Day
1 Fri.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Sat. ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check
into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring the
lively British capital. Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make
the most of your stay.
Day 3
Sun. 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 maybe a leisurely cruise
on the River Thames? (B)
Day 4
Mon. LONDON-BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Leave
London in the early morning and head through the lush English
countryside to the Channel port, where you board your ferry for the
Continent. Here meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for
the drive to Brussels. (B)
Day 5
Tue. BRUSSELS-LUXEMBOURG-THE RHINELAND, GERMANY-FRANKFURT AREA
Drive
south this morning into the Duchy of Luxembourg. Cross the German
border and make a stop in ancient Trier before continuing through the
splendid scenery of the Moselle Valley. A choice this afternoon of the
included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more
thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei Rock,
hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards.
Just a few more miles by coach to the overnight in the Frankfurt area.
(B,D)
Day 6
Wed. FRANKFURT AREA-NUREMBERG-SALZBURG AREA, AUSTRIA
Journey
through the heart of Germany on the highway to reach Nuremberg, at one
time Germany’s most beautiful city and much later famed for the war
criminal trials which took place in 1945. Stop for a short visit. Drive
south this afternoon through Bavaria, past Munich, across the
German-Austrian border, and into the Salzburg area for an overnight.
(B,D)
Day
7 Thu. SALZBURG AREA-VIENNA
A
morning to enjoy some optional sightseeing in Salzburg, Mozart’s
hometown. In the afternoon journey through the Salzkammergut Lakelands
of Sound of Music fame, past Mondsee to follow the Danube
almost all the way to Vienna. (B)
Day 8
Fri. VIENNA
Start
the morning with an included sightseeing tour featuring the State
Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’
Square to view the Hofburg. Finally, an inside visit of St. Stephen’s
Cathedral. Complete the day by joining the optional excursion to
Schönbrunn Palace. (B)
Day
9 Sat. VIENNA-LAKE BALATON, HUNGARY-BUDAPEST
East
today into Hungary through the historic city of Györ. Next, the
vast
stretch of Lake Balaton unfolds as you drive through some of its summer
resorts. Reach Budapest by way of Martonvasar, where Beethoven wrote
his Appassionata. Tonight an optional cruise on the Danube to
enjoy the fascinating city illuminations. (B,D)
Day
10 Sun. BUDAPEST
Buda
Castle dominates the twin cities of Buda and Pest, separated by the
broad ribbon of the Danube. Heroes’ Square typifies the modern capital,
while along the riverbank you find the old inns and wine cellars.
Included sightseeing takes in the Parliament building, Margaret Island,
Fishermen’s Bastion, the Royal Castle, and Matthias Coronation Church.
(B)
Day
11 Mon. BUDAPEST-PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Start
the day by traveling into Slovakia. Once across the border, have a
break in Bratislava, its capital. Drive north to cross yet another
border into the Czech Republic. The highway will take you through
Bohemia, an enchanted land of castles, spas, and picket-fenced
villages. Evening arrival in Prague. (B,D)
Day
12 Tue. PRAGUE
The
wealth of Gothic and Baroque architecture here perhaps inspired Dvorak
and Smetana, both Prague composers. Included sightseeing features
landmarks such as the National Theater, Belvedere, Charles Bridge, and
the old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock. (B,D)
Day
13 Wed. PRAGUE-DRESDEN, GERMANY-BERLIN
Discover
more of Bohemia as you journey towards the German frontier. Next, the
mountains and fortresses of the Erzgebirge range. Today’s highlight is
a stop in Dresden, a magnificently restored city after its almost total
destruction in World War II. In the afternoon travel north across the
River Elbe to reach Berlin for two overnights. Maybe join the optional
dinner outing. (B)
Day
14 Thu. BERLIN
Included
sightseeing focuses on the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the Europa
Center. Reunited Berlin has regained not only its territorial integrity
but also the status of a German capital. There is also the option of
visiting Berlin's most important museums. (B)
Day
15 Fri. BERLIN-RHINELAND
Back
on the Autobahn this morning past Brunswick on the way to Hamelin. Stop
and hear the story of the Pied Piper. Next, the grand scenery of the
Teutoburger Forest and into the Ruhr, then farther west to the
Rhineland for an overnight. (B,D)
Day
16 Sat. RHINELAND-LONDON, ENGLAND
A
comfortable drive this morning to the Channel port for your ferry
crossing from the Continent to England. Through Kent return to London
for an evening arrival. (B)
Day
17 Sun.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY (B)