|
EUROPEAN
JEWELS - 2010
13
days incl. air, or 12 days from London to Paris (CO-4600)
Return to Italy
Vacations & Tours  Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours Vacation
Overview
See
some of Europe’s most precious gems on this magnificent mosaic of
European culture—a European vacation of a lifetime. Begin your trip in
London with a full day to tour and discover the UK’s capital on your own.
Then, cross the Channel by ferry and board your motorcoach to Amsterdam,
where a guided sightseeing tour and canal cruise await. In Germany,
travel along the castle-dotted Rhine River and join the Romantic Road as
it passes by medieval fairytale towns with half-timbered houses.
Overnight in Munich, one of Germany’s most popular travel destinations,
and continue south to Innsbruck, Austria, and through the majestic
Dolomites. Stop in the world-famous ski resort of Cortina, Italy, on your
way to Venice. In Venice, a boat ride along one of the main canals takes
you to St. Mark’s Square, and a Local Guide gives you a tour and tells
you the stories behind famous Venetian landmarks. On to Florence, “Cradle
of the Renaissance,” for a guided walking tour that features Santa Croce,
Piazza Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Duomo.
Heading
north, cross the Lombardy plain into Switzerland’s Canton Ticino for a
stop in subtropical Lugano before climbing toward St. Gotthard Tunnel and
descending to the German-speaking side of Switzerland and Lake Lucerne.
Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s finest cities, offers 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. While in Lucerne, marvel at
the surrounding Alpine peaks. Head into France and drive past some of
France’s most famous vineyards. Your vacation ends in Paris, “The City of
Light,” with two nights. You see the famous Paris sights with a Local
Guide on your tour, including La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe,
Champs-Elysées, Eiffel Tower, and more. Enjoy time at leisure in Paris to
soak up the romantic beauty. This Europe tour—including England, Holland,
Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France—will leave you with plenty
of vacation photos, memories, and stories. An unforgettable vacation
experience!
Itinerary
Day
1 BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check
into your hotel. Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of
your stay.
Day
3 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 LONDON-AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLAND
Leave
London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside
to the Channel port, where you board your ferry for the Continent. Here
you meet your Tour Director and join your luxury coach for the drive to
the Amsterdam area. (B)
Day
5 AMSTERDAM AREA-THE RHINELAND, GERMANY
A
morning to enjoy Holland’s busy metropolis. After an interesting visit to
a famous diamond center, it’s time for sightseeing with a Local Guide
pointing out the city highlights. Finally, a canal cruise to see
Amsterdam from water level. In the afternoon, travel southwards to reach
the Rhineland for an overnight. (B,D)
Day
6 RHINELAND-ROMANTIC ROAD-MUNICH
"Munich, Germany's Secret Capital"Start
the day with a scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or opt for a
Rhine cruise. Admire the pretty villages, the castles perched high above
the river, and the numerous terraced vineyards. Next, a drive along the
Romantic Road, through towns and villages protected by medieval towergates
and battlements, with squares of half-timbered houses and richly
decorated fountains. A fine example of this architecture is the centre of
Rothenburg where you stop awhile. Overnight in Munich. (B)
Day
7 MUNICH-INN SBRUCK, AUSTRIA-VENICE AREA, ITALY
Travel
from Munich to Austria for a stop in the capital of the Tyrol, Innsbruck.
In the afternoon, drive over Brenner Pass into the Dolomites for a stop
in the world-famous ski resort of Cortina before the descent into the
Piave Valley to the Venice area. (B,D)
Day
8 MORNING IN VENICE-FLORENCE AREA
The
included orientation tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by a
chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as
they did centuries ago. Southwards into the hilly Tuscan countryside to
reach the Florence area for two overnights. (B)
Day
9 FLORENCE
This
Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled all 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.” (B,D)
Day
10 FLORENCE AREA-LAKE LUCERN, SWITZERLAND
Across
the Lombardy plains this morning to Canton Ticino’s subtropical resort of
Lugano. Here you take a break to stroll along the lakeside promenade
before climbing towards the St. Gotthard Tunnel. Emerge on the
German-speaking side of Switzerland and then descend into the gentle
landscape around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)
Day
11 LAKE LUCERNE-PARIS, FRANCE Paris, France
This
morning, visit the Lion monument and the wooden bridge before joining an
optional boat trip. Then vistas of green pastures and attractive chalets
with rustic timbering and luxuriant flowers. Enter France via the
comfortable highway, past some of its most famous vineyards, to Paris.
Arrive in time to enjoy an optional cabaret show. (B)
Day
12 PARIS
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 visit some of the highlights and, to
celebrate the success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might be
just the ticket. (B)
Day
13 YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
3/2/2010
|
3/3/2010
|
3/14/2010
|
$1,529.00
|
Available
|
|
3/9/2010
|
3/10/2010
|
3/21/2010
|
$1,529.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
3/16/2010
|
3/17/2010
|
3/28/2010
|
$1,529.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
3/23/2010
|
3/24/2010
|
4/4/2010
|
$1,529.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
3/30/2010
|
3/31/2010
|
4/11/2010
|
$1,579.00
|
Available
|
|
4/6/2010
|
4/7/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
$1,579.00
|
Available
|
|
4/13/2010
|
4/14/2010
|
4/25/2010
|
$1,579.00
|
Available
|
|
4/20/2010
|
4/21/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
4/27/2010
|
4/28/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/4/2010
|
5/5/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
5/11/2010
|
5/12/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/18/2010
|
5/19/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
5/25/2010
|
5/26/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/1/2010
|
6/2/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
6/8/2010
|
6/9/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
6/15/2010
|
6/16/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
6/22/2010
|
6/23/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/29/2010
|
6/30/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
7/6/2010
|
7/7/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
7/13/2010
|
7/14/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/20/2010
|
7/21/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
7/27/2010
|
7/28/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
8/3/2010
|
8/4/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/10/2010
|
8/11/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
8/17/2010
|
8/18/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
8/24/2010
|
8/25/2010
|
9/5/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
8/31/2010
|
9/1/2010
|
9/12/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
9/7/2010
|
9/8/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
9/14/2010
|
9/15/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
$1,669.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/21/2010
|
9/22/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
$1,599.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due to itinerary and
time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly. Early
booking is encouraged.
|
