England, France and Alpine Europe
Program Length:
18 Days
Program Dates:
June 1-18, 2023 (Private)
Contact us for Private Group Options
Countries Visited:
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Switzerland
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Overnight Flight
Board your overnight flight bound for London.
Day 2 - London
Arrive in London, meet your Travel Director and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Start exploring on an orientation walk around iconic landmarks such as Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus. Attend a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 3 - London
Enjoy a guided overview of the city. You will see, amongst many highlights Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Hyde Park, St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace (including the Changing of the Guard if available). Later, meet a local dignitary such as a former MP or British Ambassador. In the evening enjoy a typical "fish and chips" dinner followed by a walk around Covent Garden.
Day 4 - London
Visit the Tower of London with a Beefeater as your guide. Also called Yeomen Warders, this force was charged with guarding the palace and the crown jewels. In the afternoon have fun learning how to play cricket, England’s national sport. In the evening, enjoy a show at one of the 39 theaters in London’s West End.
Did You Know?
A centuries old legend has it that six ravens have to be present at the Tower of London at all times, otherwise the kingdom and the tower will fall. Currently there are seven ravens at the Tower, six plus a spare! Their names are Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina. See if you can spot any of the ravens on your visit to the infamous castle.
Day 5 - London
Start the day with an acting workshop led by an actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Then stroll down the South Bank to Borough Market, London’s oldest and largest food market to sample foods from around the world. Afternoon visit to the British Museum.
Day 6 - Paris
in the morning board the Eurostar high speed train that will take you under the English Channel to Paris. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit of Paris focusing on important Parisian sights such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées and the Opera House.
Day 7 - Paris
This morning climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower to marvel at the views of the city. Then meet some local Parisians to play a few rounds of Pétanque followed by a picnic with them. In the evening enjoy a stroll around Montmartre and the spectacular Basilica of Sacré-Coeur.
An Artist’s Haven
You’ll have to climb 270 steps to get to the top of the hill in Montmartre to visit Paris’ second most visited site, Sacré Coeur. From here you can also enjoy panoramic sweeping views of the city. including a birds eye view of the Eiffel Tower. Montmartre is a lovely area with fantastic restaurants and cafes, art galleries and museums. Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec are just a few of the great artists who lived or painted in Montmartre.
Day 8 - Paris
Morning visit to the Palace of Versailles. Learn about the life in the court of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil as you walk around the palace and the opulent gardens. You will have a picnic lunch in the elegant gardens before returning to Paris for a cooking lesson with a local chef.
Day 9 - Bruges
Today cross the border from France and in to Belgium. Your first stop will be in Brussels where you will see the Grand-Place, the Atomium and various European Union buildings. You will also visit the European Commission to learn about its role as the executive branch of the European Union. Continue to Bruges, a medieval town with cobble-stoned lanes and beautiful canals.
Day 10 - Bruges
Delve into the history of World War I as you visit the Flanders Battlefields. Visit Flanders Field Museum and the Menin Gate Memorial to the fallen soldiers of the war. Return to Bruges and visit the Choco-Story, the Chocolate Museum.
Day 11 - Amsterdam
Cross another border today from Belgium to The Netherlands. Your first stop will be the town of Kinderdijk which is known for its picturesque 18th century windmills. See these windmills on a scenic bicycle ride. Continue to The Hague to visit the International Criminal Court
Day 12 - Amsterdam
Visit the Anne Frank House, and see the cramped annex where the young girl and her family hid from the Nazis for two years. The house is now a museum which has preserved the hiding place and contains an exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank. In the afternoon enjoy some time learning about and helping out in a local farm.
The City of Canals
Amsterdam lies below sea level. Because of this 11 million wooden poles support the buildings in the city from sinking. This foundation of the city is a major feat of engineering that has been implemented in the last five hundred years. Without this the city would be submerged under about six feet of water.
Day 13 - Rhine
This morning leave The Netherlands traveling south to Germany. Your first stop is in the city of Trier on the Moselle river. One of the oldest cities in Germany, it was founded by Emperor Augustus. See the Cathedral, the ancient Roman gate of Porta Nigra and the Roman amphitheater. Continue for your overnight in the Rhine valley.
Day 14 - Heidelberg
Begin the morning with a visit to the picturesque Roman town of Koblenz located at the joining of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Continue to Boppard where you will board a boat for a cruise along the historic Rhine River. Take in the scenic panorama of the majestic castles, churches and vineyards along the shores of the river. When the cruise ends continue to the student town of Heidelberg with its famous university founded in 1386.
Day 15 - Heidelberg
In the morning enjoy a visit to the centuries-old Heidelberg Castle, which towers over the town. You will see the castle's courtyard, the German Pharmacy Museum, the 50,000-gallon wine barrel and the gardens which were once considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. In the afternoon hike on the banks of the Neckar River along the “Philosopher’s Walk”. As you walk you will admire wonderful views of the town and castle.
Did You Know?
The Swiss people eat about 25 pounds of chocolate year. This makes them the leading consumer of chocolate in the world. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to sample some local chocolate as you stroll around the streets of Lucerne.
Day 16 - Lucerne
Today you will have your 3 meals in 3 different countries - breakfast in Germany, lunch in France and dinner in Switzerland. Your first stop will be in the fairytale town of Colmar, said to be the inspiration for the setting of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. After lunch continue to Lucerne located in the heart of the Alps in Switzerland.
Day 17 - Lucerne
This morning travel by cable car and on the world’s steepest cog railway up to the 7,000-foot-tall Mount Pilatus. From the top, on a clear day you can see up to 73 mountain peaks in the surrounding Alps. Continue with an afternoon of kayaking along the beautiful Lake Lucerne.
Day 18 - Departure Day
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to USA.
What’s Included:
Roundtrip Airfare
Accommodations
Teacher Leaders
Full Time Local Program Director
Transportation to Included Activities
Breakfast and Dinner Daily
All Attractions and Activities
Guided Sightseeing by Local Expert Guides
All Tips and Gratuities
24-Hour Support
All Taxes and Fees
Global Citizen Certificate
Pre-Travel Preparation Meetings and Seminars
