Grand European
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. Why not explore this exciting 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 - Bruges - Brussels We admire the White Cliffs of Dover before our Channel crossing to Calais. Then into Belgium and the criss-crossing canals of Bruges. Later we continue to Brussels, where an orientation tour shows us the Atomium and the Royal Palaces. Then on a walking tour of the medieval city our Tour Director shows us the Mannekin Pis and the Grand' Place. Tonight, an included welcome dinner and drink with a chance to try Belgian's delicious "moules" in a bistro in the rue des Bouchers! (Continental Breakfast/ Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - Brussels - Amsterdam This morning after breakfast we drive to friendly Amsterdam, where an orientation includes a canal cruise in a glass-topped boat. We also enjoy a visit to a diamond-polishing factory. This evening, why not explore some of the characteristic restaurants along the quaint canals in the city" (Buffet breakfast)
Day 6 - Amsterdam - Rhine Cruise - Heidelberg - Rhineland (Mannheim) We cross into Germany after Arnhem, and stop to see Cologne's Cathedral. Then past Bonn, we head
into the Rhine Valley for a Rhine cruise. We disembark at St. Goar and head
to Heidelberg where we view the castle. Next on to our hotel in Mannheim.(Buffet breakfast/Dinner)
Day 7 - Rhineland (Mannheim) — Black Forest - Rhine Falls - Engelberg (2 nights) Today's drive takes us through the fairytale Black Forest and on to the Swiss border. After viewing the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen, we make our way to the ski resort of Engelberg, for the next two nights. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Lucerne Excursion It's a short drive to Lucerne. Here an orientation of this medieval town includes a visit to the Lion Monument. The rest of the day is free to explore (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 9 - Engelberg - Liechtenstein - Innsbruck We drive past the Walensee to Liechtenstein, stopping in its capital Vaduz. Then we cross the border into Austria and follow the Arlberg route into the Tyrol and Innsbruck. Our orientation tour reveals highlights of the Hapsburg legacy. (Buffet breakfast/Dinner)
Day 10 - Innsbruck - Salzburg - Vienna (2 nights) Today we drive back via Germany to Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Our guided walking tour explores the city that featured in "The Sound of Music." Then on towards Vienna. (Breakfast Breakfast)
Day 11 - Vienna sightseeing & at leisure oday's sightseeing tour shows us the Opera, the Hofburg, City Hall, Parliament and the Imperial Boulevards. Then a walking tour takes us into the oldest part of the city — "Am Hof." Tonight, perhaps visit the Prater amusement park. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 12 - Vienna - Venice (Main.) (2 nights) Enjoy a scenic drive to the Austrian Lake District and Italian border. Then the Carnian Alps give way to Northern Italy and Venice. Tonight, a gondola serenade along ancient canals will be hard to resist! (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 13 - Venice sightseeing & at leisure The delights of this city are included on a canal cruise by private motor launch to St. Mark's Square, viewing the Bridge of Sighs and more. After a visit to a glass-blowing factory, why not take a lagoon cruise to the island of Burano" (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Day 14 - Venice (Main.) - Assisi We cross the Apennine Mountains to Assisi where we visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and enjoy an orientation tour including St. Francis' Basilica. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 15 - Assisi - Isle of Capri - Bay of Naples We pass Monte Cassino en route to the Bay of Naples. Today's highlight is a visit to the enchanting Isle of Capri. With a local guide we will enjoy a walking tour of the island enhanced by our excellent audio system. Then free time before we sail back to the mainland. (Buffet breakfst/Dinner)
Day 16 - Bay of Naples - Pompeii - Rome (2 nights) This morning we drive to Pompeii for a walking tour enhanced by our audio system with our local guide who brings to life the Roman town which was 'petrified' by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. From here we continue our journey to the 'Eternal City', Rome for two nights. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 17 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Rome sightseeing and at leisure Michelangelo's amazing works are included on our guided sightseeing tour using our effective audio system. First we visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel where we admire Michelangelo's depiction of the Creation. Next in St. Peter's Basilica we see Michelangelo's beautiful 'cupola' and his sculpture of the 'Pieta'. Then we cross the Tiber for a walking tour featuring the Forum, the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus. Afterwards free time.(Buffet breakfast)
Day 18 - Rome - Florence (Tuscan Hills) Today's drive takes us through Tuscany to Renaissance Florence, where our guided walking tour with audio system, highlights the marble Cathedral, Signoria Square, the Baptistry and visits the Santa Croce Basilica. Then enjoy a dinner of Florentine cuisine in a local restaurant.(Buffet breakfast/ Highlight Dinner)
Day 19 - Florence (Tuscan Hills) - Pisa - Nice (2 Nights) - Monte Carlo Excursion After breakfast, we drive to Pisa where we see its famous Leaning Tower. Then passing the quarries of Carrara, we drive via Genoa, Columbus' birthplace, continuing along the Riviera coastline to jet-set Nice. Later, we visit the Principality of Monaco seeing the Monte Carlo Casino before we enjoy a dinner in a specially selected restaurant this evening. (Buffet breakfast/ Highlight dinner)
Day 20 - Nice - Côte d'Azur Excursion We drive to the medieval hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Later, we visit a perfumery before we return to Nice, with the rest of the day free. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 21 - Nice - Avignon - Beaune We drive through the countryside to Avignon, where orientation includes the Papal Palace and St. Benezet Bridge. Then past Lyon and into the hills of Burgundy to the wine-town of Beaune. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)
Day 22 - Beaune - Paris (2 nights) Morning orientation shows us the ancient walls and old town square. Then we head for Paris. Buffet Breakfast)
Day 23 - Paris sightseeing & at leisue Today's sightseeing tour with a local guide features a drive along the Champs Elysées and then to the Eiffel Tower where we ascend to the second level. Then we view Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. We will also walk along the Meridian (as in the "Da Vinci Code") as part of our walking tour in the Luxembourg gardens — brought to life by our guide with excellent audio equipment. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 24 - Paris - USA 'Au revoir' as we transfer to the airport for our flight home. (Buffet Breakfast)
|
