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27 Days Europe in Depth Tour Package
Duration: 27 Days / 26 Nights
Priced From: $4,849 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: May - Oct
For those who come to Europe once in a lifetime and wish to see the maximum, from London to Vienna to Rome to Madrid and Paris, this is THE vacation! 27 days to explore the European continent. Visit many of the famous cities and sights in Europe, with two-night stays in London, Lucerne, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Nice, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris. Then there’s the high-speed Eurostar train ride from London to Brussels, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, a Rhine cruise, the Black Forest, the Rhine Falls, Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, a walking tour with a Local Guide in Salzburg, a private boat transfer in Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Paul de Vence, Arles, Saragossa, Burgos, Bilbao with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, Biarritz, and Bordeaux with a wine tasting. From there you’ll take the high-speed “TGV” train to Paris. Sightseeing in all major cities includes the major sights, as well as highlight features such as the Doges’ Palace, the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s David, the Prado Museum in Madrid, and a ride up to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll see all the European continental coasts: the English Channel, the North Sea coast, the Italian and French Rivieras, and the Bay of Biscay. Hardly any travel company has created a vacation that offers so much.
Itinerary
Day 1
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2 Arrival in London, England
Uniformed our Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day 3 London
Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard if held. Afternoon at leisure. (FB)
Day 4 London–Brussels, Belgium
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions and transfer to the railway station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, proud capital of Belgium and the European Union. Your orientation drive focuses on GRAND’ PLACE with its baroque guild houses and Gothic Town Hall, and famous Manneken Pis. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (FB,D)
Day 5 Brussels–Amsterdam, Holland
Past Antwerp and into the Netherlands. In Amsterdam visit a major DIAMOND CENTER to appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Next, enjoy a CANAL CRUISE, the best way to see the 700-year-old capital. Afternoon free. An optional excursion to the quaint fishing village of Volendam can be arranged. (BB,D)
Day 6 Amsterdam–Heidelberg, Germany–Rhineland
A passing glance at the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Germany. During your break in Cologne, visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL. Then the afternoon’s highlight: a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and trim, half-timbered towns. Next stop is Heidelberg, famous for its red-walled castle. (BB,D)
Day 7 Rhineland–Lucerne, Switzerland
A scenic day! Morning stop in the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border take your pictures of the thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picture-book Lucerne
Lucerne. (BB,D)
Day 8 Lucerne
Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT Lurcerne's Lion Monument on your walking tour of the Old Town and cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE on Lake Geneva to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards, shop for Swiss watches and choose from our optional activities: climb a mountain by cable car or take a cruise on the fjord-like lake. Why not sign up for a folklore party with yodeling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking? (BB)
Day 9 Lucerne–Liechtenstein–Innsbruck–Salzburg, Austria
Morning break in Vaduz, capital of the the pocket-sized Principality of Liechtenstein on your way to Innsbruck, Austria’s Olympic resort in the Tyrolean mountains Tyrolean Mountains. Enjoy a pleasant walk through its quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. In the afternoon take the scenic route to Salzburg. (BB,D)
Day 10 Salzburg–Vienna
Morning stroll with a Local Guide through the historic center to admire exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD, the monumental Domplatz, and take pictures of Mozart’s birthplace. Then travel past the Sound of Music country to the Danube Valley and Vienna. (BB)
Day 11 Vienna
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features vistas of Prater Park with its Ferris wheel and the United Nations City on the Danube. Pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and visit awesome ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL
St. Stephen’s Cathedral. An optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace is available. (BB)
Day 12 Vienna–Venice, Italy
Scenic Semmering Pass, stately Styrian crossroad towns, and Carinthian lakes and resorts provide the everchanging Alpine backdrop to today’s journey through the loveliest parts of Austria to the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea. Tonight is your chance to sample Venetian fare. (BB)
Day 13 Venice
Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. Later, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (BB,D)
Day 14 Venice–Rome
A scenic drive through the fertile northern plains and across the wooded Apennine Hills. A scenic drive through the wineand olive-clad Tuscan hills, home of Chianti, brings you to the Eternal City. (BB)
Day 15 Rome
Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. 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. (BB)
Day 16 Rome–Florence–Tuscany
Drive to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, and follow your Local Guide to Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Also check out the shops with Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)
Day 17 Tuscany–Pisa–Nice, France
Focus on Pisa this morning for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Then a scenic drive past a string of Italian and French Riviera Riviera towards the Principality of Monaco. Follow the panoramic Moyenne Corniche and stop at one of the famous PERFUME FACTORIES before arriving in Nice. (BB)
Day 18 Nice. Excursion to St. Paul de Vence
This morning visit the picturesque hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Then a lazy afternoon to dabble in the blue Mediterranean or stroll along the elegant Promenade des Anglais. Tonight, an optional excursion is available to Monte Carlo. (BB)
Day 19 Nice–Arles–Barcelona, Spain
This morning follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps on your way to Arles, where he painted more than 300 canvases. Your orientation shows you the famous Roman Amphitheater. Time to stroll around and browse through the shops. Then continue through the endless vineyards of the Languedoc-Roussillon, stretching most of the way to the Spanish border. Overnight in Barcelona, the proud capital of Catalonia. (BB,D)
Day 20 Barcelona
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Columbus Monument, elegant tree-lined Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna, historic buildings along Paseo de Gracia, the Church of the Holy Family, a panoramic view of the city and harbor from Montjuïc Hill, and a visit to the Cathedral of SANTA EULALIA. Afternoon at leisure. (BB)
Day 21 Barcelona–Saragossa–Madrid
Rustic Catalonian and Aragonian landscapes on your journey to Saragossa in the fertile Ebro Valley. Stop for lunch in its magnificent Plaza del Pilar. In the afternoon wind your way through three sierras to Madrid on the plateau of Castile. (BB)
Day 22 Madrid
The capital of Spain since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM with its priceless art treasures. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight your Tour Director will suggest a typical Spanish dinner. (BB)
Day 23 Madrid–Burgos–Bilbao
North to Burgos for a morning stop, then continue to Bilbao for a guided visit to the famous GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. (BB,D)
Day 24 Bilbao–Biarritz, France–Bordeaux
Back into France. Visit Biarritz, an ancient fishing village turned trendy seaside resort. Skirt the sandy dunes and swamps of the Landes region in Gascony on the way to Bordeaux. An orientation tour on arrival acquaints you with this historic port. Before dinner enjoy a WINE TASTING to learn about the famous Bordeaux wines. (BB,D)
Day 25 Bordeaux–Paris
This morning the high-speed “TGV” TRAIN whisks you to Paris. This afternoon, sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous sights: the Opéra, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Elysées. For a bird’s-eye view take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Tonight a cabaret show might just be the ticket! (BB)
Day 26 At Leisure in Paris
Another day to enjoy what this extraordinary metropolis has to offer. Explore the world capital of chic and style at your own pace. Exciting optional excursions are available. (BB)
Day 27
Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (BB)
Save time, money and stress!
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Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
10/08
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