Insight Supersaver

Tour highlights include: Guided tours of Rome and Paris. Orientation tours of Amsterdam, Cologne, Innsbruck, Verona, Venice and Lucerne.

Name of Tour:European Highlights
Duration: 12 Days
Exclusive Price Discounts are shown below

Your Itinerary

Day 1 – London – Amsterdam
You meet your Tour Director at the Holiday Inn Kings Cross/Bloomsbury and head for the White Cliffs of Dover and your ferry to Calais. Cross Belgium’s Flanders Fields to Holland’s lively Amsterdam. Pass canals and tall gabled houses to see the Royal Palace in Dam Square and sparkling stones transformed before your eyes when you visit a diamond-polishing factory.
Hotel: Tulip Inn Riverside.

Day 2 – Amsterdam – Rhineland
Leave Amsterdam this morning and cross the border into Germany. At historic Cologne, stop to view the 13th century Gothic cathedral with its soaring spires. After passing Beethoven’s home town of Bonn, continue to the charming village of Boppard to join a cruise past awesome castles, leafy vineyards and picturesque villages. Rejoin the coach and see the legendary Loreley Rock, before continuing to your hotel.
Hotel: NH Weinheim. (B,D)

Day 3 – Rhineland – Innsbruck
Head into the wooded Bavarian Alps today to see ‘Mad’ King Ludwig’s fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein. Cross the Austrian border and travel the spectacular Fern Pass to arrive in Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol. Your Tour Director will show you Innsbruck’s Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace before offering an optional thigh-slapping folklore show.
Hotel: Alpin Park. (B,D)

Day 4 – Innsbruck – Venice
Cross the impressive Europa Bridge, one of Europe’s highest, and the Brenner Pass into Italy. Visit Romeo and Juliet’s Verona – and see Juliet’s balcony and the Roman arena – before travelling across the fertile Adriatic Plain to the Veneto region.
Hotel: Il Burchiello (Oriago). (B,D)

Day 5 – Venice sightseeing
Drive to the Venetian Lagoon where a private launch takes you to
St Mark’s Square. See the ornate Basilica of St Mark, Doges’ Palace, Bridge of Sighs and the prison in which Casanova was incarcerated – and from which he escaped. Join a demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing before spending the rest of the day at leisure – why not explore the islands of the beautiful lagoon or try a local seafood lunch? (B,D)

Day 6 – Venice – Rome
Cross the Appenine Mountains and follow the Autostrada del Sole past ancient Etruscan hill towns to Rome, a city founded on seven hills above the river Tiber. Discover hidden piazzas and the splendid fountains of the ‘Eternal City’.
Hotel: Cristoforo Colombo. (B)

Day 7 – Rome Sightseeing
Rome is three cities in one: Imperial Rome, Catholic Rome and modern Rome. Enter the Vatican City with your local guide and explore St Peter’s Basilica and its deeply moving ‘Pieta’ by Michelangelo. Cross the Tiber River to see the remains of the Colosseum, where Nero was entertained by gladiator fights. Your guide will enthral you with stories of the Roman Empire as you overlook the Imperial Forum, from where Julius Caesar contemplated his victories. The rest of the day is yours to explore the treasures of the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine Chapel, and to sample the best of Italy: pasta, vino and music. (B)

Day 8 – Rome – Florence
Bid ‘Arrivederci’ to Rome as you head north to the Tuscan hills and Renaissance Florence. View the city from Piazza Michelangelo, before enjoying a Florentine leatherwork demonstration and shopping for the latest fashions. Be sure to explore Signoria Square with its open-air museum, the Ponte Vecchio and tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo in Santa Croce Basilica.
Hotel: Wall Art. (B,D)

Day 9 – Florence – Lucerne
Head north from Tuscany, past Milan and on to the Lake District on the Italian/Swiss border. Enjoy the magnificent drive through the Swiss Alps to Lucerne, where you see the wooden Chapel Bridge and view the famous Lion Monument.
Hotel: Luzernerhof. (B,D)

Day 10 – Lucerne – Paris
Cross the Rhine at Basel before skirting the Jura Mountains and following the valley of the Doubs River into Burgundy – a region noted for its fine wines. Cross the wheat fields of Auxerre and the forest of Royal Fontainbleau before arriving in Paris – don’t forget to look out for the Eiffel Tower as you approach the French capital. Consider taking a tour of the sparkling illuminations.
Hotel: Mercure la Defense 5. (B)

Day 11 – Paris Sightseeing
Tour the city with a local guide, seeing the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Opera and Place de la Concorde. The afternoon is yours to shop for souvenirs or to visit the Mona Lisa in the Louvre; perhaps plan a farewell dinner in a typical Parisian restaurant or take in a cabaret. (B)

Day 12 – Paris – London
Cross the Somme’s World War One battlefields to Calais and the English Channel. The tour ends after a return crossing to Dover and short journey back to London. (B)

Images

(PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYPLANET EXCLUSIVE EARLYBIRD COACH TOUR DISCOUNTS)

A Brief History

 When it comes to travelling in style and comfort, look no further than Insight's premium touring Vacations!

Insight offers smaller group sizes, greater passenger comfort and up to 100% more legroom than a standard touring coach. Our guests stay in outstanding hotels, enjoy a variety of meals and each unique destination visited features a wealth of included sightseeing!  We also offer guaranteed departures on selected travel departures.

We believe the journey is just as important as the destination. Imagine gliding along the ancient canals of defying gravity on an exhilarating cable car ride to the top of a Swiss mountain peak or a journey onboard the legendary Rocky Mountaineer Train.

Whether you want to explore at a leisurely pace, experience as much as possible in a short amount of time, or get off the beaten track, Insight's complete range of tours means you are sure to find an itinerary that suits you.

New for 2006 are our European Easy Pace extra leisure itineraries. With a majority of three night stays in each city, included sightseeing, delicious meals and excursions, Easy Pace itineraries give you the freedom to explore in-depth at your leisure.

We invite you to experience the Insight difference.

For Cheapest Airfares Click Here

EARLYBIRD COACH TOUR DISCOUNTS-2008

Save up to 10 %

Insight Supersaver Coach Tour Program

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT
Book/pay 12 Months in advance 10% Discount
Book/pay 10-12 Months in advance 7.5% Discount
Book/pay 7-9 Months in advance 5% Discount
Book/pay 4-6 Months in advance 2.5% Discount

SECOND TOUR DISCOUNT
Receive 5% Discount of the shortest tour

PAST PASSENGER DISCOUNT
Receive extra 5% discount if you have travelled on an Insight Tour previously

AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Please call for airport transfer rates

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Save 20% on QBE Travel Insurance or 10% on HBF Insurance member rates if taken out at time of booking.

TRIPLE ROOM
Great Discounts-please call for details

GROUP DISCOUNTS
5 or more persons and you save an EXTRA 5%
9 or more and even GREATER DISCOUNTS-call us now!

CHILD DISCOUNTS
Up to 25% (Conditions apply)

SINGLE ROOM
Can offer share accommodation at no extra cost

 

What's Included