Tour: HEF - 2012 (HEF) - 2012 / 2013

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Itinerary

DAY 1Arrive in London, England

Time at leisure today to rest before your adventure begins, or you may choose to set out on your own to discover London. At 6 pm, your Tour Director will be waiting for you and your family for some activities to help you get acquainted with your traveling companions. Then, a special WELCOME PARTY & DINNER at your hotel. (Dinner)

London’s Tower Bridge over the River Thames

Ride the iconic double decker bus in London

Marvel at the architecture on Londons infamous Big Ben

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DAY 2Discover London & Ride the London Eye

Join your Local Guide on a traditional London double-decker bus for a memorable morning of sightseeing that includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. A special highlight is a “flight” on the LONDON EYE, the world’s tallest observation wheel with stunning views of the city. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing. Consider a visit to the Tower of London or to Windsor Castle. This evening maybe dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (Breakfast)

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel

Overlooking The Houses of Parliament along the north bank of the Thames River

Westminster Abbey – the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs

Tower of London

"Since its founding in the 11th century, the Tower of London has served many roles: impregnable fortress, royal residence, armory, treasury, home of the famed Crown Jewels, and a prison for those who offended the monarchy. To this day it is guarded by the “Beefeaters,” a name that likely originates from when Tower guards were paid part of their salary with chunks of beef, a practice that continued until the 1800s."

Houses of Parliament

"Big Ben may be the most famous feature of the Houses of Parliament, but equally impressive is the hammerbeam ceiling of Westminster Hall. The Hall dates back to 1097 and, at that time, the roof was supported by pillars. During the reign of King Richard II (14th century), however, it was replaced by the hammerbeam roof seen today. This roof – its beauty and sustainability – is even more impressive when you know its history. It was built with beams made from trees that were ancient at the time, reputedly acorns, dating back to the 6th century (or earlier). If only these walls (beams, rather) could talk!"

Buckingham Palace

"Amid the splendor of modern cities it’s hard to imagine what places looked like before they became what we know today. In a previous incarnation, the ground where Buckingham Palace now stands was a mulberry garden cultivated by King James I as food for silkworms. The silk industry he hoped to nurture never materialized, and eventually a roadhouse was built there, followed in due course by the Blake House, Goring House and Arlington House.Originally known as the Buckingham House, built as a townhouse by the Duke of Buckingham in 1709, the estate was acquired by King George III in 1762."

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DAY 3Travel the “Chunnel” to Paris, France & Go to the Top of the Eiffel Tower

This morning, transfer to the railway station to board the high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN to Paris. Later, ride the elevators to the TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER and delight in the spectacular views. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 4Discover Paris & Visit Notre Dame Cathedral

Today with your Local Guide, explore the city where Remy, from the movie Ratatouille, discovered French cuisine. Admire some of the most famous sights: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and visit NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, the setting for Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The balance of the day is at leisure for optional excursions. (Breakfast)

The Arc de Triomphe standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle

Notre Dame Cathedral

Europe’s most famous cathedral, whose twin Gothic towers loom above France’s most beloved river, the Seine, actually owes a lot of its international success to the author Victor Hugo. Back in 1831, when Hugo wrote his classic novel about a hunchbacked bell-ringer at Notre Dame who falls in love with a beautiful gypsy, the medieval cathedral had fallen on hard times. During the Revolution in 1789, it had been seized, looted of its treasures and converted into an atheistic “Temple of Reason.” Even worse, after the monarchy was restored in 1815, Notre Dame was used as riverside warehouse – its once-splendid glass windows now dimmed and its facades decaying pathetically above the Île de la Cité. But Parisian’s indifference to their landmark ended suddenly in 1831, when Victor Hugo published his romantic novel the “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” (called “Notre-Dame de Paris” in French). The book was an international bestseller and lured armies of tourists to Paris in search of its Gothic cathedral setting. Hugo used this groundswell of public interest to lobby the French government for renovations of his beloved Notre Dame. From 1845 to 1864, repairs were indeed carried out – the clogged medieval streets nearby were cleared, revealing the marvelous edifice we see today.

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DAY 5TGV Train to Switzerland & Walking Tour of Lucerne

Travel by high-speed TGV TRAIN to Basel, Switzerland, where your motorcoach will be waiting to take you to German-speaking Lucerne with its sparkling lake and alpine scenery. A walking tour before dinner to stretch your legs and admire the LION MONUMENT, which commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed during the French Revolution; the picturesque Old Town; and the famous 14th-century wooden-covered CHAPEL BRIDGE, originally constructed in 1332. (Breakfast, Dinner)

The iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe

The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland

The Lion Monument or the Lion of Lucerne, is a sculpture in Lucerne, Switzerland

Lion Monument

“The Lion of Lucerne” (Lowendenkmal) is a compelling statue in the north section of Old Town dedicated to the 42 members of the Swiss Guard who were assigned to protect Louis the XVI, Maria Antoinette and their family at the Royal Palace. When the Tuileries was stormed on August 10, 1792 by rioting Parisians at the start of the French Revolution, the king ordered the soldiers to lay down their arms. They were subsequently slaughtered by the crowd and the royal family was captured. Louis had made a big mistake. In 1821 Danish sculpture Berthel Thorwaldsen finished the sculpture, a 30-foot likeness of a wounded and dying lion with a broken lance in its heart and his paw resting atop the fleur-de-lys shield of the Bourbon king. The Latin inscription translated “To the bravery and fidelity of the Swiss.”

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DAY 6Excursion to a Swiss Chocolate Confectionary

Journey to an original Swiss CHOCOLATE CONFECTIONARY, where you are also invited to try your skills at making this mouth-watering treat. The afternoon is free to relax, shop, explore Lucerne on your own, or take an optional excursion. (Breakfast)

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DAY 7Journey to Innsbruck, Austria with Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF via Vaduz in Liechtenstein

Drive to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, with an area of 61.8 square miles, the fourth-smallest country in Europe. After a break in its capital, Vaduz, continue on to Innsbruck. Enjoy an orientation walk through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF, a 3-story balcony built to serve as a royal box where the emperor could sit in luxury and enjoy tournaments in the square below. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful Innsbruck

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DAY 8Mozart’s Salzburg

Visit Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. Guided sightseeing takes you through the historic center: admire MIRABELL GARDENS, where scenes from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music were filmed; the Great Festival Hall; and ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD. Later, there is time for an optional excursion to Hellbrunn Castle with its trick fountains. (Breakfast)

The Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg are considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens of Europe

The Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest fully preserved fortress in Europe

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DAY 9Excursion to Hohenwerfen Fortress & Falconry

Today, visit the 11th-century HOHENWERFEN FORTRESS, which is located atop a 508-foot-high rock. Take the diagonal elevator to the upper castle courtyard for a tour of the fortress and its grounds. The fortress is also home to the First Austrian Falconry Museum and the birds of prey nature trail. Here, watch and learn about traditional hunting methods using birds of prey during flight demonstrations by professional falconers. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at your hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 10Sightseeing in Munich, Germany & Try a Bavarian Brezel

Guided sightseeing in Munich includes an orientation drive featuring the Olympic Stadium with its 1,000-foot-high Television Tower and MARIENPLATZ with the famous Glockenspiel that chimes three times a day during summer, its life-size statues re-enacting a story from the 16th century. Also try a tasty Bavarian BREZEL. An optional dinner is available. (Breakfast)

"Munich, Germany's Secret Capital"

"Munich is the only German metropolis that seems to have everything – wealth, beauty, prominence, fame. Some even call it Germany’s “secret capital.” Unlike Berlin, which some dub “architecturally challenged,” Munich bursts with historical buildings reconstructed after the devastation of World War II. Its grand Residenz, the former home of Bavarian kings, dominates the city center, which also boasts the flamboyant, gilded Cuvillié Theater. Nearby, the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus gives a medieval touch to the Marienplatz, the heart of Munich. "

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DAY 11Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle

Located in the Bavarian Alps on a hilltop overlooking the Hohenschwangau Valley, enjoy a guided visit of King Ludwig II’s magical NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE. The king’s fairytale refuge was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Also marvel at vistas of the king’s childhood residence, Hohenschwangau Castle, located nearby. This evening, celebrate the success of your vacation at the included SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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Neuschwanstein Castle

"As it rises from its alpine backdrop, Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen has all the drama of a well-planned stage scene. And so it is. The late 19th century dream castle joins various architectural styles with the eccentric fancy of Ludwig II, Bavaria’s most peculiar sovereign. From afar he adored the anorexic Austrian Empress Elisabeth, he wrote about suicide in his diaries and he bankrolled the composer Richard Wagner. He also loved building castles. In the process, he nearly bankrupted his government. Today, he’s the equivalent of a pop star in Bavaria for giving Germany its most popular tourist attraction."

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DAY 12Munich

Auf Wiedersehen. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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