IMPERIAL CAPITALS

Tour Code - 4931

13 days London to London 
Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

Price starting at: $1349

This fascinating holiday covers the central and eastern regions of Europe with their monumental architecture, eventful history, and solid traditions. From London, cross the Channel to Brussels and on to Germany for a stop in ancient Trier. Overnight in Frankfurt before traveling through Bavaria, visiting Nuremberg and Munich, and arriving in Salzburg. Discover Vienna; highlights include the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, Parliament, and St Stephen's Cathedral. Spend two nights in Budapest where you'll admire the many bridges spanning the Danube, the Parliament Building, the Royal Castle, Fishermen's Bastion, and Mathias Coronation Church. In Prague, encounter brilliant gothic and baroque architecture, including Charles Bridge and the old Town Hall. Back in Germany, visit Dresden, spend two nights in Berlin, and stop in medieval Hamelin.

Meals
Breakfast - 12
Lunch - 0
Dinner - 4

Standard Features
Sightseeing: Visits to Trier, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Bratislava, Dresden, Hamelin.

Scenic Highlights: Moselle Valley, Salzkammergut, Rhineland, Lake Balaton, Bohemia.

Guides: Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Berlin. Professional Tour Director while touring.

Transportation: Round-trip transportation between London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Cross-Channel ferry.

Hotels:Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges.

Meals: Buffet breakfasts (B); 4 dinners (D)

01

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, meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to Brussels.

02

BRUSSELS-LUXEMBOURG-TRIER,GERMANY-FRANKFURT AREA.
Drive south this morning into the Duchy of Luxembourg. Cross the German border and make a stop in ancient Trier before continuing through the splendid scenery of the Moselle Valley. A choice this afternoon of the included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards. Just a few more kilometres by coach to the overnight in the Frankfurt area. (B,D)

03

FRANKFURT AREA-NUREMBERG-MUNICH-SALZBURG,AUSTRIA.
Journey through the heart of Germany on the highway to reach Nuremberg, at one time Germany's most beautiful city and much later famed for the war criminal trials that took place in 1945. Stop for a short visit. Drive south this afternoon through Bavaria, past Munich, across the German-Austrian border, and head towards Salzburg for an overnight. (B)

04

SALZBURG VIENNA.
A morning to enjoy some optional sightseeing in Salzburg, Mozart's hometown. In the afternoon, journey through the Salzkammergut Lakelands of Sound of Music fame, past Mondsee to follow the Danube almost all the way to Vienna. (B)

05

VIENNA.
Start the morning with an included sightseeing tour featuring the State Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes' Square to view the Hofburg. Finally, an inside visit of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Complete the day by joining the optional excursion to Schonbrunn Palace. (B)

06

VIENNA-LAKE BALATON,HUNGARY-BUDAPEST.
East today into Hungary through the historic city of Gyor. Next, the vast stretch of Lake Balaton unfolds as you drive through some of its summer resorts. Reach Budapest by way of Martonvasar, where Beethoven wrote his Appassionata. Tonight an optional cruise on the Danube to enjoy the fascinating city illuminations. (B,D)

07

BUDAPEST.
Buda Castle dominates the twin cities of Buda and Pest, separated by the broad ribbon of the Danube. Heroes' Square typifies the modern capital, while along the riverbank you find the old inns and wine cellars. Included sightseeing takes in the Parliament building, Margaret Island, Fishermen's Bastion, the Royal Castle, and Matthias Coronation Church. (B)

08

BUDAPEST-BRATISLAVA,SLOVAKIA-PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC.
Start the day by travelling into Slovakia. Once across the border, have a break in Bratislava, its capital. Drive north to cross yet another border into the Czech Republic. The highway will take you through Bohemia, an enchanted land of castles, spa towns, and picket fenced villages. Evening arrival in Prague. (B,D)

09

PRAGUE.
The wealth of gothic and baroque architecture here perhaps inspired Dvorak and Smetana, both Prague composers. Included sightseeing features landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock. (B)

10

PRAGUE-DRESDEN,GERMANY-BERLIN.
Discover more of Bohemia as you journey towards the German frontier. Next, the mountains and fortresses of the Erzgebirge range. Today's highlight is a stop in Dresden, a magnificently restored city after its almost total destruction in World War II. In the afternoon, travel north across the River Elbe to reach Berlin for two overnights. (B)

11

BERLIN
Included sightseeing focuses on the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the Europa Centre. Reunited Berlin has regained not only its territorial integrity but also the status of a German capital. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion. (B)

12

BERLIN-HAMELIN-RHINELAND.
Back on the Autobahn this morning past Brunswick on the way to Hamelin. Stop and hear the story of the Pied Piper. Next, the grand scenery of the Teutoburger Forest and into the Ruhr, then farther west to the Rhineland for an overnight. (B,D)

13

RHINELAND-LONDON,ENGLAND.
A comfortable drive this morning to the Channel port for your ferry crossing from the Continent to England. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)

Dates and Prices. Rates are per head in US$:

 Optional Gratuity :  US$101

WHERE TO GET YOUR U.K & SCHENGEN VISA