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International Tours >> Europe

A classical itinerary, going further back in history than the Historical Western Europe itinerary by including the civilizations of Ancient Greece and The Roman Empire. When in Rome, consider taking the time to visit the buried towns of Pompei and Herculaneum, close to Naples.

Paris, France
When Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor of France, and France was turned into an empire after about a century of democracy, France began looking outside its borders for expansion and political influence, and the Napoleonic Wars began, affecting all of Europe. Today the wealth and power of France is mirrored through the architecture and cultural influence seen throughout Europe and very much in the French capital of Paris itself.
Rome, Italy
The Roman Empire was a major political and economical factor in the World from two hundred years before Christ until about the fifth century after Christ. Since then Rome and the Vatican State has been the center of Catholicism and home of the Pope, adding to the importance and cultural influences of Rome and Italy.
Athens, Greece
The Greek culture has had a profound effect on today's understanding of democracy and culture. The many small city states that made up ancient Greece contributed much to Western civilization and our way of life today.
Berlin, Germany
Until a few centuries ago, what we know as Germany today was a lot of small city states wih a common base in language and culture. When the German Empire emerged, the political situation in all of Europe changed. Two World wars with Germany as a main participant later, Germany has become a powerful influence in Europe through its political work in the European Union. Berlin, once again the German capital, bears witness to the greatness and turmoil Germany has gone through.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark was an important part of viking society from 800-1050AD. The famous viking raiders that ravaged the European coasts came from Denmark, for example from the Trelleborg and Fyrkat viking fortresses. Seeing the viking exhibit at The Danish National Museum and visits to locations like a viking ship burial mound and a viking fortress offer a comprehensive insight into the fascinating viking culture and its traditions. Present day Copenhagen is a laid back and cosmopolitic yet easily overseeable city with quite a distance to Denmark's sword swinging, slave taking viking past.
London, United Kingdom
England was conquered several times, first by the Romans, then the vikings and finally the French, who were really vikings that had settled in France. With the expansion of its naval power and a chain of conquests and colonizations of territories in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and the Caribbean, the power of the United Kingdom made it a major World player, and a large influence politically and economically around the World for several centuries.

Suggested Itinerary - ( 25 Days )
Day 1	Travel to London Your Great Escape begins with an overnight flight to "Royal London Town."
Day 2	London Explore this exciting city or relax on your free afternoon. Attend our welcome orientation dinner tonight, then spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, perhaps pub crawling to Sherlock Holmes' haunts with your new travel companions.
Day 3	London Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus: these familiar names become familiar places on our morning tour. During your free afternoon, horseback ride in Hyde Park, go via double-decker bus to Harrod's and shop for tweeds or cashmeres, see the Magna Carta in the British Museum or have afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason's. After dusk, you may want to take in a West End play or Shakespeare at the Globe Theater.
Day 4	London * English Channel * Paris Travel through southern England and Kent today. We sail across the English Channel after boarding our ship near the white cliffs of Dover. Arrive in Paris, "City of Lights" to ride along grand boulevards and view the city's illuminated monuments and fountains. We'll dine together at our French Bistro Dinner. Afterward, depart for a romantic cruise on the glass-topped Bateaux Mouches gliding down the Seine through the heart of the city.
Day 5	Paris Our local art historian shows us unforgettable landmarks, including the hunchback "Quasimodo's" Notre Dame Cathedral. See Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood, and the Eiffel Tower's steel lacework.
Day 6	Paris * Optional Cabaret Show Today is free for wandering through the Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa, browsing among bookstalls on the Left Bank, shopping at chic boutiques or sampling sinfully delicious pastries at a sidewalk cafe. Evenings in Paris are full of excitement, whether it's a can-can cabaret or wild night club.
Day 7	Paris * Brussels * Amsterdam - Dutch Countryside Motor through champagne country to Belgium. Reaching Brussels, NATO's headquarters, we see the Grand' Place, a perfect medieval square with ornate guild houses of gold, the Palace of Justice, and statue of naughty Mennekin-Pis. Continue to Amsterdam and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Day 8	Amsterdam - Dutch Countryside Let the good times roll as we go biking through 13th-century Dutch fishing villages along the IJssel Lake beaches. Watch wooden shoes being carved and sample Edam cheese at a cheese farm. Back in Amsterdam there will be free time this afternoon to tour the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank house or shop for famous Delftware china. This evening we invite you on a boat cruise on the canals of Amsterdam followed by our Dutch-Indonesian "Rice Table" dinner.
Day 9	Cologne - Rhine River Curise * Heidelberg Pass the university city of Utrecht and the battle grounds of Arnhem. Cross the German border into Cologne, famous for the world's largest Gothic cathedral that took over 600 years to complete. From here board our ship and cruise along the fabled Rhine River, passing steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Once ashore we motor to Heidelberg, the City of the Student Prince. We'll climb to the ruins of the Castle of the Palatine Elector for a bird's-eye view of the town and the Neckar River; later we'll dine on traditional German fare.
Day 10	Black Forest - Rhinefalls * Swiss Alps Journey south into the mysterious Black Forest where gingerbread cottages dot the lush, green scenery. Stop deep in the forest, with free time to watch cuckoo clocks being made, enjoy lunch or snack on delicious Black Forest Cake. The Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfalls, come into view as we cross the Swiss border. Our route through Zurich brings us to William Tell Country and the world-famous resort areas surrounding Lucerne.
Day 11	Lucerne Area * Optional Swiss Folklore party & dinner Roam through scenic Lucerne's cobblestone streets beneath festive flags and walk along the covered wooden bridges dating from 1333. See the Lion Monument, sculpted in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. Then catch up on your Swiss watch and chocolate shopping. This afternoon you may want to take an excursion up on one of the highest mountains in central Switzerland to enjoy panoramic views that will stay with you for a lifetime. Tonight join our optional Swiss Folklore and party dinner.
Day 12	Lucerne * Liechtenstein * Munich Drive to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein where the wealthy reigning prince still resides in an awesome castle overlooking Vaduz. Then it’s on to the fun-filled Oktoberfest city of Munich. After dinner there’s free time to check out the oom-pah-pah bands at the famous Hofbrauhaus.
Day 13	Munich * Salzburg - Austrian Alpine Center After a morning in Munich where we see the Glockenspiel chimes, we travel to Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthplace and home of the famous summer music festival. Walk down narrow streets lined with colorful wrought iron signs and shops in this quaint city where the classic movie "Sound of Music" was filmed. Continue to Europe's largest alpine sports region and be our guest for two nights of fitness and fun while nestled in the snow-capped Austrian mountains at our Alpine Center.
Day 14	Alpine Center: Optional Horseback Riding & Whitewater Rafting All day today is at your leisure; go for a hike in the Alps, take a ride on horseback through alpine meadows, or join the fun and excitement of whitewater rafting.
Day 15	Austrian Lake District * Venice The picturesque landscape of the Austrian Lake District brings us to sunny Italy’s Venice--”Sinking City in the Sea.” Walk to St. Mark’s Square, stop at a Murano glass-blowing workshop and watch famous Venetian glass being made. Join us on a romantic gondola ride this evening gliding through the intricate maze of canals beneath arched bridges passing 12th and 18th-century marble palaces.
Day 16	Venice, Florence Through the fertile Po Valley we approach Florence, Golden City of the Renaissance and birthplace of Michelangelo. Our local art expert shows us why Florence is considered the art capital of the world. See the Gates of Paradise, the marble Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Giotto's Belltower. Visit the Florentine leather workshop before embarking on free time for shopping and museums. We’ll dine at a lovely Florentine trattoria.
Day 17	Florence * Rome Travel past Chianti vineyards along the Highway of the Sun to the Eternal City of Rome. Leisure time to relax and enjoy “La Dolce Vita.” Visit Piazza Navona, one of the city's most beautiful squares, designed by the Baroque master, Bernini. Stop to toss three coins in Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome or just people-watch at a lively piazza while sampling the local "gelati" ice cream.
Day 18	Rome * Vatican City Today’s city tour takes us to the Colosseum, where gladiators were thrown to the lions, and the historical ruins of Caesar’s Forum. Then on to Vatican City – the world’s smallest state. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica housing Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” Our dinner tonight is a mouth-watering Roman Banquet complete with Italian specialties.
Day 19	Rome * Sorrento * Optional Tarantella Show Motor through sunny olive groves lining the way south to the Sorrento peninsula. Perched on the cliffs above the blue gulf of Naples, this is where Ulysses resisted the call of the Sirens in Homer’s “Odyssey.” Enjoy a free evening in Sorrento, or join an option to the famous Tarantella Show. The lively performance revolves around the history of the Kingdom of Naples with fabulous costumes, dancing and, of course, the sound of castanets, tambourines and melodies like “O sole Mio” and “Torna a Surriento” (Come back to Sorrento).
Day 20	Pompeii * Overnight Ship to Greece This morning travel to Pompeii, the city buried in 79 A.D. by 20 feet of ash and lava after Mt. Vesuvius' volcanic eruption. Explore the excavated streets still bearing the marks of chariot wheels from 2,000 years ago. A local guide will entertain us with stories of the buried city and its discovery. Then we cross the Italian boot and board our ferry for our overnight voyage to Greece.
Day 21, 22 & 23	Greek Island Center Cruising through aquamarine waters, our ship docks at Patras. Afterward, motor past olive groves along the Corinthian Sea coast across the Peloponnese to Galatas and Poros. Relax with three days of living like a Greek god on the idyllic isle of Poros: swim, sunbathe, or take part in optional activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, banana-boating or tubing. AESU invites you to our Farewell Toga Party on the last night.
Day 24	Athens * Optional Greek Taverna Farewell Dinner In the morning we board our hydrofoil and skim across the deep blue waves at over 32 knots. In Athens our guide shows us the perfectly proportioned 2,400-year-old Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Constitution Square. Your free afternoon may find you wandering along the very paths of Plato, Socrates and Sophocles or trying out your bargaining skills at Monasteraki Flea Market. Tonight, enjoy our Farewell Dinner with traditional bouzouki music and dancing at a typical taverna in the Plaka District - Athens' oldest neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis.
Day 25	Travel Home Reluctantly we say farewell to Europe and new-found friends. Jet back home with thoughts of planning your next European Adventure!

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