18 days international group luxury coach bus tour Europe England France, Switzerland to Rome
Program
This international holiday is a mix of culture, history, and just fun. On this Best of Europe tour, you will start with visiting London, the British capital, where you could join one of our optional excursions or just enjoy time at leisure discovering the city on your own. From there, you’ll take the Euro-star train to Brussels and then carry on your journey by coach to discover many interesting destinations. On guided sightseeing tours, you’ll visit the must-see sights—including those that will delight history fans—such as Amsterdam’s canals; Rome’s St Peter Square and the Colosseum; Florence’s renaissance old city center; Paris’s most famous landmarks and much more. On this comprehensive European tour, you’ll also enjoy spectacular scenery. You’ll drive through the picturesque Rhineland with its scenic countryside, historic castles, and charming villages, and you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Italian and French Riviera’s. Sit back and relax as you drive past the Burgundy vineyards in France and through gorgeous alpine scenery from Switzerland to Italy. You’ll stand in awe as you witness the blue sea and amazing views on the Sorrento coast and on the legendary island of Capri, and you’ll love the green hills and valleys as you travel through Umbria to visit Assisi.
Day 1: ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND.
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts and the Cosmos GO app are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day 2: LONDON.
A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, how about dinner followed by a leisurely cruise on the Thames River? (B)
Day 3: LONDON–BRUSSELS–AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLLAND.
Transfer to the railway station and board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels with your Tour Director. Board your luxury motor coach for the drive to the Amsterdam area. (B)
Day 4: AMSTERDAM AREA–WIESBADEN, GERMANY.
Today, enjoy sightseeing in Amsterdam with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights, followed by a CANAL CRUISE to see the city from water level, then stop to watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a DIAMOND CENTER. This afternoon, continue your journey to Wiesbaden. (B)
Day 5: WIESBADEN–HEIDELBERG–LUCERNE AREA, SWITZERLAND.
Drive through the picturesque Rhineland and enjoy splendid scenery as you skirt the Rhine River. Next, drive into Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg, nicely located at the confluence of the Neckar and Rhine Rivers, for a short visit. Continue to the Lucerne area. (B)
Day 6: LUCERNE AREA.
Lucerne is nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and graced by the clear mountain waters of the Reuss River. Your orientation includes the LION MONUMENT, erected in memory of the 800 Swiss Guards who defended Louis XVI and his wife; and the wooden CHAPEL BRIDGE. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cable-car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, time to shop for an authentic Swiss watch. (B)
Day 7: LUCERNE AREA–VERONA, ITALY–VENICE AREA.
More wonderful alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard Pass leading to the warmer and sunnier ambiance of Canton Ticino, then cross into Italy and drive across the Po Valley to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s house and balcony, and stroll around the picturesque market square. Tonight, you are in the Venice area. (B)
Day 8: VENICE AREA.
Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and busy little piazzas. Your included orientation starts with a BOAT RIDE to St. Mark’s Square and is followed by free time to soak up the city’s unique atmosphere and a chance to visit a GLASSBLOWING WORKSHOP. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B, D)
Day 9: VENICE AREA–ASSISI–ROME.
An interesting drive southward, crossing the rolling Apennines. Stop in medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182, and visit the world-famous BASILICA with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Then, head for Rome. (B)
Day 10: ROME.
The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts with St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Other highlights are the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built and Circus Maximus. (B)
Day 11: ROME–POMPEII–SORRENTO AREA.
Travel south all the way today, with the Vesuvius volcano in the distance. Visit Pompeii, where time stopped in 79 AD when the Vesuvius eruption totally buried it. On your included visit to the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, see the luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum. Just a few more miles to reach the lively Sorrento Area. (B)
Day 12: SORRENTO AREA. EXCURSION TO CAPRI.
Cross the blue sea for a full-day excursion to the legendary island of Capri. Surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, Capri has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. The town, with its pretty piazzetta, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and cozy restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional tour takes you around the island with its steep roads and panoramic views. (B, D)
Day 13: SORRENTO AREA–FLORENCE.
An early journey north to Florence. Vistas of rolling hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Arrive in Florence in the afternoon in time to enjoy its magnificent architectural and artistic treasures; the included walking tour with a Local Guide shows the highlights. (B, D)
Day 14: FLORENCE–PISA–ÈZE, FRANCE–FRENCH RIVIERA.
Stop in Pisa where you hop on a mini train to see the SQUARE OF MIRACLES and the famous Leaning Tower. Bypassing the great port of Genoa, drive northwest for glimpses of the Italian and French Rivieras. Visit a typical Provence PERFUME WORKSHOP in Èze and later reach the shores of the charming Côte d’Azur. (B)
Day 15: FRENCH RIVIERA–SAINT-ANDRÉ-LES-ALPES–ROUTE NAPOLEON–GRENOBLE.
Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon as he escaped from exile in Elba. Following the Route Napoleon, and stop for some crispy fresh air in Saint André Les Alpes before reaching Grenoble—now an alpine sports mecca and site of the 1968 Winter Olympic Games. (B, D)
Day 16: GRENOBLE–BEAUNE–PARIS.
Enjoy the very heart of the Burgundy wine-growing region, making a stop in lovely Beaune, surrounded by some of the world’s finest vineyards. Continue northward to the exciting city of Paris, capital of France. (B)
Day 17: PARIS.
Paris is a world-class city with more familiar landmarks than almost any other city in the world. This morning, see the main sights during the included city tour with a Local Guide. In the afternoon, a chance to feel like a French aristocrat as you join the optional walking tour through the immense Palace of Versailles. This evening, why not join an optional farewell dinner? (B)
Day 18: PARIS.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight home (B)
Price US$4988 per person sharing, minimum two people. (without flights)
Domestic rate ksh.525, 900 per person sharing, minimum two people. (without flights)
Departures are daily but advisable February to November
