A superb tour starting in London then on through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria, and into Italy.

Day 1 Tue.

BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

Day 2 Wed. 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 Thu. 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 Fri. LONDON-PARIS, FRANCE
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 you’ll be met by your Tour Director and luxury coach. Drive through the French countryside by way of the fast autoroute, arriving in Paris in time to enjoy your first evening here. (B)

Day 5 Sat. PARIS

One full day to explore the city that’s known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. This evening why not join an optional welcome dinner. (B)

Day 6 Sun. PARIS-LAKE LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND

Fascinating, ever-changing scenery today. Views of Fontainebleau Forest, the wine-growing area of Burgundy, then prosperous farms and tidy half-timbered villages as you head through the Alpine heart of Switzerland to picture-book Lake Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 7 Mon. LUCERNE

Enjoy one of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your sightseeing focuses on the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument—a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. 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, a typical Swiss folklore evening, and, of course, time to shop for that very Swiss watch. (B)

Day 8 Tue. LAKE LUCERNE-LUGANO-VENICE AREA, ITALY

More wonderful Alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard. Once through its great tunnel, you’ll start your scenic descent into the warmer and sunnier ambiance of the Canton Ticino. Stop in beautiful Lugano and take a stroll along the lakeside promenade. In the afternoon, cross into Italy and drive through the Lombardy plains on to Verona for a stop to see Juliet’s balcony. Overnight in the Venice area. (B)

Day 9 Wed. VENICE

Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and little quiet piazzas. The included tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)

Day 10 Thu. VENICE AREA-FLORENCE AREA

Start the day by journeying south across the Apennines into the gentle and hilly countryside of Tuscany, to Florence for an included walking tour with a Local Guide. (B,D)

Day 11 Fri. FLORENCE AREA-PISA-ROME

Traffic is banned in part of the historic center so visitors can wander at leisure and admire this Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis. Later, stop in Pisa to see the famed Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower. Then journey south to Rome. Tonight an optional evening drive through the city, a floodlit spectacular of shimmering fountains, magnificent churches and piazzas, followed by dinner. (B)

Day 12 Sat. ROME

Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

Day 13 Sun.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Price – Land only:
$1,500 US approx. per double double occupancy