Start this amazing family vacation with a welcome dinner, then discover London on a traditional London double-decker bus. See the major sites like Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Enjoy a “flight” on the London Eye, the world’s tallest observation wheel with stunning views of the city. Then enjoy time for independent sightseeing. Next, an exciting ride on the high-speed Eurostar train to Paris. Upon arrival, ride the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The next morning, sightseeing with a Local Guide features all the major sites of Paris, like the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and the Opéra. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral and taste a French crêpe.Travel to Strasbourg on the border with Germany, and enjoy a canal cruise. Next: Lucerne in the heart of the Alps for a walking tour and excursion to Mount Pilatus, with spectacular panoramic views of central Switzerland. On the way to Austria, visit an original Swiss chocolate confectionary and learn all about chocolate making. Also stop in Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, before arriving in Innsbruck in Tyrol. See Maximilian’s Golden Roof and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride. In Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, visit Hohenwerfen Fortress, which dates to 1077 and where you will learn about traditional hunting methods using birds of prey. In Munich, Germany, guided sightseeing features Marienplatz, and you can try a German brezel. Another highlight is a visit to King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle, used as inspiration for the Disney Castle. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in London, England. Welcome to jolly old England! Enjoy free time today to rest before your adventure begins, or you may choose to set out on your own to discover London. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a WELCOME PARTY & DINNER at your hotel. (D)
Day #2 Ride a Double-Decker Bus & Experience the London Eye. Hop aboard a traditional London double-decker bus for a memorable morning of sightseeing that includes all the famous landmarks: Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Prime Minister’s home and office at Number 10 Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Then, a ride on the LONDON EYE, Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing. Consider a visit to the Tower of London or to Windsor Castle. This evening, maybe dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (B)
Day #3 Travel the “Chunnel” & See Paris from Atop the Eiffel Tower. All aboard the high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN today! You’ll zoom up to 150 miles per hour, traveling through the undersea Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) and arriving in just over two hours in fabulous Paris, the “City of Light.” Later, take the elevator to the TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER, the tallest structure in Paris, for an unforgettable experience overlooking the city. Tonight, sample French cuisine at your included dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #4 Visit a Cathedral & Try a Crêpe. This morning, your Local Guide shows you what makes Paris so captivating. Admire the most famous sights: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and visit NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, setting for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Try counting the many gargoyles, or marvel at its beautiful stained-glass Rose Window. Later, sample one of France’s specialties—a freshly made CRÊPE. (B)
Day #5 Cruise the Canals of Strasbourg. Travel to Strasbourg, near the border with Germany, and admire the city from a different point of view. Enjoy a CANAL CRUISE onboard a comfortable boat, past the must-see sights of the Alsatian capital. This evening, sample tarte flambée and choucroute at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #6 Come Face to Face with a Lion. Upon arrival in German-speaking Lucerne, enjoy free time for lunch, then a guided walking tour to stretch your legs. Admire the LION MONUMENT, which honors the fallen Swiss Guards who were killed during the French Revolution; the picturesque Old Town; and the CHAPEL BRIDGE, originally built in 1333 and the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe! (B,D)
Day #7 Excursion to Mount Pilatus. On a clear day you can see forever—or so it seems! Via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, as well as the aerial tramway and panoramic gondolas, climb 7,000 feet and enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of central Switzerland from [LF] MOUNT PILATUS. Legend says dragons once lived in the rugged clefts and crevices of this mountain, so be sure to watch for them as you climb! Enjoy free time to stroll up the winding Dragon Path or maybe try the giant Pilatus Tubing alpine slide. (B)
Day #8 Satisfy your Sweet Tooth & Stop in tiny Liechtenstein. Today you will journey to an authentic [LF] Swiss CHOCOLATE CONFECTIONARY, where you can try your skill at making a mouth-watering treat. On your way to Innsbruck in Austria, stop for a break in Vaduz, capital of the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein—only 62 square miles in area and the only country in the world to lie entirely within the Alps! (B,D)
Day #9 See a Golden Roof & Take a Tyrolean Carriage Ride. In Innsbruck, an orientation walk of the city shows off Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF, a 3-story balcony built as a royal box where the emperor could sit in luxury and enjoy tournaments in the square below. Later, trot along in a [LF] HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE and admire the beautiful Tyrolean valley—a great photo opportunity. (B)
Day #10 Hohenwerfen Fortress & Falconry Demonstration. Today, visit [LF] HOHENWERFEN FORTRESS, which dates back to 1077 and is perched atop a 508-foot-high, jutting rock. A diagonal elevator whisks you to the upper castle courtyard for a tour of the fortress and its grounds. This is also home to the First Austrian Falconry Museum and the Birds of Prey Nature Trail. Here, watch and learn about traditional hunting methods using birds of prey during flight demonstrations by professional falconers. Later, arrive in The Sound of Music’s Salzburg for an overnight. (B)
Day #11 Explore the Land of Oktoberfest. Today, travel to Munich, home to giant pretzels, beer gardens, and oom-pah-pah music. Guided sightseeing features the Olympic Stadium with its 1,000-foot-high Television Tower and MARIENPLATZ with its spectacular Glockenspiel that chimes three times a day during summer, its life-size statues re-enacting a story from the 16th century. Also, try a tasty Bavarian BREZEL. (B)
Day #12 Step into a Fairytale at Neuschwanstein Castle. Located in the Bavarian Alps on a hilltop overlooking Hohenschwangau Valley, enjoy a guided visit of mad King Ludwig II’s magical NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE. This fairytale refuge was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Also marvel at the king’s nearby childhood residence, Hohenschwangau Castle. This evening, a SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #13 Munich. Auf Wiedersehen. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
