Every year, for two weeks in springtime, the south of France comes alive with two festivals, the Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival
View Dates & BookNew for 2026 - Join us for a vibrant holiday that captures the essence of spring on the French and Italian Rivieras! Immersing yourself in the spring festivities of the spectacular Nice Springtime Carnival and Menton's enchanting Lemon Festival, experience the joy and excitement of these iconic celebrations alongside excursions throughout the highlights of these stunning Mediterranean provinces.
INCLUDES
Return luxury coach travel
Return ferry crossings
Escorted by a Skills Holiday Crew
2 nights bed & breakfast enroute
6 nights half board
Welcome drink on arrival
Excursions to Alassio, Cervo & Sanremo
Guided visits to Nice Spring Carnival & Menton Lemon Festival with grandstand parade tickets
Free time in Diano Marina
Optional excursions to Galimard Perfumery & Monte Carlo
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.
B, DDay 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.
B, DDay 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.
B, DDay 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.
B, DDay 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.
B, DDay 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.
B, DDay 8
We bid 'arrivederci' to Italy and retrace our journey back to overnight hotel in France.
BDay 9
We return home via a channel crossing today.
BB=Breakfast, D=Dinner
Situated in a beautiful spot of the Riviera Dei Fiori, the B&B Hotel Diano Marina faces a sandy beach and connected to the town centre through a splendid seaside promenade. Youll find charming and nicely furnished rooms with balconies, select sea views in some rooms and free WiFi.
Hotel Facilities
Bar
Restaurant
Sun terrace
Lift
WiFi
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JavaScript InformationThe map below can be used to check the price of a home pick-up. The map shows the price bands for each area we service. To check the price from your address either click your street on the map or enter your postcode or city/town and click the 'Check Price' button.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address |
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Alfreton | Bus Station, Hall Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BT |
Arnold | High Street Bus Stop, Outside Leisure Centre Car Park, Arnold, NG5 7EE |
Beeston | Beeston Lace Road, behind the Cricketers Pub Beeston, NG9 2LA |
Bulwell | Aldi (Bus Stop SW12), Sellers Wood Drive, Bulwell, NG6 8GE |
Chesterfield | Coach Station, Beckingham Way Chesterfield, S40 1TH |
Derby | Bus Station, Bay 27 & 28, Derby, DE1 2AY |
Heanor | Market Place, Wilmott Street (Market Square side) Heanor, DE75 7EG |
Ilkeston | Wharncliffe Rd, Market Place, Ilkeston, DE7 5GF |
Leicester | St Margarets Bus Station, Stand SA, Gravel Street, Leicester, LE1 3AG |
Leicester Fosse Park | Leicester Fosse Park, Bus Stop, Fosse Park Avenue Next to ASDA (opposite petrol station), LE3 2LL |
Long Eaton | The Green, Outside Poundland Long Eaton, Notts, NG10 1HQ |
Loughborough | Amber Rooms, The Rushes Loughborough, LE11 5BE |
Lutterworth | George Street, Outside Wycliffe Rooms Lutterworth, LE17 4EG |
Mansfield | Bus Stop, Walkden Street Mansfield, NG18 1QN |
Nottingham | Mount Street, Alongside the Grosvenor Casino, Nottingham, NG1 6HE |
Ripley | Market Place, Express Stand Ripley, DE5 3FJ |
Rotherham | Interchange Bay C1/ C2, Frederick Street, Rotherham , S60 1QB |
Sheffield | Pond Hill, Opposite Penny Black Public House Sheffield, S1 2BG |
Toton | Tram Stop Park and Ride, Toton Lane Notts, NG9 7JA |
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