Fall in love with the Lowlands, launching your holiday in the magical city of Amsterdam, whose labyrinthine canals and vibrant squares you will have an opportunity to explore on your own. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception cruise, including a light meal and welcome drink. Cruise the city's famous waterways admiring the picture-perfect surrounds and gabled façades.
Explore Amsterdam’s historic city centre this morning. Dive Into Culture as you join a Small Group Sightseeing tour of the Rijksmuseum with a Local Specialist. Come face-to-face with such masterpieces as Rembrandt’s 'The Night Watch', Van Gogh’s self-portrait, and 'The Milkmaid' by Vermeer. Celebrate spring and enjoy an included visit to Keukenhof (subject to season) where you'll stroll through an enchanting wonderland of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths with millions of blooms planted across the 32-hectare site.
Today's excursion will deliver deep insights into the role of horticulture in city building. Dive Into Culture at the once-in-a-decade International Horticultural Expo, Floriade Expo 2022, where you'll learn all about what it could be like to live in a green city of the future as you enjoy the tranquillity of all that greenery and a multitude of live events. Tour the location’s three districts – Food, Energy and Health – and its Green Island to understand how the urban landscape could change when a city is built entirely with environmental sustainability at its heart. You’ll return home inspired by the prospects of a better future for the planet and having enjoyed an unforgettable encounter with a unique collection of trees, plants and flowers sourced from across the world.
The fortified city of Maastricht, with its beautiful old churches, ancient city walls, and stunning merchant houses, takes centre stage this morning. We spend some time strolling through its town centre before continuing to Bastogne, the site of bloody skirmishes in the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Visit the 12th-century Cistercian Orval Abbey, renowned for being one of the few breweries that produce Trappist beer before journeying to the Duchy of Luxembourg, where tonight we'll dine in our hotel.
This morning, we pay tribute to Allied Forces hero, General George S. Patton, whose final resting place is the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. Later, we embark on a leisurely walking tour of Luxembourg City with a Local Specialist. Our route takes us past the Cathedral and the Grand Ducal Palace, with its Flemish Renaissance façades, and includes spectacular views of the gorge of the rivers Alzette and Petrusse. Spend the rest of the day at leisure soaking up the quaint atmosphere of this tiny country or indulge in a coffee while you people-watch in the leafy Place d'Armes – the choice is yours.
En route to the enchanting medieval village of Bruges, we stop in Dinant whose famous son, Adolphe Sax, is credited with having invented the saxophone.
Wake up in beautiful Bruges and join a Local Specialist for a walking tour of the town. Take to the water and enjoy a whimsical sightseeing cruise along the city's wonderful canals lined with Gothic façades. Dive Into Culture next and admire the delicate art of Belgian lace. Spend the rest of the day on your own, immersing yourself in the old-world allure of this town. This evening, we Connect With Locals, joining a Belgian family at their Bruges farmstead to learn about Flanders farm life and enjoy dinner at an exclusive Be My Guest experience.
Delve into centuries of trade heritage in the medieval port city of Ghent, with its picturesque riverine backdrop. See the three famous towers – Saint Nicholas Church, the Belfry and Saint Bavo's Cathedral – before continuing to Brussels, a multi-cultural melting pot, which you will have an opportunity to explore after your Travel Director shows you the city's highlights. See the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. This evening, consider sampling mouth-watering Belgian cuisine washed down with the city's best beers. Our Stays With Stories hotel is the elegant Sofitel Brussels Europe. The hotel has long been the lodgings of choice for the world’s movers and shakers, including Mark Zuckerberg and Angela Merkel. It’s surrounded by leafy parks, cafes and museums, in the heart of the tranquil European District.
Embrace this day at leisure to explore the Belgian capital as you wish. Stroll past the Royal Palace and through the leafy lanes of Brussels Park or indulge in tasting delicious chocolate. Your Travel Director will assist you to make the most out of your free day at leisure. This evening we celebrate a memorable sojourn through three fascinating countries during a Farewell Dinner.
We bid Belgium a fond adieu this morning as we prepare to close the curtain on a memorable holiday. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
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.
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.
Available on Day 2
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: € 48
A beautiful countryside drive brings us to historic Monnickendam, the small fishing village that was formerly a major Dutch port. A walk along the wonderful streets and past lovely gabled houses brings us to the town’s former cheese weigh-house, now an atmospheric restaurant, for a delicious three-course dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks.
Adult Price: € 63
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 splendor 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: € 42
Available on Day 3
We'll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to imposing Muiderslot Castle, which will give us a real taste of Dutch history. It's part of Amsterdam's Defence Line and is UNESCO World Heritage Listed. 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: € 56
Available on Day 5
Your Local Specialist will reveal the historic Roman city of Trier, with free time in the center before you proceed to the nearby hills, for views over the Moselle River and famous wine region. Here, in a traditional villa converted into a restaurant, you’ll enjoy a three-course dinner with drinks overlooking the valley.
Adult Price: € 70
Available on Day 6
Travel with your Local Specialist to the historic town of Ypres, a ‘city of peace’ famous for its involvement in World War I. Visit two famous cemeteries and attend the famous Last Post Ceremony, which commemorates the fallen of the British Army and her allies on the surrounding Flanders Fields. You’ll also have the chance to visit Ypres' famous market square and take in the atmosphere of this unique location.
Adult Price: € 47
Available on Day 7
You’ll discover all the secrets and techniques that make Belgian chocolate the most exquisite in the world. Then head to a Belgian Brewery to savor a selection of Belgian beers.
Adult Price: € 39
Experience a magical carriage ride by the colorful canals and squares of the Venice of the North. You’ll see the Lake of Love with its gliding swans, the ornate bridges, the step-gabled houses reflecting in the canals and hear the bells of the carillon chiming.
Adult Price: € 38
Available on Day 8
In 1815 Napoleon fought his famous last battle here against the Duke of Wellington. You’ll visit the battlefields and monuments and discover how the face of Europe was changed forever. You’ll also see the famous iron lion monument on top of the hill, which you can climb if you wish. The monument was built by the widows of veterans and you'll hear their story as you gaze at the spectacular panoramic view.
Adult Price: € 40
Available on Day 9
Join this half-day experience to Antwerp, the second-largest city and biggest port of Belgium. You’ll discover the city with your Local Specialist and visit the largest Gothic cathedral of Belgium to see artworks by Peter Paul Rubens. You can also enjoy a traditional beer or waffle in the beautiful square right by the Cathedral.
Adult Price: € 42