• Aarp Logo Red
    AARP Members Save $100 AARP SAVE $100 on select vacations booked with us on select vacations
    Learn More

Amsterdam Explorer

Operated by: Trafalgar

6 Days from $1,665 per person
APR - OCT 2023
Amsterdam Explorer

Countries Visited

Netherlands ...more Netherlands

Locations Visited

Amsterdam, Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Gouda ...more Amsterdam, Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Gouda
  1. Day 1 Welcome to Amsterdam

    Welcome to the picture-perfect city of Amsterdam, buzzing with bicycles and boats. Every alley leads to another cosy bruin café and the canals are more plentiful than in Venice. Delve into the gezelligheid of Amsterdam during a city orientation – to see its beautifully preserved medieval buildings and tree-lined canals. Then, enjoy a Welcome Reception and laid-back city cruise along the winding canals, soaking up the alluring setting as you enjoy a light meal.

    meals Welcome Reception
    hotel NH Amsterdam Centre
  2. Day 2 Rijksmuseum and More in Amsterdam Dive Into Culture

    This morning, we Dive Into Culture and enjoy a Small Group Sightseeing tour of the Rijksmuseum, home to masterpieces by Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city your way. Visit the floating flower market or stroll along the canals to admire Amsterdam's pretty gabled façades. End your day with delicious local flavours at one of the city's many cosy restaurants. However you choose to spend your day, you’re in for a gezellig time in one of Europe’s most charming capitals.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel NH Amsterdam Centre
  3. Day 3 A Day Exploring Dutch Culture and History Dive Into Culture Connect with Locals

    Take a trip back in time to discover the centuries-old traditions of Holland today. First we will visit the pretty town of Haarlem and discover its sights and stories on a walking tour with a Local Specialist. Next we will continue to historic Zaanse Schans and Dive Into Culture as we discover the art of carving traditional wooden clogs. Learn about the Zuiderzee and the incredible story of the Dutch battle against the encroaching sea to reclaim the land as we travel on to the fishing village of Volendam on the shores of the IJsselmeer. Here we will meet the miller of Katwoude for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to learn about the important role windmills play in managing rising water levels in the Netherlands. Investigate the inner-workings of one of the country’s iconic windmills before visiting a nearby farm for a taste of delicious Dutch cheeses. This evening, we Connect With Locals to enjoy a wonderful home-cooked dinner with the Pauw family during an exclusive Be My Guest experience.

    meals Breakfast, Be My Guest
    hotel NH Amsterdam Centre
  4. Day 4 Amsterdam Your Way

    Explore Amsterdam your way today. Don your most comfortable shoes, as this is a city for walking. Spend the day discovering Amsterdam’s elaborate canal system and admire the centuries-old gabled homes that jostle for positions overlooking the water. Relax in a leafy plein and enjoy a crisp pils as you watch the busy Amsterdammers go about their business. You could choose to brave the city streets like the locals by bicycle. Pedal along tree-lined canals and over bridges for a closer look at some of the city’s great highlights like the Westerkerk, tranquil Jordaan and Vondelpark.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel NH Amsterdam Centre
  5. Day 5 Discover Gouda (or visit to Keukenhof during Tulip Season) Dive Into Culture

    The aroma of delicious Dutch cheese will delight our senses today. Seemingly frozen in time with its beautiful 15th-century town hall and medieval cheese weighing station, Gouda’s status as a cheese trading town dates back to the Middle Ages. Dive Into Culture and witness this proud tradition first-hand in the town’s quaint market square, before spending the rest of the day at leisure (Please note, when the Keukenhof gardens are open, an excursion to see the tulip fields will be included instead of the visit to Gouda). Returning to Amsterdam this evening, you’ll be treated to a superb Farewell Dinner in the heart of the city.

    meals Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
    hotel NH Amsterdam Centre
  6. Day 6 Farewell Amsterdam

    The time has come to bid tot ziens to the magnificent city and your fellow travellers after an enjoyable encounter with Amsterdam and the surrounding Dutch countryside. Find out more about available airport transfers at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

    meals Breakfast
Amsterdam Explorer Guided Tour Map
Price Includes

Whats Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Optional Experiences and free time

Dining Summary

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 5 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
  • 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

Be My Guest

  • Amsterdam: Go Dutch and share a gezellig Be My Guest dinner, savouring delicious local cheeses, with the Pauw family on their dairy farm near Amsterdam.

Dive Into Culture

  • Amsterdam: Visit the Rijksmuseum, the national art gallery of the Netherlands, where you'll enjoy its exceptional collection of works by the Dutch masters.
  • Gouda: Visit the historical cheese market of Gouda and witness the proud tradition which has made it a cheese trading town since the middle ages.

Iconic Experience

  • Amsterdam: Cruise along the old waterways with your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Discover the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
  • Haarlem: Join a guided tour through the Corrie ten Boom House and Museum with a Local Specialist. Learn about the brave and ingenious watchmaker who helped Jews escape persecution during World War II.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

  • Katwoude: Visit a mill in Katwoude and learn about the important role the mill plays in managing rising water levels.

Must-see Highlights

  • : Explore the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and Corrie ten Boom House in Haarlem with a Local Specialist
  • : Discover Amsterdam
  • : Visit Zaanse Schans, a Dutch windmill and a cheese farm in Volendam and Gouda.
  • : Scenic Cruise of Amsterdam's canals
  • : Tickets for the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens are included during the flowering season as an alternative to Gouda (end of March until mid-May)

Whats Included

  • : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • : Optional Experiences and free time

Dates & Prices

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.

Online Booking Process

Onlinebookingprocesssteps
July 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 16 Sun
Jul 21 Fri
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$1,850 $1,665 Save $185
GETAWAY DEALS
Optional Add-Ons

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Amsterdam

Available on Day 2

Holland's Favorite Foods

Nibble your way through Amsterdam's international dining scene on a tasting tour led by a Local Specialist. Learn about the international flavors that have influenced Dutch cuisine, while grabbing bites at a cheese shop, beer garden and family restaurant. Savour handpicked local delicacies including artisanal cheeses, a sweet ‘stroopwafel’ and the best fish in town. We'll wash them all down with a beer or Jenever.
Adult Price: € 62

Available on Day 2

Hidden Amsterdam

We'll pay a visit to The Royal Palace in Amsterdam with our Local Specialist. Built in 1648, it originally served as the Town Hall and is still in use by the Dutch Royal Family today. It has also been a Napoleonic Palace, before its current role. Its rich history and the interior of this magnificent building in the heart of Amsterdam make this a must see. Hidden Amsterdam

We'll pay a visit to The Royal Palace in Amsterdam with our Local Specialist. Built in 1648, it originally served as the Town Hall and is still in use by the Dutch Royal Family today. It has also been a Napoleonic Palace, before its current role. Its rich history and the interior of this magnificent building in the heart of Amsterdam make this a must see.
Adult Price: € 51

Available on Day 2

Van Loon Museum

In the heart of the canal district lies Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence built in 1672. The former residence of the artist Ferdinand Bol, the 18th-century interior still evokes the splendour of the Golden Age. With our Local Specialist, we’ll discover the large collection of paintings, fine furniture, precious silver and porcelain from several centuries. A short walking tour in the heart of the city will then take us to the Beguinage (Begijnhof), a hidden courtyard where extremely pious women lived for almost 700 years. This glimpse behind the façades of Amsterdam's world-famous canals is highly recommended. Van Loon Museum

In the heart of the canal district lies Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence built in 1672. The former residence of the artist Ferdinand Bol, the 18th-century interior still evokes the splendour of the Golden Age. With our Local Specialist, we’ll discover the large collection of paintings, fine furniture, precious silver and porcelain from several centuries. A short walking tour in the heart of the city will then take us to the Beguinage (Begijnhof), a hidden courtyard where extremely pious women lived for almost 700 years. This glimpse behind the façades of Amsterdam's world-famous canals is highly recommended.
Adult Price: € 44

Available on Day 5

Muiderslot, A Genuine Castle

We'll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to the imposing Muiderslot Castle, for a real taste of Dutch history. It's part of Amsterdam's Defence Line and features on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During your guided tour through rooms refurbished in 17th-century style, it's easy to picture yourself in a Rembrandt painting, as it evokes the period when Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, known as the "Dutch Shakespeare", occupied the castle. We'll also enjoy a garden tour and a refreshment in a typical Dutch Inn. Muiderslot, A Genuine Castle

We'll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to the imposing Muiderslot Castle, for a real taste of Dutch history. It's part of Amsterdam's Defence Line and features on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During your guided tour through rooms refurbished in 17th-century style, it's easy to picture yourself in a Rembrandt painting, as it evokes the period when Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, known as the "Dutch Shakespeare", occupied the castle. We'll also enjoy a garden tour and a refreshment in a typical Dutch Inn.
Adult Price: € 58

Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Trusted Customer
Friday, April 19, 2019
Service
Experience was fine.
Vacation
It could have been excellent but for some additions which I didn’t think warrant seeing. This is my personal opinion. Specifically, Euromast, a long stop at the 20 windmills site could have been just a 10 minute stop on the bus for pictures not what it was. Ramada was find but the location was too far from city center, which eliminated exploring in the afternoon/evenings. It did give the hotel guaranteed food and beverages however.
Gerald Meinster
Friday, October 5, 2018
Service
GET and my agent with them, Barb Gardner were very good. The trip was through Trafalger and the major problem was the location of the hotel. It was so far outside Amsterdam that it was a 40 Euro cab ride back from downtown. Otherwise, it was a wonderful trip.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed in the hotel location, but happy to see you enjoyed the tour overall. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Vacation
Hotel location (from page 1)
Janet Andersen
Friday, October 5, 2018
Service
We absolutely loved the trip. Our director Zach was courteous, professional and always upbeat. He made the trip!
Response from Grand European Travel:
Fantastic to hear! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Vacation
The trip was well worth the money. Excellent group, fun, entertaining, totally enjoyable.
Deborah Bicanic
Friday, May 11, 2018
Service
We enjoyed the trip greatly. The explorer gives you all the necessary excursions to really feel like you've experiences all of the Netherlands. Thank you
Vacation
Good Value. Received all I expected
Barbara Schaefer
Friday, April 21, 2017
Service
Well organized. will travel with them again. tour guides entertaining!!
Response from Grand European Travel:
We look forward to helping you plan your next trip.Thank you.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Vacation
Given the experience it was well worth the money.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Fantastic to hear! Thank you for taking the time to write
Friday, April 21, 2017
See More Reviews
Terms & Conditions
Click here to view Terms and Conditions for this guided vacation
Back To Top