22 days incl. air, or 21 days London-Paris (KAGJ)

Itinerary

Day 1

(Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2Arrival in London, England

(Sun.) Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3London

(Mon.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Afternoon at leisure. (FB)

Day 4London–Brussels, Belgium

(Tue.) Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and transfer to the railway station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, headquarters of the European Union. Your orientation tour focuses on GRAND’ PLACE with its baroque guild houses and famous Manneken Pis. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (FB,D)

Day 5Brussels–Amsterdam, Holland

(Wed.) Past Antwerp and into the Netherlands. In Amsterdam visit a major DIAMOND CENTER to appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Next, enjoy a CANAL CRUISE, the best way to see the 700-year-old capital. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to Volendam. (BB,D)

Day 6Amsterdam–Heidelberg, Germany –Rhineland

(Thu.) A passing glance at the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Cologne. Here you will visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL. Then the afternoon’s highlight: a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and trim, half-timbered towns. Next stop is Heidelberg, famous for its red-walled castle. (BB,D)

Day 7Rhineland–Lucerne, Switzerland

(Fri.) A scenic day! Morning stop in the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border take your pictures of the thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picture-book Lucerne. (BB,D)

Day 8Lucerne

(Sat.) Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT and the ornate patrician houses lining the cobbled streets of the Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards, shop for Swiss watches and choose from our optional activities: climb a mountain by cable car, take a cruise on the fjord-like lake, or sign up for a folklore party with yodeling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking. (BB)

Day 9Lucerne–Liechtenstein–Oberammergau, Germany–Munich

(Sun.) Morning stop in Vaduz, capital of the pocket-sized Principality of Liechtenstein. Next is a panoramic drive through the Bavarian Alps, with picture stops at Mad King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle and the Passion Play town of Oberammergau. On arrival in Munich an orientation tour of major landmarks: Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, and 17th-century Nymphenburg Palace. How about a stein of beer at the Hofbräuhaus tonight? (BB,D)

Day 10Munich–Salzburg, Austria–Vienna

(Mon.) Through the forested landscape of southern Bavaria to the Austrian border and on to Salzburg. A pleasant stroll with your Local Guide takes you through the historic center of Mozart’s hometown. Admire exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD, and the monumental Domplatz. Then browse in the shops of the charming Getreidegasse or visit the birthplace of the musical genius, if you wish. Afternoon drive along the Danube Valley to Vienna. (BB)

Day 11Vienna

(Tue.) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features vistas of Prater Park with its Ferris wheel and the United Nations City on the Danube. Pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and visit awesome ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL. An optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace is available. Tonight you may want to visit Grinzing for a taste of Heurigen and the merry wine village atmosphere. (BB)

Day 12Vienna–Venice, Italy

(Wed.) Scenic Semmering Pass, stately Styrian crossroad towns, Carinthian lakes and resorts provide the ever-changing Alpine backdrop to today’s journey through the loveliest parts of Austria to Venice. Tonight is your chance to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (BB)

Day 13Venice

(Thu.) Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (BB,D)

Day 14Venice–Ferrara–Rome

(Fri.) A comfortable drive to Ferrara. Time to stroll along the imposing Este Castle to the marble cathedral before continuing through the Apennine Hills to the Eternal City. (BB)

Day 15Rome

(Sat.) Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 16Rome–Tuscany

(Sun.) An easy morning drive back north to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Follow your Local Guide to visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afterwards, check out the shops with Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)

Day 17Tuscany–Pisa –Nice, France

(Mon.) Focus on Pisa this morning for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then a scenic drive past a string of Italian and French Riviera resorts towards the Principality of Monaco. Here leave the highway for the panoramic Moyenne Corniche. Before arriving in Nice, visit one of the PERFUME FACTORIES for which the area is famous. This evening you might want to sample some French cuisine. (BB)

Day 18At Leisure in Nice

(Tue.) Full day to enjoy this enchanting resort on the Côte d’Azur at your own pace. Take your pick from fine museums, elegant shops, or stroll along the elegant Promenade des Anglais. You could also join a relaxed included walk with your Tour Director through the historic Old Town. In the late afternoon there’s an exciting optional outing to Monte Carlo. (BB)

Day 19Nice–Avignon–Lyon

(Wed.) Along the Côte d’Azur and past Cannes to Van Gogh’s beloved Provence. Stop in Avignon, an important spiritual center in the Middle Ages and the residence of several Popes and antipopes. Take your pictures of the gothic papal palace and the bridge of the popular song before proceeding through the orchards of the Rhône Valley to Lyon, the country’s secondlargest city. (BB,D)

Day 20Lyon–Paris

(Thu.) Follow the valley of the River Saône into Burgundy where road signs read like the wine list of an expensive restaurant on your way to Paris, the traditional climax of a European vacation. This afternoon, sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous sights: the Opéra, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and Champs-Elysées. For a bird’s-eye view take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER . Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket! (BB)

Day 21At Leisure in Paris

(Fri.) Another day to enjoy what this extraordinary metropolis has to offer. Explore the world capital of chic and style at your own pace: shop for perfume and fancy fashion accessories, take your pick from many fine museums or stroll through the magnificent parks. Optional excursions are available to the Louvre Museum and the lavish baroque Palace of Versailles. (BB)

Day 22
(Sat.) Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (BB)