Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
- Day 2
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Amsterdam with guide covering canals, bridges, history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture
- Sampling of local snacks including cheese and Poffertjes (mini pancakes)
Optional Activities
- Visit to famous galleries or museums in Amsterdam
- Day 3
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- One-hour canal cruise viewing Golden Age mansions, warehouses and bridges
- Day 4
Amsterdam
Amsterdam- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Schermerhorn and Alkmaar: Visit World Heritage-listed windmills dating back to the 16th century in rural villages with sweeping green landscapes
- Excursion to Keukenhof Gardens: Visit one of the world's largest flower gardens with seven million flowering bulbs including tulips (seasonal availability)
- Walking tour of Amsterdam: Explore canals and bridges discovering the city's history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture, including tasting herring
- Fabrique des Lumières: Experience the largest digital art installation in the Netherlands with projections on 17-metre-high walls accompanied by music, located in a former 19th century gas works
- Cycling tour: E-bike tour to the outskirts of Amsterdam with local guide sharing information about Dutch life
- Day 5
Cologne
Cologne- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne's Old Town including historic buildings, squares and Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 6
Koblenz - Rüdesheim
Koblenz - Rüdesheim- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge viewing 40 hilltop castles and fortresses and Lorelei statue
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Koblenz: Explore old town winding streets, impressive townhouses, charming squares, historic churches and Florinsmarkt
- Medieval Limburg: Coach excursion to Limburg an der Lahn featuring cobblestone streets with half-timbered houses, cathedral overlooking the city and Alten Lahnbrücke (Old Bridge)
- Cochem and Moselle Valley: Coach excursion through Moselle Valley to Cochem with walking tour through picturesque centre and visit to Reichsburg Castle
Landmarks Lorelei Statue Reichsburg Castle - Day 7
Mannheim - Rastatt
Mannheim - Rastatt- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private concert at the Baroque Palace of Rastatt with pianist and vocalists, including palace and garden exploration
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Heidelberg: Coach transfer with brief walking tour of Old Town and free time (walk includes some stairs and uneven ground)
- Historical tour of Heidelberg: Guided tour of Heidelberg with visit to Heidelberg Castle (important Renaissance structure north of the Alps), viewing balcony views and the great Heidelberg Tun (world's largest wine barrel) (walk includes some stairs and uneven ground)
- Excursion to Bad Dürkheim: Drive through vine-covered landscapes to Bad Dürkheim and visit Fritz Ritter winery (ninth-generation family-owned) with tour and wine tasting (good degree of fitness required)
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Baroque Palace of Rastatt - Day 8
Strasbourg
Strasbourg- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Alsace wine route with tasting: Explore the culturally diverse wine growing area, visit one of the region's most famous villages for tasting at a local cellar and explore Obernai
- Cycling through Strasbourg: Explore the city's bicycle trails (more than 500km of paths) cycling through charming suburbs past historic buildings, beautiful parklands and canals
- Walking tour of Strasbourg: See the city's important sites on foot including the cathedral, Petit France and Grand Ile while learning how France and Germany shaped this unique city
Landmarks Strasbourg Cathedral Petit France - Day 9
Breisach
Breisach- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar: Walking tour of the cultural centre of Alsace showing the confluence of French and German architecture, lifestyle and culture with tasting of famed Kugelhopf cake at a local bistro
- Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting: Walking tour through the lively medieval town located on the edge of the Black Forest with sampling of delicious Black Forest cake
- Walking tour of Breisach with wine tasting: Leisurely guided walk through Breisach's old town exploring pastel facades and cobbled lanes, viewing the hilltop cathedral of St. Stephansminster with tasting of local sparkling wine
Landmarks St. Stephansminster Cathedral - Day 10
Basel to Montreux
Basel to MontreuxIncluded Activities
- Orientation tour of Montreux including lakeside promenade, cobblestone streets and historic buildings
Landmarks Montreux Lakeside Promenade - Day 11
Montreux
Montreux- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Chillon Castle with local guide covering its history and inspiration to famous poets and writers
Optional Activities
- Chaplin Museum: Exclusive after-hours visit to the Chaplin Museum set inside Charlie Chaplin's former home, learning about his life and work as an influential early film star
Landmarks Chillon Castle - Day 12
Montreux to Bern
Montreux to Bern- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Orientation tour of Bern: Short walk exploring the city's fountains, sandstone facades and narrow streets, visiting Bear Park home to a family of bears living along the river banks since 1857
- Swiss chocolate tasting: Tasting of different pralines and varieties at a local producer while learning about chocolate production and its importance for the local economy
Landmarks Zytglogge (Clock Tower) Bern Cathedral Bear Park - Day 13
Bern - Lucerne - Zurich
Bern - Lucerne - Zurich- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lucerne covering Museggmauer and Türme (Town Walls and Towers), Hofkirche and Jesuit Church
- Walking tour of Zurich including Bahnhofstrasse (main street with glamorous boutiques) and historic bridges
Landmarks Museggmauer and Türme (Town Walls and Towers) Hofkirche Jesuit Church Lake Zurich Bahnhofstrasse - Day 14
Zurich
Zurich- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Zurich
