Nice Springtime Carnival & Menton Lemon Festival

Day 1

We travel south for a crossing across the channel to France and onto this evening's overnight hotel.

Day 2

We continue our journey over the border into Italy and onto our hotel in Diano Marina, found on the Italian Rivera.

Day 3

A leisurely start precedes this morning's journey coastal drive along the Riviera of Flowers to Alassio. Adorned with flowers and boasting a gorgeous beach, why not stroll this chic resort's carrugio - a picturesque Ligurian street that runs parallel to the coast, lined with patisseries, shops and bars? We return via a visit to ancient Cervo, a beautifully preserved medieval village listed as one of Italy's most beautiful. Here, you'll find winding cobbled streets with attractive houses, shops and galleries to explore.

Day 4

Enjoy a day at leisure in Diano Marina at your own pace. Get to know this charming resort, often called 'the city of the orange trees', situated below the Maritime Alps, home to sweeping stretches of coastlines and views of the surrounding mountains. Alternatively, why not join our optional excursion over the French border to the Galimard perfumery and Monte Carlo? Our first stop on the cosmopolitan Cote d'Azur is in Èze to visit Galimard, one of the world's oldest perfumeries. Our guided tour takes us into the enchanting world of perfume-making, where we learn how the talented team brings unique, exquisite fragrances to life. We then have the opportunity to purchase these creations at a bargain price. From here, we continue to the tiny principality of Monaco. Less than a square mile in size, we visit the unofficial capital of Monte Carlo, home to the Royal Palace and Saint Nicholas Cathedral, where Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly in 1956. We continue via the roads of the famous Monaco Grand Prix to the Monte Carlo Casino, the playground of the rich and famous. There's much more to explore, including a bustling marina, where you can usually find millionaires' yachts and fantastic shops.

Day 5

We make our way to the glamorous coastal city of Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera, for the vibrant Nice Spring Carnival. Escorted by a local guide through our trip, this annual event dates back to the thirteenth century and marks the end of winter and the start of spring. The streets are full of stalls selling Provençal items, including aromatherapeutic lavender, brightly coloured fabrics, and delicious food. This afternoon, we have included reserved grandstand seats for the best view of the Flower Parade as flamboyant floats, colourful costumes and a cast of thousands featuring musicians and dancers join the procession, which winds its way through the ancient streets. Whilst in Nice, don't miss the opportunity to wander around the atmospheric old town with its pastel façades and ornate balconies and the famous Promenade des Anglais, where you can stroll under palm trees beside the shimmering Mediterranean Sea.

Day 6

A local guide again escorts us on today's excursion as we again cross the French border to the idyllic harbour town of Menton; one of the most blissful resorts on the Côte d'Azur, it's home to idyllic lemon gardens, sandy beaches and a tightly packed jumble of traditional narrow alleys and terracotta-roofed buildings overlooking the sea, all framed by a spectacular mountain backdrop. Our visit here coincides with another annual event, the unique Menton Lemon Festival, for which tonnes of lemons are used to create elaborate floats, imaginative sculptures and fantastic works of art. We again include grandstand tickets for the zesty-scented parade of colourful fruit-decorated floats along the Promenade de Soleil, with marching bands and drum majorettes creating a carnival atmosphere.

Day 7

Known as the 'City of Flowers', we visit elegant Sanremo this morning. With its medieval centre and picturesque harbour, it's considered to be the Italian Riviera's most glittering and cosmopolitan resort, awash with shops and elegant boutiques. We return to Diano Marina for our final afternoon at leisure.

Day 8

We bid 'arrivederci' to Italy and retrace our journey back to overnight hotel in France.

Day 9

We return home via a channel crossing today.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner