Highlights of Europe - Winter departures

Varied landscapes, magnificent scenery, history galore, a treasure trove of art and architecture... a glorious reflection of Europe at her best.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Cruise along the romantic Rhine past medieval castles and leafy vineyards
    * Visit Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany's best preserved medieval town
    * Glide along the atmospheric canals of Venice by traditional gondola
    * Visit the Colosseum and view the Forum for an insight into ancient Rome
    * See Michelangelo's original statue of David in the Academy Gallery in Florence
    * Enjoy a cable-car and cog wheel train ride to experience stunning views of teh Swiss Alps
    * Visit the Palace and Gardens of Versailles, the imposing residence of Louis XIV.
    * Ascend the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views over Paris

Included Personal Insights

    * Know your 'Kwaks' from your 'Devils'! Enjoy an introduction to Belgian beer

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * Stroll along the canals and cobbled streets of Bruges to the Market Square
    * Walk from Brussels' Grand Place to the cheeky Mannekin Pis statue
    * View Gothic Cologne Cathedral
    * See Heidelberg's ruined Castle
    * Drive along part of Germany's Romantic Road
    * See the Olympic Stadium, Hofbräuhaus and visit Munich's Marienplatz
    * See Mozart's Birthplace and walk through Salzburg's Old Town
    * Cruise to St Mark's Square in Venice by private launch
    * See the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St Mark's Basilica
    * Enjoy a guided tour inside St Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's 'Pieta'
    * See the Cathedral, 'Gates of Paradise' and visit Signoria Square in Florence
    * View the Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
    * In Paris see Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe and drive along the Champs Élysées
    * Pause at the moving WWI cemetery and battlefield of Fromelles
    * Florentine leatherwork demonstration
    * Watch Venetian glass-blowing
    * Scenic Drives: Salzach Valley, Tauern Mountains, St Gotthard Route

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, Welcome on Tour book and information pack
    * Special airport transfer rates available

Included Quality Dining

    * Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Lucerne (DA)
    * 13 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 5 three-course table d'hôte dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
    * Departures on tour for Christmas & New Year's Eve, enjoy a festive celebration dinner
 

Tour details based on Nov 2011 - Apr 2012 departures.

Day 1 - LONDON - BRUGES - BRUSSELS

Transfer to Dover and set sail from the white cliffs over to France. Drive into Belgium for a stop in medieval Bruges. Stroll by canals and along cobbled streets to the Main Square, overlooked by the town belfry. Continue to Brussels, where you visit the Grand Place and cheeky Mannekin Pis statue. During your stay your Tour Director will introduce you to the world of Belgian beer! Valuable knowledge as you join your fellow guests for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Marriott Brussels

Day 2 - BRUSSELS - COLOGNE - HEIDELBERG

Travel into Germany to view the spires of Cologne Cathedral before continuing along the Rhine, via Bonn, to Boppard. Join a highlight cruise past medieval hill-top castles and steep leafy vineyards to the village of St Goar, near the legendary Loreley Rock. Continue on to Heidelberg, to see the cliff top castle before arriving at your hotel.

Hotel: NH Heidelberg (BB,D)

Day 3 - HEIDELBERG - ROTHENBURG - MUNICH

Stop in medieval Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, still surrounded by its old walls and watch towers, frozen in time since the 16th Century. Continue along the Romantic Road to the Bavarian capital of Munich. See the Olympic Stadium, Ludwigstrasse, Marienplatz and soaring neogothic Town Hall. Tonight, maybe sample a stein of beer in a local beer hall?

Hotel: Westin Grand Munich. (BB)

Day 4 - MUNICH - SALZBURG

A short drive leads over the Austrian border to Salzburg, the city of Mozart and the sound of Music. Sightseeing with our local guide shows you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, the imposing fortress, cathedral and Mozart's Birthplace in the lively Getreidegasse.

Hotel: Castellani Park Hotel (BB,D)

Day 5 - SALZBURG - VENICE

Enjoy a morning at leisure to shop for the local marzipan specialities or re-enact scenes or seek out locations from the Sound of Music? Later enjoy stunning scenery as you drive down to the Carinthian Lake District. Cross the Italian border and descend to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic.

Hotel: Carlton on the Grand Canal (BB,D)

Day 6 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Cruise down the canal to St. Mark's Square and alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges' Palace to the prisons. In the square, see the bell tower, the beautiful mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica and the Clock Tower Moors, who have been striking the hour for over 500 years. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, board a traditional gondola for a ride through the canals. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

Day 7 - VENICE - ROME

Head south over the Apennine Mountains and follow the 'Highway of the Sun' to Rome.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza St Peters (BB)

Day 8 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

Join a local guide to visit St Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's moving work the 'Pieta'. Drive across the Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death against armed warriors and wild beasts. Look out over the Roman Forum, once a bustling centre of commerce, law and religion. There is free time this afternoon. (BB)

Day 9 - ROME - FLORENCE

Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A local guide accompanies you to Michelangelo's statue of 'David' in the Academy Gallery and on to the Duomo, where the Gates of Paradise adorn the Baptistery. Continue to Signoria Square lined with fountains and statues. In the area around Santa Croce Basilica, view a demonstration of traditional leather work. Afterwards there is time to shop.

Hotel: Adler Cavalieri. (BB,D)

Day 10 - FLORENCE - LUCERNE

Journey north past the Italian Lake District to the Swiss border. Take the St Gotthard route and enjoy Alpine scenery all the way to Lucerne. Tonight, enjoy a Dine-Around evening which offers a choice of dining experiences, atmosphere and cuisine.

Hotel: Astoria (BB,DA)

Day 11 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

First visit Lucerne's emotive Lion Monument. See the covered Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church, then enjoy a Premium Highlight ascent of a Swiss mountain by cog-wheel train. From the summit, admire some of the best possible views of the snow-covered Alps. (BB,D)

Day 12 - LUCERNE - PARIS

Pass the Rhine port of Basel on your way to the French wine region of Burgundy. Continue on to glittering Paris for two nights in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche (BB)

Day 13 - PARIS AND VERSAILLES

Travel to elegant Versailles to visit the palace built for Louis XIV. Your guide leads you through the royal apartments and there is time to stroll in the formal gardens. Return to Paris for a guided sightseeing tour past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre building and the Opera House. Drive from the Place de la Concorde along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Now survey the city from the heights of the Eiffel Tower, built for the World's Exhibition of 1889. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)

Day 14 - PARIS - LONDON

Cross the battlefields of the Somme and pause for a moving visit at the WWI cemetery in Fromelles. Learn how our conservation partner, The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, helped find a final resting place for many of these brave men. Continue to the port of Calais and sail back to Dover. Continue to London, where your tour comes to an end. (BB)