European Grandeur 9 Days / 8 Nights

Exciting Optionals :

 Day 1 Begin Your Tour • Channel Crossing to Dover • Arrive in Brussels • Orientation Tour of Brussels

Welcome to your ‘Cox and Kings European Grandeur’ tour. Early in the morning, your Cox & Kings representative greets you at the ‘meeting point’ to board the coach. Depart for Folkstone/Dover for your channel crossing to Calais in France. Proceed on a drive to Brussels - for an orientation tour of Brussels. See the magnificent Gothic St. Michel’s Cathedral.

Walk via Galeries Saint Hubert the world’s first shopping mall, to the Grand Place, Europe's most beautiful square. Shop here for world famous Belgian lace and chocolate and Belgian Waffles dusted with caramelized sugar. Mmmm !

No visit is complete without seeing the Mannekin Pis, - this cheeky statue of a little boy, which has drawn sightseers for centuries (photo stop).

Stop for a photograph at the most iconic structure of Brussels, the Atomium. (L, D)

 Day 2 On to Amsterdam • Canal Cruise • Diamond Factory Visit • Visit Keukenhof / Madurodam

Today your full day excursion begins with a drive, to Amsterdam, where Windmills still wield their magic. There’s a photo stop. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend ! A factory visit will explain the four C’s of the complex

stone. Admire the beautifully fashioned jewellery and make a gift to your loved one. Clogs, Cheese and Holland are inseparable and a factory visit demonstrates this.

The canals beckon as you board a glass topped boat and glide past regal mansions, houseboats and bridges. A canal cruise in Amsterdam is a rewarding experience. Spend some free time at Dam Square with the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), the Royal Palace and the War Memorial.

If you come to Holland when tulips are in bloom (only from March 18th to May 16th) visit the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. The rest of the year visit Madurodam, the enchanting miniature city. Later drive to your hotel. (B, L, D)

 Day 3 Onto The Rhineland • Visit Cologne Cathedral • Cruise On The River Rhine • Visit Heidelberg

This morning proceed to Cologne, where on arrival you will visit the Cathedral – the first Gothic church in the Rhineland with its characteristic spires.

Later drive to Boppard through the Rhine valley which has been a line of communication of vital strategic importance since Roman times. Along this stretch of river, there are more castles than in any other river valley in the world.

Enjoy a cruise today along the ‘Romantic Rhine’. The stretch of river where you can see castles, villages, and vineyards, and the Loreley where the river valley runs through dramatically elevated hillsides. You can see a statue of the Loreley near the cliff. The scenery is actually stunning.

Continue your scenic drive to Heidelberg,  situated in the Valley of the River Neckar and world famous for its romantic castle. Enjoy some free time at the “Altstadt” - old section of the town – wander around or stroll through the pedestrians Haupstrasse (high street), the main shopping avenue in Heidelberg. Later, check into your hotel in the Rhineland Area. (B, L, D)

 Day 4 Onto Switzerland • Drive through

the Black Forest • Visit the Rhine Falls

• Visit Zurich

Today time stands still at Drubba, in the Black forest, the alpine nest of the Cuckoo Clock situated in the unique Hollëntal (Hell’s Valley), directly at the mouth of the Ravennaschult (Ravenna Glen).

Witness a demonstration to explain the making of authentic cuckoo clocks in their original form, each piece carefully crafted for precision! The Cuckoo Clock is said to have originated between 1740 and 1750 and has remained more or less unchanged in its unique design. A visit here is always a memorable experience. While in Drubba take time off to enjoy the crisp Black

Forest air and the chirping of mountain birds, in the Glen of the Black Forest.

Get a souvenir, …. yes with compliments of Drubba and Cox and Kings.

Move onto Schaffhausen, where the Rhine River thunders over the Rhine Falls, forming Europe’s largest waterfall – an excellent photo opportunity.

Continue on your scenic drive to the city of Zurich, where on arrival you will proceed on an orientation tour strolling down Bahnhofstrasse - the city’s fanciest shopping street, past famous sights like Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church) situated in a medieval square, famous for its 16th century clock, the largest clock face

in Europe. The elegant copper spire of the Fraumunster found in the 9th Century withimpressive stained glass windows. Across the Limmat River, you will get a view of the Grossmunster - a beautiful Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral dedicated to Zurich’s patron saints. You will have an encounter with the marvels of Swiss shopping. Most visitors take home two things – memories of a beautiful country and a Swiss watch. Next to a virtually unlimited selection of watches and jewelry, every store carries a vast array of small famous brand gifts and souvenirs, priced for every pocket. Later check into your hotel. (B,L,D)

 Day 5 Visit to Glacier 3000 • Visit to Lucerne

The Glacier 3000 Awaits !

Drive to Gstaad/Les Diablerets - the skiing capital and a favourite playground for the rich and famous. Here Cox and Kings gives you another first with the launch of Glacier 3000 – the everlasting snow mountain, offering panoramic views of the most beautiful summits of the Alps and the scene of the Indian film “Bachna Ae Haseeno”.

Ascent is by cable car from Col du Pillon (1546 m) to Scex Rouge (2971 m). Enjoy a special adrenaline kick with a wild ride on the Alpine Coaster (weather permitting), the world’s highest bobsleigh track. You can cruise along at approx. 40 km/hour and with the brakes you determine how fast you want to go. The ultimate highlight is the 520 degree loop, followed by 10 curves, 6 waves, 3 jumps and 2 bridges. The View Point (stairs) located directly behind the Restaurant Botta 3000 has a 360-degree panoramic view of the most beautiful alpine peaks - from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to the Matterhorn – and views onto over 24 peaks that are over 4000 m high. Here is a tribute to Cox and Kings serving you for 250 years.

Enjoy a hot buffet lunch and a souvenir for each family.

Later ride the Snow Bus over the glacier – a unique experience of a comfortable ride on the eternal snow. Return by cable car.

Move on to Lucerne with its picturesque mountains, lakes, cowbells, alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss. Pause at the poignant Lion Monument, built to commemorate the brave Swiss soldiers killed during the French Revolution. Stroll along the covered, wooden Kapellbrücke (chapel bridge), to the Jesuit Church. Enjoy your encounter with Swiss shopping famous for its watches and chocolates. Return to your hotel (B, L, D)

 Day 6 Excursion To The Jungfraujoch, Ascending By Cogwheel Train • An Interlaken City Tour and • Visit To The Trümmelbach Falls

Enjoy our excursion to the Jungfraujoch, the ‘Top of Europe’, a wonderful world of glaciers and eternal ice.

Stop at the Trümmelbach falls, another highlight from Cox and Kings. This is the only glacier waterfalls in Europe, cascading through the mountain.

Reach the highest altitude railway station by a charming, red cogwheel train, through the most dramatic mountain scenery ! Walk on the great Aletsch Glacier, at 22 kms – visit the glistening Ice Palace and the Sphinx Observation Terrace, at 3571 m, the Alpine view is simply stunning. Descend to visit the popular holiday resort of Interlaken, where even today you see horse-drawn carriages. Return to your hotel. (B, D)

Day 7 Onto Paris • Visit Geneva • Optional

Lido Show

Depart for a comfortable drive to the glittering French capital Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ and experience the joie de vivre of ‘Gaie Paris’. (driving time is about 6 hours). Drive to Geneva, one of Switzerland’s most privileged cities, said to have the second highest quality of living in the world!

We begin the orientation tour with a drive to the Palais des Nations - the European Headquarters of the United Nations and the Ariana Museum. Be awestruck by the great white plume of the world’s tallest fountain in Europe – the magnificent Jet d’Eau and pause for a photograph here and at the beautiful floral clock in the Jardin Anglais !

After an early dinner check into your hotel and later this evening, enjoy the Cox and

Kings optional Lido Show.

Sparkle over a glass of champagne at the second show of the Lido. Here at the most famous nightclub in the world, enjoy the ‘Bonheur Show’, a cabaret with extraordinary sets and extravagant costumes. (B, D)

 Day 8 In Paris • Shop at Fragonard • Free time at the Louvre • Panoramic City Tour Of Paris • Visit the Eiffel Tower • Cruise on the River Seine

Today drive to Paris. Next visit and shop at Fragonard – The Parfumeur. Retrace 3000 years of history through the display of the perfumery collections. Fragonard celebrates the 250 years of Cox and Kings with a special souvenir.

Then visit the Louvre Museum (entrance not included) the former palace of the Kings of France now the world famous art gallery. Enjoy a panoramic city tour of famous monuments like the Louvre, Garnier’s Opera, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Élysées, the Napoleanic Arc de Triomphe and the Hotel des Invalides. Enjoy the city as you ascend by an elevator to the viewing platform on the 3rd level of

the Eiffel Tower!

An enchanted cruise on the River Seine unfolds, sailing under old and beautiful bridges, admiring the illuminated Parisian monuments as you glide by. True bliss!

 Day 9 Homeward Bound • Excursion to Parc Asterix • Channel Crossing to Folkestone / Dover

We recommend you unleash the child in you and enjoy our highly recommended, fun-filled exclusive excursion to Parc Astérix enroute. This is another first from Cox and Kings ! 7 adventure areas, 27 attractions and 6 shows. Ride the 80 kmph Tonnerre de Zeus - Europe’s highest wooden roller coaster; the Goudrix, the Oxygenarium, the Transdemonium, the Menhir Express, a log flume ride with a 13 metre drop and the Grand Splatch. Thrilling rides, and incredible shows make it a family attraction. This afternoon, proceed to Calais for your channel crossing to Folkestone / Dover and return to London.

Good times need never end ! Bid adieu, relive the high points of your 'Cox and Kings European Grandeur’ tour.

We are confident you will join us again sometime soon… (B)