Travel Dates
Departing 26th Aug 2024
Package Provider: Trafalgar
Package Type: Package
Region: Europe
Duration: 22 Nights
This Grand European trip has all the 'musts', but also takes you off the beaten path. Discover the gourmet talents of France, the heart of the Black Forest and the moreish delights of Sachertorte in classical Vienna, leaving with a song in your heart and a polka in your step.
Your Fly & Tour Package Includes:
Includes:
Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 26 August – 17 September 2024
Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 / Journey to Bruges Stays With Stories
Leave London behind and travel to medieval Bruges. Meet your Local Specialist to explore its canals, lined with centuries-old gabled houses before joining your Travel Director and travel companions for a Welcome Reception including dinner and drinks in beautiful surrounds. We stay overnight in one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a former 17th-century monastery with historical features.
Day 2 / Discover Amsterdam’s Canals Connect with Locals
Journey through the Dutch countryside to captivating Amsterdam, see the city's iconic sights from the comfort of a canal boat. At this evening's dinner, we’ll Connect With Locals during a Be My Guest experience at the Pauw family dairy farm.
Day 3 / Enjoy a Scenic Cruise in the Rhineland
We travel to Germany, arriving at Boppard where we board a Rhine cruise past hilltop castles. Admire the magnificent ruined sandstone castle in Heidelberg overlooking the Neckar River en route to your Rhineland hotel where you'll dine this evening.
Day 4 / Admire the Black Forest then on to Lucerne
Journey through romantic Black Forest landscapes today – tales of the Brothers Grimm are your constant companion as you continue through southwest Germany to the Swiss border. See the mighty Rhine Falls plunging dramatically near the town of Schaffhausen before arriving in the medieval city of Lucerne, your home for the next two nights.
Day 5 / Explore Lucerne
See Lucerne's poignant Lion Monument this morning. The mournful mortally wounded lion hewn from sandstone provides a sombre reminder of the brave Swiss Guards who lost their lives defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Venture to the flower-lined 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge, explore Old Town’s colourful façades or consider an exhilarating mountain and cruise Optional Experience. This evening we enjoy dinner at our hotel.
Day 6 / Uncover Liechtenstein and Innsbruck
Our love affair with the Rhine continues today as we travel to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein and see its capital, Vaduz, before crossing into Austria. We follow the scenic Arlberg Pass through the Tyrol to Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps where we will see the ornate Golden Roof during an orientation tour. Admire the fascinating crystal installations and browse for precious gifts and souvenirs at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store.
Day 7 / Take in Salzburg then on to Vienna
Salzburg's extraordinary natural beauty has inspired musical greats and epic films. Join a Local Specialist on a guided walking tour of the city that gave birth to Mozart, featuring locations that music and movie lovers will remember from the famous film, 'The Sound of Music'. This evening, we arrive in the beautiful Baroque city of Vienna, our home for the next two nights.
Day 8 / Explore Vienna’s Sights
Join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour of one of Europe's most elegant capitals. View the State Opera House, the City Hall, Parliament, the Imperial Boulevards and the Hofburg, the former imperial palace for the Habsburg dynasty. Spend the evening soaking up the melodic charm of what has become the world's music capital, celebrating the talents of old masters and modern icons at open-air concerts, palaces and expansive stages.
Day 9 / Onwards to Venice
Driving through the scenic Austrian Lake District, we cross the Italian border and journey through the Veneto Plains to the Byzantine city of Venice where we'll spend the next two nights.
Day 10 / Discover the Floating City of Venice Make Travel Matter
Today, embark on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll Dive Into Culture and witness the centuries-old Venetian tradition of glassblowing, which has been handed down through the generations. The master craftsmen will share how they use the same techniques their forefathers did to create the delicate art adorning homes all around the world. You may be tempted to buy one of the works for your own hope, recognising that through your visit you’ve had a hand in helping preserve this important cultural heritage of the city. Navigate the bustling waterways by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square where we tread in the footsteps of Casanova and Marco Polo and admire the sights and sounds of the 'Queen of the Adriatic'. See the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. This afternoon is yours to get lost in Venice. Explore the labyrinthine calle in search of the best Venice Spritz in town, watch the sun set over the Grand Canal or consider a cruise to the Island of Burano for a delicious meal.
Day 11 / Journey to Assisi
Journey south to the mystical town of Assisi, where St. Francis was born and laid to rest. Here you'll stroll through the city’s streets in the company of a Local Specialist and have an opportunity to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. See the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and enjoy dinner at your hotel tonight.
Day 12 / Explore Pompeii’s Ruins on the way to Sorrento
Pass the site of the bloody World War II battle of Monte Cassino en route to the Bay of Naples and the lost city of Pompeii where you'll join a Local Specialist who will share the story of this remarkable ancient Roman settlement that was buried in ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We continue to the coast and the beautiful seaside resort of Sorrento where we will stay the night in our hotel.
Day 13 / On to the Isle of Capri and Rome
Cross the enchanting blue water of the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri and ascend to Capri by funicular railway where you will join a Local Specialist for a guided walking tour of the town. Spend a leisurely afternoon soaking up la dolce vita in the piazza before sailing back to the mainland. This evening we arrive in Rome, the 'Eternal City', where we will spend the next two nights.
Day 14 / Uncover Ancient Rome and the Vatican Museums Dive Into Culture
Delve into the treasures of the Vatican City with a Local Specialist who will take you on a sightseeing tour through St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's Pietà. Cross the Tiber into Ancient Rome to see Roman Forum, the walls of the mighty Colosseum and enjoy views of Circus Maximus. Then Dive Into Culture and gain priority access to the Vatican Museums for a guided tour. Admire Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling, then enjoy an exclusive after-hours al fresco dinner against the backdrop of St. Peter's.
Day 15 / Off to Explore Florence
Journey north to Florence where you'll join a Local Specialist for an included walking tour to the Piazza della Signoria, the political hub of this once free republic that became a recognised centre for art, architecture and culture. See the beautiful marble Duomo and Baptistery with its famous bronze doors, and the picturesque Ponte Vecchio which straddles the Arno. Learn about the quality and workmanship of one of this city's historic industries at a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure admiring the work of great masters in the Uffizi Gallery, climbing the stone steps to Piazzale Michelangelo for iconic views, or relaxing in the Boboli Gardens.
Day 16 / Enjoy Pisa, Monaco and the French Riviera
We drive to the city of Pisa and its Square of Miracles to see the famous Leaning Tower which bears this city's name. From Italy to the sun-kissed landscapes of the French Riviera, we stop in the sophisticated Principality of Monaco before continuing to the French Riviera, our home for the next two nights. Enjoy an orientation drive along the scenic Promenade des Anglais, which for centuries has attracted sun-worshipping aristocrats to its shores, and see Place Massena before spending the evening at leisure.
Day 17 / Discover Artistic Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Rub shoulders with artists and actors in the medieval hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence before enjoying an afternoon at leisure in the French Riviera to indulge in the laid-back seaside atmosphere. Wander along the scenic promenade and embrace café culture on the tranquil shores of the Mediterranean, stroll through the chic city streets shopping at the French Riviera's fashionable boutiques or relax on the beach watching the sun set. Or perhaps join an Optional Experience to see spectacular views of one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe and pay an aromatic visit to the historic Fragonard perfumery to learn how French fragrances are crafted before trying some specialities from the region at a local restaurant.
Day 18 / Journey through Papal Avignon to Burgundy
We travel north to the Papal city of Avignon, an important pilgrimage site. We stop for views of the magnificent Papal Palace and famous Pont d'Avignon before arriving in the capital of the Burgundy wine-producing region, Beaune. Explore the ancient walls and the Old Town, see its characteristic geometrically coloured tiled roofs.
Day 19 / Onwards to Paris
We travel north through the vineyards of Burgundy to Paris, our home for the next two nights. The 'City of Lights' shines brightly as you explore its grand boulevards, amble along the Seine or embrace the pageantry of a traditional Parisian cabaret.
Day 20 / Explore the Sights of Paris
Join a Local Specialist soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the world's most romantic cities. See the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower. View Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. Spend a free afternoon exploring the city before celebrating an unforgettable experience at a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 21 / Farewell Paris
Today, bid farewell to your fellow travellers and Travel Director at the end of your holiday.
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.