A Week In... London and Paris

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. A transfer is included from Heathrow Airport to Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. Your luxury hotel is ideally situated in the center of London, close to Hyde Park and Oxford Street in the West End. Please join us for this evening's welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Note: Select, specially priced Small Group departures feature a special welcome dinner presentation by Carolyn Robb, former chef to the Royal Family, who will present anecdotes from her time in the service of the royal household of Prince Charles, Princess Diana and young Princes William and Harry, and introduce a menu featuring a dish that was a favorite of the Royal Family. See Pricing and Availability for departure dates and details.

Travel from London through the countryside to Windsor Castle, home of the British royal family for over 900 years. See Queen Mary's Dolls' House, an exquisite miniature palace, and the Baroque State Apartments (if available, schedule permitting). Back in London, take a guided city tour that includes the nearly 1,000-year-old Westminster Abbey, where Britain's monarchs and other great personages have been lain to rest since the 11th century; view the extraordinary medieval architecture and art collection. Tonight, cap an incredible day with dinner at Maze Grill, acclaimed British chef Gordon Ramsay's famed London restaurant.

The many treasures and rich history of the Tower of London – including the British Crown Jewels – await you this morning, followed by a completely different view of the city when you soar 450 feet above it aboard a private capsule on the world's highest observation wheel, the London Eye. This evening, enjoy a pre-show dinner at the renowned Simpson's in the Strand prior to an included theatrical performance in the celebrated West End theatre district.

Take a guided tour of the British Museum, the country's largest museum; it contains the Rosetta Stone, the Black Obelisk, mummies, and sculptures from the Parthenon, as well as vast collections of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities. Indulge in one of England's great pleasures – Afternoon Tea – at the elegant department store Fortnum & Mason before spending a free afternoon pursuing what interests you most in London, from its famed gardens and unique neighborhoods to its legendary museums and historic sites.

Today you'll cross under the English Channel, traveling aboard the high-speed Eurostar train through the "Chunnel" to Paris in just a few hours. Upon your arrival in Paris, experience some of the French capital's landmark attractions on a city sightseeing tour. The rest of the day and evening are yours to explore more of Paris as you please; enjoy an included dinner at the renowned Alain Ducasse restaurant, Benoit. Note: Select, specially priced departures will feature a special after-hours guided visit to Musée du Louvre on day 5; for dates and details, see Pricing & Availability or ask at booking.

Virtually glittering in gold, 17th-century Château de Versailles was built during the reign of Louis XIV, the "Sun King," and still impresses all who visit it. Head outside of the city for a tour of the palace's opulent State Apartments, followed by lunch in Versailles, then return to Paris for a walking tour with a local guide of hilltop Montmartre, where street artists sketch vignettes of life – and people – passing them by. The remainder of the day is free to discover Paris as you wish. Your hotel is ideally located close to landmark sights.

A high point of your stay in Paris is your visit to the Musée du Louvre. Tauck helps you avoid lines by securing your tickets for you and taking you inside without the wait. View its phenomenal collections of prints, antiquities, paintings, sculpture, and drawings, including the Mona Lisa, on a guided tour with a local expert who shares insights on the masterpieces you will see today. You will have time on your own this afternoon to explore city sights as you like; there are gardens to stroll, museums to discover and pastry shops that tempt with colorful macarons, melt-in-your mouth cakes and crusty baguettes, that all defy resistance. Join us tonight for a special farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine as we bid a fond adieu to Paris.

Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel to Paris' Charles de Gaulle International Airport. You should allow three hours for check-in.