Depart from Sydney/Melbourne to Paris for the enchanting holiday. Upon arrival at the Paris Airport, you will be met and greeted by our representative and trans­fer to your hotel for a restful and leisurely day.

Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar

After breakfast, the tour leaves from Paris for a delightful scenic journey through the rolling countryside of the Champagne region, famous the world over for the sparkling white wine produced here. Enjoy seeing the historic attractions of provincial capital Reims, including the city’s cathedral – a key national heritage site, where coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards. History and tradition are equally evident in your next location: Luxembourg, the world’s only remaining Grand Duchy. After arriving in refined Luxembourg city, you’ll be introduced on foot to the main places of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, before having time for further exploration on your own.

Hotel: Novotel Kirchberg or similar

We leave Luxembourg behind and head across another European border into Germany. The first stop is historic Trier, Germany’s oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx. You’ll have the chance to see from the outside the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now functions as the Karl Marx Haus museum.

Your walking tour then takes you into the centre of Trier; here you can look around the city’s impressive cathedral, where the celebrated Holy Robe – said to be the tunic of Christ – is preserved and occasionally displayed. Trier is also known as ‘The Second Rome’ (Constantine served as an administrator here for 10 years), and significant legacies of the once-great empire remain today. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, which you’ll get to see and photograph. After an exciting morning in Trier, you’ll drive on to Koblenz, famous as the location of the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Here you have the option of indulging in a relaxing lunch alongside the water, then afterwards you can also choose to add on a scenic Rhine boat cruise for some memorable city vistas. Back on dry land you’ll drive through the wine-making town of Rüdesheim (depending on road and traffic conditions). Then it is on to Frankfurt am Main, where you’ll discover the delights of Römerberg, a charming plaza with a distinctive medieval town hall as its centrepiece.

Note: The Rhine boat cruise is only oper­ational from 3rd April to 31st October. Hotel: Park Inn by Radisson or similar

After breakfast, boarding the luxury coach in Frankfurt, sit back and enjoy a scenic ride through some classic German countryside en route to the Czech Re­public. You will arrive in the evening, ready to discover this charming capital city with its fairy-tale architecture, the following morning.

Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott or similar

After breakfast, the Prague adventure begins with a spectacular walk along the Royal Route, following the traditional coronation path of the kings and queens of old Bohemia. You'll start from the top of Castle Hill in the Hradcany district, famous for its views over the red-roofed old city, and then tour Prague Castle. The castle has been the historic seat of Bohe­mia royalty since the 9th century, as well as home to the nation's presidents in recent times. Your exploration then heads off around the imposing gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and along Golden Lane, an ancient thoroughfare lined with some wonderful traditional buildings. Later you will stroll across the iconic Charles Bridge, which arches gracefully over the Vltava, and on through the winding alleys to the Old Town Square, where you can see the City Hall and one of Prague's most well-known sights, the Astronomi­cal Clock. After lunch in the square, you'll make the scenic transfer from Prague to the hotel in or near the Slovakian capital, Bratislava.

Hotel: Park Inn Danube or similar

After breakfast, proceed to Budapest. The fourth country of the tour. Its capi­tal, Budapest, is known as the Pearl of the Danube, and is essentially two differ­ent cities joined together: Buda is on the west of the river, Pest on the east, each with its own distinct characteristics. One of the best ways of seeing this unique lo­cation is by taking a river cruise, which many people choose to do. After a morn­ing of activity, you'll relax over lunch at Buda Palace, and then have a chance to to look at the exhibitions in the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery, or do a spot of souvenir shop­ping. Next you'll explore both sides of the city on a cultural and historic tour. Highlights on the Buda side of the Danube include the towered terrace of Fisherman's Bastion, the medieval Mat­thias Church and a walk up to the summit of Gellert Hill for panoramic views. While over in Pest the sights in­clude the expansive Hers' Square and Hungary's dramatic riverside Parliament Building. In the evening, you can choose to round off an eventful day with an op­tional dinner in the heart of Budapest, where you can sample traditional dishes such as goose liver, goulash, duck leg and local wine, accompanied by Hungar­ian folkdance and music.

Hotel: Mercure Budapest or similar

After breakfast, starts with a short jour­ney to another of Europe's grand capi­tals, Vienna, where you'll get to explore the Austrian city's resplendent palaces, striking churches and prestigious art museums. Your Vienna adventure begins at one of the city's most popular attrac­tions, Scheinbrunn Palace, the Roco­co-style summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of Europe and the Church for many decades. After lunch in this refined setting, you will take a driving tour past many grand, famous buildings, including the City Hall, the Austrian Parliament, Hofburg Palace and Hers' Square. In the afternoon, you'll have some shopping time, before adding the Wiener Staatsoper (opera house) to your checklist of key Vienna buildings. Later, opt for dinner in the heart of the city or visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, before taking a stroll in Stadtpark, which is known for its range of sculptures, in­cluding the famous gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss II. In the evening, we recommend the option of attending a Vi­ennese waltz concert, which will allow you the unforgettable experience of hearing the music of Mozart and Strauss in the place where it was composed. 

Hotel: Ramada Encore or similar

to the historic medieval Mondsee Abbey. The cloister church was used for the site of the wedding in The Sound of Music. After lunch you will continue to cross the German border to Munich. After arriving in Munich, you'll visit the Marienplatz and the New Town Hall. Marienplatz is a central square in the city centre of Munich since 1158. The New Town Hall is at the northern part of Marienplatz. It hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors and part of the administration since 1874. Or you can enjoy a German beer in one of the beergardens before going to the hotel.

Hotel: NH Munich or similar

You’ll leave the big cities behind today. Before you head for one of the world’s most famous mountain ranges – the Swiss Alps – you will make a photo stop in one of the smallest countries in Europe – Liechtenstein. The small picturesque city of Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein with little boutique shops and the famous Huber shop for all your fine jewelry and watches. The next destination is Engelberg, the stunning Swiss resort. From here you can opt to board a cable car that takes you to the summit of the impressive Mount Titlis. To reach the top of the permanently snow-covered Mt. Titlis you take three different gondolas. You’ll ascend the last stage by the world’s first revolving gondola, the Titlis Rotair, which delivers spectacular views of the valleys, glaciers, lakes, and forests below, and 360˚ vistas of the surrounding mountains. At the summit, the sun terrace is the perfect place to pause and appreciate the breathtaking panoramas. Other highlights include walking across Europe’s highest suspension bridge for more phenomenal views from Mt. Titlis. Your next destination is Lucerne. Lucerne is a picturesque city of bridges and towers located in what many people believe to be the “true” Switzerland – picture-postcard mountains, lakes, cowbells, Alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss flowers. Here you will have time to wander through the charming streets, and see the famous Lion Monument, which Mark Twain once described as “the most

mournful and moving piece of stone in the world”. This is a great place to get souvenirs like Swiss watches and fine chocolates, before travelling to the overnight stop of Zurich.

Hotel: Dorint Zurich or similar

The final day of the tour begins in Zurich, a city with a reputation as a leading global financial centre. There might be a picture stop at the impressive Lake Zurich, before moving on to Rhine Falls, Europe’s biggest waterfall. Next you’ll cross back into Germany and the Black Forest, the ancient fir-covered mountain range, which is famous for its creepy folklore and mythical tales. Here you will see the beautiful lake Titisee, where you can stop at one of the many lakeside cafés to enjoy some of the region’s best Black Forest cherry gateaux. Cuckoo clocks are made in Titisee, making this the ideal place to pick up a few souvenirs from the local shops, and you’ll also get to see a demonstration of how these magical mechanisms work. Finally, you’ll head back to Frankfurt.

Hotel: Park Inn Radisson or similar

The morning begins with a leisurely drive north-west from Frankfurt to Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany until reunification. The national government is now in Berlin, but Bonn retains a rich history that is well worth exploring. Discover the city’s secrets on an orientation stroll through its streets, walking past highlights such as the Rococo-fronted town hall and Ludwig Van

Beethoven Haus, a museum celebrating the life of the much-loved composer. Then it’s on to Cologne, where you’ll head inside the city’s glorious Gothic Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Cologne further, to do a spot of local shopping or to simply relax with a suitably refreshing German brew. After lunch the day is rounded off with a drive into the Netherlands.

Hotel: Hampton by Hilton or similar

A day of delights begins with a leisurely trip through the Dutch countryside, where you’ll get to sample at close quarters some of the things that the Netherlands is traditionally famous for: clogs, cheese and windmills. Call in at the hugely popular model town of Zaanse Schans. Next, you’ll head from the quiet countryside to the cosmopolitan city as your journey takes you back to Amsterdam. After visiting a well-known diamond factory, where you’ll see the unique cutting techniques that have been practised here since the 16th century, you can take an optional hour-long pre-dinner canal cruise, which is a great way to discover more about this unique European city. After disembarking you’ll walk to one of the city’s grandest areas, Dam Square, where the Royal Palace is located and the King’s birthday celebration takes place. You’ll have photo opportunities here, free time for shopping or further sightseeing, and then round the day off with dinner.

Hotel: Hampton by Hilton or similar

From mid-March to mid-May the tour will also visit Keukenhof Garden, a 32-hectare seasonal exhibition of beautifully coloured and scented displays of spring flowers - most notably millions of tulips. More information please see: www.keukenhof.com

After breakfast, heading south across the border into Brussels, the Belgian capital and political centre of the European Union. On the way, the tour stops to see the distinctive Atomium monument, a cell-shaped structure of stainless steel spheres and tubes built for the 1958 World's Fair. In the centre of Brussels itself, an orientation tour will call in at the exquisite Grand Place, as well as seeing the famous impish Manneken Pis statue. After some free time, during which you can try some mouth-watering Belgian delights. Then from Brussels it's south again across the French border and on to the bright lights of Paris.

Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar

Paris is your oyster over the next two days as you enjoy guided tours around one of the world’s most celebrated cities. Your Parisian adventures get off to a spectacular start with a drive along the famous Champs Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, which played such a key part in the French Revolution. You’ll also get to see the iconic Arc de Triomphe here too, the imposing monument that sits near the western end of the avenue and commemorates the fallen of the revolution and Napoleonic wars. You’ll take in another significant historical building next as you head to L’Hôtel National des Invalides, where Napoleon’s tomb is located, followed by a stop at the most legendary of all Paris’s icons: the Eiffel Tower. Finally, you’ll travel on the coach out through the Parisian suburbs to the splendid Palace of Versailles, the vast regal château that was the residence of the royal family until the start of the revolution in 1789. Today the palace is another popular Parisian attraction. In the evening, you can enjoy one of our optional Paris evening shows.

**Due to a limited daily access control in the Palace of Versailles, customers who strongly request to visit this palace to book tickets online in advance at https://en.chateauversailles.-fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices. 

Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar

In the morning, depart for the pier and take a sightseeing boat cruise on the Seine River at your own expense your, a great sightseeing option that offers splendid views of iconic Parisian landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral and Pont Alexandre III. After a lunch, we visit to the Louvre, one of the world’s greatest art museums. Here you’ll set your eyes upon some of history’s most famous masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace), and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Opt for a guided gallery tour, which will enhance your experience and allow you to browse through hundreds of works in just a few hours. Afterwards, you have an option of having a French 4 course dinner and show experience or spend time shopping at the legendary department stores Galeries Lafayette.

Due to a limited daily access control in the Louvre Palace, to avoid disappointment, we recommend customers who strongly request to visit this palace to book tickets online in advance at https://www.ticketlouvre.fr/louvre/b2c/index.cfm/calendar/eventCode/MusWeb | Visit time: 13:00 – 14:00pm

Hotel: Balladins Hotel Villejuif or similar

After breakfast, enjoy the last bit of Paris before transferring to the Airport to board home-bound flight to return to Australia or the next city of destinations. Arrive in Aus­tralia on Day 18.