EUROPEAN MASTERPIECE

Tour Code - 5271

27 days London to London
France, Spain, Italy, Greece, San Marino, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, Holland

Price starting at: $3099

This truly comprehensive and exciting holiday takes in the best of Western and Central Europe. Start in London and cross the Channel by ferry to join your motorcoach heading for Paris. Among the highlights: visit Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, French Chateaux Country, Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, the glamorous French Riviera, Pisa's Leaning Tower and Square of Miracles, Florence's renaissance Duomo, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Pompeii archaeological site. Then, enjoy an overnight ferry crossing to Greece and a visit to Athens' Acropolis and Olympia. Return to Italy by ferry for romantic Venice with St. Mark's Basilica and Square, Vienna's imperial city centre, the majestic Swiss Alps, and Germany's Rhineland. The vacation ends in remarkable Amsterdam with its intriguing canals.

Meals
Breakfast - 26
Lunch - 0
Dinner - 9

Standard Features
SIGHTSEEING: Visits to Tours, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Arles, Nice, Pisa, Sorrento, Olympia, San Marino, Venice, Velden, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Liechtenstein, Lucerne

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS: Chateaux country, Bordeaux wine country, French and Italian Rivieras, Bay of Naples, Peloponnese, Lake Worth, Carinthia, Tyrolean Alps, Swiss Alps, Rhineland

GUIDES: Host service in London. Local Guides for city sightseeing in Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Pompeii, Rome, Athens, Vienna, Amsterdam. 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; two-berth cabins with private shower and toilet on overnight ferries Italy-Greece-Italy. Canal transfer boat in Venice; Rhine cruise

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

MEALS: Buffet breakfasts (B); 9 dinners (D)

 

01

LONDON-PARIS, FRANCE
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 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.

02

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)

03

PARIS-CHATEAUX COUNTRY-TOURS-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 winegrowing area. Another 97 kilometres (60 miles) and you'll be in Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne. (B,D)

04

BORDEAUX-CARCASSONNE-BARCELONA, SPAIN
From the vineyards of the Gironde and the Garonne, travel eastwards, bypassing Toulouse to Carcassonne 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)

05

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)

06

BARCELONA-ARLES, FRANCE-FRENCH RIVIERA
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,D)

07

FRENCH RIVIERA-EZE-PISA, ITALY-MONTECATINI
Today, travel 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)

08

MONTECATINI-FLORENCE-SORRENTO
Don't miss the included walking tour of Florence 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 Sorrento. (B,D) * Note * As per the brochure dinner will be day 8 and not day 9

09

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)

10

SORRENTO-POMPEII-ROME
Today travel north, 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 remains of luxurious villas, temples, theatre, and forum. Later, head towards Rome for overnight. (B)

11

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)

12

ROME-FERRY CROSSING ANCONA-PATRAS
An easy drive across the rugged Apennine Hills to Ancona 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-TRIPOLIS-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 and a visit to the fascinating Acropolis. Later, enjoy one of the optional excursions or explore the shops and museums. (B)

16

ATHENS-PATRAS-OVERNIGHT FERRY CROSSING TO ITALY.
Leave Athens and journey to Patras for embarkation on the ferry for the Ionian Sea crossing back to Italy. Departure is in the early evening. (B)

17

SAN MARINO
Disembark 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-VIENNA
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. (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-LAKE LUCERNE, 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 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 selection of optional activities completes the day: a cruise on the fjordlike lake or an excursion to the top of one of the most beautiful mountains. (B)

25

LAKE LUCERNE-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

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

 Optional Gratuity :  US$209

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