Jewels of Europe: A Glimpse of Timeless Treasures

Tour Highlights

No of days:  9 Nights/  10 Days                       

Overview of the trip:

• Day 1: London – Calais – Brussels - France
• Day 2: Black Forest - Rhine Falls - Lucerne
• Day 3: Titlis - Venice
• Day 4: Venice - Rome
• Day 5: Rome - Vatican City
• Day 6: Florence - Pisa - San Remo
• Day 7: San Remo - Nice - Cannes - Monte Carlo - San Remo
• Day 8: San Remo - Geneva
• Day 9: Geneva - Paris
• Day 10: Paris - Calais - London

Glimpses of the tour:

Belgium

• Atomium Structure photo stop

Germany

• Black Forest drive through the scenic region
• Cuckoo Clock demonstration & shop

Switzerland

• Mt Titlis with entrance
• Rhine Falls The largest plain waterfalls in Europe
• Geneva City Tour view Flower Clock, UN Building, Jet d’Eau and more
• Lucerne City Tour view the Lion Monument & Chapel Bridge

Italy

• Venice Boat ride to St. Marks Square, Gondola Ride with entrance & Murano Glass Showroom
• Rome City Tour with local guide, Colosseum photo stop, visit the Pantheon, Roman Forum, Time Elevator with entrance
• Florence City Tour with local guide, Statue of David at Piazza Michelangelo, Ponte Vecchio, view the Piazza Della Signoria, Basilica of Santa Croce (from outside) and The Duomo
• Pisa view the Leaning Tower (from outside) & The Duomo

Vatican

• St Peters Basilica & Square

France

• Visit to Nice & Cannes
• Monte Carlo Orientation Tour
• Eiffel Tower (3rd floor) with entrance
• River Seine Boat Cruise with entrance
• Paris Orientation Tour

Day Wise Itinerary

Day 1
London - Calais - Brussels - France

This morning cross the English Channel by ferry or Eurotunnel. Visit the capital city of Belgium for a photo stop at the most iconic structure of Brussels, The Atomium. Later enjoy an Indian dinner.
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Day 2
Black Forest - Rhine Falls - Lucerne

Travel to the Black Forest region in South Germany. On arrival, enjoy a demonstration on how the cuckoo clocks are made and have an opportunity to purchase them along with other souvenirs. Later, travel to Switzerland and witness the largest waterfalls in Europe, the majestic Rhine Falls. Then depart for Lucerne to view the Lion Monument and one of the oldest wooden bridges in the world, the Chapel Bridge.
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Day 3
Mt. Titlis - Venice

Ascend 10,000ft to the summit of Mt. Titlis. Take the world's ? rst revolving cable car, the Titlis Rotair. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Swiss landscapes. At Mt. Titlis have free time to play in the snow, visit the ice caves or take a unique professional photo in traditional Swiss outfits. In the afternoon depart for your hotel near Venice.
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Day 4
Venice - Rome

Depart for Venice; the most romantic city in Italy with its distinctive architecture and famous gondola rides. Begin with a boat ride to St Mark's Square, one of the most elegant squares in the world. See the famous Bridge of Sighs and the Basilica di San Marco. Visit the Murano Glass Showroom and purchase some beautiful Murano glass items. Finally enjoy a romantic gondola ride while enjoying the ambience of Venice. In the afternoon depart for your hotel near Rome.
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Day 5
Rome - Vatican City

On arrival in Rome, be greeted by a local professional guide. The tour starts with a photo stop at the Colosseum which is surrounded by other sights such as Constantine arch. Visit the Time Elevator; a multi sensorial and dynamic cinema experience stimulating a travel into time, taking viewers through the History of Rome. View the Roman Forums, where ancient civilisation developed. Visit the Vatican City, home to the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church to see the St. Peters Basilica. Visit the Pantheon which was built in 126AD and boasts the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. (As coaches are restricted to enter many parts of Rome, much of the tour is done on foot).
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Day 6 

Florence - Pisa - San Remo

Depart for Florence. On arrival, be greeted by your local professional guide. The tour of this renaissance city starts by viewing the impressive architecture of some of the ? nest historic buildings in Italy, such as the Basilica of Santa Croce, the ? nal resting place of Michelangelo, statue of David, famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge on the Arno River and The Piazelle Michelangelo, for the most outstanding views of Florence (As coaches are restricted to enter Florence, the tour is done on foot). Later proceed onto Pisa. On arrival, marvel at The Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) which is dominated by four great religious structures: the Duomo, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Baptistry and the Camposanto. Enjoy some free time here to buy souvenirs for friends and family.
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Day 7
San Remo - Nice - Cannes - Monte Carlo - San Remo

Driving along the Italian and French Riviera, we pass spectacular mountain scenery along the Mediterranean Sea and reach Nice, where you have free time to explore and browse along the Promenade des Anglais, a sea-front avenue. Later we drive through the Cote d'Azur region, to visit Cannes -host of the annual ? lm festival. Finally, we drive to the principality of Monaco and visit Monte Carlo, internationally known as a playground for the rich and famous.
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Day 8
San Remo - Geneva

Today depart for Geneva. On arrival enjoy a short city tour to see the United Nations Building, The Flower Clock and the symbol of Geneva, the Jet d'Eau (weather permitting). Note: Geneva city tour may be conducted on day nine.
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Day 9
Geneva - Paris

Depart early for Paris (approximate drive time will be six hours). On arrival, enjoy a cruise along the River Seine. The cruise is perfectly designed to discover and admire the rich architecture such as the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral and more. Later, have a short orientation tour to admire the amazing architecture of Paris.

Note: River Seine cruise may be covered on day ten
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Day 10
Paris - Calais - London

Today embark on a journey to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower - the most famous monument in France. From this vantage point, enjoy breathtaking views of this amazing city. In the early afternoon, drive back to Calais for the channel crossing, then bid farewell to the group before arriving at the drop off point.

[Note: Visit to Eiffel Tower may be covered on day nine]

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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Tour Inclusions

• Return transportation by deluxe AC coach from your selected pick up point
• Return channel crossing via Eurotunnel or Ferry
• 9 nights accommodation in a 3/4* hotel with breakfast
• 7 Indian dinners, 2 Continental dinners & 7 vegetarian lunches
• Entrances and sightseeing as mentioned in Tour Highlights
• All tips and service charges
• Premium service of a Riviera Tours’ Tour Manage

The Riviera Difference

• Excursion to Mt. Titlis included in your price
• Gondola Ride in Venice included in your price
• Enjoy a complimentry Ice Cream in Italy
• Visit to Monte Carlo included
• Tips & Service charge included in your price

Optional in Package

Price

Hotel

• 1 night at Holiday Inn Strasbourg or similar
• 1 night at Ramada Hotel Engelberg or similar
• 1 night at Sheraton Padova or similar
• 1 nights at Mercure Roma West or similar
• 1 night at Hotel Lago Verde or similar
• 2 nights in San Remo - Hotel TBC
• 1 night at Business Park Hotel or similar
• 1 night at Novotel Massy or simila

Photo Gallery

Tour FAQs

Pick up and Drop off points & Times

Passengers should arrive at their pick up point no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Your pick up point, address and time will be stated on your invoice. Passengers arriving late will need to make the necessary arrangements to meet the coach at the next suitable location.

Return journeys from the continent are scheduled to arrive at Dover or Folkestone between 19.00hrs and 20.00hrs approximately. We will then proceed to the original pick-up points in London (arrival time between 21.00hrs and 23.00hrs)

Outside London pick up points: Transportation may be arranged by a private car, minibus or an alternative coach for your journey to and from London. On rare occasions there may be up to an hour wait for a connecting transfer on the return. Passengers can expect to receive a call from Riviera to confirm details a day prior to their departure. Riviera Tours reserves the right to amend any pick-up time 12 hours prior to departure.

Weather

Weather in much of Western Europe tends to be the same as England and is very unpredictable. Regardless of the time of the year, it is advisable to carry an umbrella. Temperatures vary from place to place and it is a good idea to check online for average temperatures for the destination(s) being visited depending on the time of the year.

On a multi destination tour it is likely passengers will travel through various weather fronts; whilst in Switzerland during excursions to mountain tops passengers may experience temperatures between 0 °c and 2 °c whilst at the same time experience temperatures of over 25 °c whilst they are in Italy.

Passengers can be well prepared by ensuring they are carrying appropriate clothing, footwear and accessories. Passengers should also be aware that during the winter months most of the sightseeing will be in the dark as, in Europe, the day becomes dark very early during winter. Passengers should consult with Riviera Tours at the time of booking if they are unsure.

Baggage

Riviera Tours operate a luggage handling service under which the driver will load and unload one piece of luggage per person from the coach (maximum 20kg). Passengers’ will have to carry their luggage to and from the coach to the hotel room.
In addition, you can also carry one piece of small hand luggage, which can fit under their seat or in the overhead compartment. It is advisable for one passenger to carry a small and bag or backpack between their group in which they can carry essentials like water, tissues, cameras etc.

Clothing & Accessories

During summer months, it is advisable to wear light garments and perhaps keep a light jacket or sweater handy. It is advisable to carry a light waterproof jacket or umbrella, as well as a hat or cap.

Passengers should also carry suitable footwear as per the itinerary of the tour e.g. comfortable trainers for a tour, which includes a lot of walking such as Rome or Florence as well as suitable footwear/boots for tours that include excursions to mountaintops such as Mt. Titlis or Mt. Jungfrau.

For tours including excursions to mountaintops, it is advisable that passengers carry appropriate clothing warm waterproof jacket and extra layers of clothing.

Passengers should also carry travel adapters so they can charge their electronic items in their hotel room (as the sockets in Europe and elsewhere vary from those in the UK).

Passengers may also want to carry a small travel iron, hair dryer, kettle etc, as many hotel rooms will not have these facilities.
Your mobile phone may be able to receive calls whilst on holiday, you can check with your network operator to switch on the roaming feature of your mobile, there is usually an additional charge to receive incoming calls whilst aboard.
Please ensure you carry all medication you will need on tour as well as names and doses of medications you are taking or copies of prescriptions.

Currency

In most of Western Europe the currency you will require will be Euros. When travelling in Switzerland you will need Swiss Francs (CHF). Passengers should exchange any spending money for their holiday before they actually travel. Whilst on tour it is very inconvenient and not all places you will visit will have ATM machines or accept credit/debit cards.

We also advice our passengers to keep some change in coins on them whilst on tour as using toilets in many parts of Europe is not free

Children & Young Infants

Car seats are not provided on coaches but passengers should carry car seats with travelling infants for comfort and safety.

Some coaches will have cold or hot water available to heat up milk bottles (cold /hot water not suitable for drinking). However, this cannot be guaranteed and it is therefore the passengers’ responsibility to make sure of necessary arrangements for any children in their group. Milk and baby food cannot be provided by the hotel or restaurants and passengers are advised to carry ready to drink milk whilst on tour. Dry food is allowed on the so please feel free to bring snacks for children.

Please also note that not all hotels provide a kettle so if hot water is required for warming milk etc in the hotel then it is advisable to carry a bottle warmer / kettle as well as a thermos flask.
Pushchairs can be kept in the baggage lockers of the coach, although size restrictions may apply. We recommend that you consider using a pushchair for younger children whilst visiting Disneyland – as the days are quite long and there is a lot of walking.

Wheelchairs

We will accept light weight manual wheelchairs for travel, subject to them being capable of being stowed in the luggage hold of the coach. It is also essential that a family member is also on the tour to push their wheelchair. Riviera Tour’s will also request hotels for suitably equipped rooms; however, this is only on a request basis and cannot be guaranteed.

Tour Managers

Professional tour managers & local guides accompany our tours throughout the itinerary, on rare occasions the Tour Manager may not meet passengers at their dedicated pick up point but at a later stage, the driver will be there to take care of any of the passengers’ needs.

Your tour manager will accompany you to the sights, and be there to answer any questions you may have, and provide advice and assistance. If you have, any concerns please feel free to ask your tour manager whilst on tour.

Please ensure your tour manager has the mobile number that you are carrying with you on tour. The tour manager will provide passengers with their contact details for the duration of the tour on the first day. Please note that on the first day of your tour you may collect a list of details for the hotels you will be staying in, as reference. In case you are separated from the group and need to make your way back to the hotel.

Coaches

All coaches are fitted with arm rests, TV, DVD/CD and toilet facilities. W.C. facilities on coaches have limited capacities and therefore we advice passengers to use them only on an ‘emergency’ basis.
All coaches are either air conditioned or air cooling systems. Only food which is dry and cold can be taken onto the coach. Curries, chips and other hot food are not allowed to be consumed on the coach. In addition, chewing gum and ice cream is also not allowed on the coach. Examples of food people bring to snack on include crisps, biscuits, chevda, drinks etc.

Seating Allocation

Please remember our staff cannot take requests for any seats. Seat numbers will be given to you, on day one of your tour. Passengers with children in their group will not be seated near the front due to EU regulations. Please note that all seats on the coach are the same, and have the same level of comfort, do not be disappointed if your seats are near the back of the coach. Your holiday experience will not be ruined due to this.

Distances & Journeys

An important point to note whilst on a touring holiday is that some long journeys are unavoidable especially when travelling from city to city. It is usually the case that the first and last days are the longest. Riviera Tours’ recommend passengers wear comfortable clothing on these days, and bear in mind that a major part of these days will be spent on the coach. It is advisable passengers carry necessities that they may need for the day such as water, dry snacks, cameras etc. with them in their hand luggage.

Also on the first and last day passengers must carry their passports in their hand luggage as passports will be needed in immigration.

Hotels

All hotels have a minimum, 3* category. Facilities will include en-suite bathroom, a TV and telephone. Some also include bars, restaurants and 24-hour reception. If you use services such as the phone or mini bar, or pay TV whilst in your room, you will have to pay the hotel directly when you check out; these services are not included in your tour cost.

Rooming Configuration

Most of the hotels Riviera Tours use can only accommodate a maximum of three people in each room however if you are a family of four, i.e. two adults and two children, then your first child will be given an extra bed but the second child will be required to share the bed as no extra bed can be provided. The fourth bed is on request and is not guaranteed

Travel Insurance

Riviera Tours strongly recommends you purchase travel insurance. Passengers are advised not to carry unnecessary valuables and to be vigilant at all times as tourist spots such as the Eiffel Tower are well known targets for pick pockets. It is advisable to make copies of your visas and passports prior to travel.

Food

Breakfast will be provided at the hotels. The breakfast is usually in a separate dining area of the hotel, and is usually an extended continental breakfast; it will include tea, coffee, breads, cereals, fruit

Passengers can choose from different diets, including vegetarian, Jain or non-vegetarian (where possible Halal) meals. Passengers should advice their tour manager of their preferred diet on the day one. The meals are pre-set and a choice of menu is not available.

On selected tours we usually provide Indian tea after lunch on most days, although this will not be possible on days where there is packed lunch.

RESTAURANT:
On some of our tours meals are provided at restaurants, which are prepared by local Indian chefs. A set menu in a buffet style will be provided along with tap water only.

KITCHEN CARAVAN:
On most of our longer tours, Riviera Tours’ operate a kitchen caravan with our own chefs (Maharajas’) from India. Lunches are vegetarian only and are provided outdoors at a service station/rest area where limited or no seating is available. Lunch is served in a picnic style buffet arrangement. Dinners are usually provided within the hotel in a separate dining facility.


Visiting Mountain Tops

• You should only make trips to high altitudes if you feel healthy. The following recommendations apply:
• An advanced age is no barrier to high altitude. For blood pressure patients who are well controlled with medication the altitude is not a concern.
• Asthmatics can travel to high altitudes without any problems. High-altitude air is less polluted with particles that can cause an asthma attack.
• Epileptics who are well controlled with medication should be able to negotiate the altitude
• Pregnant women: There may be a certain risk for pregnancy even without pre-existing diseases over 2500-3000 metres. Caution is therefore advised
If in doubt, please consult your doctor in advance.

Infants: Short-term stays at the mountain tops are unproblematic. Infants and young children are often unable to equalise pressure during descent and are therefore increasingly at risk of ear irritation. Regular swallowing (drinking, sucking on a bottle) during the descent can prevent the occurrence of irritation. Because children can chill faster than adults, always pay attention to sufficient protection from the cold at high altitude. Sunglasses and good sunscreen are necessary on the glacier!

High altitude visits not recommended for

• Lung and heart patients who are already short of breath while at rest or when climbing stairs are advised not stay at high altitude. Patients with angina pectoris or severe impaired performance with heart enlargement and heart failure should not visit high altitude.
• Coronary artery disease (angina pectoris) and heart enlargement with medical therapy should not visit high altitude.
• Patients with a pronounced risk profile for cardiovascular disease (smoker + high blood pressure + diabetes + high blood fats + overweight + occasional chest pain) should consult the doctor before visiting high altitude.
• Do not stay at high altitude after having striated muscles or a stroke.

Other practical tips

• A decongestant nasal spray is recommended for colds before descent, in order to prevent ear irritation caused by lack of pressure balancing.
• The ambient temperature drops with increasing altitude. Therefore, be sure to wear warm clothes for trips over 1500 metres, even in during the heat of summer.
• Nicotine and alcohol in excess before or during the trip can ruin your day

Cancelation of your Tour

Please note that if you for any reason need to cancel you tour, please let us know as soon as possible, this will help reduce the amount of cancelation charges you may have to pay. Cancelation charges will be as per the terms and conditions which you can find on our website or brochure.

Additional Excursions

We design our itineraries so that all the necessary excursions and places of interest are included to give the passenger the best possible holiday at an affordable price. However, often, the tour manager and driver will offer passengers additional excursions that are designed to enhance the holiday experience and are not included in the tour cost.
Passengers are entitled to refuse any additional excursion. Only excursions listed in the additional excursions section of a tour can be conducted by a tour manager.