Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Venice, Florence, Peloponnese, Rome
100% customisable for you
Rise and shine: your luxury cultural sabbatical begins today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and board your speedy two-hour flight to the first destination of your European adventure: the bold and beautiful city of Venice.
Spend your first day on a private tour of the cities' best-known spots, from St Mark’s Square to the Basilica, before exploring Venice’s iconic canals in the best (and most romantic) way - by boat.
While in Venice, you’ll also have the opportunity to cross the Venetian lagoon to the postcard-perfect islands of Murano, renowned for its glassmaking, and Burano, to see the island's colourful houses and learn about traditional lacemaking.
Today, it’s time to say arrivederci to Venice and ciao to Bologna. You’ll be travelling by train for the Italian leg of your trip – one of the best ways to travel around this diverse and wonderful continent, so hop aboard for the one-and-a-half-hour journey south to the food capital of Italy.
During your stay in this foodie heaven, perfect your pasta and pizza making in private lessons with a local. Your expert guide will teach you the art of traditional Italian cooking - a sure-fire way to impress friends and family back at home when you return from your cultural sabbatical.
Enjoy the views from your window as the train meanders through the Italian countryside to your next stop; Florence, a 40-minute journey away. With its rich history, beautiful architecture and artistic heritage, your time in Florence is all about soaking up the local culture.
Delve into the Uffizi Gallery's collections with a private art historian as your guide, which include works by Botticello, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Stroll past the queues to see the Duomo’s Gothic architecture and intricate cathedrals, before heading south of the river to meet local artisans (and perhaps pick up a souvenir or two).
The next stop on your luxury cultural sabbatical is Rome, so hop aboard the train for a one-and-a-half-hour journey to Italy’s capital. Once you arrive, drop your bags at your hotel – your home for the next four nights – and head straight for the Vatican City.
Spend the next few days exploring the seat of the Catholic church, which is also the smallest city-state in the world. We can arrange for you to experience the Vatican after hours, exploring its incredible paintings and marvellous mosaics in total peace and quiet (apart from your guide, who’ll be on hand to offer expertise). Fancy an even more exclusive look? Go behind the scenes with the Swiss Guards to truly discover this incredible city.
Day 15 of your cultural sabbatical will see you hopping aboard a three-hour rail journey to Naples, Italy's most unlikely masterpiece. With its raw energy and inimitable elegance, Naples is an Italian city unlike any other – and, if you needed any more convincing, it just so happens to be where pizza was invented.
Discover Naples’ hidden gems on a guided tour of the city, making sure to take note of the best places for a slice (or ten).
While you’re here, it would be criminal to miss Pompeii, so set off on a day trip to this historic city to see the destructive beauty of Mount Vesuvius. This is a day for both reflecting on the power of Mother Nature and marvelling at the beauty of ancient Roman architecture.
Today, leave mainland Italy behind and board a short one-hour flight to the picturesque island of Sicily. Once you touch down, pick up your trusty hire car, because you’ll be spending the next eight days of your luxury cultural sabbatical exploring the island on a road trip around the south-eastern coast.
Your road trip along the coast will include all of Sicily’s delights. Head out on an expert-guided walking tour of Agrigento, home to the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological site featuring well-preserved Greek temples. Jaunt around Ragusa and Modica, two of the island's loveliest baroque towns, and try your hand at creating traditional Sicilian fare on an authentic cookery course. Break up all the walking with a 4x4 tour of Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges - this is a trip for the memory books.
Your time in Italy has come to an end, but it’s not all bad news: you’re off on a ten-day tour of the Peloponnese to round off your cultural sabbatical. Pack your bags and board your one-and-a-half-hour flight to Athens, where a trusty hire car will be waiting for you. After a quick break in this historic city (souvlaki, anyone?), hit the road for a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Delphi, home to myriad historic temples and considered by the Greeks to be the ‘Centre of the World’.
Next up, make a speedy stop in Nafpaktos for some beautiful natural scenery before continuing to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, to visit its iconic museums. Once you’ve had your fill of Olympia, it’s back on the road for the two-hour drive to Arcadia, where picturesque villages rub shoulders with breathtaking mountain ranges.
Finally, it’s onto Nafplion, the perfect base for exploring the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus. We’ll arrange a behind-the-scenes tour with a local expert so you can learn about the rich history of these ancient sites – the perfect way to soak up every last inch of culture as your sabbatical comes to an end and you head back home.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
