| Day 1 London -
Bruges -
Amsterdam (2 nights) |
| Greetings from our Tour Director as we drive to Dover for
our short sea crossing to Calais in France. Over the border
we drive through the Belgian countryside to medieval Bruges
where we can walk along the cobbled streets beside the
perfect canals. Then we cross into Holland and on to lively
Amsterdam. Later we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our
Tour Director and fellow travellers before we take a canal
cruise in a glass-topped boat. Hotel: NH City Centre |
| Day 2 Amsterdam
orientation & excursion to Volendam |
| After breakfast we visit a diamond cutting and polishing
factory before heading out to the Dutch countryside. We
arrive in the quaint seaside port of Volendam, where we
visit a cheese farm and wooden clog workshop and our
Tour Director reveals a special Hidden Treasure to
us! (Buffet breakfast) |
| Day 3 Amsterdam - Rhine
Cruise - Frankfurt (Offenbach) |
We drive past Arnhem, scene of famous
World War II action and into Germany making a stop at
Cologne to see its gothic cathedral. Next we by-pass Bonn to
embark on a relaxing Rhine cruise at Boppard, gliding past
medieval castles and ancient vineyards. Disembarking in St.
Goar, we rejoin our coach and drive to our hotel for the
night. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach |
| Day 4 Frankfurt - Heidelberg
- Rhine Falls - Lucerne (2 nights) |
| We drive to Heidelberg to see the castle. Then on through
the picturesque Black Forest to the Swiss border, stopping
at the mighty Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen en route to
lakeside Lucerne. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Grand Europe |
| Day 5 Lucerne
orientation & at leisure |
| Our morning orientation tour features the Chapel Bridge and
the moving Lion Monument. Then free time to shop for Swiss
watches and chocolate and perhaps take a trip up a nearby
mountain peak. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) |
| Day 6 Lucerne -
Liechtenstein - Innsbruck |
| We pass the Walensee to Liechtenstein, stopping in its
capital Vaduz. Later we cross into Austria via the Arlberg
Pass and Tyrol to mountain-ringed Innsbruck. Here we see the
Golden Roof and the Hofburg in the quaint old town, and the
highly ornate Wilten Basilica on our orientation tour.
Tonight after dinner, why not join in the fun of a Tyrolean
Folklore show with thigh-slapping and yodelling
galore (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Grauer Bar |
| Day 7 Innsbruck -
Salzburg - Vienna (2 nights) |
| This morning we drive to Salzburg where our walking tour
shows us the city that featured in "The Sound of Music" and
is best known as Mozart's birthplace. Then we continue to
Vienna. (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Parkhotel
Schonbrunn |
| Day 8 Vienna
sightseeing & at leisure |
| The Opera, Hofburg, City Hall, Stadtpark, Parliament and the
Imperial Boulevards are all highlighted on our sightseeing
tour. Later, time at leisure to relax or maybe explore this
fascinating city further. Tonight, perhaps enjoy dinner at a
nearby Heurige, a local wine tavern. (Buffet breakfast) |
| Day 9 Vienna - Venice (Mestre)
(2 nights) |
| Today's journey takes us across the Alps to the Semmering
Pass and on to the Austrian Lake District and Italy's
border. From here we continue to the Carnic Alps which give
way to the plains of Italy and magical Venice where we stay
for the next two nights. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Novotel Venezia |
| Day 10 Venice
sightseeing & at leisure |
| Today we enjoy a canal cruise by private launch to St.
Mark's Square viewing the Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s Palace.
After a visit to a glass-blowing factory, there's time at
leisure, perhaps to experience a relaxing gondola
serenade. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) |
| Day 11 Venice (Mestre)
- Rome (2 nights) |
| After breakfast our drive today will take us along the
Autostrada del Sole and over the Apennine Mountains past
Umbrian hilltop towns to Rome for our two-night
stay. (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Aran Mantegna |
| Day 12 Rome sightseeing
& at leisure |
| Today's sightseeing tour with a local guide using our
effective audio system starts with one of the world's most
important art works – Michelangelo's ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel situated in the Vatican museums. Next we visit St.
Peter's Basilica before we cross the Tiber to overlook the
Forum and see the mighty Colosseum. Your afternoon is at
leisure to explore or relax. (Buffet breakfast) |
| Day 13 Rome -
Florence |
| We drive through the Chianti wine-producing region of
Tuscany to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Our
guided walking tour includes the Cathedral, Signoria Square,
the baptistery and a visit to Santa Croce Basilica. Later,
our Tour Director shares a Hidden Treasure with us
before time to shop for high quality leather and
gold. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Holiday Inn |
| Day 14 Florence -
Pisa - Monaco - Nice (2 nights) |
| We are off to Pisa with its Leaning Tower. Then on past
Carrara and along the Motorway of Flowers via Genoa,
Columbus' birthplace. We reach the Principality of Monaco
where we visit one of the casinos in Monte Carlo. After a Highlight Dinner of typical Provencal cuisine this
evening, we make our way to Nice. (Buffet breakfast /
Highlight Dinner) Hotel: Boscolo Plaza |
| Day 15 St. Paul
de Vence & Perfumery Excursion |
| This morning we drive to medieval St. Paul de Vence, a
wonderful place to shop for hand-made souvenirs and works of
art. Then off to the Fragonard Perfumery, home of
French perfume, before returning to Nice. (Buffet breakfast) |
| Day 16 Nice -
Avgnon - Lyon |
| We drive along the Riviera and through Provence to Avignon.
Then on to Lyon, the second city of France, where we see the
Place Bellecour and the Fourvière Hill, before dinner and
our overnight stay. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Park & Suites Part-Dieu |
| Day 17 Lyon -
Beaune - Paris (2 nights) |
| This morning we stop at medieval Beaune. Then we drive past
the vineyards of Nuits St. Georges and Gevrey Chambertin as
we approach the Forest of Fontainebleau and the glittering
city of Paris, with the chance to go the cabaret
tonight! (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Evergreen Laurel |
| Day 18 Paris
sightseeing & at leisure |
| Our guided sightseeing tour begins with a drive from the
Place de la Concorde along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de
Triomphe and then to the Eiffel Tower where we ascend to the
second level by elevator. Then we enjoy views of Notre Dame
Cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner together with our Tour Director and
fellow travellers in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast /
Farewell Dinner) |
| Day 19 Paris -
London |
| We travel across Northern France via the Canadian War
Memorial at Vimy Ridge. Past German World War II bunkers we
drive to Calais. Here we board a ferry to Dover and by coach
continue back to London where our tour comes to an
end. (Buffet breakfast) |
Return to top 
