Great Escape Tour

Package Overview

The perfect escape from everyday life. Capture all the flavor of European cities and countryside, then bask in the golden Grecian sun. From Paris "City of Lights" to fitness & fun stay in the Austrian Alps. Spectacular sights and sounds abound.

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : TRAVEL TO LONDON

  The Great Escape begins with an overnight flight to “Merry Old England.”

  • Meals & Drinks In-flight
• Day 2 : LONDON

  Enjoy a free afternoon to relax and unwind. In the evening we’ll have our welcome orientation followed by a fun London pub crawl.

  • Meals & Drinks In-flight
• Day 3 : LONDON

  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus: These familiar names become familiar places on our morning tour of London. During an afternoon at leisure, browse the many food, craft and clothing stalls at popular Camden Market, walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter at Leadenhall Market - aka Diagon Alley or take a ride on the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the city and the opportunity to take great photographs. After dusk, consider taking in some Shakespeare at the Globe Theater by the Thames River or attending a West End show.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 4 : LONDON * ENGLISH CHANNEL * PARIS

  Travel to southeast England today and board our ship to the continent. Motor through northern France and arrive in Paris, “City of Lights.” We’ll dine together at our French bistro dinner, and then enjoy a romantic Seine River cruise.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 5 : PARIS

  France has been a world center of the perfume industry since Louis XV's court at Versailles was known as "le cour parfumée." Join us this morning for a visit to the Fragonard Perfume Museum, located in a 19th-century mansion from the era of Napoleon III, and learn about the art of perfume manufacturing from ancient times. Afterwards we continue with a tour of Paris, see the hunchback “Quasimodo’s” Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood, and the Eiffel Tower’s steel lacework. Free time in the afternoon – visit Left Bank bookstalls, or shop the chic boutiques of Paris. Consider joining our optional can-can cabaret show tonight.
  Optional Activity: French cabaret show

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 6 : PARIS

  This morning we visit the Palace of Versailles, well known as France’s famed Sun King, Louis XIV’s, residence. Our museum pass gives us access to the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Grand Chambers and more. Marvel at the sheer size of the palace, one of the most beautiful castles in the world with an astonishing 700 rooms. The afternoon is free to explore the ‘City of Lights.’ Have a portrait done by Place du Tertre artists or sample sinful French pastries. The free evening is perfect for watching the world go by from a sidewalk café on the Champs Elysées.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 7 : PARIS * BRUSSELS * AMSTERDAM

  Motor to Belgium and Brussels, and see the Grand’ Place, a perfect medieval square, and the statue of naughty Mennekin-Pis. Continue to Amsterdam and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 8 : DUTCH COUNTRYSIDE

  Go biking through 13th-century Dutch fishing villages along the Ijssel Lake beaches today, watch wooden shoes being carved and sample Edam cheese at a cheese farm. Free time this afternoon in Amsterdam to tour the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum, or visit Anne Frank’s house. This evening we invite you to a scrumptious Dutch-Indonesian rice table dinner, a specialty in Holland as Indonesia was once a Dutch colony. Afterwards we admire the Netherland’s capital gliding through some of the 165 romantic canals aboard a glass-topped canal boat.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 9 : COLOGNE * HEIDELBERG

  Cross the German border into Cologne, famous for the world’s largest gothic cathedral. Embark on a cruise along the fabled Rhine River, passing steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles, and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Continue to Heidelberg, the “City of the Student Prince” and climb to the ruins of the Castle of the Palatine Elector for a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Neckar River.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 10 : HEIDELBERG * ROTHENBURG * MUNICH

  Germany’s Romantic Road takes us to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This medieval city is celebrated not only for its well-preserved gothic and baroque buildings and walls, but also for its unspoiled picturesque setting. Enjoy lunch at a local Gasthaus before continuing our journey to the fun-filled Oktoberfest city of Munich. Free evening to check out the oompah-pah bands at the famous Hofbräuhaus.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Lunch
• Day 11 : MUNICH

  This morning we visit Dachau, the Nazi Concentration Camp Memorial site. It was established in 1965, twenty years after it was liberated by American forces. During afternoon free time, consider visiting the BMW museum, seeing the Glockenspiel Chimes at the market square, the 1972 Olympic Village or shopping for Bavarian beer steins and lederhosen on Maximilianstrasse. Tonight, we’ll dine on authentic Bavarian fare.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 12 : MUNICH * SALZBURG * ALPINE CENTER

  This morning, we continue to Berchtesgaden. Dressed in miner’s clothing, enjoy a ride on a funicular and down slides through the salt mine. Our next stop is Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace and site where the classic movie, “Sound of Music” was filmed. Explore the narrow streets lined with colorful wrought iron signs and shops before we continue our journey to Europe’s largest alpine sports region. Be our pampered guest for two nights of fitness and fun while nestled in the snow-capped Austrian mountains at our Alpine Center.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 13 : ALPINE CENTER

  All day today is at our leisure; go for a hike in the Alps or join the fun and excitement of whitewater rafting. A hearty Austrian dinner awaits after all that activity.
  Optional activity: Whitewater rafting

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 14 : AUSTRIAN LAKES * VENICE, ITALY

  14AUSTRIAN LAKES * VENICE, ITALY

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 15 : VENICE * FLORENCE

  Through the fertile Po Valley we approach Florence, Golden City of the Renaissance and birthplace of Michelangelo. Our Florence art tour includes the Gates of Paradise, the marble Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Giotto’s bell tower, then there’s free time for shopping and museums. Get ready for an optional dinner of pure Italian delights at “Il Latini” tonight.
  Optional activity: Tuscan Feast

  • Themes Hill Stations & Valleys
  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 16 : FLORENCE

  A free day to explore the Uffizi Gallery and see the collections of Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and da Vinci. The Galleria dell’Accademia houses several sculptures by Michelangelo including his famous David. Enjoy our dinner of traditional Florentine fare.
  Optional activity: Chianti Excursion

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 17 : FLORENCE * ROME

  Travel past Chianti vineyards along the Highway of the Sun to the Eternal City of Rome. After check in we have time to relax or explore baroque Rome: Stop to toss three coins in the Trevi Fountain, to ensure your return to Rome, see the Pantheon and sample the famous “gelati” ice cream at Piazza Navona.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 18 : ROME * VATICAN CITY

  This morning we explore Capitol Hill with the most spectacular view of Caesar’s Roman Forum, center of political and social activity, with ancient ruins dating from the 8th century BC. Also see Nero’s Circus Maximus where chariot races were held. A trip across the Tiber River takes us to Vatican City - the world’s smallest state. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica housing Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” During afternoon free time, use the Roma Pass to visit the Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death. Our dinner tonight is a mouth-watering pasta party complete with Italian specialties.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 19 : ROME * POMPEII * OVERNIGHT SHIP TO GREECE

  Motor through sunny olive groves lining the way south to Pompeii, the city buried in 79 A.D. by 20 feet of ash and lava after Mt. Vesuvius’ volcanic eruption. We’ll walk the excavated streets still bearing marks of chariot wheels. Afterwards we cross the Italian “boot” and board our overnight ship to Greece.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast
• Day 20 : GREEK ISLAND CENTER

  After cruising through aquamarine waters, our ship docks at Patras. Motor along the Corinthian Sea coastline, across the Peloponnese peninsula to Galatas and the island of Poros.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 21 : GREEK ISLAND CENTER

  Time to swim, bask in the golden sun, or take part in optional activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, banana-boating or tubing. Dancing like Zorba at a local tavern is always a must-do evening activity.
  Optional activity: Aquatic Adventure/Hydra Excursion

  • Themes Parasailing, Skiing
  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 22 : GREEK ISLAND CENTER

  Bicycles will be provided for one of your free days. Poros old town center has great shopping or the more adventurous can venture to the 6th-century BC ruins of Poseidon’s Temple on the island’s highest peak. On our last night, we invite everyone to our fun Toga party.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 23 : ATHENS

  In the morning we board our ferry to Athens. See the 2,400-year-old Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Constitution Square. A free afternoon may find us wandering the paths of Plato, Socrates and Sophocles or trying our bargaining skills at the markets of Monastiraki. This evening follow the sounds of traditional bouzouki music and join our farewell taverna dinner in the Plaka District – Athens’ oldest neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis.

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast, Dinner

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing
• 24 nights at superior tourist class hotels or better, 2-share rooms with private bath/shower
• including overnight ship from Italy to Greece (4-share cabin)
• Daily continental breakfasts
• 11 three-course specialty dinners
• 1 lunch
• Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais
• Guided tours in London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Athens led by a local historian
• Seine River cruise
• Rhine River cruise
• Amsterdam canal cruise
• 2-day Paris museum pass
• Tour of Versailles Palace
• Roma pass (full access to public transport system, reduced admission to museums, music events, theater, etc.)
• Admission to:
• Heidelberg Castle
• Berchtesgaden salt mines
• Colosseum & Forum as part of Roma pass
• Pompeii excavations
• Acropolis
• Bike ride on the Isle of Poros
• Toga party
• Plus:
• Private tour director for the entire duration of the land tour
• All scheduled sightseeing
• Intra-European transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
• All service charges and local taxes
• Luggage tag and travel booklets

Price & Rates

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• 3922 Hickory Avenue Baltimore, Maryland, USA - 21211
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