Gems of the Seine & Jewels of Europe

Hop aboard one of our e-bikes and take a guided bicycle tour outside the city, or join a flavours of Holland walking tour and taste some Dutch favourites such as herring, cheese and poffertjes. Alternatively, take the opportunity to experience an iconic canal cruise and see the city from a different angle, or step outside of Amsterdam and visit the villages of Alkmaar & Schermerhorn, home to authentic windmills dating back to the 16th century.

Take a stroll through Cologne and get up close to the filigree twin towers of the famous cathedral, or explore the city’s past and present, from Roman times to its Jewish heritage, during a guided tour. Alternatively, if you are feeling more active, cycle to Cologne from the charming medieval village of Zons.

Delight in the medieval ambience of Marksburg Castle, which has remained virtually unchanged since the middle ages. Partake in a magnificent medieval feast, with an abundance of fine fare and free flowing local wine.

Meet a monk at a local monastery for a tour and insight into regional beer production, or meet a winemaker for a taste of his fine wines. Alternatively, meet a Baron and Baroness and learn about aristocratic life, or opt to visit a local Schnapps producer or a farming family and taste some of their home made products.

Traverse the famous Romantic Road to Rothenburg where you’ll tour the charming walled city, home to many beautiful half timbered houses. Alternatively, visit Würzburg’s Bishop’s Residenz Palace and sample some exquisite local wine in the underground cellars.

Explore Nuremberg by foot on a guided walking tour, or visit moving WWII sites and learn about this dark era in the city’s history. Alternatively, stay on board for a beer tasting experience.

Enjoy a walking tour of Regensburg, or hop on board a local ferry and sail the Danube Gorge to Weltenburg Abbey and sample beer from one of the world’s oldest monastic breweries. Alternatively, join a local guide for a cycle to the Walhalla monument, or take an active walking tour to Thurn und Taxis Palace.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Baroque Old Town of Salzburg, learn about one of its most famous residents, Mozart, and be mesmerized by the city’s history and architecture. Alternatively, you may choose to join a walking tour focusing on sights from the classic movie ‘The Sound of Music’ including the beautiful Mirabell Gardens.

Based on the timeless movie of the same name, the exclusive ‘Best of The Sound of Music and Salzburg Show’ will wow you with its stage sets. Enjoy a delicious Austrian lunch before an afternoon humming along to some of the catchy classics.

Experience Melk’s magnificent 18th century Benedictine Abbey on a guided tour, or if you are feeling more active, embark on an enjoyable guided bike ride along the river from Melk to Dürnstein, one of the most enchanting villages in the region. Alternatively, visit the fairytale castle of Burg Aggstein. Built in the 12th century, the castle ruins offers spectacular views across the Danube.

Breathe in the opulence and luxury of Palais Liechtenstein while enjoying a glass of fine Austrian Sekt. Then be enthralled by an enchanting private classical evening concert featuring the timeless music of Strauss and Mozart. Even in elegant Vienna, Palais Liechtenstein is one of the grandest of all venues.

Take a tour of the Slovakian capital Bratislava, or visit Schönbrunn Palace and witness the sheer opulence of the Habsburg Empire. Alternatively, discover Viennese coffee culture during a guided tour. Or, those feeling more active can explore a different side of Vienna on a cycling tour to Danube Island.

Make the most of a guided tour of Budapest including a piano concert, or relax and unwind at the Thermal Baths and Spa. Choose to experience the labyrinths of the Hospital in the Rock, or join a local guide for a walking tour focused on the past and present of Budapest. Alternatively, if you’re feeling more active, you may choose to join a hike to Buda Hill.

Join a hike with a difference and visit King Richard the Lionheart’s Château Gaillard, or journey to Lyons la Forêt, one of the most beautiful villages of France, and visit a local farm to sample cider, the region’s specialty. Alternatively, join your local guide for a walking tour of the quaint village of Les Andelys, or take a bicycle tour through this beautiful village, set on the banks of
the Seine.

Enjoy a walking tour of Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region. Take in the famous sites relating to Joan of Arc, and admire the city’s half-timbered houses and the historic Rouen Cathedral. Or learn about the Viking Warlord Rollo ‘the Walker’, who will host a guided walking tour through the medieval laneways of Rouen.

Get a glimpse of what the Somme battlefields might have been like for those caught up in this terrible World War I battle, which claimed the lives of more than 150,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers. You may choose to visit the Australian National Memorial, containing the Sir John Monash Centre as well as the Caterpillar Valley Memorial, dedicated to the New Zealand citizens who perished during the Battle of the Somme. Or, you may choose to visit the Lochnagar Crater, the Newfoundland memorial park and the Thiepval memorial. Alternatively, stay in Rouen and explore the collection of impressionist paintings, including masterpieces by Renoir and Monet, at the Museum of Fine Arts which was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Explore Honfleur on a guided walking tour,  with its quaint architecture, relaxed coastal atmosphere and colourful fishing boats bobbing on the water. Alternatively, immerse yourself in the beautiful La Côte Fleurie region on France’s northern beaches and discover dashing Deauville, playground of the rich and famous.

Walk the historic Normandy beaches, the site of the D-Day landings, before visiting the Landing Museum at Arromanches. From here you have two options; take a moment to reflect on the momentous impact of that day, as you look out from your hilltop position above Omaha Beach you’ll be struck by the sombre ambience surrounding the 9,387 graves of the Normandy Cemetery, or visit the Juno Beach Centre, a museum that focuses on the Canadian war effort. Alternatively, learn about history of a different era and visit Bayeux including its famous Tapestry, a hand embroidered masterpiece that depicts the tales of the Norman conquest of England and dates back to the 11th century.

Visit Fécamp and its mighty palace. Situated in spectacular surrounds, the city’s natural setting contrasts perfectly with its architectural centrepiece, the Benedictine Palace. Afterwards visit the beautiful seaside town of Étretat, sitting proudly between dramatic rock faces. With steep limestone cliffs that plunge dramatically towards the emerald waters of the English Channel below, the beauty of the Alabaster Coast will leave you breathless. Or, travel to the hilltop village of Bolbec and view fabrics at the fascinating Textile Museum before visiting a traditional Normandy farm nearby.

Visit Giverny and Monet’s former residence and gardens. Many of the artists most famous art works were inspired by this impressive location, or get your heart pumping on a self-guided cycle through Vernon to Giverny where you have the opportunity to visit Monet’s garden.

Built into a steep rock face overlooking the Seine River and the small village bearing the same name, Château de La Roche-Guyon is a sight to behold. Experience the opulence and grandeur of yesteryear as you enjoy a classical concert performed by the region’s most reputable musicians. The Château dates back to medieval times and you’ll be sure to have fond memories of this experience for many years to come.

Discover the charms of Auvers-sur-Oise and see Vincent van Gogh’s room, or step inside the magnificent Chantilly Castle for a guided tour of this remarkable château, set amidst beautiful parklands. Alternatively, visit the great stables on the grounds of Chantilly, essentially a palace for the horses living on the estate. The stables also house a museum dedicated to the relationship between man and horse throughout time.

Walk through the trendy Marais district with a resident expert and hear tales that only the locals know, or admire the extravagance and grandeur of the famous Opera Garnier on a guided tour. From the ornately decorated theatre to the opulent chandeliers and the ceiling painted by Chagall, the interior of this building will take your breath away. Alternatively, you may wish to explore beyond Paris and tour the 17th century estate of Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, Louis XIV’s inspiration for Versailles Palace.