Off the Beaten Track: Europe's Provincial Diversions 2013
From Rome to Paris via the Market Towns & Hill Villages of Tuscany, the Swiss Lakes & the South of France. Also departs October 1st 2012 »

Day 1, Monday, Sep 30th  

The tour commences today in our 4 star boutique hotel beside the Roman Forum. Get to know your fellow travellers at Welcome Drinks and Dinner. [D]

Day 2, Tuesday, Oct 1st  

Every day on our Great Trains of Europe Tours starts with a full Buffet Breakfast [B] Today's sightseeing focuses on Classical Rome and includes entrances to the Pantheon, the Forum and the Colosseum. “Roma - non basta una vita!” (Rome - one life is not enough!) Join your Tour Leader for a stroll to the Trevi Fountain after dinner. If you throw three coins in the fountain, your return to Rome is guaranteed, so the legend goes.

Day 3, Wednesday, Oct 2nd  

Catholic Rome today, including entrances and a guided tour of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's masterpiece. The fashion shops on the Via Condotti are open this afternoon. Dinner in the Piazza Navona as we watch the water play in Bernini's fountains?

Day 4, Thursday, Oct 3rd  

Our luggage is transported on ahead as we commence our love affair with the Great Trains of Europe, taking our reserved First Class seats on Italy's flagship train, the High Speed Eurostar Italia.

Then a slower pace through archetypal Tuscan countryside - vineyards, olive-groves and cypresses - down the Vale of Chianti and up the hill to San Gimignano. This walled hilltop village with its 13 towers, standing almost unchanged since the 12th century, is our home for 4 nights.

Most days a short excursion from San Gimignano is provided (and included in your tour cost). You may choose to join the excursion or simply stay in San Gimignano and relax.

Day 5, Friday, Oct 4th  ^ Top ^

A drive off the beaten track today through Southern Tuscan vineyards and olive groves to visit two beautiful hilltop villages and wine centres - Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Day 6, Saturday, Oct 5th  

We take the local train through the Vale of Chianti today for a visit to Florence, the cradle of our civilisation and birthplace of the Renaissance. After a brief orientation tour, the city is yours - museums, churches, leather shops to die for, and markets. Home to San Gimignano this afternoon.

Day 7, Sunday, Oct 6th  

This morning we explore the artistic gem of Siena, which stands today much as it did in the twelfth century. You know it from “My House in Umbria” and “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Where better to take lunch than at one of the open air trattoria on the Campo? This is the historic city square, the setting for the Palio horse race in the summer. Home to San Gimignano this afternoon for our final night.

Day 8, Monday, Oct 7th  

Our luggage is transported on ahead today as we make our way north via Milan towards Switzerland. A picturesque rail journey as we wind our way through the Italian Lakes District and cross the Swiss Alps through the Simplon Tunnel. We arrive at the pretty lakeside village of Spiez as the sun sets. Here is our home for 3 nights.

Day 9, Tuesday, Oct 8th  

A quiet day in the picturesque village of Spiez. Pay a visit to its mediaeval castle or take a steamer ride down the lake to Interlaken.

Day 10, Wednesday, Oct 9th  ^ Top ^

Truly one of the Great Rail Journeys of the World today on the Jungfrau Railway as we climb and tunnel through the Eiger to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station - an unbelievable 11,333 feet above sea level. Superlatives fail when one tries to describe the view across the roof of the world. Home to Spiez for our last night.

Day 11, Thursday, Oct 10th  

By local train to Geneva to join the high speed French TGV train, for Avignon in Provence and the village of Villeneuve. Excursions from Villeneuve are offered most days and included in the tour cost.

Day 12, Friday, Oct 11th  

Off the beaten track again today as we drive through some of Provence's favourite villages, - Lourmarin (Market day) hilltop Bonnieux, rainbow-coloured Roussillon, Gordes - with stops for coffee, lunch and shopping.

Day 13, Saturday, Oct 12th  

A visit today to the historic city of Avignon, home of the Roman Catholic Popes from 1309 to 1377. The historic walled town has some good shopping and excellent restaurants.

Day 14, Sunday, Oct 13th  

The nearby village of L'Isle-Sur-la-Sourge prides itself on being France's second largest antiques centre, and Sunday is its Market Day. The market spreads throughout the town and offers not just antiques: local food produce, crafts, fabrics and gifts also abound. Visa cards with chronic fatigue syndrome have been known here. Quite apart from the markets, L'Isle-Sur-la-Sourge is a very attractive town with streams and water wheels. It deserves its nickname, “the Venice of Provence”. Our last night in Provence tonight.

Day 15, Monday, Oct 14th  ^ Top ^

A visit to the Roman Pont du Gard, then we join our train, via Toulouse, to the walled mediaeval market town of Sarlat, one of the gems of the Dordogne region. As our luggage arrives we settle in for 3 nights. As before, excursions from Sarlat are offered most days and included in the tour cost, but you are free to choose those that appeal to you or simply potter about in our “home” village.

Day 16, Tuesday, Oct 15th  

Today we make our way to the mediaeval cliff-face village of Rocamadour - very much ON the beaten track, a pilgrimage destination since the 12th century. Later we visit the walled 'bastide' town of Domme, with excellent shopping and a ine view of a vast sweep of the Dordogne River Valley.

Day 17, Wednesday, Oct 16th  

The morning is free in the village of Sarlat. This is a “foodie's” paradise with a vast array of gourmet shops. In the afternoon we visit one of France's most beautiful gardens, the nearby Jardin d'Eyrignac. [B]

Day 18, Thursday, Oct 17th  

Winding along the banks of the Dordogne River today we make our way to the mediaeval cliff-face village of Rocamadour - very much ON the beaten path. Pilgrims have come to visit the Black Madonna since the 12th century. Later we visit the walled 'bastide' town of Domme, with excellent shopping and a fine view of a vast sweep of the Dordogne River Valley.

Day 19, Friday, Oct 18th  

This morning's sightseeing includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and Notre Dame Cathedral. There is time to visit Mona Lisa in the Louvre. We are spoilt for choice of restaurant this evening.

Day 20, Saturday, Oct 19th  ^ Top ^

The museums and the boutiques beckon today. There is an afternoon excursion to Monet's Garden at Giverney. Here we see the waterlilies and the Japanese bridge. Our Farewell Dinner tonight.

Day 21, Sunday, Oct 20th  

Our tour ends after breakfast.

Tour costs:

 

Option 1. $AUD 13,950 per person Twin Share. Land Content only (i.e. join in Rome and leave in Paris).
Enquire about our compeitiive air fares.

Single Room supplement $AUD 2,000.

What's included?^ Top ^  

All Great Trains of Europe Tours include:

• First Class rail travel in reserved seats
• 4 star city centre boutique hotels
• 3 & 4 star historic village inns
• 6 dinners
• Full luggage handling
• Full time Historian/Tour Leader who is the Tour Company Principal

The TOUR COST does NOT include:^ Top ^

• Hotel incidentals (eg. Mini-bars, telephone calls, laundry), airport and departure taxes, local transport in any city,
• optional excursions listed or meals other than breakfast and the one restaurant dinner in each city - the first night in each new city, except Paris where it takes the form of a farewell dinner. On other nights, the Tour Leaders are available to accompany group members to local, authentic restaurants.

About the European Provincial Diversions 2013 Tour

Note well: Booking Conditions « Tours index ^ Top ^