itinerary for europe jewel 2020/21 • expat explore …...trip t-shirt or hoodie: € 21-32 venice...

Expat Explore - Version: Wed Feb 12 2020 09:47:47 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time) Page: 1/11

DAY 1: London - Amsterdam

Welcome to the Europe Jewel tour from Expat Explore! Leaving London behind us, make your way to Amsterdam, crossing the channel

on the way and driving through rural France and Belgium. Arriving in Amsterdam in the late afternoon, we’ll check in to our hotel

before joining a complimentary Amsterdam canal cruise! Get on board and have those cameras at the ready – this is the best way to

be introduced to Amsterdam, a city of the beautiful 17th Century architecture, and a charm all its own. Watch the city drift past as you

sail by, and listen out for tips and interesting insights into the city from your tour leader.

Experiences

Amsterdam Canal Cruise - Sail along Amsterdam's stunning canals at twilight and enjoy a delicious pizza as you cruise. A perfect

introduction to Amsterdam you will cruise along Amsterdam's atmospheric canals.

DAY 2: Amsterdam - Rhine Valley

Itinerary for Europe Jewel 2020/21 • Expat Explore

Start Point:

Outside Hotel Novotel at Greenwich station,

173-185 Greenwich High Road, London, SE10 8JA

06:30 hrs

Hotel lobby, Holiday Inn Express, Greenwich,

85 Bugsby Way, Greenwich, London, SE10 0GD

07:00 hrs

End Point:

Greenwich train station,

173-185 Greenwich High Road, London, SE10 8JA

14:00 hrs – 17:30 hrs

Included Meals

Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner:

Accommodation

Hampton by Hilton Schipol Airport

Holiday Inn Express Schipol Airport

Park Inn Plaza Amsterdam Airport

Crowne Plaza Amsterdam Schiphol

Lake land Hotel


This morning we’ll take a look at a cheese-making demonstration, revealing how cheese has been made in the traditional way in these

parts for many years. Following that, we’ll learn about that most quirky of Dutch footwear choices – the clog – and see how these

traditional shoes are carved. Stopping off at the Riekermolen windmill for a photo stop, you’ll be able to appreciate the scenery that

the Netherlands is famous for. If the season is right, look out for flowers in the fields! Continuing on to the Rhine Valley, we’ll board a

Rhine Valley riverboat and sail from St Goar to Boppard. Admire the passing scenery - with the highest concentration of medieval

castles in all of Europe, this is a memorable trip, especially with all the vineyards, cliff faces and medieval German towns! Later we will

visit a local wine merchant for an included wine tasting - if the harvest has been good, you may even get to try eiswein (ice wine), a

very sweet dessert wine that is produced in very small quantities as it can only be harvested when the temperature drops below

freezing.

Experiences

Cruise down the Rhine and see the beautiful scenery and the largest concentration of gothic castles (Sterrenberg, Liebestein, Katz

and Fortess Rheinfels).

Rhine Valley Wine Tasting: visit a local wine merchant in one of Germany's most famous wine growing regions, and sample several

types of delicious German wine. Popular varieties from the surrounding area and neighbouring regions include Riesling,

Spätburgunder and Pinot Noir. The region is also well-known for eiswein (ice wine), a very sweet dessert wine made from grapes

harvested in the freezing winter months.

DAY 3: Nuremberg - Prague

Included Meals



Today we’re off to Prague via Nuremberg, stopping in the Bavarian city for a comfort stop. Having served as a residence for German

kings over many centuries, Nuremberg was an architectural marvel, and famous for its artists too. Heavily bombed during WW2, the

city was painstakingly rebuilt, and today has been returned to some of its former glory – many buildings being rebuilt in the original

stone. Arriving later in Prague, you'll discover a beautiful city, boasting elaborate baroque, gothic, art nouveau and cubist architecture,

and one that rewards those who explore it with quirky bars, cobbled lanes and courtyards. This evening we'll experience authentic

Czech cuisine at a local restaurant.

Optional Excursions

Traditional Czech Folk Music & Dance Evening: € 40

* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.

DAY 4: Prague

This morning a local guide will take you on a walking tour of the city, introducing you to the most popular and well-known sights,

including the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, St. Vitus Cathedral and Charles Bridge. You then have the rest of the day free to

explore the city. Described by some as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Central Europe, you’ll find that Prague is just as beautiful as Rome,

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Duo


London and Amsterdam. Start off with the Charles Bridge, which joins the old and the new town, and marvel at how Prague’s dramatic

history is reflected in the beauty of its churches, opera houses, concert halls and of course Prague castle.

Optional Excursions

Traditional Czech Folk Music & Dance Evening: € 40


DAY 5: Prague - Bratislava - Vienna

Today we're moving on to the Slovakian capital, Bratislava! Surrounded by mountains, vineyards, ski runs and unbridled wilderness.

Bratislava is a charming city. Spot a medieval castle overlooking the old town. Marvel at recent Socialist-era architecture. Next stop,

the beautiful Austrian city of Vienna. A guided walking tour of the UNESCO-credited city centre. See sights like the Hofburg Palace and

St Stephen’s Cathedral. Dinner is included and you could enjoy an orchestra performance. What could be better than experiencing

music in one of the city's concert halls?

Experiences

Walking tour of Vienna: on the drive into Vienna, Austria’s capital city, you will see the Schonbrunn Palace before reaching the Inner

City and one of the best vistas from Belvedere Hill. Vienna is known as the 'City of Music’ due to its classical heritage and the

prodigies that worked there including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms to name a few as your local guide on your walking

tour will tell you. The tour starts at the Golden Mile on the Ring Strasse (Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater). Then discover the

courtyards and passages around the Hofburg (Imperial Castle) and St. Stephen’s Cathedral which is Vienna’s geographic and historic

centre.

Optional Excursions

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Duo

Included Meals


Accommodation

Roomz Hotel Vienna

Lenas Donau Hotel

Courtyard by Marriott Wien Schönbrunn

Jufa Hotel Wien


Mozart Concert: € 65


DAY 6: Vienna - Budapest

Wave Vienna goodbye as we make our way to the striking Hungarian capital of Budapest. Sitting astride the Danube River, this scenic

city is known for its singular mix of Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture. A driving tour will allow you to see it in all its

splendour as we make our way through the city. The trip will start on the Buda side of the river, and include excursions to

Fisherman's Bastion, glimpses of the Houses of Parliament & more. This afternoon you have the freedom to explore however you

please.

Experiences

Meet up with a local guide who will accompany us on a driving tour of the city and point out all the best-loved sights. This is a great

way to learn more about Hungarian culture and language and the city's fascinating history. Drink in incredible views from atop Gellert

Hill and the Citadel, take a stop at Heroes Square and get an eyeful of other must-see attractions like Budapest Parliament, St

Stephen's Basilica, the state opera, the castle district, and more.

Optional Excursions

Danube Dinner Cruise: € 52


DAY 7: Budapest - Lake Balaton - Ljubljana

Included Meals


Accommodation

Ibis Styles Budapest City

Ibis Budapest Centrum

Holiday Inn Budapest-Budaors

IBIS Budapest Citysouth


Leaving Budapest, to an iconic holiday destination in Hungary - the beautiful Lake Balaton. Nearly 200km of coastline, it is the largest

lake in central Europe. It's a great place to take a dip on a hot summer day. Then on to our final stop of the day, the Slovenian capital

Ljubljana. It's filled to the brim with fairy-tale castles, beautiful architecture and plenty of natural beauty. An expert local guide will

accompany us on a walking tour to point out all the must-see attractions.

Experiences

Stop along the shoreline of the beautiful Lake Balaton, where local Hungarians spend happy summer holidays. Take a few pictures of

the spellbinding landscape for your collection.

Optional Excursions

Slovenian Evening: € 35


DAY 8: Ljubljana - Venice

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Park Ljubljana

M Hotel


Venice is our next stop, a city immortalised in literature, film and art for centuries. Its timeless waterways and artistic masterpieces

(more per square kilometre than anywhere else on earth) make it truly unique – this is a city that will capture your heart and

imagination. Being Italian, there’s no shortage of incredible food and culture either! Your tour leader will introduce you to the city

with an orientation walk, during which you'll see sights like the world famous St Marks Square, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. The

rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this unforgettable city on your own - don't miss the opportunity to take a gondola and water

taxi to explore Venice from the water.

Experiences

Orientation tour of Venice: your tour leader will take you into the heart of this unique floating city for an orientation to help you

explore and see St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market and Scuola Grande

di San Rocco.

Optional Excursions

Trip T-shirt or Hoodie: € 21-32

Venice Gondola Ride: € 20

Venice Water Taxi: € 20


DAY 9: Florence - Tuscany

Travel through the magical hills as you head for Florence, capital of the Tuscan region. Start exploring with a short orientation tour of

the most iconic and historical landmarks of the city. These include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della

Signoria and the replica of the statue of David. After the tour, visit a local leather factory shop to find out more about Italy’s famous

leather industry. Explore the city at your leisure, and then make your way to the Tuscan countryside, where you’ll spend the night. A

delicious Tuscan dinner is included tonight.

Experiences

Orientation tour of Florence: Your Expat Explore tour leader will take you on an orientation tour to introduce you to the main sights,

including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David.

Included Meals


Accommodation

Elite Residence Hotel

NH Laguna Palace

Hotel Complex Ambasciatori & Delfino

Hotel Venezia


Leather demo in a local shop: Step inside the world of Italian leather crafting as you visit a leather demo in a local leather shop and

factory, Leonardo Leather and Gold. Italy has been famous for leather production for centuries.

Optional Excursions

Medici's and the Renaissance walking tour: € 10


DAY 10: Pisa - Swiss Alps

Departing Tuscany, we make for one of the world’s most famous buildings. This is also definitely a place where you’ll want to have

your camera charged – Pisa! Learn the story behind the leaning tower, and be sure to take some photos! It’s time to cross over to the

Alps. Is there a better way to enjoy the magic of Switzerland than staying in a typical Swiss Alpine town? Take in the beauty of the

snow-capped mountains and the greenery around you.

Experiences

View the Leaning Tower of Pisa: your chance to see the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, or even take some iconic pictures of you

‘holding up’ the tower.

Scenic Mountain Drive: spectacular views as we drive through mountain passes and alongside lakes, breath-taking mountain vistas

and scenic views of quaint Swiss towns.

Optional Excursions

Train to Jungfraujoch: € 175

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Massimo d'Azeglio

Hotel Meridiana Florence

Included Meals


Accommodation

Alpenrose Hotel & Gardens

Swiss Youth Hostel Interlaken

Hotel Baren Ringgenberg

Hotel Schonbhul

Hotel City Oberland

Das Hotel Sherlock Holmes


Swiss Dinner: € 25


DAY 11: Swiss Alps: Free Day

The splendour of the Alps is yours today – don’t miss the chance to join one of our optional excursions up into the heart of the Swiss

Alps! Travelling by train or gondola, the trip to the top is a real highlight; you might find yourself pressed up against the windows as

the picture-perfect Swiss countryside rolls beneath you. Look out for quaint villages nestled in the valleys beneath snow-capped

peaks and tumbling mountain waterfalls. Once we’ve reached the top, enjoy the year-round snow and breathtaking views of the

surrounding glaciers and mountaintops. Once you’ve had a chance to explore and capture as many photos as possible, it’s back down

to lower altitudes for the rest of the afternoon. Take the chance to head into a nearby village to see the lakes of the region, shop for

chocolates and cuckoo clocks, or have a delicious fondue!

Optional Excursions

Train to Jungfraujoch: € 175

White-Water River Rafting: € 108

Sky-diving: € 345

Paragliding: € 155

Swiss Dinner: € 25

Swiss Alps Mountain Experience: € various


DAY 12: Swiss Alps - Paris

Included Meals


Accommodation

Alpenrose Hotel & Gardens

Swiss Youth Hostel Interlaken

Hotel Baren Ringgenberg

Hotel Schonbhul

Hotel City Oberland

Das Hotel Sherlock Holmes


It’s an early start today as we make our way out of the mountains and make for the city of lights and love: Paris! Arriving in the

afternoon, we'll take you on a driving tour of the French capital; get your cameras ready – you’ll be seeing some of the city’s most

treasured landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe! After the driving tour we'll enjoy dinner at a

restaurant in the Latin Quarter, an eclectic, bohemian and historic neighbourhood. We'll then travel back to the hotel on Paris' world

famous metro system, ready to explore the city further on our free day tomorrow!

Experiences

Enjoy a driving tour upon arrival - spot the Tuileries Gardens, The River Seine, l'Île de la Cité, the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de

Triomphe, Lovers Bridge, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Pigalle (the Red Light District) and the Moulin Rouge!

DAY 13: Paris: Free Day

Today is all yours to explore as you wish. Take an optional cruise up the River Seine, head up the tower of Montparnasse for exquisite

views, visit L’Opéra Garnier, the Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Hotel de Ville, the River Seine, l’Ile de la Cite or the Louvre

Museum. Get a glimpse of that most famous avenue, the Champs Elysees, overlooked by the famous Arc de Triomphe. Alternatively,

Included Meals


Accommodation

Ibis la Defense

B&B Porte Des Lilas

B&B Paris Malakof

Ibis Paris La Villette Cité des Sciences

B&B Paris Italie Porte de Choisy

B&B Hôtel Orly Chevilly


why not head to the boutiques of La Marais? Or visit the graves of Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison at Père Lachaise Cemetery? Those

with a taste for the macabre can even descend to the infamous catacombs! Alternatively, stay above ground and explore the

museums, people-watch from a roadside café, or simply stroll the city, following in the footsteps of great painters, musicians and

writers.

Optional Excursions

River Seine Cruise: € 12

Cabaret Show: € 70-90

Montparnasse Observation Deck: € 15

Paris + Tour: € 50

An Evening in Montmartre: € 40


DAY 14: Return To London

It’s our last day already! Today we leave the mainland and cross the Channel on our way back to London. Be sure to swap details with

your fellow travellers – we hope you’ve loved every minute of your Europe Jewel adventure!

Experiences

You arrive back in London late afternoon - by this point you will have enjoyed 14 incredible days exploring the very best of Europe!

Included Meals


Accommodation

Ibis la Defense

B&B Porte Des Lilas

B&B Paris Malakof

Ibis Paris La Villette Cité des Sciences

B&B Paris Italie Porte de Choisy

B&B Hôtel Orly Chevilly

Included Meals


itinerary for europe jewel 2020/21 • expat explore …...trip t-shirt or hoodie: € 21-32 venice...

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