Day 1
LONDON | Welcome to London and the first day of the Classic Europe tour! Arrive at the hotel this morning and meet up with the Tour Leader and tour group. The adventure starts with an orientation tour of Greenwich. Afterwards, enjoy a free afternoon to explore London. See the city on your own or choose to join the highly recommended London+ optional. On this excursion, you'll visit the famous Cutty Sark ship (and experience a unique afternoon tea underneath the ship itself!) before cruising down the River Thames aboard the Thames Clipper from Greenwich to Westminster where you'll see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey! Meet up with your fellow travellers in the evening for a group dinner at a local pub - tonight is your chance to try classic British pub fare!
Day 2
LONDON - PARIS | This morning, it's time to travel from London to Paris. Cross the English Channel and travel through to the French capital. Arrive and enjoy a driving tour of "The City of Lights" which showcases the city's best landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame! In the evening, sit down for a group dinner in Paris's historic Latin Quarter. This bohemian neighbourhood is full of character and charm! Be sure to get some rest tonight - there is a full free day of adventure waiting to be enjoyed tomorrow!
Day 3
PARIS - FREE DAY | The wonderful thing about Paris is that it there is so much to experience, regardless of the time of day, or season. You can explore on your own and soak up the city or join a full day of exploration in Paris! The Paris+ excursion will take you to all the iconic sights including the Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and much more! You will also cruise down the River Seine with an included lunch and get a bird's eye view from the Montparnasse Observation Deck. In the evening, you have the option to watch a cabaret show or join an evening tour of the fabulous Montmartre area.
Day 4
PARIS - BURGUNDY - SWISS ALPS | Au revoir Paris! Today we sample a taste of small-town France with a lunch stop in Burgundy. In the town of Beaune you can visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune, or try the famous wine. After lunch, we take a long scenic drive across the border into Switzerland and head towards the Swiss Alps for our stay in a typical alpine resort town. Welcome to the Swiss Alps, your home for the next two days!
Day 5
SWISS ALPS - FREE DAY | It's a guaranteed snow day! For 365 days of the year, the summit of Jungfraujoch is covered in snow. Your tour leader can arrange a full-day optional excursion to the "Top of Europe" - see the spectacular glacier and enjoy the incredible views! The journey up the mountain is a highlight in itself, providing panoramic views of mountains, lakes and glaciers. Alternatively, spend the day exploring at a lower altitude. Explore the local town, enjoy sightseeing, souvenir shopping and don’t miss your chance to indulge in Swiss chocolate! Spend your free day wandering and breathing in that crisp, fresh, Alpine air! Join the optional Swiss dinner tonight to tuck into traditional Swiss food!
Day 6
SWISS ALPS - PISA - TUSCANY | It's time to swap snow for gelato as you continue your European tour from your mountain adventure towards stunning Italian vistas. Capture your iconic shots at the Leaning Tower of Pisa! A World Heritage UNESCO Site, The Leaning Tower is visited by tourists from every corner of the globe and is one of the most popular cultural European landmarks. Onwards to the exquisite Tuscan region - famous for wine, food, art and architecture. You will settle in Montecatini Terme, a spa town north-west of Florence. Time for a local wine or two.
Day 7
TUSCANY - FLORENCE - ROME | Continue the journey through the beautiful Tuscan region. Today's first stop is Florence. Enjoy an orientation tour of this captivating Renaissance city that is famous for its art and history. Following Florence is Italy's capital city - Rome! Arrive and enjoy free time or choose to join the Vatican City guided tour this afternoon. Visit the Vatican City to explore the smallest country in the world, see the famous Sistine Chapel (don't forget to look up and marvel at the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo!) and much more. Meet up with the group in the early evening and enjoy an included dinner.
Day 8
ROME - FREE DAY | Today is a free day for you to experience Rome's ancient history, exquisite culture and delicious food. The Colosseum is spectacular, offering an unbelievable feeling of drifting backwards in time, to when gladiators, chariots and lions dominated the arena. Your tour leader can arrange for a combined tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum with an expert local guide. You also have the option of joining our 'Conquer the Capital' excursion, seeing sights including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, and enjoying a delicious lunch and gelato tasting.
Day 9
ROME - VENICE | Take note of the scenery as we make our way to Venice as the diversity of the Italian landscapes will continue to impress. Venice is a unique city, perched across 118 islands, and known for its canals, gondolas, Venetian masks, piazzas, art, traditional glass and lace making. Your tour leader will introduce you to the city with an orientation walk, see the world-famous St Marks Square, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. The evening is yours to wine and dine. Then, explore Venice the traditional way - from the canals. Your tour leader can arrange for gondola and water taxi rides that give you a completely different perspective and appreciation for the amazing structure of this unique destination.
Day 10
VENICE - MUNICH - NUREMBURG | Guten tag! It's time to travel to Germany. Today's first stop is Munich which is the vibrant capital of Germany's Bavaria region. While Munich is most well known for being home to Oktoberfest, the city has a long, storied past filled with fascinating history. Enjoy an orientation tour of Munich with your tour leader to see the highlights and learn more about the modern and ancient history of this city. Tuck into dinner in a traditional German beer hall this evening. Tonight's overnight stop is Nuremberg - a deeply historic German city that was largely rebuilt after WWII.
Day 11
NUREMBERG - RHINE VALLEY - AMSTERDAM | The German adventure continues this morning! Leave the historic sights of Nuremberg behind and head towards the enchanting Rhine Valley. Arrive in one of the most picturesque areas along the Rhine River and enjoy an included lunch. After lunch, you'll have time for a spot of shopping. Take a look at handcrafted cuckoo clocks and beersteins - great souvenir ideas! Next up, enjoy a stunning cruise along the Rhine River. This part of the valley is home to the most concentrated stretch of castles in Europe! Take in the views of the striking cliffs, medieval castles and historic vineyards along the river banks. Afterwards, the journey continues to Amsterdam. Arrive in Amsterdam later tonight. Get a good night's rest tonight for a full free day of exploring tomorrow!
Day 12
AMSTERDAM | Get ready to explore the delights of Amsterdam today! Get acquainted with the city's highlights on a canal cruise this morning. Sit back and relax, enjoy sightseeing from the water and learn more about Amsterdam as you cruise. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. You could wander through the streets of Amsterdam at your leisure, explore the colourful neighbourhoods, try out the local food scene or experience the city's world-famous museums including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. For something different, join the optional Dutch countryside tour featuring cheese, clogs and windmills - all things Dutch! Complete your day of Dutch adventure and choose to join the optional group dinner this evening in Amsterdam.
Day 13
AMSTERDAM - BRUGES - LONDON | Say farewell to Amsterdam as the tour continues. Today's first stop is in the medieval city of Bruges, in Belgium. Enjoy free time in the city; take a stroll along cobblestone streets, admire the historic buildings, stock up on Belgian chocolate or indulge in a Belgian waffle (or two). After Bruges, it's time to continue the last leg of the journey back to London. Cross the English Channel and arrive back in London towards the end of the day.
Day 14
LONDON | After two incredible weeks, the tour comes to an end this morning. Enjoy breakfast with the group at the hotel where you can say goodbye to your newly made travel friends. We hope to welcome you back on the road again soon!