Grand European Odyssey London to Rome - 15 Days

On arrival in London, we’ll transfer you to your hotel – you’ll then have free time to relax at your own pace. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details about the start of your tour. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We take a panoramic tour of London with a local guide, exploring the city’s culture and history as we pass the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames and Buckingham Palace – where, depending on the date, we may see the Changing of the Guard. In the evening we’ll meet in Piccadilly for a guided stroll through Leicester Square, Chinatown and Soho, known for their lively atmosphere and theatres. You can choose a restaurant for dinner before we return to the hotel.

In the morning, we visit the British Museum – one of the world’s oldest – to see remarkable collections that trace cultures from across the globe. Around lunchtime, after some free time, we continue to Camden, famed for its lively market. You can browse the eclectic stalls and choose lunch from the many food stands or small restaurants.

At around 4.00 pm we leave London for Colchester – the oldest recorded town in England – for a short walk through its historic centre. We then continue to Harwich to board the overnight ferry to the Netherlands, staying in en suite cabins.

Important note: Due to limited cabin availability, the route may be adjusted. We may travel from London to Amsterdam via a daytime ferry with an overnight stay in Antwerp, or alternatively by train or flight to Amsterdam.

Around 8 am we arrive in the Netherlands at Hoek van Holland and continue to Volendam, a traditional fishing village. We then travel to Amsterdam for a guided tour taking in key highlights – a classic windmill and the Rembrandt statue, the contemporary South district, and the tradition of diamond cutting at Museum Square. The tour ends at the central station, where our guide will share practical tips so you can explore the city, its canals and street markets independently.

After breakfast, we drive into Belgium – just over 200 kilometres to Brussels, the capital and home to key European institutions. Before reaching the city centre, we make a brief stop at the Atomium, the city’s most iconic landmark. In the historic heart of Brussels, we admire the splendid Grand Place – a showcase of Flemish Baroque – and stroll past the symbolic Manneken Pis, in a city where history, chocolate and modernity meet. In the afternoon, we continue into France, arriving in Paris towards the end of the day.

We visit the Palace of Versailles – admission not included – with time to enjoy its celebrated gardens. Back in Paris, we explore Montmartre, known for its artists and cabarets, then take a panoramic tour with a local guide to see the city’s grand avenues and iconic landmarks. We return to the hotel afterwards. In the evening, you can choose to attend an optional variety show.

We start in central Paris with a visit to the Eiffel Tower – tickets to the second floor are included. We then enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Seine lasting around one hour and fifteen minutes. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your own pace – please note that the return transfer to the hotel is not included. If queues at the Eiffel Tower are very long, we may reschedule the visit to a different time – or to Sunday – for your convenience.

We travel into the heart of France through Burgundy, famed for its vineyards and wines. Our first stop is Beaune, a charming town at the centre of the region known for its flower‑filled streets, historic hospice and wine museum. You’ll have free time here for lunch and a stroll before we continue to Lyon on the banks of the Rhône. Lyon’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site – we take the cable car up to Notre Dame de Fourvière for panoramic views over the city – then you’ll have time to explore at your own pace. In some cases, part of the group will stay in Chambéry, near Lyon – in these instances we travel there in the evening for the overnight. The following morning, you’ll have time to visit this medieval style city, the capital of Savoy, with its beautiful historic centre and impressive castle.

We travel into Switzerland and arrive in Geneva, where we pass the Palais des Nations – the European headquarters of the United Nations – then walk through the English Garden to see its flower clock and pause to admire the Jet d’Eau, the tallest fountain in Europe. After lunch, we continue across Switzerland along the shores of Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel, following the Three Lakes route with vineyard and mountain views. We stop in Neuchâtel, where you can stroll by the lake, explore the historic centre or visit the 10th–century castle. We reach Zurich in the late afternoon. Note: Depending on passenger numbers between Geneva and Zurich, this sector may operate by train – in which case there will be no stop in Neuchâtel.

With our guide, we’ll explore Zurich, Switzerland’s most populous city and a major cultural and financial hub that has twice been ranked the world’s best for quality of life. We then board a scenic Lake Zurich cruise – nearly two hours – with brief stops to take in the character of lakeside villages. We disembark in Rapperswil, known for its medieval castle, and return to Zurich by train to experience the efficiency of the Swiss rail network. Depending on group size, transfers to and from the city centre may be by public transport.

We leave Zurich for a day of Swiss mountain scenery, travelling through the Interlaken region to Grindelwald. We pause for coffee, then take the cable car up the mountain. At the top, we follow a winding path to a suspended bridge – cross it if you wish for spectacular views of the surrounding glaciers. Lunch on the mountain is included. We then descend and continue to Lucerne, where you have time to explore at your own pace, before we return to Zurich.

If you prefer, you can opt for an optional full day excursion offered by your guide, starting in the morning – after some free time in Lucerne, you take the rotating cable car to the summit of Mount Titlis, at over 3,000 metres, for expansive views of the glacier and the Alps.

We leave Zurich early and cross the Alps into Switzerland’s Italian–speaking region. Our first stop is Bellinzona – renowned for its three medieval castles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites set on the hills above the town. You’ll have free time to wander the historic centre. We then enter Italy and stop in Como for lunch, a town known for its lakeside gardens and notable cathedral. We continue to Milan, where our guide leads us to Piazza del Duomo – you’ll have a little time to explore before we transfer to the hotel.

Leaving Milan, we travel south to Pisa. On arrival, we take the small tourist train to Piazza dei Miracoli – the Square of Miracles – where you’ll have free time to admire the cathedral complex, including the famous Leaning Tower. We then continue to Rome, arriving later in the day.

This morning we take a three hour guided tour of Rome – combining a walk through Imperial Rome with a panoramic coach drive – to see the Arch of Constantine, the exterior of the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pyramid of Cestius and Castel Sant’Angelo. The tour ends at Vatican City around 11:00 am. Afterwards, you can join an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In the evening, we include a transfer to Trastevere – known for its cosy restaurants and lively atmosphere – with return to the hotel around 8:30 pm.

After breakfast, our services conclude in Rome – we hope you leave with lasting memories of your journey.