On arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport, you will be met by your driver and taken on a half day tour of London en route to your accommodation. View Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and entry to the London Museum.
Days 2 & 3, London
These days are spent exploring and enjoying London using your 48 hours “Hop on Hop off” bus tour ticket. Your ticket includes three walking tours and a river cruise.
Day 4, London – Hastings – Portsmouth
Travel south to Hastings where you will visit Battle Abbey, the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. On October 14, 1066, Norman duke William the Conqueror defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Continue along the coast to the Royal Dockyards in Portsmouth. Here, there are several ships to discover with the most famous, Nelson’s flagship – the HMS Victory. Overnight will be in the Portsmouth area.
Day 5, Portsmouth – Stonehenge – BathFirst stop will be Salisbury Cathedral.
Begun in 1220, the chapter house has one of only four surviving Magna Cartas, the bill of rights signed in 1215. Close are the pre-historic landscapes surrounding Stonehenge. The circle is believed to be about 5000 years old and it is now believed the great stones are aligned to the stars as well as the sun. Continue to Bath for overnight.
Day 6, Bath
This morning visit the Assembly Rooms including admission to the Costume Museum which houses a collection of fashions from the seventeenth century to the present time. Then visit Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Free afternoon for further exploration of Bath.
Day 7, Bath – Oxford
Travel to Oxford where you will enjoy a University and City walking tour. Your guide will lead you through the heart of the historic city centre illustrating the history of Oxford and its University and describing the architecture and traditions of its most famous buildings and institutions. Late this afternoon travel to London for your last day in England.
Day 8, London – Bruges
This morning transfer to the St. Pancras International station for travel to Bruges, Belgium, Take time to settle into your hotel and familiarise yourself with the city.
Day 9, Bruges
Enjoy a guided walking tour of Bruges nicknamed “the small Venice of the North” with its typical architecture, colourful charm, art of living and its hundred years old traditions. Your tour through the heart of the old city will include: the Beguinage, then the Burg Square with the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Gothic style City Hall and the magnificent Market Square, its quaint houses with decorated facades and the indoor market with the Belfry. Your tour will conclude with a cruise on Bruges famous canals. This afternoon perhaps visit to the Museum of Flemish art or browse for handmade lace and Belgian chocolates
Day 10, to Ypres
Travel by coach to Ypres, a town at the centre of intense fighting between the Germans and the Allied forces in World War I. Today your tour takes in the Messines Ridge (June 1917), Caterpillar/Hill 60 (site of Australian mining operations), Menin Road &Polygon Wood (September 1917; 5th Australian Division memorial), and Passchendaele - then into Ypres itself for night in hotel, with attendance at the 8 p.m. Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate memorial to the Missing Soldier.
Day 11, to Amiens & CaenTravel to Villers Brettoneux
Visit the Franco-Australian Museum, situated on the first floor of the Victoria School; this is the school that displays the inscription "N'oublions jamais l'Australie". See the 3rd Australian division memorial and follow the route of the famous advance of 8th August 1918. Then visit the Historial de la Grande Guerre at Peronne, a very modern museum portraying conditions on the Western Front and then the 2nd Australian Division memorial at Mont St Quentin. Continue to Caen for overnight
Day 12, to D-Day Landing, Bayeux & Paris
This morning visit Omaha Beach and Gold Beach before returning to Bayeux to view the tapestry. This afternoon travel to Paris.
Days 13 & 14 Paris
These days are spent exploring and enjoying Paris using your 2 days Paris Visite card, zones 1-5. Entry fees are included to the Louvre, Pantheon, Hotel d’Invalides, Arc de Triomphe and the Palace of Versailles (Versailles with audio-guide).
On arrival in Paris transfer to selected accommodation. En route enjoy a sightseeing tour which will include the following landmarks: Opéra district, Louvre Pyramid, Concorde Square, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Quai and Musée d’Orsay, Pont Neuf, Bastille Square, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Garden’s, Saint Germain-des-Près.
Day 2, Paris
Free day to explore and enjoy Paris.
Day 3, Paris - Versailles - Loire Valley
Departure from Paris and beginning of the French countryside tour. Stops at the Palais de Versailles. Continue to Chartres to see the magnificent cathédral, then to the Loire Valley
Day 4, Loire Valley
Loire Valley : visit of the magnificent castles of Chambord and Chenonceau. Dinner and overnight in the Loire Valley area.
Day 5, Loire Valley – Limoges
Continue south via Poitiers, Oradour and arrival to Limoges, renowned for its fine porcelain and enamels.
Day 6, Limoges – Toulouse
Travel through the picturesque Black Perigord region and arrival to the beautiful city of Toulouse.
Day 7, Toulouse
Toulouse : famous for French spatial industry. Visit of the old districts and the basilica of St Sernin.
Day 8, Toulouse – Carcassone – Montpellier
Today visit Carcassone, a city with fortifications from medieval times. Finish the tour at Montpellier where participants meet the host families.
Day 9 to Day 13. Homestay & Language Study
Montpellier, a dynamic city where technology and tradition co-exist side by side. Very important university centre. Home-stay programme includes 15 lessons of French, local visits and one full day excursion to Nîmes or Avignon.
Day 14, Montpellier – Paris
Today you farewell your homestay families and return by TGV to Paris.
Arrive Paris this morning; transfer to your centrally located hotel.Free time to relax and settle in.
Day 2, tour Paris
Morning city sightseeing tour which includes the following major landmarks:Opéra district, Louvre Pyramid, Concorde Square, Champs Élysées,Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Quai and Musée d'Orsay, Pont Neuf,Bastille Square, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Garden's,Saint Germain-des-Près, etc. Afternoon free to further explore and enjoy Paris.
Day 2 & Day 3, explore Paris
Continue to explore and enjoy Paris.Day 4, tour to Palace Of VersaillesMorning tour to of the Palace of Versailles with guided visit.
Day 5, to Verdun & Homestays
En route to your homestays travel through the Champagne region to Reims and then to Verdun for lunch. Time for optional sightseeing which may include the Cathedrale & Palais Episcopal in Ville Haute, Musee de la Princerie and the Porte Chaussee. Travel then to the French/German border to meet your homestay families.
Day 6 to Day 9, Homestay & School Visits
These days are spent with your homestay families and attending the local school.
Day 10, to Hohenschwangau
This morning it is time to farewell your hosts and travel via Stuttgart and Ulm to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. Overnight Hohenschwangau.
Day 11 to Munich
This morning travel to Garmisch Partenkirchen and then to Munich. This afternoon visit Marienplatz to view the Altes Rathaus, Peterskirche,Heiliggeiskirche and listen to the Glockenspiel (5pm).
Day 12 to Dachau & Rothenburg o. d. Tauber
This morning tour to the site of the Dachau concentration camp. Travel then to Augsburg for lunch. Time to see the Maria Stern Kloster, the Rathaus,the Perlachturm and the tower of St. Urlich und Afra Basilika. This afternoon continue along the Romantic Road via Donauworth, Nordlingen and Dinkelsbuhl to Rothenburg o.d t. for overnight.
Day 13 Rothenburg o. d. Tauber
This morning time to explore and enjoy one of Germany's finest medieval villages. Sightseeing may include the Rathaus, the re-enactment of the Meistertrunk,a stroll along the city wall and St. Jacob's Church with its impressive towers and carved altars. You will also have time for some last minute shopping.
Day 14, to Australia
Depart this morning to Frankfurt Airport to board flight to Australia.
Arrive CDG Airport and transfer to your hotel. En route enjoy a sightseeing tour which will include the following landmarks: Opéra district, Louvre Pyramid, Concorde Square, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Quai and Musée d’Orsay, Pont Neuf, Bastille Square, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Garden’s, Saint Germain-des-Près. Free time to relax and settle in.
DAY 2 TO DAY 6, PARIS
These days are spent exploring and enjoying many experiences Paris has to offer using your Paris visite card 5 days, zones 1 - 3
DAY 7, PARIS - LOIRE VALLEY -RENNES
Today enjoy a full day tour to Loire Valley with entrance fees included to Chateaux: Chambord, Amboise, and Chenonceaux. Continue to Rennes,the capital of the region of Brittany for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8, RENNES - MONT ST MICHEL - ROUEN
This morning travel to the tidal island of Mont. St. Michel, to visit the Benedictine Abbey. The first structure, a simple oratory, was built here in the 8th century by the Bishop of Avranches, and was subsequently expanded and enhanced with the addition of Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Travel then to Caen, capital and largest city of Basse Normandie and onto to Rouen for dinner and overnight.Rouen is steeped in history. Both William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc died in this town that Victor Hugo called "the city of a hundred spires"..
DAY 9, ROUEN - AMIENS
Leave Rouen this morning to explore the Somme 1916 battlefields, including a visit to the original front-line and La Boiselle, Pozieres and Thiepval. See Mouquet Farm, the windmill site and the memorial to the 1st Australian Division.Further visits in the afternoon to the preserved trenches at Newfoundland Park and to Delville Wood. This evening visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens.
DAY 10, AMIENS - PARIS
Today you wil visit the The Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux and the Victoria School at Villers-Bretonneux; this is the school that displays the inscription "N'oublions jamais l'Australie". See the 3rd Australian division memorial and follow the route of the famous advance of 8th August 1918. We then visit the Historial de la Grande Guerre, a very modern museum portraying conditions on the Western Front and then the 2nd Australian Division memorial at Mont St Quentin. Travel to Paris for your last night in France.
DAY 11, PARIS – AUSTRALIA
Coach transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport to depart.
Arrive CDG Airport and transfer to your hotel. En route enjoy a sightseeing tour which will include the following landmarks: Opéra district, Louvre Pyramid, Concorde Square, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Quai and Musée d’Orsay, Pont Neuf, Bastille Square, Notre Dame, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Garden’s, Saint Germain-des-Près.Free time to relax and settle in.
Day 2 to Day 6, Paris – Language Study
Each morning participate in a 3 hour language lesson. Each afternoon explore and enjoy the sights of Paris.
Day 7, Paris – La Rochelle
Depart Paris this morning and travel via Orleans and Blois for an early lunch stop. Continue then via Poitiers to La Rochelle.
Day 8, La Rochelle – Saintes – La Rochelle
Included in this morning’s tour of La Rochelle will be the Vieux Port with its two towers: Tour de la Chaine and Tour St. Nicolas. In the Middle Ages, the towers were a necessity in protecting the town. This afternoon travel tto Saintes to view the Arenes de Saintes, one of the oldest and best preserved Roman amphitheatres in France. Day 9, La Rochelle – Sarlat First stop this morning is Rochefort and La Maison de Pierre Loti. Pierre Loti was the pseudonym of French writer Louis Marie Julien Viaud who amongst his many works wrote Madame Chrysanthème - a precursor to Madame Butterfly and Miss Saigon. Continue to Cognac to visit a Hennessey's winery. This afternoon visit a Foie Gras and Truffles farm before arriving in Sarlat, capital of Perigord Noir.
Day 10, Sarlat - Limoges
This morning explore historic Sarlat before travelling to Les Eyzies. Travel then to Rocamadour with its Chapelle Notre Dame for a lunch stop before exploring by foot and by boat Gouffre de Padirac, an underground cave and river system. Continue to Limoges for dinner and overnight.
Day 11, Limoges – Loire Valley
This morning enjoy a visit to Bernardaud porcelain factory. Travel then to the Loire Valley visiting to Oradur sur Glane, the untouched martyred village (June 1944) and Loches Castle en route to Amboise.
Day 12, Loire Valley
This morning tour to the Loire Valley for a visit to the magnificent Chateau Chenonceau. Contnue to Le Clos Luce Manor House, home of Leonardo da Vinci. Overnight Amboise.
Day 13, Loire Valley – Paris
Travel today to Chartres to see the splendid cathedral followed by a visit to the Chateau de Versailles with a guided tour of the apartments. Continue on to Paris for overnight.
Day 14, Paris
Free day for shopping & sightseeing.
Day 15, Paris - Australia
Airport transfer to board flight to Australia
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