Holland Belgium Germany Switzerland
Windmills to the Alps
Amsterdam – Brussels – Cologne - Rhine Cruise – Rudesheim – Heidelberg – Lucerne - Munich

Day 1  Overnight flight to Amsterdam, city of wooden shoes (clogs) and friendly people.

Day 2  Amsterdam. Arrive at impressive Schiphol Airport and transfer to our hotel. Tonight is free to explore the streets this beautiful city built on canals. Amsterdam is famous for it's museums and bicycles (they even have lanes just for bikes) and most Dutch speak English.

Day 3  We enjoy a city tour which includes Dam Square, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and more.

Day 4  A second day in Amsterdam will introduce us to Anne Franks House, the Schipvart Museum (maritime museum) to step aboard a 16^th century East India sailing ship and the famous Red Light district. We also see a diamond center to see the cutting and polishing of precious stones.

Day 5  Depart for Brussels, Belgium. Here we see Mannequin Pis and Grand Place, which has been called the most beautiful square in the world. A special treat is to drive out to the sight of Napoleon’s final battle, Waterloo. See the battlefield where Napoleons Grand Armee was shattered by Lord Wellington’s coalition forces.

Day 6  After breakfast we depart Belgium for the Rhineland in Germany. Visit Cologne, founded by Rome many centuries ago. Step into its magnificent cathedral, and see the Golden Reliquary of the Three Magi. There is a German-Roman museum, many Romanesque Cathedrals and medieval city wall and catacombs.

Day 7  Today cruise from Boppard to Oberwesel on a Rhine Steamship. The journey is one of such beauty as we see panoramas of castles, hillside vineyards and quaint villages. Our tour bus greets us and we continue on to Rudesheim, famous as a wine growing center. Time permitting we visit the "Music Museum".

Day 8  Continue on to Heidelberg, one of Europe’s most beautiful and charming cities. Ruins of the rose tinted castle rise above the towers and turrets of this Renaissance town. We visit the castle and University and have time to step into student pubs and restaurants of the lively main street.

Day 9  South once more through the Black forest to Frieburg. See the Bachle, or little canals, Munsterplatz and beautiful old churches. Continue south through the Black Forest arriving at the Rhine Falls. Arrive in Lucerne for overnight.

Day 10  Lucerne was once a simple fisherman’s village. Today it is a cultural and economic center. Lucerne is located beautifully at the North west end of Lake Lucerne. Visit Spreuerbrucke, and old wooden bridge with painted panels, the Hirschenplatz, 16^th century Cathedral, the Lion Monument, wine market and a tour up Mount Titlis.

Day 11  Depart Lucerne for Southern Germany once more. Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, constructed by Ludwig II in honor of Richard Wagner. Ludwig died having spent only 10 nights in his castle. This is the original model for the famous castle in Disneyland. Visit the sight of the Passion Play in Oberamergau. Overnight nearby.

Day 12  Travel north to the heart and capital of Bavaria. Near Munich see Dachau Concentration Camp, Deutsches Museum (the largest technical museum in the world), Nymphenburg Castle, and of course a Hofbrauhaus. Time permitting we can include a visit to the massive Bavarian Motor Works Factory.

Day 13  Depart Munich for home.

Please call for a customized program and prices.