Tour Duration: 16 days
Tour Pace
This tour slows down
considerably after Venice,
with 2 night stays in Venice, Rome,
Lucerne & Paris. Florence is
just a
short drive from Rome, requiring only a
one night stay here.
DAY 1 – DEPART
USA
Overnight flight to
London.
DAY 2 –
ARRIVE LONDON
Welcome to
London. On arrival we are
transferred to our hotel.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch
DAY 3 – LONDON
SIGHTSEEING
Our half day
sightseeing tour shows
us Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey,
the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The
afternoon is free to explore or shop. (CB)
DAY 4 – LONDON
– AMSTERDAM
We travel to Dover for our channel
crossing to France. We continue through
Belgium into Holland, passing windmills
en route to Amsterdam. Our orientation
tour shows us the Royal Palace, Mint Tower
and we visit a diamond factory before a
Welcome Drink.
Hotel: NH City Centre.
(CB)
DAY 5 –
AMSTERDAM – HEIDELBERG
We travel into Germany
today to view
Gothic Cologne Cathedral. Then we travel
via Bonn, to board our highlight Rhine
cruise. We pass medieval castles and
steep vineyards and see the legendary
Loreley
Rock. Now on to our hotel Heidelberg,
dominated by its red sandstone castle.
Hotel:
Crowne Plaza. (BB,D)
DAY 6 – HEIDELBERG
– INNSBRUCK
Today
we head into Bavaria to admire
the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein.
We continue to Oberammergau to see the
renowned
theatre and painted chalets before
reaching lively Innsbruck.
Hotel: Hilton. (BB,D)
DAY 7 – INNSBRUCK
– VENICE
We see the Golden Roof and visit the
superb rococo Wilten Basilica this
morning. Leaving Innsbruck, we cross
into Italy
and follow the Adige River through
spectacular scenery to Verona. We walk
through the narrow streets past the the
Roman Arena to Juliet's
Balcony. Now on to the city of Venice,
situated in the vast Lagoon.
Hotel: Sant`Elena.
(BB,D)
DAY 8 – VENICE
SIGHTSEEING
We cruise by
private launch to St Mark`s
Square to see the ornate Basilica and
the Moors atop the clock tower. We also see
the Doges` Palace and its adjoining
Bridge of Sighs. After a demonstration
of Venetian glass blowing, we are at
leisure to explore or shop!
(BB)
DAY 9 – VENICE
– ROME
We head south over the wild Apennine
Mountains
to our Rome hotel. Tonight, we stroll to
the Trevi Fountain before a highlight
dinner
of pasta, wine and music!
Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace/Crowne
Plaza. (BB,HD)
DAY 10
– ROME SIGHTSEEING
On our guided city tour
we visit St
Peter`s Basilica in the Vatican
City to see Michelangelo`s
`Pieta`.
Then we cross the Tiber to visit the
Colosseum and overlook the Roman Forum.
There
is time at leisure this afternoon. (BB)
DAY 11 – ROME –
FLORENCE
We travel north
to Florence this morning.
Sightseeing with our local guide shows
us the statue of `David` inside
the Academy Gallery. We continue to the
Cathedral, Gates of Paradise and Signoria
Square. We then watch a leatherwork
demonstration. Later, there is time at
leisure!
Hotel: Croce di Malta/Mediterraneo.
(BB,D)
DAY 12 –
FLORENCE – LUCERNE
We journey north today
past Italy's
industrial nerve centre of Milan and the
Italian Lake District. We cross into
Switzerland
amidst spectacular Alpine scenery, to
reach the lakeside resort of Lucerne.
Hotel:
Astoria. (BB)
DAY 13 – LUCERNE
SIGHTSEEING
A full day
to enjoy Lucerne`s
covered wooden bridges, medieval
fortifications, Lion Monument, baroque
church,
lake–side walks and shops. Later, we
take a spectacular cable–car ride up to the
the summit of Mount Pilatus for
snow–capped views and true Alpine
majesty. (BB,D)
DAY 14
– LUCERNE – PARIS
We travel into France
and continue
through the wine area of Burgundy to
Paris. Tonight, perhaps sample some French
cuisine?
Hotel: Sofitel Bercy. (BB)
DAY 15 – PARIS
SIGHTSEEING
On our
guided sightseeing tour we see
Notre Dame Cathedral, the immense
facades of the Louvre, Place de la
Concorde, the
Champs Élysées and the Arc
de Triomphe. We then ascend the famous
Eiffel
Tower for spectacular panoramas over the
city! Now time to shop? (BB)
DAY 16 – RETURN TO
USA
We transfer to
Charles de Gaulle Airport
for our return flight home. (BB)
