NatureTour “Sirens of the Riviera”

A  journey of discovery of the sea, nature and large cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea in the Italian Riviera,  the Riviera of Flowers, and  the French Riviera

Come with us on a voyage to discover the fauna of the seven seas and the history of their exploration. Along the way there will be marvelous aquariums and museums as well as the opportunity to surprise the great cetaceans of the Mediterranean in their natural habitat:  the Whale Sanctuary.

A voyage from Genoa to Antibes in the blue of the ocean,  following in the footsteps of the great explorers such as Jacques Cousteau. In the past century those explorers did much, by way of their discoveries, to increase love and respect for the Oceans.  Above all, they brought to an end the annihalation of the great cetaceans.

From the vast maritime collections of  Genoa, through the aquariums of Genoa and Monaco and on to the dolphinarium of Antibes you can learn all there is to learn about life above and below the waves. But above everything else, you will learn to love the whales, the killer whales, the dolphins, the seals, the turtles and the thousands of types of multicoloured fish which live in our seas.

TOUR PACKAGE

4 days – 3 nights

1^st day

Arrival in late afternoon in San Remo to check in to your hotel.  Dinner and overnight stay.

2^nd day:  The Discovery of the Whales of the Mediterranean Sea

In the early morning you will transfer to the port of San Remo to board a motorboat,  where with the assistance of a marine biologist,  you will embark on an exciting voyage which lasts approximately 6 hours,  in search of whales, sperm whales and dolphins. The “Santuario dei cetacei Pelagos”, which covers the sea area stretching between the Italian Riviera, Elba and Corsica, was instigated in 1993 by the governments of Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco. This is testimony to the international importance accorded to this phenomenon in the recent past and the arrangements put in place to protect the more than 2000 Cetaceans of eight different species which live in the Ligurian Sea in the Summer months.

The whale-watching tour is available from June to September.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

 

3^rd day: Cetaceans and great explorers

In the morning transfer to Antibes for a visit to Marineland, the largest dolphinarium in Europe and one of the principal centres of research on cetaceans in the world. Here it is impossible not to be amazed by the spectacle afforded by the amazing performances of killer whales, walruses, dolphins and sea-lions which attest to the skills of the centre. This is a veritable party for adults but, above all, for children!

It doesn’t matter if you can’t speak French as, when lunchtime arrives, you will soon discover the delights of the local cusine: at lunchtime you are invited to try for yourself many treats provided by local restaurants.

In the afternoon you will transfer to Monte Carlo where you will visit the famous Oceanarium. Opened in 1910 by it’s founder, Prince Alberto I, this exceptional museum is dedicated to the science of the sea. It is home to numerous species of marine life and to the ships and equipment used by the pioneers who explored the oceans. The subterranean aquarium affords to the visitor an amazing spectacle of marine flora and fauna. The rarest species of multi coloured fish, brought here from every corner of the globe, dart about in tanks filled with sea water.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

4th Day: The Extraordinary Aquarium

During the morning you will transfer to the Ligurian capital for a visit to the renowned Aquarium of Genoa. There are 59 tanks containing 4 million litres of water which reproduce, in a most spectacular manner, the habitats of the Mediterranean and of the Oceans, from the Poles to the Tropics. In this way the living conditions of more than 500 species of fish, cetaceans and amphibians are reproduced. A suspended walkway enables you to take a trip into the fascinating world of the seal, whilst in another area you can get close to the elegant manta.

Following on from this will be a visit to the charming Galata Museo del Mare where you will be able to experience the development of seafaring and navigation from the Middle Ages to the present day. There are 17 large rooms all of which contain spectacular reconstructions of ships and of the seafaring life. These displays bring to life a past age, almost as if there was a time machine at work, with the men, the stories and the objects of everyday life on board.

At the end of the visit departure for your home destination.

Our offer includes:

• Individual subscription fee covering the administrative dues.
• Accommodation at  our hotels in double rooms with half board.
• Admission to the Museums and Villas included in the program.

Our offer does not include:

• The round trip, local transportation and all that is not included under the entry “our offer includes”.
• Lunches and dinners are intended to conform to the menu of the day or the tasting menu proposed by the chef.  Beverages and à la carte items are to be paid on site.
• The tours suggested in the program are to be considered freely, i.e. without the services of a guide.

Optional services:

• Tour guide to visit the villages.
• Local transfers by auto or minibus with driver.

 

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