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This grand tour has many two-night stays in the major cities and is well paced. There is a relaxing break in the middle of the itinerary with the three night Greek Island cruise.
Itinerary
35 Days ~ England ~ Belgium ~ Holland ~ Germany ~ Austria ~ Slovenia
Croatia ~ Albania ~ Greece ~ Turkey ~ Italy ~ France ~ Switzerland
Tour Pace
This grand tour has many two-night stays in the major cities and is well paced. There is a relaxing break in the middle of the itinerary with the three night Greek Island cruise. All the travelling days have frequent stops.
DAY 1 – WED – LONDON – BRUSSELS
After a warm welcome from your Tour Director, travel to Dover to take the ferry to France. Make your way to the peaceful canals and cobbled streets of Bruges. Then to Brussels to marvel at the gilded buildings in the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis statue. Enjoy a Welcome Drink in the evening.
Hotel: Sofitel Toison d’Or. (D)
DAY 2 – THU – BRUSSELS – AMSTERDAM
Drive to Amsterdam, a city with hundreds of tree-lined canals. See Dam Square and the Mint Tower on your way to a demonstration of diamond cutting. Then spend time at leisure in this fascinating city.
Hotel: Moevenpick City Centre. (BB)
DAY 3 – FRI – AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
Drive through typical Dutch countryside with its windmills and canals to the old, traditional village of Volendam, situated on the banks of the Ijsselmeer. Learn how traditional clogs and cheese are made before returning to your hotel. (BB)
DAY 4 – SAT – AMSTERDAM – RHINELAND
Stop for a photo at the ‘Bridge Too Far’ in Arnhem before crossing the German border to reach Cologne. See the soaring spires of the cathedral, then continue alongside the river via Bonn, to the scenic Rhine Gorge. Join your cruise past half-timbered villages and turreted castles perched high above terraced vineyards.
Hotel: Maritim Parkhotel. (BB,D)
DAY 5 – SUN – RHINELAND – INNSBRUCK
Drive south into the Bavarian Alps to see King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle. Take a scenic alpine drive into Austria. Arrive at Innsbruck where you walk through the Old Town to see the Golden Roof.
Hotel: Innsbruck. (BB,D)
DAY 6 – MON – INNSBRUCK – VIENNA
Make your way to Salzburg for a guided tour. Walk through the Mirabell Gardens and see Mozart’s birthplace. Drive along the Danube Valley, passing Melk Abbey, to stately Vienna.
Hotel: Sofitel. (BB)
DAY 7 – TUE – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Visit the fabulous State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace this morning. Later, see the Winter Palace, Parliament building, Opera House and City Hall. (BB)
DAY 8 – WED – VIENNA – ZAGREB
Drive through Styria’s forested mountains and over the Slovenian border to Maribor. Follow the Drava River to Croatia and its capital of Zagreb. On a guided tour, see Roosevelt Square, Ban Josip Jelacic Square and the Cathedral. Move on to the medieval Upper Town, and its Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St Marks Church and the Pope’s Tower.
Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – THU – ZAGREB – PLITVICE REGION
Time at leisure this morning. Maybe take an optional excursion to Tito’s home town of Kumrovec before departing for Plitvice National Park, one of Europe’s finest natural wonders. Hotel: Jezero. (BB,D)
DAY 10 – FRI – PLITVICE REGION – SPLIT
Tour the Plitvice Lakes, visit Korana Canyon to see the falls and Tomicevo Pogledalo for views over the park. Drive on to the Dalmatian coast, and admire the cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko palace in Trogir before continuing to Split. Some 1700 years ago, the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here; today you can explore the streets and buildings within that same palace.
Hotel: Atrium. (BB)
DAY 11 – SAT – SPLIT – DUBROVNIK
Visit the Roman port of Salona to admire the Roman Baths, Amphitheatre and Necropolis. Continue through sun-drenched resorts to the fortified town of Dubrovnik.
Hotel: Ariston. (BB,D)
DAY 12 – SUN – DUBROVNIK SIGHTSEEING
On a guided sightseeing tour of the Old Town, see Onofrio’s fountain, the Rector’s Palace and the city walls, as well as the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The afternoon is at leisure – relax at an outdoor café, shop in the bazaar and maybe take the ‘Sunset Cruise’ this evening. (BB)
DAY 13 – MON – DUBROVNIK – TIRANA
Over the border, visit the Old Town of Kotor before continuing through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the border with Albania. We cross into this mysterious emerging country and stay in the capital city of Tirana.
Hotel: Sheraton Hotel & Towers. (BB,D)
DAY 14 – TUE – TIRANA – IOANNINA
Head south through the spectacular scenery to the northern mountainous region of Greece and the resort of Ioannina.
Hotel: Du Lac. (BB,L,D)
DAY 15 – WED – IOANNINA – ATHENS
Take a scenic drive to the ancient capital of Greece, Athens. From the top of your hotel you can see the Acropolis and the sea.
Hotel: Metropolitan. (BB)
DAY 16 – THU – ATHENS SIGHTSEEING
This morning your Athens sightseeing tour offers glory in abundance, from the Parthenon and Acropolis to the the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of the Wingless Victory and Hadrian’s Arch. (BB)
DAY 17 – FRI – CRUISING – MYKONOS
Board your cruise ship and set sail for the Cyclades. Arrive early evening at the lovely island of Mykonos with its sugarcube houses, duo-tone chapels and white-washed windmills. The narrow lanes of the town were originally built to discourage the wind and pirates! Tonight they’re yours to explore. (BB,L,D,S)
DAY 18 – SAT – CRUISING – RHODES
Enjoy a full day on Rhodes, ‘the island of roses’, once the fortified headquarters of the crusaders and former home to the Colossus of Rhodes. There is time to explore the Old City or stroll along the beautiful beaches. Tonight, enjoy a Greek Evening and Dinner with entertainment. (B,L,HD,S)
DAY 19 – SUN – CRUISING – PATMOS – KUSADASI
Dock at the island of Patmos. St John the Divine was exiled here by the emperor Domitian and it was during his two year stay that he received his vision of the Apocalypse. Sail to the Turkish port of Kusadasi to visit the bazaar or perhaps take an excursion to the ancient ruins of Ephesus. (Shore excursions are bookable on board.) (B,L,D,S)
DAY 20 – MON – AT SEA
The cruise ends in Athens where you join your transfer coach. Explore the fascinating markets of the Plaka before crossing the breathtaking Corinth Canal to the Peloponnese region of Greece. Return to the port of Patras to take an overnight ferry back to Italy. (BB)
DAY 21 – TUE – SORRENTO
Disembark in Bari and cross the Apennines to the west coast. Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway before reaching your hotel in the picturesque resort of Sorrento.
Hotel: La Pace. (BB,D)
DAY 22 – WED – SORRENTO
Time to visit lively Piazza Tasso to watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying. Maybe explore the Amalfi Coast before returning to the hotel? (BB,D)
DAY 23 – THU – SORRENTO – ROME
Drive to the Roman town of Pompeii, buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. Walk with a local guide through the cobbled streets to explore the shops, villas and temples. Then it’s on to Rome.
Hotel: International Palace. (BB)
DAY 24 – FRI – ROME SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, visit the Sistine Chapel depicting Michelangelo’s famous ceiling and the superb Vatican Museums. Then see Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ inside St Peter’s Basilica. Cross the River Tiber to visit the massive Colosseum and look out over the Roman Forum. Later, consider visiting the Catacombs. Tonight, enjoy a Dine-Around evening which offers you a choice of selected restaurants for your dining pleasure. (BB,DA)
DAY 25 – SAT – ROME – FLORENCE
Drive north into the beautiful region of Tuscany and follow the Arno valley to the Renaissance city of Florence.
Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)
DAY 26 – SUN – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
Explore the riches of the Renaissance this morning on your Florentine walking tour with a local guide. Firstly, visit the Academy Museum to see Michelangelo’s original ‘David’, then walk on to see the massive domed, marble clad Cathedral, the first dome of modern times. You will see the Baptistry too, where Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ have been recreated in all their glory. Last stop is at Signoria Square, political heart of the city and still an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. After a demonstration of traditional leather work, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore. (BB)
DAY 27 – MON – FLORENCE – VENICE
Leaving Florence, cross the Apennine Mountains, passing Bologna and the flood plains of the River Po for a scenic drive along the famous Brenta Riviera. See the magnificent classical villas that were once the summer residences of the Venetian nobility. Finally it’s on to magical Venice, where the city seems to float on the lagoon. A private launch ferries you past canals lined with ornate palaces to your hotel, close to St Marks Square and overlooking a romantic waterfront where gondolas moor for the night.
Hotel: Cavalletto E Doge Orseolo. (BB,D)
DAY 28 – TUE – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Only steps away from your hotel is St Mark’s Square; see the ornate Basilica, the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Watch Venetian glass being blown before enjoying a Highlight gondola ride through the canals. (BB)
DAY 29 – WED – VENICE – NICE
Cross the Northern Plain of Italy, passing Milan en route to Genoa. Take the Highway of the Flowers past Monaco to the resort of Nice.
Hotel: Radisson SAS. (BB)
DAY 30 – THU – ST PAUL DE VENCE & CANNES EXCURSION
Visit the medieval town of St Paul de Vence, perched high on the hilltop, then fashionable Cannes, home to the famous film festival. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the French Riviera. (BB)
DAY 31 – FRI – NICE – LUCERNE
Visit a local French perfumery before passing through the Italian Lake District en route to the Swiss Alps and lovely lakeside Lucerne.
Hotel: Astoria. (BB)
DAY 32 – SAT – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
Ascend Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel railway for stunning 360 degree views of the Swiss Alps. Later, back in Lucerne, see the Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge before enjoying some free time to shop. (BB,D)
DAY 33 – SUN – LUCERNE – PARIS
Cross the border at Basel and continue through the wine region of Burgundy to the glittering French capital of Paris.
Hotel: Concorde Saint-Lazare. (BB)
DAY 34 – MON – PARIS SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, see Notre Dame Cathedral and drive along the elegant Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower before visiting Napoleon’s tomb in the Église du Dôme. (BB)
DAY 35 – TUE – PARIS – LONDON
Travel across the battlefields of the First World War to Calais, then over the Channel to Dover and continue to London, where the tour ends. (BB)
Prices & Dates
For more details, please call us on 1300 30 80 81 or email travel@firstclass.com.au.
