Traditional Europe
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 - Arrive London (2 nights) After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Why not 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 — Amsterdam Greetings from our Tour Director as we drive to Dover. Admire the White Cliffs on our Channel crossing to Calais in France. We drive through Belgium en route to lively Amsterdam, where an orientation tour shows us the Mint Tower and Dam Square. Later we will enjoy a wonderful introduction to this city, and to our tour on an included canal-cruise in a glass topped boat where we will also savour Indonesian specialities and drink at a Welcome dinner with our Tour Director. (Continental Breakfast/ Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - Amsterdam — Cologne — Rhine Cruise — Frankfurt (Sulzbach) A morning visit to a diamond polishing and cutting factory starts off the day. Next we head into Germany, past Arnhem, stopping at Cologne to see its gothic Cathedral. Then we travel via Bonn to Boppard for our Rhine cruise past castles and vineyards to St. Goar. Finally, on to our hotel in Rhineland for dinner and overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 6 - Frankfurt (Sulzbach) — Heidelberg — Strasbourg — Engelberg (2 nights) Our first stop is at Heidelberg, to view the castle. Next we make our way to medieval Strasbourg where
an orientation shows us the Cathedral. Then we enjoy a scenic drive through Alsace vineyards to the Swiss border at Basel and the resort of Engelberg for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Lucerne Excursion It's only a short drive to nearby Lucerne. Here there is an orientation of this medieval town includes a visit to the Lion Monument, built in memory of Louis XVI's Swiss Guard and the Chapel Bridge. Later, there's time at leisure perhaps to scale a Swiss mountain by cable car and shop for delicious chocolates before we return to Engelberg! (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Engelberg — Liechtenstein — Innsbruck We pass the Walensee to Liechtenstein, stopping in the capital — Vaduz. Then we cross the border into Austria and follow the Arlberg route into the Tyrol and Innsbruck. An orientation highlights the legacy of the one-time Hapsburg rulers. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Innsbruck — Venice (Main.) (2 nights) Today we drive to the 620 foot-high Europa Bridge and Brenner Pass into Italy. Next, we travel through the foothills of the Dolomites to magical Venice. This evening after dinner at our hotel, why not enjoy a gondola serenade" (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - Venice sightseeing & at leisure Venice sightseeing & at leisure We discover this Byzantine city on an included canal cruise by private motor launch to St. Mark's Square. We'll view the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges' Palace before visiting a glass-blowing factory. Then free time to shop or cruise to Burano. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - Venice (Main.) - Rome (2 nights) Today we leave the plains of the Veneto and drive into the Apennine hills past Bologna, into Tuscany and Umbria. Soon we are in the Latium en route to Rome, the 'Eternal City'. Tonight, why not experience a little of 'La Dolce Vita'" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 12 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure Today's sightseeing with a local guide using our effective audio system, includes a visit to St. Peter's Basilica where we see Michelangelo's Pieta, and a walking tour takes us for spectacular views of the Colosseum, a stop at the Forum, plus a photo-stop at the Circus Maximus where the chariot race in 'Ben Hur' is said to have taken place. Then perhaps visit the Sistine Chapel or relax over a long and lazy lunch! (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 13 - Rome — Isle of Capri — Sorrento An early start through the vineyards of Frascati and into the province of Campania. We reach Naples and embark on our cruise to the Isle of Capri. Here we ascend to Capri town by funicular and enjoy a guided walking tour enhanced by our audio system before stop at the Piazzetta before free time. We also visit some of the gardens and view the Faraglioni Rocks. Then we take our ferry to Sorrento — a clifftop summer resort for the night. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 14 - Sorrento — Pompeii — Assisi Off to Pompeii where a walking tour with a local guide and our excellent audio system takes us around the excavations. Then past the Abbey of Monte Cassino we reach the hills of the Umbria and Assisi, St. Francis' town. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 15 - Assisi — Florence A morning orientation shows us the Basilica of St. Francis with its frescoes by Giotto. Next we're off to Renaissance Florence via the lake of Trasimeno. On our arrival a walking tour with a local guide, including an audio system, features the Duomo, Piazza Signoria and a visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce. See how leather is embossed with gold, with time to shop for leather and gold. We also make a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, for breathtaking views of this city. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 16 - 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 Nice. Later, we sample the high life on a visit to the Principality of Monaco where we see the Monte Carlo Casino before we enjoy dinner in a French restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 17 - Nice — Côte d'Azur Excursion We drive along sparkling shores to fashionable Cannes. Then into the hills, we stop at medieval St. Paul de Vence. Next we visit a local perfumery before returning to Nice. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 18 - Nice — Avignon — Lyon Along the highway past Aix-en-Provence to arrive in the papal city of Avignon on the River Rhone. Time to admire the broken bridge as well as the magnificent Papal Palace before we head to Lyon the ancient capital of Gaul. Here orientation shows us the Fourvière hill and the Place Bellecour one of the largest squares in France. Tonight, we enjoy dinner in a typical French restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 19 - Lyon — Beaune — Paris (2 nights) Today's drive takes us along the Rhône Valley on our way to charming Beaune. From here we travel through the wine-producing Burgundy region to Paris for two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 20 - Paris sightseeing & at leisure Today's guided sightseeing tour features a drive along the Champs Elysées from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to the second level by elevator, plus views of Notre Dame and the ornate Alexander III bridge. A walking tour along the Meridian in the Luxembourg gardens is also included (made famous by the "Da Vinci Code") enhanced by our excellent audio system. This evening, why not celebrate with your fellow travelling companions and take in an exciting Parisian cabaret" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 21 - Paris — USA Bid farewell this morning as we transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
|
