European Breakaway

A short and sensational sojourn designed to capture the very essence of Europe, from the cobbled streets of Bruges to the elegant boulevards of Paris.

INSIGHT VACATIONS European Breakaway - Premium Highlights Plus These Extra Tour Features

Excursions & Sights

   * Visit the pretty Dutch fishing village of Volendam
   * Enjoy demonstrations of cheese-making, clog-making and diamond cutting in Holland
   * See Amsterdam's Dam Square, Royal Palace and Mint Tower
   * See the 'Bridge too far' in Arnhem
   * See the soaring Gothic cathedral in Cologne
   * Relax on a scenic highlight cruise along the most romantic stretch of the Rhine River
   * See Heidelberg's red sandstone castle
   * Scenic Black Forest drive
   * Cuckoo clock making demonstration in the Black Forest
   * Visit the Rhine Falls
   * See Lucerne's Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument & Jesuit Church
   * Drive past the Louvre and along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
   * See Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde & Opera House in Paris
   * See the White Cliffs of Dover

Guided City Tours

   * In depth sightseeing tour with expert local guide in Paris
   * Orientation tours in Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg & Lucerne

Insight's First Class Services

   * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
   * Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
   * First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
   * Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack
   * Free Airport transfers when booking our London hotel (See Savings page)

Quality Dining

   * Highlight Dinner aboard a floating restaurant in Amsterdam Harbour
   * 7 enhanced or buffet breakfasts and 3 three course table d'hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee

NSIGHT VACATIONS European Breakaway ITINERARY

Tour Pace

This is a well paced tour with two night stays in Amsterdam, Lucerne and Paris, allowing plenty of time for in depth sightseeing. The only one night stay is in the delightful Rhineland region of Germany. Comfortable driving days with frequent stops.

Day 1 - LONDON – AMSTERDAM

Meet your Tour Director and drive to Dover for the channel crossing to Calais. Follow the coast across “Flanders fair fields” to enter Belgium, past medieval Bruges and the port of Antwerp. Then enter your fourth country today, the Netherlands, and see the first of the windmills on the way to lively Amsterdam. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal, followed by time to relax and explore.

Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING – VOLENDAM EXCURSION

An orientation tour reveals the Mint Tower, Dam Square and Royal Palace. Then board a special sightseeing boat to cruise under low bridges, past the canal-side mansions built by wealthy merchants. This afternoon choose an included drive through the pleasant Dutch countryside to the traditional fishing village of Volendam, situated on what was once the Zuider Zee. This is followed by a photo-stop at one of the windmills and a visit to a cheese farm and ‘Klompenhuis’, where wooden clogs are made. Alternatively enjoy an afternoon at leisure to visit the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. Back in Amsterdam round off the day with a visit to a diamond cutting factory, whose industry dates back to the 16th century.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 3 - AMSTERDAM – RHINE CRUISE – RHINELAND

Leave Amsterdam bound for Germany. Pass Arnhem, renowned for its ‘Bridge Too Far’, then cross the Ruhr Basin to head for the Romantic Rhine Gorge. Time to explore the quaint wine village of Boppard before taking to the water for a delightful cruise past fortified towns and leafy vineyards. Pass the twin strongholds of the ‘Enemy Brothers’, the Cat and Mouse castles and hear the legend of the Loreley Rock. Rejoin the coach at St. Goar and continue to the town of Mannheim.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 4 - RHINELAND – HEIDELBERG - BLACK FOREST – LUCERNE

Enjoy some time this morning in the city of the ‘Student Prince’, to view the ruined cliff top castle. Take the scenic route along the Rhine Valley to the ancient city of Freiburg, before climbing into the heart of the Black Forest, home of the cuckoo clock industry. Enjoy an informative presentation on their origins and see how these clocks are made, then continue past Lake Titisee and cross the Swiss border. See the Rhine River thundering over the Rhine Falls before driving via Zurich to lake-side Lucerne. Check into your hotel, shop for chocolate or a special timepiece, and consider joining an optional Swiss Fondue Party in the evening.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

See Lucerne’s proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died defending the King during the French Revolution. Take time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit church. Later, embark on an exhilarating ride by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Admire the stunning panorama of snow-capped peaks – including the Eiger and Jungfrau – before descending over mountain crags and pine forests back to terra firma. For dinner tonight, choose your own style of cuisine from our selection of restaurants.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around

Day 6 - LUCERNE – PARIS

Leaving the Alpine region, cross the Rhine at Basel and continue into France. Travel past the fortified town of Belfort and along the forested ridges of the Jura Mountains to Burgundy. Continue through leafy vineyards and past the forests of Fontainebleau to arrive in the glittering French capital of Paris. Tonight enjoy wine and good company with an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner at a Parisian restaurant.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 7 - PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing with a local guide takes you by the Île de la Cité to see Notre Dame Cathedral with its famous tale of Quasimodo. Then visit one of the world’s best known art collections. Your guide leads you through the galleries of the Louvre to see the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa and many more priceless works amassed over the ages by the Kings of France. Sightseeing continues past Garnier’s splendid Opera House. See the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the grand Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views of the city. Then you are at leisure. Tonight, perhaps visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows for an evening of excitement and glamour?

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 8 - PARIS – LONDON

Cross the World War One battlefields of the Somme to arrive at the port of Calais for your return Channel crossing to England. The white cliffs of Dover will welcome you as you sail back into England. From here it’s a short drive through the Kent countryside to London, where your tour comes to an end.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
 

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

AMS01 - AALSMEER FLOWER AUCTIONS
Each day, 19 million flowers and 2 million plants are sold at 'Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer'. This is the world's largest flower auction and you will experience the excitement of a live 'Dutch auction' from a specially designed viewing gallery. You will be dazzled by the millions of flowers being prepared for export. EURO 20

AMS02 - DUTCH BULBFIELDS
Holland's Bollenstreek (bulb district) is a short drive from Amsterdam and is a seasonal delight. In the spring and summer months, millions of Dutch tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs erupt into a riot of colour from their orderly rows. The entrance fee is included. (This excursion is only available in season). EURO 28

AMS05 - DUTCH DINNER & SAILOR'S QUARTER
Tonight we dine in a beautiful historic restaurant which offers a wide selection of food and beverages. After dinner we'll take a guided walk through the famous 'Sailors Quarter' of the city. EURO 55

HEI01 - HEIDELBERG CASTLE
The symbol of German Romanticism. The ruins of the once grand Heidelberg Castle rise up on a rocky hilltop with spectacular views above the old town. Our local guide shows us see garden terraces, the ruined castle defences and the inner courtyard with its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque facades from different periods. A visit to the Heidelberg castle is a highlight of the German castle road. It is the number one attraction in Germany's oldest university town. EURO 24

LCR01A - LAKE LUCERNE HAPPY HOUR CRUISE
Widely considered to be the loveliest of the mountain lakes, much of the shoreline of Lake Lucerne can only be fully appreciated from the water. Admire the spectacular homes of the fortunate few, privileged to live on its scenic shores, as we cruise gently by. Two drinks will be served during the trip. EURO 38

LCR14 - CARRIAGES & COUNTRYSIDE
A chance to meet the Swiss, as local farmers take us on a delightful countryside tour in horse-drawn carriages. Enjoy stunning scenery as we trot around a typical rural community, en route to a local farm where local drinks and snacks will be served. EURO 45

LCR05 - SWISS EVENING
Enjoy a tasty Swiss meal (one of the courses will be the famous Swiss cheese fondue) in a typical restaurant. Whilst you enjoy dinner, join in the fun of a lively folklore show which includes yodelling, flag throwing, Alpenhorn blowing and other great Swiss entertainment. Drinks are included. EURO 74

PAR27 - DINNER, SEINE CRUISE & ILLUMINATIONS TOUR
An excellent dinner in a traditional Parisian Bistro is followed by a cruise along the River Seine to view famous sights from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame cathedral. The evening ends with a tour of the spectacular illuminations of Paris. EURO 78

PAR02 - SEINE CRUISE & ILLUMINATIONS
After our leisurely Seine Cruise we take a magical tour of the 'city of light'. EURO 32

PAR24 - MOULIN ROUGE
Dinner and cabaret at the world famous Moulin Rouge – the original Parisian cabaret – immortalized by the recent award winning film! EURO 145
NOUVELLE EVE - Dinner with wine included at one of the most prestigious cabarets in town. An evening of exciting acts, stunning tableaux and wonderful entertainment. EURO 125