Best Of Europe-DEACTIVATED - 14 D / 13 N

We begin our tour of Europe with arrival in the city of Paris. After the customary immigration clearance at the airport, you are warmly received by Southern Travels Pvt. Ltd. representative and transferred comfortably to the hotel after having Dinner at an Indian Restaurant. It has been a long flight from India. Take some time off to relax and rejuvenate in the comforts of your hotel room.

Paris is a place that need no introduction. After breakfast today, we begin exploring Paris. Our first stop - the Eiffel Tower! Because no holiday in Paris is complete without a visit to this iconic landmark. The magnificent structure itself in all its gigantism is an utterly beautiful sight. Then there is the panoramic city view that you get while atop the tower which we shall be visiting right up to the 3rd level. We proceed for lunch and thereafter a guided city tour of this French capital known for its architectural beauty and its cultural treasures. Our tour ends with a visit to Montmartre by a one-way funicular ride. While the on-road tour certainly is a great way to explore the city, it’s a whole different experience to absorb in the city’s character while sailing on the Seine River. So, we take a cruise down the famous river that allows us to grab marvellous views of many Parisian highlights including the recently visited Eiffel Tower, the Alexander Bridge, the National Assembly, the Louvre Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc. Alight from the cruise and proceed for dinner before heading to the hotel to wade off the day’s exhaustion. OR After dinner we can continue to enjoy the Optional Illumination Tour, a truly wonderful experience that makes it apparent why Paris is called the City of Lights and the optional Lido Show performed by the popular Parisian Cabaret.

A trip to Paris cannot be complete without spending a day revelling the wonders of Disneyland, Paris. Today after breakfast we proceed to Disneyland. Divided into magical themed lands - Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discovery land which are the four magical themed lands and the ever famous Main Street USA - the Park has a lot to keep just about anyone entertained from meet-and-greet with our favourite fantasy characters (Pooh, Mickey, Minnie, etc) to fantasy setups like Pirates of the Caribbean or the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups stomach-churning rides like the Space Mountain Mission 2 or Indiana Jones to subtler and more bearable rides such as ‘It’s A Small World’ to that of parades and shows. If cinema is more your cup of tea than rides and fantasy characters, you can opt for the Walt Disney Studio Park instead of the Euro Disney Park. The park takes us on a magical behind-the-scenes journey of several movies bringing to life cinema sets and characters. The shops, shows and other attractions, all inspired by Hollywood classics and Disney’s most famous movies, are nothing short of a feast for any movie buff. After a busy day, have a relaxed dinner before you retire to your room for a good night’s sleep. Note: Your park ticket gives you the option of entering either Disneyland or Walt Disney Studios (1 Day 1 Park).

It’s safe to say that today will be a relatively less exhausting day. After breakfast, we leave for Belgium and make our way to its capital, Brussels. We arrive at the Grand Place in Brussels and begin our orientation tour immediately after lunch. The Grand Place, as is commonly known, is Europe’s most beautiful and buzzing square. This exquisite market square is the main tourist attraction of the city that has often left sightseers awestruck, thanks to the historic architectural marvels from the eras of Baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV that give the place and eclectic character. From here we head to The Atomium, the single most unique Belgian structure. Originally built in 1958 for the Brussels’ World Fair, the structure was retained, thanks to its architectural brilliance. Essentially, The Atomium is a giant iron crystal magnified 165 billion times its actual size. Accordingly, the structure consists of 9 spheres and 22 pipes arranged to represent the atoms in an iron crystal. After a quick photo stop at the Atomium, we proceed to the restaurant for Dinner and then head to our hotel in Eindhoven/ Antwerp.

After breakfast, we visit Madurodam. Madurodam park aka Holland in miniature showcases miniature versions of several Dutch architectural landmarks, traditional Dutch houses, canals, parks, windmills, fields and a lot more. What brings this miniature park to life is the addition of human figures that not only give character to this miniature world but also depicts the evolution of Dutch lifestyle over the years. Madurodam tops the list of attractions of all tourists visiting Netherlands. After Lunch we proceed to Lisse to immerse ourselves into a world of all things Tulip. The Keukenhof Garden is spread over 79 acres and is home to 800 varieties of Tulips and other spring flowers. Interspersed between the flower fields are canals, a windmill, artistic floral displays and flower shows amongst others. The gardens are open up-to only 10th of May each year . On the outskirts of Amsterdam, is a peaceful and scenic Cheese Farm and Clog Factory which we shall visit to learn about the art of traditional cheese-making and also about the famous Dutch clogs. instead of Keukenhof We now proceed to Volendam and spend some free time at a Dutch fishing village. The uniqueness of thisplace lies in the fact that we are able to witness sea water at a higher level than the land next to it, a phenomenon only heard thus far in most instances. # instead of Keukenhof . We proceed to Amsterdam. At Amsterdam we enjoy a canal cruise watching on either sides of the canal regal mansions, houseboats, bridges and more. After the cruise we head to one of the busiest town centre, namely the Dam Square or simply The Dam. From monuments and statues to souvenir shops and restaurants and scores of pigeons and buskers, The Dam is a true reflection of the city’s character. As the clock inches closer to dinner time, we proceed to Eindhoven/Antwerp to stuff ourselves with a wonderful meal at a restaurant and head back to our hotel.

After breakfast, we bid adieu to The Netherlands and embrace ourselves to be inspired by the scenic natural scapes and cityscapes of Germany. First stop: Cologne! Here we head straight for the building that dominates the skyline of this German Town… The Cologne Cathedral, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though the intrinsic architectural beauty and its magnanimity are the striking characteristics of this Gothic structure, there’s something far more impressive about it than just the architectural brilliance. So the Cathedral was built in parts over 7 centuries (started in 1248 and completed in 1880). Naturally, then it shifted builders throughout its construction. And yet the Cathedral stands in complete aesthetic harmony unifying the distinct flavours of every builder and every century. We take some time here to absorb in all the artistic masterpieces the Cathedral has to offer before heading out for lunch at an Indian restaurant. We then proceed to Boppard from where we embark on a cruise to St. Goar, this time cruising on the Rhine River. The cruise allows us to witness the charm of medieval ages with a striking stamp of German history. Apart from the fortress and other architectural attractions, the cruise also gives us a glimpse of the scenic views of the Rhine Valley, incidentally, the most scenic views one can get on the entire Rhine River stretch. Next up on our list is the singular most romantic town in Germany, aka, Heidelberg. Nestled cosily between the foothills of the Odenwald forest and the Neckar River, the town boasts of as much natural beauty as it takes pride in its architectural marvels. After our Heidelberg orientation tour, we proceed to an Indian restaurant for dinner and check into a hotel to spend the night in this splendid town.

Farewell, Germany! Swiss lands, here we come! The thing about long drives is that they often tend to be tiring. It’s a good thing then that we have panoramic stretches of meadows and mountains and fields and rivers to keep our minds and bodies refreshed. After breakfast today, we leave for Switzerland making a pit stop in the Black Forest where we get to witness a demonstration of traditional German Cuckoo clock. We then grab our lunch and move on to Switzerland along the picturesque road with the mountainous forest as a backdrop and arrive at the Rhine Fall, the largest waterfall in Europe. Though the fall might appear stunted at 23 meters, as compared to other higher waterfalls in Switzerland, the magnanimity and might of the Rhine is palpable from the sheer force with which it paves its way through the rocks. To get a feel of this spectacular beauty up-close, we take a boat ride to the fall. Afterwards proceed for an orientation tour of Zurich. Stroll down the Bahnhofstrasse through the city's fanciest shopping street, famous sights like Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) situated in a medieval square, famous for its 16th Century clock, the largest clock face in Europe. Across the Limmat River, you will get a view of the Grossmunster - a beautiful Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral dedicated to Zurich's patron saints. We bring the day to a close with a delicious dinner and happily check into our hotel in central Switzerland.

If you are tired from all the roaming around we’ve been doing for the past few days, today is your chance to take a step back and relax. You have the day at your leisure to simply laze around in the hotel or explore the beautiful neighbourhood. If, however, you are one of those who believes in not wasting a single day while on a holiday, you can choose to be on top of the world, or literally on top of Europe, with the exciting optional trip to the winter wonderland, Jungfraujoch. What makes this eternal ice-land a quintessential Swiss travel destination is the fact that the enthralling experience begins from the moment you board the cogwheel train which ascends you to Europe’s highest station, Jungfraujoch (at 3454m), with breathtaking views of bright ice and dark tunnels. Awaiting us on the other side of this exhilarating and cold journey to the top is a lineup of activities. But before that, let’s just satisfy that hunger with a piping hot Indian lunch. We move on to our ice excursion here on with a walk on the great Aletsch Glacier (the longest ice stream in the Alps), a visit to the glistening Ice Palace, a visit to the Sphinx Observation Terrace (the loftiest point of all) and more. After the ice-cold adventure, we descend to something more soothing and far more green, the city of Interlaken, which, as the name suggests, is cradled cosily between the beautiful lakes of Brienz and Thun. Here is where you receive your first retail therapy while enjoying the marvels of Swiss shopping at a market that boasts as much of pocket-friendly souvenirs as that of high-end watches and jewellery. We head to an Indian restaurant for dinner, before heading back to the hotel to relax and re-energise ourselves for the next day. Note: Breakfast will be served to all at the hotel while lunch will only be served to those who’ve opted for the Jungfraujoch tour.

If you did not go on the Jungfrau excursion yesterday, worry not; we have another snow-capped mountainous expedition planned for today. In case, you did visit Jungfrau yesterday, today is your chance to relive the eternal Iceland experience. After breakfast today, we head to the winter white wonderland. Mount Titlis is 3,000 meters above sea level and as you exit the cable car at the top you'll be treated to some of the most breathtaking views in Europe. ... Take a walk over the Cliff Walk, the highest suspension bridge in Europe or visit the stunning Glacier Cave. We continue to journey through the blissful natural beauty the Swiss lands have to offer to reach a city that perfectly fits the bill for a cliched romantic Swiss destination. Enter: Lucerne! With no time to waste, we start off our orientation tour viewing the picturesque mountains, lakes, cowbells, alpine villages and meadows, the poignant Lion Monument, the covered, wooden Kapellbrücke (chapel bridge) and more. After the tour enjoy a cruise on lake lucerne. A delicious dinner later, we head back to our hotel and lay comfy and cosy in our beds for the rest of the night.

Today, after breakfast, we wave goodbye to Switzerland and take our expedition further to yet another country that’s effortlessly balanced between architectural marvels and natural landscapes… Austria. But first, we must make a short stop at the Liechtenstein capital, Vaduz. With a backdrop of mountains and the Rhine River, Vaduz is a tiny town that offers ample visual beauty. The car-free town with its tasteful blend of modern, Gothic and Baroque architectural structures and a crown-like castle on the peak overlooking the town, Vaduz is stunning in every aspect. We take some time to explore this beautiful time, have a sumptuous lunch and proceed to our next destination… Wattens, Austria. Here we embark upon what’s truly the most dazzling experience of our life as we visit the renowned museum, Swarovski Crystal Worlds. While the giant head, or simply The Giant, with water pouring out of its mouth is what pops in our heads when talking about the crystal museum, what greets us inside the Chambers of Wonder is a whole new world of sparkling crystals of varied sizes ranging from the smallest to the largest in the world. These twinkling stones are grouped together to make 16 distinct artistic installations, each designed by a different artist and each with the capability of leaving us in a stunned silence. Our sparkly tour ends at the Swarovski showroom where you can bag a few of these shining gems. A short drive further is our next and final stop for the day, the city of Innsbruck where we begin with the orientation tour without wasting any time upon arrival. Settled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, the mountains make for a dramatic backdrop for the city while the pastel-hued houses lining the banks of the green-watered River Inn add to the city’s aesthetic beauty. After having taken in our share of the surrounding natural beauty, we continue our tour wandering past The Golden Roof or the Goldenes Dachl- an ornate Gothic balcony erected by Emperor Maximilian I in the 15th century, the Imperial Church and the Hofburg or the Imperial Palace. After a satisfying dinner, we check into our hotel and hit the bed.

Though the scenic scenes of Switzerland and Austria aren’t something you ever tire of, it’s now time to plunge into the world of art and religious history as we make our way into Italy. If you ever fancied time travel, today would be the closest you come to living your fantasy as we head for the City of Canals (and also palaces), Venice. With its appearance virtually unchanged for the last 600 years, Venice is more a city out of a typical fairy-tale than a modern-day metropolis. We check out of our hotel after breakfast and drive to Padova (with one comfort stop in between) where we make a pit stop for an appetizing Indian lunch before heading for Tronchetto. Here we board a cruise to glide romantically past dreamy palaces, through incredible miniature canals to the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square), dubbed as the ‘finest drawing room in Europe’ by Napoleon, courtesy of the forever carnival-like vibe it gave off. With it being the only public Square in the city, Napoleon’s phrase is still an apt description for the Square. We start our walking tour with a visit to popular St. Mark’s Basilica. Juxtapose to this Byzantine-style basilica is the Gothic-style Doge’s Palace. Now a museum, the palace houses some of the finest examples of the ionic Murano glass and also of Venetian art. Next, we visit the Murano Glass Showroom to get a glimpse of the glass-blowing process of this iconic ancient Venetian craft that ranges from sculptures to vases to bowls to jewellery. And because these beautiful pieces are so hard to resist, you can even purchase a few collectables. Hereafter, we go on yet another water voyage with the Gondola ride along the Bridge of Sighs that connects the Doge’s Palace at the square to its prison. We then begin our return journey to Tronchetto by boat where we will be served a delicious dinner. We then check into our hotel in Padova to finish off our day.

No tour of Italy can ever be complete without witnessing the architectural marvel that is The Leaning Tower in Pisa, an iconic Italian monument. So, we kickstart our day with a visit to Pisa’s wondrous Square of Miracles with its exemplary Pisan Romanesque architectural structures- the Baptistery, the Cathedral and the leaning Bell Tower, the characteristic tilt of which is what marks this Square as unique. But before exploring the Square in depth, let’s just quickly grab our lunch. We then drive through a picturesque stretch of olive groves and vineyards to Florence, a shrine to the wonders of the Renaissance. We move on to experience this artistic marvel up-close as we make a photo stop at the world’s fourth-largest Cathedral and Florence’s tallest building, the Duomo. The magnanimity of its scale juxtaposed with the beauty of its design gives this monument its overwhelming character. Standing beside this is the Florence Baptistery with its iconic ‘Gate to Paradise’- a pair of gilded bronze doors that have now become an icon of Renaissance art- and also the open-air gallery in the Signoria Square, the city’s oldest standing bridge, Ponte Vecchio an more. Bringing the day to an end, we drive across yet another scenic stretch to Arezzo where a delicious dinner awaits us at our hotel and we finally call it a night.

There couldn’t have been a better way to end our Europe exploration than a city of absolute ancient beauty and a mysterious opulence about it… Rome. After breakfast today, we drive to Rome enjoying the aweinspiring landscapes and a comfort stop on the way. Once in Rome, we stuff ourselves with a sumptuous lunch and head to the smallest nation in the world that’s nestled within the very heart of Rome, The Vatican City. Call it home of the Pope or the Roman Catholic headquarters, the fact remains that you don’t really have to be a follower of either to appreciate the enormous beauty that scapes this tiny nation. Living proof of its rich cultural heritage are the monumental tributes to Renaissance art. There is the Vatican Museum, world’s largest museum complex that houses priceless treasures in the form of paintings, sculptures, tapestries and a variety of other depictions of Renaissance art. Next up is the Sistine Chapel famous for the Michelangelo ceiling. One look and you’ll know that this artistic masterpiece is worth all the buzz. And the last gem to be discovered at the Vatican City also happens to be one of the world’s largest churches, St. Peter’s Basilica, which houses the tomb of St. Peters under the high altar. Hereon begins our guided tour of the astounding ancient beauty that is the city of Rome. Be it the drive past the mighty triumphal Arch of Constantine or past the Circus Maxima- the biggest stadium in ancient Rome- or the drive through Piazza Venezia- a busy hub of the city- one can’t help but marvel over the sheer grandiose of Roman architecture. Further reminders of the same come our way as we pass by the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum. Our tour ends at the city’s most iconic pieces of art, the Trevi Fountain, which simply put is a dreamy and magical sight. What adds to the ethereal vibe of this magnanimous structure are the great examples of Baroque art- the sea-god Neptune, winged horses and allegorical figures. Contended with the day’s share of artistic thrills, we proceed to a restaurant for a yummy dinner and then either return to our hotel in Arezzo or check into a hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

It happens with our weekends. It happens with our chocolate sundaes. And it has happened with our tour too… Like every good thing in life, this tour must see its end too. With our bags all packed and our tummies stuffed with one last breakfast spread on foreign lands, we hit the road to the airport and begin our homeward journey.