Discover the picture-book villages, colourful seafront towns and azure ocean views that lie along one of the most beautiful stretches of Italy’s coastline

Your Italian holiday begins today at London St Pancras International. As you arrive, meet the Tour Manager and the rest of the travel group, and together, board the Eurostar service to Paris. In the French capital, we change trains and continue to Turin, located in the scenic Piedmont region of northern Italy. Enjoy views of the Italian Alps before we arrive in this elegant city, notable for its skyline of Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings.

A coach transfer takes us to our hotel, where we check in for a one-night stay. After getting settled in for the evening, we sit down to our first dinner together in the hotel's restaurant.

After breakfast, your morning is free to explore the attractions of Turin. The city is one of Italy's leading centres of business, finance and technology, but remains a showcase of fantastic architecture spanning many periods. Fringed by the Italian Alps, Turin's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars.

In the early afternoon, we are transferred to the station to continue our day by rail. From Genoa, the route clings to the dramatic coast, disappearing through tunnels and reappearing with serene marine views and crossing viaducts over colourful towns, all along the beautiful coastline. On arrival in Chiavari, we check into our hotel in the historic centre of this picturesque town.

Ideally situated on the Italian Riviera, Chiavari's palm-lined promenade offers views of the Ligurian Sea, while the inland hills are dotted with olive groves. We are welcomed to this idyllic destination with a drink before dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

Please note - For selected departures we will stay at the Hotel Monte Rosa in Chiavari.

You can familiarise yourself with your new surroundings today as you have a full day at leisure. You could visit Chiavari's Cathedral of Our Lady dell'Orto. Built between 1613 and 1633, this cathedral houses many exquisite paintings, frescoes and valuable artworks dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The beautiful harbour, framed by townhouses and filled with fishing boats, brims with cafés offering excellent Italian cuisine. Another option is to relax on the beach or stroll through the historic centre's sheltered medieval streets.

If you would like to head further afield, Chiavari is located on the rail line that links the towns of the Italian Riviera. Camogli's pastel-coloured buildings overlook a bay and a harbour on either side of a 12th-century church. A warren of narrow alleyways and broad, tunnelled arcades connects the harbourside to the beach. Alternatively, the nearby town of Rapallo features a cable car climbing to the Sanctuary of Montallegro for spectacular views across the town and sea.

With an independent dinner, you could sip local wine or sample Ligurian food, including the famous 'buridda' seafood stew originating from this region.

Today is a highlight of the tour as we explore three of the Cinque Terre villages. Riomaggiore, the southernmost, is our first destination. Tall, multi-coloured buildings sweep down a steep hill to a small harbour overlooking the bay. High above the village are stepped terraces of olive groves and vines. There is time to explore the car-free streets and piazzas before heading to the ferry to cruise to the next location.

We sail on to Vernazza, passing Manarola and clifftop Corniglia on the way. In Vernazza, the cobbled streets are lined with quaint cafes where you can grab a spot of lunch. With free time here, wandering the narrow side streets (which the Genoese call 'caruggi') is the best way to experience this traditional fishing village.

Our final port of call is Monterosso, where a spacious piazza leads to bustling streets alive with restaurants and bars. There is time at leisure to look around this town known for its lemon trees and sandy beach, before returning to Chiavari by rail. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

 We travel by rail to Portofino today, regarded as one of the most beautiful places on the Mediterranean. This old fishing village is set in a secluded natural harbour of small fishing boats and impressive yachts. Among the buildings painted terracotta, peach and yellow are restaurants, bars and gelaterias. There is time over lunch to explore this graceful town, overlooked by Castello Brown and two churches, including the striped façade of the Romanesque Chiesa del Divo Martino.

Afterwards, we sail around the headland to San Fruttuoso*. This cove is only accessible by foot or boat and is dominated by a 10th-century Benedictine abbey that sits on the small pebble beach. Submerged in the bay is the statue of 'Christ in the Abyss', believed to protect local sailors in the surrounding waters. There's time to look around before cruising to Rapallo, where we take the train to Chiavari in time for dinner at the hotel.

Please Note: if weather conditions mean the boat can't land at San Fruttuoso, we land at Santa Margherita instead, a tranquil village with old-fashioned Italian charm.

A free day allows you to explore the beautiful Italian Riviera independently. You may wish to catch the train back to the Cinque Terre towns of Manarola and Corniglia. Facing each other across a bay, these villages have very different characters. Manarola is famed for its sweet wine, Sciacchetrà, while its colourful buildings drape over the cliff and through a winding valley. Corniglia is the only one of the five villages to not have access from the sea and sits high on a rocky outcrop. From the station, it can be reached via nearly 400 steps, although a small bus does run occasionally.

You could also visit Sestri Levante, a laid-back coastal town between two bays. The Bay of Fairytales is the liveliest part of town, with its port, beaches and shops. On the other side of the old town is the Bay of Silence, also known as Portobello, which has one of the best sandy beaches in Italy.

For dinner tonight, you could opt for one of the town's restaurants to sample the simple anchovy dish of 'bagnun', which reportedly hails from Sestri Levante.

Our day begins with a coach trip to Liguria's capital, Genoa. An enjoyable journey along the Riviera coast with the sea never far from view takes us straight to the heart of this ancient port, one of Italy's great cities.

We join a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour of the old town that includes the Doge's Palace, an impressive Renaissance building built in 1298, and explains why Genoa has earned the nickname 'La Superba'. As the former home of explorer Christopher Columbus, Genoa has always looked towards the sea for its wealth and influence, and the city now contains a treasure trove of history, art and grand palaces.

After the tour, there is free time to enjoy lunch independently or admire the city's museums and galleries, the magnificent cathedral, ancient churches, and impressive harbour. We return to Chiavari by coach in the afternoon where there's time to relax before a final dinner on the Italian Riviera.

Leaving Chiavari and the Italian Riviera behind this morning, we transfer to the railway station and begin our journey back towards France. The route takes us around the arch of the Ligurian Sea to Ventimiglia. The railway is rarely far from the sea and reveals pretty seaside towns, filling the trip with scenic panoramas from beginning to end.

From Ventimiglia, we continue by coach into nearby France, travelling to the Côte d'Azur resort of St-Raphaël. This resort town is beloved for its pristine sandy beaches, bustling harbour and charming Old Town, and as we arrive early this evening, we check in to a hotel overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Take some time to get settled and admire the views before we gather for a three-course dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

Please Note - For departures 16th & 18th April, 1st & 11th June and 17th October we will travel via Chambery, staying at the Mercure Chambery.

Our journey comes to a close as we transfer to the station in St-Raphaël this morning to board a train that weaves through France to Paris. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar and take our seats for the final leg of our route to London. Far behind us are the colourful villages and seaside towns of the Italian Riviera, the glistening sea and the laid-back atmosphere of a serene and picturesque region.

Arriving back at London St Pancras International in the evening, you are free to continue your travels homewards.

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

The 4-Star Hotel Monte Rosa is located near the town's beautiful historic centre and close to the station, shorefront and marina. Originally set up as a small independent hotel in 1909, it's grown to include a restaurant serving food inspired by the surrounding area, a bar, a swimming pool and a sun terrace. The guest rooms are comfortable and well-furnished, featuring air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom, television, minibar, safe and free Wi-Fi.

Run by the Pessagno family for the past 40 years, the 3-Star Stella del Mare is a delightful hotel located in the heart of Chiavari, only a short stroll from the seafront promenade and the beach. The hotel's restaurant serves fresh Italian cuisine, while the guest rooms feature air-conditioning, satellite television, telephone, hairdryer, safe and free Wi-Fi.

Your holiday begins the moment you meet your Tour Manager at St Pancras International and board the Eurostar train for mainland Europe. If you wish to get your holiday off to an extra special start, why not consider upgrading your on-board accommodation from Standard Class to Plus Class?

As well as all the amenities enjoyed in Standard Class, Plus Class travellers benefit from extra spacious, comfortable seats, complimentary newspapers and magazines and a light snack with drinks served at your seat during the journey. Before 11am, the light snack comprises breakfast pastries, yoghurt, fruit juice and tea or coffee. After 11am there is a choice of 2 main dishes and a dessert, accompanied by soft drinks, wine or beer and tea or coffee.

Prices for an upgrade from £125 each way. Please call us for more details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £199 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag as your luggage will be delivered direct to your first destination hotel. The luggage service is not available where you are flying to or from your destination and you will need to take your own luggage with you on the flight.