18 Days Europe tour package

Transcription

1 18 Days Europe tour package FRANCE LUXEMBOURG GERMANY NETHERLANDS BELGIUM GERMANY CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA HUNGARY AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND Package included: 15 nights Accommodation in a comfortable three-star hotel, twin room with private facilities. Daily continental breakfast (for all other meals, we offer assistance with reservations and directions to local restaurants/cafés). The services of an experienced tour manager. Sightseeing and orientation tours included in the itinerary - expertly planned to maximise your time and to visit iconic and must-see sites in each city. Daily transportation on modern air-conditioned coaches. 18 days Travel insurance cover* *For all travelers under 70 years old, existing medical conditions not covered Package excluded: Optional activities, city taxes, single room supplement (AU 900) Tipping collected in Europe Euro 5 per person per day Departure: Every Thursday from Melbourne/Sydney/Adelaide/Brisbane/Perth Flight*: Emirates/Qatar airways/air China/China Southern airlines/malaysia airlines/singapore airlines/finnair/thai airways *subject to availability High Season Surcharge: $400 per person high season surcharge will apply on Australia public holidays/school holidays/long weekends, subject to availability Optional add-on: At a cost of AU 300 per person to stay behind to explore Europe more

2 Itinerary Day 1:Thursday Flight heading to tour start country - Paris Day 2: Friday PARIS Welcome to Europe! Our friendly staff will warmly greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Here you can rest up for the upcoming tour days ahead or you can explore the city at your own leisure. Free airport transfer between 7:00am to 10:00pm. Day 3: Saturday PARIS REIMS LUXEMBOURG The Red Line tour leaves from Paris for a delightful scenic journey through the rolling countryside of the Champagne region, famous the world over for the sparkling white wine produced here. Enjoy seeing the historic attractions of provincial capital Reims, including the city s cathedral a key national heritage site, where coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards. History and tradition are equally evident in your next location: Luxembourg, the world s only remaining Grand Duchy. After arriving in refined Luxembourg City, you ll be introduced on foot to the main places of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, before having time for further exploration on your own. (B) Day 4: Sunday LUXEMBOURG TRIER KOBLENZ FRANKFURT Today we leave Luxembourg behind and head across another European border into Germany. The first stop is historic Trier, Germany s oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx. You ll have the chance to see from the outside the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now functions as the Karl Marx Haus museum. Your walking tour then takes you into the centre of Trier; here you can look around the city s impressive cathedral, where the celebrated Holy Robe said to be the tunic of Christ is preserved and occasionally displayed. Trier is also known as The Second Rome (Constantine served as an administrator here for 10 years), and significant legacies of the once-great empire remain today. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, which you ll get to see and photograph. After an exciting morning in Trier, you ll drive on to Koblenz, famous as the location of the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Here you have the option of indulging in a relaxing lunch alongside the water, then afterwards you can also choose to add on a scenic Rhine boat cruise for some memorable city vistas. Back on dry land you ll drive through the wine-making town of Rüdesheim, and stop to see the bronze 19 th century Niederwald monument. Perched on a hill high above the town, this stop also offers a spectacular photo opportunity of the surrounding Rhine Valley. Then it s on to Frankfurt am Main, where you ll discover the delights of Römerberg, a charming plaza with a distinctive medieval town hall as its centrepiece. (B) Note: The Rhine boat cruise is only operational from 3rd April to 31st October. Day 5: Monday FRANKFURT PRAGUE After boarding the luxury coach in Frankfurt, relax and enjoy a scenic ride through the classic German countryside towards the Czech Republic. Prague is a beautiful city, boasting elaborate baroque, gothic, art nouveau and cubist architecture. You will arrive in the evening, ready to discover this charming capital city with its fairy-tale architecture, the following morning. (B) Day 6: Tuesday PRAGUE BRATISLAVA

3 Your Prague adventure begins with a spectacular walk along the Royal Route, following the traditional coronation path of the kings and queens of old Bohemia. You ll start from the top of Castle Hill in the Hradcany district, famous for its views over the redroofed old city, and then tour Prague Castle. The castle has been the historic seat of Bohemia royalty since the 9th century, as well as home to the nation s presidents in recent times. Your exploration then heads off around the imposing gothic St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace, and along Golden Lane, an ancient thoroughfare lined with some wonderful traditional buildings. Later you will stroll across the iconic Charles Bridge, which arches gracefully over the Vltava, and on through the winding alleys to the Old Town Square, where you can see the City Hall and one of Prague s most well-known sights, the Astronomical Clock. After lunch in the square, you ll make the scenic transfer from Prague to the Slovakian capital, Bratislava home to another glorious Old Town. Here you ll experience the rich history and grandeur of the heart of traditional Bratislava, taking a short walking tour around the Town Hall, St. Martin s Cathedral and the Slovak National Theatre. (B) Day 7: Wednesday BRATISLAVA BUDAPEST Wednesday sees you arrive in Hungary, the fourth country of the tour. Its capital, Budapest, is known as the Pearl of the Danube, and is essentially two different cities joined together: Buda on the west of the river, Pest on the east, each with its own distinct characteristics. One of the best ways of seeing this unique location is by taking a river cruise (see box below), which many people choose to do. After a morning of activity, you ll relax over lunch at Buda Palace, and then have a chance to look at the exhibitions in the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery, or do a spot of souvenir shopping. Next you ll explore both sides of the city on a cultural and historic tour. Highlights on the Buda side of the Danube include the towered terrace of Fisherman s Bastion, the medieval Matthias Church and a walk up to the summit of Gellért Hill for panoramic views. While over in Pest the sights include the expansive Heroes Square and Hungary's dramatic riverside Parliament Building. In the evening, you can choose to round off an eventful day with an optional dinner in the heart of Budapest, where you can sample traditional dishes such as goose liver, goulash, duck leg and local wine, accompanied by Hungarian folkdance and music. (B) Day 8: Thursday BUDAPEST VIENNA Moving on to another of Europe s grand capitals, Vienna, where you ll get to explore the Austrian city s brilliant palaces, eye catching churches and prestigious art museums. Discover the Schönbrunn Palace, the Rococo-style summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of Europe and the Church for many decades. Take a break and lunch in the refined site; you will then riding past many grand, famous buildings, they are the City Hall, the Austrian Parliament, Hofburg Palace and Heroes Square. Your journey will past the statue of one of Austria s most famous sons, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You will have leisure time for shopping before the visit of the key Vienna building Wiener Staatsoper (opera house). In the evening, dinner in the heart of the city or visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, following by taking a promenade in Stadtpark, is known for its range of sculptures, including the well-known gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss II. Today will be completed by optional Viennese waltz concert, which will allow you the unforgettable experience of hearing the music of Mozart and Strauss in the place where it was created. (B) Day 9: Friday VIENNA SALZBURG MUNICH Time to say good-bye to Vienna, start a new page in Salzburg. It s on the list of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is characterized by plentiful baroque buildings, and is one of the most picturesque places in Europe. Salzburg is also well-known for its musical heritage, being both the Mozart s birthplace, and also connected with hit musical The Sound of Music. You ll get the chance to see from the outside the house where Mozart was born, explore the city

4 further at your own time and also have lunch in Salzburg, before heading across the German border to Munich in the afternoon the next eye-catching trip is coming. (B) Day 10: Saturday MUNICH MT. TITLIS LUCERNE ZURICH You'll leave the big cities behind on Saturday morning and head for one of the world's most famous mountain ranges - the Swiss Alps. The first stop is Engelberg the stunning Swiss resort. From here you can pick to board a cable car that takes you to the summit of the impressive Mount Titlis. Reach the top of the year through snowcovered Mt. Titlis is by the world s first revolving cable car the Titlis Rotair, that delivers amazing views of the valleys, glaciers, lakes and forests below, and 360 vistas of the surrounding mountains. At the summit the sun terrace is the perfect place to capture and appreciate the breathtaking panoramas. You will explore the core of a glacier through the 150- metre ice cavern. March across Europe's highest suspension bridge for more phenomenal views from Mt. Titlis. Visit the lakeside after the hill top trip. Lucerne is a picturesque place of bridges and towers located in what many people believe to be the "true" Switzerland picture-postcard Mountains, lakes, cowbells, Alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss flowers. Here you will have time to ramble through the delighting streets, and watch the well-known Lion Monument, which Mark Twain was described as the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world. Enjoy the shopping time for Swiss watches and fine chocolates as you will be heading and stay in Zurich tonight. (B) Day 11: Sunday ZURICH RHEIN FALLS TITISEE FRANKFURT After breakfast, your adventure will be started in Zurich, a city with a reputation as a leading global financial centre. You will be stopped by the impressive Lake Zurich, the Europe s biggest waterfall-rhine Falls. Next you ll travel to Germany and the Black Forest, the ancient fir-covered mountain range which is famous for its creepy folklore and mythical tales. Take a break at one if the many lakeside cafes, enjoy the appetising Black Forest Cherry Gateaux. What is next? Souvenirs time! Cuckoo clocks are very famous in Titisee as its origin. Here is an ideal place to opt a few souvenirs from the local shops, as well as to watch a demonstration of how the remarkable mechanisms work. Tonight you will be staying overnight in Frankfurt. (B) Day 12: Monday FRANKFURT BONN COLOGNE AMSTERDAM Today begins with a stress free ride Frankfurt to Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany until reunification. Discover Bonn by marching through streets, the highlights such as the Rococo-fronted town hall and Ludwig Van Beethoven Haus, a museum celebrating the life of the much-loved composer. Next it s on to Cologne, where you ll visit the city s glorious Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the afternoon is to explore Cologne on own leisure, do local shopping or just relax with a fairish refreshing German brew. Your trip will then heading to Amsterdam after the lunch break. (B) Day 13: Tuesday AMSTERDAM ZAANSE SCHANS AMSTERDAM In the Dutch countryside, you will be surrounded by all Netherlands traditional famous, they are cheese, clogs and windmills. Call in at the hugely popular model town of Zaanse Schans* (see box below). Next, you ll head to the cosmopolitan city. After visiting diamond factory to watch the singular cutting skills that have been practised here since the 16th century, you can take an optional canal cruise, which is a great way to discover more about this unique European city. After disembarking you ll walk to Dam Square - one of the city s grandest areas, where the Royal Palace is located and the Queen s birthday celebrations take place. Capture as many as pictures you want at your free time in the evening, enjoy shopping or further sightseeing, and then round the day off with dinner. (B) *The tour visits Keukenhof Garden during mid-march to mid-may, the world s second largest flower garden which covers an area of 32 hectare with beautifully coloured and scented displays of spring flowers - The Keukenhof features a variety of different gardens and garden styles. This replaces the visit to Zaanse Schans.

5 Day 14: Wednesday AMSTERDAM BRUSSELS PARIS After breakfast, tour departing Amsterdam. The coach will ride toward south across the border into Brussels, the Belgian capital and political centre of the European Union. You ll visit the most popular touristic attraction and the symbol of Europe s Capital. A cell-shaped structure of stainless steel spheres and tubes built for the 1958 World s Fair. The admirable Grand Place or Grote Markt is the centre square of Brussels, surrounded by opulent guildhalls, the city hall and the Maison du Roi. You will not miss seeing the famous implike Manneken Pis statue. Try the mouth-watering Belgian delights during the break before crossing the border into Paris. (B) Day 15: Thursday PARIS VERSAILLES PARIS The Paris trip starts with a ride along the famous Champs Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, which played such a key part in the French Revolution. Then visit the iconic Arc de Triomphe, following by visiting Les Invalides, where Napoleon s tomb is located. Then it s on to the most legendary of all Paris s icons: the Eiffel Tower. Choose to make the optional ascent of the tower for unbeatable views over the city, and a truly memorable experience. Enjoy a leisurely cruise along the river Seine to get a great sightseeing option that offers views including Notre-Dame Cathedral and Pont Alexandre III. Lastly, the trip will head to splendid Palace of Versailles through the Parisian suburbs, the vast regal château that was the residence of the royal family until the start of the revolution in Today, it is a wealthy suburb of Paris. In the evening, you can enjoy one of our optional Paris evening shows. (B) Day 16: Friday PARIS The second day of your Parisian experience, Louvre - one of the world s greatest art museums and a historic monument. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II. You will be stopped by all of the famous masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace), and Leonardo da Vinci s Mona Lisa. To enhance your experience and allow you to browse through hundreds of works in just a few hours by opt for a guided gallery tour. After an exciting morning of surrounding by art, let s have a lunch break in the museum to replenish your energy levels before heading to the Paris s opera house- Palais Garnier. This afternoon will be free; you can explore more in local or shop at illustrious department stores Galeries Lafayette. Enjoy your Parisian night in Paris(B). Day 17:Saturday PARIS (B) After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home. Day 18: Sunday Arrive home with full of joyful memories of tour

6 OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES PRICE LIST FRANCE BELGIUM NETHERLANDS - GERMANY Palace of Versailles 15 Le Louvre Museum 12 Eiffel Tower 2nd Floor 9 Eiffel Tower top Floor 15 River Seine Cruise River Rhine Cruise (Koblenz, Operational from 3rd April to 31 Oct only) 15 Amsterdam Canal Cruise 15 Tour Montparnasse (Paris) Keukenhof Garden (from mid March to mid May info: 16 Paris Lido Show 140 Paris Moulin Rouge Show 140 Amsterdam Red Light District + Live Show 50 Paris by Night 35 Volendam Traditional Dutch Village 10 French multi-course dinner 65 Traditional pork knuckle menu with beer (Koblenz) 20 CZECH REPUBLIC VIENNA HUNGARY - AUSTRIA Budapest Danube River Cruise 15 Schönbrunn Palace Fisherman s Bastion 2.50 Matthias Church 3.50 Golden Lane (entrance to Palace, Cathedral and Golden Lane) 13 Viennese Waltz Concert + Transfer 50 (starting from) Mount Titlis Cable Car 80 Hungary Folklore Show + Dinner 50 Capital of Liechtenstein Vaduz 10 Pork Knuckle Menu with Beer 20 Wiener Ribs Menu 20 CZECH REPUBLIC & VIENNA CITY TAXES (TOTAL PRICE 10) MUST BE PAID PRIOR TO ENTERING THE CITIES: Czech Republic City entrance tax 5 Vienna City entrance tax 5

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