Tour Duration: 8 days Tour Code: WZA-E2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$2465 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. Flights into Zurich must arrive before 3 pm. Your river cruise vessel is docked on the Rhine River in Basel, where France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. (D)
2
STRASBOURG, FRANCE. Situate on the border of France and Germany, Strasbourg is influenced by the culture of both countries and is the capital of the Alsace region. It is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. A Local Guide shows you the noteworthy sights: the GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, the lovely LA PETITE FRANCE district, Place Kleber, and Place Gutenberg with the statue of the inventor of the printing press. Strasbourg is also home to the Kronenbourg Brewery. An optional excursion into the Alsace wine region is available. (B,L,D)
3
EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG, GERMANY. Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university town of Student Prince fame, a world-famous love musical. Take pictures of the ruins of the imposing Heidelberg Castle, built of red sandstone and towering above the city, and enjoy free time to explore. (B,L,D)
4
MAINZ-RUDESHEIM. Situated on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the mouth of the Main River, Mainz is Germany's largest and most important wine market. The Old Town has many interesting shops, tea rooms, and restaurants, and a fountain on the Schillerplatz is decorated with scenes of the famous carnival held here every year. Gutenberg, the father of modern printing, was born here and you'll visit the GUTENBERG MUSEUM. The pretty little town of Rudesheim is the perfect example of a Rhine Valley wine town. 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. (B,L,D)
5
RHINE GORGE-KOBLENZ. Downstream from Rudesheim is the dramatic RHINE GORGE, the most beautiful stretch of river and dotted every mile with castles. Pass the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where sweet songs of local beauties lured enchanted sailors to their doom. Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, 2,000-year-old Koblenz is the cultural and business center of the Middle Rhine region. (B,L,D)
6
COLOGNE. Cologne is the capital of the Rhineland and one of Germany's largest cities. The soaring twin steeples of Cologne's magnificent gothic cathedral which took more than 600 years to build 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. The favorite local beer here is Kolsch. (B,L,D)
7
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND. Holland's capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. This delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafes and restaurants, and lively marketplace has a distinct ambience. 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 Amsterdam than by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam's Golden Age. (B,L,D)
8
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
CRUISE: Deluxe 7-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds. (Category E) BASEL: Welcome reception STRASBOURG: Guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral HEIDELBERG: Take pictures of the castle MAINZ: Visit the Gutenberg Museum RUDESHEIM: Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; special treat RHINE GORGE: Cruise through the gorge KOBLENZ: Guided sightseeing COLOGNE: Guided sightseeing AMSTERDAM: Canal cruise Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the cruise description
Meals Breakfast - 7 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
29
EUR
Name:ZURICH SIGHTSEEING Location:ZURICH Details:While window shopping along the elegant boutiques of Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most beautiful shopping areas in Europe, you'll notice that the streets may not be paved with gold, but you can be certain that a couple of meters below the street, unimaginable treasures are lying in underground vaults. Zurich is the world's banking capital. Visitors can spend days exploring Zurich's cobbled streets, wandering through its museums or exploring its flea markets. The quays, with their promenades, are made for walking, especially along the shores of the lake. With an active cafe culture, it's ideal for people-watching, and Zurich has a lively, multi-ethnic population to rival any other major European city.
52
EUR
Name:EXCURSION TO MOUNT PILATUS Location:ZURICH Details:The giant mountain looming above Lucerne to the southwest is Mount Pilatus (2132m / 7000 ft). There are two means of transport to the top, making it easy to do a half- or full-day round trip from Lucerne - simpler than in 1868, when Queen Victoria made the excursion riding on the back of a mule. We start at Kriens; from here a cable-car rises to Frakmuntegg, itself connected to the summit by gondola. The walk to the highest point of the mountain, the Tomlishorn, takes less than thirty minutes from the top station, with breathtakingly expansive views out over the lake the whole way along the clifftop path. We will make our way down with the steepest rack railway in the world running at a gradient touching 48 percent directly to the bottom of the valley the descent takes a careful forty minutes, but time flies when watching the breathtaking scenery.
36
EUR
Name:EXCURSION TO THE ALSACE COUNTRYSIDE Location:STRASBOURG Details:Although modest in size, Alsace's geography is such that it offers an incredible variety of landscapes and climates. With the Vosges mountains and the rest of France to the west, and the Rhine and then Germany to the east, Alsace really is a mini-kingdom in itself, which has absorbed aspects from both French and German cultures. This is not surprising, as the region has changed hands four times in the past few hundred years. Since the Great War, however, Alsace has remained French. The famous Riesling, the Pinot Noir, the Tokay-Pinot Gris, the Gewurztraminer, a Muscat or a Pinot Blanc are the varieties of wine that you find here. But you can discover more. Follow our local expert on a tour of the Alsace with its charming half-timbered houses, the quite villages and the vineyards. Taste some of the wines of the region, as we will visit one of its wine farms.
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.
39
EUR
Name:FLOWER TIME IN TULIP LAND - THE KEUKENHOF FLOWER EXHIBITION Location:KEUKENHOF Details:Keukenhof is a historic park, full of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and all the other spring bulbs. The floral displays in the park and the unique flower shows in the various pavilions are a glorious visual feast. And in the midst of this magnificent spectacle of colour there are also exquisite works of art. Keukenhof is an unforgettable experience for people of all ages. It has been one of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands for almost 60 years and is famous worldwide. Here you can gain inspiration while you relax in the magnificent surroundings of the park. It is a unique experience and guarantees the most fabulous photos.
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:"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: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.
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.
Optional Excursions
