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| A warm welcome from our Tour Director as we enjoy a scenic drive through Kent to Dover. Here we view the White Cliffs before boarding our ferry for the short Channel crossing to Calais in France. From here we travel first into Belgium and Flanders fields and then into Holland renowned for windmills. We arrive in Amsterdam where we will enjoy a visit to a diamond factory before going to our hotel. Tonight, why not try out some of the culinary specialities of this friendly city – perhaps later, explore the Red Light district! |
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| We drive via Arnhem to Germany on our approach to Cologne with its magnificent gothic Cathedral. Time for a spot of lunch before following the banks of the Rhine to the village of Boppard where we embark for our scenic Rhine Cruise past clinging vineyards and towering castles. Finally we (Buffet Breakfast/ arrive in our Rhineland hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (D) |
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| Today we drive on to fun-loving Munich in Bavaria to see the Olympic Stadium, Glockenspiel and Hofbrauhaus. We continue along the Inn valley and into the Austrian Tyrol where we arrive in the picturesque town of Innsbruck. (B,D) |
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| Morning orientation of this Hapsburg city shows us the Golden Roof and Hofburg Palace. Time to shop in the arcaded streets for crystal souvenirs before heading off for the Brenner Pass and an exhilarating drive through the Alps to Italy. The splendid scenery continues as we drive through the Dolomites to the romantic city of Venice, where on our included canal cruise to St. Mark's Square, new delights abound at each and every turn. We see St. Mark's Basiilca, the Doges Palace and visit a traditional glass-blowing workshop (Buffet Breakfast/ before free time to perhaps take a gondola serenade! (D) |
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| This morning we drive along the Veneto plain via Bologna over the Apennine Mountains before arriving in Tuscany. Then through Umbria and Lazio to the cradle of the Roman civilisation – the Eternal City that is Rome. (B) |
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After breakfast there's a whole day for in-depth exploration. Our sightseeing tour features
St. Peter's Basilica and views of the Forum and the mighty Colosseum. There's free time later to marvel at the tapestries in the Vatican Museum and perhaps take a trip to Tivoli Gardens to see the incredible fountains. ( B) |
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| We leave Rome to drive through Tufa hills and then into 'Chiantishire' with its fields of tobacco, sunflowers and abundant vineyards. Soon we arrive in the Renaissance city of Florence where after a visit to Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy spectacular views of the city, you have time on your own to visit Piazza Signoria, the Duomo and Giotto's Bell-Tower. Time to shop for beautiful leather goods and 18 carat gold jewellery or to perhaps visit one of the city's many art galleries and museums before going to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.(B,D) |
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| Today we take the Highway of the Sun and traverse the Apennines to head north to Lombardy and Milan. Then through the Italian Lake District, seeing lake Como, we cross into Switzerland to the lake of Lugano, where we stop to visit the pretty lakeside resort. Finally through the Gotthard (Buffet range we drive along the shores of glassy Lake Lucerne to our hotel. (B,D) |
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| Orientation of this medieval town on the banks of the River Reuss and the lake shows us the Chapel Bridge and poignant Lion Monument. Then you have time to perhaps ascend a nearby mountain peak and later this afternoon perhaps shop for delicious chocolates and precision-made timepieces.(B,D) |
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| After breakfast we travel through Basel to France where we skirt the Vosges mountains on our way into the wine region of Burgundy. We pass charming French villages and castles and acres of vineyards as we travel to the (Buffet French capital – the elegant and exciting city of Paris! (B) |
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| Views of the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and more all feature on our morning sightseeing tour. Then time is your own to stroll along the banks of the Seine, admire the works of the great masters in the Louvre or perhaps visit Montmartre and the Sacré Coeur. Tonight why not sample this city's legendary nightlife? (B) |
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| We travel across the battlefields of the Somme to the port of Calais where we board our ferry to cross the Channel. Soon we are back in London. (B) |
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