EUROPES HIGHLIGHTS (51052010)

Transportation
Scheduled transatlantic flights and airport transfers in London and Paris if Cosmos issues the air tickets. Round-trip transportation between London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Cross-Channel ferry; canal transfer boat in Venice

Guides
Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Paris. Professional Tour Director while touring.

Hotels


London
Novotel London West (F),

Amsterdam
Area NH (F) at Schiphol or Grand (F) at Amstelveen,

Rhineland
Zum Anker (ST) at Andernach,

Innsbruck
Rumerhof (ST) at Rum,

Venice Area
Poppi (F) at Mira,

Rome
Dei Massimi (F),

Montecatini
Ariston (ST) or Biondi (F),

Lake Lucerne
Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen,

Lausanne
Novotel Bussigny (F),

Paris
Forest Hill (ST) at La Villette

Meals
Buffet breakfasts (B); 5 dinners (D)

Day 1:
Sun. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Mon. ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3:
Tue. LONDON. A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)

Day 4:
Wed. LONDON–AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLLAND. Leave London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel port, where you embark on your ferry for the Continent. Meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to the Amsterdam area. (B)

Day 5:
Thu. AMSTERDAM AREA–RHINELAND, GERMANY. A morning to enjoy Holland’s busy metropolis. After your included visit to a famous diamond center, it’s time for morning sightseeing with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights; finally, a canal cruise to see Amsterdam from water level. In the afternoon, travel southward to the Rhineland area for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 6:
Fri. RHINELAND–INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA. A choice today of the included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. In the afternoon, ride along the Autobahn to Austria. Overnight in Innsbruck. (B,D)

Day 7:
Sat. INNSBRUCK–VENICE AREA, ITALY. Early morning departure via the Tyrolean Alps to the unique floating city of Venice. This afternoon’s orientation includes a boat ride followed by a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)

Day 8:
Sun. VENICE AREA–ASSISI–ROME. An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

Day 9:
Mon. ROME. The “Eternal City”—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

Day 10:
Tue. ROME–MONTECATINI. An easy drive on the Highway of the Sun to Florence. This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic center, so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide that features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known as the “Gate of Paradise.” Overnight in Montecatini. (B,D)

Day 11:
Wed. MONTECATINI–PISA–LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. Start the morning by driving to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and admire the Leaning Tower. Next, journey northwards through Tuscan hills across the River Po into the Lombardy Plains, crossing into Switzerland for a stop in lovely lakeside Lugano. In the afternoon, travel through some of Europe’s most splendid Alpine scenery through the St. Gotthard Tunnel to descend to Lake Lucerne for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 12:
Thu. LAKE LUCERNE–INTERLAKEN–LAUSANNE. Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument. Next, to nearby Stans for an optional excursion by funicular and cable car to the 6,227-foot summit of Mount Stanserhorn. Later, Interlaken for a stop. Follow the shoreline of Lake Thun to the delightful hilltop village of Gruyère. A few more miles to Lausanne overlooking Lake Leman. (B)

Day 13:
Fri. LAUSANNE–BEAUNE, FRANCE–PARIS. Vistas of famous vineyards on the way to Beaune. Visit the medieval Burgundian town, known the world over for its wine production. Later, via the comfortable autoroute to Paris. Tonight, maybe an optional cabaret show? (B)

Day 14:
Sat. & Sun. PARIS. Two days in which to explore the city that’s known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and to the Louvre Museum. (B daily)

Day 15:
Sat. & Sun. PARIS. Two days in which to explore the city that’s known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and to the Louvre Museum. (B daily)

Day 16:
Mon. PARIS–LONDON, ENGLAND. Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)

Day 17:
Tue. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/1/2010 - 8/17/2010	$2,209
8/8/2010 - 8/24/2010	$2,209
8/15/2010 - 8/31/2010	$2,209
8/22/2010 - 9/7/2010	$2,209
8/29/2010 - 9/14/2010	$2,209
9/5/2010 - 9/21/2010	$2,209
9/12/2010 - 9/28/2010	$2,159
9/19/2010 - 10/5/2010	$2,159
9/26/2010 - 10/12/2010	$2,159
10/3/2010 - 10/19/2010	$2,159
10/10/2010 - 10/26/2010	$2,159
10/17/2010 - 11/2/2010	$2,159
10/24/2010 - 11/9/2010	$2,159
10/31/2010 - 11/16/2010	$1,949
11/7/2010 - 11/23/2010	$1,949
11/14/2010 - 11/30/2010	$1,949
12/12/2010 - 12/28/2010	$1,979
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights
Visits to Venice, Assisi, Pisa, Lugano, Lucerne, Interlaken, Gruyère, Lausanne, Beaune

Scenic Highlights
Rhineland, Tyrolean Alps, Swiss Alps, Lake Thun, Oberland, Burgundy wine country

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $780No triple room reduction.

Related Tours
5100|Europe’s Highlights

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