desired europe
16 Days 15 Nights for as lows as $ 1,920
Countries: Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy
Tour Code: EUR-16D15NPRG-FCO
itinerary
day 01
Prague
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
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
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.
day 04
FRANKFURT - CRUISE ON THE RHINE - COLOGNE - AMSTERDAM
Rhine cruise included. Today we will take a small Cruise on the Rhine, between the villages of RUDESHEIM and ST. GOAR, undoubtedly the river’s 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 - ZAANSE SCHANS - VOLENDAM- MARKEN- AMSTERDAM
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 redlight district with its liberal values. Go to the hotel.
day 06
AMSTERDAM- BRUSSELS- BRUGES- PARIS
Feeling 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 marvellous 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
City tour in Paris. Climb to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Boat ride along the Seine. Evening transfer. Today we take a guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris. We end the visit at the Eiffel Tower. You will have the opportunity to climb up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket admission included). End your visit with a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure to explore and relax! At sunset enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter, a very picturesque historic area where a wide variety of international cuisines await you. We will then return to hotel. Note: Sometimes queues to climb the Eiffel Tower are long. For organizational reasons, if deemed appropriate, the climb can be made at a different time of the day (or Monday).
day 08
paris
Time at leisure. We will start the day by going to the centre of Paris, to the area of the Louvre Museum. Enjoy some leisure time to explore. If you wish, we can accompany you to Benlux, one of the most complete and best-known perfumeries in Paris. Note: For those who are interested, an optional excursion to Disneyland Paris is available.
day 09
PARIS - SEMUR - BEAUNE- LYON
Vineyards in Beaune and Bourgogne region. Funicular climb in Lyon. Today we travel to the centre 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 centre 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 Rhône (its historic centre has been declared a World Heritage site). We include a funicular climb to Notre Dame de Fourviere where we have a great view of the city. Enjoy some leisure time to walk around. Note: Sometimes, for events or
congresses, accommodation may be provided in a city near Lyon (normally Chambery).
day 10
LYON - GENEVA - ZURICH
Swiss Landscapes. Centre of Geneva Next, we have a beautiful stage of our journey as we travel to Switzerland. In GENEVA, with our guide, we will go to the Palais des Nations (the United Nations headquarters in Europe) and then to the beautiful Jardin Anglais (English Garden) with its famous flower clock. You can also admire the Jet d’Eau, the tallest fountain in Europe. After lunch, we will continue through Switzerland passing the beautiful Leman Lake (Lake Geneva) and Neuchatel Lake. We will arrive to ZURICH in the late afternoon. Note: Depending on the number of travellers from Geneva to Zürich, this trip might be done by train.
day 11
ZURICH - RAPPERSWIL - ZURICH
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 centre next to the lake, here you can dine at one of the many restaurants offering a wide range of different cuisines.
day 12
ZURICH - GRINDELWALD- LUCERNE - ZURICH
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 - BURGLEN- MORCOTE - COMO - MILAN
We will know the town of William Tell. Picturesque villages as Morcote. Shores of Como. In the morning we will travel to BURGLEN, the tiny village where William Tell was born, we will visit the chapel of the XVI century with paintings illustrating his life. Afterwards continue to the enchanting little town of MORCOTE, with its houses made of stone and covered with flowers. Next, we enter Italy and make a stop in Como, on the shores of a lake. The city highlights a Gothic Cathedral. On to MILAN, where our guide will take you to the impressive Duomo Square. Time for dinner at one of the restaurants offering a wide range of international cuisines. After dinner, transfer back to the hotel.
day 14
MILAN - PISA- ROME
Coast of Liguria, Leaning Tower of Pisa. Today we continue our journey towards PISA. On a little tourist train, we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire one of the most alluring and beautiful art complexes in Italy, including the well-known Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then, we continue to Rome, arriving at the end of the afternoon.
day 15
rome
City tour of Rome. Roman Coliseum and Vatican City. Evening transfer. In the morning, we will have a tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. We enter the tiny state of the Vatican. The Vatican City is a principal centre of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We will also enter the Roman Coliseum (admission price included), the principal symbol of Rome. This impressive construction dates back 2,000 years and will transport us in time so that we can learn about ancient society in the Roman Empire. In the evening we will transfer you to the Via Cavour area, where you will find many international restaurants to enjoy your dinner at. After dinner return to the hotel.
day 16
rome
After breakfast, end of our services.
