European Dream
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Experience Overview
Live the European dream on this 11‑day guided tour. Luxuriate in Rome, enjoy fast‑track entry to the Vatican, ride an exhilarating open‑top cable car up Lucerne’s Mt. Stanserhorn in Switzerland and dine in style in Paris. Journeying through Italy, savor fresh local cuisine among the canals of Venice. After your Travel Director leads you through the vineyard‑covered plains of Umbria, spend two enchanting nights in Florence, surrounded by fine wine, cobbled streets and green‑marble cathedrals. Your adventure concludes in Paris, where iconic sights await, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Place de la Concorde and the Champs‑Elysees.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Venice: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Sample traditional Venetian fare and soak up the ambiance of this charming city, and get to know each other before you embark on your journey together.
- Tuscany: Gather at a family-owned estate in the Chianti hills for an intimate tasting of their estate wines, paired with silky extra-virgin olive oil pressed from the surrounding groves. As you sip and swirl, your hosts share the story of this land shaped by sun, stone and centuries of Tuscan know-how, turning a simple glass and drizzle into something far more personal. It is a true taste of Tuscany, enjoyed up close and personal with the people who call it home.
- Umbria: Explore the art of Italian cooking with Chef Lorenzo followed by a tasty lunch.
- Lucerne: Choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around evening and hand-pick your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience.
- Paris: With your newfound friends indulge in refined French cuisine during your dinner at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace.
Top Rated Highlights
- Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's artisans teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century.
- Venice: Travel by boat along the Giudecca Canal as your Travel Director gives an orientation to Venice. Pass 13th to 18th-century palazzi, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square, an iconic introduction to the city from the water.
- Rome: Discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum as you stroll around the exterior of this amazing structure.
- Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
- Florence: See the historic neighborhood of the Santa Croce Basilica and witness local craftspersons at work during a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Lucerne: See the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
- Stanserhorn: Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit.
- Paris: Experience the magic of Paris with Insight Vacations as you explore its iconic sights, landmarks, and charming streets. Meander along the picturesque banks of the River Seine, delving into the rich history of its beautiful bridges and renowned landmarks, including the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. Whether from the comfort of your coach or a scenic vantage point, immerse yourself in the timeless stories that bring this enchanting city to life.
Insight Experiences
- Tuscany: Be welcomed like an honored guest at historic Fattoria di Bagnolo as a member of the noble Bartolini Baldelli family opens the doors to their Tuscan home. Discover a legacy stretching back nearly a thousand years, from Machiavelli’s era to today, as you explore the villa, vineyards and atmospheric cellars, up close and personal with those who call it home.
- Vatican City: Visit the Vatican Museums and witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
Make Travel Matter
- Stanserhorn: Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 15: Life on Land.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34086
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Adventure, Budget
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 67.180B
Starts: Venice, Italy
Finishes: London, United Kingdom
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $7380 ($671 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to the Queen of the Adriatic, known for its unique waterscapes and rich cultural heritage. Transfers depart from Venice Airport and journey to the hotel by water taxi. What better way to start your dream holiday than in true Venetian style? Join your Travel Director for a dinner at a local restaurant. Savor a cocktail at twilight whilst being serenaded by an ensemble of talented musicians, and admire the tranquility of St. Mark's Square long after the day-trippers have gone to their mainland hotels. Return to your canal-side hotel in the quiet, peaceful authentic neighborhood.
Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Dinner
In the morning, prepare to embrace this awe-inspiring city. Visit St. Mark's Square, dominated by its magnificent Basilica and overlooked by the great Clock Tower. Also in the square stands the immense Campanile and Doge's Palace, which is connected to the ancient prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. Join a visit to a traditional Venetian glassblowing workshop, where you’ll see how beautiful, handcrafted glass is made by expert artisans, preserving centuries-old skills. The rest of the day is free. Perhaps shop in the small arcades or why not cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?
Accommodation: Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice
Meals: Breakfast
Head into the Apennines for an exclusive visit to Fattoria di Bagnolo, a historic Tuscan estate owned by the noble Bartolini Baldelli family for generations. After a personal welcome from a family member who shares the estate’s story, trace its journey from Machiavelli’s era to its 1852 revival as the Marquis’ summer residence. Explore the villa, atmospheric cellars and vineyards with views across the Chianti hills then savor a tasting of the estate wines paired with the family’s own olive oil. Later, follow the Tiber onwards to the Eternal City of Rome.
Accommodation: Villa Pamphili, Rome
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
With your Local Expert, enjoy fast-track entry to the Vatican Museums to explore centuries of Papal history and art, including works by Raphael and classical sculptures collected by the Popes. In the Sistine Chapel, examine Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling fresco, painted between 1508 and 1512. Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church, to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà and the dome he designed. Cross the Tiber to reach ancient Rome and stand before the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built. This afternoon is at leisure. On some departures, access to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums may be restricted. You'll still enjoy the atmosphere of St. Peter's Square during your visit to the Vatican City, and if tickets are unavailable to the Vatican Museums, you'll instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to iconic Roman art and archaeology.
Accommodation: Villa Pamphili, Rome
Meals: Breakfast
Meet chef Lorenzo at his family farm in Umbria. Explore the art of Italian cooking during an entertaining pasta demonstration and delicious lunch accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine. Continue on to your hotel in Florence.
Accommodation: Villa Neroli, Florence
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Begin the morning by joining a Local Expert in Florence to view the multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. You also visit the open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces in Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the Renaissance capital, famous for the quality of luxury goods. Perhaps take the opportunity to visit Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower?
Accommodation: Villa Neroli, Florence
Meals: Breakfast
Head north towards the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano. Continue into the heart of the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world, before traveling alongside towering mountains and past rushing torrents, down to scenic Lake Lucerne. Upon arrival to Lucerne, see the Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the heroic Swiss Guards who died defending King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Then, take some time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit Church.
Accommodation: Astoria Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast
Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, as an open-top cable car powered by solar panels takes you up the summit. Breathe in the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, witness views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate in the traffic-free Old Town. Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers? At night, you are offered a fine selection of restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.
Accommodation: Astoria Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey through the rural French countryside of Burgundy, famous for its vineyards and wines, to arrive in the vibrant City of Light. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the center of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. With the evening free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city. Why not visit one of the world-famous cabaret shows?
Accommodation: Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe
Meals: Breakfast
Discover Paris through the eyes of your Local Expert on a panoramic tour of the City of Light. Take in the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and elegant Champs-Élysées before seeing Place de la Concorde, one of the city’s grandest squares and the site of the guillotine during the French Revolution. Admire the Louvre Museum, another of Paris’ most recognizable landmarks, before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant where you’ll savor French cuisine.
Accommodation: Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, bid farewell to your traveling companions as your journey comes to an end. Travel by high-speed Eurostar train for your journey back to London. On arrival, you are transferred to your London hotel where your trip ends.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
Nothing to add. When I read about the itinerary in my brochure I noted that we would have several days where we could have free time in the afternoon to explore the cities on our own. We only had one afternoon when we stayed in Florence and refused to go to Pisa with some of the group. That time in Florence was most rewarding with us having a leisure lunch and shopping time and visiting Basilica Saint Croce. One other time when we were free in the evening we didn’t feel comfortable going out in that area alone. Looking back we would have preferred more nights in Rome, Florence and Tuscany and leave Switzerland off. In Rome, especially, we were pushed to stay out all day in the heat, and in the evening when we all wanted to return to the hotel after supper we had to wait another 35 minutes before we could go to the bus. Perhaps the bus was delayed, don’t know. All of us on this tour were in the mid 60’s to 70’s group. A little slower pace would have been better. Perhaps train rides between the further east distance cities would have made more sense. Was thoughtful and caring. I’m sure he was following the dictates of the company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/07/2024
Dhiraj B. - Traveled, August 2024
I would like to recommend the tour with as the tour Manager. It was planned in detail so that everyone could enjoy with lots of information provided. He always had his group members in mind and never neglected or avoided any one or any questions from us. His knowledge was commendable about all the places we visited. Thank you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/07/2024
Linda A. - Traveled, October 2024
The coaches are spacious and comfortable and sufficient refreshment stops are made. The tour director and driver were very professional and we were kept well informed in all aspects of the tour. A very good itinerary with sufficient time in each city to get a good feel for the place. Some nice optional extra experiences are available, the Moulin Rouge being the stand out one for me.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/07/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
The tour was too fast paced for us but it was well organised and all aspects of the tour ran smoothly. Local guides were great and tour director was knowledgeable. It was too busy. Too many places in a short space of time. Plus, when we booked we were not made aware that this particular tour joins another tour half way through - we had to join a group of people who had already been travelling together for over a week.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/07/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
Too many places to visit in such a short time; very tiring.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/07/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
A lot of stairs a lot of walking, but well worth it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/07/2024
Raaj B. - Traveled, August 2024
Awesome experience. The tour was planned in a excellent manner & the agent was good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/07/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
Outstanding tour guide. Patient, knowledgeable, organized, very competent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/07/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
The tour director Tim was phenomenal. His knowledge of everywhere we went was incredible. His attention to detail with each guest and his patience with everyone was exceptional. The tour director Tim was phenomenal. His knowledge of everywhere we went was incredible. His attention to detail with each guest and his patience with everyone was exceptional. Being two days in each spot was a great sample of each destination.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/07/2024
Kopel Paul S. - Traveled, April 2024
The tour guide was fabulous, the activities were well balanced, the hotels were first rate, the food was excellent and our tour companions were very friendly! Also, the bus was very comfortable. My only criticism was the long drives between cities, which wasn’t noted in the brochure. Great balance between art, history and culture and fun!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2024
