Best of Schengen

13 Nights / 14 Days

3 Nights France | 2 Nights Netherlands | 1 Night Germany | 3 Nights Switzerland | 1 Night Austria | 3 Nights Italy

DAY WISE ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrive in Paris

Meals: Indian dinner

Hello Paris, the French capital.

We begin our tour of Europe with arrival in the city of Paris. Transfer to your hotel . ( Check in from 15:00 hrs )

It has been a long flight from India. Take some time off to relax and rejuvenate in the comforts of your hotel room. Caravan dinner will be served .

DAY 2 : Paris Guided city tour of Paris , Visit Eiffel Tower ( Level 2), Boat cruise on River Seine

Meals: Breakfast, Indian lunch, Indian dinner

Paris is a place that needs no introduction.

After breakfast today, we begin exploring Paris. Our first stop – the Eiffel Tower – the iconic landmark. The magnificent structure itself in all its gigantism is an utterly beautiful sight. Then there is the panoramic city view that you get while on the tower which we shall be visiting up to the 2nd level.

We proceed for caravan lunch and thereafter a guided city tour of this French capital known for its architectural beauty and its cultural treasures.

While the on-road tour certainly is a great way to explore the city, it’s a whole different experience to absorb in the city’s character while sailing on the Seine River. So, we take a cruise down the famous river that allows us to grab marvellous views of many Parisian highlights including the recently visited Eiffel Tower, the Alexander Bridge, the National Assembly, the Louvre Museum, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc.

Alight from the cruise and proceed to hotel. Enjoy caravan dinner . Overnight in Paris area .

DAY 3: Paris Full Day visit to Disneyland Paris

Meals: Breakfast, pack lunch from caravan, Indian dinner

Today after breakfast we proceed to Disneyland.

Divided into magical themed lands – Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland which are the four magical themed lands and the ever famous Main Street USA – the Park has a lot to keep just about anyone entertained from meet-and-greet with our favourite fantasy characters (Pooh, Mickey, Minnie, et al) to fantasy setups like Pirates of the Caribbean or the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups stomach-churning rides like the Space Mountain Mission 2 or Indiana Jones to subtler and more bearable rides such as ‘It’s A Small World’ to that of parades and shows.

If cinema is more your cup of tea than rides and fantasy characters, you can opt for the Walt Disney Studios Park instead of the Walt Disney Park. The park takes us on a magical behind-the-scenes journey of several movies bringing to life cinema sets and characters. The shops, shows and other attractions, all inspired by Hollywood classics and Disney’s most famous movies, are nothing short of a feast for any movie buff.

After a busy day, have a relaxed caravan dinner before you retire to your room for a good night’s sleep.

DAY 4 :Paris- Brussels Orientation tour of Brussels, Photo stop at the Atomium

Meals: Breakfast , Indian Lunch , Indian dinner

After breakfast, we leave for Belgium and make our way to its capital, Brussels. En route enjoy Caravan lunch. We arrive at the Grand Place in Brussels and begin our orientation tour . The Grand Place, as is commonly known, is Europe’s most beautiful and buzzing square. This exquisite market square is the main tourist attraction of the city that has often left sightseers awestruck, thanks to the historic architectural marvels from the eras of Baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV that give the place and eclectic character.

From here we head to The Atomium, the single most unique Belgian structure. Originally built in 1958 for the Brussels’ World Fair, the structure was retained, thanks to its architectural brilliance. Essentially, The Atomium is a giant iron crystal magnified 165 billion times its actual size. Accordingly, the structure consists of 9 spheres and 22 pipes arranged to represent the atoms in an iron crystal.

After a quick photo stop at the Atomium, we proceed to check in to our hotel . Enjoy Caravan Dinner Overnight in Eindhoven / Amsterdam area .

DAY 5: Amsterdam Visit Keukenhof Gardens (up to 10 May) OR Madurodam (after 10 May), Zanse Schaans, Canal Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch, Indian dinner

After breakfast, we visit Keukenhof Tulip gardens (up to 10 May) or Madurodam (after 10 May). Keukenhof – world of all things Tulip. The Keukenhof Garden is spread over 79 acres and is home to 800 varieties of Tulips and other spring flowers. Interspersed between the flower fields are canals, a windmill, artistic floral displays and flower shows amongst others. The gardens are open up-to only 10th of May each year.

OR

Madurodam park aka Holland in miniature showcases miniature versions of several Dutch architectural landmarks, traditional Dutch houses, canals, parks, windmills, fields and a lot more. What brings this miniature park to life is the addition of human figures that not only give character to this miniature world but also depicts the evolution of Dutch lifestyle over the years. Madurodam tops the list of attractions of all tourists visiting Netherlands.

Proceed towards Zanse Schaans . En route enjoy caravan lunch . Visit a Cheese Farm and Clog Factory which we shall visit to learn about the art of traditional cheese-making and also about the famous Dutch clogs. See the windmills.

Later proceed to Amsterdam. At Amsterdam we enjoy a canal cruise watching on either sides of the canal regal mansions, houseboats, bridges and more. After the cruise we head to one of the busiest town centre, namely the Dam Square or simply The Dam. From monuments and statues to souvenir shops and restaurants and scores of pigeons and buskers, The Dam is a true reflection of the city’s character. Proceed back to our hotel. Enjoy Caravan dinner . Overnight in Eindhoven / Amsterdam area .

DAY 6: Eindhoven / Amsterdam area – Cologne- Boppard-St. Goar- Mannheim See the Cologne Cathedral, Rhine River Cruise ( Boppard to St. Goar )

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch, Indian dinner

After breakfast, we bid adieu to The Netherlands and embrace ourselves to be inspired by the scenic natural scapes and cityscapes of Germany. En route enjoy Caravan lunch. First stop: Cologne! Here we head straight for the building that dominates the skyline of this German City. The Cologne Cathedral, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though the intrinsic architectural beauty and its magnanimity are the striking characteristics of this Gothic structure, there’s something far more impressive about it than just the architectural brilliance. So the Cathedral was built in parts over 7 centuries (started in 1248 and completed in 1880). The Cathedral stands in complete aesthetic harmony unifying the distinct flavours of every builder and every century. We take some time here to absorb in all the artistic masterpieces the Cathedral has to offer .

We then proceed to Boppard from where we embark on a cruise to St. Goar, this time cruising on the Rhine River. The cruise allows us to witness the charm of medieval ages with a striking stamp of German history. Apart from the fortress and other architectural attractions, the cruise also gives us a glimpse of the scenic views of the Rhine Valley, incidentally, the most scenic views one can get on the entire Rhine River stretch. Later we proceed to check into a hotel . Enjoy Caravan dinner. Overnight at Mannheim / Frankfurt area.

DAY 7 : Mannheim/ Frankfurt – Black Forest- Neuhaussen Am Rheinfall- Zurich Visit Drubba Cuckoo Clock Shop, Boat ride on Rhine falls

Meals: Breakfast , Indian Lunch , Indian dinner

Farewell, Germany! Switzerland lands, here we come! The thing about long drives is that they often tend to be tiring. It’s a good thing then that we have panoramic stretches of meadows and mountains and fields and rivers to keep our minds and bodies refreshed. After breakfast today, we leave for Switzerland making a pit stop in the Black Forest where we get to witness a demonstration of traditional German Cuckoo clock.

Enjoy caravan lunch . Later we move on to Switzerland along the picturesque road with the mountainous forest as a backdrop and arrive at the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. Though the fall might appear stunted at 23 meters, as compared to other higher waterfalls in Switzerland, the magnanimity and might of the Rhine is palpable from the sheer force with which it paves its way through the rocks. To get a feel of this spectacular beauty up-close, we take a boat ride to the fall.

Afterwards proceed to our hotel . Enjoy caravan dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Zurich / Lucerne area

DAY 8: Zurich- Grindelwald- Interlaken- Zurich Excursion to Jungfraujoch , Orientation of Interlaken

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch , Indian dinner

You have the day to explore , to be on top of the world, or literally on top of Europe, with the exciting trip to the Jungfraujoch and Interlaken. Proceed to Interlaken . Arrive the city of Interlaken, which, as the name suggests, is cradled cosily between the beautiful lakes of Brienz and Thun. Here is where you receive your first retail therapy while enjoying the marvels of Switzerland shopping at a market that boasts as much of pocket-friendly souvenirs as that of high-end watches and jewellery. Enjoy an early caravan lunch. Later proceed to Grindelwald to take your Eiger Express Cable Car to visit Jungfraujoch.

What makes this eternal ice-land a quintessential Switzerland travel destination is the fact that the enthralling experience begins from the moment you board the Eiger Express Cable Car / later cogwheel train which ascends you to Europe’s highest station, Jungfraujoch (at 3454m), with breath taking views of bright ice and dark tunnels. Awaiting us on the other side of this exhilarating and cold journey to the top is a line up of activities.

We move on to our ice excursion here on with a walk on the great Aletsch Glacier (the longest ice stream in the Alps), a visit to the glistening Ice Palace, a visit to the Sphinx Observation Terrace (the loftiest point of all) and more. After the ice-cold adventure, we descend to something more soothing and far more green. Proceed to your hotel. Enjoy caravan dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Zurich / Lucerne area

DAY 9 : Zurich- Engelberg-Lucerne-Zurich Visit to Mt. Titlis with ice flyer and Indian lunch on Top, Orientation tour of Lucerne

Meals: Breakfast, Pack Caravan Lunch , Indian dinner

After breakfast today, we head to the winter white wonderland. Mt Titlis is 3,000 meters above sea level and as you exit the cable car at the top you’ll be treated to some of the most breath taking views of the Alps. Enjoy a thrilling Ride on the famous “Ice Flyer” along with Snow Park. Do not forget to have the Cliff Walk, the highest suspension bridge in Europe and visit the stunning Glacier Cave. Enjoy pack lunch from caravan .

We continue to journey through the blissful natural beauty the Switzerland lands have to offer to reach a city that perfectly fits the bill for a clichéd romantic Switzerland destination.

Enter Lucerne! With no time to waste we start off our orientation tour viewing the poignant Lion Monument, the covered, wooden Kapellbrücke (chapel bridge) and the lake. Proceed to your hotel. Enjoy caravan dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Zurich / Lucerne area

DAY 10 : Zurich- Vaduz-Wattens-Innsbruck Vaduz mini train ride, Visit to the Swarovski Crystal Museum, Orientation tour of Innsbruck

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch , Indian dinner

Today, after breakfast, we wave goodbye to Switzerland and take our expedition further to yet another country that’s effortlessly balanced between architectural marvels and natural landscapes… Austria. But first, we make a short stop at the Liechtenstein capital, Vaduz. With a backdrop of mountains and the Rhine River, Vaduz is a tiny town that offers ample visual beauty. The car-free town with its tasteful blend of modern, Gothic and Baroque architectural structures and a crown-like castle on the peak overlooking the town, Vaduz is stunning in every aspect. We take some time to explore this beautiful time, En route enjoy Caravan lunch and proceed to our next destination Wattens, Austria.

Here we embark upon what’s truly one of the most dazzling experience of our life as we visit the renowned museum, Swarovski Crystal Worlds. While the giant head, or simply The Giant, with water pouring out of its mouth is what pops in our heads when talking about the crystal museum, what greets us inside the Chambers of Wonder is a whole new world of sparkling crystals of varied sizes ranging from the smallest to the largest in the world. These twinkling stones are grouped together to make 16 distinct artistic installations, each designed by a different artist and each with the capability of leaving us in a stunned silence. Our sparkly tour ends at the Swarovski showroom where you can bag a few of these shining gems.

A short drive from here is our next and final stop for the day, the city of Innsbruck where we begin with the orientation tour upon arrival. Settled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, the mountains make for a dramatic backdrop for the city while the pastel-hued houses lining the banks of the green-watered River Inn add to the city’s aesthetic beauty. After having taken in our share of the surrounding natural beauty, we continue our tour wandering past The Golden Roof or the Goldenes Dachl- an ornate Gothic balcony erected by Emperor Maximilian I in the 15th century, the Imperial Church and the Hofburg or the Imperial Palace. Proceed to your hotel. Enjoy caravan dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Innsbruck area .

DAY 11: Innsbruck- Venice-Padova Guided tour of Venice San Marco Island, Gondola Ride on the Venice canal.

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch, Indian dinner

Though the scenic scenes of Switzerland and Austria aren’t something you ever tire of, it’s now time to plunge into the world of art and religious history as we make our way into Italy. If you ever fancied time travel, today would be the closest you come to living your fantasy as we head for the City of Canals (and also palaces), Venice. With its appearance virtually unchanged for the last 600 years, Venice is more a city out of a typical fairy-tale than a modern-day metropolis.

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and drive to Venice . En route enjoy Caravan lunch before heading for Tronchetto. Here we board a cruise to glide romantically past dreamy palaces, through incredible miniature canals to the Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), dubbed as the ‘finest drawing room in Europe’ by Napoleon, courtesy of the forever carnival-like vibe it gave off. With it being the only public Square in the city, Napoleon’s phrase is still an apt description for the Square. We start our guided walking tour with a visit to popular St. Mark’s Basilica. Juxtapose to this Byzantine-style basilica is the Gothic-style Doge’s Palace. Hereafter, we go on yet another water voyage with the Gondola ride along the Bridge of Sighs that connects the Doge’s Palace at the square to its prison.

We then begin our return journey to Tronchetto by boat . Proceed to our hotel . Enjoy Caravan dinner in the hotel . Overnight in Padova area .

DAY 12 : Padova- Pisa-Florence- Arezzo, See the Leaning tower of Pisa, Guided walking tour of Florence

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch, Indian dinner

No tour of Italy can ever be complete without witnessing the architectural marvel that is The Leaning Tower in Pisa, an iconic Italian monument. After breakfast proceed to Pisa. En route enjoy Caravan lunch. Later visit to Pisa’s Square of Miracles with its exemplary Pisan Romanesque architectural structures- the Baptistery, the Cathedral and the leaning Bell Tower, the characteristic tilt of which is what marks this Square as unique. But before exploring the Square in depth.

We then drive through a picturesque stretch of olive groves and vineyards to Florence, a shrine to the wonders of the Renaissance. We move on to experience this artistic marvel up-close as we make a walking guided city tour of Florence . Stop for a photo at the world’s fourth-largest Cathedral and Florence’s tallest building, the Duomo. The magnanimity of its scale juxtaposed with the beauty of its design gives this monument its overwhelming character.

Standing beside this is the Florence Baptistery with its iconic ‘Gate to Paradise’- a pair of gilded bronze doors that have now become an icon of Renaissance art- and also the open-air gallery in the Signoria Square, the city’s oldest standing bridge, Ponte Vecchio and more. Later we stop at the Piazza Michelangelo, which is on a hill on the south bank of the River Arno, just east of the centre of Florence. Designed in 1869 by Poggi, it offers a great view of the city and is a very popular tourist destination. Later we proceed to hotel in Arezzo area. Enjoy caravan dinner in the hotel .

DAY 13 : Arezzo-Rome Guided orientation tour of Rome with Visit to Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, visit St. Peter’s Basilica.

Meals: Breakfast, Indian Lunch, Indian dinner

There couldn’t have been a better way to end our Europe exploration than a city of absolute ancient beauty and a mysterious opulence about it… Rome. After breakfast today, we check out and drive to Rome enjoying the awe-inspiring landscapes and a comfort stop on the way.

Once in Rome, On arrival we have our caravan lunch and then head to the smallest nation in the world that’s nestled within the very heart of Rome, The Vatican City. Call it home of the Pope or the Roman Catholic headquarters, the fact remains that you don’t really have to be a follower of either to appreciate the enormous beauty that scapes this tiny nation.

Living proof of its rich cultural heritage are the monumental tributes to Renaissance art. There is the Vatican Museum, world’s largest museum complex that houses priceless treasures in the form of paintings, sculptures, tapestries and a variety of other depictions of Renaissance art. Next up is the Sistine Chapel famous for the Michelangelo ceiling. One look and you’ll know that this artistic masterpiece is worth all the buzz. And the last gem to be discovered at the Vatican City also happens to be one of the world’s largest churches, St. Peter’s Basilica, which houses the tomb of St. Peters under the high altar. Here on begins our guided tour of the astounding ancient beauty that is the city of Rome. Be it the drive past the mighty triumphal Arch of Constantine or past the Circus Maxima – the biggest stadium in ancient Rome – or the drive through Piazza Venezia – a busy hub of the city – one can’t help but marvel over the sheer grandiose of Roman architecture. Further reminders of the same come our way as we pass by the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum.

Our tour ends at the city’s most iconic pieces of art, the Trevi Fountain, which simply put is a dreamy and magical sight. What adds to the ethereal vibe of this magnanimous structure are the great examples of Baroque art – a stunning array of sculptures that depict the God Oceanus, his sea-horses and allegorical figures related to the theme of ‘Taming the Waters’. It has a popular tradition of tossing coins into the fountain, which is said to bring good luck and endure a return to the beautiful city of Rome. Later we proceed to have our caravan dinner either in a restaurant or hotel. Overnight in Rome area .

DAY 14: Depart Rome Fly back home

Meals: Breakfast

It happens with our weekends. It happens with our chocolate sundaes. And it has happened with our tour too. Like every good thing in life, this tour must see its end too. With our bags all packed and with one last breakfast spread on foreign lands, we hit the road to the airport and begin our homeward journey.