European Jewel Tour

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Paris | Brussels | Amsterdam | Frankfurt | Zurich| Lucerne |
Milan | Venice| Florence | Rome | Vatican City 

ITINERARY

Day 01 – PRAGUE

TODAY¥S HIGHLIGHTS: Transfer. Evening Transfer to Old Town Square. Welcome to Prague! Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.In the late afternoon, we will make our way to the Old Town Square. This central location provides a great introduction to Prague, full of energy and touristic activities. You can take your dinner at one of the restaurants offering international cuisines, including Czech, Chinese, Indian and Italian. Return to hotel..

Day 02 – PRAGUE

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Prague. Visit to Castle. Boat tour along the river. Today we will visit the capital, Prague, the Baroque jewel of Europe. Our local expert will provide an informative city tour, which will include outstanding monuments. During the visit we walk through Prague Castle (admission included). Subsequently, we shall take a boat tour on the Vltava River. In the afternoon enjoy some free time to explore the city. In the evening, we will enjoy more time in the historic city center and there will be an opportunity for you to take dinner. Return to hotel

Day 03 – PRAGUE – PILSEN – ROTHENBURG – FRANKFURT

TODAY¥S HIGHLIGHTS: Romantic trip through Germany.We will have an early departure from Prague and stop in PILSEN, in the region of West Bohemia, a city renowned for its beer. Time for a walk through its historic center where we find the Great Square, the cathedral, the Plague Column and a Renaissance-era town hall. We will then cross into Germany where we will follow a section of the so-called “Romantic Route”. Next, we will visit ROTHEMBURG, a town that seems to come straight out of a fairy tale, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in the country. Afterwards, we will head to FRANKFURT. Arrival in the financial capital of Germany in late-afternoon. Free time in the historic city center where there is a wide variety of restaurants to choose from (from Indian cuisine to Oriental, Italian, international and so on).

Day 04 – FRANKFURT – CRUISE ON THE RIVER RHINE – COLOGNE – AMSTERDAM

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Rhine cruise included. Today we will take a small Cruise on the Rhine, between the villages of RUDESHEIM and ST. GOAR, undoubtedly the riverís most picturesque section. After this we will travel to COLOGNE, a city which stands out for its immense gothic cathedral. Then on to the Netherlands. Arriving to AMSTERDAM in the late afternoon.

Day 05 – AMSTERDAM

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Picturesque typical village of Volendam. Boat on the Ijsselmeer lake. City tour of Amsterdam. Today we have a very exciting day in the Netherlands. We will go to Zaanse Schans with its mills, canals and its typical houses. Next VOLENDAM, a very picturesque fishing village. A short boat trip from Volendam, will take us to MARKEN (an island that was joined to the mainland by a fixed dike), where the houses there are built on stilts. After this, we travel to AMSTERDAM where we will enjoy a panoramic visit of the city to see its narrow canals, its official buildings and parks. We will also see the technique of diamond cutting. A large part of the visit will be done on foot, the information will be given through headphones. Time for dinner in Rembrandtplein, an area with many restaurants from all corners of the world and near the red-light district with its liberal values. Return to the hotel

Day 06 – AMSTERDAM – BRUSSELS – BRUGES – PARIS

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Belgium. Today we will leave for BRUSSELS, taking time in the Grand Place and making a stop to photograph the Atomium. Continuing to BRUGES, the marvelous Flemish city known as the Venice of the North. Time for lunch. Our journey will take us to France. Arriving in PARIS at the end of the day.

Day 07 – PARIS

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Transfer to Versailles Palace. Funicular ride included to Montmartre district. City tour in Paris. Early in the morning, we will leave for Versailles, the immense palace of the kings of France. After that, we will return to Paris at lunch time where we provide a transfer to the Montmartre dis trict. We will ascend by funicular to the hill and admire the spectacular view of Paris from the top. Thisneighborhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cab aretsÖ Sit down for lunch and enjoy a magical atmosphere. Then, a scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and thebreathtaking monuments of Paris will take place. Return to hotel.

Day 08 – PARIS

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Eiffel Tower and boat cruise in the City of Lights. We go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to go up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then, we enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose.

Day 09 – PARIS – SEMUR EN AUXOIS – BEAUNE – LYON

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Vineyards in Beaune and Bourgogne region. Funicular ride in Lyon.Today we travel to the center of France, to the Bourgogne region, famous for its wines. Making a stop in SEMUR EN AUXOIS, a small medieval town listed surrounded by impressive walls. After this we will visit BEAUNE, located in the center of the Bourgogne region, with its streets full of flowers, hospice and wine museum all points of interest. Time for lunch. Continuing on, we will arrive to LYON in the mid-afternoon, the capital of Roman Gallia on the banks of the RhÙne (its historic center has been declared a World Heritage site). We include a funicular climb to Notre Dame de FourviËre where we have a great view of the city. Enjoy some leisure time to walk around.Note: Sometimes, due to events or congresses, accommodation may be provided in a city near Lyon (normally Chambery).

Day 10 – LYON – GENEVA – ZURICH

TODAY¥S HIGHLIGHTS: Scenic tour around the lakes and vineyards of Switzerland. A beautiful stage awaits us as we set off for Switzerland. Arrival in GENEVA. The guide will take us to the Palais des Nations (the European headquarters of the United Nations), the beautiful ìJardin Anglais” (with its quaint flower clock), and the “Jet d´Eau”, the tallest fountain in Europe.After lunch, we will continue travelling through Switzerland by the beautiful Leman, Neuchatel and Biel lakes. We will drive the scenic road alongside the three large lakes, with their magnificent vineyards overlooking the mountains. We will stop in NEUCHATEL, where you can enjoy a walk by the lake, the historic town center or visit its beautiful, 10th century castle. We will then head to ZURICH. Arrival in the late afternoon.Note: depending on the number of passengers travelling from Geneva to Z¸rich, this part of the trip might be done by train – in which case, there will be no stop in Neuchatel.

Day 11 – ZURICH

TODAYíS HIGHLIGHTS: Boat trip across Zurich lake. Journey by train. We start the day with a stroll in the most populated city of Switzerland, Zurich, the financial and cultural capital of the country. Zurich has twice been declared the city with the best quality of life in the world. After this we will board a boat for a trip on Zurich lake, this will last about two hours. The boat makes brief stops, allowing us to admire the villages along the way. We get off in RAPPERSWIL, a small and highly picturesque village overlooked by its medieval castle. We return to Zurich by train and will see the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss Railways. Enjoy an evening in the historic center next to the lake, here you can dine at one of the many restaurants offering a wide range of different cuisines.

Day 12 – ZURICH – LUCERNE – ZURICH

TODAY¥S HIGHLIGHTS: Admire the fantastic landscapes. Cable car included to Grindelwald. Lunch included. Today¥s journey has beautiful landscapes with high mountains and lakes. Breathtaking scenery in the region of Interlaken. We will stop in GRINDELWALD where we will have time for a coffee before taking the cable car up to mountain. We will walk along the winding path which will lead us to the “footbridge over the empty”. Dare to walk along the bridge amongst the fantastic scenery enjoying glaciers all around us. We will take lunch up the mountain (included) before heading back down. We continue to LUCERNE, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. In the evening we have time to stroll around, enjoying the city and taking dinner before we return to the hotel in Zurich.

Day 13 – ZURICH

After breakfast, end of our services