14 Days Highlights of Europe

See the Sights and Highlights Across 8 Countries on this 14-Day Europe Guided Tour

Experience the best Europe has to offer. Cruise along the quaint canals in Amsterdam, and travel from Austria, across the Dolomites into Italy. Join a local home dinner in Rome where your host serves up delicious regional dishes. Enjoy fast-track access to the Vatican museums and view Michaelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Then voyage through the Chianti Hills of Florence and the cobbled streets of lakeside Lucerne with a final stop in the city of lights, Paris.

---

Day 1 | Welcome to Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam, enjoy a day of leisure. Join your Travel Director for dinner. Mingle and get to know your fellow travellers as you cruise along some of the many quaint, treelined canals, to explore the heart of the Old City, before enjoying a pleasant evening of dinner and wine at a local restaurant.

Meals: Dinner with Wine

Hotel: Hilton, Amsterdam

---

Day 2 | The Rhine Valley and Heidelberg

Take a scenic drive through the Rhine Valley to see quaint villages, hilltop castles and hear the legend of the Lorelei Rock. Follow the Neckar River to Heidelberg and visit Heidelberg Castle with a Local Expert.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Marriott, Heidelberg

---

Day 3 | Mountain-ringed Innsbruck

Skirt the northern Black Forest and head towards the rolling Bavarian Alps. Stop beneath the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein, rumoured to have inspired Walt Disney's iconic castle. Once over the Austrian border, continue to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck. Tour the architectural jewels of the city, seeing the Imperial Palace, Golden Roof and the 14th century houses of the Old Town.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: AC, Innsbruck

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Tyrolean Evening With Dinner - Enjoy a lively evening including dinner, featuring dancers in national costume, yodelling and entertainment typical of the life, crafts and traditions of the Tyrolean people. Drinks are included.

Adult: 86.00 EUR

---

Day 4 | Across the Dolomites to Venice

Continue your journey, crossing the Italian border and on through the Dolomites. Amongst the hills of Conegliano Veneto, stop at a local family winery in Veneto to discover the art of prosecco production. Savour a tasting of these luxurious sparkling wines. Continue to the romantic city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. In the evening, enjoy a dinner with wine.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel: Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Gondolas & the Grand Canal - Join us for a breathtaking cruise by private water taxi along Venice's Grand Canal. You'll admire the magnificent palazzi, catching a glimpse of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. Later on, you'll glide gracefully on a gondola along Venice's dreamy, narrow waterways.

Adult: 88.00 EUR

---

Day 5 | The Magic of La Serenissima

Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop. Take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square where the city's former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark's Basilica. Admire the Doge's Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. With the rest of the day free, why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES: 

Hidden Venice - Experience Venice's big set pieces is to miss out on a hidden world full of surprises! Join a Local Expert for a fascinating walk through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. The back lanes and ‘campi’, small squares, where tourists seldom tread are full of history and great places to sample local life.

Adult: 43.00 EUR

Burano Excursion & Meal - Leave the hustle of St Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Alight at the island of Burano, a photographer's paradise, famous for its candy coloured houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialities with wine included. An excursion not to be missed!

Adult: 82.00 EUR

---

Day 6 | The Eternal City of Rome

2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a centre of celebration between December 24, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City. Head into the Apennine Mountains and venture through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Follow the course of the Tiber to the Eternal City of Rome. Enjoy a private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, welcomed by the Rector of the basilica. Gaze in awe at the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics, illuminated for this evening's experience, and see the first sculpture by Bernini. Italian culture is deeply rooted in hospitality with food, friends and family being central to everyday life. For dinner, you’re invited into the home of a Roman local to experience Italian hospitality at its best.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel: Room 007 Select, Rome

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Piazzas and Fountains - Enjoy a guided passeggiata with a Local Expert through Rome’s cobblestoned streets. Venture into the heart of Ancient Rome, wander through charming squares, and marvel at the city’s iconic monuments, including Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers at Piazza Navona, one of the city’s most vibrant meeting places.

Adult: 46.00 EUR

---

Day 7 | Papal and Imperial Rome

During your two-night stay, join a Local Expert for a tour of the priceless art housed in the Vatican Museums and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Then explore St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Cross the River Tiber to see the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Room 007 Select, Rome

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Rome of The Ancient Christians - Outside the ancient Roman city walls, we'll visit the early Christian Catacombs, underground cemeteries carved out of soft Tufa Stone, with our Local Expert. Nearby, we'll also visit one of the major basilicas of Rome, St Paul's, the burial place of St Paul the Apostle, famous for its Byzantine Mosaics.

* Please note: on some departures, the Catacombs are offered with a visit to St Peter in Chains to view the magnificent 'Moses' sculpture by Michelangelo, instead of St Paul's.

Adult: 45.00 EUR

Roman Dinner Party - Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks and a great Italian ambiance.

Adult: 73.00 EUR

---

Day 8 | The Chianti Hills to Florence

Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A Local Expert will accompany you to the Duomo where the Gates of Paradise adorn the baptistery. Continue to Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city, lined with fountains and statues it acts as a virtual open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. A leisurely afternoon gives you time to shop for quality goods, like gold and leather, which Florence is famous for. Alternatively, there is the option to visit the Accademia Gallery with an art historian to see Michelangelo's famed masterpiece, 'David.' In the evening, savour an authentic meal at a local trattoria in the heart of Florence.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel: NH Firenze, Florence

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Jewels of the Renaissance - Enjoy priority reserved entry, with our Local Expert, into the most important Renaissance museum of Florence, the ‘Accademia di Belle Arti’, Academy of Fine Arts. Amongst the masterpieces you will see are an outstanding collection of 15th & 16th Century Florentine paintings by the likes of Uccello, Ghirlandaio, and Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo’s four unfinished ‘Prisoners’. The highlight of the visit is Michelangelo’s ‘David’. Created between 1501-1504 it was once the symbol of Republican Florence and is considered by many to be the greatest sculpted masterpiece in the world. 

Adult: 59.00 EUR

* The Accademia is not available on Mondays due to weekly closure day.

Discover Palazzo Vecchio - Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence's political power for over seven centuries. With our Local Specialist we’ll visit the wonderful "Hall of the Five Hundred", dedicated to the Medici popes. We’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Donatello.

Adult: 46.00 EUR

---

Day 9 | Lake Maggiore

Travel past Milan, the capital of Lombardy, as you journey north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with luxuriant subtropical vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake. Perhaps choose to take a cruise to the lovely Isola Bella for a guided tour of the incredible palace and stunning Botanical Gardens? Later, the choice is yours for your Dine-Around Evening. Enjoy your preferred dining experience from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, each offering their own unique cuisine and ambience.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel: Simplon, Baveno

---

Day 10 | The Alps and onto Lucerne

In the morning, enjoy your last moments among the charming Italian Lake District before your travels continue across the Swiss border. Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels take you up the summit. Take in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Continue to lakeside Lucerne where the afternoon is at your leisure. You may choose to enjoy a cruise on Lake Lucerne with its dramatic vistas.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Astoria, Lucerne

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Lake Lucerne Cruise and Drinks - Widely considered to be the loveliest of the mountain lakes, much of the shoreline of Lake Lucerne can only be fully appreciated from the water. Admire the spectacular homes of the fortunate few, privileged to live on its scenic shores, as we cruise gently by. Two drinks will be served during the trip.

Adult: 54.00 CHF

Swiss Evening - There's nothing better than convening with friends around a pot of bubbling fondue with a glass of chilled white wine and having a good yodel! Join us for a tasty Swiss meal in a typical restaurant. While you dine, enjoy a lively folklore show of flag throwing, yodelling, Alpenhorn blowing and other great Swiss entertainment.

Adult: 111.00 CHF 

---

Day 11 | Lakeside Lucerne

The emotive Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff, is a memorial dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution, which is a source of great pride to the people of Lucerne. See this beautiful work before strolling across the Chapel Bridge to see the ornate Jesuit Church. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town. Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horsedrawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers?

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Astoria, Lucerne

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Carriages & Countryside - In a typical rural community, meet local farmers for a delightful horse-drawn ride. Clip-clop your way through bright green pasture, where the angular spire of a traditional white church shoots skyward and rickety old wooden storehouses still dot the landscape. Call in at a local farm where a wonderful spread of homemade drinks and snacks is served.

Adult: 77.00 CHF

* Children must be accompanied by an adult.

---

Day 12 | Sights and delights of Paris

Journey through the rural French country side of Alsace and Burgundy regions, famous for their vineyards and wines, to arrive in the vibrant City of Light. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, discover the banks of the Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the center of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. With the evening free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city. Why not visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows?

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Moulin Rouge Cabaret and Dinner - Enjoy dinner and cabaret, including wine and champagne, at the world-famous Moulin Rouge – the original Paris cabaret. Immortalized by the award-winning film of the same name, this Parisian institution features 60 dancers and entertainers and over 1000 costumes!

Adult: 205.00 EUR

---

Day 13 | The Food and Flavours of Paris

Today you can enjoy an Insight Choice. Choose to explore community life in the picturesque Montorgueil district. Alternatively, join an avid food lover as you head into areas where Parisians go about their daily lives to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies.  In the evening, enjoy dinner at the historic restaurant La Coupole. Delight in French cuisine and delicious wine.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Notre Dame & Latin Quarter - A guided drive through Paris' bohemian Left Bank, with our Local Expert, brings us to amazing Notre Dame. One of the world’s most famous Cathedrals and the epitome of Gothic architecture, it is thankfully still standing after the tragic fire of 2019. While admiring its miraculously untouched Gothic features, we’ll follow the progress of the restoration work as they reinforce the precious medieval structure before starting in on the challenge of replacing the roof. Afterwards, we’ll take a stroll through the delightful Latin Quarter, a medieval maze of winding cobblestone alleyways where you'll have free time to enjoy the sidewalk bistros, boutiques, and hidden squares.

Adult: 36.00 EUR

You will be offered one of the following two optional experiences depending on availability:

Seine Cruise and Illuminations - The City of Light really lives up to its name when the city's monuments, buildings and bridges are lit up in all of their glory. First, a specially-designed sightseeing boat takes us for an unforgettable cruise along the Seine and beneath famous bridges to appreciate the Left and Right Banks and the Île de la Cité and St Louis. Then, we'll enjoy an illuminations tour, when the rubies and diamonds of the Champs Élysées and the Eiffel Tower are at their magnificent best.

Adult: 47.00 EUR

Montparnasse and Latin Quarter - Led by a Local Specialist, you’ll see the 'City of Lights' from a new perspective on the Panoramic Observation Deck. Later, you’ll visit the Latin Quarter to stroll through the medieval maze of cobblestone alleyways, with sidewalks bistros, boutiques and hidden squares to explore.

Adult: 44.00 EUR

---

Day 14 | Au Revoir Paris

Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Transfers arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Meals: Breakfast