Your itinerary
Day 1: UK - Channel Crossing - Brussels.
Join your tour by travelling on our free coach service from London for your Channel crossing to the Continent. Here you will be met by your tour director and touring coach to continue to Brussels for overnight.
Day 2: Brussels - Ulm.
Travel south into the Rhineland then past Stuttgart into Bavaria, with its woods, farms and pretty villages to Ulm, a lovely city located on the banks of the Danube, famed for its cathedral with the world's highest spire.
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Day 3: Ulm - Tyrol - Innsbruck - Venice area.
This morning travel by way of the Fern Pass to the grandeur of mountainous Tyrol and on to Innsbruck. Continue over the Brenner Pass to Italy and stop in the lovely resort of Cortina in the Dolomites. Descend to the Veneto plains for overnight in Venice area for two nights.
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Day 4: Venice. Included sightseeing.
It's more like a marvellous film-set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses. The included tour with local guide starts with a boat ride and is followed by highlights such as St Mark's Basilica and a visit to a typical Venetian glass blowing workshop. Don't miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the quiet canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.
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Day 5: Venice area - Assisi - Rome.
A long but interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then crossing the Apennines. Stop in Assisi, where St Francis was born in 1182. Visit the Basilica, then head for Rome.
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Day 6: Rome. Included sightseeing.
The 'Eternal City' - a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and absolutely unique! The included sightseeing with local guide starts in St Peter's Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.
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Day 7: Rome - Montecassino - Pompeii - Sorrento.
Start with a visit to Montecassino to view the Abbey, perched high on a peak overlooking the valley. Next an included visit with local guide to the archeological site of Pompeii where time stopped with the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. On to the enchanting Bay of Naples for two nights in Sorrento.
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Day 8: Sorrento - Day trip to Capri.
Cross the sea to Capri. This legendary island, surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. An optional tour takes you round the island.
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Day 9: Sorrento - Orvieto - Florence area.
This morning retrace part of the route by passing Rome, for a stop in Orvieto in the province of Umbria to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral. Next enjoy the quite extraordinary beauty of the Tuscan countryside. Overnight in the Florence area.
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Day 10: Florence. Included sightseeing.
This Renaissance gem, city of the Medicis, will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic is partly banned in the historic centre so visitors can wander at leisure and admire this city's timeless beauty. Enjoy the included city sightseeing walk with local guide and in the afternoon an included excursion to Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower. This evening why not join the optional Tuscan dinner?
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Day 11: Florence area - Bologna - Lugano.
Leave Florence today for Bologna to see the Garisenda and Asinelli Towers and the lovely Piazza Maggiore. Continue to Switzerland's subtropical resort of Lugano for overnight.
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Day 12: Lugano - Lake Lucerne. Included sightseeing.
This morning climb to the St Gotthard tunnel and descend to the shores of lovely Lake Lucerne. This afternoon enjoy the covered wooden bridge and the huge Lion Monument, the city's trademark. Take advantage of the optional excursion by funicular and cable car to the 6,227 foot summit of the Stanserhorn.
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Day 13: Lake Lucerne - Paris.
Your journey will take you through stunning Swiss Alpine scenery and some of the most famous vineyards in France as we head north to Paris for a two night stay.
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Day 14: Paris. Included sightseeing.
Learn more about this fascinating city on the included sightseeing tour with local guide which starts with many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Boulevard St Germain, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra, Champs Elysées and Rue de Rivoli.
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Day 15: Paris - Channel crossing - UK.
A short drive north to the Channel port where your tour ends. After the short Channel crossing join the coach service back to London.
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Hotels On Tour
Brussels: Ibis St Catherine (3*); Ulm: Atrium (3*); Venice area: Albatros at Mestre (4*); Rome: Residence Parco Tirreno (4*); Sorrento: Rivage or Central Park at Massalubrense (3*); Florence area: Ibis at Sesto Fiorentino (3*); Lugano: Acquarello (3*); Lake Lucerne area: Loewen at Lungern (3*); Paris: Forest Hill La Villette (3*).
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