Europe Explorer London to London

Europe Explorer London to London

16 Days from £699 to £1099
Visit 8 Countries:
France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City,
Switzerland, Netherlands,
Germany, Belgium




The Classic European Explorer Route
Brief tour summary: Join us for the Full Monty of traveling and sight seeing in Europe - it doesn't get better than this! This comprehensive tour is designed to make sure that you explore and experience the best of everything: sightseeing, exploring, partying and everything that contributes to you having the time of your life. Highlights include: Paris sights like the Eiffel tower and Notre Dame; Burgundy Chateaux visit and wine tasting; Avignon in the Provence region famous for lavender, good food and fine wines Rub shoulders with the rich and famous in Monaco or work on your tan in the French Riviera; Tuscany Food and wine; Florence and Pisa; Ancient sights of Rome; Gondola in Venice; Stay in a traditional Swiss mountain village; Black Forest with Rhine valley boat cruise; Wooden shoe making, cheese tasting and a guided tour of Amsterdam's Red-light district!


Tour Itinerary

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Day 9: Rome to Venice
Depart Rome and continue to Venice for an afternoon local guided tour of the city, famous for water, romance and beauty. (Breakfast)

Day 10: Venice
A great day to Explore Venice on your own. We recommend a visit to the Island of Murano for a glass-blowing & lace making demonstration. Alternatively you can simply relax and soak up the sun on the sandy beaches at Jesolo or Lido. (Breakfast)

Feeding the pigeons in Venice

Day 11: Venice to Switzerland
Depart Venice and continue to the Swiss Alps where we stay in a typical mountain village in the heart of the Jungfrau region. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 12: Jungfrau, Swiss Alps
A free day to explore and take in the spectacular scenery. This is also a great day to visit Jungfraujoch where you can have a snow fight, even in the middle of summer, on top of the 4000m high Glacier. (Breakfast)

Day 13: Black Forest, Rhine Valley
This morning we continue into Germany, driving through the famous Black Forest region and stopping in Baden-Baden for your own lunch time. Your Rhine Valley experience awaits: Enjoy a drink as the Rhine River Boat takes you to your overnight hotel overlooking the Rhine River. Sights along the way include the most concentrated stretch of castles in Europe, vineyards, cliffs and medieval German towns. After dinner, we go on a pub-crawl, taste the local German beers and enjoy the real hospitality of the locals and the pub owners (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 14: Volendam, Amsterdam
Continue into Holland and visit the famous fishing village of Volendam for lunch before experiencing the art of cheese making. Of course, the artworks are edible and the Dutch won’t let you leave before you realise there is more to cheese than cheddar. We then visit the windmill village of Zaanse Schans, famous for the making of wooden shoes, or “klompe”. After dinner a walking tour of the world famous Amsterdam “Red Light District” , which leaves the night open to paint the town red! (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 15: Amsterdam
Free time to explore Amsterdam. See canals, Ann Frank House, Dam Square, Van Gogh Museum. Do a bicycle tour. (Breakfast, Dinner)


Racing the locals, Amsterdam

Day 16: Amsterdam, Bruges, London
After breakfast it’s back to London, but first we stop for a visit to the ancient city of Bruges, famous for many things, including beer and chocolates! (B) (Breakfast)
Day 1: London - Dover - Paris
Depart London and catch a glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover as you cross The English Channel. Upon arrival, prepare yourself for a fun filled evening in the cradle of Bohemian Paris, the Montmartre, which includes a viewing of the Sacre Coeur and exploring the nightlife surrounding the Moulin Rouge.

Day 2: Paris City Tour
Paris is one of the few cities where 2000 years of history unfolds before your eyes. See, touch and experience the mark of the French Revolution, Napoleon and WWII left on the city of romance. Our fully guided tour starts at the Louvre Museum, famous for the Mona Lisa and The Da Vinci Code. Let history unfold before your eyes as we visit historic Paris, including sites of the revolution, the Notre Dame ending it off with lunch in the Latin Quarter. After that relax with a scenic boat cruise down the Seine River and arrive in front of the Eiffel Tower before taking the lift all the way to the top. We end the day at Napoleon’s Arc du Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. (Breakfast)

Day 3: Burgundy to Avignon
Depart Paris and continue southwards to the Burgundy region in France. Indulge yourself in the wines of this region and explore the wine cellar of a 14th century French Chateaux. Continue to Avignon and relax this evening in the city famous for it's Papal Palace. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4: Avignon, Pond du Gard, Nice
A visit to the fortified town of Avignon and see the Papal Palace. We continue to the Pont du Gard to see the famous 2000 year old Roman aqua duct. Overnight in beach-side French Riviera hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 5: Nice and the French Riviera
As the saying goes: “It is always nice in Nice”. Your fee day: A great day to lie on the beach and follow it with a night on the town in Monaco or Monte Carlo! You can even rent a Ferrari and drive the Formula 1 race circuit! (Breakfast)

Day 6: Pisa, Florence, Tuscany
Today your lunch stop will be one of the most famous sites in the world, the leaning tower of Pisa!
We continue with a fully local guided city tour of Florence before you have the opportunity to shop in, or just visit, the world famous leather markets of Florence.
Spend the evening at a Tuscan hillside resort, where the evening meal includes the best Italian cuisine can offer. A great night to “show your moves” at the 70’s styled local disco. (Breakfast, Tuscan Dinner)

Day 7: Florence to Rome
We continue to Rome for an afternoon tour where we show you everything; a local guided walking tour combining ancient wonders with Renaissance master pieces. See the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Roman Forum and the Colosseum. (Breakfast, Dinner)


Trevi Fountain, Rome
Day 8: Rome and Vatican City
Your free day to Explore the Ancient City of Rome and the Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. (Breakfast)



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Accommodation & Other Info

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Frequently asked Questions

Schengen Visa Requirements
No Camping and no Sleeping Bags needed on any Expat Explore tours!





What's Included
15 Nights accommodation – 6 nights in 2 or 3 star hotels, 4 nights in top class hostels and chalets, 5 nights in self catering resort bungalows.
Daily Breakfast (B) and 7 Dinners (D) included in your food fund – as per itinerary.
Modern air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats.
Local taxes, baggage handling fees, hotel tips, service charges & ferry crossings.
Experienced Tour Leader
Free Expat Explore Tour souvenir.
Free Expat Explore Info guide book.
Sight seeing as described below.

Sightseeing on this Tour
Paris: Fully guided city tour - Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Louvre, Montmartre, Champs Elysees, Seine river boat cruise (optional).
Burgundy: Visit a magnificent 14th century French Chateau with cellar tour and wine tasting.
Avignon: Visit the fortified town of Avignon and see the Papal Palace.
Pont du Gard: Visit the famous 2000 year old Roman Aqua duct.
French Riviera*: Shop in the markets & visit the ancient town. Relax on the beaches of Nice and Cannes, visit a French Perfumery.
Monaco*: See Monte Carlo with its Casinos. Walk the Formule1 race track.
Pisa: See the leaning tower
Florence: Local Guided walking tour of Florence. See the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria with Michelangelo’s David, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce Basilica.
Rome: Local Guided walking tour of the city, see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.
Vatican City* : See St. Peter’s Basilica.
Venice: Local Guided tour seeing the Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sights and the Doges’ Palace. Murano glass-blowing and traditional lace making demonstrations.
Switzerland: Stay in the heart of the Swiss Alps in a typical mountain village. You can visit Jungfraujoch and walk on a glacier. Spectacular scenery on mountain pass crossing into Italy, pass Lake Como.
Black Forest: Stop in Baden-Baden for your own lunch time.
Rhine Valley: Scenic boat cruise from St Goar to Boppard included.
Volendam: Typical Dutch fishing village – try some of the local food and drink!
Zaanse Schans: 17th century windmill village with wooden shoe making and cheese tasting
Amsterdam: Local Guided Red Light walking tour, see canals, Ann Frank House, Dam Square, Van Gogh Museum. Do a bicycle tour.
Bruges: Visit the ancient medieval city.

(*Note - Monaco, French Riviera and Vatican sight seeing optional on your free days)

Dates and Rates 2010
Start End Normal Price Earlybird Sale Price

11 Sep 26 Sep £1099 Back Home
02 Oct 17
Oct

£999 On Tour
23 Oct 07
Nov

£999 £799 - Book
13 Nov 28 Nov £879 £699 - Book

2011 Dates
12 Feb 27 Feb £879 £699 - Book
05 Mar 20 Mar £879 £699 - Book
30 Mar 14 Apr £999 £699 - Book
16 Apr 01 May £999 £699 - Book
3 May 18 May £1099 £699 - Book
21 May 5 Jun £1199 £699 - Book
11 Jun 26 Jun £1199 £699 - Book
4 Jul 19 Jul £1299 £699 - Book
23 Jul 7 Aug £1299 £699 - Book
13 Aug 28 Aug £1299 £699 - Book
3 Sep 18 Sep £1199 £699 - Book
26 Sep 11 Oct £1099 £699 - Book
15 Oct 30 Oct £1099 £699 - Book
2 Nov 17 Nov £999 £699 - Book
26 Nov 11 Dec £999 £699 - Book

Excludes Compulsory Food Fund: £119

Tour prices are structured in the same way as budget airlines. The first seats are the cheapest but the prices will increase up to the normal rate as bookings are made. So book early!

Most rooms on this tour are twin or double rooms, but you can pay a guaranteed double room upgrade for all nights at £80 per person.

SPECIAL OFFER ON THIS TOUR
BOOK A GROUP OF 10 FRIENDS AND YOU TRAVEL FREE!