Tour Details - European Interlude 2012

Welcome to London! Cross by ferry to France and continue by coach through Belgium to The Netherlands. This evening in Amsterdam, enjoy a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director and companions on an included canal cruise in a glass-topped boat. It’s a memorable start to your European holiday!(Welcome Reception)

This morning travel to Germany where you visit the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. Embark on a relaxing Rhine cruise at Boppard. Pass medieval castles and vineyards on the way to St. Goar, site of the Lorelei Rock. Dine at your Rhineland hotel this evening.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Drive through the Swabian Uplands to Munich and view the Olympic Stadium and Marienplatz during your orientation. Marvel at the Golden Roof and St. Jakob's Cathedral across the border in the Tyrolean capital, Innsbruck. This evening enjoy a Highlight Dinner with local specialities.(Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Admire the spledours of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. View the city’s major landmarks during a walking tour with your expert Local Guide, including many locations used in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. A scenic journey takes you towards the Danube River and the Baroque elegance of Vienna.(Buffet Breakfast)

Wonderful views of Vienna’s sights include the Opera House, the Hofburg, Stadtpark, Parliament and the Imperial Boulevards on your morning guided sightseeing tour. Visit the sights of your choice during free time this afternoon. Shop on the fashionable Kärntnerstrasse or simply relax in a typical Viennese café. Perhaps consider taking an excursion to Schönbrunn Palace.(Buffet Breakfast)

Journey into the heart of the Austrian Alps, past the Austrian Lake District, over the Italian border to the fertile plains of the Veneto. Cross into the magical city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic, where you stay for the next two nights.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Discover the rich heritage of this Byzantine city during your private canal cruise to St. Mark's Square. Admire the Bridge of Sighs and the beautiful Doge’s Palace. Visit a traditional glass-blowing factory for a demonstration of this ancient craft. Spend free time afterwards exploring or shopping. Consider an optional excursion to the island of Burano for a delicious seafood lunch!(Buffet Breakfast)

Cross the Po valley and journey over the dramatic Apennine Mountains to Rome, the Eternal City. This evening, you might like to discover Rome's vibrant nightlife.(Buffet Breakfast)

Visit St. Peter's Basilica, home of Michelangelo’s Renaissance masterpiece the Pietà. Cross the Tiber in ancient Rome and view the Forum and the mighty Colosseum. See the Circus Maximus, set in a valley below the Aventine and Palatine Hills. Consider an optional excursion to the magnificent Sistine Chapel.(Buffet Breakfast)

Admire the Tuscan landscape en route to Florence. Learn about the city’s Renaissance history from your expert Local Guide, who shows you the Cathedral, the Baptistery and Signoria Square during your guided walking tour. View the majestic Ponte Vecchio bridge. Shop for high quality leather and gold.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Drive north and see the beautiful Lake Lugano. Through the Ticino region, take the scenic St. Gotthard route through the Alps to the picturesque town of Lucerne. This evening, consider a traditional Swiss folklore evening with cheese fondue.(Buffet Breakfast)

Admire the sights of this medieval town on your morning orientation. Visit the poignant Lion Monument and the wooden Chapel Bridge spanning the River Reuss. Take an optional trip up a nearby mountain or spend free time shopping for Swiss chocolate and Swiss watches.(Buffet Breakfast)

From Lucerne, over the French border and past Belfort, see the vineyards in the wine-producing Burgundy region. Arrive later in Paris, where you might like to visit a world-famous Parisian Cabaret tonight!(Buffet Breakfast)

The Champs Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde – see all these sights and more on your morning sightseeing tour with an expert Local Guide. Admire stunning views across the city from the second level of the Eiffel Tower and see Notre Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Celebrate the end of a wonderful tour this evening with your companions at a Farewell Dinner.(Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Drive across Northern France, past the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge on the Somme battlefields. Sail from Calais to Dover and continue to London by coach, where your splendid European holiday comes to an end.(Buffet Breakfast)