France - Belgium - Luxembourg - Germany - Netherlands
Arrival in Paris, the City of Light, the City of Love. Individual transfer to the hotel, or collective transfer upon pre-booking (not included). At 6:30 PM, meet with the tour guide in the hotel lobby for the program presentation. Free time, dinner not included.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for a guided panoramic tour of the French capital to visit its landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Trocadero Square, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, Louvre Museum, and many other points of interest. After the panoramic tour, continue the visit with access to the 2nd floor of the iconic Eiffel Tower (entrance included), symbol of Paris. Lunch on your own (not included). In the afternoon, head to Montmartre for a visit to the Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart of Jesus), where from the esplanade of Sacré-Cœur, you’ll have the best view over Paris. The neighborhood of the painters, its intricate and picturesque streets, squares, and famous “Bistrots” (typical Parisian cafes) take us back to old and authentic “Paris,” making this neighborhood the most “Parisian” of the whole city. Dinner included at the hotel. Possibility to attend a show at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in the world, entrance not included.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a visit to France’s most famous castle, the Palace of Versailles (entrance included). The Palace and Gardens of Versailles are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest palaces in the world and represents the ultimate power of the old regime of France during the time of Louis XIV. Some notable features of the Palace of Versailles include 2153 windows, 700 rooms, 352 chimneys, 1250 fireplaces, and 700 hectares of gardens. It is one of the most visited monuments in France, with around 8 million tourists per year. Return to Paris. Lunch on your own (not included). In the afternoon, visit the Île de la Cité, where the city of Paris was born, and where the zero kilometer point of all roads in France is located, as well as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the greatest religious landmarks in the Western Catholic world, passing through the Latin Quarter. Dinner aboard a fabulous Bateau-mouche, with a cruise on the River Seine (dinner/cruise included). From the river, we can admire the beauty and charm of the city at night: Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Musée d’Orsay, Île de la Cité, Île Saint-Louis, Notre-Dame, Pont De L’Alma, Pont Des Invalides, Pont Alexandre III, Pont de la Concorde, Pont Royal, Pont Du Carrousel, Pont Neuf,… Return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for the Loire Valley towards the Château de Chenonceau (entrance included), known as the “Castle of the Seven Ladies.” Imagine a castle full of intrigues, a castle gifted by Henry II (King of France) to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, under the watchful eye of his wife (Queen), the ruthless Catherine de’ Medici. Lunch included at a local restaurant (subject to availability, L’Orangerie). In the afternoon, visit the Royal Château of Amboise (entrance included), where we highlight the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci in the Saint-Hubert chapel. Arrival at the hotel (Tours), Check-in. Dinner (not included).
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for Mont Saint-Michel (entrance included), where an abbey (Mont Saint-Michel Abbey) and a sanctuary were built in honor of the archangel Saint Michael. A statue of Saint Michael placed atop the abbey church rises to a height of 170 meters. Lunch included upon arrival at a local restaurant, followed by a guided tour. At a designated time, depart for Arromanches (site of the “Allies” landing beach on D-Day during World War II). Overnight stay in the city of Bayeux, hotel check-in, dinner included.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for the famous beach where, on June 6, 1944, the Allies landed, and where various wartime artifacts are still visible in the sand. Possibility to visit the Landing Museum (not included). Departure for the port of Honfleur. Located at the mouth of the River Seine, Honfleur has about 8,000 inhabitants and has existed since at least 1027, when it was already an important port. In Honfleur, we can visit the Sainte Catherine Church, which is the largest wooden church in France. It was built by the residents in the 15th century, and also the old port, probably the most painted port in the world (Courbet, Monet, and Jongkind formed a painting school there that would be of great value to the impressionist movement), a stroll along the Vieux Bassin (Old Port) – around the port, there are a series of old houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, close to each other, narrow, of various sizes and colors. They form a very beautiful and charming ensemble next to the port. On the ground floor of these houses, there are restaurants (mostly seafood) and art galleries. Lunch included in the city. Departure for Rouen, a stroll in the historic capital of Normandy and a museum city, it was the city of the martyr Joan of Arc, condemned and burned at the stake in the Old Market Square. Highlights include the Cathedral, the street of the Old Clock. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner not included.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure towards Amiens, the city where the great adventure writer Jules Verne lived and died (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon, Around the World in Eighty Days). The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the tallest Gothic church of the 13th century and the largest of its kind in France. Possibility to visit the writer’s house and his tomb. Free time in the city center, lunch (not included). Departure towards Lille, known as the “Capital of Flanders.” Check-in at the hotel, free time, dinner (included).
Breakfast at the hotel, guided tour in the fourth largest city in France. Visit the Lille Cathedral: a neo-Gothic temple, construction began in 1854 and was completed in 1999, almost 150 years later. Since 2008, the cathedral has housed the Great Organ, one of the largest in France. Also visit the Porte de Paris monument erected in honor of Louis XIV (Sun King), the magnificent Grand Place, the Town Hall with its famous Clock Tower (also called “Big Ben”) standing at 104 meters tall… Lunch (not included), free afternoon for personal activities, dinner (included).
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for Bruges (two thousand years of history, from Julius Caesar to the Franks, the Vikings, and later the dominance of the Hanseatic League have shaped the unique history of this region “Flanders”). Guided tour of the city including a visit to the Onze Lieve Vrouwewerk (Church of Our Lady). Continue to the Stadhuis, or City Hall, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloed Basiliek). Enjoy a boat ride on the canals (included), visit the Markt, the main square dominated by the Belfry (bell tower). Lunch (included). Departure for the city of Ghent, guided tour of the main tourist attractions, including the Belfry, the magnificent bell tower of St. Niklaaskerk church, the Korenmarkt, which was once the city’s grain market, the Koren Munt, the small bridge Vleeshuisbrug over the Leie River. Pass through the central square Vrijdagmarkt and the City Hall Stadhuis, and visit the St. Bavo’s Cathedral (entrance included), the Gothic cathedral of St. Bavo in the city of Ghent. Here, in a side chapel, is “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” (also known as the “Ghent Altarpiece”) by Jan van Eyck. Departure for Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Check-in at the hotel, dinner (not included).
Breakfast at the hotel, full-day guided tour of the city. Brussels is also known as the “capital” of the European Union, as it is home to the headquarters and some of the main administrative bodies. Visit the city with a stop at the Grand Place, the medieval heart of Brussels, St. Michael’s Cathedral, and, of course, no trip to Brussels would be complete without a visit to the classic statue of “Manneken Pis” and the grand Royal Palace. Lunch (included) at a restaurant during the visits. In the afternoon, pass by the Cinquantenaire Park in the area known as the European Quarter. In this neighborhood, we will see well-known and important buildings such as the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Parliament, as well as the Atomium (entrance included), the icon of modernity, which was built to celebrate the 1958 World Expo. Dinner (not included).
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Guided tour of the city of Luxembourg, known as the city of bridges. Cut by the Alzette and Petrusse rivers and with a landscape marked by valleys and greenery, its fortifications and old neighborhoods have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Highlights include the Cathedral, the underground fortifications, and the European Quarter. Lunch on your own (not included). Check-in at the hotel, dinner (included).
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for Rudesheim, a city in Germany located in a region of the Rhine Valley declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historic buildings, museums, festivals, cultural centers, and wine production. Lunch on your own (not included) on the main street (Drosselgasse, visited annually by more than three million people). After lunch, visit the megalomaniac monument of the founding of the German Empire, the Niederwalddenkmal, standing at 38 meters tall. At 4:30 PM, embark on a cruise (included) along the Rhine River to the city of Koblenz. Due to its geographical position at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the city attracts a large number of tourists. During the crossing, we will confirm why the banks of the Rhine are part of UNESCO World Heritage, with centuries-old vineyards, castles, and small villages. Disembark in Koblenz and transfer to the hotel, Check-in, dinner included.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for a two-hour tour, highlighting the historic center (The Church of Our Lady, the Liebfrauenkirche, is one of the most important works of medieval sacred architecture) and the imposing statue of Emperor Wilhelm I (an important viewpoint of the city). Departure for the city of Cologne. Lunch on your own (not included). We will visit the Grand Cologne Cathedral (entrance included), which houses the remains of the Three Wise Men and saw its first stone laid on August 15, 1248, remaining unfinished until the 19th century. Highlights include its stained glass windows, Gothic choir stalls, Altar of the Three Kings, and the reliquary of the Three Kings. Departure for Maastricht. Arrival at the hotel for Check-in, dinner included.
Breakfast at the hotel, guided tour of the city including a visit to Vrijthof Square, the largest square in Maastricht, to see ancient churches and elegant mansions overlooking a complex of restaurants and cafes, known worldwide thanks to the concerts of André Rieu, one of the city’s most famous sons. We will follow the path taken by pilgrims since the Middle Ages, visiting the tomb of Saint Servatius, and we can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city by climbing the tall tower of Sint Janskerk (Church of Saint John) (entrances included). The city was chosen to sign the famous “Treaty of Maastricht” or Treaty of the European Union, the document that defines the guidelines of European policy and institutions, establishing European citizenship and identifying economic and monetary union, common foreign and security policy as objectives. Lunch on your own (not included), departure for Amsterdam. Arrival at the hotel for Check-in, dinner not included.
Breakfast at the hotel, departure for a guided tour of the city. We will start with a panoramic tour of the main tourist attractions, followed by a walking tour of the city, highlighting its famous canals and the historic center, which is one of the most extensive and well-preserved in Europe. Dam Square, in the heart of the city, is surrounded by buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Town Hall, the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which houses a 16th-century organ and some baroque sculptures. The Jewish Quarter with the Seven Towers Castle “Wag” is the old city gate that houses the Jewish History Museum, as well as a synagogue from the 17th and 18th centuries. Visit to the famous Flower Market “Singel”… Lunch on your own (not included) in the city center (near the central station and Saint Nicholas Church). After lunch, we will enjoy a pleasant boat trip through the main canals of the city (included). Farewell dinner (included).
Breakfast at the hotel, free day for personal activities. There is the possibility to visit the Van Gogh Museum, the national art “museum Rijksmuseum” which boasts a wonderful collection of Dutch art and history. Highlights include Rembrandt’s Night Watch, collections of paintings by great masters of the 17th century such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen, and Vermeer. Alternatively, you can visit the house (hiding place) of the famous and ill-fated ANNE FRANK, BEFORE BEING DEPORTED TO THE BERGEN-BELSEN EXTERMINATION CAMP WHERE SHE WOULD DIE…. “We cannot correct the mistakes made, but we can prevent them from happening again.”
Breakfast at the hotel… Individual or group transfer to the airport, arranged upon prior reservation (not included). End of our services.
