Scenic Europe And Bernina Express

2012 Season
Departs From: London

From 1,068EUR

Length:  11 days from London to Paris, or 12 days incl. travel

Overview

This memorable vacation starts in London and travels to Brussels for an overnight. Continue through Germany’s scenic Rhineland, spend the night in Würzburg, and discover charming medieval Rothenburg along the Romantic Road. Next up: the beautiful landscapes of Bavaria, a visit to King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, then Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. The included panoramic Alpine train ride on the spectacular Bernina Express—which leaves from St. Moritz and crosses the Bernina mountain range into the Italian Valtellina—is an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a change of scenery as you arrive in subtropical Lake Lugano, then back over the mountains to Lucerne, Interlaken, and Gruyère in the Swiss Alps. Spend the night in international Geneva, with an included orientation drive, then head north with a stop in medieval Beaune. Your adventure ends with two overnights in Paris, the fascinating “City of Light.”

Duration:  11 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
25 May, 2012	04 June, 2012
01 June, 2012	11 June, 2012
15 June, 2012	25 June, 2012
22 June, 2012	02 July, 2012
06 July, 2012	16 July, 2012
13 July, 2012	23 July, 2012
17 August, 2012	27 August, 2012
31 August, 2012	10 September, 2012
07 September, 2012	17 September, 2012
14 September, 2012	24 September, 2012
21 September, 2012	01 October, 2012
28 September, 2012	08 October, 2012
05 October, 2012	15 October, 2012

City Highlights

Headsets throughout the tour

Visits to Rothenburg, Neuschwanstein Castle, St. Moritz, Lugano, Lucerne, Interlaken, Gruyère Village, Geneva, Beaune

Scenic Highlights

Rhineland, Romantic Road, Fern Pass, Lake Como, Bernina Mountain Range

Day 1   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 2   London–Brussels, Belgium. 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 your Tour Director and comfortable coach wait to take you to Brussels. (B)

Day 3   Brussels–Rhineland, Germany–Würzburg Area. Start the day by traveling south into Germany to reach the shores of the mighty Rhine for a scenic drive. Even better, opt for a Rhine cruise. Admire the pretty villages, the castles perched high above the river, and the numerous terraced vineyards. Then, head for the Würzburg area for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 4   Würzburg Area–Romantic Road–Rothenburg–Neuschwanstein Castle–Innsbruck, Austria. Drive along the Romantic Road through villages protected by medieval tower gates and with squares of half-timbered houses and richly decorated fountains. Stop awhile to visit the picturesque town of Rothenburg. Travel into southern Bavaria for an included visit to the legendary Castle of Neuschwanstein. Just a few more miles into Austria for an overnight in Innsbruck. (B,D)

Day 5   Innsbruck–St. Moritz, Switzerland. A magnificent drive this morning through Austrian and Swiss grand Alpine scenery. South into Switzerland’s lower Engadine Valley and past Swiss National Park to the world-famous resort of St. Moritz. Plenty of time to enjoy vistas of the great mountain peaks and the blue water lake just below the town. Take a stroll and let it all sink in. (B)

Day 6   St. Moritz–Bernina Express Train to Italy–Lugano, Switzerland. Enjoy the highlight of the whole tour and a wonderful way of crossing the Alps. One of Europe’s most spectacular train rides begins in St. Moritz and takes you across lofty Bernina Pass via the Swiss Poschiavo area to Tirano in the Italian Valtellina. Here, rejoin your coach for the journey to the shores of Lake Como and then Lugano, where you’ll overnight. (B)

Day 7   Lugano–Lake Lucerne. Another lovely journey today through the valleys of the Canton Ticino, through the Gotthard Tunnel, and into more magnificent Alpine scenery as you descend to the shores of Lake Lucerne. Today, visit 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 funicular and cable-car ride to the 6,227-foot summit of Mount Stanserhorn, a cruise on the fjord-like lake, and, of course, time to shop for that very Swiss watch. (B,D)

Day 8   Lake Lucerne–Interlaken–Gruyère–Geneva Area. A day packed with a variety of scenery and places to visit. First to Interlaken, a vacationer’s dream. It’s all picture postcard perfect, lying beneath the towering Jungfrau and between two sparkling lakes. Motor along the shores of Lake Thun, then on to the small but lovely village of Gruyère with only a few more miles before reaching Switzerland’s most international city, Geneva, for an orientation drive and overnight in this area. (B)

Day 9   Geneva Area–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 autoroute, to Paris. Tonight, maybe an optional cabaret show? (B)

Day 10   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 shows off 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 11   Paris. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Buffet breakfasts (B); 3 dinners (D)

Hotel Information:  LONDON Novotel London West (F), BRUSSELS Ramada La Woluwe (F), WÜRZBURG AREA Schöne Aussicht (ST) at Marktheidenfeld, INNSBRUCK Dollinger (ST) or Rumerhof (F) at Rum, ST. MORITZ Sporthotel Bären (F), LUGANO Acquarello (ST), LAKE LUCERNE Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen or Pilatusblick (ST) at Kriens, GENEVA AREA Mercure (ST) at Annemasse, PARIS Quality Porte d Orleans (F)

Guides

Host service in London. Local Guide for city sightseeing in Paris. Professional Tour Director while touring

Transportation

If transport to or from airport is required, please let us know. Round-trip transportation between London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Cross-Channel ferry; the Bernina Express train


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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