Europe Jewel - 14 Days

Welcome to Amsterdam and the start of the Europe Jewel tour! Meet up with your tour leader this morning and start the adventure with a visit to a cheese farm where they show you the traditional ways of making cheese and clogs. Next, enjoy some free time for lunch in the lakeside town of Volendam. Then it’s time to head to Zaanse Schans, known for its historic windmills and wooden houses. After arriving back in Amsterdam later, we’ll enjoy a complimentary Amsterdam canal cruise. This is one of the best ways to be introduced to Amsterdam! We’ll end the first day with a delicious dinner together.

Continuing on to the Rhine Valley, we board a riverboat and sail from St Goar to Boppard. With the highest concentration of medieval castles in all of Europe, this is a memorable trip! Later, we will visit a local wine merchant for an included wine tasting. If the weather during the harvest allows, you may even get to try eiswein (ice wine)! It is a very sweet dessert wine that can only be harvested when the temperature drops below freezing.

Today we’re off to Prague! But first, we make a quick lunch stop in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. Heavily bombed during WW2, Nuremberg was rebuilt, and today has been returned to some of its former glory. Prague is a beautiful city and we’re so excited to be here! Known for its art and architecture, this destination will keep your camera clicking. The quirky bars and cobbled lanes add to the European charm. Prague is also known for its brilliant beer and abundance of art. We take you on a walking tour of the city with a local guide and you can taste some authentic Czech cuisine for dinner. “Na zdraví” as they say in Czech!

Your time is your own today, so explore Prague the way you want to. Prague is often described as the jewel in the crown of Central Europe. You’ll find that the city is just as engaging as Barcelona, London or Amsterdam, and is at least as beautiful as Paris. Join the Prague+ optional and hear all about the history and intriguing stories about this magnificent city! You can stand in awe of Prague’s dramatic history and how it is reflected in the beauty of its churches, opera houses, concert halls and Prague castle.

Today we head for the grandeur of Vienna, visiting Bratislava, Capital of Slovakia, for a quick comfort stop. Surrounded by mountains, vineyards, ski runs and unbridled wilderness. Bratislava is a charming city. Spot the medieval castle overlooking the old town and marvel at recent Socialist-era architecture. Next stop, the beautiful Austrian city of Vienna. A guided walking tour of the UNESCO-credited city centre. See sights like the Hofburg Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral. Dinner is included tonight and afterwards and you could enjoy an orchestra performance. What could be better than experiencing music in one of the city's concert halls?

Wave Vienna goodbye as we make our way to the striking Hungarian capital of Budapest. Sitting astride the Danube River, this scenic city is known for its singular mix of Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture. On arrival in Budapest, get an overview of this historic city with our driving tour, guided by our local guide. The trip will start on the Buda side of the river and include excursions to Fisherman's Bastion, glimpses of the Houses of Parliament & more. This afternoon you have the freedom to explore the city and all of its delights however you please. Enjoy an optional dinner cruise along the Danube this evening.

Leaving Budapest, to an iconic holiday destination in Hungary - the beautiful Lake Balaton. With nearly 200km of shoreline, it is the largest lake in central Europe. It's a great place to take a dip on a hot summer day. Next, we’ll stop in Maribor in Slovenia. While here, enjoy lunch and visit the fascinating City Museum. Then on to our final stop of the day, the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. It's filled to the brim with fairytale castles, beautiful architecture and plenty of natural beauty. An expert local guide will accompany us on a walking tour to point out all the must-see attractions. Afterwards, explore the city on your own or join an optional Slovenia Evening excursion before heading back to your hotel for the night.

Venice is our next stop, a city immortalised in literature, film and art for centuries. Its timeless waterways and artistic masterpieces (more per square kilometre than anywhere else on earth) make it truly unique – this is a city that will capture your heart and imagination. Being Italian, there’s no shortage of incredible food and culture either! Your tour leader will introduce you to the city with an orientation walk, during which you'll see sights like the world-famous St Marks Square, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this unforgettable city on your own - don't miss the opportunity to take a gondola and water taxi to explore Venice from the water.

Leaving Venice is never easy, but luckily the hills of Tuscany are ahead of us! Marvel at the countryside as we head for Florence. On arrival, we’ll get a panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo - gorgeous! Then we take a fascinating walking tour of the city with a local guide. Learn about the history of the city and see historical landmarks. Some of these landmarks date back to Roman times! Enjoy a traditional Italian meal at a local restaurant in Florence. After exploring, we make our way to the Tuscan countryside, where we spend the night.

Departing Tuscany, we make for one of Europe's most famous buildings. Make sure your camera is charged as we head to Pisa! Learn the story behind the leaning tower, and be sure to take some photos! It's time for a change of scenery as we cross over to the Alps. We're just as excited as you are to breathe some fresh mountain air! Is there a better way to enjoy the magic of Switzerland than staying in a typical Swiss village? Take in the beauty of the snow-capped mountains and the greenery around you.

The Alps are yours today! You can make the most of your time by taking a leisurely stroll through the local villages or along crystal-clear lakes or hitting the slopes for a spot of skiing. Why not take a train or cable car to higher altitudes and surround yourself with snow-capped peaks and white winter snow? If you decide to go to a local village your options are limitless! Walk through the market stalls, indulge in the local refreshments or sip on some warm gluhwein. You could even shop for chocolates and cuckoo clocks, or have a fondue!

It’s an early start today as we make our way out of the mountains. It's time for the city of lights and love: Paris! Arriving in the afternoon, we'll take you on a driving tour of the French capital. Get your cameras ready – you’ll be seeing some of the city’s most treasured landmarks! The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe. Take note of places to visit on your free day tomorrow. After the driving tour we'll enjoy dinner at a restaurant in the Latin Quarter. We'll then travel back to the hotel on Paris' world-famous metro system.

Today is all yours to explore as you wish. You can visit the famous Louvre museum - a must-see! Get a glimpse of that most famous avenue, the Champs Elysees. This stretch of road is overlooked by the famous Arc de Triomphe. If you want to explore the darker side, you can descend to the infamous catacombs! Alternatively, stay above ground, explore the museums and tick off all the must-sees. People-watch from a roadside café, or simply stroll the city. Whatever you do, you will be following in the footsteps of great painters, musicians and writers.

It’s our last day already! It’s an early start as we depart Paris, sit back and relax as we drive to our lunch stop - the Belgian city of Ghent. Enjoy some free time to explore the medieval city centre and grab a bite to eat. While we’re driving back to Amsterdam why not use the time to exchange contact details with your fellow travellers? Join the Expat Explore Community group on Facebook so that you can share your favourite memories with everyone and keep the memories alive! At the end of the tour, a complimentary airport transfer is available for travellers from the hotel back to the airport.