Canals, Champagne & Culture: A Journey through the Netherlands, Belgium & France

From iconic Dutch windmills and cozy Belgian streets to the world-renowned Champagne region and the “City of Light,” experience the essence of three European countries. Connect with deeply rooted cultures as you make your way through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
Hotel Name: Swissôtel

Narrow canals, stone bridges, and bike-brimmed lanes – this is Amsterdam, the lively starting point of your journey. Check into your hotel,* located in the heart of the city center and your home for the next three nights. Get a taste of the local flavors and meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Amsterdam
This is the capital city of The Netherlands, with a population of about 1.5 million in the metro area. It is known for its rings of canals, the Red Light District, the Anne Frank House and its famous museums (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, etc.). Amsterdam has a rich history in commerce, mostly due to the country’s colonies all over the world, and this gives the city a fascinating flavor and diverse population even now. There are great restaurants and shopping, and it is a very comfortable place to walk around in. It is also a great starting point from which to explore The Netherlands and beyond.

See the city the way it’s meant to be seen – by canal on a private boat. Cruise under sloping bridges and pass by classic Dutch houses. Continue discovering Amsterdam on a walking tour with a local guide. Spend the late afternoon chatting with a local about the city's progressive (and often controversial) culture. Enjoy an evening at leisure to spend time in the city how you choose.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Canal Cruise
Take a cruise on Amsterdam's famous canals and get to know the city from the water.

Make the most of a free day in Amsterdam. Perhaps you’ll visit the Van Gogh Museum** and explore the Anne Frank House.** Maybe you’ll opt to spend the day in Royal Delft.*** This picture-perfect town has mostly stayed the same since the times of Johannes Vermeer’s iconic paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. Conclude your guided tour with a visit to the Royal Delft porcelain manufacturer which has been producing hand-painted blue motives since the 16th century. Try your hand at painting a tile before returning to Amsterdam. Complete your day with an Impact Moment at “A Beautiful Mess” – a restaurant that helps refugees find independence in the Dutch community. Be united by food and enjoy locally sourced, environmentally conscious ingredients over dinner with your inspiring hosts.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: NH Brugge

Admittance: Impact Moment

Today, it’s your choice as you visit Holland’s storied windmills. Perhaps you’ll stroll along the winding paths and venture inside of a working windmill -OR- bike alongside a local guide through Dutch landscapes. No matter what you choose, take in the wind, water, and open spaces that make Dutch history come to life in Kinderdijk (UNESCO). End your day in storybook Bruges, your home for the next two nights.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk is a small village located in the Netherlands in South Holland. The main attraction of the village are the windmills here. The area features 19 windmills which were built around 1740. The windmills are the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands. They are also known as one of the best known Dutch tourist sites.

Wander the cobblestone streets of Bruges and get familiar with this cozy Belgian city on a walking tour with a local guide this morning. Then, cruise through fairytale canals before connecting with local traditions. Taste Belgian chocolate and learn about the intricate craft of lace making. After an afternoon at leisure, cheers to the day with a visit to a local brewery where you’ll taste Belgium’s most classic beverage. Continue tasting your way across local cuisines and enjoy dinner on your own.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Continental Hôtel

Admittance: Kinderdijk Boat Ride or Bike Tour
Kinderdijk Boat Ride Activity Level: 2 The duration of the visit is 2 hours and includes boat ride and walking on flat surfaces. However, the entire length of the sight to be visited and back is 3 miles. Bike Tour Activity Level: 4 The duration of the visit is 2 hours and includes riding a bike for 1.5 hours on the paths of Kinderdijk, with included boat ride (30 minutes).

Traverse the Flanders with a local expert. Witness the stars and stripes raised over the graves of the valiant soldiers who gave their lives on the Western Front during the First World War inspiring John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Take time to unwind with a glass of wine as you enter the heart of France’s illustrious Champagne region – Reims. Settle into your city-centric boutique hotel before tasting your way through French cuisines during a five-course tasting paired with a glass of champagne.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Located in the northwest of the country,Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact. The historic centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". In the last half of the 19th century, Bruges became one of the world's first tourist destinations attracting wealthy British and French tourists. Today, it attracts some 2 million tourists annually.

Uncover the city’s Celtic roots and Gothic architecture during a guided walking tour in Reims. Step into the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims and gaze up at a sea of colorful stained glass. Cityscapes give way to vineyard rows as you make your way along the Route du Champagne. Learn all about this world-famous artisan production during a tour and tasting at a nearby maison du champagne.**** Enjoy your afternoon and evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Courtyard Paris Gare de Lyon

Visit Area: Reims
Reims is one of the capitals of province of Champagne. A such it is a major market for the region's world-famous sparkling wine. It was here in its Cathedral that the first king of France, Clovis, was baptized, becoming the recognized place for the coronation of most of France's succeeding monarchs. It was also in Reims, in a modern technical college near the train station, that the document was signed marking the surrender of Germany, bringing to and end the Second Word War in Europe.

Make your way to the French capital this morning. Pause in Meaux – the capital of the famous brie cheese. Learn about the artisanal production methods and aging process from a local cheese enthusiast before sampling some for yourself. Say bonjour to Paris this afternoon and learn the secrets of perfume making during a hands-on workshop led by an expert perfumer, affectionately referred to as “Nez” (Nose). Explore your new neighborhood – your new home for the next three nights – until the sun fades and the “City of Light” debuts its sparkling grandeur. Enjoy your evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Route du Champagne
Winding through sleepy villages, rolling hills, and sun-soaked vineyards is the Route du Champagne, a route that stretches around 700km or 434 miles through the Champagne region of France. The route is known for its world-class vineyards and unparalleled viticulture.

Start your day alongside your Tour Manager wandering through one of the most popular quarters of Paris – Le Marais. This neighborhood is famous for old-world charm, narrow cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards, and tranquil gardens among a vibrant Jewish community. Enter the kitchen of an authentic Parisian bakery to see the workspace and learn the history behind how these bakers make their delicious bread. Explore Paris as you please this afternoon. Perhaps you’ll take a stroll through the Tuileries Garden or elegant Place Vendôme displaying jewelry and high fashion. Experience Paris’ nightlife during an optional dinner at the dynamic Paradis Latin***** cabaret show, featuring champagne, can-can dancers, and endless excitement.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Paris
This French capital is one of the world's greatest cities and certainly one of its most beautiful. The Eiffel Tower, Arch of Triumph, Louvre and Orsay Museums, the Champs Elysees, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, and many others are all iconic symbols of the "City of Light", renowned for fabulous dining, high fashion and the French savoir faire. One can keep returning to Paris over a lifetime and still not see everything it has to offer.

Be romanced by Paris – today is yours for the taking. Perhaps you’ll visit the Orsay Museum, a former railway station that now houses the world’s best impressionist art. Perhaps you’d rather witness authentic royalty on an optional excursion to the Royal Palace of Versailles.****** From the prominent Hall of Mirrors to the opulent bedchamber of the queen, take in the palace’s most famous sights with your local guide before returning to Paris. End the day with an exclusive dinner at the Eiffel Tower, featuring French cuisine and breathtaking views.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Parisian Bakery Workspace

Say au revoir to Europe as you depart for home.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Parfum Workshop