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As the breeze blows off the Tyrrhenian Sea and the golden sun warms your skin, it’s hard to imagine a more desirable destination of banishment than Tuscany’s Elba Island. The location of exile for Napoleon I, feeling sorry for him is almost impossible when you consider the stunning nature of this Mediterranean paradise, with turquoise waters and lush mountain views.
- Cruise the warm Mediterranean waters aboard the luxury sailing yacht Le Ponant
- Stay at the prestigious medieval estate of Borgo Scopeto Relais immersed in Tuscan charm
- Sip Chianti Classico on a tour and tasting at Candialle & Rocca di Montegrossi wineries, a rare chance to sample this Italian favourite in the Tuscan terroir from which it originates
- Escape for a sumptuous lunch in the idyllic seaside setting of Portofino
- Tour Italy’s rural allure in the undiscovered Tuscan Maremma, where longhorn cattle and ‘buttero’ (Italian cowboys) roam
- Cruise around Stromboli to witness firsthand this Sicilian island’s continually active volcano
- Explore the Sicilian islands of Salina and Lipari whose untouched natural beauty will enchant
- Visit Mandranova’s award winning olive oil farm, where a tour, tasting and generous lunch showcase the art of olive oil production and the delicious versatility of this ‘liquid
Your Ship, Le Ponant
Spectacular food and wine
Amazing Italian coastline
This was the best holiday we have ever had and we hope to do it again in a couple of years time.
R & J Whittle, Gourmet Italy
Where we visit
Full Itinerary
Rome & Castelnuovo (Italy)
Day 1: Sunday 6 May
Arriving in Italy’s capital, transfer to the dusky Tuscan hillside. We check in to the Borgo Scopeto Relais and make a home for ourselves among the refined amenities.
Castelnuovo Berardenga
Day 2: Monday 7 May
Rolling hills and dusky olive groves blanket Chianti country. A ripple of vines, here we tour the Rocca di Montegrossi estate and educate our palates on cherry notes of the winery’s vintage reds.
Dating back to the 1600s, we explore the site of the biannual Palio bareback horse race. Though the horses are at rest during this time of the year, we ponder the stage of the medieval event before returning to our hotel, the Borgo Scopeto Relais, this evening.
Naples
Corsican Sausage
Stromboli
Lounge aboard Le Ponant
Santa Margherita Ligure [Liguria]
Day 3: Tuesday 8 May
En route to Santa Margherita Ligure, we take a moment to familiarise ourselves with wines of the Sangiovese grape. The four traits of terroir in wine are distinguished through climate, soil, terrain and tradition, all of which are fundamental to this particular drop. Stay on for a genuine Tuscan-style barbecue lunch.Santa Margherita Liguria
Day 4: Wednesday 9 May
Travel to San Fruttuoso and sample local seafood for lunch. Alternately, dine at a trattoria in Portofino or spend a moment discovering your own personal favourite local eatery.
We stay at the former honeymoon spot of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, the Grand Hotel Miramare.Èze & Cannes (France) - Embark Le Ponant
Day 5: Thursday 10 May
To wander around Èze with its cobbled paths and crooked stone houses is to walk into a dream of medieval times. Enjoy lunch here and an afternoon at leisure before continuing to Cannes where our private yacht, Le Ponant is moored. Sail towards Elba Island with dinner on board.
Elba Island(Italy)
Day 6: Friday 11 May
The legacy of Napoleon hangs in the air of Elba Island. Visit his former residences before exploring a local Tuscan vineyard. Crisp, fragrant flavours of Enrico Coser’s Friulian wines are complemented during an onboard dinner.
Elba Island - Perhaps the most striking of the Tuscan Archipelago
Porto Santo Stefano
Day 7: Saturday 12 May
Local winemaker Antonio Camillo will personally escort us through his vineyards renowned for their organically grown Morellino di Scansano and Ciliegiolo.
Porto Santo Stefano provides a stunning gateway to a Tuscany
Lazio
Day 8: Sunday 13 May
With a day in the countryside, perhaps wander gardens at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo before lunch at the Damiano Ciolli winery and a sampling of the region’s well-known berry and herb wines. Alternatively visit a local cheese farm to sample some local caprese and burrata, best served with sapid semi-dried tomatoes. Enjoy lunch at the Pellicano Hotel afterwards.Naples
Day 9: Monday 14 May
Far more than the birthplace of pizza and Neapolitan ice-cream, Naples in the region of Campania is home to a bounty of World Heritage-listed theatres, palaces and castles. After exploring the city, taste the wines of Villa Matilde, a local winery, during dinner in the evening.
Sample stunning Italian wine
Embrace the languid pace of life in Syracuse
Amalfi Coast
Day 10: Tuesday 15 May
Continuing to the Amalfi Coast, you might like to venture to the historic city of Pompeii or travel to Ravello where you may sample syrupy limoncello. Of course, if you would prefer to have a moment of leisure or reflection time, we’ll be happy to accommodate for this as well.Lipari
Day 11: Wednesday 16 May
Off the coast of Sicily, dig deep into the history of Lipari, the largest volcanic island of the Aeolian Islands. This afternoon is reserved for a moment of leisure – take to the deck with a novel, dive into the waters surrounding Le Ponant, or perhaps continue the discovery of Lipari further on your own schedule.
Salina
Day 12: Thursday 17 May
We venture to Salina, an island where the late artist Carlo Hauner dedicated much of his life to revitalising the island’s famed dessert wine. Paired with the Salina Estate’s piquant green capers, sampling the region’s local produce becomes an exquisite affair.
Syracuse
Day 13: Friday 18 May
Tales of ancient Greece wander alongside us in Syracuse. Ruins rise from between orchards of orange and lemon, and we discover all today.
Syracuse
Agrigento
Agrigento
Day 14: Saturday 19 May
Today we are joined by esteemed hosts Giuseppe and Silvia Di Vincenzo, and are able to witness their authentic culinary technique over lunch at Mandranova. You might like to otherwise spend your time unearthing the tales of ancient Greek gods during an insightful visit to the World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples.
Cagliari
Day 15: Sunday 20 May
An evening of Sardinian haute cuisine awaits. Married to wines from the acclaimed Santadi Winery, our tastebuds are whisked away to the endless rows of golden grapes.
Sardinia
Cagliari
Day 16: Monday 21 May
Today you may join wine connoisseur Michael Trembath for lunch and a tasting at the Santadi Winery, or perhaps explore Cagliari’s impressive domes and frescoed piazzas. Of course, dining back on board is an equally appealing option.
Porto Cervo
Day 17: Tuesday 22 May
On our final day in Sardinia at a local estate in Porto Cervo, toast the high life with artfully blended Vermentino wine and crumbly sheep’s milk pecorino before a barbecue lunch.
The colours of Porto Cervo are sure to delight
Ajaccio (France)
Day 18: Wednesday 23 May
It’s apparent as to why Impressionist artists fall in love with Ajaccio. Discover breathtaking natural scenery alongside the fascinating history of Napoleon at his birthplace and ancestral home. Lively markets set the scene for an afternoon at leisure, and local winemaker, Laetitia Tola, bottles native grape blends for a deeper understanding of the fascinating practice.
Sunny Ajaccio
Corsica
Nice - Disembark Le Ponant
Day 19: Thursday 24 May
Arriving in Nice, we farewell Le Ponant and tour the French Riviera’s shimmering capital. During lunch at a local restaurant, raise a glass to our culinary journey and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
All Inclusive Tours
Imagine a trip where you won’t have to lift a finger, or worry about bringing your wallet.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing in each destination is included. Select Options even allow you to tailor aspects of the touring to your individual tastes when there are multiple touring options.
Sunset in the Mediterranean
Introducing Le Ponant
Bearing all the hallmarks of a luxury yacht, Le Ponant seamlessly blends nautical tradition and supreme elegance. Thanks to its boutique size, it will dock in small ports and skirt along the coast in a way that larger ships simply can’t. What’s more, with just 32 staterooms and a guest to staff ratio of 2:1, an effortlessly personalised onboard experience is assured.
With multiple outdoor areas, including an inviting Sun Deck and a convenient Marina for water access, Le Ponant is the ideal ship for cruising warm waters – life on board is centred around the fresh air and sunshine. Other facilities include two lounge and bar areas and two restaurants.
Marie-Galante Deck Staterooms
Set on the Marie-Galante Deck, these entry-level staterooms can be configured with a double bed or twin beds. Each offers a stylish ensuite, a desk, a dressing table, a flat-screen satellite television, a minibar, a safe, personal climate control and included Wi Fi access. Size: from 10.8 to 13.5 square metres
Solo Travellers
Many Captain’s Choice guests travel solo, and almost all of them find that making friends on holiday is easy, thanks to the welcoming and like minded nature of our travellers. At the start of the tour, all solo travellers are invited to a Welcome Reception, enabling you to get to know other guests travelling on their own.
Members of our Tour Host Team are always available for a friendly chat and a meal, but if you prefer time for private reflection then that is always respected too – you can choose to be as involved as much or as little as you please. Either way, it’s a fun and rewarding way to see the world.
Accommodation highlights
You have come so far, so why settle for second best when you get there? Captain’s Choice carefully researches and selects the best hotels to ensure you’re staying at the most enviable locations in town. We partner with the finest hotels to deliver our gilt edged service, seeking out the region’s top rating five star – or best available – residences. All our accommodation has been assessed for quality – we believe that a superior standard of service is just as important as five star facilities. Location and accessibility are also key factors – we endeavour to seek hotels that are in close proximity to the sites, that boast stunning views or offer a special something that makes them sparkle. It’s important to us that the hotels we select deliver the complete package and aren’t just trading on their reputation.
Borgo Scopeto Relais
Experience one of Tuscany’s most esteemed landmark estates – the Borgo Scopeto Relais, a grand and exclusive haven nestled amid vineyards and olive trees.
Grand Hotel Miramare
Wake to the dazzling waters of the Gulf of Tigullio right on your doorstep at the Grand Hotel Miramare, a beautiful Art Nouveau building in Santa Margherita Ligure
Le Ponant
Both suite styles aboard Le Ponant are very similar. These upgrade suites are very limited and they will sell quickly.