England & France Highlights 13 Day Tour

Price Per person double occupancy

Dates
Request a quote or call 800-322-0788 for more information.

Price Includes: All motor coach and land transportation, sightseeing, admissions, services of tour director and driver, lodging, meals as specified in tour itinerary, taxes, gratuities to bellhops and waiters at included meals.

Not Included: Cost of obtaining passports or visas, laundry, meals, beverages or sightseeing not included in the itinerary, travel insurance, gratuity to guide, driver, communication charges, & excess baggage fees. Port charges and gratuities to crew are not included on cruises.

Deposit Required: $300 per person will reserve your place. A $100 service fee will be charged for cancellation at any time in addition to our normal payment and cancellation policy.

Day 1: Arrival in London, England

Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2: London

After a hearty English breakfast, morning sightseeing with a professional London guide includes all the famous landmarks: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the area's splendid museums, Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, and Westminster Abbey. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, if held. Free time in the afternoon for independent activities or to join an optional excursion to the Tower of London with its fabulous Crown Jewels. Tonight maybe an optional dinner followed by a cruise on the River Thames? (FB)

Day 3: London-Stratford-Cheltenham

Meet your tour director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 a.m. for a lovely day of sightseeing. At Henry VIII's lavish HAMPTON COURT PALACE enjoy your private visit to the Tudor kitchens and magnificent Great Hall; drive through Runnymede, site of the sealing of the Magna Carta; in Stratford-upon-Avon take your pictures of Anne Hathaway's Cottage and visit SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHPLACE; drive through the scenic Cotswold Hills and savor the unique atmosphere of the Elizabethan market town of Broadway. Tonight's destination is the elegant spa resort of Cheltenham. Before dinner join your tour director for a toast to happy touring with a congenial group. (FB,D)

Day 4: Cheltenham-Bath-Southampton

The first of the day's highlights is a visit to historic Georgian Bath to see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS, then try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE on the way to Salisbury. Time to stroll through this picturesque city, or visit its magnificent cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic. Overnight at Southampton, England's main port for passenger cruise ships. (FB,D)

Day 5: Southampton-Brighton

A fascinating day lies ahead: at Portsmouth, visit the Naval Dockyard and let a Royal Navy expert show you around HMS VICTORY, Lord Nelson's flagship at the battle of Trafalgar. Catch glimpses of Arundel Castle, home of the Duke of Norfolk, on the way to the seaside resort of Brighton. In the company of a specialist guide visit its exotic ROYAL PAVILION, the lavish oriental palace built for the Prince Regent in the early 1800's. Time for a seafront stroll along the promenade before dinner. (FB,D)

Day 6: Brighton-Rouen, France

Enjoy an exciting Hoverspeed ride across the Channel to France. Late afternoon arrival in Rouen, and time still for a stroll along the lovely cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge leading from the cathedral to the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. (FB,D)

Day 7: Rouen-Normandy-Mont St. Michel

Drive to Bayeux where you admire QUEEN MATILDA'S TAPESTRY, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror's conquest of England. Then to the scene of the Allied Forces' landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Visit the NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY and see the Rangers Memorial at Point du Hoc. Overnight on the coast near Mont St. Michel. (BB,D)

Day 8: Mont St. Michel-Blois

Morning visit to the famous ABBEY OF MONT ST. MICHEL, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo. Its awesome fortifications were attacked many times during the Hundred Years' War, but never captured. In the afternoon, a scenic drive right across Brittany. Past Angers journey eastward to Saumur, known for its cavalry school and a great sparkling wine. Visit a local WINERY for a taste of the produce, then to Blois in the Loire Valley. (BB,D)

Day 9: Châteaux Country Excursion

A rich day of sightseeing. Visit the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château CHAMBORD, and lovely CHENONCEAU, the 16th-century château of Catherine de Medici. On to Amboise, admire its fortress castle and visit LE CLOS LUCE, and marvel at an amazing collection of models of Leonardo's inventions, painstakingly reconstructed from the drawings of the great Renaissance genius. Tonight is your chance to sample French cuisine at one of the area's excellent bistros. (BB)

Day 10: Blois-Chartres-Versailles-Paris

This morning visit Chartres with its superb 13th-century GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, a jewel of medieval architecture. Much of the afternoon is dedicated to the PALACE AND GARDENS OF VERSAILLES, the retreat of French royalty at the height of absolutistic power. Admire the sumptuous reception rooms, the intriguing Hall of Mirrors, the famous fountains, and formal gardens. Early evening arrival in Paris. (BB)

Day 11: Paris

See the sights on both banks of the Seine: Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Notre Dame, Madeleine, Louvre, Champs-Elysées... For a bird's-eye view take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. After dark check out the famous gourmet restaurants and irresistible revue shows. (BB)

Day 12: At Leisure in Paris

Another day to enjoy what this extraordinary metropolis has to offer. Explore the world capital of chic and style at your own pace: shop for perfume and fancy fashion accessories, take your pick from many fine museums, stroll through magnificent parks, promenade along the Champs-Elysées... Ask your tour director for suggestions on how to make your last night in France an unforgettable experience. (BB)

Day 13: Bath, Mendip Hills Excursion

Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (BB)