Experience the hilltop towns and chic resorts of Provence and glamorous Monaco with insightful excursions and free time on this exploration of France’s Côte d'Azur

Meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travellers this morning at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar service to Paris. Travelling in Eurostar Plus, a light meal is served at our seats enroute. In the French capital, we change trains for the First Class service to Cannes, dashing through the heart of the country and arriving on the French Riviera in the evening.

Our base for six nights is an elegant Belle Époque hotel on the edge of Cannes Old Town. The location is a short distance from the stylish promenade and old port where yachts are berthed. After checking in, we head out to a local restaurant for our first dinner together, and are introduced to the flavours of this part of France.

We get acquainted with Cannes during a two-hour guided tour. Its origins as a small fishing village can still be uncovered in the cobbled streets of hilltop Le Suquet. Today, however, Cannes is famed for its annual film festival and the palm-lined Croisette boulevard, which stretches along the town's golden sand beaches. There is free time over lunch to stroll down the promenade or wander the charming backstreets.

The afternoon is free, and you might like to board a ferry to one of the nearby Lérins Islands. Heavily wooded with umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees, Île Sainte-Marguerite is the location of Fort Royal, a former prison where the mysterious 'Man in the Iron Mask' was detained during the 17th century. The smaller Île Saint-Honorat is an unspoilt haven of nature maintained by the monks of the ancient Lérins Abbey, who silently go about their roles cultivating vineyards.

Later, we return to Cannes where complimentary drinks are served together with a light snack at our hotel between 6.30pm-8.30pm each evening. You are free to dine independently for dinner at your leisure.

A coach journey to Monaco takes us along the Lower Corniche Road, clinging to coastal cliffs with views of the azure waters. Our destination is the world's second-smallest sovereign state, renowned as a playground for the rich and famous.

Led by an expert guide, we discover the principality's most iconic sights, beginning by viewing the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino. Our tour also provides the opportunity to witness the time-honoured Changing of the Guards ceremony at the Palais du Prince, the residence of the current Prince of Monaco. There's free time afterwards to experience Monaco on your own. Maybe have a flutter in the casino or enjoy a drink in the Café de Paris, Monte Carlo's prime people-watching spot.

Leaving Monaco, we stop for time at leisure in nearby Èze. This medieval village of labyrinthine lanes is set high on a rocky peak. Overlooking the terracotta rooftops sits Èze's ruined castle and an unusual cactus garden, the ideal spot to look out across the scenic Côte d'Azur.

Returning to Cannes, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Please note for departures on 29 April, the full day in Monaco and Eze has been swapped with day 5.

This morning, we travel by coach to Grasse, a hilltop town that has been renowned as the 'perfume capital of the world' since the late 1700s. The town is surrounded by jasmine, which gives the fragrances their delectable bouquet. On arrival in Grasse, we enjoy a tour of one of the most revered of France's perfumeries, Fragonard, where an array of perfumes and soaps are created.

Continuing to St-Paul-de-Vence, there is free time to explore the medieval walls and shaded squares. The narrow lanes contain many galleries, craft stores and eateries. Among its many restaurants is La Colombe d'Or, where the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Braque and Miró stayed rent-free in exchange for paintings. As such, an impressive range of artworks now adorns its walls.

Afterwards, we meet a local pétanque player for a lesson in this characteristically Provençal pastime, played on a hard sand surface called a 'terrain'. We take part in a game under the shade of plane trees beside the ancient walls of St-Paul-de-Vence before returning to Cannes.

With a day at leisure, you could make use of Cannes' transport connections. Cosmopolitan Nice is a 40-minute train ride along the coast. Here, you can wander the charming streets of its Old Town and visit the mouthwatering food market along Cours Saleya. In hilltop Cimiez, you can find museums honouring the work of renowned artists Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse.

Another option is to take the ferry from Cannes to the popular coastal town of St Tropez. Taking just over an hour each way, you can spend the afternoon exploring the ochre-hued streets lined with upmarket shops. Alternatively, soak up the atmosphere around its harbour, sipping a pastis or enjoying a slice of Tarte Tropézienne - a sweet brioche-style cake filled with crème pâtissière and buttercream.

While there are complimentary drinks at our hotel this evening, you dine independently. Cannes has many excellent restaurants in which to try local seafood dishes including the traditional fish soup, bouillabaisse.

There's a free morning to explore at your own pace. You could return to Le Suquet to wander its delightful streets or visit the 17th-century Church of Notre Dame d'Espérance. Heading along the coast from Cannes, you can find stylish Juan-les-Pins, a resort known for its sandy beaches and high-fashion boutiques. The medieval port of Antibes has attracted visitors for centuries, including Pablo Picasso. His former residence is now the site of the Picasso Museum and houses a collection of the artist's work.

This afternoon, we enjoy a highlight of the holiday at a villa formerly owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a socialite and art collector of the prominent Rothschild dynasty. This pink-hued Belle Époque mansion in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is surrounded by nine manicured gardens, including a rose garden. There's time to explore these beautiful havens and the villa's interior before heading into the ornate Tea Room. In the refined surrounding of Béatrice's dining room, we enjoy tea and a pastry with fantastic views over the Bay of Villefranche towards Nice.

This evening, we regroup to enjoy our final dinner together at a local restaurant.

A blend of gleaming coastal towns and picture-perfect hilltop villages, the Côte d'Azur revealed its charms on this holiday from our base in Cannes. Exploring Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its elegant gardens provided a fitting introduction to the French Riviera, while a guided tour of Monaco afforded a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous. Heading into the Provençal hills, we learned about the region's renowned perfumes and took part in the traditional pastime of pétanque.

Leaving Cannes this morning, we travel to Paris in First Class. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal on our way back to the UK. We arrive back in London this evening and say farewell to our holiday on the Côte d'Azur.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

Located in the centre of Cannes, this 4-Star Belle Époque boutique hotel is just a short distance from La Croisette. Beautiful period stylings, including a marble staircase winding round a vintage lift, add character to this attractive boutique hotel. Guests can relax in the bar where complimentary drinks, including Provençal wines, beers and soft drinks, are served between 6.30pm and 8.30pm each day. Air-conditioned and soundproofed guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safe, desk, fridge, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £199 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag as your luggage will be delivered direct to your first destination hotel. The luggage service is not available where you are flying to or from your destination and you will need to take your own luggage with you on the flight.

Upgrades to Executive twin rooms at Hotel Cavendish are available from £50pp.