VISITING
ENGLAND, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY,
VATICAN CITY, FRANCE AND SPAIN
Day
1 – Depart USA
Overnight flight to London.
Day 2 – Arrive London
Welcome to London! On arrival you are
transfered to your London tour hotel.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Kings Cross/Bloomsbury.
Day 3 – London Sightseeing
Your half day London sightseeing tour
shows you all the major sights. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 4 – London – Amsterdam
Meet your Tour Director and head south
to board your ferry to Calais. Cross Belgium’s Flanders Fields to Holland’s
lively Amsterdam. See the Royal Palace in Dam Square and visit a diamond-cutting
and polishing factory.
Hotel: Tulip Inn Riverside. (B)
Day 5 – Amsterdam – Rhineland
Drive to Cologne to view the Gothic
cathedral before embarking on a Rhine cruise: sail past castles, vineyards and villages.
Rejoin the coach to your hotel.
Hotel: Ramada Micador. (B,D)
Day 6 – Rhineland – Lake
Lucerne
Visit Heidelberg and view the ruined
castle before driving through the Black Forest, en route to the Swiss border. See
the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen before arriving at Lake Lucerne.
Hotel: Postillon
(Buochs). (B,D)
Day 7 – Lucerne Sightseeing
On a tour of Lucerne, visit the Lion
Monument and see the Chapel Bridge. There’s time to shop or perhaps take an
excursion by cable-car up a nearby mountain for breathtaking views of the Alps.
(B,D)
Day 8 – Lake Lucerne – Venice
Enjoy glorious Alpine scenery as you
make your way to the Italian border and enter the Italian Lake District. At Verona,
legendary home of Romeo and Juliet, see the well-preserved Roman Arena and Juliet's
Balcony, before continuing to your hotel in the Veneto region.
Hotel: Relais Villa
Fiorita (Monastier) (B,D)
Day 9 – Venice Sightseeing
Cruise by private launch to St Mark’s
Square and Basilica, and see the Bridge of Sighs and Doges’ Palace before enjoying
a demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing. Time at leisure before returning across
the causeway to your hotel. (B,D)
Day 10 – Venice – Assisi
Drive along the Brenta canal this morning
lined with classical villas by Palladio. Now ascend into the Appenine Mountains
and soon arrive in Siena, a medieval town, second only to Florence in beauty amongst
the Tuscan cities. Its cobbled streets lead to the city square where the annual
horse race takes place. Stay tonight in the picturesque hillside town of Assisi,
home of St. Francis.
Hotel: II Castello. (B,D)
Day 11 – Assisi – Rome
Time to see the huge cathedral this
morning, built in the 13th century, after St. Francis' death. In the valley lies
the famous Church of St Mary of the Angels built around the saint’s original
Porziuncola chapel. Your journey continues to the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome.
Hotel: Cristoforo Colombo. (B)
Day 12 – Rome Sightseeing
Your guided tour begins with a visit
to the Vatican City and St Peter’s Basilica, with its moving ‘Pieta’ by Michelangelo and its splendid dome, both highlights. There is also an optional
excursion to the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, admire the
Imperial Forum and the Colosseum, with time reserved for you to explore Rome on
your own. (B)
Day 13 – Rome – Tuscany
Travel north to Renaissance Florence,
the artistic hub of Italy. Enjoy views over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo
and watch a demonstration of leatherwork. Spend the afternoon in Florence before
continuing on to your hotel in the Tuscan hills near Montecatini.
Hotel: Tuscany
Inn. (B,D)
Day 14 – Tuscany – French
Riviera
After seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa,
travel along the spectacular Italian Riviera coast. Cross the French border and
pass elegant Monaco. Pause to visit a French perfumery before continuing to your
hotel. In the evening, be tempted by a flutter at the Monte Carlo casino.
Hotel: Novotel Centre. (B,D)
Day 15 – French Riviera
Spend a day on the French Riviera.
Consider an optional excursion to St Paul de Vence, relax, swim or indulge yourself
with a spot of shopping. Spend the evening enjoying local specialities over an optional
dinner. (B)
Day 16 – French Riviera – Barcelona
Travel across the Camargue, famous for its wild
horses, bulls and flamingos, to Catalonia’s Barcelona.
Hotel: Abba Garden. (B,D)
Day 17 – Barcelona Sightseeing
On a tour of the city, see Gaudi’s
famous Sagrada Familia, the gothic cathedral and Christopher Columbus’ Monument
in the historic port. The afternoon is yours: consider visiting the Pueblo Espanol
with its replicas of regional Spanish villages. (B)
Day 18 – Barcelona – Madrid
Cross the River Ebro in Aragon and
ascend the Morata Pass to the plains of Old Castille. Arrive in the Spanish capital,
Madrid, a city virtually created from scratch by Philip II in the 16th century.
Hotel: Abba Madrid. (B,D)
Day 19 – Madrid Sightseeing
With your local guide, see the Royal
Palace, Puerta del Sol, the celebrated Cibeles Fountain and the Gran Via. Spend
the afternoon shopping for local goods or perhaps exploring nearby Toledo. (B)
Day 20 – Madrid – Lourdes
Cross the soaring Pyrenees into France’s
famous pilgrimage centre of Lourdes, where you can visit the Grotto and join the
moving candlelight procession.
Hotel: Sainte Rose. (B,D)
Day 21 – Lourdes – Bordeaux
Spend the morning exploring this mountain-ringed
town before continuing north to the world-famous vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hotel: Mercure Meriadeck Centre. (B,D)
Day 22 – Bordeaux – Paris
Travel across the Dordogne River to
the Loire Valley and follow the lovely river Loire, pausing to view the Chateau
of Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, and also the castle at Blois. Journey
on to Paris, where you can tour the fabulous night-time illuminations.
Hotel: Mercure
Porte D’Orleans. (B)
Day 23 – Paris Sightseeing
In this city of romance, join your
local guide to see the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and
the Eiffel Tower. Consider visiting Montmartre or the Louvre, or spend the night
enjoying a typical Parisian cabaret. (B)
Day 24 – Return to USA
Your memorable tour ends after breakfast
with a transfer to the airport. (B)
