This vacation consists almost entirely of two-night stays in a variety of famous cities and picturesque towns. In Amsterdam enjoy guided sightseeing and a canal cruise. Also enjoy a romantic cruise on the Rhine River, an overnight stay in Heidelberg, where dinner with beer at a local restaurant has been included, and a stop in medieval Rothenburg. In Munich, visit Marienplatz, then stay two nights in Ettal, near the Passion Play village of Oberammergau, and visit the beautiful Ettal Abbey, founded in 1330, followed by a liquor tasting in the company of the abbey monks. Also included is a visit to nearby King Ludwig’s Castle in Neuschwanstein, which was the inspiration for the Disney Castle. Next, drive through the Alps via Innsbruck to Italy. Stay overnight in Bolzano in the Dolomites, the “Rocky Mountains of Europe,” and enjoy a Prosecco wine tasting in Conegliano, before arriving in Venice, where guided sightseeing includes St. Mark’s Basilica and Doges’ Palace with its Bridge of Sighs. From Venice, drive to Lake Maggiore, and stop in Stresa, with the possibility to visit enchanting Isola Bella. Then, enter Switzerland, and arrive in car-free Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, for your overnight stay. In the morning, an optional ride on Europe’s highest rack railway to the Gornergrat is available. Next is French-speaking Montreux of festival fame for an overnight stay, before boarding the high-speed TGV train from Lausanne to Paris, where guided sightseeing features a visit to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. A full day at leisure in the French capital offers the possibility to visit the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Museum. Transfer to London by Eurostar train and enjoy two nights, Host service, and guided sightseeing with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Changing of the Guard, if held.

City Highlights

AMSTERDAM Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing; canal cruise; visit a major diamond centerRHINE CRUISEHEIDELBERG Take pictures of the castle; [LF] dinner with beer at a local restaurantROTHENBURG Walking tour of the walled townMUNICH Orientation including MarienplatzOBERAMMERGAU AREA[LF] Visit Ettal Benedictine Monastery; liquor tastingNEUSCHWANSTEIN [LF] Visit King Ludwig’s castleINNSBRUCK Walk through the Old Town to the Golden RoofDOLOMITESWalking tour in Bolzano; [LF] Prosecco wine tastingVENICE Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblower demonstrationLAKE MAGGIOREStop in the town of StresaTÄSCH–ZERMATT–TÄSCH By mountain trainLAUSANNE–PARIS By high-speed TGV train (first-class)PARISGuided sightseeing, ascend the Eiffel TowerPARIS-LONDON By high-speed Eurostar TrainLONDONGuided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and see the Changing of the Guard, if heldHeadsets throughout the tour

Hotels

AMSTERDAM NH Carlton (F)HEIDELBERG NH Heidelberg (F)OBERAMMERGAU AREA Klosterhotel Ludwig der Bayer (F) at EttalDOLOMITES Four Points by Sheraton (F) at BolzanoVENICE NH Laguna Palace (F) at MestreZERMATT Walliserhof (F)MONTREUX Eurotel Riviera (F)PARIS Radisson Blu Boulogne (SF) or Mövenpick (SF) at Neuilly sur SeineLONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF) or The Grosvenor Victoria (SF)

Meals

Full buffet breakfast (B); 7 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Amsterdam and a special dinner in Heidelberg

Notes

NOTE:In the rare event that the TGV train or the Eurostar train is unavailable, alternative services will be provided.

Transportation

Motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; canal cruise in Amsterdam; Rhine River cruise; private boat in Venice; mountain train in Zermatt; high-speed first-class TGV train; high-speed Eurostar train

PRODUCT_LINE: GLOBUS-HBT-2014