Italian Riviera, Monaco & the French Cote d'Azur

We continue our journey to our hotel in Diano Marina, where we will spend the next six nights.

Enjoy a leisurely start before our first excursion to Alassio. Arriving via a coastal drive along the Riviera of Flowers, this chic resort boasts a gorgeous beach and streets adorned with flowers. Why not stroll along the 'carrugio', a typical Ligurian promenade, and visit the patisseries, shops and bars that line it? We return via a visit to Cervo, known as one of Italy's most beautiful villages, that dates back to the Romans.

After this morning's early start, we cross the French border to explore the cosmopolitan Cote d'Azur with a stop in Èze to visit Galimard, one of the oldest perfumeries in the world. Our guided tour takes us into the enchanting world of perfume-making, where we learn how unique, exquisite fragrances come to life. From here, we continue to glamorous Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera. Stroll along the palm tree-lined Promenade des Anglais, step back in time to the atmospheric Old Town or visit the Henri Matisse Art Museum, found in a seventeenth-century manor.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Diano Marina, 'the city of the orange trees', at your own pace. Alternatively, why not join our optional excursion to Rapello and Portofino? Once a traditional harbour town in Liguria, Rapello has evolved into the largest and most prominent seaside resort along the north-west Mediterranean coast of Italy. From here, we board a boat to the world-renowned resort of Portofino; nestled in one of the Mediterranean's most exclusive corners, the town's harbour is home to the yachts of the rich and famous, as well as pedestrianised streets lined with stylish restaurants and chic designer boutiques.

We return to France today, with dreamy Menton being our first stop. One of the Côte d'Azur's most blissful sights, a wander through its lemon gardens, sandy beaches and tightly packed traditional alleyways comes highly recommended. The tiny principality of Monaco is today's highlight. 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 Monaco Grand Prix to the Monte Carlo Casino. You can also explore its bustling marina, home to the yachts of the rich and famous.

Our morning excursion includes a visit to Ventimiglia Market, the largest market in Italy where genuine Italian leather goods are available for much less than you'd pay at home. We return via a visit to elegant Sanremo, known as the 'City of Flowers'. Home to a medieval centre and picturesque harbour, it's considered the Italian Riviera's most cosmopolitan resort, awash with elegant shopping boutiques and casinos.

We bid 'arrivederci' to Italy and return home with an overnight stop along the way.