28 DAY Road to Athens EEMELA-8

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "28 DAY Road to Athens EEMELA-8"

Henry Roberts
6 years ago
Views:

28 DAY Road to Athens EEMELA-8 This tour visits: France, Spain, Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Greece In 2012 London proudly hosted the Olympic

As we tour Europe between these two Olympic-size cities we will experience the full list of events this fabulous region has to offer.

the night on Mykonos, this tour of Europe is a gold medal contender!

party on Mykonos Gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal, Venice 27 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 13 dinners 4 nights in hotels, 8

1 28 DAY Road to Athens EEMELA-8 This tour visits: France, Spain, Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Greece In 2012 London proudly hosted the Olympic Games, but Ancient Greece is where it all began. Now you can follow the torch's journey through history in reverse. As we tour Europe between these two Olympic-size cities we will experience the full list of events this fabulous region has to offer. From Paris to Barcelona, the Swiss Alps to Venetian canals; through the French Riviera and over rolling Tuscan hills; from sailing off Corfu to lighting up the night on Mykonos, this tour of Europe is a gold medal contender! The Bucket List More Inclusions Paris city driving tour 3 nights sailing in Greece French Riviera perfumery experience Local guide in Florence Sun, sea & party on Mykonos Gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal, Venice 27 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 13 dinners 4 nights in hotels, 8 nights in hostels, 3 nights sailing in Greece, 6 nights in bungalows at European campsites, 5 nights in canvas cabins & 1 night in a cabin on an overnight ferry English Channel crossings Modern air conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver + On- Site Chefs

2 Trip Itinerary Day 1 - London, England to Paris, France Spot French poodles on an epic driving tour. Pinch yourself and Instagram your first selfie before we dig into a gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower. Food matters. A lot. In Europe, it comes alive. Kick back and watch Paris sparkle. -Driving tour of Paris -Gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower Day 2 - Paris Grab your baguette and go. Run, don't walk. With Parisian charm crammed into every nook and cranny, make sure you hit all of the iconic haunts. This morning: free time en Francais. From the Louvre and Musée d'orsay to the l'arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, you'll be sure to make a solid dent in your bucket list. Later, if you are in the mood for an optional cabaret show, let us know - we'll sort it. Optional Activities: -Traditional cabaret show in Paris -Scenic river cruise on the Seine -Bike tour of Paris Day 3 - Paris to Bordeaux If you haven't gone fromage crazy just yet, grab a few wheels before we bid au revoir to Paree. Next, we make a quick stop in the heart of the Loire Valley. Later, enter Bordeaux, where vineyards rule. Drink the best drops of vin rouge and hear tales of how these fiery reds came to be. Raise a glass to the winemakers. -Visit to the Loire Valley -Visit to Château de Chambord Day 4 - Bordeaux to San Sebastian, Spain Roll out of France and onwards to the top of Spain where the beaches are flawless and the food is to-die-for. Get your bearings and spend the night on the hunt for the best sangria this side of town. And, GO!

3 Day 5 - San Sebastian to Barcelona, Spain Next up, rowdy Gaudí. Tonight: shall we dance? Prepare for an optional flamenco show. -Driving tour of Barcelona -Flamenco show in Barcelona Day 6 - Barcelona Barcelona has it all, from wacky architecture to culture, food and buzzing neighbourhoods. You won't be short of things to do. Day 7 - Barcelona to French Riviera, France Bye bye, Barça. Hello, turquoise waters and lush stylings of the French Riv. Get that selfie stick out as we roll on north along the coast to rub shoulders with the rich and famous at the world's most lavish waterfront property. Swap your patatas bravas for hearty French cooking and get ready for tomorrow's adventures. -Visit a traditional French perfumery Day 8 - French Riviera including Monaco visit Picture life in the fast lane as we roll through dazzling Monaco (ticking off another country in the process). Glitzy and glam? You bet your fur coat it is. Feeling lucky? Hit the tables at the Monte Carlo Casino and make it rain (or not). -Walking tour of Monaco Day 9 - French Riviera to Swiss Alps, Switzerland Out of the Riviera and onwards to the Alps. Aim high and think epic peaks. The scenes outside your window today play like a documentary on

4 'world's sexiest views'. Upon arrival, chow down on local cuisine and hit the bar for a nightcap. Day 10 - Swiss Alps Scenic hikes and jaw-dropping views are on today's agenda. Go low key with a mountain walk or hop on board the Jungfraubahn railway for an optional visit to the Jungfrau Mountain summit. Fairytale villages en route, plus skydiving out of a helicopter (if heights don't scare you). A local feast awaits your return, regardless of how you make your way back down. Optional Activities: -Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') -Skydiving in the Swiss Alps -Scenic helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps -Schilthorn cable car experience -Watch Shop Day 11 - Swiss Alps to Venice, Italy Seek out Juliet's balcony in Verona and wave before we push through to the canal-lined maze of Venice. Then, Venice - you know it as the floating city, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Check out St. Mark's Square, Accademia Bridge and a who's who of Venice's usual suspects. -Walking tour of Verona -Get yourself a trip T-shirt/hoodie Day 12 - Venice Keep dry with a walking tour of Venice's greats, before taking to the water on a vaporetto ride. Later, head into St Mark's Square, shoo pigeons and jump over the Rialto Bridge to find the best damn pizza before we leave tomorrow. -Walking tour of Venice -Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal

5 -Gondola ride in Venice Day 13 - Venice to Florence Renaissance beauty meets Italian style. Explore the streets of Florence with a local guide today. Florence has more stories than Bilbo Baggins, more culture than a Shoreditch hipster, over 1,800 restaurants and it gave the world gelato. Say ciao to cheeky David and strut along the Ponte Vecchio, gelato in hand. Later, delve into a higher state of culinary consciousness. -Walking tour of Florence with a local guide -Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower Day 14 - Florence to Rome Say hello to Rome. Handfuls of tourists flock here each year - with very good reason. First up: prepare yourself for THE ultimate walking tour (you'll become an amateur historian in no time). Cross off some red hot ruins, oodles of obelisks and of course, the big ticket sights. Refuel on pizza and espresso shots - you'll need them! -Walking tour of Rome Day 15 - Rome including Vatican City visit Create the ultimate Roman Holiday in one day with a whirlwind of Vespas, espresso, two-cheek kisses and pizza the way it's supposed to taste. Shop 'til you drop on Via Condotti, head to Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum or just kick back in Piazza Navona for some dolce far niente (delicious idleness). -Guided tour of Vatican City

6 Day 16 - Rome to Sailing in Greece via Overnight Ferry A road trip today: we're off to meet our overnight ferry to Greece, the land of gyros and all things amazing. Play connect-the-dots with the stars or let the swell rock you to sleep tonight. Day 17 - Sailing in Greece Bring on three great days of sailing on the Ionian Sea. What's not to love? Learn the ropes, navigate through awe-inspiring islands then laze on board like the god or goddess that you are. Day 18 - Sailing in Greece Free day in para-para-paradise. Loving it? We hope so! Soak up those rays and make the most of 50 shades of blue. Spin the compass and watch the world go by - remember, you're on sailing time so float on and relax. Day 19 - Sailing in Greece Found your sea legs yet? Another day of turquoise water and diving off boats. You could probably get used to this. Day 20 - Sailing in Greece to Athens Back on land, stretch your legs and explore the cradle of civilization on a guided tour. Cue jaw drop at the Acropolis and Parthenon then grab some yiros or hit the sack. -Driving tour of Athens

7 Day 21 - Athens to Mykonos Ferry over to Mykonos (aka 'that island with the cute windmills') for two nights of tropical bliss. Expect sun-soaked beaches, sinfully good local restaurants and a bustling nightlife. Day 22 - Mykonos The DJ is calling. Go forth and party. Day 23 - Mykonos Are you dreaming of another day in paradise? Great, you're in the right place. Soak up as much of this beautiful island as possible. Day 24 - Mykonos to Santorini Wave goodbye to Mykonos and try to contain your excitement as we arrive in Santorini - home to the world's best sunset. Day 25 - Santorini Get ready for more rom-com-worthy landscapes and views to write home about. After dark, hit the taverns to mingle with the locals. Day 26 - Santorini to Athens Whip out your camera and snap one last shot of Santorini's postcard-worthy scenery. We're catching the ferry back to Athens for a final dose of ancient architecture and tragic myths. Day 27 - Athens Today is all about YOU! Spend it however you wish. Take the day to get lost and spend your evening searching for Greek grub and live

8 entertainment at a traditional taverna. Day 28 - Athens Today we say farewell after breakfast. Number swap and get those FB deets - they're essential for planning that next adventure. Accommodation Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade - yeah!) or bungalows. The 'More Inclusions' section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip. The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App

9 Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

33 DAY Oceanic Empires EEMELD-8

33 DAY Oceanic Empires EEMELD-8 This tour visits: France, Spain, Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia Uncover Europe in all its glory and soak up all the culture,