Europe Explorer Tour in 18 days.

What a better way to explore Europe with http://expatexplore.com/tours/europe-explorer/ . My 18 days tour  with the company  in the summer fall of 2013 (July/August) took me to 9 different countries where I experienced rich cultural and historical familiarity. The following is what my 18 days itinerary looked like. 

Day 1: Visit Paris

Welcome to the start of your tour! We’ll leave London and make straight for the channel, arriving in Paris in the early evening. When we arrive we’ll have a guided coach tour of the City of Lights and Love, with brief history and context for

 Paris’ main sights provided by your Expat Explore tour leader. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to explore in the morning on your free day in Paris! Tonight we’ll head to Montmartre for dinner, once home to famous artists like Dali, Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh. Ramble the cobble-stone streets, admire the quaint cafes, art-shops and restaurants, and admire the views of Paris from the steps of the famous Sacre Coeur. Afterwards, why not explore some of the surrounding nightlife surrounding the Moulin Rouge?

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Day 2: A free day in Paris

Paris is yours to explore! Use your free day wisely – there’s so much to see! Optional excursions include a River Seine cruise, which offers the perfect way to see some of the city’s main sights. You can also opt for a trip up Montparnasse for

incredible views of the city and the Eiffel Tower. Towering high above the city, it’s the perfect place to get an eyeful of the City of Lights, especially at sunset. Look out for the hourly light show at the Eiffel Tower – time your visit to coincide with this spectacular display! There’s even an optional cabaret show in the evening! Alternatively, head to the Eiffel Tower, visit the world-famous Louvre museum, stroll around the boutiques and bistros of La Marias, wander down the Champs Elysees, or head to famous monuments like Notre Dame Cathedral, see Oscar Wilde’s gravestone at Père Lachaise Cemetery or venture deep underground to the infamous catacombs.

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Day 3: Visit Beaune and Avignon

Today we have an early start for the grand city of Avignon, stopping on the way in Beaune in the Burgundy region of France. This is the home of two things France is known best for – food and wine! We’ll visit a beautiful French Chateau where you

can explore the vineyard and wine cellar and even sample some of the produce. We then continue on to the ancient city of Avignon, arriving in the early evening and taking an orientation tour before dinner in a local restaurant. You can then spend the rest of the evening relaxing in the city, famous for its Papal Palace and the art and architecture that comes with it. Surrounded by wonderfully-preserved defensive walls that date back some 800 years, this is a city of ancient cobbled streets, fortresses, palaces and leafy squares.

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Day 4: Visit Barcelona

Leaving Avignon, we continue on through the idyllic French countryside to Pont du Gard to see a famous relic of the Roman Empire – the famous 2000 year-old Roman aqueduct. Afterwards, we make our way to Spain and the vibrant city of Barcelona,

 taking a driving tour of the city and learning a little more about its extraordinary main sights before having dinner. Take note of all the places you want to see during your free day tomorrow!

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Day 5: A free day in Barcelona

Today is yours to spend as you like! Stroll Las Ramblas and take a peek at Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece: the glorious La Sagrada Familia. You could also go shopping, eat tapas (which the city is famous for), relax on the beach or head into one

 of the city’s many parks. With its distinctive Catalan ambience, Barcelona is an incredibly rewarding city to explore on foot, filled with hidden cantinas, intriguing boutiques and winding walkways – particularly in the old town. Seek out the food markets too – the perfect place to introduce yourself to the distinctive taste of Catalan cuisine!

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Day 6: Visit Arles and the French Riviera

Off we go to the French Riviera! On the way, we’ll stop off in Arles, a region you may recognise from the canvasses of Van Gogh. A favourite of the Romans, there’s no shortage of historical artefacts to see, including an impressive theatre and

amphitheatre – which still host bull-fights, festivals and street parties. We’ll also stop at a French perfumery where you’ll learn about what it takes to craft some of the world’s finest fragrances, and then travel onward to the French Riviera. Known worldwide for its glitz and glamour, the Cote d’Azur is where high society has always assembled to enjoy art, food and entertainment. Enjoy the sea views and prepare for tomorrow – when you’ll have a free day to explore the region yourself!

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Day 7: A free day on the French Riviera

Today is yours to explore! Whether you choose to people-watch on the streets of Nice, sun-bathe on the beach, sip cocktails in the chic bars, or take advantage of the huge range of incredible restaurants, you’re sure to have a brilliant day. Join

 us on a free optional excursion to the principality of Monaco! This beguiling region (the second-smallest country in the world after the Vatican) is the epitome of glitz and glamour.

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Day 8: Visit Pisa and Florence

Heading inland once more, we make for nearby Italy and one of the world’s most famous landmarks, the leaning tower of Pisa! Be sure to have your cameras at the ready, this is one photo opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss. After Pisa, Florence

 is our destination, where we’ll have a guided walking tour of the city. Learn about the history of the city and see historical landmarks dating from Roman times to the glory days of the Renaissance. Be sure to get photos of Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Florence Baptistry and of course, Michelangelo’s famous statue of David – a replica of which stands in the Palazzo della Signoria. (The original can be seen in the nearby Accademia Gallery.) After exploring, we make for the hills of Tuscany, arriving at the ancient Tuscan spa town of Montecatini Terme where we’ll spend the night.

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Day 9: Visit Rome

We make our way to the country’s capital, Rome. You’ll be taken on a walking tour of the city, which will introduce you to the incredible history of this unique city, which reigned supreme as the focal point of the Roman Empire. The history of

 the city is everywhere you look, melded with style and culture from every age that followed. Highlights today include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Roman Forum and of course the Coliseum. And let’s not forget the Trevi Fountain – legend has it that if you drop a coin into the fountain, you’ll return again one day. After our time in the centre of Rome, we’ll be driven to our accommodation, where dinner is included.

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Day 10: A free day in Rome

The day is yours to explore Rome as you wish. Head back to the ancient landmarks, or join our optional excursion to the Vatican City! Home of the Pope, this is the world’s smallest country, with an area of just 44 hectares. Marvel at the artwork

contained within this smallest of countries, and see how Rome became not just the centre of the Roman Empire, but then became the seat of papal power too.

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Day 11: Visit Siena and Venice

Our first stop is the Tuscan town of Siena, Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year. Later we travel to the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni, right in the heart of the

 Chianti wine region for a quick photo stop. We arrive into Venice in the early evening, 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! You’ll start your stay in Venice with an orientation tour to get your bearings, after which you have time to explore this unforgettable city on your own.

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Day 12: A free day in Venice

Take today to explore Venice on your own. We highly recommend a visit to a Murano glass-blowing workshop and see a live demonstration of this traditional – and hugely impressive – art-form. Alternatively you can simply relax and soak up the sun

on the sandy beaches at Jesolo or Lido. There’s also St Mark’s Square, The Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace to see – and any number of culinary delights to sample too! Take a gondola ride along this city of canals to get the full Venetian experience.

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Day 13: Visit Switzerland

We continue on to the Alps from Venice, climbing higher into the mountains to our accommodation in a typical Swiss mountain village in the Jungfrau region. One of the most popular alpine destinations, it’s a great introduction to the magic of the

 mountains – and makes for a memorable drive too. Dinner is at your hotel and afterwards relax, drink , chat with your fellow explorers and grab an early night as tomorrow you can join us on our most popular optional excursion – the Top of Europe.

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Day 14: A free day in the Swiss Alps

The splendour of the Alps is yours today – don’t miss the chance to join our optional excursion up to Jungfraujoch, also known as the top of Europe! The trip to Europe’s highest train station 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 breath-taking views of the surrounding glaciers and craggy 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.

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Day 15: Visit the Rhine Valley

This morning we board the coach once more as we make for Germany’s famous Rhine Valley! Relax on board a Rhine riverboat as we head to our hotel in the heart of the idyllic Rhine Valley. This is the most concentrated stretch of castles in all of

 Europe, and it also features vineyards, charming medieval towns and lofty cliffs. Once you’re done, enjoy a traditional German dinner, then walk it off with a stroll along the riverside. The perfect end to the day!

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Day 16: Visit Amsterdam

The Netherlands is our next stop, and we arrive first at the windmill for a quick photo stop. Afterwards enjoy a traditional cheese-making demonstration, and learn about how that most quirky and quaint of footwear choices – the clog – is made,

before travelling onward to Amsterdam. Here we’ll check in to our hotel before joining a complimentary Amsterdam canal cruise! Watch the city drift past as you sail by, and listen out for tips and interesting insights into the city from your tour leader. Later on, join your tour leader for a walking tour of the infamous Red Light District! The evening is yours – explore the canals and Dam Square, and enjoy your time in this fascinating city.

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Day 17: A free day in Amsterdam

The day is yours to further explore Amsterdam. Marvel at the sheer volume of artwork available here – and don’t miss a visit to the Van Gogh museum! There’s also the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandthuis, the Stedelijk, and of course the Hermitage

Amsterdam. Don’t forget the Anne Frank Museum too – commemorating the life of Anne Frank, one of the most discussed victims of the Jewish Holocaust. Her diary documented her ordeal hiding from the Nazis in war-torn Europe, and the museum in Amsterdam is a must-see for anyone visiting Amsterdam. Tired of museums? Hire a bicycle or board a barge to explore the city further, visit the cafes, or simply stroll along and see what the next corner brings – Amsterdam is chock-full of charming details, a rewarding city for those who seek out its best bits.

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Day 18: Visit Bruges and return to London

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Amsterdam and make our way back to London via the Belgian city of Bruges. Famous for its beer, waffles, chocolate and moules et frites, this is definitely a good place to be if you’ve brought your appetite. An

extremely popular medieval city with no shortage of cobblestone streets, historic old churches and lofty towers, this is a great city to explore and a good spot to pick up any last-minute souvenirs. Once you’ve had a look around, it’s back to the coach for the final leg of our journey back to London.