European Encounter (2-night Pre-London Option)
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure.
London Day 3 - London sightseeing & at leisure A panoramic sightseeing tour with a London guide includes the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, as well as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and lots more. This afternoon perhaps shop in some of London's many boutiques (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - London - Paris (2 nights) Greetings from our Tour Director. Off to Dover for our sea crossing to Calais in France. We drive across Somme Battlefields to Paris. Time to relax before meeting your Tour Director and fellow travelling companions for a welcome drink and dinner. (Continental Breakfast/ Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today's sightseeing tour includes views of the Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, as well as views of the Notre Dame Cathedral and many other monuments. We also ascend the Eiffel Tower to the second level by elevator for awe-inspiring views and enjoy a walking tour through the Luxembourg gardens enhanced by our audio-system. This evening, why not enjoy dinner in Montmartre or go out on the town and enjoy a Cabaret show" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Paris — Champagne — Luxembourg Today we travel east to visit a Champagne cellar where we ride on a small railway to see how this delicious wine is made! Then we cross World War I Battlefields to the Principality of Luxembourg, where an orientation tour of its capital city shows us the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Grand Ducal Palace. We will also see General Patton's grave (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7 - Luxembourg — Baccarat — Alsace wine country — Engelberg (2 nights) First we drive along the highway out of Luxembourg and back into France continuing south via the Alsatian town of Nancy Then we climb into the scenic Vosges mountains to pause in the village of Baccarat- time to buy some crystal glasses for the Champagne you purchased yesterday! Breathtaking scenery continues as we drive to the charming wine village of Riquewihr with its half-timbered houses. Finally via Colmar we enter Switzerland at Basel on the Rhine. Soon we are passing by wooden chalets and meadows of grazing cattle before arriving in Engelberg for our two-night stay.
(Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 8 - Lucerne Excursion and at leisure This morning an orientation tour of this medieval city shows us the Kappelbrucke, the wooden Chapel Bridge, the Jesuit Church and of course the famous Lion Monument. Then free time to perhaps take a trip up a nearby mountain and enjoy a Swiss folklore show. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Engleberg — Liechtenstein — Innsbruck We travel over the mountains towards the Zurichsee and past the Walensee to Vaduz, the capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein. After time to shop for collectors" stamps and other souvenirs, we head to the Austrian border at Feldkirch, and drive through the region of the Aarlberg to the Tyrol, stopping in mountain-ringed Innsbruck. Here orientation shows us the Olympic ski-jump, the Wilten Basilica and of course, the Golden Roof in the old town. With free time, perhaps shop for some local Swarovski crystal. (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 10 - Innsbruck — Venice (Main.) Over the Brenner Pass to the Italian border, we drive into the Dolomites en route to magical Venice. Enjoy an excellent introduction by private launch as we cruise along the Giudecca Canal to see St. Mark's Basilica, the Doges' Palace and Bridge of Sighs. A short stroll will bring us to one of the oldest Murano glass workshops, where we will witness a demonstration of the ancient craft of glass-blowing. Then there's time on your own. Why not experience a relaxing gondola ride or simply sip a 'cappuccino' in St. Mark's Square — the most beautiful outdoor drawing room in Europe! We dine at our hotel tonight. (Buffet Breakfast , Dinner)
Day 11 - Venice (Main.) — Florence — Rome (2 nights) Today's scenic drive takes us along the Autostrada del Sole and over the Apennine Mountains into Tuscany, where we stop in Florence for a walking tour with a local guide using our effective audio system and highlighting the Piazza Signoria and Duomo .Later, we continue through the Umbrian countryside to Rome, the 'Eternal City', for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 12 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Our guided sightseeing tour, includes a visit to St. Peter's in the Vatican, and a walking tour highlighting the Forum and the Colosseum, as well as the Circus Maximus, scene of 'Ben Hur' style chariot races. The remainder of your day is free to sightsee further, or simply relax at a café. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - Rome — Pisa — Italian Riviera (Santa Margherita) Today, we drive to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower with time to visit the marble Cathedral and the Baptistry. Later, on past Carrara to the Italian Riviera and the resort of Santa Margherita for the night. (Buffet Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 14 - Santa Margherita — Monaco — Nice This morning's drive takes us past Genoa to the border with France at Ventimiglia. Soon we arrive in the Principality of Monaco to visit the Old Town. Then we will admire the Palace of the Grimaldis and stop to visit the Cathedral where Princess Grace is buried before continuing our spectacular drive to jet-set Nice. On our arrival we drive to the Promenade des Anglais, famous for its beaches and 19th century architecture. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 15 - Nice — Arles — Barcelona (2 nights) After breakast this morning we drive along the Riviera and then head into the countryside passing St. Maximin's Basilica into the Camargue. We'll stop briefly at Arles, where Van Gogh spent the latter days of his life, en route to Spain's border at La Jonquera. Soon we reach Barcelona, where we spend the next two nights. This evening, we will enjoy dinner in a specially selected local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast, Highlight Dinner)
Day 16 - Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure Today's guided sightseeing tour, enhanced by our excellent audio system, reveals the Art-Nouveau fantasies of Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia', a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, the Ramblas and the Paseo de Gracia. Tonight, why not experience the Spanish spirit at a fiery Flamenco show" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 17 - Barcelona — Zaragoza — Madrid (2 nights) Our first stop this morning is at Zaragoza to see the impressive Cathedral, known as 'El Pilar'. Next we drive past the Guadarrama Mountains and on to Spain's capital, Madrid. This evening, why not join the 'Madrileños' and spend the night out 'on the town'" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 18 - Madrid sightseeing & at leisure Today's morning sightseeing tour using our excellent audio system highlights the Plaza de España, with the memorial to Cervantes, the Paseo de la Castellana, the Cibeles Fountain and a guided visit of the famous Prado Museum with its many great works by Velazquez. We will also enjoy a walking tour of the old town including the Plaza Mayor. The rest of your day is at leisure to perhaps take an optional excursion to visit nearby Toledo to shop for Lladro porcelain. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 19 - Madrid - USA Bid farewell as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
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