Reward yourself for all your hard work with the ultimate escape. The Essential Europe tour offers 24 days of exploration, adventure, and insight into many of Europe’s most popular and breathtaking countries. The aptly named Essential Europe tour provides something for everyone, whether you’re inclined to engage with locals on the London pub crawl and seek adventure parasailing in the Greek isles, prefer photographing the majesty of Il Duomo in Florence or dance like Julie Andrews in the Austrian hills. The beauty of this journey is the balance of fun excursions, time at leisure and fascinating looks into history and ancient territories. This leaves our tour goers with a well-rounded experience and an opened mind, not to mention memories and new friends to last a life time. Make the Essential Europe tour your summer getaway, unleash your inner adventurer.
The Great Escape begins with an overnight flight to “Merry Old England.”
Meals: In-flight
Enjoy a free afternoon to relax and unwind. In the evening we’ll have our welcome orientation followed by a fun London pub crawl.
- Inclusions:
- Welcome orientation
- Pub crawl
Meals: In-flight
Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus: These familiar names become familiar places on our morning tour of London. During an afternoon at leisure, browse the many food, craft and clothing stalls at popular Camden Market, walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter at Leadenhall Market - aka Diagon Alley or take a ride on the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the city and the opportunity to take great photographs. After dusk, consider taking in some Shakespeare at the Globe Theater by the Thames River or attending a West End show.
- Inclusions:
- See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and more
Meals: Breakfast
Travel to southeast England today and board our ship to the continent. Motor through northern France and arrive in Paris, “City of Lights.” We’ll dine together at our French bistro dinner, and then enjoy a romantic Seine River cruise.
- Inclusions:
- Ferry Crossing from Dover to Calais
- French Bistro dinner
- Paris-by-night illuminations
- Seine River cruise
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
France has been a world center of the perfume industry since Louis XV's court at Versailles was known as "le cour parfumée." Join us this morning for a visit to the Fragonard Perfume Museum, located in a 19th-century mansion from the era of Napoleon III, and learn about the art of perfume manufacturing from ancient times. Afterwards we continue with a tour of Paris, see the hunchback “Quasimodo’s” Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood, and the Eiffel Tower’s steel lacework. Free time in the afternoon – visit Left Bank bookstalls, or shop the chic boutiques of Paris. Consider joining our optional can-can cabaret show tonight.
- Inclusions:
- Tour of the Fragonard Perfume Museum
- See Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and more
Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activity: French cabaret show
This morning we visit the Palace of Versailles, well known as France’s famed Sun King, Louis XIV’s, residence. Our museum pass gives us access to the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Grand Chambers and more. Marvel at the sheer size of the palace, one of the most beautiful castles in the world with an astonishing 700 rooms. The afternoon is free to explore the ‘City of Lights.’ Have a portrait done by Place du Tertre artists or sample sinful French pastries. The free evening is perfect for watching the world go by from a sidewalk café on the Champs Elysées.
- Inclusions:
- Tour the Palace of Versailles
- 2-day Paris Museum Pass
Meals: Breakfast
Motor to Belgium and Brussels, and see the Grand’ Place, a perfect medieval square, and the statue of naughty Mennekin-Pis. Continue to Amsterdam and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
- Inclusions:
- See Brussels' Grand' Place, Mannekin-Pis and more
Meals: Breakfast
Go biking through 13th-century Dutch fishing villages along the Ijssel Lake beaches today, watch wooden shoes being carved and sample Edam cheese at a cheese farm. Free time this afternoon in Amsterdam to tour the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum, or visit Anne Frank’s house. This evening we invite you to a scrumptious Dutch-Indonesian rice table dinner, a specialty in Holland as Indonesia was once a Dutch colony. Afterwards we admire the Netherland’s capital gliding through some of the 165 romantic canals aboard a glass-topped canal boat.
- Inclusions:
- Bike riding in the Dutch countryside
- Visit to wooden shoe maker and Edam cheese farm
- See Holland's colorful windmills
- Dutch-Indonesian rice table dinner
- Amsterdam canal cruise
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cross the German border into Cologne, famous for the world’s largest gothic cathedral. Embark on a cruise along the fabled Rhine River, passing steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles, and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Continue to Heidelberg, the “City of the Student Prince” and climb to the ruins of the Castle of the Palatine Elector for a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Neckar River.
- Inclusions:
- See the Cologne Cathedral
- Rhine River cruise
- Visit Heidelberg Castle
Meals: Breakfast
Germany’s Romantic Road takes us to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This medieval city is celebrated not only for its well-preserved gothic and baroque buildings and walls, but also for its unspoiled picturesque setting. Enjoy lunch at a local Gasthaus before continuing our journey to the fun-filled Oktoberfest city of Munich. Free evening to check out the oompah-pah bands at the famous Hofbräuhaus.
- Inclusions:
- Visit Medieval Rothenburg
- Gasthaus lunch
- See Oktoberfest city of Munich
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
This morning we visit Dachau, the Nazi Concentration Camp Memorial site. It was established in 1965, twenty years after it was liberated by American forces. During afternoon free time, consider visiting the BMW museum, seeing the Glockenspiel Chimes at the market square, the 1972 Olympic Village or shopping for Bavarian beer steins and lederhosen on Maximilianstrasse. Tonight, we’ll dine on authentic Bavarian fare.
- Inclusions:
- Visit Dachau memorial site
- See Munich's Glockenspiel chimes, Marienplatz and more
- Traditional Bavarian dinner
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
This morning, we continue to Berchtesgaden. Dressed in miner’s clothing, enjoy a ride on a funicular and down slides through the salt mine. Our next stop is Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace and site where the classic movie, “Sound of Music” was filmed. Explore the narrow streets lined with colorful wrought iron signs and shops before we continue our journey to Europe’s largest alpine sports region. Be our pampered guest for two nights of fitness and fun while nestled in the snow-capped Austrian mountains at our Alpine Center.
- Inclusions:
- Visit the Berchtesgaden salt mines
- Visit Europe's largest alpine sports region
- See Mozart's Salzburg
- Hearty Austrian dinner
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
All day today is at our leisure; go for a hike in the Alps or join the fun and excitement of whitewater rafting. A hearty Austrian dinner awaits after all that activity.
- Inclusions:
- Hiking in the Austrian Alps
- Alpine dinner
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Optional activity: Whitewater rafting
The picturesque landscape of the Austrian Lake District brings us to sunny Italy’s Venice—“Sinking City in the Sea.” We cruise to Murano Island, Venice’s glassmaking center since the 13th century where we visit a workshop and watch famous Venetian glass being made. Back in Venice, we walk along the narrow maze of back streets and bridges that take us to St. Mark’s Square with the Campanile, Doge’s Palace and flocks of friendly pigeons. Consider a romantic gondola ride this evening gliding through the intricate maze of canals beneath arched bridges passing 12th and 18th-century marble palaces.
- Inclusions:
- See Venice's Doge Palace, St. Mark's Square and more
- Private boat to Murano Island and glass blowing workshop
Meals: Breakfast
Through the fertile Po Valley we approach Florence, Golden City of the Renaissance and birthplace of Michelangelo. Our Florence art tour includes the Gates of Paradise, the marble Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Giotto’s bell tower, then there’s free time for shopping and museums. Get ready for an optional dinner of pure Italian delights at “Il Latini” tonight.
- Inclusions:
- See the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Giotto's Bell Tower and more on a guided tour of Florence led by a local historian
Meals: Breakfast
Optional activity: Tuscan Feast
A free day to explore the Uffizi Gallery and see the collections of Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and da Vinci. The Galleria dell’Accademia houses several sculptures by Michelangelo including his famous David. Enjoy our dinner of traditional Florentine fare.
- Inclusions:
- Traditional Florentine dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Optional activity: Chianti Excursion
Travel past Chianti vineyards along the Highway of the Sun to the Eternal City of Rome. After check in we have time to relax or explore baroque Rome: Stop to toss three coins in the Trevi Fountain, to ensure your return to Rome, see the Pantheon and sample the famous “gelati” ice cream at Piazza Navona.
- Inclusions:
- See the Piazza Navona Fountains
- Special access and discounts with Roma pass
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we explore Capitol Hill with the most spectacular view of Caesar’s Roman Forum, center of political and social activity, with ancient ruins dating from the 8th century BC. Also see Nero’s Circus Maximus where chariot races were held. A trip across the Tiber River takes us to Vatican City - the world’s smallest state. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica housing Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” During afternoon free time, use the Roma Pass to visit the Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death. Our dinner tonight is a mouth-watering pasta party complete with Italian specialties.
- Inclusions:
- Guided tour of Rome led by a local historian
- See Caesar's Forum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon and more
- Roma pass entrance to Colosseum and Forum
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and more
- Viva Italia pasta party
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
For some of us the celebratory tour of Europe ends in Rome this morning. Bid farewell to friends and “arrivederci” to Italy before jetting back home with memories to last a lifetime. For the rest of us: motor through sunny olive groves lining the way south to Pompeii, the city buried in 79 A.D. by 20 feet of ash and lava after Mt. Vesuvius’ volcanic eruption. We’ll walk the excavated streets still bearing marks of chariot wheels. Afterwards we cross the Italian “boot” and board our overnight ship to Greece.
- Inclusions:
- Guided tour of the Pompeii excavations
- Scenic overnight ship from Italy to Greece
Meals: Breakfast
After cruising through aquamarine waters, our ship docks at Patras. Motor along the Corinthian Sea coastline, across the Peloponnese peninsula to Galatas and the island of Poros.
- Inclusions:
- Relaxing pool and beach time
- Enjoy iconic Greek sunsets
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Time to swim, bask in the golden sun, or take part in optional activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, banana-boating or tubing. Dancing like Zorba at a local tavern is always a must-do evening activity.
- Inclusions:
- Explore the white-washed village center of Poros
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional activity: Watersports
Bicycles will be provided for one of your free days. Poros old town center has great shopping or the more adventurous can venture to the 6th-century BC ruins of Poseidon’s Temple on the island’s highest peak. On our last night, we invite everyone to our fun Toga party.
- Inclusions:
- Bike riding on the Isle of Poros
- Greek Toga Party
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
In the morning we board our ferry to Athens. See the 2,400-year-old Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Constitution Square. A free afternoon may find us wandering the paths of Plato, Socrates and Sophocles or trying our bargaining skills at the markets of Monastiraki. This evening follow the sounds of traditional bouzouki music and join our farewell taverna dinner in the Plaka District – Athens’ oldest neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis.
- Inclusions:
- Guided tour of Athens with a local historian
- Visit The Acropolis, The Parthenon and more
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Reluctantly we say farewell to Europe and new-found friends. Jet back home with thoughts of planning the next European adventure!
Meals: Breakfast, In-flight