Here is a sample of a CLASIC EUROPE PANORAMA:
Day1: DEPART SYDNEY/MELBOURNE
Departing from Sydney/Melbourne to Paris, France.
Day2: PARIS
Upon arrival at the Paris Airport, you will be met and greeted by our representative and transfer to your hotel.
Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar
Day3: PARIS – REIMS – LUXEMBOURG (B) Take a delightful scenic journey through the rolling countryside of the Champagne region, famous the world over for the sparkling white wine produced here. Enjoy seeing the historic attractions of provincial capital Reims, including the city’s cathedral – a key national heritage site, where coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards. History and tradition are equally evident in your next location: Luxembourg, the world’s only remaining Grand Duchy. You’ll be introduced on foot to the main places of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, before having time for further exploration on your own.
Hotel: Novotel Kirchberg or similar
Day4: LUXEMBOURG – TRIER – KOBLENZ – FRANKFURT (B)
We leave Luxembourg behind and head across another European border into Germany. The first stop is historic Trier, Germany’s oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx. See from the outside the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now functions as the Karl Marx Haus museum. Your walking tour then takes you into the centre of Trier; here you can look around the city’s impressive cathedral, where the celebrated Holy Robe – said to be the tunic of Christ – is preserved and occasionally displayed. Trier is also known as ‘The Second Rome’ (Constantine served as an administrator here for 10 years), and significant legacies of the once-great empire remain today. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, which you’ll get to see and photograph. Drive on to Koblenz, famous as the location of the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Here you have the option of indulging in a relaxing lunch alongside the water, then afterwards you can also choose to add on a scenic Rhine boat cruise for some memorable city vistas. Back on dry land you’ll drive through the wine-making town of Rüdesheim, and stop to see the bronze 19th century Niederwald monument. Then it’s on to Frankfurt am Main, where you’ll discover the delights of Römerberg, a charming plaza with a distinctive medieval town hall as its centrepiece. Note: The Rhine boat cruise is only operational from 3rd April to 31st October.
Hotel: Park Inn by Radisson or similar
Day5: FRANKFURT – BONN – COLOGNE – AMSTERDAM (B)
Take a leisurely drive north-west from Frankfurt to Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany until reunification. Discover the city’s secrets on an orientation stroll through its streets, walking past highlights such as the Rococo-fronted town hall and Ludwig Van Beethoven Haus, a museum celebrating the life of the much-loved composer. Then it’s on to Cologne, where you’ll head inside the city’s glorious Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Cologne further. After lunch the day is rounded off with a drive into the Netherlands.
Hotel: Hampton by Hilton or similar
Day6: ZAANSESCHANS (B)
Your day of delights begins with a leisurely trip through the Dutch countryside, where you’ll get to sample at close quarters some of the things that the Netherlands is traditionally famous for: clogs, cheese and windmills. Call in at the hugely popular model town of Zaanse Schans*. Next, you’ll head from the quiet countryside to the cosmopolitan city as your journey takes you back to Amsterdam. After visiting a well-known diamond factory, where you’ll see the unique cutting techniques that have been practised here since the 16th century, you can take an optional hour-long pre-dinner canal cruise. After disembarking you’ll walk to one of the city’s grandest areas, Dam Square, where the Royal Palace is located and the Queen’s birthday celebrations take place. You’ll have photo opportunities here, free time for shopping or further sightseeing, and then round the day off with dinner. *From mid-March to mid-May the tour visits Keukenhof Garden, a 32 hectare seasonal exhibition of beautifully coloured and scented displays of spring flowers – most notably millions of tulips. This replaces the visit to ZaanseSchans.
Hotel: Hampton by Hilton or similar
Day7: BRUSSELS – PARIS (B)
Leaving Amsterdam in the morning you’ll head south across the border into Brussels, the Belgian capital and political centre of the European Union. On the way, the tour stops to see the distinctive Atomium monument, a cell-shaped structure of stainless steel spheres and tubes built for the 1958 World’s Fair. In the centre of Brussels itself an orientation tour will call in at the exquisite Grand Place, as well as seeing the famous impish Manneken Pis statue. Then from Brussels it’s south again across the French border and on to the bright lights of Paris.
Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar
Day8: PARIS – VERSAILLES – PARIS (B)
Your Parisian adventures get off to a spectacular start with a drive along the famous Champs Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, which played such a key part in the French Revolution. You will also get to see the iconic Arc de Triomphe here too, the imposing monument that sits near the western end of the avenue and commemorates the fallen of the revolution and Napoleonic wars. You’ll take in another significant historical building next as you head to L’Hôtel National des Invalides, where Napoleon’s tomb is located. Then it’s on to the most legendary of all Paris’s icons: the Eiffel Tower. Choose to make the optional ascent of the tower for unbeatable views over the city, and a truly memorable experience. Back on ground level you can take a more leisurely cruise along the river Seine, a great sightseeing option that offers views including Notre-Dame Cathedral and Pont Alexandre III. Finally, you’ll travel on the coach out through the Parisian suburbs to the splendid Palace of Versailles, the vast regal château that was the residence of the royal family until the start of the revolution in 1789. In the evening, you can enjoy one of our optional Paris evening shows.
Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar
Day9: PARIS (B)
The second day of your Parisian experience begins with a visit to the Louvre, one of the world’s greatest art museums.Set your eyes upon some of history’s most famous masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace), and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Opt for a guided gallery tour, which will enhance your experience and allow you to browse through hundreds of works in just a few hours. After an exhilarating morning of walking the gallery corridors, replenish your energy levels with lunch in the museum before heading to the area surrounding the Palais Garnier, Paris’s opera house. Here the rest of the afternoon is yours to shop at legendary department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, sightsee or simply sit and sip. For some members of the group it will be time to say goodbye to new-found friends, while others will opt to stay another night in this French city of delights before picking up the Green Line tour the next day.
Hotel: Novotel Sanchinarro or similar
Day10: PARIS (B) After breakfast, enjoy the last bit of Paris before transferring to airport according to your flight schedule. Board home-bound flight to return to Australia.
Day11: AUSTRALIA Arrive in Australia.
Available Inclusions:
- Return Economy Flight to/from Europe
- Airport Tax & Fuel Surcharge
- Comfortable Hotel Accommodation
- Breakfast as indicated (B) per itinerary
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- English speaking Escorted Tour
Exclusions:
- Tour Guide Gratuity
- Optional Admissions Fees
- Insterstate surcharge BNE/ADL/PER
- Single Supplement surcharge
