Tour Duration: 7 days Tour Code: HD2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$2129 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
LONDON-BRUSSELS, BELGIUM-AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND. Meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and head for the railway station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, Belgium. From here, a comfortable drive will bring you to Amsterdam, Holland's 700-year-old capital. Enjoy an orientation drive including a CANAL CRUISE aboard a glass-roofed launch, which is the best way to get a good impression of how this city was built and how much still remains from the Golden Age. You may want to join an optional Dutch dinner with local specialties.
2
AMSTERDAM-COLOGNE, GERMANY-HEIDELBERG. This morning, drive past the Dutch region near Arnhem, best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far, then on to Germany. In Cologne, visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL, and then the afternoon's highlight: a romantic RHINE CRUISE. Continue to Heidelberg and take pictures of the famous red-walled ruins of Heidelberg Castle. (B,D)
3
HEIDELBERG-LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND. Morning stop in the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border, stop at the thundering RHINE FALLS before continuing to picture-book Lucerne. Why not sign up for a folklore party with yodeling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking? (B)
4
LUCERNE. During your walking tour, admire Thorwaldsen's LION MONUMENT and the ornate patrician houses lining the cobblestone streets of the walled Old Town, then, cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Balance of the day is at leisure to shop for Swiss watches and to choose from our optional activities: climb a mountain by cable car or take a cruise on the fjord-like lake. (B,D)
5
LUCERNE-PARIS, FRANCE. Cross the Swiss border into France and enjoy a comfortable drive through the Burgundy wine area and past Fontainebleau Forest to Paris. (B)
6
PARIS. Discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most famous sights: the Opera, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more. For a bird's-eye view, take the elevator to the second floor of Paris' most famous landmark: the EIFFEL TOWER. An optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace of Versailles is available. Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (B)
7
PARIS-LONDON, ENGLAND. Board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to London, arriving in the late afternoon, where the holiday ends. (B)
LUCERNE: Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge.
PARIS: Guided sightseeing, ascend the Eiffel Tower.
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
MEALS: Full buffet breakfast (B); 2 three-course dinners (D.
Meals Breakfast - 6 Lunch - 0 Dinner - 2
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
39
GBP
Name:TOWER OF LONDON AND CROWN JEWELS AFTERNOONS DAILY Location:LONDON Details:Let your guide bring the 900-year-old Tower Of London to life before you inspect the fabulous Crown Jewels. Afternoons daily.
39
GBP
Name:AFTERNOON EXCURSION TO WINDSOR CASTLE DAILY Location:LONDON Details:Enjoy your guided visit to the Queen's favourite residence, the largest inhabited castle in the world. The highlight is the newly refurbished state rooms.
49
GBP
Name:BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND THE ROYAL MEWS AFTERNOONS DAILY JULY 31 TO SEPTEMBER 30 Location:LONDON Details:First a guided visit to the Royal Mews to see the magnificent gold coach, then admire over 20 grand rooms in the palace used by the Queen for state occasions.
59
GBP
Name:A TASTE OF LONDON DAILY APRIL TO OCTOBER Location:LONDON Details:Ideal for your arrival day, this guided evening excursion includes a 3-course dinner with wine and beer at a contemporary London restaurant, followed by a narrated illumination cruise on the River Thames.
140
GBP
Name:SHOWNIGHT - WICKED (FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS) Location:LONDON Details:A marvellous evening in London's theatre district starts with a gourmet dinner at The Bank restaurant in Wesminster followed by best seats at The Apollo Victoria Theatre to see the sensational London production of Wicked.
140
GBP
Name:SHOWNIGHT - BILLY ELLIOT (FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS) Location:LONDON Details:A marvellous evening in London's theatre district starts with a gourmet dinner at The Bank restaurant in Westminster followed by best seats at the Victoria Palace Theatre to see the original London staging of the inspirational musical Billy Elliot.
55
EUR
Name:DUTCH DINNER AND EVENING WALK IN OLD AMSTERDAM Location:AMSTERDAM Details:Accompanied by your tour director, stroll through some of Amsterdam's oldest streets and view historical 17th century buildings, monuments and the Oude Church. A typical dinner in a cozy restaurant is included.
32
EUR
Name:THE BULB FIELDS AND KEUKENHOF Location:AMSTERDAM Details:Drive past outstanding flower fields to Keukenhof Park and celebrate spring when the 32-hectare (79-acre) park will be a feast for the eyes with 7 million bulbs in bloom. Amateur and professional photographers, as well as art devotees, will also appreciate the pieces by famous Dutch and foreign artists around the park.
72
EUR
Name:SWISS FOLKLORE PARTY AND DINNER Location:LUCERNE Details:Contrary to belief, not all Swiss can yodel or blow the alp horn, but those you will meet at your after-dinner folklore party are real experts. They entertain you with merry melodies on the accordion and traditional dances, while you sample cheese fondue and a drink of your choice.
58
EUR
Name:MOUNT PILATUS Location:LUCERNE Details:A spectacular panoramic view over Central Switzerland from 2133.6 metres (7,000 feet) up, via the world's steepest cogwheel railway (inclination 48 degrees) as well as the silent aerial tramway and panoramic gondolas.
31
EUR
Name:ONE HOUR CRUISE ON LAKE LUCERNE Location:LUCERNE Details:Board your private motorboat for an enchanting and relaxing one-hour cruise on glassy Lake Lucerne also known as the Vierwaldstattersee or "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons". Marvel at the spectacular mountain scenery and admire fjords, bays and rolling meadows.
66
EUR
Name:DINNER PARTY AND ILLUMINATION DRIVE Location:PARIS Details:A perfect introduction to Paris! After a full-course dinner with choices of typical French dishes, drinks included, your tour director will show you the "City of Lights."
37
EUR
Name:SEINE CRUISE AND MONTMARTRE Location:PARIS Details:Discover more of beautiful Paris with a cruise on the Seine river and a visit to the artistic district of Montmartre, famous for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacre Coeur.
61
EUR
Name:EXCURSION TO THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES Location:PARIS Details:Take a short journey out of Paris with your local guide to the lavish 17th-century baroque palace built by Sun King Louis XIV, with its magnificent STATE APARTMENTS, Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Chapel. Time to stroll through parts of the elegant 101 hecatare (250-acre) GARDENS. Note: This excursion is not available on Mondays and public holidays.
166
EUR
Name:DINNER AND SHOW AT MOULIN ROUGE Location:PARIS Details:An exciting evening at the world-renowned Parisian cabaret. Dinner with half a bottle of wine is served during the show and a glass of champagne completes your evening in style.
124
EUR
Name:DINNER AND SHOW AT LA NOUVELLE EVE Location:PARIS Details:No visit to Paris is complete without a night out at the cabaret! A whirling international dinner show (unlimited wine) at Pigalle's one and only LA NOUVELLE EVE.
Optional Excursions
