Itinerary

Day 1BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

Day 2ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND

Big Ben, the bell of the clock tower

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 3LONDON

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel

A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London

Tower of London

, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames

Tower Bridge in London

? (Breakfast)

Day 4LONDON–PARIS, FRANCE

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 you’ll be met by your Tour Director and luxury coach. Drive through the French countryside, arriving in Paris in time to enjoy an optional cabaret show. (Breakfast)

Day 5PARIS

Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle

, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower in Paris

, the Pyramid near the Louvre

Louvre

, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. (Breakfast)

Day 6PARIS–CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY–TOURS-BORDEAUX

Start the day by motoring south to Blois and then parallel to the River Loire past the castles of Chaumont and Amboise for a short stop in Tours. Take the comfortable Autoroute L’Aquitaine as far as Poitiers, beautifully situated on a rocky plateau. South again to Saintes, then the Grand Champagne wine-growing area. Another 60 miles and you’ll be in Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7BORDEAUX–CARCASSONNE–BARCELONA

The gorgeous shores of Barcelona

, SPAIN

From the vineyards of the Gironde and the Garonne, travel eastwards, bypassing Toulouse to Carcassonne in the foothills of the Pyrenées. Stop and admire what is perhaps the best-preserved medieval fortified town in Europe. Later, reach the Spanish border and motor through Catalonia. Once across the River Ter, you’ll soon be in Barcelona. (Breakfast)

Day 8BARCELONA

This morning’s sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a drive around Montjuïc to see the Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. The drive continues to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in the Houses Batllo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fees not included). (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 9BARCELONA–ARLES, FRANCE–FRENCH RIVIERA

Take in the beautiful sites of the French Riviera

Retrace your drive to the French border, then into the vine-covered region of the Herault for a stop in Arles. Later, motor westwards across the Rhône towards the Mediterranean shores for an overnight on the French Riviera. (Breakfast)

Day 10FRENCH RIVIERA–EZE–PISA

Leaning Tower of Pisa

, ITALY–MONTECATINI

Today along the high coastal road to visit a perfume workshop in Eze. The day is highlighted by the drive along the French and Italian Rivieras and into hilly Tuscany

See the vineyard covered hillsides of Tuscany

for a visit to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and the Square of Miracles. Overnight in Montecatini. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 11MONTECATINI–ROME

Saint Peter's Square in Rome

Don’t miss the included walking tour with a Local Guide, featuring most of the city highlights. In the afternoon, travel south on the Autostrada del Sole through the sunlit valleys of Chianti country to Rome. (Breakfast)

Day 12ROME

The “Eternal City”—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square

, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum

Roman Forum

and the mighty Colosseum

Visit the great Colosseum in Rome

. (Breakfast)

Day 13ROME–VESUVIUS–POMPEII

Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy

–SORRENTO

Amalfi Coast in Sorrento

South all the way today, with the volcano Vesuvius in the distance. Then to Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD, when the Vesuvius eruption totally destroyed it. On the included visit you can see the luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum. Just a few more miles to Sorrento for an overnight. (Breakfast)

Day 14SORRENTO

An optional excursion today to the legendary island of Capri. The island is surrounded by a rocky coastline, where the crashing sea has formed awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants is a mecca for the jet set. Return to Sorrento. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 15SORRENTO–IONIAN SEA CROSSING

An easy drive across the rugged Apennine Hills to the Port of Bari for embarkation on the overnight ferry to Greece. The modern ferries offer all comforts, including boutique, duty-free shop, two restaurants, three bars, discotheque, casino, and swimming pool. (Breakfast)

Note:
November and December 2010 departures will travel from Florence

Visit stunning Florence and the Ponte Vecchio

to Rome instead on Days 11-15, while still visiting Sorrento and Pompeii in between. Please see 2011 itinerary for exact details.

Day 16PATRAS, GREECE–OLYMPIA

Olympia is the founding city of the Olympics, dated from 776 B.C.E.

Enjoy some daylight cruising towards the Greek coast before reaching Patras. Then, drive to Olympia for an overnight in the Peloponnese. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 17OLYMPIA–TRIPOLIS–ATHENS

This morning, join the optional sightseeing tour and learn more about the history of the original Olympic Games

Ancient Olympia: The Origins of the Games

, when athletes competed with each other to honor the King of Deities. Then, motor into the mountains of Arcadia by way of Tripolis and over the Corinth Canal to Athens. Time later for an evening in the lively Plaka area. (Breakfast)

Day 18ATHENS

Today, take advantage of the included morning sightseeing, which features the highlights of this ancient capital, with a visit to the fascinating Acropolis. Later, enjoy one of the optional excursions or explore the shops and museums. (Breakfast)

Day 19ATHENS–PATRAS–IONIAN SEA CROSSING–ANCONA, ITALY

Leave Athens for the journey to Patras for embarkation on the ferry for the Ionian Sea crossing back to Italy. Departure for Ancona is in the early evening. (Breakfast)

Day 20ANCONA, ITALY–SAN MARINO

Disembark in Ancona in the late morning. Then, proceed north for an overnight in San Marino, one of the world’s smallest and most ancient states, perched on Monte Titano. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 21SAN MARINO–VENICE

Venice is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world

AREA

Follow your Tour Director through the main gate and up to Government House in the very heart of this tiny ancient republic. Later this morning, travel along the Adriatic coastline through the Po Delta towards the Venice area. (Breakfast)

Day 22VENICE AREA

The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time at leisure to absorb the atmosphere of this unique city, and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers. Don’t miss the optional gondola trip. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 23VENICE AREA–VELDEN, AUSTRIA

A church on an Austrian mountaintop

–VIENNA

The Vienna City Hall

Today, leave the flat and fertile plains of Venetia and journey by way of Tarvisio Pass into the grand mountain and lakeland scenery of Austria for a stop in Velden on Lake Wörth. Northwards through the Styrian landscape to Vienna. (Breakfast)

Day 24VIENNA

There’s so much to see on your included sightseeing tour: the State Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’ Square to view the Hofburg and finally take a short walk for an inside visit of Strauss’ house. (Breakfast)

Day 25VIENNA–SALZBURG

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest fully preserved fortress in Europe

–INNSBRUCK

Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful Innsbruck

Westwards, almost parallel with the Danube, to Mozart’s Salzburg. Time for a stroll down the charming Getreidegasse

Shop along the cobbled Getreidegasse Street in downtown Salzburg

, the town’s elegant main shopping street. The last leg of today’s drive takes you into the very heart of the Tyrol to its capital, Innsbruck. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 26INNSBRUCK–LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND

Enjoy some time in the wonderful town of Lucerne

Time this morning to get acquainted with Innsbruck. The orientation tour includes the famous Golden Roof. Later, drive through the valleys and villages of the mountainous Tyrol to the Arlberg tunnel descending into Switzerland. Stop briefly in Vaduz, Liechtenstein’s capital, before heading for Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne

. (Breakfast)

Day 27LAKE LUCERNE

One of Switzerland’s finest cities. Sightseeing takes in the impressive city walls, a wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument

Lion Monument

. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cruise on the fjord-like lake or a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis. (Breakfast)

Day 28LAKE LUCERNE–RHINELAND

Germany’s amazing landscapes along the Rhine river

, GERMANY

More of Switzerland and its quaint little villages, farms, and chalets before crossing into Germany to use its Autobahn on the journey northwards to the shores of the Rhine. Today’s highlight is the included Rhine cruise

The beautiful Rhine Valley

past the legendary Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, terraced vineyards, and half-timbered villages. Overnight in the Rhineland. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 29RHINELAND–AMSTERDAM

Enjoy the lovely canals of Amsterdam

AREA, HOLLAND

North today at first through the industrial Ruhr and then into the green, canal criss-crossed countryside of Holland to the Amsterdam area. Watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a famous diamond center. Sightseeing includes an orientation drive with a Local Guide and, finally, a canal cruise to see the town from water level. (Breakfast)

Day 30YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (Breakfast)