Netherlands, Belgium & France featuring the Keukenhof Tulip Festival & Floriade Expo 2022 - 2021

Day 1 Overnight Flight

From iconic Dutch windmills and cozy Belgian streets to the world-renowned Champagne region and the “City of Light,” experience the essence of 3 European countries. Connect with deeply rooted cultures as you make your way through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Tour Begins

Narrow canals, stone bridges, and bike-brimmed lanes – this is Amsterdam, the lively starting point of your journey. Check into your boutique hotel, located in the heart of the city center and your home for the next 3 nights. Get a taste of the local flavors and meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.

Day 3 Amsterdam

See the city the way it’s truly meant to be seen – by canal. On your private boat, cruise under sloping bridges and pass by quintessential Dutch houses. Then, explore the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, featuring acres of tranquil ponds, shaded paths, and more than 7 million tulips and other flowers on exhibit. Afterward, explore Amsterdam’s rich culinary heritage on a locally led food tour. During your food tour, you will get to experience an historic proeflokaal (tasting room). Partake in a tasting of genever, local Dutch gin, or enjoy a local beer or wine. As the day draws to a close, meet with a local for a chat about the city’s progressive and often controversial culture.

Day 4 Amsterdam

This morning visit the Floriade Expo 2022, a once-in-a-decade international garden festival and horticultural exhibition whose theme is "Growing Green Cities."

Day 5 Amsterdam - Gouda - Kinderdijk - Bruges, Belgium

Cross the Dutch Cheese Valley for a visit to a nearby dairy farm in Gouda, famous for its namesake cheese. Get a taste of this celebrated product while learning about the aging process from a local expert. Head through the countryside to Kinderdijk (UNESCO), where iconic Dutch windmills spin slowly over the marshy landscape. Step into a storybook when you end your day in Bruges, settling in for the next 2 nights. As the crowds leave, get familiar with this cozy Belgian town and enjoy time to wander the cobblestone streets.

Day 6 Bruges - Optional Excursion

This morning, get familiar with Bruges during an orientation walk. Then, enjoy the rest of the morning and afternoon at leisure to continue exploring. Perhaps you’ll embark on an optional tour of Bruges, where you’ll cruise through fairytale canals before connecting with local traditions – tasting Belgian chocolate and learning about the intricate craft of lace making. This evening, embark on a tasting tour of Bruges. Start with Belgium’s most quintessential beverage and some small bites at a historic family-run brewery. Your culinary campaign continues at a local restaurant that fuses the best of French and local specialties.

Day 7 Bruges - Brussels - Reims, France

Enjoy a day in Brussels, the bustling capital of Belgium and the base of the European Union. Meander alongside 19th-century facades and medieval towers as you get a local’s perspective on the city. After some free time to explore, trade your waffles for wine as you enter Reims, set in the heart of France’s illustrious Champagne region. Settle into your city-centric boutique hotel before dining your way through French cuisine with a 5-course tasting menu and glass of champagne.

Day 8 Reims - Épernay - Reims

Discover Reims, uncovering the city’s Celtic roots and Gothic architecture. Step into Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, gazing up at a sea of colorful stained glass. Cityscapes give way to vineyard rows as you make your way along the Route du Champagne, learning about this world-famous artisan production. Peer at the sprawling mansions on the Avenue de Champagne en route to Épernay, where you’ll have free time to explore followed by a tour and tasting at a nearby maison du champagne.

Day 9 Reims - Paris

Say bonjour to Paris, a hub of innovative cuisine and artistic culture. Experience this creative flare in the Montmarte neighborhood, where hip bohemia meets heaven-seeking basilicas. Make the most of your free time before settling into your one-of-a-kind abode in the 2nd arrondissement. Explore your new neighborhood until the sun fades and the “City of Light” debuts its sparkling grandeur. Spin the wheels of time from the backseat of a retro car, cruising through the chic boulevards and peering up at the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from the car’s open roof.

Day 10 Paris - Optional Excursion

Today’s your day to experience Paris however you please. Hop on Le Métro like a local, skirting your way to each iconic neighborhood and district. Perhaps you’ll spend your morning at the legendary Louvre, an otherworldly glass pyramid home to Da Vinci’s elusive Mona Lisa. This evening, experience Paris' nightlife during an optional dinner at the dynamic Paradis Latin* cabaret show, featuring champagne, can-can dancers, and endless entertainment.

Day 11 Paris

Let the art scene leave its impression on you with a Claude Monet inspired choice on tour! Experience Monet in the city at the Musee D’Orsay, a former railway station that now houses the world’s best impressionist art -OR- visit Monet’s countryside home** at Giverny with a local guide, where you’ll see the source for the artist’s inspiration, including the setting for his iconic Waterlilies. Tonight, enjoy a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine River. Set against Paris’ glittering skyline, dine on French specialties while gently gliding under romantic bridges.

Day 12 Paris - Tour Ends

Say au revoir to Europe as you depart for home.