Grand Europe Adventure Tour: England, Italy, France, & More

Welcome to the cosmopolitan city of London. Decorated with cobblestone streets, this iconic city along the banks of the Thames brings you meandering alongside iconic Parliament under the pointed shadow of the Elizabeth Clock Tower and the pealing bells of Big Ben. Your flight will arrive at Heathrow Airport, where your private transfer will greet you at customs. You will venture to your opulent accommodations in the heart of the city before having the remainder of the day at your leisure to relax in the prestigious ambiance of London.

Your guide will meet you in the lobby of your accommodations as you step out for a day of exploration. The splendor of London will become more visible as you visit the British Museum. Your guide will take you next to St. Paul’s Cathedral, standing atop the city’s highest point. The dome stands 365 feet tall and was the tallest building in London from the 18th century until 1962. The pristine décor adds to the exterior majesty, all wrapped into the building’s historic charm, with the rest of the day free to wander the many neighborhoods of this iconic city.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you out of the city to visit the mixture of charm and prestige from the world’s oldest and largest occupied fortress at Windsor Castle. The stately complex encompasses 13 acres and dates back to the 11th century. You will find the State Apartments accentuated by the sparkling chandelier of the Grand Staircase. The sister town of Eton across the River Thames will fill with the sounds of schoolboys traipsing the narrow cobbled lanes during class breaks as they stroll past antique shops and opulent art galleries.

You will travel to Germany for an immersive view of enchanting Rudesheim. The colorful alleyway of Drosselgasse will embody the kitschy charm of the historic streets acting as a gateway into the Rheingau wine region. The flatlands will roll into the hills and mountains of the landscape. The vines will spread across the foothills and absorb the soil’s nutrients representing upwards of 2,000 years of history in the area. You can visit one of the celebrated vineyards of the region with a private guide to sample the sensational flavors of the Riesling captured in hints of Meyer lemon and pineapple.

In the German countryside, you will make your way into the Black Forest, home to the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. The evergreen canopy will offer a pine aroma as you pass through the cuckoo clock capital of Triberg Village. you will continue to Rhine Falls where water trundles down 75 feet into the connecting river and stretches 450 feet wide. Boulders bisect the water. When you look down into the river, you can see the whitewater calming as it leaves the falls behind.

You will reach the gorgeous city of Lucerne in the morning as it stands underneath the towering Mount Pilatus’s peak soaring up to 6,982 feet above sea level. The city retains a deep connection to its traditions captured in the cobbled lanes and timber-framed facades of Old Town. The skyline features nine towers set against the glacial waters of Lucerne Lake. You will venture out on a guided walking tour of the city that will take you among the aromas of chocolate and marzipan as you reach the admired Lion Monument.

You will travel through the mountains and cross the tiny country of Liechtenstein, which nestles into the Alpine valleys before reaching the welcoming ambiance of Innsbruck, Austria where the jagged summits of the Nordkette range add to the skyline. Innsbruck is located more than 6,560 feet above sea level and shines with lush alpine pastures and rugged mountainous borders.

Your guide will meet you after breakfast eager to introduce you to the fascinating culture and preserved history of Munich. The songs of the Hofbräuhaus will return to the cobbled lanes of the city’s historic center alluring visitors from around the world who are eager to raise a stein and sing along. Your guide will lead you alongside the colorful facades of the city center to reach the Glockenspiel in the enchanting square of Marienplatz. The clocktower possesses 43 bells and 32 performing figurines that tell the story of the 16th-century marriage of Duke Wilhelm V.

The Baroque design of the Nymphenburg Palace offers a mesmerizing look at the grandeur of German royalty with gardens reaching nearly three miles in size. The opulent architecture dates back to the 17th century and remains the residence of royal descendants. You can find 38 portraits of attractive women decorating the walls of the former apartments representing the eye of King Ludwig I. The gardens have become a public park and continue to attract residents of Munich who job, stroll, and lounge in the English style gardens accentuated by a rumbling waterfall and a reflective lake hosting elegant swans.

You will leave Munich for Venice and replace the allure of the Glockenspiel with the romance of the winding canals. The scenic drive will reveal jagged mountain peaks until the steep slopes flatten and the rivers turn to the opulent city of Venice rising out of the eponymous lagoon. The marble paving St. Mark’s Square will glint in the waning with the bulbous Byzantine domes atop the basilica domes standing 141 feet tall and embodying the treasures of the city’s past and present. You will have an introductory tour of Venice and a fascinating exploration of the lagoon.

Your guide will lead you to the Bridge of Sighs, an enclosed passage constructed with white limestone. Stone bars cover the windows. The bridge was constructed in the 17th century and connects the New Prison to Doge’s Palace. On the lagoon, you will visit the bustling island of Murano, which acts as a microcosm of larger Venice. You will visit with a local artisan to learn the historic art of glassblowing on the island, which dates back to the 13th century. The heat from the forge will fill the warehouse as you watch the artist shape the glass into a preferred vase, glass, or plate.

The opulent memory of Venice will linger in the absence of the lagoon as you venture from Venice to Rome. The waters will disappear behind the emerald greenery surrounding the city of Ferrara in the region of Emilia-Romagna. Medieval walls continue to surround the town while magnificent palaces pepper the interior. The Castello Estense was constructed in the 14th century and originally meant to protect the Este family from the citizenry. The towers rise over the encompassing moat immersing you in the preserved medieval ambiance stemming from lush gardens and preserved walls for which the city is celebrated.

In the morning, your guide will escort you on a private tour that unveils the ancient, medieval, and Renaissance layers of art and culture. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was built in Piazza Navona in the 17th century, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Representations of the four major rivers of four continents converge around a central Egyptian obelisk. Water trickles down from the stone platform into the shimmering pool. In the Vatican Museum, you will end your tour at the captivating Sistine Chapel, where the perspective of Michelangelo will burst into view with elaborate humanistic depictions of Biblical figures.

Leaving the history of Rome does not mean that you are leaving history behind. You will arrive in Florence and surround yourself with the beauty of the Renaissance. The Tuscan capital winds through stone towers and over cobblestone streets. The Duomo rises over the square with a transcendent dome whose construction began in the 13th century. Brunelleschi designed the roof, which remains the largest brick dome in the world standing 376 feet tall. You will find how the marble tile becomes enriched by the faint scent of myrrh. A painting on the wall depicts the layers of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Your exploration of Tuscany will continue with a private cooking class highlighting the authentic flavors of the traditional cuisine. Your private chef will become your instructor who guides you through the steps of producing a multi-course meal resulting in the delicious aromas of handmade pappardelle pasta with a rich ragu and almond cookies for dessert. You will wander the streets of the preserved medieval town of Siena to find the marvels of a city once vying for power and prestige against Florence. The cathedral contains 56 marble reliefs decorating the floor that depict biblical and mythological stories.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the city of Pisa with your guide to reach the home to one of the finest universities in Italy that dates back to the 14th century. Your guide will lead you to the Piazza dei Miracoli where you will find the surprising image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The marble tower lists nearly four degrees from base to top and stands approximately 186 feet tall. You will see the cathedral in the background and find the exquisite marble façade checkered with narrow columns typical of Gothic Pisan design.

The French Riviera is draped in picturesque history, sundrenched homes, towering seaside cliffs, and seductive beaches. The salty aroma of the ocean meets the scent of garlic, tomatoes, wine, and lavender. Olive groves carpet the inland countryside and the soft light around the coastline brought famous artists to the shores, from Renoir to Picasso. The opulence of Nice reflects the prestige of the Old World. Northeast of Nîmes, you will find the Pont du Gard, a three-tiered aqueduct that had belonged to a larger system of channels dating back to the year 19 BC.

You will meet your guide in the city and enjoy the eagerness with which they introduce you to the marvelous cultural legacy of the culture and architecture alongside the riverbanks. The city remains the heart of the Provence region with dramatic power dating back to the 14th century. Located on the left bank of the Rhône River, the city maintains its history as the second Vatican, home to seven successive popes. The Palais des Papes was constructed in the 14th century and remained as the papal seat for over 70 years. The walls are 10 feet thick.

Lyon was once the banking stronghold of France and now is the country’s third-largest city. After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you to the train station for your scenic ride to Paris. After freshening up, you will join an excursion to the Louvre for a private tour of the museum highlights that offers images of classic artists and antiquity, from Leonardo da Vinci to artifacts from ancient Egypt. You will also discover the sophisticated marble statue of the Venus de Milo. The sculpture was carved in 2nd century BC in Greece and stands more than six feet tall.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel for a day discovering the indelible charms around the shimmering City of Light. Your guide will take you to view the Opéra and Arc de Triomphe, stroll down the Champs-Elysées and enjoy the picturesque view of the Eiffel Tower. The iconic image of Paris stands 984 feet tall and offers remarkable views spreading across the cityscape and winding banks of the Seine River. In the 19th arrondissement is the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. The lesser-known park has lush, sloping grassy hills and a 100-foot waterfall dipping into a serene pond.

You will once again find the blissful aromas of chocolate brioche and frothy cappuccino filling the streets in the morning. Your fingers will feel the slightly sticky exterior of an almond croissant fresh from the oven at breakfast while sitting in a local café watching the locals pass by. Paris remains a city of magic, inspiring artists and writers, locals and visitors. Soon your private transfer will meet you at the hotel to take you to the airport for your flight home bring your grand European adventure to a close.