Great European
 
31 Days
Featuring: England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium

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Day 1  Depart USA Overnight flight to London.

Day 2  Arrive London After checking into your Trafalgar hotel, the rest of the day is free.

Day 3  London - Paris (2nights) Greetings from our Tour Director as we drive to Dover and the White Cliffs for our short Channel crossing to Calais, in France. Then across World War I Battlefields to Paris. Later, enjoy a welcome drink. (Continental breakfast)

Day 4  Morning sightseeing includes the ascent of the Eiffel Tower to its second level for magnificent views. We also enjoy a drive from the Place de la Concorde along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomph before a relaxing Seine cruise highlighting monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pont Alexandre III. Later, maybe join an optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 5  Paris - Chartres - Bordeaux This morning our first stop is at Chartres, renowned for its Cathedral's windows. Next to the Loire at Tours and the wine-region of Bordeaux. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 6  Through the vineyards of Sauternes and Graves via Aire-sur-l'Adour. In Lourdes we see the basilica on top of St. Bernadette's grotto. Join the torch-lit procession to the basilica tonight! (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 7  Lourdes - Pau - Biarritz - Burgos First we head to medieval Pau, with its views from the Boulevard of the Pyrenees. Then on to Biarritz, with time to watch the surfers on the Atlantic! Into Spain and El Cid's Burgos with its gothic Cathedral. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 8  Burgos - Madrid (2nights) This morning our drive takes us across the Sierra de Guadarrama to Madrid. Spain's greatest Art Gallery is the Prado Museum where this afternoon, we are taken on a guided tour to admire the paintings. This evening, we enjoy a dinner of regional specialities in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast/ Restaurant dinner in Madrid)

Day 9  Madrid sightseeing & at leisure Our sightseeing tour continues seeing the Royal Palace and Plaza de España. Then maybe take an excursion to the 'Valley of the Fallen'. Tonight, why not enjoy dinner in a typical 'meson'? (Buffet breakfast)

Day 10  Across the Spanish Meseta in Castile we pass Guadalajara, scene of Civil War struggles, and through the Gorges of Jalon into Aragon province. We see the ruins of the Castle of Somayen en route to Barcelona where tonight we enjoy dinner in a typical restaurant. (Buffet breakfast/ Restaurant dinner in Barcelona)

Day 11  Barcelona sightseeing & at leisure The old Cathedral and art nouveau fantasies of Gaudi highlight our sightseeing tour. At leisure, why not enjoy the fun of a tapas bar? Later, perhaps experience the passion at a fiery flamenco show. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 12  Barcelona - Nice (2nights) We drive along the coast via Cannes, stylish capital of the Film Festival en route to jet-set Nice. Here dinner will be at a typical French restaurant this evening. (Buffet breakfast/ Restaurant dinner on the French Riviera)

Day 13  Nice - Monaco and Perfumery Excursion. Today we drive to the Principality of Monaco to see the Palace of the Grimaldis and the Cathedral. Later, we will visit a perfumery before returning to Nice. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 14  Nice - Pisa - Montecatini We drive past Genoa, Columbus' birthplace, before arriving in Pisa to view the incredible Leaning Tower. Then on to nearby Montecatini. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 15  Montecatini - Florence - Assisi We drive to Florence where our sightseeing tour features the Cathedral and Baptistry and visits Santa Croce Basilica, Signoria Square, and the Academy of Fine Arts to see Michelangelo's statue of 'David'. Then free time to explore or perhaps shop before driving up to Piazzale Michelangelo for stunning views of the city. Finally, across the Tuscan and Umbrian hills to mystical Assisi. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 16  Orientation of this peaceful town shows us the Basilica of St. Francis and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Next we past the Abbey of Monte Cassino before we stop to visit Pompeii – petrified by the eruption of the volcano in AD 79, and brought to life again by our local guide! Finally, to our hotel in Sorrento. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 17  Today we enjoy a trip to the enchanting Isle of Capri. We cruise back to Naples and make our way top Rome for two nights. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 18  Rome sightseeing & at leisure Morning sightseeing features a visit to St. Peter's Basilica, a stop at the Forum to view the Colosseum as well view of the "Wedding Cake" otherwise known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Circus Maximus where "Ben Hur" style chariot racing used to take place. Then time at leisure. Why not visit the Sistine Chapel? (Buffet breakfast)

Day 19  Rome - Venice (Mestre) (2nights) We pass hilltop towns into the Apennine Mountains. Then via Bologna and past Padua to the floating city of Venice. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 20  Venice sightseeing & at leisure Savour this Byzantine jewel on a canal cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square, viewing the Bridge of Sighs. After a visit to a glass-blowing factory, time is your own. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 21  Venice (Mestre) Vienna (2nights) - The Carnian Alps herald the Austrian border and Lake District. We travel across the great Alpine highways en route to the Danube Plains and Imperial Vienna. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 22
Vienna sightseeing & at leisure Morning sightseeing shows us the Opera, Hofburg, the Stadtpark, the Imperial Boulevards and City Hall. later, enjoy some free time. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 23  Vienna - Salzburg Today we drive through the Danube Valley and past the Abbey of Melk and castle of Dürnstein before arriving in Salzburg. Here, sightseeing on foot shows us Mozart's birthplace and scenes from "The Sound of Music". (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 24  Salzburg - Innsbruck Free time before we make our way to Innsbruck. On arrival an orientation tour includes the Triumphal Arch, Olympic ski-jump, the Golden Roof and Wilten Basilica. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 25  Innsbruck - Liechtenstein - Lucerne (2nights) Today past Stams monastery and through the Arlberg region to Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein. Along the shores of the Walensee we reach the lakeside Lucerne. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 26  Lucerne orientation and at leisure Our orientation tour includes a visit to the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge. At leisure, why not shop or ascend a nearby mountain peak? (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 27  Lucerne - Freiburg - Heidelberg - Rhine Cruise - Koblenz First we're off to Freiburg, with its Cathedral before arriving at Heidelberg to view its Castle. We continue to St. Goar and our Rhine Cruise to Boppard. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 28  Koblenz - Amsterdam Along the Rhine Valley to Cologne we see its gothic Cathedral. Then we cross the border at Arnhem and continue to friendly Amsterdam where a canal cruise in a glass-topped boat is the perfect introduction to this friendly city. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 29  Amsterdam - London (2nights) An orientation highlights the main sights before we visit a diamond-polishing factory. On through Belgium to Calais in France for our ferry to Dover and a drive back to London. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 30  London sightseeing Many major sights are included on our morning sightseeing tour. Then time at leisure to explore. (Continental breakfast)

Day 31  London - USA We transfer to the airport for our return flight to America. (Continental breakfast)