THE BEST OF EUROPE (51602010)

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; boat transfer to Capri

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

Hotels


London
Novotel London West (F),

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

Rhineland
Holiday Inn Stadtwald (F) at Cologne or Zum Anker (ST) at Andernach,

Lake Lucerne
Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen or Schiller (F) at Lucerne,

Venice Area
Poppi (F) at Mira,

Rome
Residence Parco Tirreno (F),

Neapolitan Riviera
Central Park (ST) at Massa Lubrense or Rivage (ST),

Florence Area
Meridiana (ST) or Holiday Inn (F),

French Riviera
Park Inn (F) at Nice,

Grenoble
Europole (ST) or Plaza Alpexpo (F),

Paris
Kyriad (ST) at Bercy

Meals
Buffet breakfasts (B); 6 dinners (D)

Day 1:
Wed. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Thu. 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:
Fri. 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:
Sat. 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:
Sun. AMSTERDAM AREA–RHINELAND, GERMANY. A morning to enjoy Amsterdam, delightful city of a thousand bridges. Your included excursion will take in a visit to a diamond factory, city sightseeing, and a canal cruise. This will give you lasting knowledge of Holland’s best-known and largest city. This afternoon, continue your journey to the scenic Rhineland for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 6:
Mon. RHINELAND–HEIDELBERG–LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. Drive through the scenic Rhineland this morning or alternatively take the optional Rhine River cruise and enjoy splendid scenery including the Lorelei rock. Next, drive into Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg, nicely located at the confluence of the Rivers Neckar and Rhine, for a short visit. In the afternoon, travel by way of the Autobahn into Switzerland for two overnights around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 7:
Tue. LAKE LUCERNE. 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—a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cruise on the fjord-like lake; a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis; and, of course, there is time to shop for that very Swiss watch. (B)

Day 8:
Wed. LAKE LUCERNE–LUGANO–VERONA, ITALY–VENICE AREA. More wonderful Alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard. Once through its great tunnel, you’ll start your scenic descent into the warmer and sunnier ambiance of the Canton Ticino. Stop in beautiful Lugano and take a stroll along the lakeside promenade. Then, cross into Italy and drive across the Po Valley to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s house and balcony, and stroll around the picturesque market square. Tonight you are in the Venice area. (B)

Day 9:
Thu. VENICE AREA. Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time to soak up the city's unique athmosphere and 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 10:
Fri. VENICE AREA–ASSISI–ROME. An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then crossing the rolling Apennines. Stop in 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 11:
Sat. 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 12:
Sun. ROME–POMPEII–NEAPOLITAN RIVIERA. South all the way today, with the volcano Vesuvius in the distance. First, a stop in Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD when the Vesuvius eruption totally destroyed it. On the included visit you can see the luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum. Just a few more miles for two overnights on the Neapolitan Riviera. (B)

Day 13:
Mon. NEAPOLITAN RIVIERA. EXCURSION TO CAPRI. Cross the blue sea to Capri. This legendary island, surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. The town, with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional tour takes you around the island with its steep roads and panoramic views. (B,D)

Day 14:
Tue. NEAPOLITAN RIVIERA–FLORENCE AREA. An early start this morning for the journey north to Florence. Vistas of undulating hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Arrive in the afternoon in Florence in time to enjoy its magnificent architectural and artistic treasures; the included walking sightseeing will take in most of the highlights. (B,D)

Day 15:
Wed. FLORENCE AREA–PISA–FRENCH RIVIERA, FRANCE. Stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. Bypassing the great port of Genoa, you drive northwest, getting glimpses of the Italian and French Rivieras. The drive continues to descend to the shores of the Côte d’Azur for an overnight in this charming region. (B)

Day 16:
Thu. FRENCH RIVIERA–ROUTE NAPOLEON–GRENOBLE. A great itinerary today! Start the day with a visit to a typical Provence perfume workshop in Grasse, then follow in the footsteps of Napoleon as he escaped from exile in Elbe. Once he landed on the shores of the Côte d’Azur, he made his way to Paris via Grasse. Continue via Digne and Gap to Grenoble on the Route Napoleon. Overnight in Grenoble, now an alpine sports mecca and site of the 1968 Olympic Games. (B,D)

Day 17:
Fri. GRENOBLE–BEAUNE–PARIS. Enjoy the very heart of the Burgundy wine growing region, making a stop in lovely Beaune, surrounded by some of the world’s finest vineyards. Time to see the famous Hotel-Dieu Hospital. Continue northwards directly to Paris for two overnights. (B)

Day 18:
Sat. PARIS. One full day 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 celebrate the success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might be just the ticket. (B)

Day 19:
Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/4/2010 - 8/22/2010	$2,369
8/11/2010 - 8/29/2010	$2,369
8/18/2010 - 9/5/2010	$2,369
8/25/2010 - 9/12/2010	$2,419
9/1/2010 - 9/19/2010	$2,419
9/8/2010 - 9/26/2010	$2,419
9/15/2010 - 10/3/2010	$2,419
9/22/2010 - 10/10/2010	$2,359
9/29/2010 - 10/17/2010	$2,359
10/6/2010 - 10/24/2010	$2,299
10/13/2010 - 10/31/2010	$2,299
11/3/2010 - 11/21/2010	$2,099
12/15/2010 - 1/2/2011	$2,149
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 Heidelberg, Lucerne, Lugano, Verona, Venice, Assisi, Sorrento, Capri, Pisa, Grenoble, Beaune

Scenic Highlights
Rhineland, Italian & French Rivieras, Route Napoleon, Swiss Alps

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $870No triple room reduction.

Related Tours
5165|End Your Trip in London

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