Below is a brief summary of the itinerary. For a full description, see "Itinerary". The hours in parentheses ( ) indicate time on the motor coach between stops.
DAY 1 - Overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Europe.
DAY 2 - Arrive at Frankfurt Airport. Meet your tour manager and transfer (1¼ hr) to your hotel in Schriesheim, near Heidelberg. In the afternoon, visit the old town of Heidelberg (½ hr each way). Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner. (Dinner)
DAY 3 - Scenic travel (2½ hrs) to the beautifully-preserved, medieval, walled town of Rothenburg. After
a generous visit in Rothenburg, follow the Romantic Road (1½ hr) to one
of the charming, old-world villages. Continue to Adelsried (1½ hr) for overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 4 - Motor (1 hr) to the Bavarian capital of Munich for sightseeing and free time. Continue across the German-Austrian border to the Imperial City of Innsbruck (2
hrs). Free time for independent sightseeing in Innsbruck. Proceed to
the nearby Stubaital Valley resort village of Fulpmes (¾ hr), where you will spend the next two nights. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 5 - Free day to explore on your own. Or, join the optional, full-day 'Bavarian Palace' excursion
during which you will travel across the scenic Seefeld Pass (1½ hr),
visit Linderhof Palace, ride through Bavaria (1¼ hr), and make a photo
stop of Neuschwanstein Castle. Return to Fulpmes(1¾ hr). Independent dinner or join the optional 'Tyrolean Show & Dinner' excursion (½-hr transfer, each way). (Breakfast)
DAY 6 - Cross the spectacular Brenner
Pass through the "Dolomites" (1½ hr). After the customary morning break,
continue to subtropical Lake Garda (2 hrs). Free time for independent lunch and relaxation. Continue to legendary Verona (1¼ hr) of Romeo & Juliet fame. There will be two transfers (¼ hr), from Verona to your hotel in nearby Bussolengo, one at 6 pm and one at 8 pm. (Breakfast)
DAY 7 - Spend a leisurely day in Verona or on beautiful Lake Garda. Or, join the full day optional excursion to 'Venice' (2-hr transfer each way between Bussolengo and Venice). Spend the night in Bussolengo. (Breakfast)
DAY 8 - Travel through northern Italy (2½ hrs). After a border stop, cross into Switzerland (1 hr). Check out Lugano,
the "Rio of the Old Continent". Motor through William Tell country (2
hrs) with a short stop in Altdorf. Then, continue (1 hr) to the Lake Lucerne Region for a two-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 9 - Short ride (½ hr) to the mountain resort of Stans this morning, with the opportunity to take an optional 'Swiss Mountain' funicular ride. On to Lucerne(½ hr) for afternoon sightseeing and an optional 'Swiss Lake Boat Ride & Dinner'. At 4:30 pm, return (¾ hr) to your Lake Lucerne Region hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 10 - To Basel (1½ hr), at the
conjunction of Switzerland, Germany and France. Cross the border into
the Alsace Region of France (1½ hr). After an early lunch stop, it's on
to Beaune (1½ hr) with time to explore this medieval village in the Burgundy wine region. Proceed to Auxerre (2 hrs) for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 11 - Auxerre to morning stop outside
Paris (1½ hr). On to Paris (1 hr), arriving in the city center at
approximately 11 am. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Paris, with opportunities for two optional excursions, namely 'Seine River Cruise' and 'Paris Evening'.
Between afternoon sightseeing and individual evening activities, your
tour manager will schedule a transfer (¾ hr) to the hotel.(Breakfast)
DAY 12 - Head North to Belgium (1½ hr). After the customary mid-morning break, continue to Antwerp (2
hrs), capital of the Belgian Region called "Flanders". In the
afternoon, motor across the Dutch border and the reclaimed land (2½ hrs)
to the Polder town of Lelystad for a two-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 13 - Day of leisure to explore Holland. Or, join the optional 'Grand Holland' excursion
beginning with a drive through Holland's countryside (1 hr) and a stop
at a picturesque Dutch village. Continue to Amsterdam (1 hr) for free time and a boat ride through the canals. Return to yourLelystad hotel (1½ hr) in time for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 14 - Travel across the German border
(2½ hrs). Take a break, before continuing through the Rhine River Valley
(2 hrs) to Boppard. Board aRhine steamer for an upstream cruise on the legendary river. After disembarkation, proceed to the Rhine wine village of Ruedesheim (1¼ hr). (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 15 - Transfer (1½ hr) to the Frankfurt Airport for the daytime flight back to the U.S.A. (Breakfast)
