Day
1 Arrive in London, England.
Check into your
hotel. In the afternoon, you may want to start exploring the lively British
capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day
2 London.
A full day to savor
our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s
landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle.
Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the Thames River? (B)
Day
3 London–Amsterdam Area, Holland.
Leave London in the
early morning and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel
port, where you board your FERRY for the Continent. Here, your Tour Director
and coach wait to take you to the Amsterdam area. (B)
Day
4 Amsterdam.
Today, enjoy a CANAL
CRUISE to see the town from water level, then watch the cutting and polishing
of precious stones at a DIAMOND CENTER in Amsterdam. Later, sightseeing with a
Local Guide points out the city highlights. (B,D)
Day
5 Amsterdam Area–Rhineland, Germany.
Another morning in
Amsterdam to do as you please, or to discover the beautiful Dutch countryside
on an optional excursion. Later, travel southwards into the lovely landscape of
the Rhine, where you will spend one night. (B,D)
Day
6 Rhineland–Rhine Cruise–Lucerne Area,
Switzerland.
Start the day with
an included RHINE CRUISE to see some legendary sights, including the Lorelei
rock. Rejoin the coach for a comfortable drive southwards to the Swiss border
at Basel. The scenery becomes more and more fascinating as you approach the
Lucerne area for two overnights. (B,D)
Day
7 Lucerne Area.
One of Switzerland’s
finest cities, Lucerne is nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its
lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the Reuss River. Your
visit takes in the impressive city walls, CHAPEL BRIDGE, ornate patrician houses
lining cobblestone streets, and the LION MONUMENT—a masterful stone sculpture
in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional
activities completes the day: a cable-car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of
Mount Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, time to shop for
that very Swiss watch. (B)
Day
8 Lucerne Area–Paris, France.
Enjoy vistas of
green pastures and attractive chalets with rustic timbering and luxuriant
flowers. Then, into France on the fast highway, past some of its most famous
vineyards, to Paris. Arrive in time to enjoy the optional cabaret show. (B)
Day
9 Paris.
One full day to
explore the city that’s known throughout the world for its fashions, art and
museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local
expert shows off many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de
Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the
Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also available.
Celebrate the success of your tour with an optional French farewell dinner. (B)
Day
10 Paris.
Your vacation ends
with breakfast this morning. (B)
Accommodations
LONDON
|
DoubleTree by
Hilton London – Chelsea (F) or Novotel London West (F)
|
AMSTERDAM AREA
|
NH Airport (F) at
Schiphol or Grand (F) at Amstelveen
|
RHINELAND
|
Dorint Köln
Junkersdorf (ST) or Ramada (F) at Bruehl or Mercure Köln Airport (ST)
|
LUCERNE AREA
|
Postillon (ST) or
Ibis Styles (ST) or Luzernerhof (ST)
|
PARIS
|
Kyriad Cachan
Arcueil (ST)
|
Transportation
Round-trip
transportation between London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private
first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Cross-Channel ferry; Rhine cruise