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Continental Introduction With London Extension2012 Season
Departs From: Paris |
From 2,231EUR |
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Length: 16 days from Paris to London, or 17 days incl. travel
Overview
The name already tells you that this trip from Paris to London is paced to give you a quick taste of Europe. Start with a special welcome dinner with wine at a fine Parisian restaurant on your first night. Enjoy 2-night stays in Paris, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, and London, and enjoy major sites like the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Michelangelo’s David in Florence, the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, St. Mark’s Square and Doges’ Palace in Venice, and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. In Florence, a special dinner at a local restaurant is included. Sightseeing in all major cities is with a Local Guide. Enjoy an overnight stay in Lugano and Munich, a private boat transfer in Venice, a cruise down the romantic Rhine, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, and a ride on the high-speed Eurostar train, as well as stops in Ferrara, Innsbruck, and Germany’s picturesque Rothenburg. This is the best way to see Europe in two weeks!
Duration: 16 Days
Schedule:
| Start Date |
End Date |
| 02 June, 2012 |
17 June, 2012 |
| 09 June, 2012 |
24 June, 2012 |
| 16 June, 2012 |
01 July, 2012 |
| 23 June, 2012 |
08 July, 2012 |
| 30 June, 2012 |
15 July, 2012 |
| 04 August, 2012 |
19 August, 2012 |
| 11 August, 2012 |
26 August, 2012 |
| 18 August, 2012 |
02 September, 2012 |
| 25 August, 2012 |
09 September, 2012 |
| 01 September, 2012 |
16 September, 2012 |
| 08 September, 2012 |
23 September, 2012 |
| 15 September, 2012 |
30 September, 2012 |
| 22 September, 2012 |
07 October, 2012 |
| 29 September, 2012 |
14 October, 2012 |
| 06 October, 2012 |
21 October, 2012 |
| 13 October, 2012 |
28 October, 2012 |
| 10 November, 2012 |
25 November, 2012 |
| 08 December, 2012 |
23 December, 2012 |
City Highlights
Paris Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, ascend the Eiffel TowerLucerne Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel BridgePisa Marvel at the legendary Leaning TowerFlorence Dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit Michelangelo’s David, and Signoria SquareRome Guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman ForumFerrara Walk along Este Castle to the cathedralVenice Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstrationInnsbruck Walk through the Old Town to the Golden RoofMunich Orientation driveRothenburg Walking tour of the walled townRhine CruiseCologne Visit the cathedralAmsterdam Guided sightseeing including Dam Square, canal cruise; visit a major diamond centerBrussels Orientation including Grand’PlaceBrussels–London By high-speed Eurostar trainLondon Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and see the Changing of the Guard, if heldHeadsets throughout the tourNote: - In the rare event that the Eurostar train is unavailable, alternative services will be provided.
Day 1 Arrive in Paris, France. The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ fine restaurants. (D)
Day 2 Paris. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Champs-Elysées. For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Afternoon at leisure. An optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles is available. Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (B)
Day 3 Paris–Lucerne, Switzerland. A comfortable ride skirting Fontainebleau Forest and through the vineyards of Burgundy to the Swiss border. Enjoy vistas of the Alps as you arrive in picture-book Lucerne. (B,D)
Day 4 Lucerne–Lugano. Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT and walk through the Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Why not join an optional excursion to the top of the mountain? Next, admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard on the way to Lake Lugano. You may wish to join an optional boatride followed by dinner on spectacular Lake Lugano. (B)
Day 5 Lugano–Pisa, Italy–Florence. Past Italy’s commercial capital of Milan, reach Pisa, where you stop for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Arrive in Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Time to explore the many gold and leather shops, then, enjoy dinner with Tuscan specialties at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day 6 Florence–Rome. During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise.” Also visit sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Next, a fast and easy ride on the Highway of the Sun to the “Eternal City.” (B)
Day 7 Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)
Day 8 Rome–Ferrara–Venice. Afternoon break in Ferrara. Walk along the impressive Este Castle to the marble cathedral. Browse through the attractive little shops before continuing to Venice on the Adriatic coast. Exciting optional activities are available. (B)
Day 9 Venice. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its basilica, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. (B,D)
Day 10 Venice–Innsbruck, Austria–Munich, Germany. Leave Italy on spectacular Brenner Pass, which leads through the barrier of the Tyrolean Alps to Austria. In Innsbruck, enjoy a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF before continuing through the Bavarian Alps to Munich, Germany’s “Secret Capital.” How about a stein of beer and dinner downtown tonight? (B)
Day 11 Munich–Rothenburg–Rhineland. Your orientation drive features Munich’s most famous landmarks: Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, and the 17th-century Nymphenburg Palace. Then, continue through the Swabian Jura to Rothenburg for a walking tour of this walled town. Enjoy free time before continuing to the Rhineland. (B,D)
Day 12 Rhineland–Cologne–Amsterdam, Holland. This morning’s highlight is a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and the Lorelei rock. Then, continue to Cologne and visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL before traveling through the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. (B,D)
Day 13 Amsterdam. A Local Guide shows you the 700-year-old city, including Dam Square with the Royal Palace, and the Rijksmuseum. The highlight is a CANAL CRUISE past patrician mansions, gabled façades, and humpback bridges. Next, visit a major DIAMOND CENTER or one of Amsterdam’s famous museums. The afternoon is at leisure, and an optional excursion to Volendam can be arranged. (B)
Day 14 Amsterdam–Brussels, Belgium–London, England. You will be transferred to Brussels, where a visit to GRAND’PLACE is included. Take pictures of famous Manneken Pis before boarding the EUROSTAR TRAIN to London, arriving in the late afternoon. (B)
Day 15 London. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous landmarks, a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, and the Changing of the Guard, if held. Optional afternoon excursions to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London are available. And tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B
Day 16 London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Meals: Full buffet breakfast (B); 6 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Paris and a special Tuscan dinner with wine in Florence
Hotel Information: PARIS Mercure Tour Eiffel Suffren (F), LUCERNE Ameron Flora (F), LUGANO Holiday Inn Lugano Centre (F), FLORENCE Hilton Garden Inn (F), ROME Crowne Plaza St. Peter’s (SF), VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre, MUNICH Holiday Inn Munich City Centre (F), RHINELAND NH Bingen (F) at Bingen am Rhein, AMSTERDAM NH Carlton (F), LONDON Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (SF) |
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Austria
