Journey through northern Spain and get to know the people, landscapes, customs and cuisines that make this part of the country so captivating. Sip rioja (wine) in Logrono, visit the seaside town of Barcelona and indulge in pintox (the Basque version of tapas) in San Sebastian. Explore the medieval city of Pamplona and wander the Art Walk and historic museums in Madrid on an eight-day adventure that packs all the essential highlights of Spain into a week.
Want to explore Tuscany without a rushed itinerary? Want a small group? Want to hike to wineries and hill towns? Stay in interesting hotels that are hundreds of years old? A wine and food buff? Then this is for you.
I had a great time on this trip. Had a full day in Sienna and a nice orientation tour of Florence (I spent a few extra days) Plus to get to visit lesser known towns that the big companies overlook. My favorite was Pienza. A nice little town that also had my favorite hotel and great places to eat. And yes, we tasted wonderful Italian wines, as well as the best cold cuts and cheeses I’ve ever tasted. And did I also mention hiking to wineries and hill towns? Wonderful sights, with spectacular views. One hike it rained towards the end, but that didn’t dampen our spirits.
This tour is the BEST way to see all the infamous spots in Italy, plus local hidden gems, at a reasonable cost and if you are short on time (we had a school break time limitation). It covered everything! We budgeted for the add-ons, especially those with meals, but you could choose to have more free time if you wanted. The food was extraordinary, the bus was roomy and immaculately clean, our driver Antonello was superb, and our Travel Director Anneleis was amazing! She was so talented at integrating the tour highlights, guests, keeping it fun even in the rainy weather, knowledgeable, and able to troubleshoot anything to ensure we had the best experience of a lifetime!! I would love to go back and explore Southern Italy next. The hotels were elegant (only one was just "OK" only because it was in need of some renovations) and the service with our luggage, tipping, etc. was seamless. I highly recommend the Italian Intermezzo tour and Insight Vacations. Favoloso!
Marvel at Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, spot locals sipping pastis in Nice and admire Florence the home of Michelangelo and the Renaissance, as you circle the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Embrace the city of Pisa with a stop at the famous leaning tower, where Italian astronomer Galileo was said to have pioneered his theories of gravity. In France, work up an appetite in the medieval streets. In Spain, dine with the locals in Basque tradition with an evening of San Sebastian pintxos tastings, snack-sized tapas, while sipping on a refreshing glass of local Txakoli wine. In Rome, taste the seasonal flavours and of course, handmade pasta.
This is a wonderful itinerary for the price. We were able to see many points of interest in a short period of time and many of the add-on activities were excellent. I particularly liked the private Danube cruise in Budapest and the folklore night in Prague.
Take a once-in-a-lifetime trip across Germany, sipping beer in Munich, dining on German delicacies in Berlin and experiencing the Christmas pyramids in Dresden. This immersive Christmastime tour highlights the delights of the Nuremberg Market’s Christkindlmarkt stalls—with the chance to sample authentic German Rostbratwürste, and the musical surrounds of the Leipzig Market, where locals gather to sing and celebrate the festive season. On your Local Expert Tour of Dresden, see iconic city sights like the enormous Procession of the Dukes mosaic, Zwinger Palace and the Semper Opera House. Dresden is also home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market where you can taste Christstollen—a traditional Christmas cake recipe dating back to medieval times.
Located only 40 minutes away from Budapest, Etyek village is the center of the Etyek wine region, which is the youngest and fastest developing wine region of Hungary. Next to the well-known international varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc you can taste quality wines from local grapes like Princess or Zenith.
The 5 hour program includes a cosy walk amongst the vineyards with a friendly guide, wine tasting at the traditional wine cellars and finishing with a home-cooked Hungarian lunch or dinner. You can meet personally with the local winemakers and learn the secrets of wine making. In the small group you will make new friends and discover the unique atmosphere of the Hungarian countryside.
Although described as a fast paced tour(which it was), it was a good introduction to visiting Portugal with many highlights as well as vising some lesser known parts. As someone who had not been to Portugal before and as it is so easy to get to from the UK, it was a taster for maybe visiting the country again and exploring other regions.
Itinerary was very full of wonderful activities and sights to see! You're up and going early every day but it's well worth it to get going to be first in line ahead of the many other tour groups that follow.