| 11 Days ~ England
~ Belgium ~ Holland ~ Germany ~ Austria ~ Italy ~ Switzerland ~ France
Tour
Pace
This tour slows down considerably after the
first two days in Amsterdam and the Rhineland. It then runs at a leisurely
pace with two night stays in the key cities of Innsbruck, Venice, Lucerne
and Paris, with time to relax or participate in optional excursions
organised by your Tour Director.
DAY 1 – SUN –
LONDON – AMSTERDAM
Drive to the famous white
cliffs of Dover to cross the English Channel. Disembark at Calais and follow
the coast into Belgium, entering the Netherlands and seeing your first
windmills en route to Amsterdam. Pass the Mint Tower and Royal Palace in Dam
Square on your way to watch diamonds being cut and polished. Enjoy a Welcome
Drink with your Tour Director before boarding a special sightseeing boat and
cruising past mansions and under low bridges to alight in the harbour for a
Highlight Dinner aboard a floating restaurant. Hotel: Eden Rembrandt Sq. (Speciality
Highlight Dinner)
DAY 2 – MON –
AMSTERDAM – RHINELAND
Pass Arnhem, renowned for
its ‘Bridge Too Far’, and continue over the German border to Cologne.
Despite the city being badly damaged in World War Two, its Gothic Cathedral
survived. After marvelling at its soaring spires, continue through the
former West German capital of Bonn to the scenic Rhine Gorge. Board a
cruiser at Boppard and glide past vineyards and imposing castles, and hear
the legend of the Loreley Rock before rejoining the coach at St Goar to
continue to the hotel. Hotel: Steigenberger Mannheimer Hof. (Buffet breakfast,
dinner)
DAY 3 – TUE –
RHINELAND – INNSBRUCK
Skirt the northern
Black Forest and pass Ulm, which has the world’s highest church spire.
Stop at the base of the Bavarian Alps to see the Royal castles, including
King Ludwig’s fabulous fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein. Cross the
Austrian border and drive over the spectacular Fern Pass to arrive in
Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol. Tour the architectural jewels of the
city, seeing the Imperial Palace, delightful Golden Roof and the 14th
century houses of the old town before enjoying dinner at the hotel. Hotel:
Hilton. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 4 – WED –
SALZBURG EXCURSION
Drive out to visit
Innsbruck’s superb Wilten Basilica – its interior richly decorated with
cherubs and angels. Follow the Inn Valley to Salzburg for a guided tour of
Mozart’s home city. From the formal gardens of the Mirabell Palace,
photograph the city skyline crowned by its castle. Cross the river to the
Getreidegasse and Mozart’s birthplace, and stroll through the Old Town’s
narrow lanes to the cathedral and Residenz fountain. Return to Innsbruck in
the afternoon, after which you can opt to join a lively folklore party. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 5 – THU –
INNSBRUCK – VENICE
Leave Innsbruck and
travel across the impressive Europa Bridge, and cross the Brenner Pass into
Italy. Follow the Adige River through spectacular scenery down to the
great plain. Visit fascinating Verona, with its first century Roman Arena,
maze of elegant squares and, of course, Juliet’s famous balcony. Now you
pass Padua on your way to your hotel on the fashionable Venice Lido. Hotel:
Le Boulevard. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 6 – FRI –
VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Romantic Venice! Relax
on a private launch as it cruises past the island of San Giorgio to alight
at St Mark’s Square. Stroll along the water’s edge to see the Bridge
of Sighs that connects the Doges’ Palace with the prisons. See St
Mark’s Basilica and belltower before watching one of the few remaining
craftsmen hand-blow Venetian glass. The tour concludes with a gondola ride
through the canals. Don’t miss the chance to try the city’s delicious
seafood, freshly caught in the lagoon. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 7 – SAT –
VENICE – LUCERNE
Travel through some of
the richest farmland in Europe as you cross northern Italy. Glimpse the
beautiful Italian Lake District as you continue into the heart of the Swiss
Alps, past gushing streams and soaring peaks to scenic Lake Lucerne.
Consider spending the evening at a fondue party and folklore night. Hotel:
Astoria. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 8 – SUN –
LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
Visit the Lion
Monument, carved into a cliff to commemorate the Swiss Guards who lost
their lives during the French Revolution. Spend time shoppingor strolling
along the Chapel Bridge to the richlyornate Jesuit Church. Embark on a
Premium Highlight excursion by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit
of one of Switzerland’s most famousmountains, Mount Pilatus. Admire the
views overthe snow-capped Jungfrau and Eiger peaks before returning to
Lucerne. (Buffet breakfast, dinner)
DAY 9 – MON –
LUCERNE – PARIS
Drive to Basel before
crossing the Rhine to France. Travel across the fertile fields of Burgundy
to Paris, the vibrant heart of French life, and a city which glitters by
night. Here, you have the option of a night-time illuminations tour. Hotel:
Concorde Ambassador. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 10 – TUE –
PARIS SIGHTSEEING
A comprehensive guided
sightseeing tour includes seeing the Champs Élysées, Arc de
Triomphe, Garnier’s Opera, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. A
Premium Highlight sees you ascend by elevator to theviewing platforms of
the Eiffel Tower before visitingthe gilded Dôme Church to see the
imposing tombof the Emperor Napoleon. There is also timefor sightseeing at
your own pace: perhaps admire the impressionist paintings in the Musée
d’Orsay or, ifyou prefer, relax at a sidewalk cafe. (Buffet
breakfast)
DAY 11 – WED –
PARIS – LONDON
Cross the battlefields of
World War One en route to Calais for the return voyage back to Dover. After
a short drive through the pretty Kent countryside, the tour ends in London (Buffet breakfast) |
