European Horizons
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure. Perhaps explore Britain's capital city.
Day 3 - London sightseeing & at leisure Many major sights are included on our morning sightseeing tour. Then enjoy time on your own. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - London - Brussels A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we drive to Dover. Admire the White Cliffs before the Channel crossing to Calais in France. From here we drive through Belgian countryside to Brussels where an orientation includes the Atomium and Royal Palaces and we enjoy a walking tour of the Grand Place and to the Mannekin Pis. Savour an included meal of Belgian specialities and drinks as a Welcome to Europe with your Tour Director and fellow travellers in one of the bistros on the rue des Bouchers. (Continental Breakfast/ Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - Brussels - Rhine Cruise - Heidelberg - Rhineland (Ettlingen) Our day starts in Cologne to see its Cathedral. Then via Bonn to Boppard to embark on a Rhine cruise. We disembark at St. Goar and drive to Heidelberg. Here we take a walking tour of the Castle courtyards, admire the view over the baroque city from the Castle terrace and visit the Castle cellars to see the largest wine barrel in Europe! Finally on to our hotel for the night. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 6 - Rhineland (Karlsruhe) - Munich - Innsbruck Today we cross the Swabian Uplands into Bavarian Munich. On our arrival an orientation tour includes the Olympic Stadium, Marienplatz and Hofbräuhaus. Then on to Austria and the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck for
the night. Here an orientation tour shows us the Golden Roof and Wilten Basilica. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 7 - Innsbruck - Venice (Main.) (2 nights) Today a spiralling drive takes us to the Brenner Pass into Italy. Then via Brunico we drive into the Dolomite Mountains. We'll view the Olympic
ski-jump at Cortina d'Ampezzo, with time for lunch. Afterwards we continue to magical Venice
for the next two nights. This evening a gondola ride would be hard to resist! (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 8 - Venice sightseeing & at leisure This morning we will discover the sights and sounds of this floating city on our canal cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square, viewing the Bridge of Sighs. After, we visit a glass-blowing factory, before time at leisure to do as you please. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 9 - Venice (Main.) - Rome (2 nights) After breakfast our drive takes us across the Po Valley to Bologna where we join the Autostrada del Sole for our journey over the Apennine Mountains. Later, we arrive in Rome, the 'Eternal City', where we spend the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 10 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure This morning after breakfast, our sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a visit to St. Peter's Basilica where we admire the Pieta of Michelangelo, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a walking tour taking in views of the Forum, Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, scene of 'Ben Hur' style chariot races. Later why not take an excursion to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums" This evening perhaps dine out in one of the city's many fine trattorias. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 11 - Rome - Florence Today we travel through the Chianti wine-producing region of Tuscany to Renaissance Florence. Here our guided walking tour on foot, with an audio system, includes the Cathedral, Baptistry, Signoria Square and visits the Santa Croce Basilica. Then time at leisure to perhaps walk to the Ponte Vecchio. This evening, we will enjoy dinner in a Florentine trattoria. (Buffet Breakfast/Highlight Dinner)
Day 12 - Florence - Pisa - Nice (2 nights) - Monte Carlo Excursion Our first stop is at Pisa to see its Leaning Tower. Then we pass the quarries of Carrara and drive along the Motorway of Flowers via Genoa to the Principality of Monaco. Here we have time to visit the Casinos in Monte Carlo. From here we continue our journey arriving at our hotel in jet-set Nice, for the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - St. Paul de Vence & Perfumery Excursion Today we enjoy an excursion to hilltop St. Paul de Vence with its Art galleries and handicraft shops, an artist's paradise! Then we stop to visit the Fragonard Perfumery before returning to our hotel. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure in Nice, perhaps take a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 14 - Nice- Lake Maggiore - Zermatt Today we travel back into Italy and in the direction of Alessandria and Novara. Soon we are in the Italian Lakes and driving along Lake Maggiore. We stop at elegant Stresa opposite the picturesque Borromean islands. Then we drive up into the foothills of the Alps climbing towards Switzerland and the Simplon Pass. At the small village of Tasch we disembark from our coach where we will take electric mini-buses to Zermatt overlooked by the mighty Matterhorn. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 15 - Zermatt - Lausanne Today our Tour Director shows us the highlights of this Alpine resort. With free time, maybe take an excursion to the 'kleine Matterhorn' for magnificent views. Later we drive along the Rhône Valley to Lake Geneva, stopping to take a photo of Château Chillon so chillingly evoked by Byron's poetry. We drive through lakeside Montreux, famous for its jazz festival, then to the pretty area of Ouchy, before reaching Lausanne for the night. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 16 - Lausanne- Savigny-Lès-Beaune- Paris (2 nights) Today, we drive through the region of Burgundy, via Bourg-en-Bresse, famous for its high quality chickens, and the valley of the river Rhone — famous for its excellent wines. Here we stop to take a picture of the Savigny-Lès-Beaune vineyards. Next on past Auxerrois vineyards and through Fontainebleau forest to Paris. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 17 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today's sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a drive from the Place de la Concorde along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Next on to the Eiffel Tower which we ascend to its second level. We also view Notre Dame Cathedral and other great monuments as well as enjoying a walking tour along the Meridian (notorious due to the "Da Vinci Code") enhanced by our audio system. Later, time is your own perhaps to take an excursion to Versailles. Finally, why not experience the excitement of a typical Parisian Cabaret show" (Buffet breakfast)
Day 18 - Paris - USA 'Au revoir' as we transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for our return flight to America.
(Buffet Breakfast)
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