| 35 Days ~ England
~ Belgium ~ Holland ~ Germany ~ Austria ~ Slovenia ~ Croatia ~ Albania ~
Greece ~ Turkey ~ Italy ~ France ~ Switzerland
Tour
Pace
This grand tour has many two night stays in the
major cities and is well paced. There is a relaxing break in the middle of
the itinerary with the three day Greek Island cruise. All the travelling
days have frequent stops.
DAY 1 – WED –
LONDON – BRUSSELS
Travel to Dover to take
the ferry to France. Make your way to the peaceful canals and cobbled
streets of Bruges. Then to Brussels to marvel at the gilded buildings in the
Grand Place and Mannekin Pis statue. Enjoy a Welcome Drink in the evening.
Hotel: Sofitel Toison d’Or. (dinner)
DAY 2 – THU –
BRUSSELS – AMSTERDAM
Drive to Amsterdam,
passing Dam Square and the Mint Tower on your way to a demonstration of
diamond cutting. Then spend time at leisure exploring this fascinating
city. Hotel: Vondel Park Plaza. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 3 – FRI –
AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
Travel to the north of
Amsterdam to visit the fishing village of Volendam on the banks of the
Ijsselmeer and learn how traditional clogs and cheese are made. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 4 – SAT –
AMSTERDAM – RHINELAND
Visit Arnhem to view the
‘Bridge Too Far’ before crossing the German border to see Cologne
Cathedral. Now join your scenic Rhine cruise past hilltop castles and leafy
vineyards before arriving at your Rhineland hotel. Hotel: Steigenberger
Mannheimer Hof (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 5 – SUN –
RHINELAND – INNSBRUCK
Drive south into the
Bavarian Alps to see King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle. Take a scenic
alpine drive into Austria. Arrive at Innsbruck where you walk through the
Old Town to see the Golden Roof. Hotel: Hilton. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 6 – MON –
INNSBRUCK – VIENNA
Make your way to Salzburg
for a guided tour. Walk through the Mirabell Gardens and see Mozart’s
birthplace. Drive along the Danube Valley, passing Melk Abbey, to stately
Vienna. Hotel: Sofitel. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 7 – TUE –
VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Visit the fabulous
State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace this morning. Later, see the Winter
Palace, Parliament building, Opera House and City Hall. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 8 – WED –
VIENNA – ZAGREB
Drive south through
Styria’s forested mountains and over the Slovenian border to Maribor.
Follow the Drava River to Croatia and its capital of Zagreb. On your guided
tour, see Roosevelt Square, Ban Josip Jelacic Square and the Cathedral. Move
on to the medieval Upper Town, and its Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St
Marks Church and the Pope’s Tower. Hotel: Sheraton. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 9 – THU –
ZAGREB – PLITVICE REGION
Time at leisure this
morning. Maybe take an optional excursion to Tito’s home town of
Kumrovec before departing for Plitvice National Park. Hotel: Jezero. (Buffet breakfast,
dinner)
DAY 10 – FRI –
PLITVICE REGION – SPLIT
Tour the Plitvice
Lakes, visit Korana Canyon to see the falls and Tomicevo Pogledalo for
views over the park. Drive on to the Dalmatian coast, and admire the
cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko palace in Trogir before continuing to
Split. Some 1700 years ago, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace
here; today you can explore the streets and buildings within that same
palace. Hotel: Globo. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 11 – SAT –
SPLIT – DUBROVNIK
Visit the Roman port of Salona to admire the Roman Baths, Amphitheatre and
Necropolis. Continue through sun-drenched resorts to the fortified town of
Dubrovnik. Hotel: President. (Buffet
breakfast, dinner)
DAY 12 – SUN –
DUBROVNIK SIGHTSEEING
On a guided sightseeing
tour of the Old Town, see Onofrio’s fountain, the Rector’s Palace and
the city walls, as well as the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The
afternoon is at leisure – relax at an outdoor café, shop in the bazaar
and maybe take the ‘Sunset Cruise’ this evening. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 13 – MON –
DUBROVNIK – TIRANA
Over the border, visit
the Old Town of Kotor before continuing through the spectacular scenery of
Montenegro to the border with Albania. We cross into this mysterious
emerging country and stay in the capital city of Tirana. Hotel: Sheraton
Hotel & Towers. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 14 – TUE –
TIRANA – JOANNINA
Head south through the
spectacular scenery to the northern mountainous region of Greece and the
resort of Joannina. Hotel: Du Lac or Epirus Palace.
(Buffet breakfast, Lunch, dinner)
DAY 15 – WED –
JOANNINA – ATHENS
Take a scenic drive to
the ancient capital of Greece, Athens. Hotel: Ledra Marriott.(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 16 – THU –
ATHENS SIGHTSEEING
A sightseeing tour
includes a visit to the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, the
Temple of the Wingless Victory and Hadrian’s Arch. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 17 – FRI –
CRUISING – MYKONOS
Board a cruise ship and
sail for the delightful island of Mykonos with its white-washed windmills.
(Buffet
breakfast, Lunch, dinner,
Supper)
DAY 18 – SAT –
CRUISING – RHODES
Enjoy a full day on
Rhodes, once the fortified headquarters of the crusaders and home to the
Colossus of Rhodes. Enjoy a Greek Evening and Dinner with entertainment
while cruising. (Full breakfast, Lunch, dinner, Supper)
DAY 19 – SUN –
CRUISING – PATMOS – KUSADASI
Dock at the island of
Patmos before sailing on to Kusadasi where you can visit the bazaar or
perhaps take an excursion to Ephesus. (Full breakfast, Lunch, dinner, Supper)
DAY 20 – MON – AT
SEA
The cruise ends in Athens
where you rejoin your coach. Explore the fascinating markets of the Plaka
before returning to the port of Patras to take an overnight ferry back to
Italy. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 21 – TUE – AT
SEA – SORRENTO
Disembark in Bari and
cross the Apennines to the west coast. Cruise to the island of Capri and
ascend to Capri town by funicular railway before reaching your hotel in
the picturesque resort of Sorrento. Hotel: La Pace. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 22 – WED –
SORRENTO
Time to visit lively
Piazza Tasso to watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying. Maybe explore
the Amalfi Coast before returning to the hotel? (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 23 – THU –
SORRENTO– ROME
Drive to the Roman town
of Pompeii, buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. Walk with a local
guide through the cobbled streets to explore the shops, villas and temples.
Then it’s on to Rome. Hotel: Cicerone. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 24 – FRI –
ROME SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide,
visit the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Then see Michelangelo’s
‘Pieta’ inside St Peter’s Basilica. Cross the River Tiber to visit
the massive Colosseum and look out over the Roman Forum. Later, consider
visiting the Catacombs. Tonight visit the Spanish Steps before a Highlight
Dinner including pasta, wine and entertainment. (Buffet breakfast, Specialty
Highlight Dinner)
DAY 25 – SAT –
ROME – FLORENCE
Drive north into the
beautiful region of Tuscany and follow the Arno valley to the Renaissance
city of Florence. Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn. (Buffet
breakfast, dinner)
DAY 26 – SUN –
FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, visit
the Statue of David in the Academy Gallery. See the Cathedral, the ‘Gates
of Paradise’, Piazza Signoria, and Santa Croce Church. After a leatherwork
demonstration, there’s time to continue sightseeing or shop? (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 27 – MON –
FLORENCE – VENICE
Leaving Florence, cross
the Apennine Mountains, passing Bologna and the flood plains of the River Po
for a scenic drive along the famous Brenta Riviera. See the magnificent
classical villas that were once the summer residences of the Venetian
nobility. The route passes along the canal through Strà, Dolo and Mira to
magical Venice, where the city seems to float on the lagoon. Stay on the
Lido, one of the most fashionable resorts on the Adriatic. Hotel: Quattro
Fontane. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 28 – TUE –
VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Take a private launch
to St Mark’s Square to view the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace and the
Basilica. Watch Venetian glass being blown and enjoy a Highlight gondola
ride through the canals. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 29 – WED –
VENICE – NICE
Cross the Northern Plain
of Italy, passing Milan en route to Genoa. Take the Highway of the Flowers
past Monaco to the resort of Nice. Hotel: Radisson SAS. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 30 – THU – ST
PAUL DE VENCE & CANNES EXCURSION
Visit the medieval town
of St Paul de Vence, perched high on the hilltop, then fashionable Cannes,
home to the famous film festival. The rest of the day is at leisure to
explore the French Riviera (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 31 – FRI –
NICE – LUCERNE
Visit a local French
perfumery before passing through the Italian Lake District en route to the
Swiss Alps and lovely lake-side Lucerne. Hotel: Astoria.
(Buffet breakfast)
DAY 32 – SAT –
LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
Ascend Mount Pilatus by
cog-wheel railway for 360 degrees views of the Swiss Alps. Later, back in
Lucerne, see the Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge before
using some free time to shop. (Buffet
breakfast, dinner)
DAY 33 – SUN –
LUCERNE – PARIS
Cross the border at
Basel and continue through the wine region of Burgundy to the glittering
French capital of Paris. Hotel: Concorde Saint-Lazare. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 34 – MON –
PARIS SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, see
Notre Dame Cathedral and drive along the elegant Champs Élysées to the
Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower before visiting Napoleon’s tomb
in the Église du Dôme. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 35 – TUE –
PARIS – LONDON
Travel across the
battlefields of the First World War to Calais, then over the Channel to
Dover and continue to London, where the tour ends. (Buffet breakfast)
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