Nice Carnival & The French Riviera

Your holiday begins at London St Pancras, meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. On arrival in the French capital, we transfer to the TGV service direct to the Côte d'Azur city of Nice, our base for five nights.

Nice is one of France's most popular and cosmopolitan holiday destinations, with pristine pebble beaches and a year-round Mediterranean climate, set on a beautiful sweeping bay on the spectacular French Riviera. Since the Middle Ages, Nice has been celebrated for its vibrant carnival, which lights up this coastal city each year during the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras.

After checking in to our hotel, this evening is at leisure to explore the city. Our accommodation is a short distance from the famous Promenade des Anglais, and you could stroll along this wide historic seafront before dining independently. There are several restaurants to choose from around the hotel, or you can wander down to the city's charming old town which has many inviting eating places, from cafés to cosy traditional restaurants.

This morning, we transfer to Masséna Square, Nice's main square, where we set out on a tour of the fascinating city. This historic market square is lined with palm trees and surrounded by red ochre buildings. Our tour takes us to the historic Old Town; a charming jumble of alleyways lined with buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, we see the Opera House and Nice's striking cathedral. There's also the option to visit the Colline du Château, which has stunning, panoramic views across the Old Town.

This afternoon you are free to explore this artistic city at your own pace. The Musée National Marc Chagall honours the Belarussian-born French artist and is around 20 minutes' walk from the city centre or can be reached by bus. The Matisse Museum in the hilltop Cimiez quarter, contains colourful Fauvist works by Henri Matisse, who spent many years in Nice.

Along the Promenade des Anglais, you could visit the Hotel Negresco to sample the famous Royal Negresco cocktail containing champagne and flakes of gold, before meeting the group for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a full day at leisure today, you could opt to make use of the Côte d'Azur's excellent and affordable trains. The charming harbour town of Antibes boasts historic streets lined with quaint fisherman's houses and has attracted visitors for centuries. Among them was Pablo Picasso, who lived in Château Grimaldi for six months and today, the castle is home to the Picasso Museum. The town's covered Provençal Market is another highlight, offering a taste of local flavours and Provençal life.

Alternatively, you could travel by train to stylish Cannes, originally a small fishing village, which can still be found in the cobbled streets of Le Suquet. The Croisette boulevard hosts the world-renowned film festival and is dotted with palms and upmarket boutiques. In Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, near Nice, you could visit the pink villa formerly owned by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, a socialite and art collector of the prominent Rothschild dynasty.

You dine independently this evening and can savour the tastes of the region at any number of relaxed bistros or restaurants.

• Breakfast

This morning, we drive along the scenic Lower Corniche Road to Monaco, admiring the fantastic views of the azure Mediterranean enroute. As the world's second-smallest sovereign state, Monaco is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous, with superyachts lining its marina.

Despite its small size, Monaco manages to fit a wealth of culture, history and glamour into its two-square-kilometre area, which we explore on a guided tour. We visit the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino and take in the atmosphere of the surrounding Place du Casino, before continuing to Le Rocher, strategically positioned on top of a large rock and home to Monaco's Old Town. Our tour takes us to the Palais du Prince, the residence of the current Prince of Monaco, where we witness the time-honoured Changing of the Guards ceremony.

After the tour, there's free time to explore independently, perhaps wandering the grand boulevards, browsing the designer boutiques or soaking up the sparkling views across the Mediterranean. We return to Nice later this afternoon and enjoy dinner together in a local restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you are at leisure to soak up the festive atmosphere of the city, before the main highlight of the holiday this evening. You might choose to walk beside locals and visitors along the famous Promenade des Anglais, strolling under palm trees beside the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. You could also revisit the old town or look around one of the city's many galleries or museums.

A highlight of our holiday awaits tonight as we travel by tram to Masséna Square. Here, from our reserved grandstand seats, we experience this evening's dazzling carnival extravaganza. Watch the decorated floats as they pass, adorned with an amazing array of flowers, and marvel at the fabulous performers in colourful costume, as they weave their way through the illuminated streets.

More than a thousand dancers, actors and performers take part in this incredible spectacle, with processions taking place through the streets in a vibrant display of spirit and colour.

• Breakfast

This memorable holiday on the stunning Côte d'Azur has shown us the highlights of this sparkling coastline. We toured the fascinating city of Nice, exploring the charming market squares and impressive architecture, before watching it burst into life at carnival time. Watching the spectacular floats wind along the streets added a touch of magic to this idyllic location. We also visited glamorous Monte Carlo, another jewel along the French Riviera. taking in the iconic casino and opulent harbour, before watching the Changing of the Guards.

Checking out of our hotel after breakfast this morning, we board a direct train to Paris for a journey that takes us through the heart of France. After changing trains in Paris, we arrive back in London this evening, where you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast