Tour Details - WINDMILLS, VINEYARDS & PARIS - CATEGORY E
WINDMILLS, VINEYARDS & PARIS - CATEGORY E
DISCOUNTS ON EVERY TOUR, UP TO 10% !!!
Tour Duration: 10 days Tour Code: WRA-E2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$3344 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE. Welcome to Paris, France's capital on the River Seine and the "City of Light," where romance fills the air!
2
PARIS Paris' famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife, including some of the world's most famous cabarets. (B)
3
PARIS-METZ-REMICH, LUXEMBOURG (EMBARKATION). This morning, board a HIGH-SPEED TRAIN for a swift and comfortable journey to Metz. From here we drive to Remich in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where your river cruise vessel is docked. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. (B,D)
4
TRIER, GERMANY This venerable Episcopal city on the Moselle River is the oldest in Germany and, some claim, even older than Rome! The famous Porta Nigra is the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement and it still gives access to the town center. The Moselle is some 312-miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. The entire Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful and tranquil scenery. (B,L,D)
5
BERNKASTEL In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its well-preserved half-timbered houses surrounding the beautiful MARKETPLACE. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. Before dinner, visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste several of this region's varietals. (B,L,D)
6
ZELL-COCHEM Enjoy a few hours of free time in the charming town of Zell before continuing to Cochem. Visit REICHSBURG CASTLE, which sits atop a conical hill covered in vines. From here the views of the little town nestled down below and of the river valley are splendid. Cruising the wide, peaceful curves of the river, it quickly becomes obvious that the Moselle is an important wine-growing region. Most notably, the Riesling grape is cultivated, producing a dry to sweet, floral white wine. (B,L,D)
7
RUDESHEIM-RHINE GORGE Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town and SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM is a real surprise! Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there's free time to explore the Drosselgasse and pick up some souvenirs. Downstream from RUdesheim, the dramatic RHINE GORGE is the most beautiful stretch of river. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. (B,L,D)
8
COLOGNE, GERMANY Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany's largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of the magnificent gothic cathedral dominate the river skyline. The Germano-Roman Museum, next to the cathedral, is a must for history buffs! The Old Town abounds with taverns, cafes, and shops. Try a Kolsch, the favorite local beer, and shop for a bottle of "4711," the original eau de cologne. (B,L,D)
9
AMSTERDAM Holland's capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. There is no better way to see the city than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's "Golden Age." There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions of how to make the most of your stay. (B,L,D)
10
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Deluxe 7-night cruise from Remich to Amsterdam in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds. (Category E) PARIS: Guided sightseeing PARIS-METZ: By high-speed train REMICH: Welcome reception TRIER: Guided sightseeing, see the Porta Nigra BERNKASTEL: Guided walk, local marketplace; visit a wine cellar COCHEM: Visit Reichsburg Castle RUDESHEIM: Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; special treat RHINE GORGE: Cruise through the gorge COLOGNE: Guided sightseeing AMSTERDAM: Canal cruise Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the cruise description
Meals Breakfast - 9 Lunch - 6 Dinner - 7
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
167
EUR
Name:AN EVENING AT THE MOULIN ROUGE Location:PARIS Details:"The Moulin Rouge Theatre is the epitome of French cabaret shows. Enjoy a dinner at the Moulin Rouge before you admire the colourful show "Feerie" featuring more than 100 artists and dancers, and more than 1000 costumes."
43
EUR
Name:THE ARTIST'S QUARTER OF MONTMARTRE Location:PARIS Details:Join our local expert on a short walking tour of the lanes and squares around Sacre Coeur Church. Admire a spectacular view over the roofs of the City of Light and love. Listen to the stories, and admire the artwork of the artists at Place du Tertre where some of the French impressionists started their career. There is free time before your local expert provides a short orientation of the city on the way back to the hotel.
62
EUR
Name:THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES Location:PARIS Details:Started as a hunting lodge and gentlemen's chateau, the young Sun King Louis XIV took over and transformed this Palace into the most splendid building and court of its time. A court that over times hosted a lot of famous and sometimes not so well-known people; Madame Pompadour, Marie Antoinette, and others; Visit the staterooms, the famous Hall of Mirrors, where several treaties were signed. Listen to the stories as you stroll through the apartments of the king and the queen. And enjoy some free time in the vast baroque gardens.
49
EUR
Name:MONA LISA'S SMILE AND THE LOUVRE MUSEUM Location:PARIS Details:"Open to all since 1793" The Louvre Museum has embodied the concept of a truly "universal" institution. The priceless artworks housed in the Louvre are held for the benefit of present and future generations. The 35 000 works of art include such famous master pieces as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo. Our local expert will bring them to life as we have a look at the most important pieces of the various collections.
34
EUR
Name:EXCURSION TO LUXEMBOURG Location:LUXEMBOURG Details:Drive through the majestic countryside of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and enjoy an expertly guided tour of Luxemburg City. Learn more about the actual birthplace of the European Union on the spot and take your time to look around and explore the capital city of European Union's most affluent country.
31
EUR
Name:"KLOMPEN", CHEESE AND PEANUT OIL - ZAANSE SCHANS Location:AMSTERDAM Details:The Zaanse Schans is a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charmingly styled gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical village on the Zaan must have looked like in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Join our local expert for a journey through times when Dutch Sailing Ships crossed the seven seas and goods from all corners of the world traded in Holland. Don't miss your chance to see the inside of a working windmill and admire the craftsmanship of its mechanics.
31
EUR
Name:VOLENDAM - FISHERMAN'S VILLAGE ON THE FORMER ZUIDERZEE. Location:VOLENDAM Details:Legend has it that the Volendam coat of arms is a compliment to the beauty of the Volendam girls! No wonder that a famous singer sang the praise of this characteristic Dutch fishing village in the words: "Anyone who wants to see the real beauty of Holland, goes to Volendam". As a result of its completely insulated location, this village preserved its character for six centuries, also because of the tough vitality of the fishermen. The characteristic small houses, which together with the canals and the drawbridges form the most picturesque spots, present the visitor an atmosphere of geniality and romance.
26
EUR
Name:"CAN BUY ME LOVE" - AMSTERDAM'S RED LIGHT DISTRICT Location:AMSTERDAM Details:The Amsterdam Red Light District covers a large area of the oldest part of the city. The buildings are tall, narrow and crowded together, overlooking the tree lined canals. The Amsterdam Red Light District is a beautiful area and the later it gets, the busier it gets. And the darker it gets, the more obvious the glow of the fluorescent red lights above the many windows in the area becomes. (Excursion includes services of a Local Guide; Excursion not suitable for children.)
31
EUR
Name:SUNFLOWERS & OTHER MASTERPIECES Location:AMSTERDAM Details:A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments, or compare his paintings to works by other artists from the 19th century in the collection. The museum also holds an extensive offer of exhibitions on various subjects from 19th century art history. Join your local expert for an introduction to Van Gogh, before you start exploring the collection at your own pace.
31
EUR
Name:REMBRANDT & CO - A VISIT TO AMSTERDAM'S RIJKSMUSEUM Location:AMSTERDAM Details:The Masterpieces of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum offer a unique way to view all the highlights of the Golden Age in one place. Discover with our local experts their interrelationships, thematically or chronologically, discover the stories and view the artworks close-up. The most famous painting at the Rijksmuseum is Rembrandt's Night Watch. A national icon that fires the imagination and is always at the centre of discussion; the painting has been successively analysed, interpreted, praised, abused, damaged and restored; It is, in short, the focus of attention. But what makes this portrait of a group of civic guardsmen so special, apart from being the largest painting that Rembrandt ever made? What is it about, what is its background? Find your answers in this visit to the Rijksmuseum.
Optional Excursions
