Villefranche Cruise Excursion to Cannes, Grasse & beyond

 Explore the History and Culture of France's Mediterranean Coastline on this private full day shore excursion from Villefranche Sur Mer. Visit Glamorous Cannes, then the hilltop villages of Grasse, Gourdon and Saint Paul de Vence.

• A wonderful day in the French Riviera Hinterland
• Discover stunning landscapes & breathtaking hilltop villages
• Reach the village of Saint Paul de Vence
• Visit Grasse, the French Capital of Perfumes

Meet your English speaking local tour guide :   Today, on this small group private tour, we will come and pick you up at your cruise port in Villefranche sur Mer. Meet your English speaking driver tour guide who will go over the itinerary and program of this private shore excursion with you. Then board your premium air-conditioned vehicle and begin to make your way to the French Riviera Hinterland. 
Program & Itinerary :

- Pick up at your Cruise Ship in Villefranche-sur-Mer    - Panoramic tour of Cannes - Visit the town of Grasse including a perfume factory - Visit the village of Gourdon including a Traditional Confectionery - End the day in Charming Saint Paul de Vence   - Return to Ship in Villefranche sur Mer  

Begin the day with Cannes

Enjoy a panoramic tour in the world famous town of Cannes. Embellished by palm trees and fine sandy beaches, the town is famous for its cafés and terraces, elegant shops and deluxe hotels. Here, you will discover the Cannes film festival Palace and conference center where the red carpet unrolls for celebrities. The town is without a doubt one of the most glamorous of the Côte d'Azur with Monaco and Monte Carlo.

Visit Grasse, the French Capital of Perfumes

To the North of Cannes, we will start to climb on the lower slopes of a high limestone plateau to reach Grasse, a charming small town that has been associated with perfumery since the 16th century. Today, the town is still home to more than 30 makers and of course you will have the opportunity to visit one of the most famous perfume factories of the region.

The view from the town over the sea is stunning and can be considered as one of the highlights of your day trip. Many coin this view as being the balcony of the French Riviera. The town is also home to a number of private mansions that date back to 17th and 18th centuries. The many ochre façades of the buildings give Grasse a very Italian feel to the charming location.

Visit the hilltop village of Gourdon

Then continue your full day tour to the village of Gourdon, nicknamed the Eagle's Nest, that sits on the edge of a Rocky Spur above the River Loup. The village is dotted with tiny shops but is also home to one of the most famous Candy making Factories named Florian.

The village is also home to a 12th century Chateau that was erected on top of a Saracen fotress. After some time in the village, we will drive along the Loup River through the countryside to discover some places that are a heaven of quietness.

Reach the village of Saint Paul de Vence

After the village of Gourdon, it will be time to make our way to medieval Saint Paul de Vence, sheltered behind its ramparts and filled with art galleries, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. The village of St-Paul dates back to the 11th century and traces of its history still remain much to the delight of its visitors.

It is a village well known for its artistic heritage, the beautiful landscapes surrounding St Paul de vence having inspired many an artist and an enclave of art galleries and museums can be found around the quaint cobbled streets. 

Here, you will have the opportunity to visit the Maeght Foundation. It is Saint Paul's most renowned Art museum. It features works from famous artists that settled at some point in the Côte d'Azur region. Braque, Kandinsky, Chagall or Miro are just a few of them.

Return to your cruise ship after the visit and this will be the end of our services.

• Croisette, Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France
• Saint Paul de Vence, Saint Paul de Vence, France
• Gourdon Alpes Maritimes, Canton de Valbonne, Courmes, France
• Grasse, Boulevard Fragonard, Grasse, France

Ophorus requires full payment to guarantee your booking. In case of registration one month or less before shore excursion date, payment is expected immediately. We accept payment by credit cards (Visa, Master card, American Express), There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments but booking process does incur a booking fee. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund: 

Up to 48 hours prior to departure (Paris Time Zone) > no cancellation fees except the booking fees 

48 hours prior to departure and less > no refund 

No refund will be made in case the boat is unable to dock in the port of Call.

All private shore excursions must clearly specify the name of the ship and the local port of call. Ophorus will not be held responsible if the wrong port of call has been notified during reservation process. All private shore excursions departing from Bordeaux must specify local port of call: “Bordeaux city port of call” or “Bassens port of call“ or “Le Verdon port of call”. No insurance for cancellation or assistance is included in the prices mentioned for private shore excursions. Each customer has to check that he or she has the appropriate documents for their journey; a passport (with visa if necessary) or a valid ID card. No refund will be granted in case of lack or loss of ID documents. Eating, drinking and smoking on board the minivans are strictly forbidden (law of September, 17th, 1977). All passengers are insured during the excursions while in the vans. The responsibility of Ophorus is limited to our insurance contract clauses. 

If you want to share your tour with others, you can put it on Cruise Critic. Most of the time this gives good results. You must do this yourself as we are not accepted on their site as a professional business. We accept split payment transactions by credit card.