Tour Details - European Cavalcade 2012

Greetings from your Travel Director! See the White Cliffs of Dover as you board the ferry and cross to Calais, France. Continue by road through the Belgian and Dutch countryside to Amsterdam. See the sights during your orientation tour including Dam Square and the Mint Tower.

Drive eastwards into Germany and follow the Rhine valley southwards. Take a leisurely cruise along the River Rhine by boat, past picturesque villages and medieval castles. Continue by road to your hotel, where you dine tonight.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

View Heidelberg Castle, a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. Journey via Freiburg through the beautiful Black Forest region. Stop at Schaffhausen to view the mighty Rhine Falls and arrive later at Lake Lucerne, your home for the next two nights.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Visit the poignant Lion Monument and the old town during your orientation tour of Lucerne. Afterwards, in your free time, consider a scenic cruise on the lake, shop for Swiss watches and chocolates or take a cog railway up one of the nearby mountains to enjoy the amazing views!(Buffet Breakfast)

Cross the Swiss border to Liechtenstein for a brief stop in the capital, Vaduz. Continue into Austria, via the Arlberg region, to Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Marvel at Innsbruck's sights including the Golden Roof, Hofburg Palace and Olympic ski-jump. Travel through the Brenner Pass into Italy and view Juliet’s balcony in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Your day ends in the magical Byzantine city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Evidence of Venice’s former maritime power and wealth is everywhere you look as you cruise by private launch to St. Mark’s Square. Visit a glass-blowing factory then spend free time exploring this fascinating city on your own. Consider a trip to the Island of Burano for a special seafood lunch!(Buffet Breakfast)

Traverse the flat plains of Veneto and cross the dramatic Apennine hills. Admire splendid scenery as you drive through the rolling Tuscan countryside, arriving later in the capital, Rome.(Buffet Breakfast)

Your expert Local Guide takes you on a sightseeing tour which starts with a visit to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Continue to ancient Rome to view the Forum and Colosseum. Later enjoy your free time seeing the sights or shopping for souvenirs.(Buffet Breakfast)

Pass the Abbey of Monte Cassino en route to the Bay of Naples, where you might like to take an excursion to explore the excavations of Pompeii. Dine tonight at your hotel.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Drive north to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire views of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Later, time at leisure to immerse yourself in the sights - Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery, Signoria Square - the list is endless!(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

View the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Continue past Genoa and view the famous casino of Monte Carlo. Arrive later in Nice, glittering capital of the Côte d’Azur.(Buffet Breakfast)

Orientation includes the Promenade des Anglais and the Place Masséna. Spend the rest of the day relaxing.(Buffet Breakfast)

Drive along the Boulevard de la Croisette and the Film Festival Centre in Cannes. Admire the beautiful countryside around Aix-en-Provence, where Van Gogh liked to paint. In Avignon view the Palace of the Popes and the famous bridge. Continue through the Rhône Valley to Lyon.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

The wine-producing region of Burgundy and the Forest of Fontainebleau provide picturesque backdrops for your drive to the elegant, romantic city of Paris. On arrival maybe take take an excursion to visit the magnificent Palace of Versailles.(Buffet Breakfast)

The Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower - see all these sights and more with superb commentary from your expert Local Guide. Then perhaps visit the Louvre Museum to see the 'Mona Lisa'. This evening maybe take the chance to see one of the famous Parisian cabaret shows?(Buffet Breakfast)

Head north to Calais for your cross-Channel ferry to England. Continue to London where your exciting holiday ends!(Buffet Breakfast)