The Grand European

2012 Season
Departs From: London

From 2,058EUR

Length: 24 days from London to London, or 25 days incl. travel

Overview

This extensive vacation stretches through Central Europe from London to Rome, then along the Mediterranean to Spain and France to reach Paris. Begin with two overnights in London, then ferry across the English Channel and join your motorcoach to Amsterdam for guided sightseeing and a canal cruise. Follow the banks of the Rhine with its many castles and visit romantic Heidelberg. Then travel on to Switzerland for two overnights by the shores of Lake Lucerne surrounded by impressive alpine landscapes. Stop in subtropical Lugano and continue south into Italy, visiting Verona en route to the unique floating city of Venice with its St. Mark’s Square and Basilica. More Italian masterpieces in Assisi, St. Francis’ home; Rome with its Roman Forum and Colosseum; and Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance,” with its incredible architecture and works of art. On to the mild climate of the French Riviera. Experience an optional evening in Monte Carlo, visit Avignon, and overnight in Carcassonne, a wonderful example of a medieval fortified city. In Spain, spend two nights each in Barcelona and Madrid with included guided sightseeing tours. Travel north into Castille, stopping in El Cid’s Burgos, then to Basque Country for an overnight in Bilbao before exploring the jewels of France: Bordeaux, Poitiers, Châteaux Country, Orleans, and Paris, the splendid “City of Light.” Ferry back across the English Channel to England for a final night in London.

Notes:

March 27 Departure - Good Friday in Rome
December 9 Departure - Christmas lunch in Barcelona and New Year in Paris

Duration: 24 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
30 May, 2012	22 June, 2012
13 June, 2012	06 July, 2012
18 June, 2012	11 July, 2012
20 June, 2012	13 July, 2012
25 June, 2012	18 July, 2012
27 June, 2012	20 July, 2012
04 July, 2012	27 July, 2012
11 July, 2012	03 August, 2012
25 July, 2012	17 August, 2012
08 August, 2012	31 August, 2012
15 August, 2012	07 September, 2012
22 August, 2012	14 September, 2012
29 August, 2012	21 September, 2012
03 September, 2012	26 September, 2012
10 September, 2012	03 October, 2012
12 September, 2012	05 October, 2012
17 September, 2012	10 October, 2012
19 September, 2012	12 October, 2012
26 September, 2012	19 October, 2012
01 October, 2012	24 October, 2012
08 October, 2012	31 October, 2012
10 October, 2012	02 November, 2012
15 October, 2012	07 November, 2012
17 October, 2012	09 November, 2012
24 October, 2012	16 November, 2012
31 October, 2012	23 November, 2012
07 November, 2012	30 November, 2012
10 December, 2012	02 January, 2013
10 December, 2012	02 January, 2013

City Highlights

Headsets throughout the tour

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

Scenic Highlights

Rhineland, Swiss Alps, Pyrenées, Costa Brava, Basque Countries, Cognac Region, French Riviera, Châteaux Country

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. 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 3   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 4   Amsterdam Area–Rhineland, Germany. Today, enjoy a canal cruise to see the town from water level, then watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a diamond center in Amsterdam. Later, sightseeing with a Local Guide points out the city highlights. In the afternoon, travel southward to the Rhineland area for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 5   Rhineland–Heidelberg–Lake Lucerne Area, Switzerland. Drive through the scenic Rhineland this morning or, alternatively, take the optional Rhine River cruise 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 in the Lucerne area. (B,D)

Day 6   Lake Lucerne Area. 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 cruise on the fjord-like lake or a cable-car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis. (B)

Day 7   Lake Lucerne Area–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 Canton Ticino. Stop in beautiful Lugano and take a stroll along the lakeside promenade. Then, 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 8   Venice Area. Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, and palaces. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time at leisure 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 9   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 frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

Day 10   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 11   Rome–Pisa–Florence. 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 Florence. (B)

Day 12   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; 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 13   Florence–Italian Riviera–Eze, France–French Riviera. An early start this morning for the journey northwest with views of the Italian Riviera. Continue to France for a visit to a perfume workshop in Eze before traveling along the celebrated Côte d’Azur. An optional Monte Carlo by Night excursion with dinner is available. (B)

Day 14   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 an overnight. (B,D)

Day 15   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, to arrive in Barcelona for two overnights. (B)

Day 16   Barcelona. This morning’s sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a drive around Montjuïc 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 Batlló and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fee not included). (B)

Day 17   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 18   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 19   Madrid–Burgos–Bilbao. Climb Somosierra Pass, the boundary between Old and New Castille, before stopping in Burgos to visit the beautiful cathedral. On through Basque Country to Bilbao, now famous for four contemporary architects: Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Cesar Pelli, and Frank Gehry. (B,D)

Day 20   Bilbao–Bordeaux, France–Poitiers. A change of scenery as you travel into France across Gascony for an orientation 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 21   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 excursion. (B)

Day 22   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. (B)

Day 23   Paris–London, England. Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)

Day 24   London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Buffet breakfasts (B); 7 dinners (D)

Hotel Information:  LONDON Novotel London West (F), AMSTERDAM AREA Crowne Plaza (F) at Hoofdoorp or Tulip Inn City West (ST), RHINELAND Ramada (F) at Bruehl or Arthotel (ST) at Aachen, LAKE LUCERNE Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen, VENICE AREA Holiday Inn (F) at Marghera or Novotel Castellana (F) at Mestre, ROME Villa Maria Regina (F) or Fleming (F), FLORENCE Holiday Inn (F) or Europa (ST) at Signa, FRENCH RIVIERA Holiday Inn (ST) at Cannes Le Cannet or Quality (ST) at Menton or All Seasons (ST) at Nice, CARCASSONNE Des 3 Couronnes (ST), BARCELONA Catalonia Aragon (ST), MADRID Rafaeles Ventas (F) or Praga (F), BILBAO Novotel Barakaldo (F), POITIERS Ibis Centre (ST), PARIS Campanile Porte d Italie (ST) or Courtyard (ST) at Neuilly

Guides

Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Madrid, 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; canal transfer boat in Venice


Terms and Conditions

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

Currently viewing: TravelToe Inclusive Tours - The Grand European