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: Welcome to Amsterdam (D)

Fall in love with the Lowlands, launching your holiday in the magical city of Amsterdam, whose labyrinthine canals and vibrant squares you will have an opportunity to explore on your own. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception cruise, including a light meal and welcome drink. Cruise the city’s famous waterways admiring the picture-perfect surrounds and gabled façades.
Hotel: Apollo or similar (3 nights)

Day 2: Explore Amazing Amsterdam (B)

Explore Amsterdam’s historic city centre 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.

Day 3: Discover Delft and Rotterdam (B)

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, consider a leisurely evening in one of the charming pleins lined with cosy cafés.

Day 4: Onwards to Maastricht, Bastogne and Luxembourg City (B/D)

The fortified city of Maastricht, with its beautiful old churches, ancient city walls, and stunning merchant houses, takes centre stage this morning. We spend some time strolling through its town centre before continuing to Bastogne, the site of bloody skirmishes in the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Visit the 12th-century Cistercian Orval Abbey, renowned for being one of the few breweries that produce Trappist beer before journeying to the Duchy of Luxembourg, where tonight we’ll dine in our hotel.
Hotel: Novotel Kirchberg or similar (2 nights)

Day 5: 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.

Day 6: Journey to Bruges (B)

En route to the enchanting medieval village of Bruges, we stop in Dinant whose famous son, Adolphe Sax, is credited with having invented the saxophone.
Hotel: De’ Medici or similar (2 nights)

Day 7: 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 on your own, immersing yourself in the old-world allure of this town. This evening, we Connect With Locals, joining a Belgian family at their Bruges farmstead to learn about Flanders farm life and enjoy dinner at an exclusive Be My Guest experience.

Day 8: Continue to Ghent and Brussels (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 to Brussels, a multi-cultural melting pot, which you will have an opportunity to explore after your Travel Director shows you the city’s highlights. See the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. This evening, consider sampling mouthwatering Belgian cuisine washed down with the city’s best beers. Our Stays With Stories hotel is the elegant Sofitel Brussels Europe. It’s surrounded by leafy parks, cafes and museums, in the heart of the tranquil European District.
Hotel: – Sofitel Europe or similar (2 nights)

Day 9: Brussels Your Way (B/D)

Embrace this day at leisure to explore the Belgian 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 free day at leisure. This evening we celebrate a memorable sojourn through three fascinating countries during a Farewell Dinner.

Day 10: Farewell Brussels (B)

We bid Belgium a fond adieu this morning as we prepare to close the curtain on a memorable holiday.