Hosted Tour: 18 Days or 26 Days or 34 days: Departing: 12th Sep 24
***Full & ready to depart***
Our journey starts with pick-up in Whangarei, heading to Auckland International airport and a flight from Auckland to Dubai (2 nights). Whilst in Dubai we take in the unique sights of this country –, including a visit to the world-renowned Burj Khalifa. From Dubai we fly to Venice (4 nights). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the floating city of Venice has captivated travellers for centuries. Our visit starts with a food tour along the canals with a guide. The next day we visit the city’s iconic sites, including La Basilica San Marco and Doge’s Palace. On our third day in Venice we board a boat and explore the islands of Murano and Burano, a chance to see some of the world’s best craftsmen in action creating the famous Murano glass and lace.
Our fourth day is free to spend as you choose; exploring the city at your leisure, revisiting your favourite sites from previous tours, or simply appreciating ‘la dolce far niente’. We then head by train to Florence, and transfer to our accommodation in Siena (4 nights). A medieval city in Tuscany, Siena is the perfect base to explore this famous region. We start again with a food tour, walking around Siena to learn the history of the town and also, it’s unique cuisine. Our iconic sights tour the next day takes us into Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where we join our guide to explore the city and view its most renowned sights, including the Ponte Vecchio, Il Duomo, and Michaelangelo’s statue of David. The next day is free to spend in Siena, from our accommodation in the historic centre, exploration on foot is a breeze. For our last day in Tuscany, we join a guide to discover the countryside, visiting medieval walled towns, hilltop villages, farms and craft studios for a full Tuscan experience.
Our trip now takes us to Rome (4nights). Arriving in the afternoon, we first explore the city in the evening with a walking tour. The next day we head to the Vatican City to view the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, then go across town to the enduring landmarks of old Rome – The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The following day we head out of the city and down the Amalfi Coastline, including a visit to the haunting ruins of Pompeii – frozen in time since the Mt Vesuvius eruption of A.D 79. You then have a free day in the Eternal City. This concludes our discovery of Italy, with the option of either returning to NZ (with 1 night stop on the way home) or remaining with the group as we head to Spain!
Continuing our adventure, we fly from Rome to Barcelona (4 nights). On our first full day in Barcelona we visit the Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia. Then it would be a crime not to partake of one of Spain’s greatest exports – Tapas! Our evening tour shows us some of the best the city has to offer as we eat and drink our way around it. Then we get out of the city for a day and take a deep dive into the life and times of Salvador Dalí, with a visit to the unique Dalí Museum in Figueres, one of his favourite medieval fishing towns on the Costa Brava, and the stunning Pubol Castle he built for his wife. As per our easy-paced format, the fourth day in Barcelona is yours to spend how you like.
Saying goodbye to Barcelona, we catch a train to Madrid (4 nights), where we waste no time in getting acquainted with the cities’ Tapas, Taverns, and History on our evening tour. The following day we join a Panoramic City Tour, starting on foot and then boarding a coach to see more of this monumental city. Our third day we again head into the countryside, with a visit to the towns of Toledo and Segovia, both home to UNESCO world heritage sites of medieval and Gothic splendour. Our Madrid visit is rounded out with a free day. Again, at this point you have the option to return home, but why not join us a little longer to complete the Trinity and come with us to Portugal?
One of the oldest countries in Europe, Portugal’s territories have been occupied and fought over since prehistoric times. Here in the present day, our occupation of Portugal starts with a flight from Madrid to Porto (4 nights). Again, we start with a tasting tour of this port town. Day 2 in Porto sees us exploring the town with a guide, not only on foot, but by river as we pass under the iconic six bridges of Porto. The next day we head into the Duoro Valley and discover rural Porto, indulging in views of the spectacular terraced vineyards, and visiting wineries to sample their wares. You then have a free day to delve into Porto at your leisure.
From Porto, we head by train to Lisbon (4 nights) and join an evening food and wine tour. The next day we take in the sights of the city with a Lisbon Classic tour, delving into Portugal’s mix of European and Moorish heritage. On day 3 in Lisbon, we again venture beyond the city limits, with a day trip to Sintra, Cascais, and the remarkable Pena Palace, one of Portugal’s most visited landmarks.
You then have a final day at leisure in Lisbon, as the following day our odyssey concludes with a flight home to Auckland, where you will be collected by shuttle and delivered safely to your home in Whangarei, with a whole lot of memories to share!
Your Easy-paced “Discover Italy” Tour Hosted Tour Includes:
- You, Me & Friends Host/Driver/organiser
- Pick up from your central Whangarei home
- Flight from Auckland to Dubai
- Flight from Dubai to Venice
- Train from Venice to Florence, travelling in Business class
- Transfer from Florence to Siena
- Transfer from Siena to Rome
- All Hotel Transfers
- 2 nights 3-star accommodation in Dubai
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Venice
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Siena
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Rome
- 1 night 4-star accommodation in Dubai airport on the way home
- Daily Breakfasts for the duration of the tour
- Old Dubai Walking Tour and Abra boat ride
- Welcome Dinner at Al Khamya Heritage Restaurant
- Entrance ticket to Dubai’s Museum of the Future
- Dubai Fountain & Light display
- Guided Food Tour of Venice
- Venice Guided Walking Tour
- Guided Tour of St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace
- Full day guided boat trip to Murano and Burano Islands
- Walking tour of Siena with food and Chianti wine
- Walking Tour of Florence incl. Skip-the-Line access to the Galleria Accademia
- Full day tour of San Gimignano & Volterra
- Hidden Gems of Rome Evening Walking Tour
- Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour with Skip-the-Line access
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tour with Skip-the-Line access
- Full day tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
- Flight from Rome (or Madrid or Lisbon)-Dubai-Auckland
Share twin: $13,795 each / Single room: $17,295 each
Your Easy-paced “Discover Spain” Tour Hosted Tour add-on Includes:
- You, Me & Friends Host/Driver/organiser
- Flight from Rome to Barcelona
- Train from Barcelona to Madrid
- All Hotel Transfers
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Barcelona
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Madrid
- Guided tour of La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell
- Gastronomic walking tour of Barcelona
- Dali and Costa Brava Tour
- Madrid Tapas, Taverns and History Tour
- Panoramic Madrid Sightseeing Tour
- Day tour to Toledo and Segovia
Share twin: $5575 each / Single room: $7275 each
Your Easy-paced “Discover Portugal” Tour Hosted Tour add-on Includes:
- You, Me & Friends Host/Driver/organiser
- Flight from Madrid to Porto
- Train from Porto to Lisbon
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Porto
- 4 nights 3-star accommodation in Lisbon
- Porto Walking Food Tour and Tastings
- Porto City Tour with Lunch, Wine Tasting and Cruise
- Duoro Valley Day Tour with Lunch, Wine Tasting and River Cruise
- Lisbon Food and Wine Tour
- Lisbon Classic City Tour
- Guided tour of Sintra, Regaleria, Pena Palace and Cascais
Share twin: $5175 each / Single room: $6750 each
