1. LONDON, PARIS, FLORENCE, AND ROME 2017 SAMPLE TOUR SCHEDULE

2. *DISCLAIMER
This Presentation is an example of how this tour may run. All times and durations are subject to change, and the order of activities may be switched or substituted as needed based on availability, time allotments, and weather.

3. Day 1: Overnight flight to Europe
Depart North America on an overnight flight to Europe.
Albuquerque, Minneapolis, London

4. Day 2: Welcome to Europe London A most hearty welcome to London!
You will meet the other group(s) on your tour either at the airport (if they arrive within 2 hours of your flight) or, if they have a much later arrival, they will join you in town.
From the airport you'll hop on your bus and ride into the city center while your Tour Director sets the stage for your tour, outlines safety procedures and introduces you to London.
London

5. Day 2: (continued) London
You will have the chance to see the London Eye and Parliament before enjoying some time around Covent Garden. Here, you can visit shops and market stalls, watch street performers, meet locals, or sit and enjoy people watching.
London

6. Day 2: (continued) London
The rest of the afternoon will be spent exploring Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.
Following dinner in town, you will head to your hotel for an early evening.
London

7. Day 3: Birth of London and the Identity of England
Good morning! Your Tour Director will get things started with a 5-10 minute overview of the day and facilitate initial reflections. Then you'll travel into London the way the locals do—via the Tube!
London

8. Day 3: (continued) London
The theme of the day is the "Birth of London and the Identity of England." First visit the Tower of London.
After lunch on your own, you will take a walking tour led by one of London's own Blue Badge Guides, you will learn how the Thames River plays such a crucial role in the life of London, contrast historical and contemporary themes, walk through historic Green Park, see Buckingham Palace and Parliament Square. (Approximately 3 hours)
London

9. Day 3: (continued) London
You will have the choice of riding the London Eye or exploring London ‘your way.’
London Eye- Soar into the sky aboard the London Eye, a 40-story, 32-capsule observation wheel that offers spectacular views of the city. Also enjoy the 4D Experience, a 3D film complete with in-theater special effects like wind, snow and mist.
London

10. Day 3: (continued) London
You'll have dinner at a local restaurant then choose from a variety of activities your Tour Director can help you arrange, including theaters, taking a themed walking tour*, shopping or visiting a late night museum (some options may require extra fee)
When you are ready, make your way back to your hotel via public transport
We took the “Jack the Ripper” Tour in 2015
London

11. Day 4: From London to Paris
Get ready to say goodbye to London! But before you go one last stop (time permitting) to see the iconic Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
London

12. Day 4: Continued
After this you will head for St. Pancras station to board your Eurostar to Paris. You will need to arrive approximately one and a half hours before departure. This high-speed train is the most convenient way to get between these two city centers.
In a little over two hours, it's bonjour and welcome to Paris—one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Note: Luggage space is limited on trains. You will need to have your passport available for check-in. Upon arrival in France the time zone changes one hour forward.
London

13. Eurostar Train: Paris to London
2 hour trip
London to Paris

14. Day 4: (continued) Paris
You will arrive in the center of Paris and, after loading your luggage onto the bus you will go directly up to Montmartre for an overview of the city and a chance to parlez Francais.
From here travel to the heart of this planned city to see the landmark Opéra de Paris building before enjoying a local dinner and heading to hotel for check-in.
You have been in two major global cities and there is much to consider. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to try out your French and that the stage has been set for deeper exploration of Paris tomorrow.
Paris

15. Day 5: Highlights of Paris
Bonjour. After breakfast you will board your bus and drive to the historic Notre Dame Cathedral. Using a fun and engaging approach, your Tour Director will reveal the secrets associated with the design of the church.
Following this visit, a local guide takes you on a walk through the Latin Quarter, ending at Luxembourg Gardens (2 hours).
Before lunch, drive through Place de la Concorde and past the Madeleine Church before heading along Champs-Élysées and ending at the Arc de Triomphe.
Paris

16. Day 5: (continued) Paris
Versailles-Continue with the bus and guide to Versailles.
Free time for lunch upon arrival (1 hour).
Interior visit of the chateau (1 hour)
Free time to visit the gardens (1 hour).
Return to Paris where the bus will drop the group off to meet the rest of the group for a dinner in a central location.
Paris

17. Day 5: (continued) Paris
After a group dinner, you will have different options for your Paris by night. You can head up the modern Montparnasse Tower for a superb view over the city or take a boat ride along the Seine River (both for an additional fee) or take an evening stroll to see many of the main sites illuminated.
After a busy day, you can relax on your way back to the hotel on your bus (approximately 45 minutes).
By now, you have a much better idea of how to navigate two major global cities. No doubt, you have begun to compare how these cities function as you make observations on how they feel to the newcomer (or the repeat visitor).
Paris

18. Day 6: Skills to last a lifetime
Your last full day in Paris. You will leave the hotel and head into the city on your bus.
Art is a defining feature of life in Paris. This morning you can choose to spend time visiting either the galleries of the Louvre or Musée d'Orsay. (Approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes)
Paris

19. Day 6: (Continued) Paris
In the afternoon, you will jump on the bus and drive to the city’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower (approximately 1 hour).
Paris

20. Day 6: (Continued) Paris
After your final group dinner in Paris, you will head back to the hotel to pack and get ready for the upcoming days in Italy and your flight to Florence the next day.
Au revoir, Paris.
Paris

21. Day 6: (Continued) Paris
You are leaving Paris having achieved so much: practicing new language skills, learning and using a different money system, and seeing some of the most iconic sites in all of Europe. You have experienced life in a planned capital city which you can contrast with your time in London (and at home). Your time included learning how to make the most of any museum in the world and how to ‘read’ the iconography of a Gothic Cathedral. You have shopped for groceries and gifts, worked with your fellow travelers to navigate the Métro and gotten everywhere you needed to be.
Paris

22. Day 7: Partaking in Italian Customs
Buongiorno and benvenuti in Italia! You will arrive at the Florence airport in the morning and spend the rest of the day getting to know one of the most enchanting cities in all of Italy.
Florence

23. Day 7: (Continued) Florence
To introduce you to Florence, your bus will take you up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of this great city. Here, your Tour Director will give you some important information about Florence and Italy and help you learn some basic phrases in Italian to help you get by and interact with the locals.
In addition, you can pop into San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful church with frescos in various stages of completion. This is one of the best places to better understand this artistic process.
Florence

24. Day 7: (Continued) Florence
Once you understand the area, your bus will drop you near Ponte Vecchio where you will have time for lunch on your own before a local guide leads you on a tour (1 hour, 30 minutes) to the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo, getting you acquainted with the city center.
Florence

25. Day 7: (Continued) Florence
The rest of the afternoon will be discovery time. Visit the market and try out your negotiation skills to purchase souvenirs, climb the bell tower at the Duomo, taste your first Italian gelato, check out the gorgeous leather (a specialty in Florence) or visit one of the famous art galleries.
Before dinner in town, join the locals and enjoy the Italian custom of ‘la passeggiata’—an evening stroll. After dinner and a long and exciting day, you will board your bus and check-in to your hotel.
Florence

26. Day 7: (Continued) Florence
England, France and now Italy - your third and final country on this tour! So many new experiences to consider. After the hustle and bustle of both London and Paris, how did you find Florence? Did navigating this city seem easier or more difficult? Comparing and contrasting these three wonderful cities may provoke different responses from your fellow travelers. See what they think!
Florence

27. Day 8: The Italian countryside
Today you travel through the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside to Rome. (4 hours)
Tuscany

28. Day 8: (Continued)
Mid-day you will arrive and begin your introduction to the Eternal City.
After lunch on your own, it is time for another world class site: Vatican City! An expert local guide will help you understand all of the most important aspects of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica (2 hours). The art, the architecture and the sacred space are truly inspiring.
Rome

29. Day 8: (Continued)
From the Vatican it is a short walk along the river to Piazza Navone, one of the great squares of Rome, with sculptures by Bernini, street artists, souvenir vendors and great gelato.
After dinner at a local restaurant, you will witness the beauty of Rome by night as your Tour Director leads you to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps before heading to the hotel for check-in.
Rome

30. Day 8: (Continued)
As you wind down from yet another action-packed day, think about the variety of places you have seen in Italy. From Florence, to Assisi and through the countryside into the famed city of Rome, did you see places and people that reminded you of the town or region you are from? Most striking to many is the clash of ancient and modern in such close proximity.
Rome

31. Day 9: Making connections from the classroom
You will spend part of the morning at the Colosseum and then join a local guide for a walk through the Forum and up the Capitoline Hill (2 hours). Now is the time to dig deep into your memory of world history and ancient civilization classes and connect what you know to the places you will visit.
Rome

32. Day 9: ( Continued)
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to partake in an Italian Sweet Treat Cooking Class (for an additional fee) or enjoy self-guided discovery time among famous Roman sights, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps.
Rome

33. Day 9: ( Continued)
In the kitchen: A sweet taste of Italy Discover why food plays such an integral role in Italy’s culture as you dive into this hands-on cooking class. Together with expert chefs, learn how to make delicious gelato, cookies, and biscuits. As you make the treats, your chefs will share stories about the importance of food in Italy, including the history of biscuits and why they’re used to celebrate special days. You’ll find out the tricks of Italian cuisine, learn all about the ingredients you’re using, and walk away with a new (delicious) Italian vocabulary. At the end of the class, you’ll be able to taste and enjoy what you and your group have created. You’ll also be able to take cookies home (if there’s any left!).
Rome

34. Day 9: ( Continued)
After dinner in the city center, your bus will take you back to the hotel where you will check in for the night
Rome

35. Day 10: Transfer to Sorrento Region via Pompeii Sightseeing
Morning: Transfer to Pompeii (4hrs).
Afternoon: Upon arrival free time for lunch and souvenir shopping and a possible cameo demonstration (1hr30mins). Meet the local guide for walking tour of the ruins (2hrs). Transfer to central Sorrento (1hr15mins) for free time (1hr).
Evening: Transfer to hotel for dinner.
Pompeii

36. Day 11: Transfer to Rome via Capri Sightseeing
Morning: Depart from hotel to ferry terminal in Sorrento and take ferry to Capri (45mins). The group will take an island tour with guided commentary (1hr30mins).
Guide will take group up to Capri Town via funicular (5mins) and will give a short walking tour (15mins) across the island to the "Garden of Augustus" where there are great views down on the Faraglioni Rocks.
Isle of Capri

37. Day 11: (Continued) Isle of Capri
Afternoon: Free time for lunch and shopping (2hrs). Return to the marina and take ferry back to Naples (55mins). Depart Naples and transfer to Rome (3hr30mins).
Evening: Transfer to the hotel in Rome for dinner. Group will not visit central Rome on this day.
Isle of Capri

38. Day 12: Flight home Rome, Atlanta, Albuquerque
Transfer to the Rome airport for flight home.
Rome, Atlanta, Albuquerque