Europe 2018

Tour Group

Our tour group in Rome. Tour Guide, Jacqui Stark is shown in the top, left inset. Click on the photo to see it full scale.

Map of our trip

Mouse over the map of Scotland to zoom on our route. We started in Edinburgh, which is in the lower right corner of the map, and follow our route counterclockwise. Different colored highlighter indicates different days during the trip.

Our Photos

Our Itinerary

DAY 1 ARRIVE LONDON (2 NIGHTS) The bright lights of London are your launchpad to a grand adventure through Europe. Broaden your horizons and explore the culture and heritage of the British capital or spend your day relaxing after your journey.

DAY 2 LONDON SIGHTSEEING Join a Local Specialist this morning to see the iconic sights of London. From Big Ben and the imposing Houses of Parliament that stand alongside the Thames, to regal Buckingham Palace at the end of the grand Mall. Spend the rest of your day exploring London's bustling city streets, relax in one of the beautiful Royal Parks or visit one of the fascinating museums and galleries for which the city is so famous.

DAY 3 LONDON – BRUGES Meet your Travel Director before departing London for mainland Europe. Leave the White Cliffs of Dover behind for the golden fields of France and Belgium, traveling to the medieval town of Bruges. Its cobblestone streets and picturesque canals lined with quaint centuries-old gabled houses are yours to explore before joining your Travel Director and new travel companions for a memorable Welcome Reception including dinner and drinks in beautiful surrounds.

DAY 4 BRUGES – AMSTERDAM Meandering through the Dutch countryside we arrive in the magical capital of Amsterdam with its fascinating maritime history, tree-lined canals and the incessant tring-tring of a million bicycles rattling against its cobbled roads. See the city's iconic sights, gliding through its bustling canals the way residents have for centuries and visit a renowned diamond factory for a Cultural Insight.

DAY 5 AMSTERDAM – RHINE CRUISE – HEIDELBERG – RHINELAND Leaving Dutch gezelligheid behind, we travel to Germany, arriving at Boppard where we board a Rhine cruise past fairy-tale castles, the site of the legendary Lorelei siren who was said to have lured fishermen to their destruction. Admire the magnificent ruined sandstone castle in Heidelberg overlooking the Neckar River en route to your Rhineland hotel where you'll dine this evening.

DAY 6 RHINELAND – BLACK FOREST – RHINE FALLS – LUCERNE (2 NIGHTS) Journey through the romantic Black Forest landscape – tales of the Brothers Grimm your constant companion as you meander through south-west Germany to the Swiss border. See the mighty Rhine gushing dramatically near the town of Schaffhausen before arriving in the charming medieval city of Lucerne, your home for the next two nights.

DAY 7 LUCERNE ORIENTATION See Lucerne's magnificent Lion Monument. The mournful mortally wounded lion hewn from sandstone provides a poignant reminder of the brave Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Venture to the flower-lined 14th century wooden Chapel Bridge, explore the city's charming painted façades or consider joining an exhilarating mountain and cruise Optional Experience. This evening we enjoy dinner at our hotel.

DAY 8 LUCERNE – LIECHTENSTEIN – INNSBRUCK Our love affair with the Rhine continues today as we travel to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein and see the capital, Vaduz, before crossing into Austria. We follow the scenic Arlberg Pass through the Tyrol to Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps where we will see the ornate Golden Roof during your orientation tour.

DAY 9 INNSBRUCK – SALZBURG – VIENNA (2 NIGHTS) Nestled within a ring of five hills, Salzburg's extraordinary natural beauty has inspired musical greats and epic films. Join a Local Specialist on guided walking tour of the city that gave birth to Mozart, featuring locations that music and movie lovers will remember from the famous film, The Sound of Music. This evening we arrive in the beautiful Baroque city of Vienna, our home for the next two nights.

DAY 10 VIENNA SIGHTSEEING Join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour of one of Europe's most elegant capitals. View the State Opera House, the City Hall, Parliament, the Imperial Boulevards and the Hofburg, the former imperial palace for the Habsburg dynasty. Spend the evening soaking up the melodic charm of what has become the world's music capital, celebrating the talents of old masters and modern icons at open-air concerts, palaces and expansive stages.

DAY 11 VIENNA – VENICE (2 NIGHTS) Driving through the scenic Austrian Lake District, we cross the Italian border and meander through the Veneto Plains to the Byzantine city of Venice where we'll spend the next two nights.

DAY 12 VENICE ORIENTATION Navigate the bustling waterways by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square where we tread in the footsteps of Casanova and Marco Polo and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Queen of the Adriatic. See the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, before traveling to Giudecca Island to enjoy a Cultural Insight into the centuries-old Venetian tradition of glassmaking. This afternoon is yours to get lost in Venice. Explore the labyrinthine calle in search of the best Campari Spritz in town, watch the sun set over the Grand Canal or consider a cruise to the charming Island of Burano for a delicious meal.

DAY 13 VENICE – ASSISI Journey south to the mystical town of Assisi, where the famed St. Francis was born and is laid to rest. Here you'll wander through the quaint streets in the company of a Local Specialist and have an opportunity to see this saint's Basilica and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. This evening we dine in our hotel.

DAY 14 ASSISI – POMPEII – SORRENTO Pass by the site of the bloody World War II battle of Monte Cassino en route to the Bay of Naples and the lost city of Pompeii where you'll join a Local Specialist who will share the story of this remarkable ancient Roman settlement that was buried in ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. We meander to the coast and the beautiful seaside resort of Sorrento where we will stay the night and dine in our hotel.

DAY 15 SORRENTO – ISLE OF CAPRI – ROME (2 NIGHTS) Cross the enchanting blue water of the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri and ascend to Capri Town by funiculare where you will join a Local Specialist for a guided walking tour of the town's charming streets. Spend some time at leisure soaking up la dolce vita in the piazza watching the beautiful people before sailing back to the mainland. This evening we arrive in Rome, the Eternal City where we will spend the next two nights.

DAY 16 ROME – VATICAN EXPERIENCE Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the sights and sounds of Rome. Sip a cappuccino on Piazza Navona, sit on the Spanish Steps, enjoy a tasty gelato or toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain to secure your speedy return to Rome. This afternoon, gain priority access via a dedicated VIP line to the Vatican Museums where a Local Specialist will take you on a guided tour. Admire Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel when it is less crowded and enjoy the opportunity to discover the array of fascinating artifacts at the Museo Gregoriano Profano, founded in the Lateran Apostolic Palace at the behest of Gregory XVI Cappellari in 1844. Enjoy an exclusive after hour's al fresco dining under Vatican summer skies boasting spectacular views of St Peter's - a treat for the senses. Should there be adverse weather; a contingency is provided in a newly-created dining space within the Cortile della Pigna.

DAY 17 ROME – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING Journey north to Florence where you'll join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour to the Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of this once free republic that became a recognised center for art, architecture and culture. See the beautiful marble Duomo and Baptistery with its famous bronze doors, and the picturesque Ponte Vecchio which straddles the Arno. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure admiring the work of great masters in the Uffizi Gallery, meandering up the stone steps to Piazzale Michelangelo for iconic views of the city skyline, or relaxing in the picturesque Boboli Gardens.

DAY 18 FLORENCE – PISA – MONACO – NICE (2 NIGHTS) We drive to the city of Pisa and its Square of Miracles to see the famous Leaning Tower which bears this city's name. From Italy to the sun-soaked landscapes of the French Riviera, we stop in the sophisticated Principality of Monaco before continuing to Nice, our home for the next two nights. Enjoy an orientation drive along the scenic Promenade Anglais which for centuries has attracted sun-worshipping aristocrats to its shores and see Place Massena before spending the evening at leisure.

DAY 19 NICE – ST. PAUL DE VENCE EXCURSION Rub shoulders with artists and actors in the medieval hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence, before the heady scents of French perfume fill the air at the Fragonard Perfumery. Learn how they create delicate fragrances before returning to Nice to indulge in the laidback seaside atmosphere. Wander along the scenic promenade and embrace café culture on the tranquil shores of the Mediterranean, meander through the chic city streets shopping at Nice's fashionable boutiques or relax on the beach watching the sun set over the tranquil shores of the Riviera.

DAY 20 NICE – AVIGNON – BEAUNE We travel north to the papal city of Avignon, once the center of Christianity during the Middle Ages and an important pilgrimage site to this day. We stop for views of the magnificent Papal Palace and famous Pont d'Avignon before arriving in the capital of the Burgundy wine-producing region, Beaune. Explore the ancient walls and old town, see its characteristic geometrically colored tiled roofs and join an unforgettable Be My Guest dinner toasting to the joie de vivre of this region with a delicious local vintage. Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Be My Guest Dining

DAY 21 BEAUNE – PARIS (2 NIGHTS) From the romantic vineyards of Burgundy, we travel north to Paris for the next two nights. The City of Lights shines brightly as you explore its grand boulevards and charming arrondissement, ambling along the meandering Seine, relaxing at a cozy bistro sampling delicious French cuisine or embracing the pageantry of a traditional Parisian cabaret.

DAY 22 PARIS SIGHTSEEING Join a Local Specialist soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the world's most romantic cities. See the magnificent Champs Élysées, Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe, where we remember the brave souls who have fought for France. Marvel at the iconic skyline from the second level of the Eiffel Tower – the white dome of Notre Dame and glass pyramid of the Louvre gleam in the distance. This afternoon is yours to explore the city before celebrating an unforgettable experience at a Farewell Dinner with wine in a local restaurant. Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

DAY 23 EXTRA DAY We took and extra day to tour Paris and decompress from the bus tour before returning to the United States.

DAY 24 DEPART PARIS Farewell Europe, we went home.