France & Italy Adventure Adventure Tour

Sip wine in Burgundy, feast on local delicacies in Provence, experience fashionable Milan, float down the canals of Venice, and raise your glass to the best of France and Italy. Over 15 well-paced days, travel from Paris to Rome and savour the region's cultural and natural highlights. Your expert CEO (Chief Experience Officer) will take the hassle out of travel and leave you with plenty of free time to explore. Witness the charm of Beaune and Florence's great masterpieces, relax on the beach, and fall in love with the beauty of this region.

International Flights  

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

Group Leader  

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides

Emergency Fund  

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Optional Activities  

Paris
- Sacre Coeur Visit (Free)
- Luxembourg Garden Visit (Free)
- Palace of Versailles Visit (18EUR per person)
- Walk Along the Seine River (Free)
- Eiffel Tower Visit (16EUR per person)
- Napoleon's Tomb - Les Invalides Army Museum (12EUR per person)
- The Louvre Visit (12-16EUR per person)
- Musée d'Orsay Visit (11EUR per person)
- Musée Rodin Visit (12EUR per person)
- Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show (175-185EUR per person)
- Champs-Élysées Visit (Free)

Giverny
- Monet's Giverny Gardens (10.20EUR per person)

Beaune
- Hospices de Beaune Visit (8EUR per person)
- Beaune Bike Rental (19EUR per person)

Beaune
- Burgundy Wine Cellars Visit (10-20EUR per person)

Dijon
- Dijon Day Trip (16EUR per person)

Avignon
- Pont Saint-Bénézet (Free)
- Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) Visit (11-15EUR per person)
- Lavender Tour (50EUR per person)

Pont du Gard
- Pont du Gard Day Trip (16EUR per person, 180EUR per group)

Les Baux-de-Provence
- Château des Baux Medieval Castle Visit (15EUR per person)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Visit (60EUR per person)

Orange
- Orange Visit (20EUR per person)

Nice
- Matisse Museum (10EUR per person)
- Cathedral of Sainte Reparate (Free)
- Vieux Nice Visit (Free)
- Promenade des Anglais (Free)
- Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art (10EUR per person)
- Day trip to St Paul de Vence (3EUR per person)

Milan
- The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano Musuem) Visit (12EUR per person)
- Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Visit (10EUR per person)
- Milan Cathedral (8-25 per person)
- Teatro alla Scala Opera House
- Shop the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Murano
- Murano and Burano Islands Visit (20EUR per person)

Venice
- Campanile San Marco Lookout (8EUR per person)
- Gondola Ride (80EUR per group)
- Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) Visit (17EUR per person)
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco (10EUR per person)
- Guggenheim Museum Visit (15EUR per person)

Piazza San Marco
- Saint Mark's Square and Basilica Visit (Free)

Florence
- Medici Chapels Visit (8EUR per person)
- Il Duomo di Firenze Visit (Free)
- Mercato Centrale (Mercato di San Lorenzo) Visit
- David (Galleria dell'Accademia) Visit (22.50-26.50EUR per person)
- Uffizi Gallery Visit (20.75EUR per person)
- Ponte Vecchio Visit
- National Museum of Bargello (15.75EUR per person)
- Pitti Palace - Palatine Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (17.75EUR per person)
- Florence Food Tour

Siena
- Siena Visit

Rome
- Pantheon Visit
- Roman Forum Visit (24EUR per person)
- St Peter's Basilica Visit (Free)
- Rome Street Food Tour
- Borghese Gallery (25EUR per person)
- Rome Vintage Vespa Tour
- Christian Catacombs (8EUR per person)
- Colosseum Visit (24EUR per person)
- Trevi Fountain (Free)
- Spanish Steps (Free)
- Trastevere Visit

Vatican City
- Sistine Chapel (10EUR per person)

Safety and Security  

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it deemed necessary, due to safety concerns. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy and explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards), have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).

Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. Read more about travel safety for ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.

Health  

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.

Dossier Disclaimer  

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Highlights  

Wander through charming medieval cities and glorious countrysides, taste French fine wines and local delicacies, soak up the classic European culture, explore modern day and ancient Rome

What's Included  

Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Paris
Your Foodie Moment: Burgundy Wine Tasting, Beaune
Your Discover Moment: Venice
Your Discover Moment: Florence. Orientation walk in Paris. Free time to explore Paris. Local Burgundy wine tasting in Beaune. Free time to explore Burgundy. Visit to Pope's Palace and Pont Saint-Bénézet. Free time to explore the French Riviera. Orientation walk in Milan, Venice, and Rome. Piazzele Michelangelo Walk. Pisa visit. Traditional Roman meal. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Itinerary Disclaimer  

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Important Notes  

1. LOCAL GUIDES
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places.

2. LUGGAGE
In Europe it is very rare to find elevators in train stations, hotels or other public places. We use public transport on this trip, which means you will need to carry your luggage from platform to platform, in and out of trains and buses etc. and also possibly up several flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to stow your luggage safely on trains and buses. It is therefore essential that you pack light and bring luggage which is compact and lightweight, and which you can easily transport. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.

3. ITINERARY CHANGES
Please note, on some departures the trip will visit Avignon and include the Palais des Papes and the Pont St Benezet as scheduled, but will actually stay overnight in the nearby historic cities of Nimes or Arles.

4. RESERVE TICKETS IN ADVANCE
Please note that if you wish to visit popular museums such as the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese in Rome, and the Uffizi or Accademia Galleries in Florence, to avoid waiting in line for a long time (especially in high season May-September when it could be a question of hours!), it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance. Tickets can be reserved online at various websites including www.florenceart.it or www.virtualuffizi.com for Florence and www.tickitaly.com for all. Please make your Florence reservations for Day 11 of your tour, when you will have a free day to enjoy Florence. Most Museums are closed on Mondays. There may be the possibility of arranging tickets on arrival, with the help of your CEO, but availability cannot be guaranteed at such short notice.

5. CINQUE TERRE
The Cinque Terre villages are very keen to encourage people to visit the area and support the local economy and the environment (which we do with every Cinque Terre National Park pass we buy for this tour).

Two of the Cinque Terre towns (Vernazza and Monterosso) suffered extensive damage during the floods of early November 2011. Three towns - Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia were unaffected. While some effects of the flood will remain and some path diversions may be in place, the area remains beautiful, welcoming and rewarding to visit; and we strongly wish to support the local community and environment, now more than ever.

HIKES
In terms of the hiking routes, the coastal path between the towns is not all open at the moment. During the storms some damage was done to the paths and work to restore them is ongoing, so while Riomaggiore-Manarola, Monterosso-Levanto, the higher level path Manarola-Corniglia via Volastra and Riomaggiore-Portovenere are all open, the sections Corniglia-Vernazza-Monterosso are not at time of writing. However, restoration work is under way and the National Park is committed to opening the routes as quickly as it can safely be done. Regardless of whether the entire coastal path will be open, there are many alternative paths available and there will be plenty of hiking opportunities.

6. COMBO TRIP
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

About our Transportation  

Intercity transport on this trip will be by local bus and train. The bus and train systems in France and Italy are generally very good, often with seat reservations and toilet facilities. inevitably travelling by public transport can involve delays and frustrations, though, and we ask you to keep this in mind. Unfold your map, pack in your phrase-book and mp3 player and get ready to enjoy the landscape and practice your French and Italian with the locals.

Between public transport and hotels you may be required to carry your luggage short distances (up to 20mins walk), in larger cities you may travel by metro or city bus, and occasionally the group will take taxis to and from hotels.

Local Flights  

If required all local flights are included in the cost of your tours unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.

Solo Travellers  

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

What to Take  

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. You must be prepared to carry your luggage up and down stairs, as well as on and off transportation.

Money Exchange  

France and Italy are in the Eurozone and the unit of the currency is the Euro.

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances but you must remember to bring your PIN number (be aware that many ATM machines only accept 4-digit PINs). Both Cirrus and Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. Visa cards are the most widely accepted credit cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in France or Italy - check with your bank. You should be aware when purchasing products or services on a credit card, that a fee usually applies.

Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, traveller's cheques and cards is best. Avoid relying on traveller's cheques alone as these are less and less readily cashed as clients use them very little.

Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Visas and Entry Requirements  

Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.

All visitors to the EU (European Union) and EEC (European Economic Community) countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area (see below), however they may not stay longer than three months in any 6-month period.

For other nationalities, travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders, if any at all.

Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen agreement.

A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.

Tipping  

While conventions can vary from country to country, tipping is customary in Europe. A general rule is 10% of the bill for wait staff, and a smaller amount (€1 or €2) for other service providers.

Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

At the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is expected and appreciated. The precise amount is a personal preference, however €30-€40 per person, per week can be used as a guideline.

Laundry  

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your CEO where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

A Couple of Rules  

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.

Group Leader Description  

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. If you wish to take a guided city tour in any location our CEO will do their best to help you arrange this and pay locally.

Group Size Notes  

Max 16, avg 12.

Meals  

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Transport  

Public bus, train, walking.

About Accommodation  

It is important to note that accommodation in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not build to be hotels but rich owners houses, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head.

On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations.

Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service. As accommodation is in short supply, especially during the summer months, hotels can charge a premium and there is sometimes little motivation to improve facilities.

Trip Specific Safety  

Always keep an eye on your belongings especially in major cities, bus and train terminals.

Travel Insurance  

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Meals Included  

13 breakfasts, 1 dinner

My Own Room  

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops.

Please be aware that single room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms.

Arrival Complications  

We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Finishing Point Instructions  

TRAINS TO AIRPORT: The Leonardo Express is the name of the train that'll shuttle you from central Rome's Termini station to Fiumicino airport. A Leonardo Express train leaves every half hour in each direction.

The train covers 35 km in around 30 minutes. Cost: 14 Euros
Tickets for Leonardo Express are available at:
- rail ticket office (railway station atrium)
- newspaper seller-tobacconist's (railway station atrium)
- self-service tellers (railway station atrium)

NOTE:
You must always stamp tickets in the machines on the platform before starting your journey.

TAXI : fixed rate to/from airports
The rate for designated Fiumicino taxi drivers is 60EUR, inclusive of luggage, for a maximum of four passengers.

Packing List  

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (required)
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Rubber gloves

Feedback  

After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customerservice@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you.

Minimum Age  

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

Accommodation  

Hotels (14 nts).

Spending Money  

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Max Pax  

15

Local Dress  

In Italy, shoulders and knees should be covered while visiting churches and cathedrals. Beachwear is only considered suitable for the beach. Ask your CEO for more specific advice.

Joining Hotel  

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.