DAY 1

Rome - Florence

This morning transfer by road to Florence, the capital of Tuscany, arriving in time for lunch. Afterwards meet your expert local guide who will lead you on a walking tour along the banks of the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge that is one of the most iconic sites in Europe. From here, you will visit the nearby Uffizi Gallery where many of the most celebrated works of art from the Florentine Renaissance are housed. Time permitting, you may also wish to visit the Accademia Gallery, where the magnificent statue of David by Michelangelo is displayed. The evening is yours to spend at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Savoy

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DAY 2

Florence

This morning, your guide will lead you on a further walking tour of historic city centre focusing on its many churches. You will see the cathedral clad in multi-coloured marble, and Giotto’s Campanile. Admire the graceful classical architecture in San Lorenzo, and see the Massacio fresco of the Trinity in Santa Maria Novella. The remainder of the day is yours to spend independently.

Overnight: Hotel Savoy
Meal Plan: B

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DAY 3

Florence – Verona – St. Moritz

 Leave Florence this morning and follow the highway through the Appennines, and over the vast plain of the Po River to Verona, a city that preserves monuments from Roman times, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Upon arrival meet your city guide and depart on an orientation walking tour of the city centre. You will see the churches around the Piazza dei Signori, and the Piazza delle Erbe on the site of the Roman Forum. You will also pass the Capulet House, said to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. You will continue your journey north into the Alps along the banks of Lake Iseo, one of the smaller Italian Lakes en route to the Italian-Swiss border. Once you cross into Switzerland, you will pass some dramatic glacial landscapes around the fabled Bernina Peak. The road from here will bring you down to St Moritz, arguably the most famous winter resort in the world. The evening is yours to spend at leisure.

Overnight: Carlton Hotel
Meal Plan: B

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DAY 4

St Moritz – Glacier Express – Zermatt

 This morning transfer to the train station, where you will board the Glacier Express train, possibly the best-loved scenic rail journey in the world. From your reserved seats in a first class coach, sit back and enjoy the alpine panoramas that unfold around every bend in the track. Lunch will be served as you travel. The journey takes around 7½ hours, and brings you right into the centre of Zermatt. Here you will be met and transferred by electric vehicles to your hotel. (Your luggage will be awaiting you in your rooms having been transferred by road from St Moritz). The evening is yours to spend at leisure.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
Meal Plan: B,L

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DAY 5

Zermatt and Gornergrat

 This morning walk to cable-railway station and board a train that winds its way up the hillside to the village of Gornergrat. From here you will enjoy the most spectacular views of the Matterhorn, the most instantly recognizable mountain in all of Europe. After lunch return to Zermatt and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
Meal Plan: B

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DAY 6

Zermatt and the Klein Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Today take a gondola up to the Furi station where you transfer to a cable car to travel further up to Trockener Steg. From her the highest cableway in Europe transports visitors up past giant crevasses to the Matterhorn glacier paradise and into a breathtaking mountain landscape of glaciers and permanent snow. It is even possible to go into the permanent ice. From the Matterhorn glacier paradise station an elevator takes you down nearly 50ft where you walk through an ice tunnel into a glacier palace which contains ice sculptures. The more adventurous can make their exit through a glacier crevasse. After lunch return to Zermatt.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Zermatterhof
Meal Plan: B

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DAY 7

Zermatt – Lausanne – Paris

Return by electric vehicle to the train station and take a shuttle train to Täsch, where you will board your private motorcoach and proceed to Lausanne. Upon arrival enjoy lunch in a restaurant in the attractive Old Town. Later transfer to the station and take a high speed TGV to Paris. Upon arrival at the end of the afternoon transfer to your hotel and dine this evening independently.

Overnight: Hospes Lancaster
Meal Plan: B,L

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DAY 8

Paris: Notre Dame and Versailles

 This morning meet your local guide and depart to visit Notre Dame Cathedral for Mass. After lunch, drive out of Paris to Versailles, where you will visit the royal chateau of Louis XIV, and the celebrated gardens. Tour the staterooms of the palace, including the magnificent Galerie des Glaces, where the outside is reflected in a myriad of enormous mirrors. Also take time to wander in the gardens where, schedule permitting, you will be able to see the magnificent spectacle of the Grands Eaux Musicales. The impressive fountains that were created for the palace present one of the finest water displays in existence. Return to Paris, where this evening, you will enjoy an entertaining dinner cruise watching the sights of the Paris slip past serenely as you enjoy a delicious meal accompanied by atmospheric local entertainment.

Overnight: Hospes Lancaster
Meal Plan: B,D

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DAY 9

Paris: The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Paris Lido

Overnight: Hospes Lancaster
Meal Plan: B,D

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DAY 10

Depart Paris

 Transfer privately to the Charles de Gaulle Airport to board your homebound flight.

Meal Plan: B

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