European Odyssey

Highlights: Paris City – “City of Fashion”

Assemble at Cochin International airport. Departure by Oman Air via Muscat to Paris. Arrival at Paris – Charles De Gaulle (CDG). Complete airport arrival formalities. Arrive Paris – “The city of Light”. The city of Paris spread out with culture, art, beauty, and history. Paris is a city that captures the hearts of millions every year. History buffs will be delighted by the many historic buildings and monuments fashionistas will be pleased to shop in the trendiest boutiques, gourmands will be thrilled to sample the outstanding food and wine etc.

Meals: infilght meals, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Paris

Highlights: Guided City Tour of Paris I Eiffel Tower I River Seine Cruise

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 ofNapoleon I to honourthe victories ofhis 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 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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Paris

Highlights: CityTourofBrussels | 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 CityTour of The Elegant Brussels. Explore Brussels with a local guide. Discover the prosperous history of its iconic city centre 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 Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619. The current statue is a replica which dates from 1965. Lunch at restaurant. 

Visit The Atomium, is today the most popular tourist attraction ofEurope’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 Amsterdam. Dinner at restaurant. Check in at the Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Amsterdam

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

Morning post breakfast, 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 of32 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 of10+ 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.

EnjoyAmsterdam 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.’

Later proceed to Germany, Cologne is a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany is the region’s cultural hub. A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid a reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views. The adjacent Museum Ludwig showcases 20th-century art, including many masterpieces by Picasso, and the Romano-Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities.

Visit Cologne Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in
1996.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Cologne

Highlights: Titisee Lake | Drubba Cuckoo Clock shop | Rhine Falls

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and Proceed to Titisee – a lake in the southern Black Forest in Baden Württemberg. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany. Enjoy the beauty of Titisee Lake. This beautiful lake is one of the best-known attractions in the Black Forest. Surrounded by forest and Low Mountains, it is a perfect place to relax in a delightful, natural setting, The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France. Known for its dense, evergreen forests and picturesque villages, it is often associated with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It’s renowned for its spas and the cuckoo clocks produced in the region since the 1700s. The region’s largest town, Freiburg, is filled with Gothic buildings and surrounded by vineyards. 

Visit Drubba cuckoo clock Factory Outlet – One of the most popular places to visit in Germany is definitely the Drubba cuckoo clock shop. Drubba shopping is a unique and exciting experience in the fantastic backdrop of Black Forest. Drubba was founded in 1955 and Drubba factory is the world’s oldest manufacturer of cuckoo clocks. Cuckoo clocks are handmade premium wall clocks.

Transfer to Rhine Falls- Europe’s largest waterfall at 23 meters high and 150 meters width is the most enchanting and stunning and the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Drive to Zurich. The attractive city with the famous monastery offers a wide variety of holiday activities. . Check in Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Zurich

Highlight: Jungfrau I Lucerne I Lion Monument I Chapel Bridge

Breakfast at the hotel. Today’s full day excursion takes you up to a unique, high alpine glacier world. You will reach Europe’s highest altitude railway station (3,454 m) aboard the legendary Jungfrau Railway. This mountain railway was built back in the late 19th century and opened on August 1, 1912. Originally the engineers planned to reach the summit of the Jungfrau (4,158 m), however in 1912 the financials did not permit to go on with the construction and consequently World War I put an end to the project. Now the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe is the highest railway station and the highlight of every tour through Switzerland.

First you’ll board the 26-seater cabins of the Eiger Express (Mountain cable car in Grindelwald) that take you up to the station of Eigergletscher in 15 minutes, with breathtaking views of the famous Eiger North face. At Eigergletscher, you’ll board a Cogwheel train (26 minutes duration) up to Jungfraujoch through a tunnel in the Eige. The Eiger Express cable cars leave from Grindelwald. They end at the Eigergletscher (‘Eiger Glacier’) station where you’ll switch to cogwheel trains for the last section of the journey to Jungfraujoch.

The train passes several stations along the route. One of them is Eigergletscher, where the Eiger Express cable cars from Grindelwald arrive and where you’ll have to change trains once more. This train will make another short stop at the station of Eismeer. You can get off the train for a few minutes to enjoy the view of eternal snow and ice through the panoramic windows.

At the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe you can see the longest glacier of the Alps, the Aletsch Glacier, 22 km long! For instance, you can hike over the glacier to the nearby Moenchsjoch hut. Don’t miss the view from the Sphinx terrace, which can be reached by one of the fastest elevators in Switzerland. Subsequently, you can pay a visit to the Ice Palace and go inside the glacier and see the sculptures, in order to complete your visit.

Proceed to Lucerne. On Arrival do an Orientation Tour of Lucerne – one of the prettiest cities in Switzerland. Take this walking tour to explore the very best sights of Lucerne. See Lucerne’s top attractions like the Lion Monument- is a memorial located in Lucerne, Switzerland and Chapel Bridge or The Kapellbrücke – (literally, Chapel Bridge) is a covered wooden footbridge, spanning the River Reuss, diagonally in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. This is the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge.

Visit The Lion Monument, or the Lion Monument, 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 a restaurant.

Enjoy the ultimate Swiss shopping experience. Here you get the chance to buy Swiss made chocolates,
watches, Knife etc. Return to hotel.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Zurich

Highlights: Lake Como

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and Proceed to Eternally Romantic Venice – the city of love! Crossed by canals and beautiful monuments. En-route visit Lake Como, in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery, set against the foothills of the Alps. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, with three slender branches that meet at the resort town of Bellagio. At the bottom of the southwest branch lies the city of Como, home to Renaissance architecture and a funicular that travels up to the mountain town of Brunate. Then proceed to Venice.

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs. Also known as the ‘City of Canals’ there are many things Venice is famous for including its beautiful bridges, gondola rides, atmospheric streets and carnival celebrations. Built over 118 islands, Venice and its lagoon is one of the most unique cities in the World.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Venice/Padua

Highlights: Guided Walking Tour of Venice I The Basilica of St. Anthony Michelangelo view-point in Florance

Continetal Breakfast, 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 (Vapore􀂂o– 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 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). Check in Hotel.

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 Florence Michelangelo view-point (photo-stop). Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, Italy, located in the Oltrarno district of the city. The square, dedicated to the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, has bronze copies of some of his marble works found elsewhere in Florence: the David and the four allegories of the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo. The monument was brought up by nine pairs of oxen on 25 June 1873. Later transfer to hotel in Arezzo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Arezzo

Highlights: Visit St. Peters basilica I City Tour of Rome I Colosseum

After a Continetal breakfast, Proceed to Rome for full day sightseeing.

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. 

Eveningtransfer back to hotel in Arezzo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Hotel in Arezzo

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)

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 Return flight to Cochin via Muscat. Complete your Airport departure formalities to board the flight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, in flight Dinner.

Arrive Muscat and Connect flight to Cochin.
Arrive home with pleasant memories of your European tour.