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1 LONDON - PARIS, FRANCE.
Leave in the early morning from your London joining hotel (see your
travel documents) and head through the lush English countryside to the
Channel port, where you board your ferry for the Continent. Here you'll
be met by your Tour Director and luxury coach. Drive through the French
countryside, arriving in Paris in time to enjoy an optional cabaret
show.
2 PARIS.
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. (B)
3 PARIS-CHATEAUX COUNTRY-BORDEAUX.
Start the day by motoring south to Blois and then parallel to the River
Loire past the castles of Chaumont and Amboise for a short stop in
Tours. Take the comfortable Autoroute L'Aquitaine as far as Poitiers,
beautifully situated on a rocky plateau. South again to Saintes, then
the Grand Champagne wine-growing area. Another 60 miles and you'll be in
Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne. (B,D)
4 BORDEAUX - BARCELONA, SPAIN.
From the vineyards of the Gironde and the Garonne, travel eastwards,
bypassing Toulouse to Carcassone in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Stop
and admire what is perhaps the best-preserved medieval fortified town in
Europe. Later, reach the Spanish border and motor through Catalonia.
Once across the River Ter, you'll soon be in Barcelona. (B)
5 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 fees not included). (B,D)
6 BARCELONA - FRENCH RIVIERA, FRANCE.
Retrace your drive to the French border, then into the vine-covered
region of the Herault for a stop in Arles. Later, motor westwards across
the Rhone towards the Mediterranean shores for an overnight on the
French Riviera. (B)
7 FRENCH RIVIERA - EZE - FLORENCE AREA, ITALY.
Today along the high coastal road to visit a perfume workshop in Eze.
The day is highlighted by the drive along the French and Italian
Rivieras and into hilly Tuscany for a visit to Pisa to see the Leaning
Tower and the Square of Miracles. Overnight in Montecatini. (B,D)
8 FLORENCE AREA - ROME.
Don't miss the included walking tour with a Local Guide, featuring most
of the city highlights. In the afternoon, travel south on the Autostrada
Del Sole through the sunlit valleys of Chianti country to Rome. (B)
9 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)
10 ROME - VESUVIUS - POMPEII - SORRENTO.
South all the way today, with the volcano Vesuvius in the distance. Then
to Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD, when the Vesuvius eruption
totally destroyed it. On the included visit you can see the luxurious
villas, temples, theatre, and forum. Just a few more miles to Sorrento
for an overnight. (B)
11 SORRENTO.
An optional excursion today to the legendary island of Capri. The island
is surrounded by a rocky coastline, where the crashing sea has formed
awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty piazza, maze of streets,
fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants is a mecca for the jet set.
Return to Sorrento. (B,D)
12 SORRENTO - BARI - IONIAN SEA CROSSING.
An easy drive across the rugged Apennine Hills to the Port of Bari for
embarkation on the overnight ferry to Greece. The modern ferries offer
all comforts, including boutique, duty-free shop, two restaurants, three
bars, discotheque, casino, and swimming pool. (B)
13 PATRAS, GREECE - OLYMPIA.
Enjoy some daylight cruising towards the Greek coast before reaching
Patras. Then, drive to Olympia for an overnight in the Peloponnese. (B,D)
14 OLYMPIA - ATHENS.
This morning, join the optional sightseeing tour and learn more about
the history of the original Olympic Games, when athletes competed with
each other to honour the King of Deities. Then, motor into the mountains
of Arcadia by way of Tripolis and over the Corinth Canal to Athens. Time
later for an evening in the lively Plaka area. (B)
15 ATHENS.
Today, take advantage of the included morning sightseeing, which
features the highlights of this ancient capital, with a visit to the
fascinating Acropolis. Later, enjoy one of the optional excursions or
explore the shops and museums. (B)
16 ATHENS - PATRAS - IONIAN SEA CROSSING - ANCONA, ITALY.
Leave Athens for the journey to Patras for embarkation on the ferry for
the Ionian Sea crossing back to Italy. Departure for Ancona is in the
early evening. (B)
17 ANCONA, ITALY - SAN MARINO.
Embark in Ancona in the late morning. Then, proceed north for an
overnight in San Marino, one of the world's smallest and most ancient
states, perched on Monte Titano. (B,D)
18 SAN MARINO - VENICE AREA.
Follow your Tour Director through the main gate and up to Government
House in the very heart of this tiny ancient republic. Later this
morning, travel along the Adriatic coastline through the Po Delta
towards the Venice area. (B)
19 VENICE AREA.
The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some
time at leisure to absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, and a
chance to watch Venetian glassblowers. Don't miss the optional gondola
trip. (B,D)
20 VENICE AREA-VELDEN, AUSTRIA.
Today, leave the flat and fertile plains of Venetia and journey by way
of Tarvisio Pass into the grand mountain and lakeland scenery of Austria
for a stop in Velden on Lake Worth. Northwards through the Styrian
landscape to Vienna. (B)
21 VIENNA.
There's so much to see on your included sightseeing tour: the State
Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes'
Square to view the Hofburg and finally take a short walk for an inside
visit of Strauss' House. (B)
22 VIENNA-SALZBURG-INNSBRUCK
Westwards, almost parallel with the Danube, to Mozart's Salzburg. Time
for a stroll down the charming Getreidegasse, the town's elegant main
shopping street. The last leg of today's drive takes you into the very
heart of the Tyrol to its capital, Innsbruck. (B,D)
23 INNSBRUCK - LUCERNE AREA, SWITZERLAND.
Time this morning to get acquainted with Innsbruck. The orientation tour
includes the famous Golden Roof. Later, drive through the valleys and
villages of the mountainous Tyrol to the Arlberg tunnel descending into
Switzerland. Stop briefly in Vaduz, Liechtenstein's capital, before
heading for the Lake Lucerne. (B)
24 LAKE LUCERNE.
One of Switzerland's finest cities. Sightseeing takes in the impressive
city walls, a wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone
streets, and the Lion Monument. 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)
25 LUCERNE AREA - RHINELAND, GERMANY.
More of Switzerland and its quaint little villages, farms, and chalets
before crossing into Germany to use its Autobahn on the journey
northwards to the shores of the Rhine. Today's highlight is the included
Rhine cruise past the legendary Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, terraced
vineyards, and half-timbered villages. Overnight in the Rhineland. (B,D)
26 RHINELAND - AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLLAND.
North today at first through the industrial Ruhr and then into the
green, canal criss-crossed countryside of Holland to the Amsterdam area.
Watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a famous diamond
centre. Sightseeing includes an orientation drive with a Local Guide
and, finally, a canal cruise to see the town from water level. (B)
27 AMSTERDAM - LONDON, ENGLAND.
Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road to the French coast,
where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for
an evening arrival. (B)
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