European Whirl – 11 nights – 12 days

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Brussels - Amsterdam

A brief interlude with the British capital, this morning you will meet your Travel Director before travelling to London’s St. Pancras International, where you will board the Eurostar™ for a high-speed train journey to Brussels and a luxury coach journey to Amsterdam. Enjoy an orientation of this historic Dutch city before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a dinner cruise on the canals.

 

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Rhine Valley with scenic Cruise

Drive through the landscapes of the Netherlands and Germany, arriving in Boppard, where you’ll board a cruise along the Rhine River to St. Goar, passing vineyard-clad hills and medieval castles perched above riverside towns. Arriving in the Baroque city of Heidelberg, explore its unexpected highlights before travelling to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Innsbruck

Crossing the Swabian Alps on the edge of the Black Forest, you’ll arrive in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The orientation takes you past the Hofbräuhaus, reputedly the most famous beer hall in the world, and the neo-Gothic Town Hall, which dominates the Marienplatz. We will cross the Austrian border next, arriving in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. Admire the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture of the Old Town, including Emperor Maximilian’s famous Golden Roof with its ornate facade, and consider an evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

Enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Tyrolean cuisine before a lively folklore show, where singers, dancers, and musicians dressed in national costume provide an evening of entertainment and fun. Drinks are included.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Day 4: Venice

Journey through the emerald-green landscape along the Brenner Pass into Italy and across the Dolomite Mountains to Venice. We cruise the beautiful Venetian lagoon by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark’s Square. View the ornate Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sound made by condemned prisoners as they took one last longing look at their beautiful city before meeting their fate. Enjoy an experience where you’ll witness the centuries-old craft of Venetian glassblowing. You’ll learn how the master craftsmen shape the molten glass to make the exquisite and delicate works of art that adorn homes all over the world, and perhaps be inspired to buy your own souvenir as a reminder of this special visit. There’s time later to enjoy the city your way. Get lost in Venice, cross bridges, and discover a hidden camp where locals share their daily stories over a glass of Venetian Spritz.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

Cruise by private water taxi along the Grand Canal, passing the city’s iconic palazzi. Spot the Rialto Bridge and arrive near St. Mark’s Square before switching pace with a gondola ride through Venice’s quieter canals.

 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Rome

Travel south across the Veneto Plain, passing Bologna and the dramatic Apennine Mountains as well as the green and golden fields of Lazio before reaching Rome, the ‘Eternal City’. En route, we connect with Locals over lunch and enjoy true Tuscan hospitality with a local family on their private estate in the Chianti countryside.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

1. Piazzas and Fountains

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

 

Day 6: Ancient Rome - Vatican City

Our first stop today sees us discover the divine beauty of the Vatican City with a Local Specialist. We continue to Ancient Rome to view the Roman Forum, the walls of the iconic Colosseum, and Circus Maximus, once the site of exhilarating chariot races centuries ago. The afternoon is yours to explore the city on your terms. Sit on the Spanish Steps, savouring a tasty gelato, or shop up a storm on the trendy Via Condotti.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

You will be offered one of the following three Optional Experiences, depending on availability:

1. Guided visit to the Colosseum
2. Colosseum and dinner
3. Roman evening with Dinner

 

Meals: Breakfast

 

Day 7: Florence

From Rome, we travel north through the rolling countryside of Tuscany and along the Arno valley to the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’, Florence. Delve into the rich Medici heritage of this beautiful medieval city with your Local Specialist. Visit the political hub of the city, Piazza della Signoria, with its impressive sculptures and stunning palazzi. View the imposing Duomo, crowned by Brunelleschi’s dome, and the Baptistery, renowned for its sculptured bronze doors.

 

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

1. Discover Palazzo Vecchio
2. Dinner in the Tuscan Countryside

 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Lucerne

Drive via the scenic Italian Lakes District, across the Alps into beautiful Switzerland, where we’ll spend the next two nights in the medieval lakeside city of Lucerne. View the mournful, mortally wounded lion carved from rock to commemorate the Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending Louis XVI. Walk along the flower-lined 14th- century covered Chapel Bridge, crossing the river Reuss.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

Swiss Folklore evening with dinner

 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Lucerne

This morning, join an exciting Optional Experience to one of the surrounding peaks for breathtaking views of the Swiss countryside. We have some time later to discover the best Swiss chocolates in town.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

1. Mount Pilatus and Lake Cruise
2. Swiss County side and Carriages

Note: From mid-November to mid-May, the ascent will be by a series of cable cars.

 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

 

 

 

Day 10: Paris

Crossing the border into France this morning, we travel past the picturesque vineyards and country towns of Burgundy en route to the ‘City of Light’. Spend some time this evening strolling along the Seine and grand boulevards in search of a cozy bistro for fine French cuisine, or consider an Optional Experience to a colorful Parisian cabaret.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

1. La Nouvelle Ève Cabaret and dinner

 

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Paris

Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour of this romantic city. View the sophisticated Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the 19th-century Arc de Triomphe, honouring those who fought for France, and Notre Dame Cathedral, then enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter.

Our European Whirl is almost at its end, and we spend the evening with fellow travelers and our Travel Director, enjoying dinner in a local bistro.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES

1. Versailles Palace and Gardens
2. Seine Cruise and Parisian Icons

 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Departure

Today, bid adieu to your fellow travelers and Travel Director at the end of your memorable experience.

 

Meals: Breakfast