Vibrant Europe

Welcome to Prague. Upon arrival at the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel. Please check the information boards in the hotel reception for details about the welcome meeting with your guide. In the evening, we will take you to the Old Town Square, a vibrant hub of activity popular with visitors. You can enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants here, offering a range of international cuisines including Czech, Chinese, Indian, and Italian. Afterwards, we will transfer you back to the hotel.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour.

Today we explore Prague, often celebrated as the Baroque jewel of Europe. Our local guide will take us on a panoramic tour of the city’s most remarkable landmarks, including a visit to Prague Castle, with admission included. Following the castle, we’ll enjoy a scenic boat ride along the Vltava River. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to discover the city at your own pace.

We leave Prague early and travel west to Pilsen, a city famed for its beer heritage. You’ll have time to explore the historic centre, including the Old Town Square, the cathedral, the Plague Column, and the Renaissance town hall. Continuing into Germany, we follow a section of the Romantic Road to Rothenburg, a picturesque medieval town often regarded as one of the country’s most beautiful. Later, we head to Frankfurt, Germany’s financial hub. Upon arrival in the evening, you’ll have free time to enjoy dinner in the historic city centre, which offers a variety of international restaurants including Indian, Asian, and Italian options.

Today, we’ll enjoy a scenic cruise along the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine River between the villages of Rüdesheim and St. Goar. Afterwards, we’ll travel to Cologne, a city famed for its imposing Gothic cathedral. In the evening, we’ll continue on to the Netherlands, arriving in Amsterdam later tonight.

Today we’ll visit some of the most picturesque spots in the Netherlands. Our first stop is Zaanse Schans, known for its charming traditional houses, canals, and working windmills. Next, we head to Volendam, a scenic fishing village full of character. From there, we take a short boat ride to Marken, once an island and famous for houses built on stilts to protect against flooding. In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour of Amsterdam, taking in highlights such as the iconic windmill, the Rembrandt statue, the modern elegance of the South District, and the diamond-cutting heritage at Museum Square. The tour concludes with a walk into the heart of the city, where you’ll have free time to explore Amsterdam’s renowned canals, markets, and cafés.

After breakfast, we travel to Belgium, just over 200 kilometres away, to Brussels – the Belgian capital and home to key European institutions. We will admire the impressive Grand Place, a fine example of Flemish Baroque architecture, and stroll past the famous Manneken Pis statue. Brussels offers a distinctive blend of history, chocolate culture, and modern urban life. In the afternoon, we continue into France, arriving in Paris by the end of the day.

We’ll begin the day by visiting the magnificent Palace of Versailles, famed for its grand architecture and extensive gardens (admission not included). After returning to Paris, we’ll explore Montmartre, a distinctive bohemian neighbourhood known for its artistic heritage and vibrant cabaret scene. To capture the full splendour of Paris, we’ll then take a guided panoramic tour of the city, highlighting its broad avenues and iconic landmarks. Following the tour, we’ll return to the hotel. In the evening, there is an optional variety show for those who wish to experience Parisian entertainment.

We begin the day in central Paris with a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower, where we’ll take you up to the second floor of this famous iron landmark – tickets are included. Following this, we’ll enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Seine River, lasting about an hour and fifteen minutes, offering a unique perspective of the city. The afternoon is free for you to explore Paris at your own pace – please note that transfers back to the hotel are not included. Should wait times at the Eiffel Tower be long, we may reschedule the visit to a different time or day for your convenience.

Today, we travel through the heart of France’s Burgundy region, famous for its scenic vineyards and exceptional wines. Our first stop is Beaune, a charming town known for its colourful streets, historic hospice, and wine museum. You’ll have free time for lunch and a stroll around before we continue to Lyon, the former capital of Roman Gaul, set on the banks of the Rhône River. Lyon’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll take a cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière, where we can enjoy panoramic views over the city. Afterwards, you’ll have some free time to explore at your own pace. Please note, in some cases part of the group will stay overnight in Chambéry, near Lyon. If so, you’ll spend the evening there and have time the following morning to visit its medieval-style centre and impressive castle.

Today, we travel into Switzerland, arriving in Geneva where we pass the Palace of Nations?the European headquarters of the United Nations. We will explore the attractive English Garden, featuring the famous flower clock, and take in views of the Jet d?Eau, Europe's tallest fountain. After lunch, we continue along scenic routes beside Lake Geneva and Lake Neuch?tel, driving through the picturesque Three Lakes region, with vineyards set against a mountain backdrop. We stop in Neuch?tel, where you can enjoy a lakeside walk, visit the historic town centre, or see the 10th-century castle. Our journey ends in Zurich, with arrival scheduled for late afternoon. Depending on group size, this stretch from Geneva to Zurich may be completed by train, in which case the stop in Neuch?tel will be omitted.

We’ll explore Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and its financial and cultural hub. Known for its banking sector, Zurich has been recognised twice as the city with the best quality of life worldwide. Following our city tour, we’ll enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich lasting nearly two hours, with brief stops at charming lakeside villages. We’ll disembark in Rapperswil, a picturesque town famous for its medieval castle, then return to Zurich by train. This offers a chance to experience the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss rail system. Depending on group size, transfers to and from the city centre may be by public transport.

Today’s journey takes us through some of Switzerland’s most spectacular scenery, featuring towering mountains and crystal-clear lakes. We begin in the Interlaken region with a stop in Grindelwald for a coffee break, followed by a cable car ascent to the mountain. From the summit, we walk along a winding path to a suspended bridge offering impressive views of the surrounding glaciers—for those feeling adventurous, crossing the bridge is a memorable experience. Lunch is served on the mountain before we descend and travel to Lucerne. Here, you’ll have free time to explore one of Switzerland’s most picturesque cities with its charming streets and historic landmarks. We then return to Zurich for the evening. For those interested, your guide will offer an optional full-day excursion starting in the morning, which includes free time in Lucerne followed by a rotating cable car ride to the summit of Mount Titlis. At over 3,000 metres above sea level, the alpine peak provides stunning views of glaciers and the Alps.

We leave Zurich early, crossing the Alps into the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Our first stop is Bellinzona, famous for its three medieval castles, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These hilltop fortifications once guarded key alpine passages. You’ll have free time to explore the town’s charming centre before we continue into Italy. We pause in Como for lunch in this picturesque lakefront town, known for its beautiful gardens and impressive cathedral. Later, we arrive in Milan, where our guide will take us to the grand Piazza del Duomo. You’ll have some time to wander before we transfer you to the hotel for the night.

We continue our journey to Pisa, where we board a small tourist train to the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). Here, you’ll have time to admire this remarkable complex, including the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Later in the day, we travel onward to Rome, arriving in the evening.

In the morning, we’ll take a three-hour guided tour of Rome, beginning with a walking exploration of Imperial Rome followed by a panoramic bus ride through the city. You’ll see iconic landmarks including the Arch of Constantine, the exterior of the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Pyramid of Cestius, and Castel Sant’Angelo. The tour concludes at Vatican City around 11:00 a.m., where you can choose to join an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Later, we’ll provide a transfer to the vibrant Trastevere neighbourhood, known for its atmospheric restaurants and lively streets. We’ll return to the hotel at approximately 8:30 p.m.

We leave Rome this morning and travel north through picturesque landscapes until we reach Florence. Upon arrival, we head straight to Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city. From there, we walk down to the historic centre and pause for lunch. In the afternoon, we take a guided walking tour with a local expert, visiting key landmarks including the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria. Florence is truly an open-air museum, and afterwards you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. In the evening, you can choose from a wide range of restaurants offering international cuisine in this vibrant district.

Today, we travel north from Florence, crossing the scenic Apennine Mountains en route to Venice. Upon arrival, we take a boat across the Giudecca Canal to the historic island. With a local guide, we explore the stunning St Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice. Afterwards, we visit the Murano Glass Factory to witness the time-honoured craft of glassmaking. You will then have some free time to explore Venice at your own pace. This evening, we stay overnight in the Mestre district.

After breakfast, your journey concludes, leaving you with wonderful memories of your trip.