Best of Italy & Greece 2010 - About this Tour

Tour Details | Departure Dates and Pricing

Details

• Duration (with arrival/departure): 16
• Tour Style: Regional
• Destinations: Rome, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Monte Cassino, Pompeii, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, Olympia, Delphi, Athens

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.



• Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City! Later enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
  
  Hotel: Aran Mantegna



• Day 3 - Rome sightseeing and at leisure Our guided tour includes the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel, visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and then crossing the Tiber to overlook the Forum and the Circus Maximus, and to visit the mighty Colosseum. (Buffet breakfsast)
  
  
  



• Day 4 - Rome – Brenta Canal – Venice (2 nights) Today we head north through Umbria and Tuscany, then we cross the Apennine Mountains to reach the Veneto Plains. We enjoy a scenic drive along the Brenta Canal, lined with Palladian villas, before arriving in magical Venice. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) 
  
  Hotel: Novotel Venezia-Mestre Castellana



• Day 5 - Venice sightseeing and at leisure We enjoy a scenic cruise by private launch to St. Mark’s Square and see the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. We enjoy a demonstration of Murano glass-blowing before free time. (Buffet breakfast)
  



• Day 6 - Venice – Florence This morning we drive south across the broad flat plain of the River Po. Then into the Apennine Hills to Florence. Here our guided walking tour shows us the main sights. Later we enjoy a Highlight Dinner. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight dinner)
  
  Hotel: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
  



• Day 7 - Florence – Assisi We drive to the beautiful town of Assisi where a guided walking tour takes us to the Basilica of St. Francis with time to see Giotto’s 14th century paintings. Later, we see Santa Maria degli Angeli where St. Francis established the Franciscan fraternity of monks. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
  
  Hotel: Giotto
  



• Day 8 - Assisi – Pompeii – Sorrento (2 nights) Our first stop is at the Commonwealth Cemetery of Monte Cassino. Then, through the Campania to Pompeii where a local guide shows us these famous excavations. Later, we make our way to Sorrento. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) 
  
  Hotel: Parco Del Sole



• Day 9 - Sorrento – Isle of Capri excursion Our day begins with a demonstration of the art of inlaid woodwork. Then a highlight cruise to the Isle of Capri. We ascend by funicular to Capri town where our local expert takes us on a walking tour. Later we cruise back to Sorrento where our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure and tonight we enjoy a homecooked dinner in a restaurant surrounded by lemon groves! (Buffet breakfast / 'Be My Guest' Dinner)
  



• Day 10 - Sorrento – Bari – At Sea We travel past Salerno before continuing eastward to the port of Bari. Here we will board our overnight ferry for the sea crossing to Patras in Greece. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
  



• Day 11 - At Sea – Patras – Olympia We disembark in Patras and drive to Olympia where we will visit the world’s oldest Olympic Stadium, dating back to 776 BC. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) 
  
  Hotel: Amalia
  



• Day 12 - Olympia – Delphi We travel to Delphi where we consult the famous Oracle on our guided walking tour! Then walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo and visit this archaeological site. Then on to our hotel for dinner. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) 
  
  Hotel: Amalia
  



• Day 13 - Delphi – Athens (3 nights) On to Athens for our three-night stay where we enjoy a guided walking tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. See the Agora, the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, before heading to the Olympic stadium. (Buffet breakfast) 
  
  Hotel: Zafolia



• Day 14 - Athens at leisure Today there is free time today to explore the city further or to enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice in an open-air café on Constitution Square. Later, you may wish to take a 3-day or one of the 7 day cruises. (Buffet breakfast)
  



• Day 15 - Athens at leisure Today you have a full day at leisure to explore this exciting city. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your Tour Director in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell dinner)
  



• Day 16 - Athens - USA This morning after breakfast bid farewell to our Tour Director and new-found friends as our vacation comes to an end. There are Athens airport transfers available, conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)



• On Day 14 you have the opportunity of taking a 3-day or 7-day Aegean cruise on one of the Louis Lines Cruise ships around the magical Greek Isles. Excellent onboard facilities include a cinema, swimming pool and library.
  


Depart USAArrive Rome Rome sightseeing and at leisureRome – Brenta Canal – Venice Venice sightseeing and at leisureVenice – FlorenceFlorence – AssisiAssisi – Pompeii – Sorrento Sorrento – Isle of Capri excursionSorrento – Bari – At SeaAt Sea – Patras – OlympiaOlympia – DelphiDelphi – Athens Athens at leisureAthens at leisureAthens - USAOn Day 14

Whats Included

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Sightseeing Highlights

• Rome: Views of the Forum and Circus Maximus plus visits to St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.
• Venice: Canal cruise viewing St. Mark's Square, Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace. Visit a glass-blowing factory. Travel along the Brenta Canal seeing the Palladian villas.
• Florence: See the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and visit Santa Croce Basilica. Views from Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Assisi: Orientation including Santa Maria degli Angeli and a visit to St. Francis Basilica.
• Monte Cassino: Visit the Commonwealth cemetery.
• Pompeii: A guided tour of the excavations.
• Sorrento: Orientation tour, plus witness the art of inlaid woodwork.
• Isle of Capri: Orientation of this charming isle includes the Piazzetta and funicular to Capri town.
• Olympia: Visit the Olympic Stadium and Temples of Zeus and Hera.
• Delphi: Visit the home of the Oracle.
• Athens: See the Acropolis and Parthenon plus the Royal Palace and Hadrian's Arch.

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Dining Highlights

• 14 hot buffet breakfasts
• 5 three-course dinners
• 1 dinner on overnight cruise
• Local highlight restaurant dinner with wine in Florence
• ‘Be My Guest’ local speciality dinner of local produce with wine in restaurant on working lemon farm
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Athens
23 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

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First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
• A qualified local city guide in Rome, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, Olympia, Delphi and Athens.
• Cruise to the Isle of Capri and overnight cruise from Bari to Patras.
• Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 16.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.

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Airport Transfers

• London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But when you book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and air packages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London’s airports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who have their own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive transfers to and from London’s Heathrow – Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transfer from London’s Heathr
• Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
• For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly by Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeable transfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight information to Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed.
• For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Trafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
• Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
• In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar’s control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
• All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
• In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
• Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot will pick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London’s Heathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after 22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange your transfer to your Trafalgar hotel.
• Gatwick Airport: Passengers who have booked Trafalgar’s Land and Air packages arriving at London’s Gatwick Airport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. The Gatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make their way from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
• European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown
• Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar's Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
• Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
• Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don't coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must be provided to Trafalgar not less than 21 days before the flight departure.
• Click here to see scheduled transfer times.

Options

Child Prices: Apply to children under the age of 16.