Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome reception on board ship
Optional Activities
- Explore Amsterdam's narrow laneways and canals
- Visit charming cafes
- Sample Amsterdam's nightlife
Landmarks Amsterdam Canals - Day 2
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar - visit World Heritage-listed windmills dating back to the 16th century and explore nearby villages
- Walking tour of Amsterdam - explore canals, bridges and city centre with history guide, learn about Dutch culture and taste local herring
- Fabrique des Lumières - immersive digital art installation in former 19th century gas works with 17 metre high projected walls
- Cycling tour - small ferry to outskirts for active biking tour with local guide sharing information about Dutch everyday life
Landmarks Amsterdam Old Town - Day 3
Cologne
Cologne- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town with voucher to purchase local beer
- Cologne Cathedral viewing
Optional Activities
- Explore city on own
- Experience Cologne's nightlife
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Cologne Old Town - Day 4
Koblenz - Rhine Gorge
Koblenz - Rhine Gorge- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Rhine Gorge cruise with views of 40 hilltop castles and fortresses
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Koblenz - explore old town's winding streets, impressive townhouses, charming squares, historic churches and Florinsmarkt
- Medieval Limburg excursion - coach to Limburg an der Lahn, walk cobblestone streets with half-timbered houses, visit cathedral and Alten Lahnbrücke (Old Bridge)
- Cochem & Moselle Valley excursion - coach through Moselle Valley to Cochem, walking tour through picturesque centre with half-timbered houses, visit Reichsburg Castle
Landmarks Rhine Gorge Lorelei Statue Florinsmarkt Limburg Cathedral Reichsburg Castle - Day 5
Mannheim - Rastatt
Mannheim - Rastatt- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private concert at Baroque Palace of Rastatt with pianist and accompanied vocalists
- Exploration of Baroque Palace and gardens
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Heidelberg - brief walking tour of Old Town with free time (Note: walk not too strenuous but some stairs and uneven ground)
- Historical tour of Heidelberg - guided tour of city and visit to Heidelberg Castle (important Renaissance structure north of the Alps), view balcony and great Heidelberg Tun (world's largest wine barrel) (Note: walk not too strenuous but some stairs and uneven ground)
- Excursion to Bad Dürkheim - drive through vine-covered landscapes to Bad Dürkheim, visit Fritz Ritter winery (ninth-generation family-owned), wine tour and tasting (Note: good degree of fitness required)
Landmarks Baroque Palace of Rastatt Heidelberg Castle Heidelberg Old Town Fritz Ritter Winery - Day 6
Strasbourg
Strasbourg- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Alsace wine route with tasting - explore wine-growing area and visit famous wine village for tasting at local wine cellar, then explore Obernai
- Cycling through Strasbourg - journey by e-bike on region's impressive bicycle trails, explore charming suburbs, historic buildings, beautiful parklands and sparkling canals
- Walking tour of Strasbourg - explore city's most important sites including cathedral, Petit France and Grand Ile, learn how France and Germany shaped this unique city
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral Petit France Grand Ile Obernai - Day 7
Breisach
Breisach- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar - walking tour of Alsace cultural centre showing French and German architecture, lifestyle and culture, with tasting of famed Kugelhopf cake at local bistro
- Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting - walking tour through lively medieval town at edge of Black Forest with tasting of delicious Black Forest cake
- Walking tour of Breisach with wine tasting - leisurely guided walk through Old Town's pastel facades and cobbled lanes, view hilltop cathedral of St. Stephansminster, indulge in tasting of delicious local sparkling wine
Landmarks St. Stephansminster Cathedral Colmar Old Town Freiburg Medieval Town - Day 8
Basel to Montreux
Basel to MontreuxIncluded Activities
- Short orientation tour of Montreux
- View lakeside promenade
- Explore cobblestone streets and historic buildings
Landmarks Montreux Lakeside Promenade - Day 9
Montreux
Montreux- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chillon Castle guided tour with local guide - learn about castle's history and its inspiration for writers
- Chaplin Museum exclusive after-hours visit - experience museum in Charlie Chaplin's former home, learn about life and work of influential early film star
Landmarks Chillon Castle Chaplin Museum - Day 10
Montreux to Bern
Montreux to Bern- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Bern - short walk with Scenic Tour Director exploring fountains, sandstone facades and narrow streets, visit Bear Park (home to family of bears since 1857)
- Swiss chocolate tasting - taste different pralines and varieties at local producer, learn about chocolate production and its importance for local economy
Landmarks Bern Cathedral Zytglogge (Clock Tower) Bear Park - Day 11
Bern - Lucerne - Zurich
Bern - Lucerne - Zurich- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lucerne - explore Old Town, Museggmauer and Türme (Town Walls and Towers), Hofkirche and Jesuit Church
- Walking tour of Zurich - explore flat city centre with many pedestrian-only streets and historic bridges, stroll Bahnhofstrasse (main street with glamorous boutiques and international flagship stores)
Landmarks Lucerne Old Town Hofkirche Jesuit Church Bahnhofstrasse Lake Zurich - Day 12
Zurich
Zurich- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Zurich
