| 18 Days ~ England
~ Belgium ~ Holland ~ Germany ~ Czech Republic ~ Austria ~ Italy ~
Switzerland ~ France
Tour
Pace
Insight has planned this itinerary with two
night stays in every major city. This allows you time to settle into your
new environment before your sightseeing tour the following day. Leisure time
follows each city tour - relax or indulge in an optional excursion if you
like!
DAY 1 – SUN –
LONDON – AMSTERDAM
Meet your Tour Director
and transfer to Dover. Bid farewell to the white cliffs as you cross the
channel to France and continue through Belgium to Amsterdam. As evening
falls, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Vondel Park
Plaza. (Dinner)
DAY 2 – MON –
AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
Visit one of
Amsterdam’s great diamond houses, see the Mint Tower and nearby floating
flower market and drive across the Dam Square. Join a local guide who will
show you the priceless paintings of the Rijksmuseum, including Rembrandt's
'The Night Watch'. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy - why not visit
Volendam? (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 3 – TUE –
AMSTERDAM – HAMELIN
Pass the 'Bridge Too Far'
at Arnhem on your way to the 'water castle' region of Germany. Arrive in Münster,
to see the Old Town and Prinzipalmarkt beer halls. Don't miss the hanging
iron cages of St Lambert's Church before departing for your delightful
castle hotel, set in it’s own grounds, near the Pied Piper’s town of
Hamelin. Hotel: Schlosshotel Munchhausen. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 4 – WED –
HAMELIN – BERLIN
Call into Hamelin to see
the fabled Rat-catcher's house on your way to Wolfenbüttel which still
retains its Renaissance glory. Explore the well planned streets,
half-timbered houses and Market Place before taking the Autobahn to Berlin.
Hotel: Berlin. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 5 – THU
– BERLIN SIGHTSEEING
A guided city tour takes
you along the Unter den Linden past Humboldt University and the Opera. Stop
on Museum Island before returning past the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag
Building and a drive through the Tiergarten. The afternoon is at leisure. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 6 – FRI –
BERLIN – PRAGUE
Stop in Dresden, which
was almost totally destroyed by air raids in 1945. Now faithfully restored,
see the Frauenkirche, the huge mosaic on the Castle wall, the Opera House
and Zwinger Palace before crossing the Czech border to Prague. Hotel:
Diplomat. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 7 – SAT –
PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING
See the highlights of
'Golden Prague' during a morning sightseeing tour. From the heights of
Prague Castle, dominated by the soaring spires of St Vitus' Cathedral, look
down on the Old Town before descending to explore the Old Town Square with
its Astronomical Clock. The afternoon is at leisure. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 8 – SUN –
PRAGUE – VIENNA
Enjoy a drive through the
green Bohemian countryside to medieval Cesky Krumlov. Take time to explore
the old town, with it’s cobbled streets, little back lanes and arch
covered footpaths. In the afternoon, continue across the Austrian border to
Vienna. Hotel: Hilton. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 9 – MON –VIENNA
SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, visit
glorious Schönbrunn Palace, built as a summer residence for Maria Theresa
during the Golden Age of the Hapsburg Empire. Head into the city centre to
tour the Ring Street, pass the Opera, the soaring spires of the City Hall
and the Parliament. Spend the afternoon relaxing with a spot of shopping or
a famous Viennese coffee? (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 10 – TUE
– VIENNA – VENICE
Journey southwards past
quiet villages and forested mountains into the Carinthian Lake district.
Cross into Italy near Tarvisio, and follow mountain valleys and cascading
streams down to the Veneto Plain on your way to Venice. Hotel:
Principe/Amadeus. (Buffet breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 11 – WED
– VENICE SIGHTSEEING
An included canal
cruise takes you to St Marks Square to see the Doges' Palace and Basilica.
Witness the ancient art of glass-blowing before enjoying a gondola ride
through the watery 'streets'. Consider enjoying a seafood lunch on the
beautiful island of Burano.. (Buffet breakfast) DAY
12 – THU – VENICE – ROME
Board your high speed
train to Rome at Venice’s San Lucia Station. Relax and enjoy the ever
changing scenery as the fertile Po Valley gives way to the Apennines.
Arrival in the 'Eternal City' is mid afternoon. Tonight stroll to the
Spanish Steps before a Highlight Dinner of pasta, wine and music. Hotel:
Cicerone. (Buffet breakfast, Specialty Highlight Dinner)
DAY 13 – FRI –ROME
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing with a local
guide in this magnificent city includes the vast St Peter's Basilica. Visit
the Colosseum and overlook the Roman Forum. The afternoon is free for
shopping, relaxing or more sightseeing. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 14 – SAT –
ROME – MILAN
‘Arrivederci Roma’ as
you journey through the Chianti wine producing region of Tuscany to the
cosmopolitan city of Milan, Italy's industrial nerve centre, dominated by
its magnificent Duomo. Hotel: Marriott. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 15 – SUN –
MILAN – LUCERNE
Head north through the
Italian Lake District into the spectacular mountains of Switzerland. Take a
cable car ride to the summit of Mt Pilatus for superb Alpine views before
spending time at leisure in the beautiful lakeside resort of Lucerne. Shop
for clocks and watches, and don't miss the emotive Lion Monument. Hotel:
Astoria. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 16 – MON
–LUCERNE – PARIS
Travel through the wine
growing region of Burgundy to glorious Paris. Don't miss the chance to tour
the sparkling illuminations which bring out the best of this glittering
city. Hotel: Sofitel Bercy (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 17 – TUE
– PARIS SIGHTSEEING
Join a local guide to
see the highlights of the city, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre
and Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower and visit Napoleon's tomb
before spending the afternoon at leisure. Consider taking in a
world-famous cabaret show as night falls. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 18 – WED
–PARIS – LONDON
Bid 'au revoir' to
Paris and cross the agricultural region of Northern France. At Calais,
board the ferry to Dover for your return journey to London. |
