Your tour commences this evening in Belgium’s cosmopolitan capital city, Brussels. Join us tonight for a welcome drink before dinner in a local restaurant. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know, your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

This morning we are joined by a local guide who takes us on a walking tour through the old city. From the Grand Place - Grote Markt, with its dominating tower, surrounded by beautiful 300-year-old buildings, we take you to the famous Manneken Pis & Jeanneke Pis, to Mary’s Chocolate shop in the beautiful Galeries Royales – a timepiece shopping centre recently nominated for UNESCO Heritage inclusion. After a tasting of Mary’s famous chocolate, the rest of the day is free. This evening make sure you stroll back to the Grand Place, which is right on your hotel doorstep; the evening illuminations are delightful. Time to discover your own restaurant or lively pub in the nearby, winding cobblestoned streets.

We spend the morning outside of Brussels on the site of the Battle of Waterloo. We have included entrance to all three major attractions that commemorate the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815. For the energetic, take the stairs to the top of the Lion’s Mound topped by a massive cast iron lion. At the foot of the mound is the Rotunda with its huge 360 degree painting of the final battle. There is also a brilliant underground museum, filled with colourful uniforms, memorabilia of the time and a brilliant cinematic battle re-enactment. Early afternoon we arrive into the glorious city of Ghent, where we stay the next three nights. On arrival, a local guide will take us on a walking tour through this wonderful, historic city. Between the 11th and 16th centuries Ghent was one of the most important cities in Europe. The 900-year-old Castle of the Counts and the Graslei and Korenlei (Grass and Corn) riverside quays are surrounded by beautifully ornate, gabled merchant’s houses that are evidence of the massive wealth this trading city generated. In St Bavo's Cathedral you will find the famous 15th century ‘Ghent Altarpiece’, attributed to the van Eyck brothers. The Belfort (Belfry tower) is the tallest in Belgium. Scattered around the old town are alfresco cafés, lively bars and restaurants. Perfect for your ‘My Time’. Late afternoon, we have included a short boat cruise along the canal, followed by dinner.

Your morning is free – ‘My Time’ to enjoy the beauty of Ghent. Your afternoon will be fascinating as we are joined by a specialist military historian who will immerse us into the battlefields, heartbreak and drama  that was the infamous Passchendaele. We have included entrance to the Passchendaele Memorial Museum, with its amazing exhibits and replica trenches. We will also visit the pivotal sites and cemeteries including Tyne Cot, with its endless lines of white grave stones and the 5th Australian Division Memorial at Polygon Wood. Contrasting this we pay our respects at the German war cemetery at Langemark, which sits in the shadows of old oak trees. Later you will have free time to explore the beautiful town of Ypres. Completely flattened in WW1, it has been lovingly re-built, exactly the way it was. The Cloth Hall, lording it over the main square, is an incredible piece of Gothic architecture. In the evening we will join the crowds gathering under the Menin Gate to witness the soulful, sounding of the Last Post, which is still commemorated every night. It will be one of the most moving experiences as you listen to… no… feel the haunting bugle echoing around and above you in the towering Menin Gate, whilst surrounded by the engraved names of 53,000 Commonwealth Soldiers – young men and boys, who died in just Belgium alone, and all who sadly have ‘no known grave’. Later, we return to Ghent.

A very leisurely start. Late morning, we visit the ‘Venice of the North’ - Bruges. So named because Bruges is riddled with canals, bridges and quiet back streets. On arrival we are joined by a local guide for a walking tour around the quaint and picturesque cobblestoned centre. Later, take time to relax in one of the pavement cafés on the glorious old market square. This evening, back in Ghent, your evening is free amongst the cafes, lively bars and restaurants near your hotel.

Heading into the Netherlands we take the dramatic western route – a fascinating journey across three enormous dykes that form Holland’s incredible Delta Project. We will make a mid-morning stop at Topshuis to enable you to walk to see the actual floor barrier and take photos of the flood barriers and sluice gates. The first dyke, the Peilerdam, is an astonishing 9 kms long, and our journey takes us along the actual top of the enormous flood barriers that hold back the North Sea. An extraordinary engineering achievement! On the second dyke, Brouwersdam, we will make a short photo stop beside the broad sandy beach. On a windy day there are literally hundreds of kite surfers in action offshore.
Reaching the dynamic city of Rotterdam, we board a cruise boat to follow the river with its city sights and gigantic, modern port – the world’s biggest. Lunchtime will be spent at leisure in the ultra-modern design Market Hall. The giant curved ceiling is one enormous mural of painted flowers, colourful butterflies, fruit and vegetables. Beneath are dozens of specialist food stalls, gourmet eateries and shops. Late afternoon we reach the historical city of Utrecht where we stay four nights. Utrecht is often called ‘Amsterdam without the crowds’. Beautiful, with canals, narrow gabled merchant houses, and humped back bridges it makes a superb base for our unique ‘hub and spoke’ style touring. Your 5-star hotel for the next four nights has a rich history. Even Knights once lodged here! It is superbly located right in the very heart of town, with the canals, shops, cafes and bars right on your doorstep. Dinner is included this evening.

This morning we explore Zaanse Schans. This historical ‘open air museum’ village was created by relocating and preserving 18th and 19th century wooden houses, barns, workshops, and of course a number of giant windmills! So much to see and enjoy. Perhaps visit the cheese factory or have lunch in the Pancake Restaurant De Kraai – once an 18th century Zaan granary? Later we enjoy an afternoon stroll through the pretty fishing port of Volendam. The remainder of your afternoon and evening is at leisure in Utrecht.

*Please note, the late April departure includes tickets to Keukenhof and does not visit Volendam.

Your entire morning is free. ‘My Time’ relaxing in the heart of historical, beautiful Utrecht. In the afternoon we will visit the nearby moated castle of De Haar Castle. In a simply stunning setting, this gem of a palace is set romantically amongst waterways, parklands and beautiful gardens. Just around the corner, we also visit the quaint Dutch village of Haarzuilens. With traditional white and red painted window shutters you get the feeling you are strolling through a village of toy houses. We enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

We will spend the day in nearby Amsterdam. First up we board a canal boat for a cruise through this amazing city. Later we are joined by a local guide who will take us by coach and on foot around all the major city landmarks. Your afternoon is entirely free to relax, with ‘My Time’ to shop, explore and visit some of the many world class museums. Your evening is at leisure in Utrecht.

Mid-morning we will reach the picturesque city of Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands. Here you will enjoy time at leisure to explore its historic city centre with its central Grote Markt square, home to the centuries-old Martinitoren clock tower. Maybe climb the 250 steps to the top and take in the excellent views, or instead stroll past the 28 listed buildings along the warehouses and quays of Hoge der A and Lage der A.  
In the afternoon we have included something very special - a visit to the enormous Meyer Werft shipbuilding yards in Papenburg. The biggest passenger cruise liners ever made are built here inside gigantic warehouse workshops. Not only that, constantly in action, the very biggest ships are assembled inside just one building, side by side, TWO at a time! Imagine the size of this building…  calling it enormous is an utter understatement! Here we have included a private guided tour through the museum and onto the viewing platforms inside this monstrous building. Looking down on to the world’s biggest passenger ships, being assembled side by side right in front of you, is a mesmerizing experience! Later we continue the short distance to Bremen where we stay for two nights.

Bremen is an absolute delight. In the Middle Ages, throughout Central and Northern Europe, a commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns formed the Hanseatic League. Bremen was one of the most influential of these cities, and its wealth and importance is plain to see in the fabulous pedestrian heart of the city. We have included a local guide for a walking tour.  One of highlights of your stay in Bremen will be visiting the Market Square, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe! Here we have included entrance to visit inside the spectacular UNESCO Heritage listed Town Hall. To complete our morning we have also included a relaxing cruise along the River Wesser, seeing Bremen’s harbour, parks and archaeological heritage from the waterside.
The rest of your day and evening is free – ‘My Time’ to explore and do as little or as much as you want. Bremen is such a walkable city and a great place to relax is along the delightful river promenade lined with pubs and restaurants, or the nearby Schnoor Quarter, Bremen’s oldest district, a maze of lanes lined with lovingly restored, colourful little 15th and 16th century houses. A great place to settle in for dinner!

After a very leisurely start we drive to the nearby city state of Hamburg, to enjoy maximum ‘My Time’ in this glorious Hanseatic city. Sitting on the River Elbe, Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. Arriving late morning we will be dropped off in town near the Altstadt (old town), home to the opulent, neo-Renaissance, Hamburger Rathaus (Hamburg City Hall) with its soaring tower. Make sure you take a look inside to see the fabulously ornate ceilings and maybe enjoy the free exhibitions.  The heart of Hamburg is very easy to stroll around. The Town Hall is surrounded by extensive pedestrian walkways, hundreds of canals crossed by hundreds of bridges, all leading to the pretty Alster lake which is dotted with boats and surrounded by cafes.  The shopping here is as good as you get anywhere, and with its outstanding museums Hamburg has it all, and we ensure you have plenty of free time to explore at leisure.
Mid-afternoon we check in to our centrally located hotel, and after settling in the remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Hamburg also boasts Germany's most famous party mile and remember this is where the Beatles first made their mark during the 1960s!

This morning, we have included a very special treat for you, as we visit the UNESCO Heritage listed Schwerin Castle!  Regarded as one of the most important pieces of Romantic architecture in Europe, Schwerin is sometimes nicknamed the ‘Neuschwanstein of the North’. It is enormous! Looking more like a striking, multi-towered Fairytale Palace sitting proudly on a lake, Schwerin is enthroned on its own beautiful island surrounded by parks, gardens and walkways. Visually stunning both outside and inside, we have included entrance with an audio guide for you to explore at your own pace. We have allowed plenty of time here, so make sure you take a relaxing walk around the outside of the castle and grab lunch in the old town with its hundreds of historic half-timbered houses, cobblestoned streets lined with small boutiques, shops and cafes. As they say, “everything here in Schwerin has a touch of elegance”.
In the afternoon we continue to vibrant Berlin where we spend our last three nights.

This morning, we are joined by an expert local guide for a panoramic tour to see all the major sights from the famous Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden and the Victory Column in the Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie and remaining sections of “The Wall’.  A highlight will be your visit to the rebuilt Reichstag* – the meeting place of the Bundestag (German Parliament). Walking around inside the giant glass and mirrored dome is a truly wonderful experience.
Your afternoon and evening are entirely at leisure. The shopping is amazing and the city brims with world class sights. Perhaps visit one of the five world class museums on the UNESCO Heritage listed Museumsinsel (Museum Island), or the riveting Checkpoint Charlie Museum and moving Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
This evening discover your own local restaurant for dinner. Maybe dine ‘al fresco’ in Gendarmenmarkt square, dramatically flanked by two beautiful cathedrals and the Berlin Concert Hall.

*Visit subject to opening times and Parliament sittings

Imagine, a full day amongst the UNESCO Heritage listed glorious palaces and gardens of Potsdam! On our way to Potsdam we make a photo stop on the famous Bridge of Unity – more famously known as the ‘Bridge of Spies’. Arriving in Potsdam, we visit the astounding Neues Palais* with its newly restored palatial rooms, including the Gottensaal (Grotto Hall) and Marmorgalerie (Marble Gallery).
After ‘My Time’ for lunch in Potsdam’s pretty Dutch Quarter, we enjoy a guided visit to Fredrick the Great’s elegant Sanssouci Summer Palace & Gardens. Built between 1745 and 1747, Sanssouci was not just a summer residence. It is rumoured to have been Frederick’s favourite place to stay. The palace retains its charm today - the twelve rooms still have their original elegant designs and furnishings. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is recognised as “an outstanding example of architectural creation and landscaping” and “a cultural property of exceptional quality”.
Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell dinner.

Please note : 16 June departure visits Sansoucci Summer Palace & Gardens and Charlottenburg Palace.

Your tour ends today after breakfast.