THE GRAND EUROPEAN

Tour Code - 5211

21 days London to London
Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain

Price starting at: $2359

This extensive vacation stretches through Central Europe from London to Rome, then along the Mediterranean to Spain and France to reach Paris. Begin in London, making the most of the UK’s capital, cross the Channel by ferry to join your motorcoach to Amsterdam for guided sightseeing and a canal cruise. Follow the banks of the Rhine on to Switzerland for two overnights by the shores of Lake Lucerne. Stop in sub-tropical 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. Northwest 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. 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.”

Meals
Breakfast - 20
Lunch - 0
Dinner - 7

Standard Features
Sightseeing: Visits to Heidelberg, Lucerne, Lugano, Verona, Venice, Assisi, Pisa, Avignon, Carcassonne, Burgos, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Orleans.

Scenic Highlights: Rhineland, Swiss Alps, Pyrenees, Costa Brava, Basque Countries, Cognac Region, French Riviera, Chateaux Country.
Guides: Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris. 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; canal transfer boat in Venice.

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

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

01

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.

02

AMSTERDAM AREA-RHINELAND, GERMANY. 
A morning to enjoy Holland's busy metropolis. After your visit to a famous diamond centre, it's time for morning sightseeing with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights. Finally, a canal cruise to see Amsterdam from water level. In the afternoon, travel southward to the Rhineland area for an overnight. (B,D)

03

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)

04

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 honour 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 3,048 metres (10,000 feet) summit of Mount Titlis. (B)

05

LAKE LUCERNE AREA-LUGANO,VERONA, ITALYVENICE 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 the 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)

06

VENICE AREA.
Venice is more like a marvellous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. 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)

07

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)

08

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)

09

ROME-PISA-FLORENCE AREA.
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 the Florence area. (B)

10

FLORENCE AREA.
This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic centre, 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 and its courtyard; 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)

11

FLORENCE AREA-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 travelling along the celebrated Cote d'Azur. An optional Monte Carlo by Night excursion with dinner is available. (B)

12

FRENCH RIVIERA-AVIGNON-CARCASSONNE.
Today's journey will take you through some of France's loveliest scenery, sundrenched 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)

13

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, skirting the Costa Brava to arrive in Barcelona for two overnights. (B)

14

BARCELONA.
This morning's sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a drive around Montjuic to see the Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. The drive continues to the city centre to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batllo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fee not included). (B)

15

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)

16

MADRID.
Not only because it's the capital of Spain, but also because it is situated 664 metres (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)

17

MADRID-BURGOS-BILBAO.
Climb Somosierra Pass, the boundary between Old and New Castille, to the walled city of Aranda de Duero, before stopping in Burgos. On through Basque Country to Bilbao, now famous for four contemporary architects: Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Cesar Pelli, and Frank Gehry. (B,D)

18

BILBAO-BORDEAUX, FRANCE-POITIERS.
A change of scenery as you travel into France across Gascoigne 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)

19

POITIERS-CHATEAUX 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)

20

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 of many of the best known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysees. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. (B)

21

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 to London for an evening arrival. (B)

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

 Optional Gratuity :  US$163

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