 Click Map To Enlarge Tour Description
A roam in the Eurozone! Shop 'til you drop in Paris or Nice. But if that timepiece on your list is Swiss, you'll first need a bank to get a few Francs! Moderate. Apart from Rhineland, Würzburg and Salzburg, this tour features two-night stays throughout. There is an excellent selection of modern hotels like the Marriott Rive Gauche in Paris and Londra in Florence but the standout has to be the majestic Schloss Steinburg affording sweeping views over the baroque city of Würzburg and the surrounding What's Included
Quality Dining
- A Welcome Reception with light meal (WR)
- Regional Highlight Dinner at your Wurzburg castle hotel (HD)
- Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Lucerne (DA)
- Enjoy an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner with wine in a Parisian restaurant (CD)
- 19 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 4 three-course table d´hôte dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
- Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight´s Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
- Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveller Welcome pack
- London Airport transfer service available
Highlights
- Amsterdam: See Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Mint Tower. Visit the fishing village of Volendam. Witness diamond cutting and demonstrations of clog and cheese-making.
- Boppard: Embark on a Rhine cruise past vineyards and castles.
- Heidelberg: Walk through the old town and see the castle.
- Rothenburg: Admire the old houses, towers and gateways.
- Munich: See the Town Hall in the Marienplatz.
- Salzburg: Walk through the Mirabell Gardens with a guide, see Mozart´s Birthplace and the Cathedral.
- Vienna: Visit Schönbrunn Palace with a local guide. See the Parliament, Winter Palace and Opera House.
- Venice: See the Doges´ Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St Mark´s Basilica. Enjoy a gondola serenade along the atmospheric canals. Venetian glass-blowing demonstration.
- Rome: Visit the Vatican Museums and St Peters Basilica in the Vatican City. Visit the Colosseum and overlook the Forum.
- Florence: Visit the Statue of David in the Academy Gallery. View the Cathedral, `Gates of Paradise´ and Piazza Signoria. Traditional Florence leather-work demonstration
- Pisa: See the famous Leaning Tower.
- Monaco: Visit to the playground of the rich and famous.
- Lucerne: See Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument & Jesuit Church.Cog-wheel train and cable-car ride to the top of Mount Pilatus.
- Paris: Visit to the Louvre Museum. See Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde, Opera House, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe. Ascend the Eiffel Tower for views over the city.
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Day
1 |
London - Amsterdam
Travel to Dover and cross the channel to Calais. Continue through Belgium into the Netherlands and on to Amsterdam. On arrival, enjoy a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal, followed by time to relax and explore.
Stay: Mövenpick City Centre (RW) |
Day
2 |
Amsterdam Sightseeing
Cross Dam Square and pass the Royal Palace to see diamonds being cut and polished. Later, choose between an afternoon at leisure to visit the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House, or join us on an included drive through typical Dutch countryside to Volendam. (BB)
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Day
3 |
Amsterdam - Rhine Cruise - Mainz
Head past Arnhem famed for its `Bridge Too Far´. Stop in the wine village of Boppard which was founded by the Romans, before joining a highlight cruise on the finest stretch of the Rhine before reaching your Mainz hotel.
Stay: Hilton (BB/D)
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Day
4 |
Mainz - Rothenburg - Würzburg
Walk through Heidelberg´s Old Town and see the castle before travelling to medieval Rothenburg. Admire the old houses, towers and gateways dating from the 14C. Tonight, in one of Europe´s most beautiful castle hotels, you are treated to regional cuisine, wine and warm-hearted hospitality.
Stay: Schloss Steinburg (BB/HD)
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Day
5 |
Würzburg - Munich - Salzburg
South along the Romantic Road to Munich where an orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium, Town Hall and Marienplatz. Enjoy free time for a Bavarian beer before arriving in Salzburg, city of Mozart. (BB/D)
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Day
6 |
Salzburg - Vienna
Walk through the Mirabell Gardens on your guided city tour. Enjoy fine views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress before viewing Mozart´s birthplace on the Getreidegasse and the Cathedral in the old town. After some time to explore, continue past Mondsee Lake and along the Danube Valley to Vienna.
Stay: Hilton Vienna Plaza (BB) |
Day
7 |
Vienna Sightseeing
Visit the State Apartments of Schönbrunn Palace, Maria Theresa´s summer palace. On a guided city tour, see the Winter Palace, Parliament and Opera House along the Ring Road. (BB)
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Day
8 |
Vienna - Venice
Cross the Semmering Pass and continue south past enchanting lakes and wooded countryside. Travel through the Carinthian Lake District into Italy. Follow mountain valleys down to the Veneto Plain on your way to your hotel on the Venice Lido.
Stay: Quattro Fontane (BB/D) |
Day
9 |
Venice Sightseeing
Cruise to St.Mark´s Square and alight to see the Bridge of Sighs which connects the Doges´ Palace to the prisons. In the square, see the bell tower and the beautiful mosaics of St. Mark´s Basilica. After a demonstration of Venetian glass blowing, board a gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals accompanied by musicians. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)
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Day
10 |
Venice - Rome
Cross the Apennine Mountains into the Tuscan Hills. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous. Continue along the course of the Tiber to the `Eternal City´ of Rome.
Stay: Romanico Palace (BB) |
Day
11 |
Rome Sightseeing
With your local guide, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Next door, tour St Peter´s Basilica, seeing Michelangelo´s Pieta. Cross the Tiber to visit the Colosseum and see the Forum. There is time in the afternoon to relax or explore. (BB)
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Day
12 |
Rome - Florence
Classic Tuscan scenery surrounds you on your way to Florence. With a local guide, visit the Academy Gallery to admire Michelangelo´s Statue of David. Then view the Cathedral, Gates of Paradise, Giotto´s Campanile, the open air gallery of Piazza Signoria, and Santa Croce Basilica. After a leatherwork demonstration, there´s time at leisure to explore or shop.
Stay: Londra (BB/D) |
Day
13 |
Florence At Leisure
A whole day to explore this glorious city, treasure-house of the Italian Renaissance. (BB)
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Day
14 |
Florence - Pisa - Monaco - Nice
Lend your support to the Leaning Tower of Pisa before following the Italian Riviera coast to France. Stop in Monaco to see its harbour, Monte Carlo Casino and drive along part of the Grand Prix circuit before continuing to elegant Nice.
Stay: Radisson Blu (BB)
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Day
15 |
Nice At Leisure
Enjoy a whole day at leisure on the Cote d´Azur. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, or try the refreshing local rosé wine and an original salade nicoise in the Old Town. (BB)
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Day
16 |
Nice - Lucerne
Visit a French perfumery in the village of Eze before passing through the Italian Lake District en route to Switzerland. See stunning Swiss Alpine scenery on the way to lovely lake side Lucerne.
Stay: Astoria (BB) |
Day
17 |
Lucerne Sightseeing
Ascend by cog-wheel railway to the summit of Mount Pilatus for stunning 360 degree views of the Swiss Alps. Later, back in Lucerne, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge before spending your free time shopping or relaxing. Tonight, enjoy a selection of ambience and local cuisine offered on your Dine-Around evening. (BB/DA) |
Day
18 |
Lucerne - Paris
Cross the French border at Basel and continue through Alsace farmlands to the Burgundy wine region. Your destination is the glittering French capital of Paris. This evening enjoy good food, wine and company at an end-of-tour Celebration Dinner in a Parisian bistro.
Stay: Marriott Rive Gauche (BB/HD)
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Day
19 |
Paris Sightseeing
Drive via Notre Dame Cathedral for a private tour of the Louvre Museum. See the Mona Lisa and many more priceless works amassed over the ages by the Kings of France. Sightseeing continues to Place de la Concorde for drive along the grand Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Now survey the city from the heights of the Eiffel Tower. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)
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Day
20 |
Paris - London
Cross the World War One battlefields of the Somme to arrive at the port of Calais for your return Channel crossing to England. The tour ends after a short drive to London. (BB)
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Click on the icon if you would like to view an electronic version of the brochure online. |
20 Day European Explorer Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Global Journeys.
1 Reviews,
Average Rating 5.0
of 5.
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As an introduction to Europe, the tour certainly fulfills this expectation. There are a couple of items where I think improvement could be made. Weather forecasts on the board to ensure appropriate apparel/sunscreen etc. Better explanation of how the optionals work and how little free time there is if you take them up. The ability to sign up for extras the day before as you do not know what the city/place you are visiting is like. The quality of the food on the included dinners. A 'tell everyone a bit about yourself' opportunity to help get to know everyone. An indication of the time on the road each day. Things I think were excellent were, the room on the coach, most of the road stops, the tour guide's knowledge, how much we actually saw and did & the price of the extras. Overall, our experience was very good and we now have the knowledge and skill to return to Europe, back to the places we liked and to others we did not even see. Thanks for showing us what we can do!
Donnalee & Mario Marino (Australia)
Tour Date 19/06/2011 |
Tour Prices
Tour prices are per person. Please request a quote for tour availability. |
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Sale! Save up to $350 per couple. Exclusive to Global Journeys. Deposit this month only to qualify!
Subject to availability at the time of booking.
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| START DATE |
END DATE |
BROCHURE
(Twin Share) |
BROCHURE
(Single) |
OUR
SAVINGS |
OUR
PRICE |
| 20 May 2012 |
08 Jun 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 27 May 2012 |
15 Jun 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 03 Jun 2012 |
22 Jun 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 10 Jun 2012 |
29 Jun 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 17 Jun 2012 |
06 Jul 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 24 Jun 2012 |
13 Jul 2012 |
AU $5,765 |
AU $7,275 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,590 |
| 01 Jul 2012* |
20 Jul 2012 |
AU $5,650 |
AU $7,160 |
Save $170 |
AU $5,480 |
| 08 Jul 2012* |
27 Jul 2012 |
AU $5,575 |
AU $7,085 |
Save $165 |
AU $5,410 |
| 15 Jul 2012* |
03 Aug 2012 |
AU $5,575 |
AU $7,085 |
Save $165 |
AU $5,410 |
| 22 Jul 2012* |
10 Aug 2012 |
AU $5,575 |
AU $7,085 |
Save $165 |
AU $5,410 |
| 29 Jul 2012* |
17 Aug 2012 |
AU $5,585 |
AU $7,095 |
Save $170 |
AU $5,415 |
| 05 Aug 2012* |
24 Aug 2012 |
AU $5,585 |
AU $7,095 |
Save $170 |
AU $5,415 |
| 12 Aug 2012* |
31 Aug 2012 |
AU $5,675 |
AU $7,185 |
Save $170 |
AU $5,505 |
| 19 Aug 2012* |
07 Sep 2012 |
AU $5,675 |
AU $7,185 |
Save $170 |
AU $5,505 |
| 26 Aug 2012 |
14 Sep 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 02 Sep 2012 |
21 Sep 2012 |
AU $5,899 |
AU $7,499 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,724 |
| 09 Sep 2012 |
28 Sep 2012 |
AU $5,899 |
AU $7,499 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,724 |
| 16 Sep 2012 |
05 Oct 2012 |
AU $5,899 |
AU $7,499 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,724 |
| 23 Sep 2012 |
12 Oct 2012 |
AU $5,899 |
AU $7,499 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,724 |
| 30 Sep 2012 |
19 Oct 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
| 07 Oct 2012 |
26 Oct 2012 |
AU $5,850 |
AU $7,450 |
Save $175 |
AU $5,675 |
Note: The majority of departures above will proceed or are guaranteed to depart. We will outline the status of your departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.
Note: London Olympics 2012 - London accommodation unavailable for those departures maked with an * above. The start and finish locations for these departures change from London to the first and last cities visited on the itinerary. |
Tour Discounts & Options:
Tour options, extras, upgrades and discounts! |
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Click on the descriptions below for more detail. We will apply all valid discounts automatically to your quote to provide you with the best possible price. Terms & Conditions apply to the discounts below.
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Flights:
Book your tour and flights together to SAVE! |
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The prices on our site are land only prices. If you would like to include flights with your quote, then we have some amazing specials for you to take advantage of!
Flight specials only apply for clients booking this tour from Global Journeys. Terms & Conditions apply and full details will be provided in your quote.
   
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General Information
The information below relates to this itinerary only. |
Tour Operator: Insight Vacations
 Insight Vacations, Europe's premier escorted tour operator, provides premium escorted motorcoach vacations throughout Britain, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia the Eastern Mediterranean and North America. 'The Art of Touring in Style' lies at the very heart of Insight philosophy. Our carefully chosen unique features and impeccable service standards enable us to deliver exceptional quality, unequalled value, unforgettable memories and personal freedom at levels currently unrivalled elsewhere in the industry.
Tour Type: Discovery
These exciting tours allow you to experience a 'snapshot' of Europe. They range from four to thirty-four days' duration, with many relaxing two and three-night stays. Expertly planned, their sightseeing inclusions give you fantastic touring and free time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Insight is completely unique. Simply, we are the only tour operator to give you more legroom on every tour at no extra cost: you'll consistently stay in quality hotels in desirable locations; you'll enjoy more included sightseeing; and because you'll travel in smaller groups (max 40 people), you'll receive better personal service from your experienced Tour Director and Tour Driver.
Documents will normally be mailed 21 days prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
Insight Vacations plays host to over 100,000 guests every year and has offices in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore and the UK . The company has also appointed specialist agents in Argentina, Brazil, Mauritius, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and China. It is therefore quite typical to find many different nationalities on any one tour.
With only 40 guests on our premium tours instead of the standard 53, Insight clients enjoy a more personalised service. In a smaller group, you'll be closer to your local guide for a more in-depth experience, you'll spend less time waiting to get into sights and it will be faster checking into hotels with your luggage arriving quicker to your room. Insight groups are smaller, more intimate and more friendly.
 Yet another exclusive feature of an Insight premium tour is the incredible space and comfort you'll enjoy when travelling. Our luxury coaches have been specially reconfigured with fewer seats, you'll relax in style whilst enjoying up to twice as much legroom than on a standard touring coach.
Insight hotels are consistently first class standard and higher or in a style appropriate to the destination. They have been selected because they are good private or small collection hotels or from well-known chains such as Marriott, Renaissance and Hilton. Insight also chooses hotels based on their location. We know you'll prefer to stay centrally, convenient to the main historic, shopping or entertainment districts; or scenically in areas of natural beauty.
Time & time again, our guests tell us that it was their Tour Director who really made their trip. Our Tour Directors are amongst the finest in the business and will help steer you through the labyrinth of Europe 's cultures, languages and diversities and bring its magic to life before your eyes.
At Insight, planning the perfect tour is our speciality. Not only to we include the 'must see' sights, we carefully balance our itineraries to give you plenty of free time to relax and immerse yourself in the location.
The prices listed cover all hotel accommodations, all applicable sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary, motorcoach, cruise or rail transportation, services of a professional Insight Tour Director, all meals as shown in the itinerary and luggage handling. All tips have been included for services on tour by dining-room staff, chambermaids and porters at hotels, airports, docks and train stations.
On an Insight Vacation, some gratuities are included in the price of your trip: baggage handling, meal service for all meals listed in the tour itinerary, and hotel service charge. Room service, however, is not included in the tour price. Tips are customarily given to your Tour Director, Driver and Local Guides at your discretion. The recommended amounts are: Tour Directors EUR4 per day, Drivers EUR2.50 per day and Local Guides EUR1 per day. The option to prepay these tips prior to departure is possible. Please ask your consultant to include this in your quote.
These are activities that we do not automatically include but are offered at the start of your tour designed to enhance your travel experience. Your Tour Director will have a list of available options and the appropriate costs. They are carefully programmed to coincide with the best highlights available at the time of your visit. It could be a seafood lunch in Venice, a concert in Vienna or a Grand Canyon Helicopter ride. A detailed list and costs can be found in your tour documentation.
If you wish to share with another tour member you can advise Global Journeys at the time of booking. Insight believes that traveling solo doesn't have to cost you more. We will try to match you with someone of the same sex in order to avoid having to pay the single supplement. If we are not able to provide a suitable roommate, we will provide a single room at no extra cost. Several tours do not provide this option (generally tours containing a cruise component) and so the Single Supplement applies.
There is a no smoking policy motorcoach touring policy. However, we do make plenty of convenience stops giving you the opportunity to smoke, use local restroom facilities, take a scenic snapshot or just relax and enjoy of cup of coffee.
We have a dedicated section on our website providing more detailed information on Insight including FAQ's on what you need to know before, during and after your travel; as well as information on their 'Touring Styles', and a comprehensive search facility to enable you to easily find more of their tours. Read more> (NB: This link will take you away from this tour itinerary page).
Airport Transfer Information
Heathrow Transfers in London
Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London
hotel. Insight has negotiated special group transfer rates from London's
Heathrow to the door of your Insight London hotel: AU $37 per person per single trip to/from Heathrow Airport. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off in time to
meet all flights booked to/from London's Heathrow Airport.
Insight's Transfer Terms & Conditions
- Global Journeys provides detailed flight information to Insight no fewer
than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be
changed.
- For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Insight
on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
- Insight only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
- In the event of flight delays outside of Insight's control, the transfers will
be deemed to be cancelled.
- All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available
for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
- In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or
demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled
transfers.
Gatwick Transfers in London
For passengers flying into London's Gatwick Airport, Global Journeys & Insight recommend the Gatwick Express, for details visit the Gatwick Express website at: www.gatwickexpress.com
Airport Transfers in Europe
All Insight passengers receive complimentary arrival and
departure transfers by shuttle bus on the arrival and departure day of their
tour at specified times.
Any passengers whose flight times do not coincide with the shuttle bus transfer timings may choose to book and purchase a transfer. Additionally, passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled holiday may also book and buy a transfer through Insight providing they also purchase the additional pre and post holiday hotel night(s) from Insight & Global Journeys.
European Private Transfers
If your flight times or arrival/departure days do not coincide with our shuttle transfers, you may choose to purchase a private shared transfer. Providing you also purchase the additional pre and post-tour hotel night(s) from Insight we can do this for you. Flight timings must be provided to Global Journeys no less than 21 days before the flight departure. Please enquire for pricing.
Terms & Conditions:
Yep, all the boring small print! We still recommend you read it all though, as no one likes surprises. Click here to read them now - they will open in a new window, or print them off to read over later with a cup of coffee!
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