INSIGHT VACATIONS Highlights of Europe - Premium Highlights

Included Premium Highlights

    * Cruise along the romantic Rhine Gorge past medieval castles and leafy vineyards
    * Glide along the atmospheric canals of Venice by traditional gondola
    * Explore the wonders of ancient Rome as you visit the Colosseum and overlook the Forum
    * See Michelangelo's original statue of David in the Academy Gallery in Florence
    * Enjoy an exhilarating ride by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit of Mount Pilatus
    * Ascend the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views over Paris

Included Personal Insights

    * Know your 'Kwaks' from your 'Devils'! Enjoy an introduction to Belgian beer

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

    * Stroll along the canals and cobbled streets of medieval Bruges to the charming Market Square
    * See the gilded buildings of the Grand Place in Brussels and the cheeky Mannekin Pis statue
    * View Gothic Cologne Cathedral
    * See Heidelberg's ruined Castle
    * See Munich's Olympic Stadium, Hofbrauhaus and the Glockenspiel in the Marienplatz
    * See the Golden Roof and Imperial Palace and visit the Wilten Basilica in Innsbruck
    * See Mozart's Birthplace and walk through Salzburg's Old Town to the Cathedral Square
    * Cruise to St Mark's Square to see the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs and Basilica in Venice
    * Tour St Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's 'Pieta' and the Pope's Alter by Bernini
    * See the Cathedral, 'Gates of Paradise' and open-air gallery of Signoria Square in Florence
    * View the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
    * See Notre Dame and drive along the Champs Élysees to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
    * Scenic Drives: Inn Valley, Tauern Mountains, St Gotthard Route
    * Watch Venetian glass-blowing
    * Florentine Leatherwork Demonstration

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
    * Free London Airport shuttle service, conditions apply

Included Quality Dining

    * Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Lucerne (DA)
    * 13 enhanced or Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 2 three-course table d’hôte dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

INSIGHT VACATIONS Highlights of Europe TINERARY

Tour Pace

This tour is well-balanced with the majority of the one night stays in the first section and then two night stays in the key cities of Venice, Rome, Lucerne and Paris, where there is ample time to relax or to take optional tours. Travelling days are interspersed with frequent rest stops.

Day 1 - LONDON – BRUGES – BRUSSELS

Transfer to Dover and set sail from the white cliffs over to France. Drive into Belgium for a stop in medieval Bruges. Stroll by canals and along cobbled streets to the Main Square, overlooked by the town belfry. Continue to Brussels, where you visit the Grand Place and cheeky Mannekin Pis statue. Tonight, join your fellow guests for a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal, followed by time to relax and explore.

Hotel: Marriott Brussels

Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - BRUSSELS – COLOGNE – HEIDELBERG

Travel into Germany to view the spires of Cologne Cathedral before continuing along the Rhine, via Bonn, to Boppard. Join a highlight cruise past medieval hill-top castles and steep leafy vineyards to the village of St Goar, near the legendary Loreley Rock. Continue on to Heidelberg, to see the cliff top castle before arriving at your hotel.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Heidelberg

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 3 - HEIDELBERG – ROTHENBURG – MUNICH

Stop in medieval Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, still surrounded by its old walls and watch towers, frozen in time since the 16th Century. Continue along the Romantic Road to the Bavarian capital of Munich. See the Olympic Stadium, Ludwigstrasse, Marienplatz and soaring neogothic Town Hall. Tonight, maybe sample a stein of beer in a local beer hall?

Hotel: Munich Arabellapark

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 4 - MUNICH – SALZBURG

A short drive leads over the Austrian border to Salzburg, the city of Mozart and the sound of Music. Sightseeing with your local guide shows you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace, the imposing fortress, cathedral and Mozart’s Birthplace in the lively Getreidegasse.

Hotel: Castellani Park Hotel

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 - SALZBURG – VENICE

Enjoy a morning at leisure to shop for the local marzipan specialties or re-enact scenes or seek out locations from the Sound of Music? Later enjoy stunning scenery as you drive down to the Carinthian Lake District. Cross the Italian border and descend to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic.

Hotel: Sant’Elena

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 6 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Cruise down the canal to St.Mark’s Square and alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges’ Palace to the prisons. In the square, see the bell tower, the beautiful mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Clock Tower Moors, who have been striking the hour for over 500 years. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, board a gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals accompanied by musicians. The afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 7 - VENICE – ROME

Head south over the Apennine Mountains and follow the ‘Highway of the Sun’ to Rome.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Beverly Hills

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 8 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

Enjoy a tour of the priceless art of the Vatican Museums, followed by a visit to the celebrated Sistine Chapel. Using your audio headset, a local guide explains the significance of Michelangelo’s famous painted ceiling. Then explore St Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Cross the Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum and look out over the Roman Forum. The afternoon is free for shopping, relaxing or more sightseeing. It’s up to you.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 9 - ROME – FLORENCE

Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A local guide accompanies you to Michelangelo’s statue of ‘David’ in the Academy Gallery and on to the Duomo, where the Gates of Paradise adorn the Baptistery. Continue to Signoria Square lined with fountains and statues. In the area around Santa Croce Basilica, view a demonstration of traditional leather work. Afterwards there is time to shop.

Hotel: NH Firenze

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 10 - FLORENCE – LUCERNE

Journey north past the Italian Lake District to the Swiss border. Take the St Gotthard route and enjoy Alpine scenery all the way to Lucerne.

Hotel: Astoria

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 11 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

First visit Lucerne’s emotive Lion Monument. See the covered Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church, then enjoy a Premium Highlight ascent of a Swiss mountain by cog-wheel train. From the summit, admire some of the best possible views of the snowcovered Alps. Tonight, enjoy a Dine-Around evening which offers a choice of dining experiences, atmosphere and cuisine.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around

Day 12 - LUCERNE - PARIS

Drive to Basel before crossing the Rhine to enter France. Travel through the wine-growing Burgundy region to Paris. This evening enjoy good food, wine and company at an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner in a Parisian bistro.

Hotel: Pullman Tour Eiffel

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 13 - PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Drive via Notre Dame Cathedral for a private tour of the Louvre Museum. See the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Mona Lisa and many more priceless works amassed over the ages by the Kings of France. Sightseeing continues past Garnier’s splendid Opera House. See the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the grand Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Now survey the city from the heights of the Eiffel Tower, built for the World’s Exhibition of 1889. The afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 14 - PARIS – LONDON

Cross the World War One battlefields of the Somme to arrive at the port of Calais for your return Channel crossing to Dover. Continue to London, where your tour comes to an end.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
 

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

MUC01 - BIERKELLERS DINNER
Lively Bavarian dinner with music, drinks and entertainment in one of Munich's famous "Bierkellers". EURO 47

MUC06 - CONTEMPORARY MUNICH
Munich of the 20th century was home to many historic events. Hitler became a political hero here, 1923 saw the Munich Putsch, Dachau was Germany's first Concentration Camp and the Olympic Games took place here in 1972. We visit Dachau and the Olympic Games site. EURO 28

VCE06 - MAGICAL VENICE
This evening we board our private boats for a cruise down the famous "Grand Canal", past illuminated palazzi and twinkling chandeliers, to the romantic St Mark's Square. We have reservations in a famous café where we sit under the stars listening to the orchestra play some of Italy's best loved music (One drink is included). EURO 45

VCE09 - HIDDEN VENICE
An historical walk, with a local guide, through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. Discover some of the secrets of other quarters of the Venetian labyrinth. Your experience will be enhanced by the use of individual headsets. EURO 26

VCE02 - BURANO EXCURSION & LUNCH
Explore the Venetian lagoon on our cruise around the islands including the colourful island of Burano - a photographer's paradise and famous for its lace. Then enjoy a superb lunch sampling the local specialities. An excursion not to be missed! Lunch may be replaced with a dinner. EURO 65

ROM05 - DINNER IN ROME AND ILLUMINATIONS
We begin with a visit to a local 'ristorante' to try a selection of Roman dishes prepared in the Roman way. Drinks such as wine, beer and soft drinks are included. After a delicious meal accompanied by music, we take you to see Rome beautifully illuminated. Our journey takes us past sights including the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia and Michelangelo's 'Cordonata' to name but a few. A night not to be missed. EURO 57

ROM01 - CLASSICAL ROME
Our classical tour spans Rome's fascinating history from ancient Rome to the early Christians and the glory of the Papal Residence. First a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, immortalized by Michelangelo's painted ceiling. Then we visit the Catacombs where the Ancient Christians were buried in underground cemeteries. (On some tours the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls will be visited as an alternative to the Catacombs). EURO 62

ROM16 - PIAZZA & FOUNTAINS
This walking tour takes you to the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona with its pavement cafes, 17th century fountains and architecture. Perhaps have your portrait painted by one of the street artists! This tour is conducted by a local guide and you will utilise personal headsets. EURO 32

LCR07 - SWISS ALPINE SHOW WITH LUNCH
Enjoy a typical Swiss lunch including cheese fondue and two drinks whilst being entertained by a lively show featuring song, dance, Alpenhorn blowing and traditional Swiss flag throwing. EURO 61

LCR01A - LAKE LUCERNE HAPPY HOUR CRUISE
Widely considered to be the loveliest of the mountain lakes, much of the shoreline of Lake Lucerne can only be fully appreciated from the water. Admire the spectacular homes of the fortunate few, privileged to live on its scenic shores, as we cruise gently by. Two drinks will be served during the trip. EURO 38

LCR14 - CARRIAGES & COUNTRYSIDE
A chance to meet the Swiss, as local farmers take us on a delightful countryside tour in horse-drawn carriages. Enjoy stunning scenery as we trot around a typical rural community, en route to a local farm where local drinks and snacks will be served. EURO 45

PAR11 - PARIS ILLUMINATIONS & DINNER
First we enjoy a delicious dinner of Parisian cuisine with wine. Then our illuminations tour reveals the magic and sparkling grandeur of this 'city of light' – a vision to last a lifetime! EURO 62

SZG06 - EAGLE'S NEST & THE BAVARIAN ALPS
Drive deep into the National Park past farmhouses and picturesque villages to the ruins of Obersalzburg. From here, transfer to special motor coaches adapted to the scenic mountain climb to Hilter's notorious "Eagles Nest". There are splendid views through the arches up to the 'Hohen Goll' and across the snow capped peaks. EURO 47

PAR24 - MOULIN ROUGE
Dinner and cabaret at the world famous Moulin Rouge – the original Parisian cabaret – immortalized by the recent award winning film! EURO 145
NOUVELLE EVE - Dinner with wine included at one of the most prestigious cabarets in town. An evening of exciting acts, stunning tableaux and wonderful entertainment. EURO 125

PAR27 - DINNER, SEINE CRUISE & ILLUMINATIONS TOUR
An excellent dinner in a traditional Parisian Bistro is followed by a cruise along the River Seine to view famous sights from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame cathedral. The evening ends with a tour of the spectacular illuminations of Paris. EURO 78

PAR02 - SEINE CRUISE & ILLUMINATIONS
After our leisurely Seine Cruise we take a magical tour of the 'city of light'. EURO 32