Day 1 - New York, NY. Evening departure from our international airport.
Dinner and breakfast served in flight.
Day 2 - Amsterdam. Upon arrival at Amsterdam Airport, we will be met by our
tour escort and will commence with an Amsterdam sightseeing tour including the
Dam Square, Royal Palace, New Church and a visit to the Rijksmuseum. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel in the Amsterdam area. (D)
Day 3 - Heidelberg. Drive through the province of Utrecht and the World
War II battlefields at Arnhem to the German Rhineland. There will be a lunchtime
stop in Cologne for a visit to the spectacular Gothic cathedral and in the
afternoon we will board an excursion steamer and cruise on the romantic Rhine
past castle-crested cliffs, romantic vineyards and trim half-timbered towns. We
will continue on to Heidelberg, Germany's oldest university city of “Student
Prince” fame. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in the Heidelberg area. (B,D)
Day 4 - Oberammergau. Before leaving Heidelberg, we will stop at its castle
perched above the city and offering splendid views. Continue to picturesque
medieval Rothenberg and in the afternoon follow the scenic Romantic Road. We
will drive the short distance to Worms - an important center of the Reformation
to see the impressive Monument to the Reformation and the Cathedral. Worms is
the site of Luther's trial for heresy. It was in the Cathedral, standing before
the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, that he uttered his faith affirming, death
defying proclamation: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” Overnight
in the peaceful Bavarian Alps, in or near the Passion Play village of
Oberammergau. (B,D)
Day 5 - Oberammergau. Today's activities will be the focus of our tour -
Oberammergau, the Passion Play. In this charming setting, surrounded by
unforgettable mountain views, we will share the last week of Christ's life with
the people of this village. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 6 - Lucerne. Choice photo stops this morning are the pretty Rococo
church in Wies and Mad King Ludwig's fanciful castle of Neuschwanstein. From
here we will descend to Lake Constance—Europe's largest sweet-water
reservoir—and follow the course of the Rhine River up to the pocket-sized
Principality of Liechtenstein. Later, drive the alpine heart of Switzerland,
picture-book Lucerne. Overnight at Lake Lucerne. (B,D)
Day 7 - Lucerne. Lucerne reflects medieval heritage in its splendor. See
the impressive city walls, the famous covered Wooden Bridge, ornate patrician
houses lining cobbled streets and the impressive Lion Monument. We will have the
balance of day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B,D)
Day 8 - Lake Lucerne. We have an early morning departure today. Tidy
villages and prosperous farms are our last Swiss impressions as we enter France
near Easel. Speeding through Burgundy we will view some of the world's most
famous vineyards. Our guide will point out Fontainebleau Palace and Forest, a
former hunting preserve of nobility, as we approach the splendid French capitol.
Day 9 - Paris. Our sightseeing tour of Paris will take us through the
Grand Boulevards, into narrow back streets and by great landmarks. We will see
Concorde Square, the Louvre with the Carousel and visit Notre Dame Cathedral.
Continuing we will take in the Arc de Triumph, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees,
the Opera house and the Madeleine Church. The afternoon is at leisure to pursue
personal interests such as visiting museums, shopping, or relaxing. Dinner and
overnight. (B,D)
Day 10 - Amsterdam. Today sightseeing will begin with a drive north to
Brussels, the Belgian capital. A sightseeing tour will include the Grand Palace,
the Palace of Justice and the Royal Palace. In the afternoon we will continue
our journey by driving via Antwerp ending the day in the Netherlands. Dinner and
overnight. (B,D)
Day 11 - New York, NY. We proceed to the airport for our transatlantic
flight home, where we will arrive the same day. (B)