31 DAYS ~ ENGLAND ~ FRANCE ~ SPAIN ~ ITALY ~ AUSTRIA ~ LIECHTENSTEIN ~ SWITZERLAND ~ GERMANY ~ HOLLAND ~ BELGIUM


Tour Pace
This tour is well planned. Nearly all stops are two nights in duration with only a small number of single night stops. As it is a long tour, there is a relaxing three–day break in Rome in the middle of the itinerary.

Fellow Passengers –This tour is popular with visitors from the southern hemisphere who don’t get the chance to visit Europe often. This is a comprehensive tour which allows them to see everything in one go.

DAY 1 – DEPART USA.
Overnight flight to London.

DAY 2 – ARRIVE LONDON.
Welcome to London! After checking in to your hotel, the afternoon is at leisure to shop or explore.

Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch.

DAY 3 – LONDON SIGHTSEEING.
Your half day sightseeing tour of London’s West End shows you Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

DAY 4 – LONDON – PARIS.
Cross the English Channel to Calais. Visit the Canadian Memorial at the former Vimy Ridge battlefield. On arrival in Paris enjoy a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Pullman Paris Bercy. (CB)

DAY 5 – PARIS SIGHTSEEING.
With a local guide, see Notre Dame and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views over the city. (BB)

DAY 6 – PARIS – BORDEAUX.
Visit the magnificent Château of Chenonceau in the Loire Valley. Continue through the famous vineyards to Bordeaux au Lac.

Hotel: Sofitel Aquitania. (BB,D)

DAY 7 – BORDEAUX – LOURDES.
Drive to the market town of Lourdes – a pilgrimage place of world renown. Visit the miraculous Grotto and drink the spring waters.Tonight you areinvited to carry a candle and join the pilgrims in a procession to the Rosary Basilica.

Hotel: Grand Hotel De La Grotte. (BB,D)

DAY 8 – LOURDES – MADRID.
Cross the Pyrenees and Sierras into the heart of Spain and continue to the capital, Madrid.

Hotel: NH Nacional. (BB)

DAY 9 – MADRID SIGHTSEEING.
A local guide introduces all the major sights of Madrid. Take a Highlight tour of the elegant apart ments of the Royal Palace. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

DAY 10 – MADRID – BARCELONA.
Drive via the Castilian plain and Morata Pass to the bustling port of Barcelona.

Hotel: Melia. (BB)

DAY 11 – BARCELONA SIGHTSEEING.
On a guided tour, see Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, the port and the Ramblas, with its colourful flower stalls and markets. (BB)

DAY 12 – BARCELONA – NICE.
Cross the Camargue into the landscapes of Van Gogh’s beloved Provence and on to fashionable Nice on the French Riviera.

Hotel: Beau Rivage. (BB)

DAY 13 – NICE.
Get to know the village of St Paul de Vence, revel in its pleasures and experience its art and lifestyle. After some time to take in the magnificent views, return to Nice for time at leisure. (BB)

DAY 14 – NICE – TUSCANY.
Visit a French perfumery and then elegant Monaco before travelling into Italy to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Hotel: Nizza & Suisse. (BB,D)

DAY 15 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING.
View Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, before a local guide shows you the highlights of the city. Visit the open air gallery of Signoria Square, and see the Duomo and Baptistery with its ‘Gates of Paradise’ Later, there is time to shop. (BB)

DAY 16 – TUSCANY – ROME.
Drive to Siena and walk through the cobbled streets to the cathedral and visit the vast piazza where the Palio horse race takes place. Continue to ‘the Eternal City’ of Rome. Tonight’s Dine–Around evening offers you a selection of restaurants to choose from. Enjoy a short group tutorial on the wines that compliment your evening meal.

Hotel: Cicerone. (BB,DA)

DAY 17 – ROME SIGHTSEEING.
With a local guide, visit the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Continue into St Peter’s Basilica, then visit the mighty Colosseum and see the Roman Forum. (BB)

DAY 18 – ROME AT LEISURE.
A day to relax or visit Pompeii and Sorrento. (BB)

DAY 19 – ROME – ASSISI.
Make the short journey northwards to Assisi, one of Italy’s most beautiful mountain towns. Visit the huge Basilica of St. Francis.

Hotel: Grand Hotel. (BB,D)

DAY 20 – ASSISI – VENICE.
Cross the wild Apennines and the fertile Po Valley. Arrive in the magical Venetian lagoon and stay on the fashionable Lido.

Hotel: Villa Mabapa. (BB,D)

DAY 21 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING.
Take a private launch to St Mark’s Square to see the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace and the ornate St Mark’s Basilica. Watch Venetian glass being blown and then enjoy a Highlight gondola ride through the canals. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB)

DAY 22 – VENICE – VIENNA.
The Carnic Alps herald the Austrian Lake District. Then a scenic drive across Styria gives way to the Vienna Woods, Danube Plains and Vienna.

Hotel: Hilton Plaza. (BB)

DAY 23 – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING.
Sightseeing includes a visit to SchÖnbrunn Palace, before touring the ring road and concludes with an introduction to Viennese café culture. (BB)

DAY 24 – VIENNA – INNSBRUCK.
Drive to Salzburg for a guided tour seeing Mozart’s Birthplace, the Cathedral in the Old town and Mirabell Gardens. Continue to Innsbruck to visit the Wilten Basilica and see the Golden Roof and Imperial Palace.

Hotel: Hilton. (BB)

DAY 25 – INNSBRUCK – LUCERNE.
Drive through the Arlberg Tunnel to Liechtenstein. Stop in the capital of Vaduz dominated by its Castle. Then enjoy a beautiful drive to lovely lakeside Lucerne in Switzerland.

Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 26 – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING.
Sightseeing includes the Chapel Bridge and emotive Lion Monument before ascending nearby Mount Pilatus by cog–wheel railway and cable–car. (BB,D)

DAY 27 – LUCERNE – RHINELAND.
See the thundering Rhine Falls before crossing into Germany and travelling through the Black Forest en route to the Rhineland.

Hotel: Hilton Mainz. (BB,D)

DAY 28 – RHINELAND – AMSTERDAM.
Take a scenic cruise along the Rhine past leafy vineyards and hilltop castles. Later, stop in Cologne to see the soaring Gothic cathedral before continuing on to lively Amsterdam.

Hotel: Hilton. (BB,D)

DAY 29 – AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING.
Visit a diamond factory and see the Royal Palace in Dam Square. See cheese and clogs being made and visit the fishing village of Volendam. (BB)

DAY 30 – AMSTERDAM – LONDON.
Cross Belgium to Calais and your return voyage across the Channel to Dover. The tour ends a short time later in London.

Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch. (BB)

DAY 31 – RETURN TO USA.
Your tour ends with transfers to the airport. (CB)