Welcome to Curious Traveller tours. We specialize in private or escorted, tailor-made travel to
Best experiences are about how to blend your needs with the unique and special context of the places you visit. For those of you looking for the extra thrill of going alone but with the knowledge and experience of our guides, we created a self guided section.
Our travel requirements are no longer about somewhere to rest and relax. We want to understand the places we are experiencing. The walk by tour without real engagement is a thing of the past. We at Curious Traveller have specialized in providing unique travel products. Our connections with some of the most important cultural establishments in
Please make sure you check our designer tour page to see some other travel ideas and at any time feel free to contact us with your own requirements.
Live your dream of the Grand Tours of Europe.
Travel note …..We found what looked like a subway entrance in the base of the cliff face that surrounds of old Salzburg Austria. An ad in large canvas banner format promoted Keistler, one of the worlds leading modern artists. It floated above the entrance with no real glues of what was inside. We could have walked by but for our knowledge and our desire to experience what the Italians call 'andor-per-le-fodore'. Finding a destination via secrete pathways.
The foyer was standard industrial design uninviting with no clear idea of purpose. We still bought a ticket! To our surprise a woman come out from nowhere and escorted us to an elevator. Within seconds we were travelling through the centre of the rock face, the height of two empire state buildings.
At the top we arrived in a modern art museum made of steel, glass and concrete with the ultimate view, the ultimate contrast to the historic architecture below, Salzburg in winter with snow and all its grandeur.
The art was amazing but the joy was in the glass of wine, an inviting leather coach, and being perched high above a magnificent city. It was truly totally unexpected and unforgettable, magic. The photos of this travel moment now form the design bases for this web site. To help encourage others to experience new and unexpected views, to experience magic which is the business of the curious traveller.
ROME TO PARIS LIVE THE CULTURES
An example of a past tour and Tentative Proposal & Itinerary :
ART & CULTURE TOUR :
Depart January 2007 Based on a Minimum of 15 Passengers Flights: Singapore Airlines Depart Melbourne 15 January Flight SQ228 5.00pm Arrive Singapore
15 January 9.35pm Depart Singapore 16 January Flight SQ340 1.00am Arrive Rome
16 January 7.10am Rome: 6 nights - 16 to 22 January 16 January Local Transport and assistance (English Speaking) to meet you on arrival at airport for transfer to Hotel. Hotel: Colonna Palace or Similar (4 Star) Forget the jet-lag and take a leisurely stroll along the Tiber to the temple of Vespa ---- this will start our great adventure. Wander from here to the Forum as if in the time of the ancient Romans. On our way back, see for the first time the Pantheon. Supper and wine at the Piazza Navona.
17 January Hotel: Colonna Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast Today is the grand tour of the Vatican. This time we will walk across the Tiber over the famous bridge by Bernini and from our first discussion group in St Peters forecourt, we will journey to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon we will experience the wonders of the St. Peters Basilica. Later we can travel back to the hub of the everyday Roman's life…………… the Spanish Steps 18 January Hotel: Colonna Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast Explore the soul of the city by taking in one or more of the intuitive Roman adventures. Or just stop and breathe in the atmosphere as Romans do. Some wine, some food, some more of Piazza Navona. At the end of this day it's time to throw those coins into that fountain.
19 January Hotel: Colonna Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast The next two days are 'dot point' days - your choice to experience as many or as few as you wish: • Explore the Coliseum • San Clemente & it's three layers of civilisation • Wander the Catacombs • Journey to Nero's palace • The baths of Caracalla
20 January Hotel: Colonna Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast • Santa Maria Maggiore • Museo Nazionale Romano which houses most of the antiquities found in Rome since 1870
21 January Take a journey to Ostia Antica and the Tivoli Gardens. Our Roman experiences finish at the capital, Camidoglio. See the sunset and the ancient ruin that is the Forum. And maybe later, take in a show at the Il Sastina. More wine or coffe and chocolates at Rome's best coffee shop. Rome to Florence: Via Assisi & Sienna 3 nights - Florence -
22 to 25 January 22 January Depart Rome by Coach to Assisi (184 kms - 2.41minutes) Have time to enjoy Assisi on foot Lunch (at own expense) Then travel on to Sienna (136kms - 2.00 minutes) Have time to enjoy Sienna on foot Travel on to Florence (69kms - 1.10 minutes ) Orientation tour of Florence followed by transfer to Villa Hotel: Villa Gabriele D'Annunzio 23 January Full Day Free at Leisure Hotel: Villa Gabriele D'Annunzio - Continental Breakfast Florence. It's time to see David at the Academy and to walk across the square from here and see the Fra Angelica frescos. Unlock the mysteries of Florence by exploring Sans Lorenzo and the Medici tomb. Something special about this tomb will lead us on an aesthetic journey that will end as we explore the Uffici gallery, bathed in the soft light of an early setting winter sun. From here, the views of Florence are lit as if in a fairytale. And if you still haven't felt the magic by now, perhaps a little more champagne in the Piazza della Signoria (the Harangue). 24 January Full Day Free at Leisure Hotel: Villa Gabriele D'Annunzio - Continental Breakfast Time to shop! Leather, books, latest fashions, maybe a bus ride to some adventure in the surrounding countryside, after all, this is Tuscany. Florence to Venice: 5 nights - Venice -
25 to 30 January 25 January After breakfast travel by Coach with assistant (English Speaking) to meet you at your hotel for transfer to Florence station Travel by intercity train - First Class to Mestre Met on arrival at Mestre Station by assistant (English Speaking), and local transport to local restaurant (lunch at own expense) After lunch, local transport continues for transfer to Tochetto Pier. Transferred by private boat to Piazza San Marco (Luggage to be personally attended to) and onward transfer to your hotel. Hotel: Liassidi Palace or Similar (4 Star)
26 January Hotel: Liassidi Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast Venice. Live the dream. What you left behind in your life, will now seem remote, and what is so beautiful, is all around you. Throw your camera in the air because it's impossible to take a bad photo. St. Mark's square & the Basilica; take the staircase up to the roof and see St Mark's rarely seen museum. Stand on its balcony, look down on the square. In the afternoon, take in the Academy and the Guggenheim. This was Peggy Guggenheim's home, on the grand canal, and yes, there are Picasso's on the walls, but most importantly, it was a private home. Imagine the life of incredible wealth and influence and imagine standing on the Grand Canal, waiting for your own private gondola.
27 January Hotel: Liassidi Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast Doge's Palace. See the seat of power that created this unique village, explore the shops and take off on your own Venetian adventure. 28 January Hotel: Liassidi Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast There are boat rides to enjoy and islands to explore, but before we do this, there are a few Rubens to catch up with, and an arts and crafts union hall to experience, unlike any you've ever seen before. There, you'll come across a Tintoretto which some says, is the greatest painting ever created. And now, to the water and those islands. Live the Venetian life, buy some oxides to paint with later. Take time to enjoy more art shows, churches, cafes or just the joy of wandering these streets full of colour - its all around you.
29 January Hotel: Liassidi Palace or Similar - Continental Breakfast Full day at leisure - make the experience last. Venice to Nice: 1 night - Nice - 30 January
30 January After breakfast take Private Boat and assistant ( English Speaking ) to transfer you to the airport Flight from Venice to Nice Local transport and assistant to meet you on arrival at Nice Airport for transfer to hotel. Afternoon Free at Leisure Hotel: Apogia or Similar Nice to Avignon: Via Aix-en-Provence 2 nights - Avignon - 31 Jan to 02 February
31 January After breakfast travel by Coach from Nice hotel to Aix-en-Provence (177kms - 2.30 minutes) Orientation tour, followed by lunch, which is included. Continue by Coach to Avignon (81kms - 1.10minutes) to your Hotel. Afternoon Free at leisure Experience Cezanne's studio, see where Van Gogh painted. There are no galleries here, no paintings, only the landscape that inspired the great works that are housed in Paris. Hotel: Mercure or Similar 01 February After breakfast travel by Coach to Uzes (38kms - 40minutes) Orientation tour and Free time to explore Continue by Coach to Nimes (24 kms - 25 minutes) Orientation tour, time to explore and lunch which is included then Continue to Ales (45kms - 50 minutes) and again Orientation tour with free time to explore Travel back to Avignon (70kms- 1 hour) ends back at your hotel. Hotel: Mercure or Similar Explore the Pope's palace and the antique art museum near by. Roam the markets and sample the fair. Avignon to Paris: 6 nights - Paris - 2 to 8 February
02 February Local transport with assistant (English speaking) to transfer you to the station for travel on the TGV Train in first class seats. Arrive Gare De Lyon Station. Met on arrival by assistant (English speaking) and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon Free at Leisure This is Paris, lets celebrate and walk up the Champs Elysees and take in a meal. Hotel: Castiglione or Similar ( 4 Star ) - Continental Breakfast
t 03 February Hotel: Castiglione or Similar - Continental Breakfast The Louvre. First visit: the French gallery, then the Italian gallery, onto the ancient collection, followed by Dutch Masters. The Napoleon lll apartments are waiting and we are still yet to see the Venus de Milo. Legs tired? Maybe some wine in the Louvre's restaurant painted in Russian Black might help. View Paris from its windows, it shimmers like satin. On the way home, it's a quick shop and a bite to eat at Opera.
04 February Hotel: Castiglione or Similar - Continental Breakfast Another big day, this time, the Musee D'Orsay and Parisienne's favourite museum, the Jacquemart Andre. And end with the Eiffel tower at night.
05 February Hotel: Castiglione or Similar - Continental Breakfast Like in Rome, the next two days are 'dot point' days: • Picasso museum • Pop into Maxim's shop for your home-going gifts • Disneyland Paris (it's doesn't have to be all highbrow - can just be fun) • Re-visit the Musee du Louvre for a slow-paced wander • Wander the Jardin des Tuileries 06 February Hotel: Castiglione or Similar - Continental Breakfast • Climb the Eiffel tower in daylight • Shop for Limited Edition perfumes - very French! • Take a cruise on the Siene or meander the streets of St-Germain-Des-Pres • In the Latin Quarter, explore the beautiful St Severin and the Musee de Cluny, where the statuary from the Pope's Palace in Avignon can be found, along with the magnificent set of tapestries of the 'Lady with the Unicorn'.
07 February Pompidou Centre, Montmartre, the Picasso gallery - does it get any better? It does, Notre Dame in the evening and then our final stroll along a river, this time it's not the Tiber, but the Seine. A romantic experience with Champagne, cheese and Pate. Are we finally French enough for you? 08 February Local transport and assistant (English Speaking) will transfer you to Charles De Gaulle Airport for your flight home. :
Approximate tour price: $12,000 per person tours running December 2008 - January 2009 and May 2009
