Overview

1. Day 1: Your Journey Begins.

   Board your overnight flight to Europe (not included).

2. Day 2: Welcome to London.

   Welcome to London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy a city that is famous for its pomp and pageantry. Perhaps relax with a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or window shop in the elegant boutiques of Knightsbridge? Alternatively, you may want to stroll along the Thames to the iconic Tower Bridge and Tower of London.

   hotel:Victoria Park Plaza

3. Day 3: Depart from London by Eurostar for Paris.

   Meet your Travel Director in the morning and, after a warm welcome, transfer to London's St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar. Your comfortable rail journey takes you via the Channel Tunnel to Paris where you can spend the afternoon as you please. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the River Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the center of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Later, join your Travel Director in the heart of Paris for your Welcome Dinner at La Bouteille d'Or, an elegant restaurant boasting four centuries of culinary excellence and located opposite Notre Dame Cathedral.

   meal(s):DW

   hotel:Paris Marriott Rive Gauche (2 nights).

4. Day 4: Paris, the 'City of Light'.

   Split into small groups for a more personal experience and meet your Local Expert, an avid foodie, as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives. Indulge in local delicacies at a patisserie, boulangerie, fromagerie and chocolatier. With the afternoon free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city. Perhaps see the city from the second elevation of the iconic Eiffel Tower, or visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows?

   meal(s):BB

   hotel:Paris Marriott Rive Gauche

5. Day 5: Beautiful Burgundy and on to Lucerne.

   Journey through the Burgundy wine region, before passing the Jura Mountains and crossing into Switzerland. Arrive in glorious lakeside Lucerne where there is a variety of restaurant options for your Dine-Around Evening. Choose your dining experience for a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, each offering its own unique cuisine and ambiance. 

   meal(s):BB, DW

   hotel:Astoria, Lucerne (2 nights).

6. Day 6: Lucerne’s Mountains, Lake and Lion.

   In the morning, embark on a scenic journey by funicular railway and open-top cable car to the summit of the stunning Mount Stanserhorn, where you will meet a Swiss Ranger and learn about the local wildlife. Take in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Upon return to Lucerne, see the town's proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Then, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit Church. The rest of the day is at leisure to shop for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town.

   meal(s):BB

   hotel:Astoria, Lucerne.

7. Day 7: Liechtenstein to Innsbruck.

   Start the day with a journey to the heart of the Alps to visit the Principality of Liechtenstein. Spend some time in its tiny capital, Vaduz, with its castle located on a hillside overlooking the city. Drive into Austria and continue through the Arlberg Tunnel to mountain-ringed Innsbruck. Your orientation will show you the 14th century houses of the old town, the impressive Imperial Palace and the delightful Golden Roof.

   meal(s):BB

   hotel:Hotel Innsbruck.

8. Day 8: The Dolomites to Venice.

   Leave Innsbruck to travel across the impressive Europa Bridge and through the Dolomites into Italy. Among the hills of Conegliano Veneto, stop at Carmina where meticulous viticulture and manual harvesting produce distinguishable prosecco. Savor a tasting of these sparkling wines and learn how to make the perfect Bellini. Continue through spectacular scenery to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. In the evening, long after the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels, enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the island and dinner at a local restaurant. 

   meal(s):BB, DW

   hotel:Hotel Gabrielli, Venice (2 nights).

9. Day 9: Venice & the Magic of 'La Serenissima'.

   In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city. Your hotel is only steps away from St. Mark's Square, dominated by its magnificent basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace which is connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. While here, visit an arts center to watch one of the few remaining craftsmen blow Venetian glass. Next, meet a gondolier to learn about the age-old tradition of gondola navigation and how this skill is handed down from generation to generation. The rest of the day is free, perhaps shop in the small arcades?

   meal(s):BB

   hotel:Hotel Gabrielli, Venice.

10. Day 10: Journey through Tuscany to Pisa and on to Florence.

    Head into the wild Apennines and on to the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. Stop to see the incredible Leaning Tower of Pisa with a Local Expert, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. Also see the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. The journey then continues to Renaissance Florence.

    meal(s):BB

    hotel:UNA Hotel Vittoria, Florence (2 nights).

11. Day 11: Florence Sightseeing.

    Walk with your Local Expert to the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. The next stop is Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and David along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather and there's free time to shop or continue exploring. In the afternoon, meet an expert vintner for a guided tour through the house of the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer, Niccolo Machiavelli, with a special opening of his private office where he wrote 'The Prince.' Visit the Italian garden with views of Florence Cathedral and the historic cellar which connect to the city's oldest restaurant via secret underground tunnel. Savor a tasting of wines made from the vineyards surrounding the home and enjoy a delicious sampling of local Tuscan fare.

    meal(s):BB, AT

    hotel:UNA Hotel Vittoria, Florence.

12. Day 12: Hilltop Orvieto and the Eternal City of Rome.

    Stop in the Umbrian hilltop town of Orvieto, located on a rocky pedestal overlooking a vineyard. Its cathedral is one of Italy's most celebrated buildings. Immerse yourself in the flavors and culture of the region at Zeppelin Restaurant. Join a master chef for a fascinating live cooking demonstration. Your magical culinary experience ends with a delicious Highlight Lunch accompanied by a  glass of the Orvieto Classico wine. Once in Rome, perhaps start the evening with a ‘passeggiata,' a traditional evening stroll.

    meal(s):BB, LW

    hotel:Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome (2 nights).

13. Day 13: Papal and Imperial Rome.

    Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art collected over the ages by the Popes. To avoid the crowds and maximize your time, Insight has arranged special VIP access to the Vatican Museums. Your Local Expert will guide you through the halls of artworks and take you behind the scenes to view the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally not open to the public. Next, head to the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Next door in St. Peter's Basilica, view another masterpiece by Michelangelo, the Pietà, as well as the splendid dome, completed after his death. Cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum, still echoing with the ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat and overlook the Forum. Later, there is time for last-minute shopping or exploring at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy an elegant four-course dinner with local wine at a Roman restaurant. As you dine, you'll be serenaded with a private performance of popular songs and arias from some of Italy's best-loved operas.

    meal(s):BB, DW

    hotel:Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.

14. Day 14: Arrivederci Roma.

    Your travels through Europe come to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30.

    meal(s):BB