Europe Jewel Christmas & New Year

Welcome to the start of this exciting Christmas and New Year tour of Europe! The festive adventure begins in Amsterdam where you will meet up with your group and tour leader. The tour kicks off with Dutch staples - cheese and clogs! See how these classic Dutch items are made the traditional way before visiting Zaanse Schans, a Dutch town famous for its historic windmills and wooden houses. Travel to Volendam for lunch and free time this afternoon. Next, it’s back to Amsterdam for the best introduction to this vibrant city - a canal cruise! Finish off day one with a delicious group welcome dinner.

Day two and it's time for a new country! Cross the border into Germany and travel to the beautiful Rhine Valley. Arrive and enjoy a wine tasting at Boppard before embarking on a riverboat cruise from Boppard to St Goar. Enjoy the scenic views along the riverbank during the cruise - this section of Germany is home to the highest concentration of medieval castles in all of Europe! Disembark and pay a visit to a fascinating local stein and cuckoo clock workshop. Travel to tonight’s accommodation and enjoy dinner with the group at the hotel.

Merry Christmas! Veselé Vánoce! Start the morning with a guided walking tour of the magical city of Prague. Join a local guide to explore and learn more about top sights including Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and much more while soaking up the festive atmosphere. The rest of Christmas day is free for you to enjoy Prague as you wish. To see the best that this fairytale city has to offer, join the Prague+ optional excursion! Tour the Prague Castle complex, explore the charming Mala Strana neighbourhood and enjoy a cruise on the Vltava River complete with a buffet lunch. Tonight, take the opportunity to enjoy an optional traditional Czech meal complete with folk music and dancing!

Today, head for the grandeur of Vienna, visiting Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for a quick comfort stop along the way. Surrounded by mountains, vineyards, ski runs and unbridled wilderness, Bratislava is a charming city. Spot the medieval castle overlooking the old town and take in the Socialist-era architecture. Next stop, the beautiful Austrian city of Vienna! Enjoy a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed city centre. See sights like the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dinner tonight will be in a historical Viennese wine cellar! Afterwards, choose to enjoy an orchestra performance. What could be better than experiencing music in one of the city's concert halls?

Journey into the hills of Tuscany today! Travel towards Florence and admire the rolling hills, vineyards and charm of the countryside along the way. Arrive and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Next up is a locally guided walking tour of the city. Enjoy the historical landmarks of the city which will be specially decked out for the festive time of year and learn more about Florence’s Renaissance history. Then, attend an Italian leather-making demonstration and watch talented craftsmen at work. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Italian meal during dinner at a local restaurant. After a day filled with the delights of Florence, it’s time to spend the night in a hotel in the Tuscan countryside.

Depart Tuscany and head for the hills (well, mountains actually!) En route to the Swiss Alps, make a stop at one of the world’s most famous buildings - the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Be sure to have your cameras ready to snap some photos! Afterwards, strap in for a journey through the Alps. Cross the border into Switzerland and enjoy a scenic mountain drive before arriving at the small Swiss Alpine town which will be home for tonight and the perfect spot to say farewell to the old year and ring in the new! Tonight, celebrate New Year’s Eve with the tour group surrounded by the beauty of the Swiss Alps.

Happy New Year! Make the most of the first day of a new year and enjoy the splendour of the Alps on this free day! Take a leisurely stroll through the local villages and alongside crystal-clear lakes or hit the slopes for a spot of skiing if you’re feeling up to it. Today’s optional excursion is one of our most popular. Journey to Jungfraujoch - the highest train station in Europe! Surround yourself with spectacular snow-capped peaks and white winter snow! What could be a better start to the year than that? Tonight, choose to warm up with a delicious Swiss fondue dinner!

So long Switzerland, it’s time for Paris! Today calls for an early start. Travel through the French countryside and arrive in Paris this afternoon. Get your cameras ready and head off on a driving tour of the “City of Lights. The city’s most famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are on the itinerary! Following the driving tour is a group dinner at a restaurant in the city. After a delicious meal of French cuisine, it’s time to travel back to the hotel to get some rest for another free day tomorrow.

This festive two-week tour comes to an end today with one last stop and one more new country along the way! Say au revoir  to Paris and travel on to Ghent in Belgium. Enjoy a lunch stop and free time to explore the charming medieval city centre. Afterwards, it’s time to journey onwards to Amsterdam where the tour will conclude. Before saying farewell, be sure to swap contact details with your new travel friends! Arrive in Amsterdam where you will continue with your onward journey. We hope you enjoyed this Christmas and New Year tour of Europe - travel is a truly memorable way to celebrate!