Exotic Europe

Welcome to London, capital of the United Kingdom. It is among the oldest of the world’s great cities—its history spanning nearly two millennia—and one of the most cosmopolitan. By far Britain’s largest metropolis, it is also the country’s economic, transportation, and cultural centre. London city has plenty of attractions for visitors, with parks, shopping and restaurants.

In afternoon explore British royalty as well as some of the world’s best-known historical monuments, attractions and landmarks, London is a city with sightseeing opportunities aplenty. So, hop aboard an open-top Big Bus to soak up the sights of the beloved English capital and discover its delights at your own pace. Two routes are included with your ticket: the Red Route, which lasts for a full 2.5 hours and includes an onboard guide, or the Blue Route, which lasts for a full-loop duration of 3.5 hours with audio commentary. The Night Tour lasts 2.5 hours for a full-loop.

For those who want to take it easy, stay on board for the full loops listening to entertaining commentary as you go. If you want to explore the city on foot, hop on and off wherever, and whenever, you like. Big Bus offers a range of activities to do in between daily rides, including three walking tours and a 30-minute River Thames sightseeing cruise.

With your 2-day pass, the sights to see are endless. Travel to Trafalgar Square to stand in awe of Nelson’s Column, or stretch your legs on a stroll through beautiful Hyde Park. With your camera in hand, hop off your bus near Buckingham Palace to capture sights of the Queen’s London home, and look out for must-see landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and more.

Duration: 2 days
Departure Point: Red Route starts at Stop 1 – Green Park Underground, the
Blue Route starts at Stop 3 – Queen Mother Gates and the
Night Tour starts at Stop 1 – Westminster Bridge; however you may board the bus and exchange your voucher at any of the stops
Departure Time: 8:30am – 6pm, Buses depart approximately every 10-20 minutes
Night Tour: 7:30pm, 8pm and 8:30pm
Return details: Last bus departs at 6pm
Night Tour: Last bus departs at 8:30pm

Royal London walking tour (1.5-2 hours)
Gain insight into London’s royal history on a leisurely walking tour with an expert guide. The morning walk takes you by St James Palace and Buckingham Palace, where you arrive in time for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Depart from Trafalgar Square (stop 10).

Harry Potter Film Locations walking tour (1.5-2 hours)
See London filming locations used in the popular Harry Potter movies. Depart from Trafalgar Square (stop 10).

The Ghosts by Gaslight walking tour (1.5-2 hours)
Discover London’s darker history with tales of ghosts, murder and the troubled times that litter London’s past. Depart from Trafalgar Square (stop 10).

River Thames cruise (30 minutes)
Want to see London’s delights from the water? With a 24-hour ticket, hop aboard a sightseeing boat and cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier or vice versa. Audio commentary is provided on board. Depart from Trafalgar Square (stop 10).

Reward Voucher booklet:
Use vouchers inside this handy reward booklet to claim discounts on select attractions and restaurants around London such as 20% off Rainforest Caf, a 2-for-1 offer on admission tickets to Wembley Stadium Tour, a complimentary hot fudge sundae at Hard Rock Caf, and 2.00 off the entrance fee at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour.

Inclusions:
• Hop-on hop-off bus tour
• Live guide (Red Route and Night Tour only)
• Recorded commentary , Complimentary earphones
• 30-minute river cruise (except the Night Tour)
• 3 walking tours (except the Night Tour)
• Reward Voucher booklet

Depart from London and travel out of the city in your air-conditioned coach toward the majestic Windsor Castle. Home of the British Royal Family for 900 years, Windsor is the world’s largest and oldest occupied castle and widely considered one of England’s finest. Explore the lavishly-decorated State Apartments and St George’s Chapel with your guide and hear of the castle’s fascinating history and heritage.

Continue on through the rolling green Wiltshire landscape to Stonehenge, a collection of stones dragged to this lonely plain near Salisbury 5,000 years ago. This ancient stone circle is still a place of strong spiritual significance, and continues to capture the imagination of the many visitors it welcomes each year. Why the stones were placed here and what purpose they served remains a mystery though, so wander around the site at your leisure and decide for yourself why these age-old rocks have found themselves here. Take a look around the visitors’ center and learn the history of this ancient, mysterious site.

Next, hop back in your coach and continue onward to Bath, famous for its elegant Georgian architecture and widely considered one of England’s prettiest cities. Follow your guide on a panoramic tour of Bath and be enchanted by the town’s beautiful streets and alleyways, capturing the sites on camera as you go. You’ll see Bath Abbey and the much-photographed Pulteney Bridge, modeled on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. During the tour, visit the city’s famous Roman Baths the best preserved Roman spa from the ancient world.

At the end of your time in Bath, travel back to London’s Victoria Coach Station where your tour will come to an end.

Inclusions:
• Hotel pickup (selected hotels only)
• Entrance to Windsor Castle and a tour of the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel
• Admission to the ancient circle of Stonehenge
• Panoramic Tour of Georgian Bath, Admission to the famous Roman Baths
• Professional guide , Transport by air-conditioned coach (maximum 53 people)
Duration: 11 hours
Departure Point: Victoria Coach Station, Gates 1-5.
Departure Time: 8:45am
Return details: Concludes at Victoria

Day to depart central London in the early morning and head north by train on your 4.5-hour journey to Edinburgh. Travel through England’s open countryside, skirt the canals and waterways of the Midlands and pass old mill towns built during the Industrial Revolution. Upgrade to first class train tickets if you wish, for wider seats, complimentary snacks, free Wi-Fi and quieter coaches.

On arrival in Edinburgh, head to the bus stop for the city’s open-top sightseeing service it’s located right by the station and is easy to spot! Jump aboard for a bird’s-eye view of Scotland’s majestic capital and enjoy the freedom to hop on and off as you please. Frequent departures throughout the day mean you have total flexibility to plan your day. Perhaps alight at Edinburgh’s historic Old Town and stroll along the city’s famous Royal Mile, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The charming Royal Mile runs right through the Old Town, with cobbled alleyways leading down the hillside to the city center. St Giles’ Cathedral and the National Museum of Scotland are close by.

Cross the courtyard at the top of the Royal Mile and head through the grand entrance of Edinburgh Castle. There has been a castle on this site since the 12th century, and over the years it has been used as royal residence, prison and army garrison. Gaze out over the city from your vantage point on the castle ramparts, before heading inside to discover the dazzling Honours of Scotland, the country’s crown jewels. Wander through the Royal apartments where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the boy who was to become King of Scotland.

You might decide to visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center to learn about the nation’s favourite tipple, or head down the hill to gaze up at the famous Scott Monument, decorated with 64 characters from Walter Scott’s novels. Jump back aboard the hop-on hop-off bus service to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where state ceremonies and official entertaining take place when the Queen is in Scotland, or stroll along Princes Street checking out the tartan, whisky and shortbread that have made Scotland famous.
Enjoy complete freedom to explore Edinburgh at your own pace, then travel back to London by train where your tour will come to an end.

Inclusions:
• Entry to Edinburgh Castle
• Edinburgh city map and guide
• Hop on Hop off tour of Edinburgh
• Return train ticket from London to Edinburgh
Duration: 16 hours
Departure Point: Customer information desk, King’s Cross Station, central London
Departure Time: 6:30am
Return details: Returns to original departure point at approximately 10:15pm

Day at leisure and Overnight in London.

Ride on Eurostar for Paris. In evening see Paris is enchanting by night, so take this comprehensive four-hour tour to experience the magic first-hand and discover why Paris is known as the “City of Light”. You’ll visit the illuminated Eiffel Tower, take a one-hour evening cruise on the Seine River and tour Paris’ floodlit monuments at night.
You’ll have unbeatable views of Paris at night from the Eiffel Tower, and again from the Seine River as you pass under the famous bridges of Paris. Then as you tour Paris’ tree-lined boulevards in the comfort of your air-conditioned motor coach, you’ll see the famous sights of Paris lit up for the night, including Concorde and Vendome Squares, Opera and the Champs-Elysees.
Inclusions:
• Transport by air-conditioned coach
• One hour Seine River Cruise
• Sightseeing tour of Paris
• Entrance fees to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower
Duration: 4 hours
Departure Point: Pyramides, central Paris
Departure Time: 6:15pm
Return details: Returns to original departure point at approximately 10:00pm
Overnight in Paris.

Board the fast train TGV to Switzerland. Upon arrival in Switzerland, proceed to Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland.

Excursion to Mount Titlis – at 3020 m / 10’000 ft. From Lucerne the train takes you to the mountain monestry village Engelberg where you board a gondola which takes you up to the Trubsee. You continue your trip by another gondola to Stand and finally the first revolving Titlis Rotair cablecar takes you up to Mount Titlis. For a spectacular, close-up insight into a glacier, visit the glacier cave and ride the Ice Flyer chairlift. And get your thrills on the TITLIS Cliff Walk, a spectacular Suspension bridge at a height of 3041 m/10’000 ft.

Rail journey over the Brunig Pass to Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The vacation destination, which is presided over by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, is the starting point for numerous activities.