We will depart for Switzerland in the morning, first passing through Basel – situated at the intersection of France, Germany and Switzerland – before arriving in Lucerne, where we will stay the night.

 

Our tour begins at the design and couture-conscious city of Milan. Highlights include Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping arcade in the world; the legendary opera house La Scala; the storied Sforza Castle; and the ostentatious Milan Cathedral. Then it's off to Venice, the city of over 150 canals spanned by over 400 bridges. We'll stay overnight in Venice or a neighboring city.

 

After breakfast, we'll take you through this fascinating city of ornate palaces, lyrical waterways, captivating churches and impressive architecture. In San Marco Square you'll see the Basilica di San Marco, one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture, and the Bridge of Sighs connecting the old prison to the interrogation rooms in Doge's Palace. Afterwards, you'll get a chance to see some traditional Venetian craftwork at a demonstration by Murano glassblowers. An optional gondola ride on the Grand Canal will put the finishing touch on a glorious day in Venice. Accommodations in the evening will either be in Rome or a neighboring city.

 

Your day in Rome starts with a visit to the smallest country in the world, The Vatican City, which lies at the heart of the Italian capital. Here you'll marvel at St Peter's Basilica, home to Pope Francis and arguably the most significant site in Christianity. The exquisitely beautiful Basilica has been present here for almost 1,700 years and contains a bewildering collection of paintings, frescoes and design crafted by some of humanity's most famous artists, which you can explore. Alternatively, you can choose to add on the optional Sistine Chapel tour to view Michelangelo's famous painted ceiling.

Next you will visit famous sights of Rome; the Colosseum, built in AD 72. History comes to life as you imagine yourself witnessing gladiatorial combat inside the spectacular Amphitheatre. After the Colosseum, get up close to the nearby Arch of Constantine, which dates back to the fourth century AD. To complete our visit to Rome we will visit the magnificent Reunification Memorial Hall, the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, which was built to honour King Victor Emmanuel II who unified Italy. In the afternoon we'll depart for Florence, known as the cradle of culture.

 

On this day you will be introduced to the sights and sounds of Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. We'll head up to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of Florence, then to a local workshop to see how Florence's fine leather goods are made. Afterwards, we'll set out on foot to the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River, the Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Uffizi, which houses one of the finest art collections in the world. At Pisa, our last stop of the day, you will be free to wander; be sure to have your camera ready when you enter the Square of Miracles and the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery come into full view. Overnight accommodations are in a city near Genoa.

 

A breathtaking drive along one of the most sublime stretches of Mediterranean coastline awaits as we say goodbye to Italy and hello to Monaco. Our walking tour will take us first to the Prince's Palace of Monaco, then on to the Courthouse, the Oceanographic Museum and Saint Nicholas Cathedral, the resting place of Grace Kelly. We'll then travel to the Fragonard Perfume Factory to learn about the perfume-making process. At the end of the guided tour you will be able to purchase one of the fragrances for yourself. Next we'll visit Nice for a sampling of the scrumptious local cuisine. We'll stop over in Cannes to see the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, host of the city's annual international film festival, and then make our way to Avignon Nord to check in to our hotel.

We will start the day in Avignon visiting the two must see landmarks. The Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) and the Pont Saint-Bénézet, the broken bridge which is also know as Pont d’Avignon. The palace dates to the 14th century, with the support from the King of France the Roman church moved its capital thus making Avignon the second religious capital of the Roman-Catholic church.

In the afternoon we will depart to visit Gordes, famous from A Year in Provence, the book, written by Peter Mayle. The village of Gordes is made of limestone dating back to 1525 with its buildings rooting themselves into the steep cliff giving the village town its other names; the Stone City and the City in the Sky. The village is considered by the Association des plus villages de France one of France’s most beautiful villages.

Afterwards we will have a short stay at the Musee de la Lavande, the lavender museum, and the Abbaye de Sénanque which Catholic Cistercian originate from and the story background of the book A Year in Provence.

Overnight stay in Avignon or city nearby.

Please note：Lavender is a seasonal plant which blooms from July till the beginning of August affected by climate, growth and harvesting periods, therefore we are unable to guarantee whether clients will see fresh lavender！

 

In the morning we will drive to Arles. The small town is famous because the well-known Dutch master of Impressionism, Vincent van Gogh, whom lived in the sanatorium of Arles from 1888 – 1889. Although Van Gogh stayed for only one year, that single year is considered the most productive period of his life. He painted more than two hundred oil paintings during his stay in Arles. Creating his world-renowned art pieces; The Langlois Bridge at Arles and The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum. It is a true unique experience to visit town and see what the Dutch master saw himself over a century ago. Other than enjoying the village’s connection with Van Gogh there are many ancient Roman ruins to behold. Arles has been listed as a key city since ancient Roman times.

In the afternoon we will leave Arles for the charming coastal city of Barcelona.

If time permits, upon arrival, everyone can participate in an optional program to visit the Olympic Beach.

Overnight stay in Barcelona or city nearby.

In the morning, embark on a self-paid group activity and drive to the mountainous area to visit the "Montserrat Monastery,"Located on the famous Catalan Mountain. The well-known abbey is the most important religious shrine in Catalonia. The monastery is home to La Moreneta, the black Madonna. The black-faced Madonna statue holding the holy child in her lap is the guardian of the spirit and soul of the local people.

In the afternoon, explore the vibrant and charming city of Barcelona. The attractions include the Columbus Monument and La Rambla. Continue to visit the iconic Sagrada Familia, the masterpiece of the architectural genius Antoni Gaudí, known as the "architect poet." Afterward, visit the exterior of Camp Nou, the famous football stadium, for photos and souvenir shopping. Then, proceed to Montjuïc Hill to visit the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. From the hill, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The remaining time is free for leisure activities at the bustling Catalunya Square. Return to the hotel after dinner. Overnight stay in Barcelona or city nearby

Reservation visit time: 15:00 - 15:30. Due to limited daily access control in Sagrada Família church, and to avoid disappoint, we recommend customer who strongly request to visit this place to book tickets online in advance on www.sagradafamilia.org.

 

In the morning we will travel to the Principality of Andorra. This microstate is located between France and Spain in the eastern Pyrenees. The state is surrounded by mountains and rough terrain. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is Europe’s highest capital with an elevation of 1,023 meters. Andorra is a popular destination for alpine skiing in Europe. Although most Asian travelers do not give Andorra much attention, it is certainly worth a visit with its beautiful sceneries. Also known for duty-free shopping it is a shopping paradise.

After lunch we will drive through the Pyrenees entering France arriving at the town of Lourdes. It its said that the Virgin Mary appeared at Lourdes some 150 years ago and since has become a place of pilgrimage with records of countless medical miracles. Each year over five million pilgrims visit the town.

Overnight stay in Lourdes or city nearby.

Please note: From October till the end of February due to winter weather we will not visit Andorra and reroute to Carcassonne in France. Carcassonne is a World Heritage Site city with its landmark Castle of Carcassonne. There are 3 km of double walls and 52 towers in the city.

Today we will travel from Lourdes to the famous wine region Bordeaux. While in Bordeaux we will visit a well-known winery and its vineyards. You will have an opportunity to taste and buy wine direct from the source.

Today we will travel from Lourdes to the famous wine region Bordeaux. While in Bordeaux we will visit a well-known winery and its vineyards. You will have an opportunity to taste and buy wine direct from the source.

After our stop at the winery, we will head to city Bordeaux, visiting famous landmarks such as the opera house Gran Teatro de Burdeos, the world’s largest water mirror called Miroir d’Eau and the famous Place des Quinconces and so on. At the end of the day, you will have some free leisure time in the city center of Bordeaux.

Overnight stay in Bordeaux or city nearby.

Please note: Most wineries in Bordeaux are closed to tourists in August or during festivals. Please understand that during this time we will not be able to visit the wineries however we will be able to taste and buy wine in the city center of Bordeaux.

 

Departing from Bordeaux we will be traveling to the world-famous tourist attraction the Loire Valley. The Loire is the longest river in France with a length of 1020 km and is known as the mother river of France. In the Loire Valley there are magnificent and gorgeous castles on both sides of the river. In the afternoon we will arrive at the Chambord Castle also known as the King of Castles. The castle was originally built to serve as a hunting lodge for King Francois I of France in 1519 to make a statement of his imperial power. The King hired Italian artists and architects such as Leonardo da Vinci and Domenico da Cortona to attribute the brilliant art and architectural style of the Italian Renaissance. By doing this he laid the foundation of the French Renaissance.

Afterwards will be heading to Paris.