Day 1 - LONDON – AMSTERDAM
Travel to Dover and cross the channel to Calais. Continue through Belgium into the Netherlands and on to Amsterdam. On arrival, enjoy a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal, followed by time to relax and explore.
Hotel: Mövenpick City Centre
Meals: Welcome Reception
Day 2 - AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
Cross Dam Square and pass the Royal Palace to see diamonds being cut and polished. Later, choose between an afternoon at leisure to visit the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House, or join us on an included drive through typical Dutch countryside to Volendam.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 3 - AMSTERDAM – RHINE CRUISE – MAINZ
Head past Arnhem famed for its ‘Bridge Too Far’. Stop in the wine village of Boppard which was founded by the Romans, before joining a highlight cruise on the finest stretch of the Rhine before reaching your Mainz hotel.
Hotel: Hilton
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 4 - MAINZ – ROTHENBURG – WÜRZBURG
Walk through Heidelberg’s Old Town and see the castle before travelling to medieval Rothenburg. Admire the old houses, towers and gateways dating from the 14C. Tonight, in one of Europe’s most beautiful castle hotels, you are treated to regional cuisine, wine and warm-hearted hospitality.
Hotel: Schloss Steinburg
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner
Day 5 - WÜRZBURG – MUNICH – SALZBURG
South along the Romantic Road to Munich where an orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium, Town Hall and Marienplatz. Enjoy free time for a Bavarian beer before arriving in Salzburg, city of Mozart.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 6 - SALZBURG – VIENNA
Walk through the Mirabell Gardens on your guided city tour. Enjoy fine views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress before viewing Mozart’s birthplace on the Getreidegasse and the Cathedral in the old town. After some time to explore, continue past Mondsee Lake and along the Danube Valley to Vienna.
Hotel: Hilton Vienna Plaza
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 7 - VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Visit the State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace, Maria Theresa’s summer palace. On a guided city tour, see the Winter Palace, Parliament and Opera House along the Ring Road.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 8 - VIENNA – VENICE
Cross the Semmering Pass and continue south past enchanting lakes and wooded countryside. Travel through the Carinthian Lake District into Italy. Follow mountain valleys down to the Veneto Plain on your way to your hotel on the Venice Lido.
Hotel: Quattro Fontane
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 9 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Cruise to St.Mark’s Square and alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges’ Palace to the prisons. In the square, see the bell tower and the beautiful mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, board a gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals accompanied by musicians. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 10 - VENICE – ROME
Cross the Apennine Mountains into the Tuscan Hills. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous. Continue along the course of the Tiber to the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome.
Hotel: Romanico Palace
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 11 - ROME SIGHTSEEING
With your local guide, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Next door, tour St Peter’s Basilica, seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta. Cross the Tiber to visit the Colosseum and see the Forum. There is time in the afternoon to relax or explore.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 12 - ROME – FLORENCE
Classic Tuscan scenery surrounds you on your way to Florence. With a local guide, visit the Academy Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s Statue of David. Then view the Cathedral, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Campanile, the open air gallery of Piazza Signoria, and Santa Croce Basilica. After a leatherwork demonstration, there’s time at leisure to explore or shop.
Hotel: Londra
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 13 - FLORENCE AT LEISURE
A whole day to explore this glorious city, treasure-house of the Italian Renaissance.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 14 - FLORENCE – PISA – MONACO – NICE
Lend your support to the Leaning Tower of Pisa before following the Italian Riviera coast to France. Stop in Monaco to see its harbour, Monte Carlo Casino and drive along part of the Grand Prix circuit before continuing to elegant Nice.
Hotel: Radisson Blu
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 15 - NICE AT LEISURE
Enjoy a whole day at leisure on the Cote d’Azur. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, or try the refreshing local rosé wine and an original salade nicoise in the Old Town.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 16 - NICE – LUCERNE
Visit a French perfumery in the village of Eze before passing through the Italian Lake District en route to Switzerland. See stunning Swiss Alpine scenery on the way to lovely lake side Lucerne.
Hotel: Astoria
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 17 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
Ascend by cog-wheel railway to the summit of Mount Pilatus for stunning 360 degree views of the Swiss Alps. Later, back in Lucerne, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge before spending your free time shopping or relaxing. Tonight, enjoy a selection of ambience and local cuisine offered on your Dine-Around evening.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around
Day 18 - LUCERNE – PARIS
Cross the French border at Basel and continue through Alsace farmlands to the Burgundy wine region. Your destination is the glittering French capital of Paris. This evening enjoy good food, wine and company at an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner in a Parisian bistro.
Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner
Day 19 - PARIS SIGHTSEEING
Drive via Notre Dame Cathedral for a private tour of the Louvre Museum. See the Mona Lisa and many more priceless works amassed over the ages by the Kings of France. Sightseeing continues to Place de la Concorde for drive along the grand Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Now survey the city from the heights of the Eiffel Tower. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 20 - PARIS – LONDON
Cross the World War One battlefields of the Somme to arrive at the port of Calais for your return Channel crossing to England. The tour ends after a short drive to London.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast