On this vacation, get a “Taste of Europe” and sample some of Western Europe’s best-loved areas, including England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and France. You’ll visit the main cities—London, Amsterdam, Lucerne, and Paris—and you’ll also behold fascinating scenery and cruise scenic waterways. Experience the wonder of a cruise on the Rhine—with its scenic countryside, historical castles, and charming villages. See Lorelei rock and hear the legend of Lorelei, a distraught maiden who sat on the rock combing her long golden hair and luring passing navigators to their death. In Amsterdam, hear about its 165 canals with a total length of 100 kms (62 miles). As such an integral part of the city, you’ll enjoy a canal cruise to appreciate Amsterdam from the waterways. The Chanel ferry takes you from London to the Continent and back to London at the end of your trip. Breakfast is included daily, and most days, you’ll have the opportunity to venture out and try local cuisine. Sample a pint of bitter in a local British pub, savor French wines in the Parisian cafés, and taste the local beer in Germany.
Itinerary:
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 River Thames? (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–Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. Start the day with an included Rhine steamer cruise with 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 Lake Lucerne for two overnights. (B,D)
Day #7 Lake Lucerne. One of Switzerland’s finest cities nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden 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, there is time to shop for that very Swiss watch. (B)
Day #8 Lake Lucerne–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–London, England. Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)
Day #11 London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
LONDON Jurys Inn Chelsea (F)
AMSTERDAM AREA NH Airport (F) at Schiphol or Grandhotel (F) at Amstelveen
RHINELAND Mercure (ST) at Junkersdorf or Holiday Inn Zum Anker (ST) at Andernach or Ramada (F) at Bruehl
LAKE LUCERNE Pilatusblick (ST) at Kriens or Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen
PARIS Kyriad (ST) at Bercy or Quality Porte d'Orleans (F) or Quality Porte d'Italie (ST)