European Grandeur

Welcome to London. London, city, capital of the United Kingdom. It is among the oldest of the world’s great cities—its history spanning nearly two millennium—and one of the most cosmopolitan. By far Britain’s largest metropolis, it is also the country’s economic, transportation, and cultural centre. London is situated in south-eastern England, lying astride the River Thames some 50 miles (80 km) upstream from its estuary on the North Sea.

Arrive at Heathrow Airport originally called London Airport until 1966 and now known as London Heathrow, is a major international airport in London, England. Heathrow was founded as a small airfield in 1929, but was developed into a much larger airport after World War II. 

After the Immigration and Customs, Proceed for Dinner. Later proceed to hotel and check in. 

Meals: Inflight Meal, Dinner

Overnight at London

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed on a Guided City tour of London. 

Buckingham Palace– Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today’s palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen’s House. During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

Watch the ‘Change of Guards’ ceremony at Buckingham Palace (subject to operation), changing the Guard is a formal ceremony in which the group of soldiers currently protecting Buckingham Palace are replaced by a new group of soldiers. The guard that looks after Buckingham Palace is called The Queen’s Guard and is made up of soldiers on active duty from the Household Division’s Foot Guards. The guards are dressed in traditional red tunics and bearskin hats.

View the Westminster Abbey, Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom’s most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and a burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. The building itself was originally a Catholic Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was dissolved in 1539. Between 1540 and 1556, the abbey had the status of a cathedral and seat of the catholic bishop. After 1560 the building was no longer an abbey or a cathedral, after the Catholics had been driven out by King Henry VIII, having instead been granted the status of a Church of England “Royal Peculiar”—a church responsible directly to the sovereign—by Queen Elizabeth I.

Big Ben, is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, although the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower.

Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust founded in 1282. The bridge was constructed to give better access to the East End of London, which had expanded its commercial potential in the 19th century. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales in 1894. The bridge is 800 feet (240 m) in length and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers

Trafalgar Square, is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, established in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The Square’s name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.

St Pauls Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral in London. As the seat of the Bishop of London, the cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grade I listed building. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The present structure, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed in Wren’s lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding programme in the city after the Great Fire of London

The Houses of Parliament the Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament after its occupants, the Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London, England.

Hyde Park is a major park in Central London. It is the largest of four Royal Parks that form a chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park past the main entrance to Buckingham Palace. The park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes. The park was established by Henry VIII in 1536 when he took the land from Westminster Abbey and used it as a hunting ground. It opened to the public in 1637 and quickly became popular, particularly for May Day parades.

Enjoy Thames River Cruises, Enjoy a cruise on the River Thames with live commentary that brings the city to life, presented by expert guides. Admire the views along the shorelines, passing some of London’s most famous landmarks. The cruise offers both covered and sun deck seating and departs from the London Eye pier directly underneath the London Eye. It goes as far as Tower Bridge. Later having cruised past the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe as well as Westminster, Millennium and Tower Bridges.

Later proceed to Visit London Eye. The lastminute.com London Eye is centrally located in the heart of the capital, gracefully rotating over the River Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. At 135 meters, the lastminute.com London Eye is the Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. Dinner at restaurant

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at London.

Highlights: Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum | The British Museum | Stena Line cruise

Breakfast at hotel, Check out & proceed to visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Dive into this photo op extravaganza and marvel at the lifelike wax figures of some of your favourite celebrities. Enjoy the Avengers 4D experience that allows you to witness a legendary brawl between the Avengers to save London!

Entrance to The British Museum, It is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.

Transfer to Harwich International Port, to board Stena line cruise to Netherland. It is a North Sea seaport in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports. It lies on the south bank of the River Stour one mile upstream from the town of Harwich, opposite the Port of Felixstowe. The port was formerly known as Parkston Quay.

Stena Line is a Swedish shipping line company and one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It services Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on board

Overnight at Cruise

Highlights: Keukenhof Gardens/ Madurodam | Zaanse Schans | Amsterdam Canal Cruise 

After breakfast, disembark cruise. Proceed to visit the gorgeous Keukenhof Gardens. Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world’s largest flower gardens, situated in Lisse, South Holland, Netherlands. According to the official website for the Keukenhof Park, approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted annually in the park, which covers an area of 32 hectares.

Madurodam, a small city full of beautiful miniatures, playful activities and the best attractions. The park is located in the Scheveningen district of the city and features miniature 1:25 scale model replicas of the most famous Dutch castles, industrial projects and public buildings. Guests are treated to a trip through the history of the country and its famous buildings. 

Proceed to Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. Zaanse Schans compiles every preconceived notion of the Netherlands that any tourists would have thought of about the country, in one fully functional village. Windmills – albeit of different sizes within the village; windmills powered many of the manual processes e.g. lifting of heavy goods, in the early years of the Netherlands, thus in a village like Zaan Schans, they are naturally quite a common sight.

 One of the key attractions of Zaanse Schans you can consider checking out after exploring the windmills, is the Cheese Farm “De Catherina Hoeve”. This is a replica of a Dutch cheese farm. You won’t miss it – just follow your nose for the smell of cheese that wafts out of this farm. Today, the Cheese Farm “De Catherina Hoeve” is more of a large tourist shop, selling various Dutch souvenirs e.g. chocolates, waffles and of course endless varieties of Dutch cheese. There is a small workshop showcasing how the cheese is prepared but I think most visitors are more interested in the free bite-sized samples of 10+ versions of Dutch cheese.

Next must-see attraction in Zaanse Schans is the Dutch clog (Klompen) factory at Klompenmakerij. To get here, simply walk along the main path Zeilenmakerspad or just follow the crowd and look for a giant wooden clog outside this shop.

Enjoy Amsterdam Canal Cruise. The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is famous for its beautiful houses, coffee shops, culture, museums, and canals. What can only be considered a result of systematic planning is that the Amsterdam Canals stretch over 62 miles or 100 kilometers, with over 1500 bridges and about 90 islands. Built alongside 1550 monumental buildings of Amsterdam, the canals form concentric belts around the city, making Amsterdam Canal Cruise one of the major attractions and a primary thing to do if you are in the city, as it offers experiences with sights that are not only memorable but also exclusive to the city itself. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, taking an Amsterdam Canal Cruise is a unique and special way to explore the ‘Venice of the North.’

Transfer to Rotterdam for Overnight stay. 

Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner 

Overnight at Rotterdam

Highlights: City Tour of Brussels | Atomium | Manneken Pis Statue

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Brussels. Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is well – known for politics, history, architecture, and cuisine and also cultural diversity. It is a major producer of beer, waffles, and chocolate etc. Enjoy a Guided City Tour of The Elegant Brussels. Explore Brussels with a local guide. Discover the prosperous history of its iconic city center and marvel at its treasures on this tour.

Manneken Pis, is a landmark61 cm (24 in) bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens or naked little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. It was designed by the Brabantine sculptor Jerome Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619. The current statue is a replica which dates from 1965. 

Visit The Atomium, is today the most popular tourist attraction of Europe’s Capital, a unique creation in the history of architecture and emblematic vestige of the World fair in Brussels (Expo 58). The nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. They represent the faith one had in the power of science and moreover in nuclear power. Later proceed to Paris. Dinner at restaurant. Check in at the Hotel.

Breakfast| Lunch|Dinner

Overnight at Paris

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for a Guided City Tour of Paris. Explore Paris and its prestigious monuments. Cover famous Grand Boulevards – one of the liveliest places in Paris, filled with concert venues, theatres, cafés and restaurants, the Grands Boulevards area has long been popular with Parisians as a place of enjoyment and relaxation. There are many treasures to be uncovered here: grand architecture, places steeped in history, covered passages that have retained their old-world charm, and unusual museums.

The Champs Elysees- ‘the world’s most beautiful avenue, The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is an avenue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, 1.9 kilometres long and 70 metres wide, running between the Place de la Concorde in the east and the Place Charles de Gaulle in the west, where the Arc de Triomphe is located. But though it has since become ‘the world’s most beautiful avenue’, the Champs-Élysées was once a swamp. It was in the 17th century that André Le Nôtre, gardener to the Sun King, traced its original path. And thus a legend was born. The avenue has only become more beautiful with every passing decade. A stroll on the avenue (affectionately referred to by Parisians as ‘les Champs’) offers an opportunity to browse products from many renowned French brands. J.M. Weston moccasins; crocodile-logo polo shirts from Lacoste; Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage foldable bags; Éric Bompard cashmere sweaters and more along the famous avenue.

The Arch De Triomphe – the most iconic monument in Paris, The Arc de triomphe was begun in 1806, on the orders of Napoleon I to honour the victories of his Grande Armée. Inspired by the great arches of antiquity, this iconic monument bears the names of battles and generals from the Revolution and the First Empire. Every evening, the flame is lit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the Great War. The terrace provides superb views both by day and night across the city and its great sweeping avenues.

The famous Palais Garnier – most celebrated monument, A 19th-century architectural masterpiece, the Palais Garnier Opera House, built by Charles Garnier and opened in 1875, is the 13th opera house in Paris since the introduction of French opera by Louis XIV in 1669. Napoleon III commissioned it as part of the renovation works in the capital carried out under his command by Baron Haussmann. 

The Petit Palais- an art museum in Paris, located between the Seine and the Champs-Élysées, the Petit Palais is part of an exceptional monumental environment. Architectural jewel built by Charles Girault for the 1900 Paris Exposition with the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III, the Petit Palais became in 1902 the museum of fine arts to house the rich collections of the City of Paris. The collections offer a wide artistic panorama, from Antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century. A true haven of peace. 

Les Invalides is a landmark in Paris, France. It was built between 1670 and 1676 as a place for retirement of French war veterans. It consists of several buildings. It was also used as a burial place for French marshals and generals. Les Invalides is best known for housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Nowadays, the complex houses the Museum of Arms, the Museum of Contemporary History, and the Museum of Plains-Reliefs.

Place de la Concorde is situated at the end of the Champs-Elysées. Today it is famous for the Luxor Obelisk (a 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk erected on the square in October 1836), the surrounding prestigious hotels, and the two monumental fountains (Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves). Created in 1772, Place de la Concorde was originally known for having been an execution site during the French Revolution. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (among others) were guillotined here. Between 1836 and 1846 the architect Jacques-Ignace Hittorf redesigned the square to become what it is today.

Later we proceed to see The Eiffel Tower – A symbol of Paris and more generally of France, the Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel. It is one of the world’s most visited monuments. A visit to the Eiffel Tower inspires a wealth of emotion. The most recognizable structure in the world. It has the height of 81 storey building and is the tallest structure in Paris. There is an observation deck accessible to the public. 

Seeing the romantic city of Paris by boat is a must-do visit in Paris. So we take you for a lifetime experience. A Cruise on River Seine! Offers you the best and the most highlights of the city, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame, etc.

Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner

Overnight at Paris

Highlights: Burgundy | Wine Tasting | Orientation tour of Geneva

Post breakfast, transfer to Beaune. The capital of Burgundy Wines. The charming little city is an ideal base from which to visit the great vineyards of Burgundy. Many of the vineyards in the countryside surrounding Beaune can be visited for tastings and buying wine. French wine is the best-in-class wine. Note that the Cote d’OR wine region where Beaune is located is divided into the Cote de Nuits, best known for its reds, and the Cote de Beaune which produces superb white wines such as Meursault, Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. After a fabulous local lunch and wine tasting session, proceed to Geneva. Geneva is a city in Switzerland that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, it’s a global hub for diplomacy and banking. French influence is widespread, from the language to gastronomy and bohemian districts like Carouge. 

Later proceed to Geneva. Upon arrival orientation tour of Geneva. Geneva, also known as the “Capital of Peace”. This, important financial centre houses many of the agencies of the United Nations and sparkles as one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. In the Orientation guided tour of Geneva, we take a stop at the English Gardens “Jardin Des Anglais” for a stroll past the lakefront. Witness the famous “Jet D’ Eau”, is a large fountain in Geneva, Visit the flower clock, is an outdoor flower clock located on the western side of Jardin Anglais Park in Geneva, Switzerland. Around 6,500 flowering plants and shrubs are used for the clock face. The plants are changed as the seasons change.

Dinner at Restaurant. Check in at the hotel.  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Geneva

Highlights: Golden Pass Train| Montreaux | Gstaad |Interlaken | Trummelbach Falls

Breakfast at hotel check out from the hotel, Proceed to Montreaux, to board a panoramic route train. Transfer from Montreaux to Gstaad by the golden pass train, an approximately one and half hour’s journey, that is extremely comfortable and due to the panoramic windows, offering the best views of the scenic route. On arrival at Gstaad proceed for a walking tour of this beautiful city. The beauty of Gstaad is well known making it preferred location for many movie shootings. Especially many Bollywood movies have been picturised across these breath-taking locales. The Golden pass is a train route which gives the ultimate satisfaction when we see the beauty on either side throughout the superb journey. As the train moves from Gstaad one can see the Brunig Pass, the lakes of the Bernese Oberland, the Simmen valley, upper class Gstaad and Lake Geneva. The journey offers panoramic insights into Switzerland’s diverse cultural heritage.

Proceed to Interlaken for Orientation tour, it is a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland. Built on a narrow stretch of valley, between the emerald-coloured waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, it has old timber houses and parkland on either side of the Aare River. Its surrounding mountains, with dense forests, alpine meadows and glaciers, has numerous hiking and skiing trails.

Visit Trummelbach Falls, The Trümmelbach Falls in Switzerland are a series of ten glacier-fed waterfalls inside the mountain made accessible by a tunnel-funicular, built 1913, stairs, and illumination. With its ten glacial water falls inside the mountain, made accessible by tunnel lift, the Trummelbach waterfalls are truly unique in Europe. Trummelbach alone drains the enormous glacial walls of the Eiger (3970m), Monch (4099m) and Jungfrau (4158m) with up to a spectacular 20,000 litres of water per second. This stems from a catchment area of 24 square kilometres of which approximately half is covered with snow and ice. UNESCO world natural heritage.

Later transfer to Engelberg. Dinner at restaurant. Check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Engelberg.

Highlights: Mt. Titlis | Lucerne | Lion Monument

Breakfast at the hotel, Transfer to Mt. Titlis via Engelburg We visit the highest mountain in central Switzerland, Mt.Titlis, which is 10,000 ft. above sea level. TITLIS is the jewel in Central Switzerland’s crown and the only publicly accessible glacier in the area. The breath-taking ride up into the high alpine glaciers of Mount Titlis begins here. From the Rotair revolving cable car on your way up to the mountain, you’ll get spectacular views of the deep crevasses in the glaciers, and the immense chunks of ice that break off in spectacular fashion. Have fun time in Snow!  

Titlis Cliff Walk at around 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level, this is Europe’s highest suspension bridge. On a clear day, walking over the Cliff Walk offers incomparable views over the glacier 1,500 feet (460 m) below, the Uri Alps and even as far as Italy! 

Glacier Cave: delve into the magical world of ice, exploring this almost 500-foot-long (150 m) walkway carved below the surface of the glacier. Lunch at the Restaurant on the top of Mt. Titlis 

Proceed to Lucerne. On arrival proceed for Orientation Tour of Lucerne -one of the prettiest cities in Switzerland.  Take this walking tour to explore the very best sights of Lucerne. 

Lion Monument, the Lion Monument or the Lion of Lucerne, is a rock relief in Lucerne, Switzerland, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It is one of the most famous monuments in Switzerland.

Chapel Bridge (The Kapellbrücke) is a covered wooden footbridge spanning the river Reuss diagonally in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. Named after the nearby St. Peter’s Chapel, the bridge is unique in containing a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with a larger part of the centuries-old bridge in a 1993 fire. Subsequently restored, the Kapellbrücke is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, as well as the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge. It serves as the city’s symbol and as one of Switzerland’s main tourist attractions. Later proceed back to Zurich. Dinner at restaurant. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Engelberg.

Highlights:  Vaduz orientation tour | Swarovski Crystal World | Nordkette Cable Car

After Breakfast, Check out & proceed for an orientation tour to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein & the country’s financial and economic hub. Pass through the Vaduz Castle. Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop 120 metres above Vaduz. It is the symbol of the capital and can be seen from far away. It is thought that the castle was constructed as a fortress as early as the 12th century, before living quarters were added in 1287. Vaduz Castle is first mentioned in documents dating back to 1322. The castle came into the ownership of the Princely Family in 1712 and the west wing served as the family’s official residence until 1732. However, after that the building became increasingly dilapidated and fell into disrepair before being rebuilt and renovated between 1905 and 1912. Under Prince Franz Josef II the castle was extended and once again made fit for living. In 1939 the Prince moved in with his family and adopted Vaduz Castle as his official residence.

Later proceed to Innsbruck is the capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, is a city in the Alps that’s long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its Imperial and modern architecture. The Nordkette funicular, with futuristic stations designed by architect Zaha Hadid, climbs up to 2,256m from the city centre for skiing in winter and hiking or mountaineering in warmer months.

Entrance to Nordkette Cable Car. The Nordkette Cable Car in the Austrian state of Tyrol is a gondola lift from Innsbruck to the Nordkette, the southernmost mountain chain of the Karwendel. It runs in two sections from the Innsbruck quarter of Hungerburg via Seegrube Station to the top station, Hafelekar. The mountain at the heart of Innsbruck. The Nordkette is part of Austria’s largest nature park, the Karwendel Nature Park, and can be reached directly from Innsbruck city centre in just a few minutes! The breath-taking 360° view leaves a lasting impression, with the capital of the Alps on one side and Tyrol’s most extensive conservation area on the other.

Visit Swarovski Crystal World. It was opened in 1995 to mark the centennial anniversary of the company’s founding. Multimedia artist André Heller designed a unique and magical place. This beloved attraction has brought moments of wonder to over fifteen million visitors from all around the world. Visitors are surprised, touched, and perhaps even transformed by crystal in all its facets.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Innsbruck.

Highlights: Venice guided tour 

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and Proceed to Eternally Romantic Venice – the city of love! Crossed by canals and beautiful monuments. Lunch at restaurant. Go for Venice Island Tour. 

The tour will start with a Boat Ride (Vaporetto– Water Taxi) To St. Mark’s Square – Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) is the heart of Venice. As the largest square in the city St Mark’s Square has always been the location of important government buildings and other facilities central to the goings on in Venice. For first time visitors it’s the natural magnet to head for upon arriving.

Doge’s Palace – Doges’ Palace, Italian Palazzo Ducale, official residence in Venice of the doges, who were the elected leaders of the former Venetian republic. This impressive structure, built around a courtyard and richly decorated, was the meeting place of the governing councils and ministries of the republic. In its successive rebuildings, the palace incorporated characteristics of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance architecture. The first palace was built in 814 and was burned by the populace in 976. It was reconstructed but was damaged by a second fire; it was begun in its present form in the early 14th century.

St Mark’s Campanile– St Mark’s Campanile (Italian: Campanile di San Marco, Venetian: Canpanièl de San Marco) is the bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. The current campanile is a reconstruction completed in 1912, the previous tower having collapsed in 1902. At 98.6 metres (323 ft) in height, it is the tallest structure in Venice and is colloquially termed “el paròn de casa” (the master of the house). It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.

The bridge of sighs– The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri, Venetian: Ponte de i Sospiri) is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. It was designed by Antonio Contino, and it was built in 1600.  The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment.

The Basilica Di San Marco (Saint Mark’s Basilica) – The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, commonly known as St Mark’s Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Patriarchate of Venice in northern Italy; it became the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice in 1807, replacing the earlier cathedral of San Pietro di Castello St. Mark’s Square (piazza San Marco) in Venice, Italy is one of the world’s most famous squares. Return from San Marco to Tronchetto (Mainland of Venice).

Later transfer to Padua (Italy)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Padua

Highlights: The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua | Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint

Post breakfast, proceed to visit The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic Church and minor basilica in Padua, Veneto, Northern Italy, dedicated to St. Anthony. Later proceed to Florence. Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

Visit Piazzale Michelangelo (Photo stop), it is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, Italy, located in the Oltrarno district of the city. Take photos of the winding river Arno, the Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, the Santa Croce basilica and of course the Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) and enjoy the view over the Florentine skyline and the Tuscan hills.

Transfer to Rome.

Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is also the capital of the Lazio region, the center of the Metropolitan City of Rome, and a special commune named Comune di Roma Capital. With 2,860,009 residents in 1,285 km2. Rome is the country’s most populated commune and the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome, with a population of 4,355,725 residents, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Its metropolitan area is the third-most populous within Italy. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber. Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city. Rome is often referred to as the City of Seven Hills due to its geographic location, and also as the “Eternal City”. Rome is generally considered to be the “cradle of Western Christian culture and civilization”, and the center of the Catholic Church.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Rome

Highlights: Papal Audience | Visit St. Peters basilica | City Tour of Rome | Colosseum 

After a Continental breakfast, Checkout and proceed to St. Peter’s square for Papal Audience. Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to “see the Pope” and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit. At the end of the Audience the Pope will pray together with those attending the Audience, the Our Father prayer in Latin.

St. Peters Basilica it is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and remains one of the largest churches in the world. While it is neither the mother church of the Catholic Church nor the Catholic Roman Rite cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, St. Peter’s is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic sites. It has been described as “holding a unique position in the Christian world” and as “the greatest of all churches of Christendom”. By Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, also according to tradition, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome. Tradition and strong historical evidence hold that Saint Peter’s tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica.

Visit Roman Forum – the heart of the ancient city of Rome. It is the most impressive archaeological site in the Eternal City. A visit to the Roman Forum offers a unique insight into the lives, politics and beliefs of the Ancient Romans. Palatine Hill – the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called “the first nucleus of the Roman Empire”, Circus Maximus- is an ancient Roman chariot -racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome etc.

Later proceed to see another of the Seven Wonders of the World, Colosseum (Photo stop). Colosseum, built in 70 AD, is the oval shaped Flavian Amphitheatre, in the center of the city of Rome. This is the site of celebrations, sporting events, and was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. It is a free-standing structure of stone and concrete, with a capacity of over 50,000 spectators. The Colosseum was the scene of thousands of hand-to-hand combats between gladiators, of contests between men and animals and also a scene for mock naval engagements. The structure was damaged by lightning and earthquakes in medieval times and even more seriously by vandalism. 

Transfer to Pisa

Pisa is a city in Italy’s Tuscany region best known for its iconic Leaning Tower. Already tilting when it was completed in 1372, the 56m white-marble cylinder is the bell tower of the Romanesque, striped-marble cathedral that rises next to it in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Also in the piazza is the Baptistery, whose renowned acoustics are demonstrated by amateur singers daily, and the Caposanto Monumental cemetery.

Overnight at Pisa 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa

Breakfast at the hotel. Checkout & proceed to Pisa. Pisa is a city in Italy’s Tuscany region best known for its iconic Leaning Tower. Already tilting when it was completed in 1372, the 56m white-marble cylinder is the bell tower of the Romanesque, striped-marble cathedral that rises next to it in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Also in the piazza is the Baptistery, whose renowned acoustics are demonstrated by amateur singers daily, and the Caposanto Monumental cemetery. 

Visit the Square of Miracle, less than 20 minutes from the parking, heading on to Via Santa Maria, you’ll finally arrive at Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles. As you approach, you will get the chance to catch sight of this marvelous place with its Leaning Tower and the other beautiful buildings that surround it. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or simply the Tower of Pisa, is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. – The Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Monumental Cemetery (representing the cycle of life)

Proceed to Genoa, to Visit Christopher Columbus’ House, The house is located outside Genoa’s 14th-century walls. During the Renaissance, the area became subject to intense building, mainly consisting of public housing. Columbus was born in 1451, and historical documents indicated that Columbus lived here between approximately 1455 and 1470. At this time, the house had two or maybe three stories, with a shop on the ground floor, and the front door to the left of the shop.

Later proceed to Milan, it is a global capital of fashion and design. Milan is Italy’s city of the future, a fast-paced metropolis. Enjoy the drive to the Milan Malpensa International Airport, for your flight to Muscat. Complete your Airport departure formalities to board the flight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, in flight Dinner.

Arrive Muscat, after emigration formalities transfer to hotel for Check in. Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. With history dating back to antiquity, it mixes high-rises and upscale shopping malls with clifftop landmarks such as the 16th-century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Mirani, looming over Muscat Harbour. Its modern, marble-clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with 50m dome and prodigious Persian carpet, can accommodate 20,000 people.

Full day free for Shopping. As a nation with a strong cultural hold and rich traditions, Oman is a country that welcomes foreigners and tourists with open arms. At Oman, the traditional souks and the sparkling malls both offer you completely different shopping experiences! Take your pick and pamper yourself with Oman’s finest goods.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Check out hotel & transfer to Oman International Airport. Connect flight to Cochin. Arrive home with pleasant memories of your European tour.