April 30-May 14
Land Tour from $2599.00 plus your choice of Eurail or Eurail Saver Pass
Join our popular multi-lingual escort Lyle McBride for a unique High Speed Rail Tour of Europe staying not only in London but in wonderful provincial centers: Tours in France, Luxembourg City in the tiny country of Luxembourg, and Utrecht in the Netherlands. Our trip is scheduled for the spring flower peak. It includes legendary Keukenhof Gardens, with the world's greatest display of tulips and daffodils against a backdrop of flowering trees and shrubs; and Floriade, the wonderful once-in-a-decade flower show, both in the Netherlands.
Intercity travel spotlights Europe's remarkable high-speed trains. From London to Lille we ride a high-speed EUROSTAR train through the "Chunnel" under the English Channel. From Lille to Tours (and later from Tours to Paris) we ride the 186 mph TGV speedsters of French Rail. Later we ride one of Germany's fast ICE trains. For contrast, we explore the tulip fields on the Dutch narrow gauge steam Hoorn-Medemblik Railway and ride regional trains in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Other transport highlights include a cruise on the Zuider Zee, a ride along the Moselle River past vineyards on German Rail regional service, and a tram (trolley car) journey in The Hague.
Although this trip is "not just the great cities", we have time for sightseeing in London, Paris and Amsterdam. Going beyond the standard tour, we visit some of the unique treasures of Europe so many travelers miss: the elegant Renaissance chateaus of the Loire Valley; the medieval streets of Tours; and Madurodam, Holland's unique miniature village. Our visit to Paris includes the treat of luncheon in the legendary Train Bleu Restaurant at the Gare du Lyon. The belle-epoch interior here is a French National Historic Landmark. Each participant also will have a Eurail or Eurail Saver Pass to allow personal exploration as desired. Complete details follow. ALL ABOARD!
Optional Pre-tour Day, Monday, April 29
Depart from home. Flights leave North America today for London. Rail Travel Center, through its partnership with Gateway Travel, can book connecting flights from your home.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Day One, Tuesday, April 30
London arrival. Flights arrive in London today. Participants booking flights to Gatwick Airport can use the direct Gatwick Express train to Victoria Station where our hotel, the Grosvenor, opens directly onto the Arrivals Hall. From Heathrow take the A1 Airlink Bus to Victoria Station. Fares are under $20 per person for either option. Passengers joining from the Springtime in the Alps Tour of Switzerland can travel from Interlaken all the way to London today by high-speed train. Ask us for details/schedules.
Day 2:
Day Two, Wednesday, May 1 (CB,D)
London. Since many Rail Travel Center clients have visited London before, this is an unstructured day for those wishing to do individual sightseeing. Our English tour manager Bob Bridger will join the group today to offer an optional day-trip to the scenic steam-powered Bluebell Railway. Fares should not exceed $25.00. This evening is our "Welcome Dinner" at Seafresh, a London seafood restaurant favored by Mr. Bridger! (The menu offers alternatives to seafood as well).
(B) (D)
Day 3:
Day Three, Thursday, May 2 (CB at hotel, B on the train, D in Tours)
186 mph EUROSTAR/TGV trains London-Lille-Tours, France. There is a short coach transfer to Waterloo Station to board the sleek new EUROSTAR train for France. While in England, the train reaches speeds of "only" 100 mph; in France the TGV routinely runs at 186 mph! We traverse the "Chunnel" enroute to Lille and change to a TGV. This service uses the new by-pass line around Paris directly to St. Pierre des Corps, the high-speed stop for Tours. We have a short shuttle train ride to the city center. Our home for four nights is the very comfortable Hotel Clarion de L'Univers, located just a block from the main station.
(B) (D)
Day 4:
Day Four, Friday, May 3 (CB,D)
City tour; afternoon visit to Blois Castle/Chateau. We begin today with a rubber-tired train overview of Tours, the principal town of the Loire Valley. Although damaged in World War II, the city has been beautifully rebuilt. Narrow streets from the Middle Ages contrast with lovely gardens and interesting shops. At mid-day we ride a regional train up the valley to the beautiful town of Blois for an afternoon visit to the spectacular Chateau du Blois, an early seat of French aristocracy. A king of France was murdered here! Nearby, at the Salle Robert-Houdin, is an unexpected and delightful event occurring on the hour. Don't miss it!
(B) (D)
Day 5:
Day Five, Saturday, May 4 (CB,L)
Chenonceau and Chambord chateaus in the Loire Valley. We travel by motorcoach to visit two of the most famous chateaus of France: elegant Chenonceau and beautiful Chambord. Both have precious furnishings, magnificent parklands and formal gardens. The astounding wealth of the "Ancien Regime" is vividly displayed here, as are the brilliant spring blooms in the gardens. We enjoy a fine luncheon during our tour.
(B) (L)
Day 6:
Day Six, Sunday, May 5 (CB)
Unstructured day. This is a completely open day. Our Eurail Passes can be used for visits to Paris, Chartres, Bordeaux, Nantes or La Rochelle. At 186 mph, places over 200 miles distant are barely an hour away! Mr. McBride will advise on options and join the trip in which there is the greatest interest. In addition, mini-bus trips are offered from Tours to visit other chateaux.
(B)
Day 7:
Day Seven, Monday, May 6 (CB,L)
TGV; Paris tour; lunch at Le Train Bleu; Eurocities train to Luxembourg. We ride a morning TGV back to Paris for a full-day city highlights tour, stopping at the Gare du Lyon for a superb lunch at the landmark Le Train Bleu Restaurant. The "Belle-Epoch" interior of this restaurant is a French National Landmark. Our tour continues this afternoon, ending at the Gare d'Est. We depart on a fast contemporary Eurocities train for Luxembourg City, capital of the tiny country of Luxembourg. A nice dinner in the diner can be purchased enroute between Paris and Metz. Our hotel for three nights is the Best Western Hotel International directly across from the depot.
(B) (L)
Day 8:
Day Eight, Tuesday, May 7 (CB)
Cologne and Trier in Germany. Luxembourg lies on the borders of France, Germany and Belgium, an excellent base from which to explore the nearby Ardennes hills and the Moselle and Rhine Valleys. In mid-morning we ride a German Rail train along the lovely Moselle River where hillsides are covered in vineyards. At Koblenz we transfer onto a sleek new high-speed ICE Express to Cologne. Here we see magnificent Cologne Cathedral, which almost miraculously escaped the total destruction Allied bombing brought to the rest of the city in 1944. We continue on the scenic Eiffel Line through rolling hills and deep forests to lovely Trier, changing trains for the short ride back to Luxembourg City. As an option, participants can stay over a few hours in Trier to see the stunning Roman gate-tower and enjoy dinner.
(B)
Day 9:
Day Nine, Wednesday, May 8 (CB)
Day in Luxembourg; We enjoy a tour of the fascinating city/state of Luxembourg this morning, followed by free time for independent explorations. Using our Eurail Passes, afternoon excursions are possible to France, Germany and Belgium!
(B)
Day 10:
Day Ten, Thursday, May 9 (CB,D)
Train to Utrecht and Gouda, The Netherlands. We travel through the hilly Ardennes Forest region of northern Luxembourg/eastern Belgium this morning, changing at Liege for the Dutch trains to Maastricht and Utrecht. Our home for five nights is the fine Park Plaza Hotel Utrecht, adjacent to the main railway station. This afternoon Mr. McBride leads an optional side trip by rail to nearby Gouda, the famous cheese-making town. Highlights there include an antique processional clock on the town hall and the glorious main church, which has a remarkable collection of stained-glass windows. There is no added expense for this excursion except a small contribution at the Gouda church.
(B) (D)
Day 11:
Day Eleven, Friday, May 10 (CB)
Alkmaar cheese market; Amsterdam by canal boat; Rijksmuseum. This morning we visit the renowned cheese market in the pretty Dutch village of Alkmaar before continuing to Amsterdam for a canal boat cruise, a visit to the Rijksmuseum (housing priceless Rembrandts), and free time to ride trams and explore. Amsterdam is only a half- hour by train from Utrecht. With at least two trains operating each hour, we can return to the hotel as we please.
(B)
Day 12:
Day Twelve, Saturday, May 11 (CB)
The Hague; Madurodam. Our included sightseeing uses a fast regional train to The Hague, capital city of the Netherlands. Here we visit Madurodam, a miniature reproduction of Holland with buildings, operating trains, stunning flowers and even working canal locks! By now we will recognize many of the locations we have visited. Travel to Madurodam is on a nice tram (trolley car) line through lovely parklands from Hague Central Station. We return via the North Sea coast and central city. We can return to Utrecht as we please, as trains run at least twice each hour.
If you choose to remain longer in The Hague area, a visit is possible to the lovely village of Delft, home of the renowned blue and white pottery. Eurail passes cover the train fares on the regular Netherlands Railways services, but for under $5.00 it is possible to go one-way from The Hague to Delft on a pretty intercity tram (interurban trolley car) line. Mr. McBride can advise on possibilities.
(B)
Day 13:
Day Thirteen, Sunday, May 12 (CB,L)
Dutch narrow gauge steam; cruise Zuider Zee; Folkloric Museum. Today we enjoy a full-day excursion by electric train, narrow gauge steam tram (train), and Zuider Zee boat. This morning we use mainline trains to Hoorn and board the narrow gauge Hoorn-Medemblik Steam Railway. This pretty line runs through brilliantly colored bulb fields to Medemblik on the shore of the Zuider Zee. Here we walk through the pretty village, enjoy an included lunch and board a cruise boat for a voyage on Holland's Zuider Zee, which is a former arm of the North Sea now cut off from the open ocean by dikes. Our afternoon is spent at the exceptional Zuider Zee Open Air Museum, which re-creates a 19th century Dutch fishing village. We return by electric train from Enkuizen to Utrecht in early evening.
(B) (L)
Day 14:
Day Fourteen, Monday, May 13 (CB,L,D)
Keukenhof Tulip Gardens; Floriade. We ride a local train to Leiden, then travel by motorcoach to the greatest tulip display garden anywhere: the stunning Keukenhof. On lands donated by the Queen of the Netherlands, Dutch bulb growers display an enormous variety of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other spring flowers. Each visit to the Keukenhof is different, as the entire display is replanted annually to highlight the best of Dutch horticulture. Later we continue by coach to Floriade 2002.Once every ten years the Dutch construct a special garden for a once in a decade flower show. Floriade will fill the afternoon with beauty! We return to Utrecht in time for our "Farewell Dinner" tonight!
(B) (L) (D)
Day 15:
Day Fifteen, Tuesday, May 14 (CB)
Departure. The tour ends with independent departures today. The Amsterdam Airport is served by direct trains from Utrecht.
EURAIL/EURAIL SAVER PASS PRICES
$554 per person for an individual Eurail Pass valid for 15 days
$470 per person for a Eurail Saver Pass valid for 15 days for 2-5 people traveling together at all times
Please note these prices are valid until December 15, 2001 for travel in April/May of 2002. Passes purchased after that date may be more expensive. Full payment for passes is required before December 15, 2001 to protect these rates.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
TOUR PRICES include all hotels; meals noted as included above; sightseeing; coach touring; EUROSTAR fares from London to Lille; admissions (except on unstructured days noted above); transfers and escort services. Luggage handling is included round-trip from hotels to the train stations, but you must be able to bring your own bag onto the trains as European railways do not offer checked baggage service. Luggage carts are available, and Mr. McBride will assist as well, but participants should pack lightly and expect to handle their own baggage on/off the trains between cities.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Garden Tours
Archeology/History
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