13-Day Southern, Central, and Western Europe Tour: Paris | Madrid | Barcelona | Leysin | Zurich

Welcome to Europe!!!

Upon arriving at the airport we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts. Please, check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about your upcoming services such as meeting place, time and the guide's name.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: City Tour of Lisbon. Evening transfer.

In the morning we will have a sightseeing tour with a local guide. We will visit the tra­ditional neighborhoods including the Belem district, which is the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century. We will have a look around the Monument of the Discoveries, Belem Tower, and the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the free afternoon when you are free to explore the city at your own leisure. In the late afternoon, we will have a transfer to the Restauradores Square, a public square with plenty of restaurants and cafes. We suggest you ride the Elevador Da Gloria funicular that takes you to the viewpoint of San Pedro with beautiful views over Lisbon and the Bairro Alto. Return to the hotel.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Fatima Shrine. Lunch included.

Today we will travel to the north of Portugal and visit FATIMA, an important sanctuary (a pilgrimage site). We will continue on through the green lands of the centre, passing into Spain and then, over grasslands, we will cross the North of Extremadura. Lunch included en route at a regional cuisine restaurant. We will travel on to MADRID where we will be arriving towards the end of the day. Then we include transfer to Plaza Mayor where you can enjoy at some typical taverns.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Madrid city tour. Stroll through the Retiro Park. Visit to the Las Ventas bullring. Evening transfer.

The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the center of Madrid including the Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then will visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city center, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. A visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) is next. This is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of the "corridas" at the Bullfighting Museum. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. At sunset we will provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different cuisines, such as local Spanish food, international and Chinese. Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Monastery of Poblet, rack train to Montserrat.

In the morning we leave for Aragón over the lands of Castile. In ZARAGOZA we stop briefly to see the Pilar Basilica. We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance included). We then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery. Following this we will continue to BARCELONA, arriving in the late- afternoon.

Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be done in our coach.

Note: During the winter, from November to March, due to the shorter days, we will not visit the Monastery of Poblet in order to reach Montserrat during the daylight.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Barcelona. Girona.

In the morning we enjoy a city tour, its Ramblas, the works of Gaudí, and memories of the Olympic Games. Free time. At the end of the afternoon we will go to the north of Catalonia. A stroll in GIRONA and its very beautiful historical center. Its colorful houses stand out, as well as the old Jewish quarter and Cathedral.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHT: Provenzal region in France.

We leave for France, crossing Provence. We stop in ARLES, a small world heritage city where we will remember Van Gogh, and can see its Roman theatre and small Romanesque churches. Time for a stroll and lunch. We carry on and include admission to CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in former quarries. CHAMBERY, arrival and accommodation in the charming capital of Savoie, a medieval city with a beautiful old town and a great castle.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Switzerland with Lakes and Mountains. Chocolate factory. Dinner included.

We travel to Switzerland. GENEVA, arrival. With our guide, we will go to the Palace of Nations (the headquarters of the United Nations in Europe) to the pretty English Garden with its clock made of flowers and we can admire the "Jet d'Eau", the tallest fountain in Europe. We go on to the picturesque walled village of GRUYERE, known worldwide for its cheese. Free time to stroll and have lunch. Nearby are several of the main chocolate factories in Switzerland (NESTLE amongst them), and we visit the Cailler chocolate factory, with a tasting included!. After this we go on to CHILLON CASTLE, built in the waters of the lake. Entrance included to this fantastic mediaeval castle. We will continue travelling through smaller roads amidst bucolic mountain landscapes and very picturesque wooden villages.- Arrival in LEYSIN, a beautiful little holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc, known for its winter sports resort or its hiking possibilities. Dinner included.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Swiss Alpine scenery with glaciers and mountains. Glacier 3000 and its cable car. Lucerne.

Today's stage has beautiful high mountain scenery. Don't forget your winter clothes, we climb to one of the most spectacular spots in Switzerland where you can see ice and snow all year round. We include the cable car ride up to GLACIER 3000 where you can walk on the suspended bridge in the gap between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral or "play" in the Fun Park. Stop in INTERLAKEN and time for lunch. Among very picturesque lakes we continue to LUCERNE, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Continue to ZURICH, where there is time for a stroll downtown before going to the hotel.

Note: Occasionally, for major weather reasons such as rain or strong winds, the cable car to Glacier 3000 may not operate.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Explore Bern, the capital city of Switzerland.

We will embark on a scenic journey to BERN, capital city of the confederation built around a bend in the Aare River, with its medieval architecture well preserved in the Old Town. Time to take a stroll. Next, we journey back to France. Enjoy beautiful lake views on our trip to PARIS. We will arrive in the evening.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Transfer to Versailles Palace. Funicular ride included to Montmartre district. City tour in Paris.

Early in the morning, we will leave for Versailles, the immense palace of the kings of France. After that, we will return to Paris at lunch time where we provide a transfer to the Montmartre dis­trict. We will ascend by funicular to the hill and admire the spectacular view of Paris from the top. Thisneighborhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cab­arets… Sit down for lunch and enjoy a magical atmosphere. Then, a scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and thebreathtaking monuments of Paris will take place. Return to hotel.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Eiffel Tower and boat cruise in the City of Lights.

We go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to go up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then, we enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose.

The tour service ends directly following breakfast at the hotel. Airport drop-off is not included in the display price. Please contact our customer service team for a quote.