European Traveller

Spend the day exploring the pomp and pageantry of a city that effortlessly combines old and new.

Join a Local Specialist this morning for a tour of the iconic and unexpected highlights of London, including Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping on Carnaby Street, consider visiting one of London's museums or wander along the Thames watching ambitious Londoners pound the pavements.

Meet your Travel Director before saying cheerio to London and hello sparkling White Cliffs of Dover, England's last hurrah before you cross the English Channel by ferry bound for Calais. You'll pass the World War I battlefields of the Somme before arriving in Paris where you will enjoy dinner. This evening the City of Light provides an enchanting backdrop for an orientation drive that will showcase several of the sights which await you tomorrow.

Embark on a scenic sojourn, with your Local Specialist, along the grand Champs-Élysées to see the Arc de Triomphe, honoring those who fought for France. See Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter. This afternoon, you’ll have some leisure time to explore the treasures of Paris. Relax at a cozy French cafe and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the world go by.

Wind your way through the sprawling vineyards of Auxerrois and Burgundy, journeying south past the 15th-century fortress of Châteauneuf and rolling green farmlands into Switzerland bound for Lucerne. Cross the famous wooden Chapel Bridge with its 17th-century paintings and view the mortally wounded lion hewn from rock, paying tribute to the hundreds of brave Swiss Guards who died defending Louis XVI.

The contrast of scenery today is nothing short of remarkable. Traversing the Alps, you'll travel through the St. Gotthard tunnel and cross the border into Italy. Catch a glimpse of northern Italy's beautiful lakes, whose scenic retreats have attracted the aristocracy for centuries, before arriving this afternoon in Venice.

Take to the water and board a private motor launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square. View the Bridge of Sighs and ornate Doge's Palace, then make your way to a workshop to witness the traditional Venetian craft of glassblowing. Watch master craftsmen use centuries-old techniques to shape the delicate glass pieces Venice is famed for and perhaps be inspired to buy your own souvenir as a reminder of this special visit. Later, there’s time to explore the hidden 'calli' and 'campi' of Venice, to fit in some shopping, or soak up the sights and sounds of the Queen of the Adriatic before crossing the Apennine Mountains bound for Florence, the 'Cradle of the Renaissance'.