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Duration 26 days
See Paris icons like the Champs-Élysées through the eyes of your local expert, enjoy the gastronomic delights of Pintxos tasting tours en route to San Sebastian in Spain and try your hand at Venice glassblowing in Italy, all on the grandest of European tours. From boutique fashionista shopping in the avenues of Paris to Picasso’s trail blazing masterpieces in Madrid, this cultural tour de force is all encompassing. Barcelona dazzles with Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece—La Sagrada Família, while Avignon serves up a palate tantalizing taste of traditional farm to table cooking. The French Riviera offers an abundance of opulence, with harbors in Nice and Monaco packed to the brim with luxury yachts, and in Vienna the regal history of Austria’s Habsburg dynasty fires up the imagination.>
Depart from London.
Meet your Travel Director at 07:30 and after a warm welcome, transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar. Your comfortable rail journey takes you via the Channel Tunnel to Paris where you can spend the afternoon as you please. Later, join your Travel Director at 17:00 at a local restaurant in the heart of Paris for a fabulous Welcome Dinner. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the River Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
Hotel: Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel.
Meal: Dinner with Wine
Paris, the City of Light.
In small groups, venture into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives, with your local foodie guide. Explore boutique shops such as a patisserie, boulangerie, fromagerie and chocolatier, all tiny and wonderful and a treat to your senses as you sample the delicacies along the way. With the afternoon free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city.
Hotel: Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Amboise and on to Bordeaux.
Head southwards towards Châteaux Country. Take a scenic drive along the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is known as the Jardins de France for the beautifully maintained gardens that were created on vast estates as outdoor living areas. Stop in Amboise, set beside the Loire River to see the impressive Royal Château. Continue on to the bustling seaport of Bordeaux with its unique 18th century character. This evening enjoy a Farm-to-Table dinner at Chez Thér��se, and relish in traditional French home-style cuisine.
Hotel: Pullman Bordeaux Lac.
Meal: Breakfast
Bordeaux and San Sebastian.
Join a Local Expert for a guided tour of France’s best 18th century architecture. The facades of the quaysides, the Grand Théâtre, Triangle d’Or and magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces all contribured to Bordeaux earn inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Journey on to Château Doisy-Daëne to visit the cellars, learn about traditional viticulture techniques and sample a variety of high quality wines which make up the region’s world-reknowned reputation. Next, continue to picturesque San Sebastián where you will have the chance to dine with the locals in the evening. In small groups, wander through the Old Town for a progressive dinner, as you enjoy the gastronomic Basque tradition of pintxos. Similar to tapas, enjoy a variety of snack-sized treats to make your meal and be sure to try some of the local Txakoli wine.
Hotel: Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Burgos and Madrid.
Drive south through the Pyrenees foothills. Stop in Burgos, the land of ‘El Cid,’ and see his burial place in the cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spain’s elegant capital of Madrid.
Hotel: Sercotel Gran Hotel Conde Duque, Madrid.
Meal: Breakfast
Madrid and hilltop Toledo.
Join your Local Expert for a sightseeing tour of the Old Town as well as, along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana and past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles. Travel to the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol. A short journey will take you to Toledo, an ancient walled city, once the capital of Spain and beautifully set upon a hilltop, bordered by the Tagus River. Your Local Expert will walk you through the Old Town to the fascinating Iglesia de Santo Tomé, home of El Greco’s ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’. Upon your return to Madrid, the evening is free to relax at a cafe or shop in the trendy boutiques.
Hotel: Sercotel Gran Hotel Conde Duque, Madrid.
Meal: Breakfast
From Madrid to beautiful Barcelona.
Cross the Castilian plain, past Zaragoza, and continue to the vibrant port of Barcelona. In the evening, why not try delicious local Catalan cuisine and as night descends, view the city from the heights of Montjuic, with lights sparkling below from the mountains to sea.
Hotel: Hilton Barcelona.
Meal: Breakfast
Barcelona, City of Gaudi.
Join your Local Expert to explore the heart of the Gothic Quarter. See the cathedral and walk through the Roman gate to tour the narrow lanes and old squares. Travel by the Ramblas and along the Passeig de Gràcia, adorned with some of the most flamboyant Modernist buildings. Continue through the Eixample district to see Gaudi’s extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Família.
Hotel: Hilton Barcelona.
Meal: Breakfast
Avignon, the City of Popes.
Journey to Avignon to see the famous Pont d’Avignon, once spanning the Rhône and immortalised in songs. At a local farm learn about olive oil and enjoy a tasting of the freshest produce. Walk within the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to stand in the shadow of the old Palais des Papes, resembling a fortress.
Hotel: Cloître Saint-Louis, Avignon.
Meal: Breakfast
On the shores of Nice.
Journey along the French Riviera to the elegant resort of Nice, where the the rest of the day is at your leisure to stroll along the fabled Promenade des Anglais or relax on the beach.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel, Nice.
Meal: Breakfast
Along the Riviera to Pisa and the Tuscan Hills.
Travel to Monaco where you are driven along part of the Grand Prix circuit, before walking with your Travel Director through the old town. See the Royal Palace where the Grimaldi family live, the yacht-filled harbour and visit the cathedral, housing the tombs of the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Cross into Italy and follow the arc of the Italian Riviera before arriving in Pisa. In the Square of Miracles, stop to see the incredible Leaning Tower of Pisa with a Local Expert, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. Also see the splendid 11th century cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. A short drive through the rolling Tuscan Hills brings you to your hotel in Tuscany.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Vittoria/Hotel Croce di Malta, Montecatini, Tuscany.
Meal: Breakfast
Exploring Renaissance Florence.
Journey to Florence for sightseeing with your Local Expert to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise. You also visit the open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces in Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica – famous for the quality of its luxury goods. There is free time to explore, or perhaps join an Optional Excursion to Tuscany’s most famous hill-top town, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Vittoria/Hotel Croce di Malta, Montecatini, Tuscany.
Meal: Breakfast
The Eternal City of Rome.
Relax and enjoy the grand landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria, before passing the Apennine Mountains to arrive at the Eternal City, filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches.
Hotel: Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Exploring Papal Rome.
A Local Expert introduces the grandeur of the city, starting with the Vatican State, the richest community on the world. Visit the Vatican Museums, full of priceless treasures collected by the Popes. Insight provides special VIP, fast-tracked entry to avoid the crowds, together with behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase – a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally off-limits to the general public. Once inside the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Next door, visit St. Peter’s Basilica to admire Michelangelo’s emotive ‘Pieta’ and see Bernini’s intricately carved Papal Altar. The rest of the day is yours to shop in the trendy boutiques or relax at a sidewalk cafe.
Hotel: Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.
Meal: Breakfast
Rome at Leisure.
The day is yours to enjoy Rome at your own pace. Perhaps take an optional experience to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Hotel: Veneto Palace Hotel, Rome.
Meal: Breakfast
Follow the Autostrada del Sole to Venice.
Journey through peaceful Tuscan landscapes, to descend past Bologna into the fertile Valley of the River Po. Arrive at the glorious city of Venice by water taxi and sip a Bellini cocktail at sunset, long after the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima.
Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. Witness the skill of glassblowers and learn how the Venetian gondola is made on a visit to a traditional arts centre before cruising by private launch to St. Mark’s Square where St. Mark’s Basilica exudes the city’s former wealth and power. Admire the Doge’s Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs.
Hotel: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Meal: Breakfast
Venice to Zagreb’s Twin Towers.
Depart Venice by water taxi and continue your journey, crossing Slovenia. Stop to explore the remarkable natural wonder of the Postojna Caves. Venture through a series of caverns and passages, which were hollowed out by the Pivka River over two million years. Next, travel to the Croatian capital of Zagreb. A Local Expert shows you Roosevelt Square, the attractive facades of Ban Josip Jelačić Square and the cathedral. Ride the funicular to the medieval Upper Town to see the former Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St Mark’s Church and the Tower of Lotrščak.
Hotel: Sheraton Zagreb Hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Zagreb to Vienna.
Follow the Drava River and cross over the Slovenian border to reach the 700-year-old university town of Maribor. Continue past Graz through Styria’s forested mountains and onto Vienna.
Hotel: Hilton Vienna.
Meal: Breakfast
Vienna and the Habsburgs.
In the morning, there is the option to join a private tour of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens. Ready your camera for a drive around the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence and Austrian Parliament Building. Visit the famous Café Central, frequented by many of the elite since 1876, including revolutionary Trotsky and psychoanalyst Freud. A meeting place for philosophers and storytellers, a local shares tales of a by-gone era, as you enjoy delicious Viennese specialities of coffee and Sachertorte.
Hotel: Hilton Vienna.
Meal: Morning Tea,Breakfast
Salzburg and on to Innsbruck.
Pass the impressive Benedictine monastery of Melk before reaching the enchanting city of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and the iconic musical ‘The Sound of Music’. A Local Expert will show you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, including the fountains and statues where the ‘Do, Re, Mi’ scene was filmed. Cross Residence Square with its fountain, where Maria sings ‘I Have Confidence’ and see the imposing fortress, the immense cathedral and Mozart’s birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse. Perhaps join an excursion to the famous Eagle’s Nest? Continue to the mountain ringed Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck to see the Golden Roof and Imperial Palace.
Hotel: AC By Marriott Hotel Innsbruck.
Meal: Breakfast
Through Liechtenstein to Lucerne.
Journey past flower-filled meadows and picturesque chalet-style villages to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Spend some time in its tiny capital, Vaduz, then cross into Switzerland and through glorious mountains to lakeside Lucerne. On arrival, visit Lucerne’s proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. For your Dine-Around Evening, choose your own style of cuisine from our selection of local restaurants.
Hotel: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Lakeside Lucerne and the Stanserhorn.
In the morning, embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and open-top cable car to the summit of stunning Mount Stanserhorn, where you will meet a Swiss ranger and learn about the local wildlife. Take in the pristine mountain air and on a clear day you can see as far as Alsace and the Black Forest. Once you return to Lucerne, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit church. The rest of the day is at leisure to shop for fine watches and delectable chocolates.
Hotel: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Meal: Breakfast
Legends along the Rhine.
Follow the Rhine Valley north to Königswinter.
Hotel: Maritim Hotel Königswinter.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Cruising the canals of Amsterdam.
Delight in a private estate viewing of one of the famous Rhineland castles and learn more about these living cultural monuments situated along the Middle Rhine over a glass of wine. Continue your travels to Amsterdam. The best way to see this remarkable city is from the water as you cruise through the canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the elegant merchant houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, their facades are a reflection of when trade flourished during Amsterdam’s Golden Age. Relax as you pass stunning gables, beautiful churches and the iconic Magere Brug, better known as the Skinny Bridge. 25 In the evening, toast your adventure and new-found friends during a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Meal: Breakfast,Dinner with Wine
Depart Amsterdam or Return London Option.
In the morning, travel to Brussels for your high-speed Eurostar train journey. On arrival, you are transferred to the Park Plaza Victoria where your trip ends. On arrival at your home airport, your driver will greet and escort you to your waiting car for your private transfer home.
Meal: Breakfast
Tour Departs |
Tour Returns |
Twin/Double Room (price per person) |
Definite Departure What's this? |
Offers | Book Now! |
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Sat 07 May 2022 | Wed 01 Jun 2022 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 04 Jun 2022 | Wed 29 Jun 2022 | £6,165 | |||
Sat 18 Jun 2022 | Wed 13 Jul 2022 | £6,990 | |||
Sat 02 Jul 2022 | Wed 27 Jul 2022 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 16 Jul 2022 | Wed 10 Aug 2022 | £5,935 | |||
Sat 30 Jul 2022 | Wed 24 Aug 2022 | £5,990 | |||
Sat 13 Aug 2022 | Wed 07 Sep 2022 | £6,890 | |||
Sat 27 Aug 2022 | Wed 21 Sep 2022 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 10 Sep 2022 | Wed 05 Oct 2022 | £6,190 | |||
Sat 01 Oct 2022 | Wed 26 Oct 2022 | £6,035 | |||
Sat 06 May 2023 | Wed 31 May 2023 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 20 May 2023 | Wed 14 Jun 2023 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 03 Jun 2023 | Wed 28 Jun 2023 | £6,165 | |||
Sat 01 Jul 2023 | Wed 26 Jul 2023 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 15 Jul 2023 | Wed 09 Aug 2023 | £5,935 | |||
Sat 29 Jul 2023 | Wed 23 Aug 2023 | £5,990 | |||
Sat 26 Aug 2023 | Wed 20 Sep 2023 | £6,090 | |||
Sat 09 Sep 2023 | Wed 04 Oct 2023 | £6,190 | |||
Sat 30 Sep 2023 | Wed 25 Oct 2023 | £6,035 |
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See Paris icons like the Champs-Élysées through the eyes of your local expert, enjoy the gastronomic delights of Pintxos tasting tours en route to San Sebastian in Spain and try your hand at Venice glassblowing in Italy, all on the grandest of European tours. From boutique fashionista shopping in the avenues of Paris to Picasso’s trail blazing masterpieces in Madrid, this cultural tour de force is all encompassing. Barcelona dazzles with Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece—La Sagrada Família, while Avignon serves up a palate tantalizing taste of traditional farm to table cooking. The French Riviera offers an abundance of opulence, with harbors in Nice and Monaco packed to the brim with luxury yachts, and in Vienna the regal history of Austria’s Habsburg dynasty fires up the imagination.>