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Luxury Jet and Yacht Charters
Crowned with golden beaches, dressed with glittering boutiques, casinos
and clubs, and home to the Grimaldi Royal family, the French and
Italian Riviera is, quite literally, the king of holiday destinations.
Wild asparagus, sun-baked olives, rare aromatic herbs and spices, tangy lemons and fragrant fennel ... it's true to say that many people come to the Cote d'Azur to dine on the finest cuisine in some of the world's most famous restaurants, but many also come to soak up the beauty of the idyllic landscapes, rolling orchards and scenic groves where it grows - basking in seclusion and sunshine while overlooking one of the world's most fashionable strips of coastline. The racy city of Monaco is synonymous with the annual Grand Prix and year-round jet-set living, but its exotic gardens and Oceanographic Museum are well worth a visit. From scenic anchorages in Juan Les Pins and Pampelonne, where beach and water sports fun earn you an appetite for lunch in Club 55, head then to St Tropez - capital of the French Riviera and a Mecca for film stars and royalty. After just a short cruise south, the heady mix of cigars and expensive perfume gives way to the fragrance of pine, eucalyptus, lavender and fennel on the rustic Ile de Porquerolles. Enjoy a leisurely cycle ride across the island, and then relax on board for a cruise back up the coast to star-studded Cannes , and the next day on to the old town of Villefranche . Visit its gardens in a 16th century fortress and the Chapel de Saint-Pierre before Cap Ferrat entices you to its Villa-Musee Isle de France, decorated in true European style with exquisite classical furnishings, sculptures and paintings.
Join your yacht in Nice and cruise east to either the undiscovered gem
of Villefranche-sur-Mer or the elegant St Jean Cap Ferrat for lunch
onboard. In the afternoon, head for the dazzling opulence of Monaco ,
with its architecturally splendid hotels, first class restaurants and
high stake casinos.
After a leisurely start, meander back along the Riviera to Theoule, a scenic spot on the other side of the Bay of Cannes , perfect for watersports Onwards to Pampelonne Beach and en route, look out for dolphins and whales. On arrival, have lunch at Club 55 and relax on the stunning beach frequented by the rich and famous. In the late afternoon, you can cruise to St Tropez, well-known for its nightlife, where an aperitif in a quayside bar and dinner in La Ramada are recommended. Visit the Iles d'Hyeres. Take a picnic to Porquerolles and walk along winding paths that pass through pine forests, eventually leading to a hidden cove. Make the most of your yacht's water 'toys' and explore the impressive underwater life, which is protected by a marine reserve. In the morning, consider sailing east along the coast to the thickly wooded Iles de Lerin. Visit the seventeenth century prison on Ste-Marguerite, where Alexander Dumas's "Man in the Iron Mask" served time. Later, head for Cannes . Do not miss the palm-lined seaside promenade of La Croisette with its first class hotel, galleries and boutiques. Spend a day in bustling Antibes . Visit the Musee Picasso housed inthe Chateau Grimaldi, the OId Town with its ancient shuttered houses and the colorful displays of the Provencal market. Have lunch at Bacon, a restaurant famous for serving the best bouillabaisse in France . If you reach Nice early enough, go and see the Promenade des Anglais, the Roman ruins of Cimiez and the Cours Saleya, with its famous Marche des Fleurs, before catching a plane home. |
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