Witness the sights and sounds of Nice’s vibrant carnival, and discover the Provençal towns and coastal cities of the south of France

Your wonderful tour of the French Riviera begins at London St Pancras, where we meet the Tour Manager this morning. We board the Eurostar to Paris, enjoying a light meal on the way. In the French capital, we change trains for a journey in First Class to Nice, arriving in the French Riviera this the evening.

On arrival, we check in to our four-star hotel on the famous Promenade des Anglais, the shimmering palm-lined seafront looking out onto the Mediterranean Sea. Tonight, we have an evening at leisure, relaxing at the hotel or stepping out to enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

After breakfast at our hotel, we explore Nice on a guided coach tour. Beginning at Mont Boron, an exclusive hilltop neighbourhood of Beaux-Arts mansions, we admire panoramic views across the city and the glimmering Mediterranean. Next, we explore the Cimiez Roman Ruins, where the city of Cemenelum once stood. Today, it's a collection of weathered white stones, the remnants of public baths and an amphitheatre where the Romans held games.

Returning to Nice's colourful Old Town, we wander through the picturesque maze of alleyways lined by centuries-old buildings, stopping to see the ornate Opera House, colourful flower market and striking cathedral.

In the afternoon, you are free to explore this artistic city at your own pace. The Musée National Marc Chagall honours the Belarussian-born French artist and pioneer of modernism, while the Matisse Museum in Cimiez contains Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, who spent many years in Nice. Along the Promenade des Anglais, you could visit the Hotel Negresco for a famous Royal Negresco cocktail containing champagne and flakes of gold, before a three-course dinner at our hotel.

Today, you are free to enjoy the atmosphere of the city before we experience a highlight of the holiday this evening. You could walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais, strolling under palm trees with the Mediterranean Sea by your side. Alternatively, use the area's excellent public transport to visit to some of the French Riviera's most renowned towns, like Cannes, Antibes, Juan les Pins and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Tonight, we travel by tram to the city's Masséna Square, where we experience this evening's carnival extravaganza from our reserved grandstand seats. More than one thousand dancers, actors and performers take part in this incredible spectacle, making this an unforgettable experience and an explosion of colour and vitality.

Sit back and relax, admiring the innovative floats adorned with meticulously arranged flowers and the talented performers in colourful costumes as they wind their way through the illuminated streets.

In the morning, we embark on a coach journey along the Lower Corniche Road to Monaco. Winding around the coast, we bask in fantastic views of the azure Mediterranean.

One of the world's smallest sovereign states, Monaco is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous. Our first stop on a guided tour is Monaco's medieval Old Town, the stronghold of the ruling Grimaldi dynasty since the 13th century. Arriving at the honey-coloured Palais du Prince, we witness the time-honoured Changing of the Guards ceremony before visiting the Place du Casino, an open, modern square in front of the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino. After the tour, you have some free time to explore the city.

Leaving Monaco in the afternoon, we stop at nearby Èze, a medieval village set high on a rocky peak above the glistening sea. Its labyrinthine lanes are lined with ancient stone houses, many of which have been converted into galleries or craft shops. Enjoy free time to explore this picturesque village before we head back to our hotel.

After breakfast this morning, the rest of the day is yours to explore. You might like to use the Côte d'Azur's excellent and affordable trains to visit one of the nearby towns. Antibes, a charming resort town between Nice and Cannes, boasts historic streets lined with quaint medieval fisherman's houses. You can visit Château Grimaldi, home to the Picasso Museum, or the lively Provençal market in the heart of the Old Town.

Alternatively, you could head to the glamorous resort city of Cannes. Stroll down the palm-lined La Croisette, where the world-famous film festival takes place every year, explore the city's upmarket boutiques or visit the colourful Provençal market. In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, closer to Nice, you can find the pink-hued villa formerly owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a socialite and art collector of the prominent Rothschild dynasty.

Tonight, we dine independently. You might like to try a local speciality, like fried courgette flowers seasoned with salt, parsley and garlic, or salade Niçoise, a fresh salad with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, olives and fish. >

Heading into the beautiful countryside of Provence today, we explore its charming towns, starting in Grasse. Surrounded by aromatic fields of jasmine, roses and lavender, Grasse has been renowned worldwide for its perfume making for centuries.

One of the town's oldest perfumeries is Parfumerie Fragonard, which has been in its current premises since 1782. In the 1920s, it changed its name to honour Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Grasse's most famous artist. Today, the factory produces perfumes, soaps and cosmetics using their time-honoured traditional methods. We enjoy a guided tour of the premises to learn more about its fascinating history.

Later, we make our way to St-Paul-de-Vence, a beautiful medieval village perched on a hilltop. With free time to explore, you could visit the Maeght Foundation, which houses one of Europe's most important collections of 20th-century art, or walk along the village's historic ramparts for views over the surrounding sandstone villas and cypress trees.

On this wonderful tour of the French Riviera, we saw Nice come alive for its yearly carnival. The lively atmosphere and colourful floats add a special charm, and the nearby principality of Monaco offered plenty of great attractions. We also visited the fragrant town of Grasse, explored the medieval ramparts of St-Paul-de-Vence, and enjoyed the beautiful sea views in Èze.

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning. Boarding a train to Paris, we journey through the heart of France. Changing trains in Paris, we board our First Class seats and arrive back in London this evening, saying farewell to the Tour Manager and making your way home.

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.

Situated on the world-famous Promenade des Anglais, this charming 4-Star hotel is a short distance from Nice's Old Town. Built in 1878, it combines modern facilities with traditional Belle Époque architecture. Amenities include a spa, seafront terrace, bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean specialities. Guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, ironing equipment, minibar, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. 

Many of our holidays include a final stopover in Paris en route to London. Why not extend your holiday by enjoying an extra night or two in the French capital, returning to London in your own time?

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.