European Dream - End Paris, Classic Group

Tour Type: Discovery
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Premium 2024 v1

Live the European dream on this 11-day guided tour. Luxuriate in Rome, explore the Vatican with fast track entry VIP access, take an exhilarating open top cable car up Lucerne's Mt. Stanserhorn in Switzerland and dine in opulence at La Coupole in Paris. Venturing out in Italy, you'll get a genuine taste of fresh local cuisine among the canals of Venice, with an exclusive dining experience at La Fenice restaurant. After your local Travel Director guides you through the stunning vineyard covered plains of Umbria, two all encompassing nights begin in Florence?breathing in an ambience of fine wine, cobbled streets and green marble cathedrals. Paris delivers at the finish with iconic sights, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Place de la Concorde and the Champs elysees.

Additional Included Highlights
  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, y
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
Authentic Dining
  • Venice Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a delicious Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Sample traditional Venetian fare and soak up the ambiance of this charming city, and get to know each other before you embark on your journey toge
  • Paris Rendezvous with your friends at a typical French bistro for a rousing Celebration Dinner with wine. Bon Appetit!
  • Tuscany Enjoy a tasting of locally made wines and sample delicious Tuscan snacks in the underground cellar of Machiavelli's home. While here you will visit the Italian gardens and be privy to a private opening of the office where he wrote 'The Prince.'
  • Lucerne Choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening and hand-pick your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience.
  • Paris Join an avid local foodie on a walk through the streets of Paris. Visit a variety of patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers and sample local treats and delicacies along the way.
  • Umbria Explore the art of Italian cooking with Chef Lorenzo followed by a tasty lunch.
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Paris We walk up and down the "quartier" and we see the school, the food stores, the housing situation, the heritage landmarks, the sports facilities and the theaters, in this car-free, pedestrianized, neighborhood. Landmarks will include passages couver
  • Paris Join an avid local foodie on a walk through the streets of Paris. Visit a variety of patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers and sample local treats and delicacies along the way.
Dining Summary
  • 2 Lunch with Wine (LW)
  • 10 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Insight Experiences
  • Rome Enjoy exclusive access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes during an after-hours visit. This 9th-century basilica's simple facade guards the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. The history of the church springs to life as you admire the interior
  • Tuscany Meet your Local Expert for a guided visit through the house of the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer, Niccolo Machiavelli, with a special opening of his private office where he wrote 'The Prince.'
Make Travel Matter
  • Venice Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblow
  • Stanserhorn 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.
Top Rated Highlights
  • Lucerne During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
  • Paris Explore the iconic sights and streets of Paris. See famous landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and the facades of the Louvre. Stroll the banks of the River Seine and admire romantic bridges, and enjoy a drive along the Champs
  • Rome Discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum as you stroll around the exterior of this amazing structure.
  • Venice With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
  • Paris We walk up and down the "quartier" and we see the school, the food stores, the housing situation, the heritage landmarks, the sports facilities and the theaters, in this car-free, pedestrianized, neighborhood. Landmarks will include passages couver
  • Stanserhorn Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
  • Florence Join a Local Expert to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the
  • Florence See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
Well-being
  • Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical

Call (651) 731-8026 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18824372

Tour Operator
Insight Vacations
Offer
Offer valid through 12/30/2024
Duration
11 Days
Escorted
Escorted - Yes
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1VeniceWelcome to Venice: Welcome to the Queen of the Adriatic, known for its unique waterscapes and rich cultural heritage. Transfers depart from Venice Airport and journey to the hotel by water taxi. What better way to start your dream holiday than in true Venetian style? Join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Savor a cocktail at twilight whilst being serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians, and admire the tranquillity of St. Mark's Square long after the day-trippers have gone to their mainland hotels. Return to your canal-side hotel in the quiet, peaceful authentic neighborhood.

Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Day 2VeniceThe Magic of 'La Serenissima' Relaxed Start: In the morning, prepare to embrace this most romantic city. Visit St. Mark's Square, dominated by its magnificent basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace which is connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience as you witness the skill of glassblowers on a visit to a traditional arts center. The rest of the day is free. Perhaps shop in the small arcades or why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?

Accommodations: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice.
Day 3RomeVilla Machiavelli and Rome: Head into the Apennine Mountains and the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. Meet your Local Host for a guided tour through the house of the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer, Nicolo Machiavelli, with an included special opening of his private office where he wrote 'The Prince'. Visit the Italian garden with views of  Florence and the historic cellar, which has a secret underground tunnel connecting the cellars to the oldest restaurant in Italy. Savor a tasting of wines made from the vineyards surrounding the home, accompanied by delicious samples of local Tuscan fare. Your journey continues as you follow the course of the Tiber to the Eternal City of Rome. Enjoy a private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes. Gaze in awe at the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics, illuminated for this evening's experience, and see the first sculpture by Bernini.

Accommodations: Room 007 Select, Rome.
Day 4RomePapal and Imperial Rome: With your Local Expert, visit the Vatican Museums. Insight provides priority entry to avoid the crowds and admire the Papal art collection. Inside the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Continue inside the cavernous St. Peter's Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith, to see another Michelangelo masterpiece, the Pietà, as well as the splendid dome. Leave Vatican City to cross the Tiber and stand outside the Colosseum, imagining yourself back in the days of the gladiators. The afternoon is at leisure.

Accommodations: Room 007 Select, Rome.
Day 5FlorenceUmbria and onto Florence Relaxed Start: Meet chef Lorenzo at his family farm in Umbria. Explore the art of Italian cooking during an entertaining pasta demonstration and delicious Highlight Lunch accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine. Continue on to your hotel in Florence.

Accommodations: Hotel Adler Cavalieri, Florence.
Day 6FlorenceRenaissance Florence: With your Local Expert, view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. You also visit the open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces in Piazza della Signoria and see the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the Renaissance capital. Perhaps take the opportunity to visit the Tuscan town of Pisa and see the Leaning Tower.

Accommodations: Hotel Adler Cavalieri, Florence.
Day 7LucerneAcross the Alps to Lucerne: Head north towards the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano. Continue into the heart of the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world, before traveling alongside towering mountains and past rushing torrents, down to scenic Lake Lucerne. In Lucerne, see the town's proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Then, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit Church.

Accommodations: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Day 8LucerneLucerne and Mt. Stanserhorn: In the morning, explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels take you up the summit. Breathe 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. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate in the traffic-free Old Town. Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers? At night, you are offered a fine selection of restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.

Accommodations: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne.
Day 9ParisSights and delights of Paris: Journey through the rural French countryside of Burgundy, famous for its vineyards and wines, to arrive in the vibrant City of Light. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. 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 elysees 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?

Accommodations: Le Meridien Etoile, Paris.
Day 10ParisThe food and flavors of Paris: Start your day with an Insight Choice. Choose to explore community life in the picturesque Montorgueil district. Alternatively, join an avid foodie to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, indulge in refined French cuisine during your Celebration Dinner at the iconic restaurant La Coupole, frequently visited by the French entertainer Josephine Baker.

Accommodations: Le Meridien Etoile, Paris.
Day 11ParisAu Revoir Paris: Bid farewell to your traveling companions as your journey comes to an end. Transfers arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Accommodations:
Dates/Pricing

Click Quote or call us to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
12/29/2024$5,376.00* (USD) / Land Price 
Disclaimer
Twin prices are per person.

- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class

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