Hidden Gems

Mistral's Restaurant

When it comes to extravagant dining, this place is a real gem. Pick the likes of lamb rack from the à la carte menu, and enjoy attentive waiter service in contemporary surroundings. Just so you know, a cover charge applies and you’ll need to make a reservation.

Orion Restaurant

Waiter service and bright and spacious surroundings make the Orion Restaurant a relaxing place for breakfast, lunch and multi-course dinners. It’s got an open-seating policy, so you’re free to dine where and when you like. Simply pick your spot and order the likes of just-the-way-you-want-them breakfast eggs or slow roast lamb from the evening menu.

Easy Pisa

If you want to see the fantastic sights of Pisa, but would prefer to sit back and relax while you take in the views, this tour is for you. You’ll get a ride on a trolley train, which will drop you right in the centre of the action at Campo dei Miracoli – Miracle Square. Here you’ll find the famous Leaning Tower, as well as the cathedral and the Baptistery. There’ll be plenty of time for you to capture pictures of these iconic sights, shop for souvenirs, and even grab a gelato before the train ride back to the coach.

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One day in Siena

Take a journey through the beautiful green landscape of southern Tuscany, and you’ll reach the Medieval city of Siena – it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you arrive, you’ll get a walking tour through the historical centre. Your guide will lead the way and talk you through the history of the sights you pass, including the Piazza del Duomo, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which is one of the most important and most beautiful Gothic buildings in Italy. You’ll also see the museum of Santa Maria della Scala – it was once an ancient hospital that cared for orphans and pilgrims. Next on the agenda is the world-famous Piazza del Campo, which plays host to a number of impressive buildings and has been the centre of the city since the 12th century. Stroll past the Palazzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia tower and the square’s beautiful monumental fountain, the Fonte Gaia. You’ll then have some free time to explore Siena, do some shopping and tuck into some Tuscan food – the Italians never skip lunch!

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Corsican Old Villages

This tour takes in the picturesque mountain villages of Corsica’s Balagne region, which is famous for its olive groves and fruit orchards. First up, you’ll pass through the ancient village of Calenzana, with its views of Calvi Bay, the Genoese towers of Caldanu and Spano, and the Monte Grosso mountains. From here, it’s on to the villages of Zilia, Cassano and Lughignono, before making tracks for Col de Salvi and Cateri. Cateri is particularly good-looking, with its balcony-clad houses and 12th-century chapel. Then it’s on to Sant Antonino, one of the oldest villages in Corsica. There’s some free time here, so you’ll get to explore the winding lanes, stepped alleyways and stone houses that spill down the hillside. You’ll then drive on passing through the village of Ile Rousse and, finally, Lumio. In ancient times, this place was at the centre of sun-worshipping cult activity.

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Balagna Scenic Drive

This guided driving tour takes you through Corsica’s picturesque Balagne region, which is overflowing with olive groves, fruit orchards and velvet green hills. You’ll set off towards Notre Dame de la Serra, an 18th-century chapel that offers up sweeping views of the mountains and Calvi below. You can get off the bus for a photo stop, before continuing past wind-whipped bays and beaches. Next, you’ll venture through the countryside. As you pass the ruins of an ancient silver mine, keep an eye out for the Genoese tower where Prince Bonaparte built his hunting pavilion in 1852, and try to spot the Capo Tondo or ‘Round Mountain’ on the way. Driving on, you’ll pass close by to the coastal wildlife reserve of Scandola, where you’ll come across the Balagne Deserte – a deserted region of red rock that’s smothered in greenery. Nearby, you can see the Cirque de Bonifato – a dense forest filled with evergreens and pines. A relaxing tour and complete scenic treat!

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St. Tropez & Port Grimaud

Once a sleepy fishing village, St Tropez was catapulted onto the world map in the 1950’s by legends like Brigitte Bardot and Sacha Distel. They turned it into the French Riviera’s chic capital and these days it’s home to the crème de la crème in film and fashion. There are far more luxury yachts than fishing boats moored at the beautiful harbour. After an hour-and-a-half drive from the port, enjoy a guided walk from the waterfront through the old streets. Take a look at the pink and yellow houses, which have been converted into fashionable cafes and pastry shops. You’ll see Place des Lices, too, where lots of celebs play petanque in the summer. Then you’ll get around two hours’ free time for a little retail therapy or a laid-back lunch. Later on, make a brief visit to charming Port Grimaud, also known as the Little Venice of France. This unique resort looks like a traditional Mediterranean fishing village but in actual fact it’s a modern complex of luxury villas and houses linked by a network of canals, neat little bridges and narrow alleys.

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Cassis

“He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing.” Even if this saying by French poet Frederic Mistral seems exaggerated, it still reflects the interest of this little seaside resort at the foot of the Cape Canaille cliff. A former Roman trading post, Cassis is every bit the charmer with its café-lined quays, jagged little coves and sun-blushed beaches. Your coach will drop you off at the top of Cassis, where you'll board a mini-train to take you to the bay area. When you get to this friendly little town, enjoy a short introduction from your guide, then spend some free time getting to know the place, shopping in the boutiques or relaxing in the cafes. Later on, taking the mini train back to the top of Cassis, you’ll re-board the coaches for the drive back to Toulon. If the weather allows it, we'll even to drive to Gineste Hills, a stunning view point, famous in these areas - Make sure you pack your camera for this one.

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Girona City tour

This guided excursion is designed to take you back in time, as we explore one of the most historically rich cities in Spain. From Roses we’ll journey south to Girona. We’ll begin in the area of El Call, the Jewish Quarter, where the labyrinth of narrow streets and courtyards are remarkably well-preserved. From there, we’ll move on to the Medieval walls of the city and see the remains of the Torre Gironella. This tower is the tallest point of the city wall and, according to Greek mythology, was built by a giant. We’ll also pass by the Catalonian Romanesque Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, which was declared a national monument in 1931. The tour will wrap up at the Arab Baths, which in actual fact aren’t Arab at all. They were built by Christians in a Romanesque style, and their Arab influences reflect a period in Spanish history where rule switched from Roman to North African and back again. You’ll then have some free time to explore the city under your own steam.

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Figueres & Dalí Museum

You’ll be able to tick off plenty of culture on this tour. We’ll leave Roses and take a scenic drive inland to Figueres, before making our way to the Dali Theatre-Museum. It’s an architectural one-of-a-kind design by the artist himself – you have to see it to believe it. The museum is bright red and topped with egg-shaped boulders – the pièce de résistance is a giant glass globe built into the roof. Inside, you’ll have the chance to trick your mind with the optical illusion of Sala Mae West, and marvel at the vast portrait of Abraham Lincoln, as well as lots of Dali’s other masterpieces. We’ll also visit the crypt where the artist is buried. Afterwards, you’ll have some free time to discover the town of Figueres and browse the shops.

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