This extensive tour highlights a vast number of beautiful historical sights, including Madrid’s Royal Palace, Chenonceau Chateau and the torch-light procession in Lourdes. Plus there are stunning vistas from the Eiffel Tower and Mount Pilatus.  Not only will you experience an amazing tour, but also experience luxury comfort in the Amsterdam Hilton, famous for John & Yoko’s 1969 bed-in. Other modern hotels include the Beau Rivage in Nice and the Melia in Barcelona, You will also enjoy stylish traditional hotels such as the Nizza & Suisse in Montecatini.

This fantastic tour is so popular with Australians as it allows you to see so much more of Europe in one go! Well planned with many 2 night stays, plus a relaxing 3 day break in Rome. Includes a vast array of highlights such as Madrid’s Royal Palace, Chenonceau Chateau and stunning vistas from the Eiffel Tower and Mount Pilatus.

Includes: Touring by luxury coach with more legroom, First Class Hotels, breakfast daily and many dinners, premium sightseeing highlights & services of a professional Tour Director.

Prices & Dates

Tour code E915

Notes
REF: E915. Prices are per person sharing a twin.

Itinerary

27 Days ~ England ~ France ~ Spain ~ Italy ~ Austria ~ Liechtenstein

Switzerland ~ Germany ~ Holland ~ Belgium

Tour Pace
This tour is well planned. Nearly all stops are two nights in duration with only a small number of single night stops. As it is a long tour, there is a relaxing three-day break in Rome in the middle of the itinerary.

DAY 1 – TUE – LONDON – PARIS
Leave London and cross the Channel to Calais. View the Vimy Ridge Memorial en route to Paris where you can enjoy a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Paris Rive Gauche.

DAY 2 – WED – PARIS SIGHTSEEING
With a guide, see Notre Dame and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower and visit Napoleon’s tomb. (BB)

DAY 3 – THU – PARIS – BORDEAUX
Visit the magnificent Château of Chenonceau in the Loire Valley. Continue through the famous vineyards to Bordeaux au Lac.
Hotel: Sofitel Aquitania. (BB,D)

DAY 4 – FRI – BORDEAUX – LOURDES
Drive to the little market town of Lourdes which has become a pilgrimage place of world renown. Visit the miraculous Grotto, drink the spring waters and join the torch light procession.
Hotel: Grand Hotel De La Grotte. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – SAT – LOURDES – MADRID
Cross the Pyrenees and Sierras to the heart of Spain and its capital, Madrid.
Hotel: NH Nacional. (BB)

DAY 6 – SUN – MADRID SIGHTSEEING
A local guide introduces all the major sights of Madrid. Take a Highlight tour of the elegant apartments of the Royal Palace. The afternoon is free. (BB)

DAY 7 – MON – MADRID – BARCELONA
Drive via the Castilian plain and Morata Pass to the bustling port of Barcelona.
Hotel: Melia. (BB)

DAY 8 – TUE – BARCELONA SIGHTSEEING
On a guided tour, see Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, the port and the Ramblas, with its colourful flower stalls and markets. (BB)

DAY 9 – WED – BARCELONA – NICE
Cross the Camargue into the landscapes of Van Gogh’s beloved Provence and on to fashionable Nice on the French Riviera.
Hotel: Beau Rivage. (BB)

DAY 10 – THU – NICE
Visit the hilltop artists’ village of St Paul de Vence; take time to enjoy the views and craft shops before returning to Nice for time at leisure. (BB)

DAY 11 – FRI – NICE – TUSCANY
Visit a French perfumery and then elegant Monaco before travelling into Italy to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Hotel: Nizza & Suisse. (BB,D)

DAY 12 – SAT – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
View Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, before a local guide shows you the highlights of the city. Visit the open air gallery of Signoria Square, and see the Duomo and Baptistery with its ‘Gates of Paradise’ Later, there is time to shop. (BB)

DAY 13 – SUN – TUSCANY – ROME
Drive to Siena and walk through the cobbled streets to the cathedral and the vast piazza where the Palio horse race takes place. Continue to ‘the Eternal City’ of Rome. Join your friends for a Dine-Around evening where your Tour Director offers a selection of restaurants to choose from.
Hotel: Grand Beverly Hills. (BB,DA)

DAY 14 – MON – ROME SIGHTSEEING
With a guide, visit the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Also visit the vast St Peter’s Basilica, the mighty Colosseum and see the Roman Forum. (BB)

DAY 15 – TUE – ROME AT LEISURE
A day to relax or visit Pompeii and Sorrento. (BB)

DAY 16 – WED – ROME – ASSISI
Make the short journey northwards to Assisi, one of Italy’s most beautiful mountain towns. Visit the huge Basilica of St. Francis.
Hotel: Grand Hotel. (BB,D)

DAY 17 – THU – ASSISI – VENICE
Cross the wild Apennines and the fertile Po Valley. Arrive in the magical Venetian lagoon and stay centrally on the island of Chioggia.
Hotel: Grande Italia. (BB,D)

DAY 18 – FRI – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Take a private launch to St Mark’s Square to view the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace and the ornate St Mark’s Basilica. Watch Venetian glass being blown and enjoy a Highlight gondola ride through the canals. (BB)

DAY 19 – SAT – VENICE – VIENNA
Drive to Vienna via the Carinthian Lake District and through Styria to your hotel.
Hotel: Hilton Plaza. (BB)

DAY 20 – SUN – VIENNA SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing includes a visit to the glorious Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens, before passing the Winter Palace, St Charles Church and City Hall. (BB)

DAY 21 – MON – VIENNA – INNSBRUCK
Drive to Salzburg for a guided tour seeing Mozart’s Birthplace, the Cathedral in the Old town and Mirabell Gardens. Continue to Innsbruck to visit the Wilten Basilica and see the Golden Roof and Imperial Palace.
Hotel: Innsbruck. (BB)

DAY 22 – TUE – INNSBRUCK – LUCERNE
Drive through the Arlberg Tunnel to Liechtenstein. Stop in the capital of Vaduz dominated by its Castle. Then enjoy a beautiful drive to lovely lakeside Lucerne in Switzerland.
Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 23 – WED – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing includes the Chapel Bridge and emotive Lion Monument before ascending nearby Mount Pilatus by cog-wheel railway and cable-car. (BB,D)

DAY 24 – THU – LUCERNE – RHINELAND
See the thundering Rhine Falls and travel through the Black Forest en route to Germany’s Rhineland.
Hotel: Hilton Mainz. (BB,D)

DAY 25 – FRI – RHINELAND – AMSTERDAM
Take a scenic cruise along the Rhine past leafy vineyards and hilltop castles. Later, stop in Cologne to see the soaring Gothic cathedral before continuing on to Amsterdam.
Hotel: Moevenpick City Centre. (BB,D)

DAY 26 – SAT – AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
Visit a diamond factory and see the Royal Palace in Dam Square. See cheese and clogs being made and visit the fishing village of Volendam. (BB)

DAY 27 – SUN – AMSTERDAM – LONDON
Cross Belgium to Calais and your return voyage across the Channel to Dover. The tour ends a short time later in London. (BB)