautiful countryside of Provence, we explore its towns, starting in Grasse. Surrounded by aromatic fields of jasmine, roses and lavender, Grasse has been renowned worldwide for its perfume-making for centuries. One of the town's oldest perfumeries is the Parfumerie Fragonard, which has been in its current premises since 1782. In the 1920s, it changed its name to honor Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Grasse's most famous artist. Nowadays, the factory produces perfumes, soaps and cosmetics using their time-honored methods. We take a tour of the premises to learn more about its fascinating history. 

  Later, we make our way to the beautiful medieval "perched" village of St-Paul-de-Vence. With free time to look around, you could visit the Maeght Foundation, which houses one of Europe's most important collections of 20th-century art, or walk along the village's historic ramparts for views over the surrounding sandstone villas and cypress trees. 

We return to our hotel at the end of the afternoon with a free evening to savor the sights and flavors of Nice. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

 With a free day, you could make use of the Côte d'Azur's excellent and affordable trains. The harbor town of Antibes boasts historic streets lined with quaint medieval fisherman's houses and has understandably 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, while the covered Provençal Market is also worth visiting.   

Alternatively, visit Cannes, originally a small fishing village that can still be uncovered in the cobbled streets of Le Suquet. The Croisette Boulevard hosts the world-famous film festival and is dotted with palms and upscale boutiques. There is also a colorful Provençal market that is a feast for the senses. In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, near Nice, you can find the pink-hued villa formerly owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a socialite and art collector of the prominent Rothschild dynasty.   

You dine independently this evening, and there is no shortage of fantastic eateries to choose from on the French Riviera. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast

 Today begins with a coach journey along the Lower Corniche Road to Monaco. Winding along the coast, we bask in fantastic views of the azure Mediterranean. 

  Monaco is one of the world's smallest sovereign states and is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous. Our first stop on a guided tour is Monaco's Old Town and its medieval lanes. The stronghold of the ruling Grimaldi dynasty since the 13th century, our tour takes in the Palais du Prince as we witness the time-honored Changing of the Guards ceremony. Later, we visit the Place du Casino, view the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino and enjoy some free time to explore following our tour.

We leave Monaco in the afternoon and stop at nearby Èze, a medieval village set high on a rocky peak above the sea. Its labyrinthine lanes are lined with ancient stone houses, many of which have been converted into galleries or craft shops. 

Returning to our hotel, you have some time to freshen up or relax ahead of tonight's farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Nice.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Your getaway to the French Riviera concludes after breakfast this morning. Boarding a train to Paris, we journey through the heart of France, leaving the Côte d'Azur behind. 

  Nice is an attractive city all year round, but it really comes alive during carnival time. The lively atmosphere and colorful floats add a special charm, and the nearby principality of Monaco offers plenty of attractions. We also visited the fragrant town of Grasse, explored the medieval ramparts of St-Paul-de-Vence, and enjoyed the beautiful sea views in Èze. These destinations provided unique glimpses of the past and a delightful setting in the present - the ideal combination for an idyllic vacation.  

Changing trains in Paris, we board our Eurostar Plus seats and enjoy a light meal at our seats before arriving in London this evening, where your trip concludes.

•  Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal