Mediterranean Sea France Tours & Trip Packages

Mediterranean Sea France Tours & Trips

97 Mediterranean Sea trips. Tours from 55 tour companies. 29 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

19 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
France
French Riviera & Provence
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4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Nice

Highlights

  • A Day in Monaco (full-day, from Nice)

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats

What travelers are saying

"Great hotel and flexible about extending my flight, as I am attending a wedding outside of Paris. They would call back and email pretty promptly. However, BEWARE their condition and communication with the vendors/attractions with the trip is poor. They told me I would forfeit my airport transfer back which I was fine with BUT they didn’t cancel it, so the hotel lobby kept calling me, as well as an angry driver on my cellphone. The reason why I use travel agencies overseas is for them to coordinate everything for me especially when I call in for a special request - as that is their job. I also never received my toot bus ticket and had to call in for that. However, I did not receive my river cruise ticket. Doubt I’ll get a refund for that. The office hours are also crap and all over the place. Most likely will never use GVV again, even if I find a steal, because you got to be on your toes with this company. It is not smooth as you would think because you have to do everything yourself for requesting what you paid for or you don’t receive/have to do the explanations yourself."

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Paris & the French Riviera by Rail
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4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Nice, Paris

Highlights

  • Want to stay longer? You can extend this trip up to a total of 9 days!
  • The Tootbus Must-See Paris Hop-on/Hop-off Tour + River Cruise (48 hours)

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats

What travelers are saying

"Great hotel and flexible about extending my flight, as I am attending a wedding outside of Paris. They would call back and email pretty promptly. However, BEWARE their condition and communication with the vendors/attractions with the trip is poor. They told me I would forfeit my airport transfer back which I was fine with BUT they didn’t cancel it, so the hotel lobby kept calling me, as well as an angry driver on my cellphone. The reason why I use travel agencies overseas is for them to coordinate everything for me especially when I call in for a special request - as that is their job. I also never received my toot bus ticket and had to call in for that. However, I did not receive my river cruise ticket. Doubt I’ll get a refund for that. The office hours are also crap and all over the place. Most likely will never use GVV again, even if I find a steal, because you got to be on your toes with this company. It is not smooth as you would think because you have to do everything yourself for requesting what you paid for or you don’t receive/have to do the explanations yourself."

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Voyages to Antiquity: Exploring History’s Grandeur in France and Spain
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Barcelona, Cádiz, Madrid, Seville, Valencia

Highlights

  • Delve into France’s medieval history at Avignon’s Papal Palace and on the narrow streets of fortified Carcassonne.
  • Examine the exquisite interiors and lush gardens of the Alhambra, a magnificent Moorish palace.
  • Contrast the proud cultures of several Spanish cities including Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Because I have Stage 4 cancer, I chose to spend the extra money for trip insurance in case my cancer recurred. When a scan showed that it had, I cancelled my trip. I sent to them the medical documents from the Mayo Clinic confirming my new diagnosis. They sent me an email telling me my oncologist needed to fill in a form. I asked my oncologist to do that and I submitted it by fax on April 6th. When I didn’t hear anything, I sent them more medical documentation and asked them to please push forward my refund as I have travel expenses from a clinical trial coming up. Several days later I received an email that they needed further documentation from my doctor. How much more documentation do you need than the patient has stage 4 metastatic cancer and is starting a clinical trial??? This is heartless to me. Please don’t plan to travel through Road Scholar if you’re medically vulnerable!!"

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The Best of Europe
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Assisi, Britain, Brussels, Florence, Heidelberg, London, Lucerne, Paris, Pisa, Pompeii, Rome, Sorrento, Venice, Verona

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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The Best of Europe with London
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Assisi, Britain, Brussels, Florence, Heidelberg, London, Lucerne, Paris, Pisa, Pompeii, Rome, Sorrento, Venice, Verona

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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Spiritual Highlights of Iberia, Lourdes & Italy - Faith-Based Travel
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Assisi, Barcelona, Lisbon, Puglia, Rome, Umbria

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Religious

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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Mediterranean Flavors
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Assisi, Barcelona, Cinque Terre, Cuenca, La Spezia, Madrid, Marseille, Rome, Valencia, Venice, Verona

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

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Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Elba, Mount Etna, Palermo, Stonehenge, Valletta

Highlights

  • Explore the Corsican citadel of Bonifacio, perched on soaring sea-cliffs, with its medieval fortress, maze of streets, churches, mausoleums, and unique history
  • Visit the prehistoric temple complex at Hagar Qim on Malta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site older than Stonehenge
  • Discover Ortigia, a small island-city within the city of Siracusa – a romantic enclave of ancient temples and baroque architecture
  • Explore the summit of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, with an experienced mountaineer-guide, and savor some of the most dramatic panoramic views of Sicily and the Mediterranean

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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19 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
France

Mediterranean Sea Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
29  Reviews
See all Mediterranean Sea tour reviews
Excellent
23
Great
2
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
M

Michael

Oct 2015

Written on

I think without intrepid our experiences in

I think without intrepid our experiences in Egypt would have been very negative. I feel that Walid, our guide kept us protected. Our itinerary was changed because o...

M

Michelle

Oct 2015

Written on

Walid and intrepid really took the hassle

Walid and intrepid really took the hassle out of Egypt for me. I was ...

T

Thibault

Oct 2015

Written on

Mixed group, great guide, perfect organization and

Mixed group, great guide, perfect organization and back-up at all time

A

Amar

Sep 2015

Written on

Huge variety of activities, exploration of ancient

Huge variety of activities, exploration of ancient tombs, history, culture and amazing people. Its the first time I have been Scuba Diving, seen the pyramids, slept ...

J

James

Sep 2015

Written on

Overall I think the trip was well

Overall I think the trip was well organised and our safety was of the highest priority. Also it was good that collective decisions were made when plans had to be cha...

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Mediterranean Sea Tour Selection Trips

  • Get to the starting port a day or two early to have time to relax. Leaving from Athens? Explore the ruins on your own before meeting with your tour group the next day.
  • The sun in the Mediterranean can be stronger than you're used to; make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
  • Keep hydrated during your trip. Being in the sun all day and participating in activities can dehydrate you fast.
  • Research the ports you'll be stopping in before you go to maximize your time there. If you're stopping in Monaco for only a day, decide if you want to spend time in the famous Monte Carlo casino, shopping, or strolling along the pier admiring the yachts.
  • Bring a variety of clothing and footwear. You want to make sure you're comfortable when you're exploring Naples on foot, as well as relaxing on the beach. Keep in mind that many cities on the Mediterranean have cobblestone streets, and appropriate footwear is necessary to prevent injury or discomfort.
  • The time of year is an important factor to consider, as most of your activities will be outside. The summer months can get quite hot, so consider going in the spring or fall if you're not up to being in the heat. The Mediterranean might be best explored in May or September for cooler, but still enjoyable weather.
  • If you want to go to a private beach, make sure to get there early to reserve your sunbed and parasol. Beaches get very crowded, especially in the summer, and having shade and a comfortable place to lay can make a huge difference. While public beaches are free, be aware that certain parts of the Mediterranean are full of rocks and don't make a comfortable spot for lying all day.
  • Be courteous and learn basic phrases of the countries you're going to. A simple "bonjour" (hello in French) and "grazie" (thank you in Italian) can go a long way with the locals you are interacting with.

Additional details

Best Time to Travel to the Mediterranean

Thankfully, with the Mediterranean’s location, you can visit the Med any time of the year. If you stick to the coast, you will be met with mild and wet winters and warm summers. Some of the countries that touch the Med do get snow farther inland. 

The high season for all of the Mediterranean are the summer months. This is when the cities, especially in the European countries, will be the busiest with vacationers and cruise ships in port. If you want to avoid the crowds, but still want to go when it’s warm, book your trip during the shoulder seasons. 

Fall and spring are the best times to visit the Mediterranean, in particular, May and September. Both of these months are still warm, but cooler than July and August when you can see temperatures around 98 degrees in Morocco and 90 in Athens. Also, most children are back in school and families aren’t taking vacations during these times, so there will be smaller crowds in the cities and at the top attractions. 

Common Mediterreanean Sea Cruise Routes

One of the best ways to see as many places as possible in the Mediterranean is a via a cruise. Many of the cruises to the Mediterranean cover two, three, or four countries. In the amount of time allotted for cruises, and the distance you have to cover in the Mediterranean, you will be limited to only being able to see a few countries in a certain region of the Med.  

There are a wide variety of cruise routes, but most of them do center around three countries: Greece, Italy, and Spain. All of these countries have major port cities that cruise ships are able to stop at and you are able to get out and explore. Most of these cruises are at least 11 days long, but some are as few as 6, depending on the theme and destinations.

Greece Cruises

Greece is one of the top destinations for cruises in the Mediterranean. Cruises that are only of Greece start in Athens and make their way through the Cyclades Islands that include Mykonos, Ios, and Santorini.

Greece is typically the starting point for cruises of the eastern part of the Mediterranean. These cruises begin in Athens then make their way to the countries in the Balkans with stops in Dubrovnik and the Croatian Islands, Kotor, and Albania. 

Italy Cruises

Mediterranean Sea cruise routes that start in Italy usually follow the coastline of Italy and into the French Riviera. These cruises make stops at the major Italian coastal regions like Naples, Sicily, and Corsica.

Many Mediterranean Sea voyages combine France and Italy into the same cruise. With the beautiful French Riviera being so close to Italy, it’s often times included at the end of these cruises after you visit the Italian Riviera. 

Spain Cruises

Mediterranean Sea cruises of the western part of the sea typically begin in Spain. Most tours start in Barcelona and make their way down the coast of Spain hitting major Southern Spain cities of Granada and Seville before wrapping around the Strait of Gibraltar and visiting sites in Portugal. These cruises also often include stops in Morocco, Ibiza, and Cardiz as Spain and North Africa were once ruled by the Moorish Empire. 

Packing List for a Mediterranean Cruise

Your packing list for a Mediterranean cruise won’t be as extensive or bulky as a trip to Germany or the U.S. The weather in the European portion of the Med is pretty consistent. In the Asian and African countries on the Med it will be warmer and drier throughout the year. 

During the warmer months, you won’t need to carry any heavy clothes. The Mediterranean gets very warm and you will mostly be wearing dresses, shorts, tank tops, and skirts. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat as the sky in the Med during the summer can be crystal clear and without clouds. 

If you are traveling during the shoulder months, make sure to bring layers. Light jackets and sweaters are ideal as the nights will be cooler than in July and August. Also, bring rain jackets as both of these times of the year you will see rain. If you are on a Mediterranean Sea cruise during the winter, make sure to pack pants. Winter nights can be very cool and you will see more rain during this time. 

There are many religious sites included on cruise itineraries. If you are visiting a church, mosque, or temple you will have to be covered up. Consider packing scarves, long dresses, pants, and light jackets if you know you want to visit a religious site. 

Luxury Mediterrean Tours

The Med can be visited on any type of budget. However, if you are looking for luxury or premium tours of the Mediterranean, there are plenty of tour operators out there. Many of these tours include stays in boutique hotels that are on the coast or in the heart of each of the cities. 

The luxury tours often include personal tours of attractions and private performances or dinners with locals. These tours are typically longer and allow for longer stays in each of the destinations.

Transportation on these tours is also on the premium level. Whether it’s a luxury cruise ship, private bus, or small catamaran, you’ll be treated to the most comfortable rides around. 

Budget Mediterranean Tours

The Mediterranean is a great place to visit on a budget. Many of the tour operators provide tours on a “shoestring” that include taking local transportation like the train and city buses. You’ll also be staying in 2-star hotels, hostels, or shared rooms to save money.

There are even some budget tours where you can sleep on the small boats as you sail through the night to your next destination. 

Since you would be visiting on a budget, these tours are shorter. They are usually only 7 or 8 days long and move quite fast so you can see as much as possible. But if you want to see as much as you can, while keeping to a set budget, looking into budget Mediterranean tours is the way to go.

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On Travelstride you can find 97 trips to Mediterranean Sea and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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