INCLUDED FIRST CLASS SERVICES

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
• Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight’s Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveller Welcome pack
• Airport arrival transfers at scheduled times on Day 1(Should your flights not coincide with these arrival transfers, please make your own way from Rome airport)

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Rome: Ancient Rome comes alive as you visit the Colosseum and overlook the Forum. Enjoy a private guided tour of the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
• Tuscany: Enjoy a short tutorial about Chianti wines.
• Florence: Walk with your guide to see the Cathedral, ‘Gates of Paradise’ and open-air gallery of Signoria Square.
• Venice: Cruise, with commentary, to St Mark’s Square. See the Doges’ Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St Mark’s BasilicaEnjoy a gondola serenade along the atmospheric canalsVenetian glass-blowing demonstration.
• Lucerne: See Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument & Jesuit Church.Enjoy an exhilarating ride by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit of Mount Pilatus.
• Paris: See the Mona Lisa on your tour of one of the world’s best known art collections at the Louvre MuseumSee Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde & Opera House. Drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower for views over the city.
• Scenic Drives: The Apennines, St Gotthard and Swiss Alps

INCLUDED QUALITY DINING

• A Welcome Reception with light meal (WR)
• Choose from a selection of restaurants in Lucerne on your Dine-Around evening (DA)
• Enjoy an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner with wine in a Parisian restaurant (CD)
• 8 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 1 three-course table d’hôte Dinner plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - ROME AT LEISURE

Welcome to Italy! On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport arrival transfers depart for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Then this historic city is yours to discover - stroll down the Via Veneto for a taste of ‘la dolce vita’. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal, followed by time to relax and explore.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza St Peters

Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

A local guide introduces you to the grandeur of the city today. Begin with a visit to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. See Michelangelo’s early masterpiece, the Pieta, as well as the splendid dome, completed after his death. Cross the Tiber to hear tales of the glory of ancient Rome! Visit the Colosseum where Gladiators battled to the death and overlook the Forum, once the bustling centre of commerce, law and religion. Later, there is time for shopping or continue sightseeing if you wish.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 3 - ROME – FLORENCE

Before leaving Rome, a visit to the priceless art collection of the Popes in the Vatican Museums is a must. Your guide illuminates some of the most famous pieces, before you emerge into the Sistine Chapel. This is where your audio headset comes into its own, providing clear, expert commentary from your local guide. Gaze up now and truly appreciate the significance of Michelangelo’s famous painted ceiling. Head north to the cypress clad hills of Tuscany. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the Chianti wines that make this region so famous. On arrival in Renaissance Florence, walk with your guide to the marble clad Cathedral and Baptistery, where Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ have been recreated in all their glory. Next stop is Signoria Square, lined with fountains and sculpture. This evening, don’t miss the chance to try the delicious local cuisine and to sample rich Chianti wine.

Hotel: Londra

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 4 - FLORENCE – VENICE

Proceed north towards Venice, glorious city of quaint bridges, squares, canals and gondolas. Step back into the 16C for one of the tour’s most memorable experiences. A private launch ferries you past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Marks Square, dominated by its magnificent Basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower where bronze Moors beat out the hours on a huge bell. Nearby is the Campanile and Doges’ Palace which connects to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Watch one of the few remaining craftsmen hand-blow Venetian glass before your gondola serenade. Glide along the atmospheric canals exploring the intimate and hidden parts of this unique city while musicians set the mood with traditional songs.

Hotel: Excelsior

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 - VENICE – LUCERNE

Travel through some of the richest farmland in Europe as you cross northern Italy. Glimpse the beautiful Italian Lake District as you pass Lake Como to enter Switzerland. Continue into the heart of the Swiss Alps, past gushing streams and soaring peaks, through St. Gotthard to scenic Lucerne. After some time to freshen up at your hotel, choose from a selection of local restaurants and join your friends for dinner.

Hotel: Astoria

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around

Day 6 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING

Walk with your Tour Director to visit the emotive Lion Monument. Then spend time shopping, or stroll across the Chapel Bridge to the ornate Jesuit Church. Later, embark on a highlight excursion by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit of one of Switzerland’s most famous mountains, Mount Pilatus. Admire the views over the snow-capped Jungfrau and Eiger peaks before returning to Lucerne. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 7 - LUCERNE – PARIS

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

Hotel: Pullman Montparnasse

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 8 - PARIS SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing with a local guide takes you by Notre Dame Cathedral with its tale of Quasimodo. Then visit one of the world’s best known art collections. Your guide leads you through the galleries of the Louvre to 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. Ascend to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views of the city. Then you are at leisure. Tonight, perhaps witness one of the famous cabaret shows, complete with can-can?

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 9 - 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. After a drive through the Kent countryside, your tour ends in London. Extend your stay with extra nights in Paris if you wish.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
 

Most Insight tours already include a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. There may also be 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.

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.
Adult Price: EURO 39
Code: LCR01A

CARRIAGES AND 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.
Adult Price: EURO 51
Code: LCR14

FOLKLORE SHOW AND DRINKS

Join in the fun of a lively folklore show with typical Swiss entertainment. Drinks are provided as we enjoy, amongst other things, the yodelling, flag throwing, Alpine horn blowing and fine musicianship of the band.
Adult Price: CHF 64
Code: LCR15

SEINE CRUISE ILLUMINATIONS

After our leisurely Seine Cruise we take a magical tour of the 'city of light'.
Adult Price: EURO 32
Code: PAR02

MONTMARTRE VILLAGE AND ARTISTS SQUARE

Dominated by the soaring Sacré Coeur Basilica with spectacular city views, all will be discovered with our local guide as we journey via mini-train to this hilltop village of narrow winding streets, unusual galleries, boutiques and the world famous Place du Tertre. Once home to Toulouse Lautrec, Picasso, and Utrillo; today you can browse for original art. Enjoy free time to explore and experience the real flavour of Montmartre life.
Adult Price: EURO 35
Code: PAR17

MOULIN ROUGE

Dinner and cabaret at the world famous Moulin Rouge – the original Parisian cabaret – immortalized by the recent award winning film!
Adult Price: EURO 145
Code: PAR24

ROMAN DINNER PARTY

Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks, music and a great Italian ambience.
Adult Price: EURO 57
Code: ROM04A

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.
Adult Price: EURO 32
Code: ROM16

CATACOMBS OF ANCIENT ROME

First we visit the Catacombs which are early Christian underground cemeteries carved out of soft tufa stone. Next; a visit to the Basilica of St Paul without the Walls, built on the site of St Paul’s tomb. Visit the interior which is celebrated for its great works of art.
Adult Price: EURO 36
Code: ROM20

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).
Adult Price: EURO 45
Code: VCE06

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.
Adult Price: EURO 26
Code: VCE09