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

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Itinerary

DAY 1Cheers, London!

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 meet you and your family for some activities to help you get acquainted with your traveling companions, followed by a special WELCOME PARTY & DINNER at your hotel. (Dinner)

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel

London’s Tower Bridge over the River Thames

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. Tonight, why not take in one of London’s West End theater shows? (Breakfast)

Ride the iconic double decker bus in London

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 3Explore London

The whole day is free for independent sightseeing. Consider an afternoon visit to the Tower of London, which has been guarded by the Beefeaters since the 14th century, or to Windsor Castle, the Queen’s favorite residence. This evening, maybe dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (Breakfast)

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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."

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DAY 4Travel the “Chunnel” to Paris, FRANCE & Go to the Top of the Eiffel Tower

Board the high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN to the “City of Light.” Later, ride the elevators to the TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER for spectacular views of the city. (Breakfast)

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DAY 5Discover Paris & Visit Notre Dame

This morning, with your Local Guide, see 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, where Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804. 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 6Explore Paris

Spend the entire day exploring on your own, or join an optional excursion to immerse your family further into Parisian history and culture. This evening, a French SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER has been included at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your unforgettable vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 7Paris

Au revoir. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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DATES & PRICES