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Gardens of Italy and France .. 

18-day tour of Gardens of Italy and France show cases the very best of these popular regions. We visit the highlights in Venice, Verona, Tuscany, Lucca, Cinque Terre, French Riviera plus much more. Check out the itinerary for all the fantastic inclusions.

Unlike many other tours there are no hidden extras with The Tour Company  – if it’s in the itinerary we visit it – there’s a big difference between itineraries that state “see” and our itinerary where you actually “visit” attractions, making our tours very competitively priced. Our tour itinerary has also been refined to eliminate many of the tiring aspects of travel – NO moving on every morning to a new hotel and we minimise long coach travelling, wherever possible. Click here to find out more about exqusite gardens in Italy.

Includes

  • 17 nights hotel accommodation,
  • All breakfasts,
  • Special welcome and farewell dinners,
  • Tour host,
  • Transfers,
  • Entrance fees to all gardens and events as per the final itinerary.

Dates

Available in June – $8,795. Single supplement $2,539

Italian garden
Villa Gamberaia, Italy
Saint Benezet bridge Avignon, France
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Itinerary

Day 1 – Venice

Arrive in Venice, check-in, explore or relax. Meet your tour host at the hotel tonight for our included welcome dinner. Accommodation: 1 night at Le Lagon Hotel or similar, Venice. D

Day 2 – Padua, Verona

Depart Venice this morning to visit the World Heritage Botanic Gardens at Padua, then on to the city of Verona, famous for Juliet’s balcony and its beautiful piazzas. Accommodation: 2 nights at Hotel Due Torri or similar in the Verona area. B

Day 3 – Verona Garden

This morning we visit Giardini Giusti — one of Europe’s most beautiful Renaissance gardens. This afternoon is free to explore Verona at leisure. B

Day 4 – Villa Gamberaia

Depart Verona for the beautiful and historic Villa Gamberaia, located in the hills near Florence, before heading into Florence for an orientation tour of the historic centre. You’ll have free time to explore further or perhaps visit the Boboli Gardens before arriving at your hotel overlooking the Tuscan countryside. Accommodation: 2 nights at Villa Olmi or similar in the Florence area. B, D

Day 5 – Tuscany

This morning we visit the Venzano Garden. Afterward, we visit the World Heritage-listed village of San Gimignano, famous for its medieval towers and gelato. B

Day 6 – Villa Torrigiani, Lucca

Visit Villa Torrigiani, a fine example of an Italian garden reimagined in the English style in the 19th century. Later, continue to Lucca and visit the Botanic Garden before enjoying free time in this beautiful village. Accommodation: 2 nights at Hotel Metropole Santa Margherita Ligure or similar. B

Day 7 – Cinque Terre

Enjoy a full day to explore the best of the beautiful Cinque Terre towns set in the most spectacular of locations along the Mediterranean Sea. B

Day 8 – Serre de la Madone, Menton, French Riviera

Travel along the French Riviera to the town of Menton, where Lawrence Johnson created Serre de la Madone. Continue to Cannes for the next 3 nights at Pullman Cannes Mandelieu or similar. B

Day 9 – Villa Ephrussi

Visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, once home to Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild. Later, visit the acclaimed Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer. B

Day 10 – La Louve Garden, Grasse Perfumery

Explore La Louve Garden, a private contemporary French garden, then visit Villa Noailles in Grasse and tour a perfumery to learn some of the skills of making French perfumes. B

Day 11 – Avignon, Provence

Depart for Avignon. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour including the famous bridge. Accommodation: 2 nights at Grand Hotel or similar in Avignon. B, D

Day 12 – Provence gardens

Visit Brantes Castle, a contemporary garden with Tuscan influence, and tour Saint-André Abbey and gardens. Enjoy free time to explore Avignon—perhaps tour the Papal Palace. B

Day 13 – Carcassonne and Canal du Midi dinner cruise

Depart Avignon for Carcassonne, the medieval walled town. This evening, enjoy a dinner cruise on the famous Canal du Midi. Accommodation: Hotel de la Cite or similar, Carcassonne. B, D

Day 14 – Toulouse, Cahors, Rocamadour

Depart Carcassonne for Toulouse and onward to the medieval pilgrimage village of Rocamadour, carved into limestone cliffs. Accommodation: 2 nights in Rocamadour. B

Day 15 – Rocamadour

Free day to explore and enjoy Rocamadour. B

Day 16 – Sarlat Markets, Lascaux Caves, Bergerac

Travel to the market town of Sarlat in the Dordogne, visit the Lascaux Caves, then on to the picturesque village of Bergerac on the Dordogne River and on to Bordeaux. Accommodation: 3 nights at Best Western or similar, Bordeaux. B

Day 17 – Bergerac, Sardy Garden, Saint-Émilion

Visit Les Jardins de Sardy, a private garden with Italian styling and an English slant. This afternoon, travel to the World Heritage-listed Saint-Émilion. Explore its network of cellars and tunnels used for wine-making since the 19th century, topped off with a glass of bubbles and Saint-Émilion’s macarons. Tonight enjoy our farewell dinner. B, D

Day 18 – Bordeaux

The tour concludes after breakfast this morning, or you may choose to stay on to visit the Bordeaux Botanical Gardens, known for progressive landscape architecture. B

Includes
  • 17 nights hotel accommodation
  • All breakfasts
  • Special welcome and farewell dinners
  • Tour host
  • Transfers
  • Entrance fees to all gardens and events as per the final itinerary

THIS ITINERARY IS THE PROPERTY OF THE TOUR COMPANY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Available dates: Commences in June
Pricing: NZ $8,795. Single supplement  NZ $2,539