Itinerary

Day 1:
Wed. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Thu. ARRIVAL 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-THE 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. Later, travel southward into Germany along the banks of the legendary Rhine. Admire the pretty villages, the castles perched high above the river, and the numerous terraced vineyards. Overnight in this area. (B,D)

Day 6:
Mon. THE RHINELAND-HEIDELBERG-LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. Take the optional Rhine River cruise this morning 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 Necker and Rhine, for a short visit. In the afternoon, travel by way of the autobahn into Switzerland for an overnight around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 7:
Tue. LUCERNE. One of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped 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. In the afternoon, 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. 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 tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica 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 frescos 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 A.D. 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; included 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. Stop here for a visit to one of the famous perfume workshops before continuing via Digne and Gap to Grenoble. This has since been known as the Route Napoleon and was made into a highway in 1932. Overnight in Grenoble, now an alpine sports mecca and site of 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)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Heidelberg, Lucerne, Lugano, Verona, Assisi, Sorrento, Capri, Pisa, Grenoble, Beaune
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Wed. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Thu. ARRIVAL 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,D)

Day 5:
Sun. AMSTERDAM. This morning watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a diamond center in Amsterdam. Then sightseeing with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights, and finally a canal cruise to see the town from water level. (B)

Day 6:
Mon. AMSTERDAM AREA-THE RHINELAND, GERMANY-HEIDELBERG AREA. 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. Spend the night in the area of the historic university town of Heidelberg. (B,D)

Day 7:
Tue. HEIDELBERG AREA-TITISEE-LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. An early start this morning through parts of the scenic Black Forest for a stop in lovely Titisee, famous for its cuckoo clocks. Stop awhile at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen before heading through the green meadows and picturesque wooded valleys of Switzerland to Lake Lucerne for two overnights. (B)

Day 8:
Wed. LUCERNE. One of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your sightseeing 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,D)

Day 9:
Thu. LAKE LUCERNE-LUGANO-VENICE AREA, ITALY. From the shores of Lake Lucerne to those of Lake Lugano. Spend some time visiting this lovely city, do some shopping, or walk along its lakeside promenade. Then across the Po Valley to reach the Venice area for two overnights. (B)

Day 10:
Fri. VENICE. The included tour of this unique floating city starts with a boat ride and is followed by a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip. (B,D)

Day 11:
Sat. VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME. Drive south across the Apennines and stop in Assisi to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. In the afternoon journey through more green rolling hills towards Rome. (B)

Day 12:
Sun. 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 13:
Mon. ROME-FLORENCE AREA. Another morning in Rome to do as you please. Maybe some shopping or revisit what by now has become your favorite haunt. In the afternoon an easy drive on the Highway of the Sun to the Florence area. (B)

Day 14:
Tue. 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 to Paradise.” (B,D)

Day 15:
Wed. FLORENCE AREA-ITALIAN & FRENCH RIVIERAS, FRANCE. Leave early this morning, stopping in the Square of Miracles in Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower. Later, drive past Genoa along the Italian and French Rivieras before reaching your overnight on the French Riviera. (B)

Day 16:
Thu. FRENCH RIVIERA. A whole day to enjoy all the amenities of the French Riviera and a good opportunity to take advantage of the optional excursions. (B,D)

Day 17:
Fri. FRENCH RIVIERA-NÎMES-AVIGNON-LYON. Take the inland road across sun-drenched Provence and landscapes made famous the world over by painter Van Gogh. Stop in Nîmes for a short visit of this elegant town still enriched with Roman heritage. Later, head for Avignon, famous for its bridge and massive walls, and on to Lyon. (B,D)

Day 18:
Sat. LYON-BEAUNE-PARIS. Focus on the neat vineyards and fields of Burgundy, and take a break in ancient Beaune. Then travel on the comfortable highway to Paris, arriving in time to enjoy the optional cabaret show. (B)

Day 19:
Sun. 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. And to celebrate the success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might be just the ticket. (B)

Day 20:
Mon. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Titisee, Lucerne, Lugano, Assisi, Pisa, a perfume factory in Eze. French Riviera, Nîmes, Avignon, Lyon, Beaune
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Tue. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Wed. ARRIVAL 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:
Thu. 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:
Fri. 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:
Sat. AMSTERDAM AREA-THE RHINELAND, GERMANY. A morning to enjoy Holland’s busy metropolis. After your 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 overnight. (B,D)

Day 6:
Sun. THE RHINELAND-HEIDELBERG-LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. Take the optional Rhine River cruise this morning 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 an overnight around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 7:
Mon. LUCERNE. One of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped 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 or a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis. (B)

Day 8:
Tue. 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. In the afternoon, 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:
Wed. VENICE. 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 tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica 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:
Thu. 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 frescos by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

Day 11:
Fri. 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:
Sat. ROME-PISA-FLORENCE AREA. Vistas of undulating hills, rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Take a break in Pisa to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to the Florence area. (B)

Day 13:
Sun. 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 to Paradise.” (B,D)

Day 14:
Mon. FLORENCE AREA-ITALIAN & FRENCH RIVIERAS, FRANCE. An early start this morning for the journey northwest with views of the Italian Riviera. Continue in to France, traveling along the celebrated Côte d''Azur. An optional Monte Carlo by Night excursion with dinner is available. (B)

Day 15:
Tue. FRENCH RIVIERA-AVIGNON-CARCASSONNE. Today’s journey will take you through some of France’s loveliest scenery, sun-drenched landscapes right out of Van Gogh’s paintings, on the way through Provence. Stop for a visit in historic Avignon. Continue westwards to the impressive walled city of Carcassonne for overnight. (B,D)

Day 16:
Wed. CARCASSONNE-BARCELONA, SPAIN. Enjoy a visit of this almost untouched piece of medieval fortified architecture, still standing in all its walled glory with drawbridges, towers, battlements, watch turrets, ramparts, and even arrow-slits to repel the enemy. Later, drive by way of Perpignan across the border into Spain, skirting the Costa Brava to arrive in Barcelona for two overnights. (B)

Day 17:
Thu. BARCELONA. This morning’s sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a drive around Monjuich to see the Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. The drive continues to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batllo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fee not included). (B)

Day 18:
Fri. BARCELONA-MADRID. See more of Catalonia as you drive northwest via Saragossa through the very heart of new Castille for two overnights in Spain’s capital, Madrid. (B)

Day 19:
Sat. MADRID. Not only because it’s the capital of Spain, but also because it is situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say Madrid is the nearest thing to heaven. Enjoy the main highlights on the included sightseeing excursion. The optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too. The splendid setting is like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)

Day 20:
Sun. MADRID-BURGOS-BILBAO. Climb Somosierra Pass, the boundary between Old and New Castille, to the walled city of Aranda de Duero, before stopping in Burgos. On through the Basque Country to Bilbao, now famous for four living architects: Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Cesar Pelli, and Frank Gehry. (B,D)

Day 21:
Mon. BILBAO-BORDEAUX, FRANCE-POITIERS. A change of scenery as you travel into France across Gascoigne for an orientation drive of Bordeaux, the wine capital of France. Travel farther north by way of the Cognac area to Poitiers of Black Prince fame for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 22:
Tue. POITIERS-CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY-ORLEANS-PARIS. The autoroute L’Aquitaine will take you directly to Tours and along the Loire passing the castles of Amboise and Chaumont. Stop in Orleans before reaching Paris in time to enjoy an optional French dinner. (B)

Day 23:
Wed. 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, enjoy a cabaret show. (B)

Day 24:
Thu. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Heidelberg, Lucerne, Lugano, Verona, Assisi, Pisa, Avignon, Carcassonne, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Burgos, Orleans