Stand before Europe’s largest waterfall as the Rhine surges over a broad limestone ledge near Schaffhausen. Feel the spray and tremor of water as you admire jade pools and swirling foam from well-placed viewing terraces.

Geology and glacial history converge here, carving channels that power Switzerland’s waterways. The scene offers striking photo angles of the churn and roar, with the medieval Schloss Laufen perched high above the thundering cascade.

• 8 Dinner (D)
• 21 Breakfast (B)

• Amsterdam: Cruise along the old waterways with your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Discover the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
• Rhineland: Cruise beneath semi-ruined castles and terraced vineyards. Sleepy villages slip by as you saunter upstream to the Lorelei Rock where the enchantress lured sailors to their doom.
• Heidelberg: See the magnificent red sandstone castle ruins, overlooking the Old Town and Neckar River.
• Rhine Falls: See Europe’s largest waterfall as the Rhine River surges over the cliffs in a powerful natural display.
• Lucerne: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Lion Monument, Old Town Hall and Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe.
• Vaduz: Explore Vaduz, the capital city of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
• Innsbruck: Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town and learn about its history with your Travel Director. 
• Salzburg: Join your Local Specialist to visit the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace and Residence Square – both locations used in ‘The Sound of Music.’ See the imposing fortress, the immense cathedral and Mozart’s birthplace on the lively Getreidegasse.
• Vienna: Walk through the first district, Inner Stadt, as your Local Specialist reveals the historic core of the city. Tour the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
• Venice: Discover the ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing and play a part in preserving this traditional craft.
• Assisi: With a Local Specialist, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered to be one of the crowning artistic achievements of 13th-century Europe.
• Pompeii: Walk with a Local Specialist through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.
• Capri: Join a Local Specialist for a guided walk through Capri’s elegant lanes and vibrant squares. Hear how this island has long attracted artists, writers and Hollywood icons. Visit historic landmarks and local boutiques, and discover how generations of islanders have lived alongside the glamour, from Roman emperors to the jet-set names of the 1950s and beyond.
• Rome: Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city’s most iconic sites.
• Rome: Be inspired by the magnificence of Michelangelo and Botticelli at the Vatican Museums.
• Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
• Florence: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
• Pisa: In the Piazza dei Miracoli, see the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Monaco City: See the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married.
• Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Discover the beauty of this hilltop town and gain insight into why it became a refuge for artists.
• Avignon: View the Pont d’Avignon and walk the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to the Palais des Papes.
• Beaune: Join your Travel Director for an orientation walk through Beaune’s medieval centre. Pass wine shops, timber-framed buildings and lively market squares as you get a feel for this historic Burgundy town. Along the way, hear how wine, trade and tradition have shaped daily life in one of France’s best-loved wine capitals.
• Paris: Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.

• Deluxe coach travel
• Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
• 4-star stays

Enter the walled Campo dei Miracoli to see the Cathedral, Baptistery and the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Marble arcades and striped stone set a striking Pisan-Romanesque stage.

Your visit focuses on the ensemble’s geometry and symbolism—earth, water and sky reflected in white stone and green lawn. Pause for photos and reflection at one of Italy’s most recognizable silhouettes.

Glide along Amsterdam’s historic waterways on a comfortable boat to see the canal belt’s 17th-century mansions, skinny bridges and leaning gables. Drift under graceful arches while your guide reveals stories of merchants, artists and shipbuilders who shaped the Golden Age.

From the Prinsengracht to the Herengracht, cruise Amsterdam’s canals past houseboats and converted warehouses. This classic perspective sets the scene for the city’s blend of innovation and tradition, with a close look at architectural gems from the 17th century.

Share a relaxed evening on a working dairy farm near Amsterdam with the Pauw family. Enjoy seasonal Dutch dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients as you learn about life on the polder and the rhythms of cheesemaking and sustainable agriculture.

This convivial gathering invites you to connect with locals and swap stories at the table. Expect authentic hospitality, a glimpse of rural Netherlands, and perhaps a taste of farmhouse cheese accompanied by regional traditions.

Board a river boat at Boppard to cruise the Rhine River through a UNESCO-listed gorge of turreted ruins and terraced vineyards. Watch half-timbered villages slip by as currents quicken toward the fabled bend by St. Goarshausen.

Hear legends of the Lorelei Rock, where an echoing cliff and river eddies stirred sailors’ tales. This storied stretch reveals the Rhineland’s strategic past, from toll castles to trading routes etched along misty mountain passes above the water.

Take in a sweeping view of Heidelberg Castle, its red sandstone ruins crowning a hillside above the Neckar. Trace the outlines of palaces and fortifications that once guarded the Palatinate’s seat of power.

Below, the Altstadt unfolds with baroque facades and the Old Bridge. Your orientation reveals a university town that inspired poets and philosophers, and invites you to pause for photos and reflection over the river’s graceful curve.

Join your Travel Director to walk Lucerne’s Old Town, crossing the flower-decked Chapel Bridge with its medieval roof paintings. Trace frescoed facades and quiet squares that reflect the city’s mercantile heritage.

At the solemn Lion Monument, learn of the Swiss Guards who died in 1792 defending the Tuileries. The lakeside panorama and mountain backdrop complete a portrait of Swiss identity shaped by craft, courage and alpine trade routes.

Explore Vaduz, a tiny capital framed by alpine peaks and vineyard slopes. Stroll the compact centre lined with sculpture and sleek modern museums, with views of Vaduz Castle commanding the hillside above.

Hear how this microstate balanced sovereignty and diplomacy between larger neighbours. The visit blends princely tradition with contemporary design, offering a concise snapshot of Liechtenstein’s culture and its postage-stamp charm.

Discover Innsbruck’s alpine capital on an orientation that takes in the late-Gothic Golden Roof and pastel townhouses along Maria-Theresien-Strasse. Mountain ridges frame baroque domes and medieval arcades at every turn.

Step inside the Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store to admire sparkling crystal installations that reimagine Tyrolean craft as contemporary art. The city’s Habsburg heritage and dramatic scenery shape a mood that is both imperial and outdoorsy.

Join a Local Specialist to walk Salzburg’s baroque core, from Mirabell Gardens to bustling Residence Square. Gaze up to the hilltop fortress and wander Getreidegasse, where Mozart’s birthplace recalls a city alive with music.

Learn how Salzburg’s prince-archbishops shaped its palaces and churches, and spot film locations from The Sound of Music. The blend of Alps, river and domes creates a lyrical skyline that composers and filmmakers long celebrated.

Join a guided panoramic tour along the Ringstrasse to see the Vienna State Opera, Parliament and the grand facades of the Hofburg. Elegant boulevards give way to cobbled courtyards as you step into the Inner Stadt.

Trace Habsburg footsteps past imperial squares and café-lined lanes where waltz and coffeehouse culture still set the tempo. Your guide shares tales of emperors, architects and composers who shaped this refined capital.

Skim across the lagoon by private boat to the heart of Venice, arriving in St. Mark’s Square with views of the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Arcades hum with orchestras and the scent of espresso.

Witness a Venetian glassblowing demonstration, as artisans shape molten glass using time-honoured techniques. The craft’s fragility and lustre echo a maritime republic that once dazzled Europe with trade, art and ceremony.

Wander Assisi’s stone lanes with a Local Specialist to the Basilica of St. Francis, a pilgrimage site layered with Giotto’s frescoes and quiet chapels. Cypress and olive groves frame honey-coloured walls on the slopes of Monte Subasio.

Learn about Franciscan ideals of simplicity that reshaped medieval spirituality. See the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli below town, where the tiny Porziuncola chapel anchors the order’s beginnings.

Walk the cobbled streets of Pompeii with a Local Specialist to read daily life frozen in time by Vesuvius in AD 79. Peek into bakeries, atrium houses and the Forum as frescoes and mosaics emerge from volcanic ash.

From stepping stones to plaster casts, the city’s details reveal Roman engineering and social rituals. The looming cone of Vesuvius adds a powerful backdrop to ancient streets that still carry cart ruts.

Sail the Bay of Naples to Capri, then ascend by funicular to lanes draped with bougainvillea. A Local Specialist leads a stroll through chic piazzette and artisan boutiques, revealing why this island has long captivated writers and film stars.

From terraces above the harbor, admire Tyrrhenian blues and sculpted cliffs. The island’s Roman legacy and mid-century glamour mingle with lemon groves and sea breeze in a uniquely Mediterranean mood.

Skip the line into the Vatican Museums to view masterpieces spanning antiquity to the Renaissance. Galleries open to the jewel of the visit, the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment command quiet awe.

Context from your Local Specialist illuminates papal patronage and symbolism, from classical statuary to cartographic halls. The experience culminates in a contemplative moment beneath the soaring dome of St. Peter’s nearby.

Cross the Tiber to view the Roman Forum and Colosseum, where arenas, temples and triumphal arches narrate imperial power. Panoramic stops reveal the Palatine slopes and the sweep of the Circus Maximus.

With expert commentary, imagine senatorial debates, gladiatorial spectacle and chariot races that animated the Eternal City. This survey connects key sites into a clear portrait of Rome’s civic and social engine.

Walk Florence’s historic centre to the Piazza della Signoria, passing the Duomo and Baptistery with Ghiberti’s celebrated bronze doors. Cross the Arno by the Ponte Vecchio, where goldsmiths still trade from tiny shops.

Step into a leather artisan workshop for a demonstration of tooling, stitching and finishing—skills that made Florentine craftsmanship world-renowned. Renaissance art, civic pride and guild traditions converge at every turn.

Visit Monaco’s old town on Le Rocher to see the serene Monaco Cathedral, resting place of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. Narrow lanes open to terraces above a yacht-filled harbor.

Learn how a tiny principality leveraged diplomacy and glamour to thrive between France and Italy. Palace facades, manicured gardens and sea views frame a compact capital rich in ceremony and pageantry.

Wander fortified lanes of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a medieval aerie whose stone ramparts encircle artist studios and leafy squares. Cypress and boules courts set a languid Riviera rhythm.

Stories of painters, poets and actors who sought light and quiet here reveal why the village became a creative refuge. Views stretch from the Alps to the Mediterranean, perfect to pause for photos and reflection.

Explore Avignon’s tangled lanes to the vast Palais des Papes, where 14th-century pontiffs ruled a rival court. Stone buttresses and crenellations dominate a skyline once charged with spiritual power.

From the Rhône banks, admire the storied Pont d’Avignon, fragment of a medieval crossing immortalized in song. The city’s honeyed walls and lively squares blend pilgrimage history with Provencal verve.

Join your Travel Director to explore Beaune’s medieval core, lined with wine merchants and timbered facades. In courtyards and arcades, traditions of négociants and cooperage still echo.

Glazed tiles of the Hôtel-Dieu’s patterned roof signal Burgundy’s identity—craft, charity and terroir. Learn how monastic vineyards and trade shaped this compact, convivial wine capital.

Join a guided panoramic tour of Paris to see the Champs-Élysées and Eiffel Tower, with time to admire the Île de la Cité and the flying buttresses of Notre-Dame.

In the Left Bank’s Latin Quarter, wander scholarly lanes alive with bookshops and café terraces. Commentary weaves revolution, Haussmann’s boulevards and literary salons into the city’s enduring allure.

Ride a cableway to an alpine summit above Lake Lucerne for sweeping views of snow-dusted ridges and glacial valleys. Stroll easy mountain paths and breathe crisp high-country air.

Descend to cruise Lake Lucerne, where storybook villages and meadows reflect in glassy water. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; it typically includes transport, tickets and guiding.

Sail across the lagoon to Burano, a fishing island famed for lacework and a rainbow of canal-side houses. Stroll quiet alleys as evening light gilds washing lines and church towers.

Settle in for a relaxed meal of Venetian specialties—think seafood risotto, seasonal antipasti and local wines. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, combining atmosphere, island heritage and convivial dining.

Follow the scenic corniche roads above the Mediterranean for cliff-top vistas of bays, villas and headlands. Continue to a Fragonard Perfumery to learn about scent composition from flower to flacon.

Back in Nice, walk the Old Town through Baroque squares and market lanes scented with citrus and herbs. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Gather in a neighborhood trattoria for a relaxed Roman evening. Sample seasonal antipasti, handmade pasta and regional dishes paired with Lazio wines while voices rise around tiled floors and vintage posters.

Hosts share local tips and food lore as you taste Roman classics in a convivial setting. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering a flavorful window into the city’s culinary soul.

Step into a Belle Époque theater for feathers, sequins and chanson as dancers and vocalists bring Parisian nightlife to life. Champagne flutes catch the spotlight while live music sets a sparkling tempo.

Expect high-energy tableaux and playful wit that celebrate the city’s showtime tradition. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, a classic finale to a day along the Seine.

Stroll the cobbled lanes of Bruges with a Local Specialist to uncover its lacework of waterways and medieval gables. Pause by tranquil quays where swans drift and stone step-gables mirror in the water, and admire the guild houses that rose with Flemish trade.

Hear how Bruges prospered on North Sea commerce and see landmarks around the Markt and Burg squares. Along the way, explore Bruges’ canals and pause for photos and reflection beneath carillons chiming from the Belfry.

Trafalgar