Amsterdam to Rome - 11 days

Day 1: Amsterdam - Ghent - Paris

Welcome to Amsterdam and the start of this exciting Europe tour! Meet the group at the hotel this morning before hopping aboard the coach and hitting the road! The first stop is the city of Ghent in Belgium. Enjoy free time to explore and grab lunch. Next, travel onwards to Paris and arrive in the afternoon. This evening, the group will enjoy a fun and informative driving tour of this world-famous city before enjoying the first group dinner of the tour!

Day 2: Paris: Optional Free Day

The whole day is yours! Cruise up the Seine River, see the Eiffel Tower or world-famous artworks at the Louvre, head to Montmartre to see the Sacre Coeur, or go to Disneyland for the day. Ask your Expat Explore tour leader for more ideas and suggestions. The diversity of Paris means that you can admire famous artworks, visit historical landmarks, indulge in the finest French cuisine, check out the latest fashions or simply just relax in a café - all in one day, if you wish!

Day 3: Paris - Toulouse 

Today we leave Paris behind to make our way to Toulouse, stopping along the way to enjoy some wine tasting in a small medieval village. Our drive takes us through some picture-perfect landscapes. Taste some of the beautiful wines that define the region's unique terroir. Arrive in Toulouse, the 4th largest city in the country. It is filled with awe-inspiring Renaissance architecture. There is also a 17th-century canal to discover. Enjoy an included dinner with the group this evening.

Day 4: Toulouse - Andorra - Barcelona

Waving Toulouse goodbye, head south towards the border with Andorra. Enjoy lunch on the go and head straight to Barcelona. Welcome to the bustling capital of Catalonian Spain! Our driving tour features some of the city's top attractions. This includes the Sagrada Familia, Parque de Joan Miro and more. Stay in a small town outside of city bounds this evening. Enjoy an included dinner with the group.

Day 5: Barcelona: Free Day 

Today is your free day to enjoy the delights of Barcelona. You can visit the many famous sites, or simply wander down the vibrant La Rambla - Barcelona’s busiest avenue - which is full of street artists, food stalls, markets and many restaurants! Tonight, you can experience Spanish nightlife for yourself in one of the many night clubs.

Day 6: Barcelona - Pont du Gard - Avignon

Leaving Barcelona behind, we're heading to Avignon. But first, we stop over at the Pont du Gard. This centuries-old aqueduct bridge was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It's still a feat of engineering and incredibly impressive. Avignon itself is located in the beating heart of Provence. It used to be the epicentre of Roman Catholic culture at one time. This left it with awe-inspiring buildings like the Palais des Papes. Our orientation tour will hit most of the famous landmarks. This includes the Notre-Dame des Doms and Pont d’Avignon.

Day 7: Avignon - French Riviera -Nice 

We leave Avignon behind and make our way along the French Riviera. Our ultimate destination is Nice. However, we'll take our time winding our way along the coast. Stopovers at towns like Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, and Frejus along the way. Discover Monaco this afternoon. Top attractions like the Prince's Palace, Oceanography Museum, Cathedral of Monaco and the Casino de Monte-Carlo await. Enjoy a free evening to relax or explore at your leisure.

Day 8: Pisa - Florence - Tuscany

Heading inland once more, we make for nearby Italy and one of the world’s most famous landmarks, the leaning tower of Pisa! Be sure to have your cameras at the ready, this is one photo opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss. Florence is our next destination, where we’ll have a guided walking tour of the city. Learn about the history of the city and see historical landmarks like the Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Florence Baptistry and of course, Michelangelo’s famous statue of David – a replica of which stands in the Palazzo della Signoria. After exploring, we'll head to our accommodation in the hills of Tuscany.

Day 9: Tuscany - Rome 

We make our way to Italy's capital, Rome. You’ll be taken on a walking tour of the city by a local guide, who will introduce you to the incredible history of this unique city, which reigned supreme as the focal point of the Roman Empire. Highlights today include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Roman Forum and of course the Colosseum. On the way to our accommodation for the evening, you can start to plan what to do with your free day tomorrow - the Colosseum and Vatican City are unmissable!

Day 10: Rome: Free Day

Today is a free day for you to experience Rome's ancient history, exquisite culture and delicious food - we offer an optional food tour and an optional excursion to the pope's summer residence. Later this afternoon you'll also have the opportunity to visit the Vatican City - the smallest country in the world! Inside the walls, you can visit the Sistine Chapel and see for yourself the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, as well as numerous other famous art pieces dotted around the buildings.

Day 11: Rome - End of tour

The tour ends in Rome today after breakfast with the group. Make sure you have exchanged contact details with your newly-made travel friends, and share your amazing tour memories with us online using the hashtags #ExpatExplore and #BetterTogether.