Europe's Heartland 2027 - 25 Days (from Paris to Amsterdam)

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Paris

   Paris Show on map

   

2. Day 2

   Les Andelys

   Les Andelys Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Cruise to Les Andelys on the Seine

   Optional Activities

   • Hike to Château Gaillard with 'Richard the Lionheart' (Medieval-themed walking tour with guide in traditional attire)
   • Tour of Les Andelys with Château Gaillard
   • Cider farm visit to see production and taste Normandy cider
   • Renaissance-era Château Gaillon exploration

   Landmarks
   Château Gaillard
   Château Gaillon

   

3. Day 3

   Rouen

   Rouen Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Expert lecture on WWI - 'A day in the life of a Tommy' (interactive evening experience including trying on equipment and weapons, tasting soldier rations)

   Optional Activities

   • Rouen city tour (visiting cathedral district, old marketplace, Saint-Maclou Quarter, Joan of Arc sites with free time after)
   • Guided tour of Rouen with Rollo the Viking (authentically dressed guide covering Medieval past and Viking heritage with free time after)
   • In the footsteps of Joan of Arc (walking tour from St. Ouen Church to Old Market Square)

   Landmarks
   Rouen Cathedral
   Old Market Square (Place du Vieux Marché)
   Saint-Maclou Quarter
   St. Ouen Church

   

4. Day 4

   Rouen

   Rouen Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Dessert buffet on board (artisanal French pastries and cakes with fine coffee or dessert wine)

   Optional Activities

   • Excursion to the Somme Battlefields including Newfoundland Memorial Park (visiting Australian National Memorial/Sir John Monash Centre, Franco-Australian Museum, Lochnagar Crater)
   • Excursion to the Somme Battlefields Including Thiepval (visiting Australian National Memorial/Sir John Monash Centre, Franco-Australian Museum, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Thiepval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater)
   • Claude Monet and the colours of Rouen (walking tour covering Medieval streets, Rouen Cathedral, Musée des Beaux-Arts)

   Landmarks
   Rouen Cathedral
   Musée des Beaux-Arts (Rouen)
   Sir John Monash Centre
   Franco-Australian Museum
   Lochnagar Crater
   Newfoundland Memorial Park
   Thiepval Memorial
   Caterpillar Valley Cemetery

5. Day 5

   Honfleur

   Honfleur Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Guided walking tour of Honfleur (Inner Harbour, Church of Sainte-Catherine, Garden of Personalities)
   • French cheesemaking presentation and cheese tasting (featuring Camembert de Normandie, Pont-l'Évêque, Neufchâtel)
   • Expert lecture on Operation Fortitude and D-Day campaign in World War II

   Landmarks
   Church of Sainte-Catherine
   Garden of Personalities (Jardin des Personnalités)

   

6. Day 6

   Honfleur

   Honfleur Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including Omaha Beach (US history focused) - visiting Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy American Cemetery, Omaha Beach Memorial with lunch at local restaurant
   • Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including British Normandy Memorial (UK history focused) - visiting Bayeux, Bayeux War Cemetery, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Landing Museum at Arromanches, British Normandy Memorial, Pegasus Bridge & Museum, Ranville War Cemetery with lunch at local restaurant
   • Excursion to the Normandy Beaches including Juno Beach Centre (Canadian history focused) - visiting Abbey d'Ardenne, Juno Beach Centre, Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge & Museum with lunch at local restaurant
   • Bayeux tour (guided tour of Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux with free time after)

   Landmarks
   Utah Beach
   Omaha Beach
   Sainte-Mère-Église
   Normandy American Cemetery
   Bayeux War Cemetery
   Museum of the Battle of Normandy
   Landing Museum at Arromanches
   British Normandy Memorial
   Pegasus Bridge & Museum
   Ranville War Cemetery
   Abbey d'Ardenne
   Juno Beach Centre
   Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery
   Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux

7. Day 7

   Honfleur - Caudebec-en-Caux

   Honfleur - Caudebec-en-Caux Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Cruise to Caudebec-en-Caux

   Optional Activities

   • Cycle to Villequier with Victor Hugo Museum (e-bike tour along River Seine, approximately 8 kilometres each way, visiting Victor Hugo Museum)
   • Fécamp and Bénédictine Palace (coach transfer to historic seaside town, guided tour of 19th-century palace, Bénédictine liquor tasting)
   • Tales of the French Resistance (walking tour and stories of French Resistance during Nazi occupation)
   • Normandy Abbey Road (walking tour exploring grand abbeys on the banks of the River Seine, spiritual and Medieval history)

   Landmarks
   Notre Dame Caudebec-en-Caux
   Victor Hugo Museum (Villequier)
   Bénédictine Palace (Fécamp)

8. Day 8

   Vernon - La Roche-Guyon

   Vernon - La Roche-Guyon Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Scenic Enrich: Classical concert at Château de La Roche-Guyon (featuring French composers, with drinks reception, walk through manicured orchard and gardens)

   Optional Activities

   • Monet's House and Garden tour (guided tour of Giverny, Claude Monet's home and Japanese-inspired water garden with free time after)
   • Self-guided cycle from Vernon to Giverny (approximately 5 kilometres each way with option to visit Monet's House and Garden or explore town)
   • On-board painting class

   Landmarks
   Monet's House and Garden (Giverny)
   Château de La Roche-Guyon

9. Day 9

   Conflans - Paris

   Conflans - Paris Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Cruise from Conflans to Paris

   Optional Activities

   • Visit to Auvers-Sur-Oise (village where Vincent Van Gogh painted final masterpieces, entry to Van Gogh's room/attic with free time after)
   • Château de Chantilly (guided tour of castle, fine art collections, gardens with free time after)
   • Active walk with Musée de la Batellerie (inland water transport museum tour and walking tour of Conflans)
   • Château de Malmaison (historic estate, former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais, neoclassical architecture and gardens)

   Landmarks
   Auvers-Sur-Oise
   Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Auvers)
   Van Gogh's Room (Auvers)
   Château de Chantilly
   Musée de la Batellerie
   Château de Malmaison

10. Day 10

    Paris

    Paris Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Trendy Marais with a local Parisian (guided walking tour of diverse district covering culture, history, architecture, arts and fashion)
    • Highlights of Paris city tour (coach tour featuring Eiffel Tower, Champs Élysée, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, Notre Dame Cathedral)
    • Opéra Garnier (guided tour of ornately decorated opera house commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III)
    • Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (coach tour approximately 1 hour drive from Paris, featuring formal gardens and symmetrical layout that inspired Versailles)

    Landmarks
    Eiffel Tower
    Notre Dame Cathedral
    Champs Élysée
    Arc de Triomphe
    Concorde Square
    Marais District
    Opéra Garnier
    Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
    Montmartre
    Moulin Rouge

11. Day 11

    Paris to Zurich

    Paris to Zurich Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Welcome reception aboard Scenic Space-Ship in Zurich
12. Day 12

    Breisach

    Breisach Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Guided tour of Colmar (walking tour of Alsace cultural centre showing French and German architecture and lifestyle, including tasting of famed Kugelhopf cake at local bistro)
    • Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting (walking tour of Medieval town on edge of Black Forest, sampling local Black Forest Cake)
    • Kaiserstuhl winery visit and wine tasting (volcanic soil produces excellent grapes and wines)

    Landmarks
    Colmar
    Freiburg
    Kaiserstuhl

    

13. Day 13

    Strasbourg

    Strasbourg Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Alsace Wine Route with Tasting (exploring wine-growing area, visiting famous wine village, tasting at local wine cellar, exploring Obernai)
    • Cycling through Strasbourg (e-bike tour covering over 500km of bicycle trails through suburbs, historic buildings, parklands and canals)
    • Walking tour of Strasbourg (guided tour of cathedral, Petit France, Grand Ile, exploring French and German cultural influences)

    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    Petit France
    Grand Ile
    Obernai

    

14. Day 14

    Mannheim

    Mannheim Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Historical tour of Heidelberg (guided tour of town, visit to Heidelberg Castle - important Renaissance structure north of the Alps, views from balcony, great Heidelberg Tun - world's largest wine barrel; note: includes stairs and uneven ground)
    • Tour of Heidelberg with free time (coach transfer, brief walking tour, free time to explore independently)
    • Excursion to Bad Dürkheim (visit to famed Fitz-Ritter winery - ninth-generation family-owned vineyard, tour and tasting experience exclusive to Scenic; note: good degree of fitness required)

    Landmarks
    Heidelberg Castle
    Heidelberg Tun
    Fitz-Ritter Winery

15. Day 15

    Rüdesheim

    Rüdesheim Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Cruise through Rhine Gorge (65-kilometre scenic stretch with approximately 40 hilltop castles and fortresses spanning 1,000 years)

    Optional Activities

    • Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum (mini train arrival, local guide introduction to mechanical musical instruments, optional cable car to Niederwald Monument, free exploration)
    • Hike & cable car (cable car to Niederwald Monument, guided hiking tour through rolling vineyards known for Riesling, spectacular views of countryside and Rhine River)

    Landmarks
    Niederwald Monument
    Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum
    Lorelei Statue
    Rhine Gorge

    

16. Day 16

    Cochem

    Cochem Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Guided tour of Cochem (exploration of Reichsburg Castle with unique Knight's Hall and Trophy Room, old town with historic buildings and charming streetscapes)
    • Cycling tour of Cochem (e-bike tour along gentle path beside Moselle River, local guide showing castle, half-timbered houses)

    Landmarks
    Reichsburg Castle

17. Day 17

    Bernkastel

    Bernkastel Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Scenic Enrich: Classical Concert at Liebfrauenkirche in Trier (UNESCO world heritage church with exemplary acoustics, exclusive Scenic Enrich experience; note: Trier founded by Roman Emperor Augustus in 16 BC, oldest city in Germany)

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Hike to Landshut ruins (active hike to castle ruins on hill overlooking Bernkastel and Moselle River, guide revealing history from 13th century)
    • Walking tour of Bernkastel (guided tour of architecture and culture, perfectly preserved half-timbered houses, Renaissance Rathaus/Town Hall, free time at leisure)
    • Wine tasting along the Moselle (learning about local Riesling varietals, sampling prestigious local wines from fertile banks)

    Landmarks
    Landshut Castle Ruins
    Bernkasteler Doctor Vineyard
    Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady, Trier)

18. Day 18

    Sailing Day

    Sailing Day Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Salt Therapy Lounge visit (available at extra cost)
    • Massage treatment (available at extra cost)
19. Day 19

    Koblenz

    Koblenz Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Walking tour of Koblenz (guided journey through old town's winding streets, charming squares, impressive townhouses, historic churches, Florinsmarkt)
    • Marksburg Castle visit (drive to castle overlooking Rhine River - perfect example of Medieval architecture dating to 1117, only castle on Middle Rhine not destroyed; note: active guests only, requires good fitness and mobility)
    • Medieval Limburg (coach to charming Medieval town of Limburg an der Lahn, historic cobblestone streets with half-timbered houses, cathedral overlooking city, Alte Lahnbrücke/Old Bridge)

    Landmarks
    Florinsmarkt
    Marksburg Castle
    Limburg Cathedral
    Alte Lahnbrücke (Old Bridge)

20. Day 20

    Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Walking tour (guided tour of gentrified harbour, charming old town, modern Media Harbour tech hub, Castle Tower dating to 13th century)
    • Cycling tour (e-bike cycling along Rhine banks to historic region of Kaiserswerth)
    • Düsseldorf's Altbier (learning about beer production tradition, visiting well-known microbreweries, sampling traditional Altbier ale)

    Landmarks
    Castle Tower (Düsseldorf)
    Media Harbour
    Kaiserswerth

21. Day 21

    Nijmegen

    Nijmegen Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Arnhem Airborne Museum (account of Battle of Arnhem following British servicemen parachuted into city in September 1944 after German occupation)
    • The Netherlands Open Air Museum (44-hectare outdoor museum with replicas of historic houses, mills and farmhouses showing Dutch life through the ages)
    • Palais Het Loo (museum of Dutch royal family's summer home dating to 1685, showcasing lineage's rich history, elaborate decor, art collection and grand gardens)

    Landmarks
    Arnhem Airborne Museum
    The Netherlands Open Air Museum
    Palais Het Loo

22. Day 22

    Antwerp

    Antwerp Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Scenic Enrich: Concert at Cleydael Castle (classical concert with eight musicians, two singing soloists, learning about castle's fascinating history, exclusive Scenic experience; note: new in 2027)

    Optional Activities

    • Guided walking tour (local guide showing Cathedral of Our Lady, Steen Castle - Medieval fortress, main square with extravagant buildings)
    • Craft beer & chocolate pairing (unique tasting journey combining Belgium's culinary reputation for chocolate and beer)
    • Excursion to Fort Breendonk (former Nazi prison camp preserved as national memorial, guided visit of original barracks, courtyards and cells hearing moving stories)

    Landmarks
    Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp)
    Steen Castle
    Cleydael Castle
    Fort Breendonk

23. Day 23

    Veere

    Veere Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Guided tour of Veere (walking tour of quaint streets, picturesque harbour with Scottish merchant houses, 15th-century town hall with tower, Grote Kerk - imposing Gothic church that served as hospital and poorhouse)
    • Oyster farm visit (tasting fresh plump bivalves straight from North Sea waters)
    • Excursion to the Delta Works (series of dams designed to protect Delta plain population from flooding, impressive engineering feat protecting low-lying areas from surges and flooding)

    Landmarks
    Grote Kerk (Veere)
    Delta Works

24. Day 24

    Dordrecht

    Dordrecht Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Walking tour of Dordrecht (local guide taking you through winding canals, picturesque streets and historic buildings, highlights including Groothoofd Quay, Grote Kerk/Great Church, Old Water Tower)
    • Delft pottery factory visit (charming city famed for blue and white pottery, guided tour followed by 17th-century pottery factory visit where master painters decorate in traditional manner)
    • Excursion to Kinderdijk (traditional village with 19 windmills - icons of Dutch culture, World Heritage-listed windmills showing their role in agricultural life, experience only available with Scenic)

    Landmarks
    Groothoofd Quay
    Grote Kerk (Dordrecht)
    Old Water Tower (Dordrecht)
    Kinderdijk Windmills

25. Day 25

    Amsterdam

    Amsterdam Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast (Final breakfast on board)