European Heritage
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight transatlantic flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) Time to relax after checking into your Trafalgar hotel.
Day 3 - London at leisure A full day at leisure to explore Britains capital. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - London - Amsterdam (2 nights) A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we drive to Dover. Farewell to the 'White Cliffs' as we board our ferry for the sea crossing to Calais in France. Then we join our coach and continue through Belgium and Holland to lively Amsterdam. (Continental Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 5 - Amsterdam orientation & at leisure An orientation of the city includes the Tower of Tears, the Royal Palace, Dam Square, plus a visit to a diamond-polishing factory and more. Next we are off to Volendam, a picturesque fishing village on the Ijsselmeer where the locals still wear the traditional costume. Then we will stop to visit a cheese farm and clog workshop. Later this afternoon, back in Amsterdam, you may wish to take an excursion to visit the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, or to go shopping for antique silver and Delft porcelain. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Amsterdam - Rhine Cruise - Rhineland (Wiesbaden) We travel to German Cologne, with its gothic Cathedral. Next on to Boppard, where we embark on a Rhine Cruise past castles and vineyards before arriving in St. Goar. We continue to our hotel near Wiesbaden. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Rhineland (Wiesbaden) - Strasbourg - Lake Lucerne (2 nights) We drive to the University city of Heidelberg to view the red sandstone Castle. Then we continue into France and Strasbourg, where we see the Cathedral. From here we soon reach the Alsace wine country which leads us to the Swiss border at Basel. Then we continue our journey to snow-capped Alps and lakeside Lucerne for the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Lucerne orientation & at leisure Our morning orientation tour shows us the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge. Then with time at leisure perhaps shop for Swiss timepieces and delicious chocolates. Don't miss the chance to take an optional cable-car ride up a nearby mountain. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Lake Lucerne - Liechtenstein - Innsbruck (Igls) We drive to the lake of Zurich and follow the shores of the Walensee to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Here there's time to purchase your souvenir stamps before driving through the Austrian Arlberg region to the Inn Valley and to picturesque Innsbruck. On our arrival an orientation tour includes the Wilten Basilica and the Hofburg. Free time this afternoon to maybe take a horse-driven carriage through the Tyrolean countryside. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - Innsbruck (Igls) - Salzburg - Vienna (2 nights) This morning we drive via Germany, to the charm of Salzburg, home to Mozart, and later the setting of the film "The Sound of Music". Here orientation highlights places associated with both before we head to Imperial Vienna. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 11 - Vienna sightseeing & at leisure Today's morning sightseeing tour highlights the beauty of this city. We'll see the Hofburg, Imperial Boulevards and City Hall. Then at leisure, perhaps take a trip to visit the Schönbrunn Palace or window-shop in the chic Kärntnerstrasse. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 12 - Vienna - Venice (Main.) (2 nights) South today as we drive via Klagenfurt to the Austrian 'riviera' and the mountains of Carinthia.
Here we cross the Italian border and travel over the Alps to the Veneto plain. Soon we arrive in magical Venice, for a relaxing two-night stay.( Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 13 - Venice orientation & at leisure Today we enjoy a canal cruise to St.Mark's Square. We'll see the Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica, before wintnessing the art of glass- blowing in a Murano glass factory. After, time is your own, why not experience a gondola serenade along the Grand Canal" We dine at our hotel this evening. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 14 - Venice (Main.) - Rome (2 nights) Into Tuscany, as we climb over the Apennine Mountains, to Umbria and finally the Latium, cradle of the Roman civilisation. We arrive in Rome late afternoon, with time to relax. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 15 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Our morning sightseeing tour features St.Peter's Basilica as well as views of the Forum and Colosseum. Then time at leisure to perhaps head to the Sistine Chapel and the ancient Catacombs. Tonight, why not relax over drinks in a sidewalk cafe" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 16 - Rome - Florence - Montecatini Today we see the towns of Orte and Orvieto en route to Renaissance Florence. There's plenty of time to explore or perhaps shop for quality leather or gold. We enjoy a panorama of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, before making our way to our hotel in the spa town of Montecatini in the Tuscan Hills. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 17 - Montecatini - Pisa - Nice (2 nights) On to the coast, stopping in Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower! Then we travel along the Ligurian Coast past Genoa to the French Riviera. Later, we enjoy an included excursion to the Principality of Monaco, where we see a Monte Carlo casino. (Buffet Breakfast).
Day 18 - Nice orientation & at leisure. Today's orientation shows us the Place Massena and the Promenade des Anglais. Then time at leisure to relax or perhaps take a swim in the Mediterranean or shop in the boutiques. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 19 - Nice - Barcelona (2 nights) This morning we enjoy a scenic drive along France's coastline and past Cézanne's Montagne St. Victoire.
We continue on through the Camargue, to the Pyrenees - the border between France and Spain. Then it's only a short drive to Barcelona for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 20 - Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure Today's morning sightseeing includes Christopher Columbus' statue, a drive along the Ramblas seeing the open-air markets plus the Paseo de Gracia with its boutiques. Later, there's free time, why not visit the Picassco Museum" Tonight, don't miss the chance to experience the passion of a fiery flamenco evening! (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 21 - Barcelona - Madrid (2 nights) This morning our journey takes us past the serrated mountain top of Montserrat, through the vineyards of Catalonia and the arid hills of Aragon until we reach the Spanish meseta. From here its on through the gorges of Jalon arriving in Madrid. ( Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 22 - Madrid sightseeing & at leisure Our sightseeing shows us the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza de España. Later, why not take an excursion to Philip II's Monastery Palace at El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 23 - Madrid - Lourdes This morning we drive through Castile and the Basque country back into France. Then we continue on to Lourdes, home of St. Bernadette. Here orientation shows us the Basilica on top of St. Bernadette's grotto. Tonight, you can join the torchlit procession. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 24 - Lourdes - Bordeaux After breakfast enjoy time at leisure in this pilgrimage city. Then we head off to Biarritz with time to
explore before we continue through the Landes Forest to Bordeaux for the night. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 25 - Bordeaux - Paris (2 nights) Today we journey across the Gironde estuary and continue to the stunning Loire Valley. Here we enjoy views of the Castles at Amboise and Blois, before reaching Paris for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 26 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Our guided morning sightseeing tour highlights views of Champs Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and much more. Then there's time afterwards perhaps to take an optional excursion to the Louvre. This evening, why not celebrate your last night in Paris with your travelling companions at a cabaret show" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 27 - Paris - USA Bid farewell on your return flight to the USA. (Buffet Breakfast)
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