A travel taster from Mary Concannon of Eblana Travel

An escorted tour is a holiday package that includes flights, accommodation, various meal options, transfers, and sightseeing tours. It is ideal for a stress-free holiday, and gives you the choice of visiting various countries around the world.

Eblana Travel has tours to Canada, Alaska, USA, Mexico, South and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, China, Africa, Israel, Egypt, Russia, and many European countries. Eblana also offers private tours and can tailor-make an itinerary to suit your specific needs.

Travelling alone

If you are travelling alone, accommodation can be booked in a private room (single supplement will apply) or, like many other of our customers, you may wish to share a twin room by taking advantage of the roommate matching service. This means you share a room with someone from your tour (same gender), so you avoid paying a single room supplement, in addition to making a new friend.

Travel with family, friends, or work colleagues

Travel as a family or group of between five and eight people and receive a group discount of five per cent per person off the land portion of the trip. Eblana also makes it easy for you to save on your family holiday with a young traveller discount. If your children or grandchildren are aged between five and 17 years old, they will receive a 10 per cent discount on the land portion of the tour.

Italy is one of the most popular escorted tours. The Best of Italy tour is a 13-day tour with prices starting from €2,050 per person.

Itinerary

Day one: Arrive in Rome, capital of Italy and also known as the Eternal City. After check-in the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore. Later, enjoy a welcome drink with your tour director and your travelling companions. Hotel: NH Giustiniano/Grand Hotel Mediterraneo.

Day two: Rome sightseeing and leisure. The first highlight of the day is a visit to the Sistine Chapel where the works of Michelangelo are brought to life by the local expert guide's commentary. Then head into St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to see this amazing architectural feat. From here cross the Tiber into ancient Rome to overlook the Forum and the Circus Maximus where chariot races used to take place. Visit the inside of the mighty Colosseum. The rest of your day is at leisure. This evening why not discover the city's culinary delights?

Day three: Rome ¡ª Pompeii ¡ª Sorrento (two nights). Today your journey takes you near to Monte Cassino where you will stop and visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery. Next enjoy a guided walking tour of Pompeii, the town frozen in time when it was engulfed by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. Later, continue your journey along the coastline to Sorrento. Hotel: Johanna Park.

Day four: Isle of Capri excursion. After breakfast, witness the art of inlaid woodworking, one of the crafts of the Sorrento peninsula. Later embark on an included excursion by ferry to the Isle of Capri where you will enjoy a walking tour of Capri town and the local gardens. There is plenty of time to explore this lovely island. Why not visit the villa of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe? Return to Sorrento where tonight you will enjoy a delicious 'Be My Guest' dinner prepared with local produce grown on a picturesque lemon farm.

Day five: Sorrento ¡ª Assisi. This morning's drive will take you to the province of Umbria and mystical Assisi, perched on Mount Subasio and overlooking a peaceful Umbrian landscape. Under the protection of St Francis, this city is still enclosed by medieval ramparts. On arrival a guided walking tour with a local expert includes the Basilica of St Francis, famous for its fresco paintings depicting the life of this much-loved saint. Later time is your own to do as you please. Why not shop for local handicrafts? This evening dine at your hotel. Hotel: Ora Hotel Cenacolo.

Day six: Assisi ¡ª Classe ¡ª Venice (two nights). Enjoy a morning drive through the Apennines to the Adriatic coast which brings you to the town of Classe with its ancient mosaics and Byzantine architecture. Here visit the Church of St Apollinaris before seeing the Romanesque Basilica of Pomposa. Next drive to the floating city of Venice where you stay on Lido Island. Hotel: Biasutti Hotel/Le Boulevard.

Day seven: Venice sightseeing and leisure. This morning after breakfast absorb this city's unique atmosphere on an included canal cruise by private motor launch to St Mark's Square. View the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, and Basilica. Afterwards stop to visit a traditional glass-blowing factory to witness a demonstration of this ancient art. There is still time to cruise across the lagoon to discover the colourful island of Burano and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch.

Day eight: Venice ¡ª Verona ¡ª Milan ¡ª Lake Maggiore (two nights). Your day will start with a drive to Verona, the home of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. Stop to admire the Roman arena and Juliet's balcony. From here cross the plains of Lombardy to the fashionable city of Milan for a guided walking tour, which shows you the Gothic Duomo, La Scala opera house, and the famous Galleria, before continuing on to your hotel. Hotel: Splendid.

Day nine: Lugano excursion. Drive into the Ticino, the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, where you stop to visit the beautiful resort of Lugano. On arrival there is time to shop or simply relax with a cappuccino in the main square.

Day 10: Lake Maggiore ¡ª Pisa ¡ª Florence (two nights). Today drive across the Plains of Lombardy and the forested Apennine Mountains and pass by Genoa. Next to Pisa to see the extraordinary Leaning Tower before arriving in Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Tonight, why not enjoy a meal of excellent Tuscan cuisine? Hotel: Croce di Malta.

Day 11: Florence sightseeing and leisure. The cathedral, Signoria Square, and a visit to Santa Croce Basilica feature on your guided walking tour. Later, enjoy a panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo before free time to explore. Discover the artistic wonders in the museums or shop for high quality leather and gold.

Day 12: Florence ¡ª Siena ¡ª Rome. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Chianti wine-producing region to medieval Siena, famous for its exciting Palio horse race. Arrive in Rome late in the afternoon. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner together with your tour director and new-found touring friends. Hotel: Sheraton Golf.

Day 13: Depart Rome. This morning after breakfast say 'arrivederci Roma' as your memorable tour of Italy comes to an end.

To book your escorted tour, contact the tour experts at Eblana Travel on (091) 501 400 or your local travel agent.