Sightseeing Highlights

• Explore the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Luxembourg City and Bruges with a Local Specialist
• Visit General George Patton’s Grave in Luxembourg City, Orval Abbey, Dinant and a lace making workshop in Bruges
• Scenic Cruise on the canals of Amsterdam and Bruges
• Tickets for Keukenhof Tulip Bulb fields are included during the flowering season (end of March until mid-May)
• Discover Amsterdam, Maastricht, Ghent and Brussels
• View The American Memorial at Bastogne
• Tickets for Floriade Expo in Almere (mid-April until end of September)

Day 1: Arrive Brussels (D)
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome
Dinner.
Hotel: Martin’s Brussels / Le Louise Hotel Brussels Mgallery or similar (2 nights)

Day 2: Brussels Your Way (B)
Today, your Travel Director will take you on anorientation tour of Brussels, see the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. After you will have an opportunity to explore the capital as you wish, stroll past the Royal Palace and through the leafy lanes of Brussels Park or indulge in tasting delicious chocolate. Your Travel Director will assist you to make the most out of your remaining day at leisure.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Waterloo Explored – In 1815 Napoleon fought his famous last battle here against the Duke of Wellington. You’ll visit the battlefields and monuments and discover how the face of Europe was changed forever. You’ll also see the famous iron lion monument on top of the hill, which you can climb if you wish. The monument was built by the widows of veterans and you’ll hear their story as you gaze at the spectacular panoramic view.
Adult: 51.00 EUR

Antwerp Unveiled – Join this half-day experience to Antwerp, the second largest city and biggest port of Belgium.
Discover the city with your Local Specialist and see the largest Gothic cathedral of Belgium, famous for its artworks byPeter Paul Rubens. You can also enjoy a traditional beer or waffle in the beautiful square right by the Cathedral.
Adult: 51.00 EUR

Day 3: Continue to Ghent and Bruges (B)
Delve into centuries of trade heritage in the medieval port city of Ghent, with its picturesque riverine backdrop. See the three famous towers – Saint Nicholas Church, the Belfry and Saint Bavo’s Cathedral – before continuing on to Bruges.
Hotel: De’ Medici or similar (2 nights)

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Ypres Excursion and Last Post Ceremony – Travel with your Local Specialist to the historic town of Ypres, a ‘city of
peace’ known for its involvement in World War I. Visit two well-known cemeteries and attend the famous Last Post
Ceremony, which commemorates the fallen of the British Army and her allies on the surrounding Flanders Fields.
You’ll also have the chance to visit Ypres’ lovely market square and take in the atmosphere of this unique location.
Adult: 57.00 EUR

Day 4: Uncover the Treasures of Bruges (B/D)
Wake up in beautiful Bruges and join a Local Specialist for a walking tour of the town. Take to the water and enjoy a whimsical sightseeing cruise along the city’s wonderful canals lined with Gothic façades. Dive Into Culture next
and admire the delicate art of Belgian lace. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, immersing yourself in the oldworld allure of this town, indulge your taste buds on an Optional Experience discovering Belgium’s Best Traditions and Tastes, before joining the rest of your group for a 3-course evening meal.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Belgium’s Best Traditions and Tastes – You’ll discover all the secrets and techniques that make Belgian chocolate the most exquisite in the world. Then head to a Belgian Brewery to savor a selection of Belgian beers.
Adult: 53.00 EUR

Magical Bruges by Horse and Carriage – Experience a magical carriage ride by the colorful canals and squares of the
Venice of the North. You’ll see the Lake of Love with its gliding swans, the ornate bridges, the step-gabled houses
reflecting in the canals and hear the bells of the carillon chiming.
Adult: 45.00 EUR

Day 5:  Journey to Luxembourg (B/D)
En route to the Duchy of Luxembourg, we stop in Dinant whose famous son, Adolphe Sax, is credited with having
invented the saxophone. Visit the 12th-century Cistercian Orval Abbey for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This abbey is renowned for being one of the few breweries that produce Trappist beer. Tonight, we
wine and dine at our hotel.
Hotel: Parc Hotel Alvisse Luxembourg / Doubletree by Hilton Luxembourg / Hotel Novotel Luxembourg
Kirchberg (2 nights)

Day 6: See the Sights of Luxembourg City (B)
This morning, we pay tribute to Allied Forces hero, General George S. Patton, whose final resting place is
the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. Later, we embark on a leisurely walking tour of
Luxembourg City with a Local Specialist. Our route takes us past the Cathedral and the Grand Ducal Palace, with
its Flemish Renaissance façades, and includes spectacular views of the gorge of the rivers Alzette and Petrusse.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure soaking up the quaint atmosphere of this tiny country or indulge in a
coffee while you people-watch in the leafy Place d’Armes – the choice is yours.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Discover the Roman City of Trier – Drive into Germany to visit the ancient Roman city of Trier, home town of Karl Marx. Sightseeing with a Local Specialist will reveal the superb Porta Nigra and the Imperial Baths, the largest outside Rome. You’ll also walk through the old town to see the fine Liebfrauenkirche, as well as Marx’s house. After free time in the center, we’ll proceed to the nearby hills for great views over the Moselle River and the surrounding wine region.
Adult: 43.00 EUR

Day 7: Onwards to Bastogne, Maastricht and Amsterdam (B)
Continue on to Bastogne, the site of bloody skirmishes in the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Next the fortified
city of Maastricht takes center stage, we spend some time strolling through its town center before journeying
to the magical city of Amsterdam, where we will cruise the city’s famous waterways admiring the pictureperfect surrounds and gabled façades.
Hotel: Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, a Tribute Portfolio or similar (3 nights)

Day 8: Explore Amazing Amsterdam (B)
Explore Amsterdam’s historic city center this morning. Dive Into Culture as you join a Small Group Sightseeing
tour of the Rijksmuseum with a Local Specialist. Come face-to-face with such masterpieces as Rembrandt’s ‘The
Night Watch’, Van Gogh’s self-portrait, and ‘The Milkmaid’ by Vermeer. Celebrate spring and enjoy an
included visit to Keukenhof (subject to season) where you’ll stroll through an enchanting wonderland of tulips,
daffodils and hyacinths with millions of blooms planted across the 32-hectare site.
Hotel: Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel or similar

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
You will be offered one of the following two optional experiences depending on availability: Hidden Amsterdam – We’ll pay a visit to The Royal Palace in Amsterdam with our Local Specialist. Built in 1648, it originally served as the Town Hall and is still in use by the Dutch Royal Family today. It has also been a Napoleonic Palace, before its current role. Its rich history and the interior of this magnificent building in the heart of Amsterdam make this a must see.
Adult: 57.00 EUR

Van Loon Museum – In the heart of the canal district lies Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence built in 1672. The former residence of the artist Ferdinand Bol, the 18th-century interior still evokes the splendor of the
Golden Age. With our Local Specialist, we’ll discover the large collection of paintings, fine furniture, precious silver
and porcelain from several centuries. A short walking tour in the heart of the city gives a glimpse behind the façades of Amsterdam’s world-famous canals and immerses you in an authentic Amsterdam experience.
Adult: 49.00 EUR

Muiderslot, a Genuine Castle – We’ll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to the imposing Muiderslot Castle, for real taste of Dutch history. It’s part of Amsterdam’s Defense Line and features on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During your guided tour through rooms refurbished in 17th-century style, it’s easy to picture yourself in a
Rembrandt painting, as it evokes the period when Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, known as the “Dutch Shakespeare”,
occupied the castle. We’ll also enjoy a garden tour and a refreshment in a typical Dutch Inn.
Adult: 65.00 EUR

Monnickendam Dinner & Dutch Countryside – A beautiful countryside drive brings us to historic Monnickendam, the small fishing village that was formerly a major Dutch port. A walk along the wonderful streets and past lovely gabled houses brings us to the town’s former cheese weigh-house, now an atmospheric restaurant, for a delicious threecourse dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks.
Adult: 68.00 EUR

Day 9: Discover Delft and Rotterdam (B/D)
Soak up the gezellig Dutch atmosphere this morning, before heading to Delft via The Hague. We Dive Into Culture during a visit to the Royal Delft Pottery workshop and admire the delicate blue and white porcelain that has made this historic town famous. We continue our journey south, arriving in the edgy port city of Rotterdam where we will enjoy an informative orientation tour. Heading back to Amsterdam, we join together for a Be My Guest Farewell Dinner.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Kinderdijk Exploration and Boat Ride – Join us to discover the spectacular straight line of 19 working windmills at the Kinderdijk. Part of a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site and situated below sea-level, they were built around 1740 to pump water out of the reclaimed ‘polder’ lands. You’ll also admire the classic Dutch landscape between the Rhine river branches of the delta, during a relaxing boat ride.
Adult: 44.00 EUR

Day 10: Depart Amsterdam (B)
Bid Amsterdam a fond farewell. After breakfast, transfer to the airport.