Day 2: Arrival in London
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to England! After touching down at London Heathrow Airport—one of the busiest international passenger terminals in the world—transfer to your hotel and unwind. Later in the evening, meet up with your Tour Director and fellow travelers and get to know one another over a welcome dinner, served with beer or wine.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of London
Included meal: Breakfast
London’s been settled for almost 2,000 years, and its history winds through Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking rule. Today’s guided tour will take you through the relics, landmarks, and stories of this cosmopolitan city of contrasts.

• Pass stately Trafalgar Square—a popular public plaza surrounded by museums, galleries, and historic buildings—and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sat atop Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London neighborhood, this baroque Anglican church dates to the 17th century and has hosted state funerals and royal jubilees over the years.
• See Westminster Abbey, one of London’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Since its consecration in 1065, it’s seen 16 royal weddings and the coronation of 40 monarchs, and it serves as the final resting place of 18 British rulers.
• Catch a glimpse of skyline standards like the Elizabeth Tower (the clock tower known as Big Ben) and the London Eye observation wheel. Then, take some time to marvel at the Tower of London: a historic castle that has functioned as a royal palace and prison, and is now home to the Crown Jewels.
• Stop by Buckingham Palace—the official residence of the ruling monarch—where you might catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

From there, depart for an optional, expert-led tour of the longest-inhabited castle on the planet. Or, enjoy a free afternoon in London proper. The 350-acre Hyde Park is a little over a half mile from Buckingham Palace; make the walk and roam its grassy fields, or maybe even rent a boat for a leisurely cruise on The Serpentine.

Day 4: Free day in London
Included meal: Breakfast
England’s past is fully present on today’s optional excursion, from prehistoric Stonehenge to the erudite city of Oxford. If London still calls to you, hang back and eat your way through Borough Market, a massive food hall in the shadow of London Bridge.

Day 5: Free day in London
Included meal: Breakfast
View the city from two incredible angles today on a pair of optional outings to the Tower of London and London Eye before wrapping up with a brief tour of the West End. (And yes, you’ll stop for dinner at a pub!)

If you’d rather explore on your own, take your free day to check out some of London’s many excellent museums. Some of our favorites: the traditional exhibits of the British Museum in the Bloomsbury district, and the more interactive offerings of the Cutty Sark clipper ship in Greenwich, on the south bank of the River Thames.

Day 6: Eurostar train ride to Paris & sightseeing tour
Included meal: Breakfast
Board the famed high-speed Eurostar train and travel beneath the English Channel (at speeds close to 186 mph) to the Gare du Nord train station in Paris, France.
Then, take a tour of the City of Light, getting an overview of its most recognizable landmarks and a feel for the character of its arrondissements. (That’s French for “districts,” and it’s how Parisians refer to the city’s neighborhoods.)

• Drive down the sycamore-lined Avenue des Champs-Elysees—an icon of France that’s lined with majestic monuments, glitzy restaurants, and glamorous storefronts. Continue to its western end and take in the magnificent Arc de Triomphe, originally built to commemorate one of Napoleon’s many conquests. A dozen different avenues spoke off this epic arch like a bicycle wheel, making it Paris’ symbolic heart.
• Pass the 16th-century Pont Neuf, the oldest stone bridge in Paris, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Watching over its arrondissement from an island in the Seine River, this French Gothic masterwork is one of the city’s enduring sights. Soon, it’ll return to its former glory: After the 2019 fire that devastated the structure, restoration work is slated to be complete in December 2024.
• Make a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower before viewing the Palais Garnier opera house and the Place de la Concorde, the city’s grandest square.
• Spot the I.M. Pei-designed Louvre Pyramid—the grandiose glass gateway to the world’s preeminent art museum. Then, marvel at the Dome des Invalides: Erected in the 17th century and built to a height of roughly 350 feet, this gold-domed structure is the largest church building in all of Paris and serves as the final resting place of its greatest military leaders.

Please note: You should prepare for an early morning train departure. Additionally, porterage isn’t included: You should feel comfortable carrying your luggage over steps, onto platforms, and into storage.

Day 7: Free day in Paris
Included meal: Breakfast
If you need a break from the buzz of this electric city, seek royal refuge by adding an afternoon outing to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. You’ll encounter gilded walkways, fresco-adorned ceilings, and close to 2,000 acres of immaculate green space—all just a few miles west of Paris. Prefer to stay in town? Take a stroll through Montmartre’s art-filled streets to peek into artists’ studios.
More options await in the evening. For a more elevated experience, add our dinner and Seine River cruise. As the sun sets and the city’s streetlamps begin their nightly twinkle, you’ll see Paris’ monuments in a whole new light. Alternatively, dip into a sandwich shop for the deceptively simple jambon-beurre: a crusty baguette slathered in butter and topped with freshly carved ham.
Please note: On some departures, the Versailles Palace & Gardens excursion may be offered on day 8.

Day 8: Free day in Paris
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Dine among the clouds, 650 feet above the streets of Montparnasse, on today’s optional lunch outing—or use your free time to amble to the Champ de Mars and picnic in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Whatever you choose, you’ll regroup in the evening to celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine.
Please note: On some departures, the Montparnasse Tower Lunch excursion may be offered on day 7.

Day 9: Departure - Flight Home
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your Parisian holiday by a few more days. With 20 arrondissements to explore, you’ve only scratched the surface of this mesmerizing metropolis.

Paris extension
Don’t fret: You don’t have to leave France just yet. Whether you’re still seeking the perfect brie to go with a fresh-baked baguette or comparing the merits of the Louvre and d’Orsay, this extension gives you the leeway to see what you want of Paris, when you want to.

Day 9: Free day in Paris
Included meal: Breakfast
To fill your day and your belly in one fell swoop, join our optional walking tour of Le Marais and savor the flavors of the Seine’s Right Bank. Or, for a slower afternoon, cross to the Left Bank and lounge in the Luxembourg Garden. The centerpiece of the Odeon district, this 57-acre green space abuts the home of the French Senate—the regal Luxembourg Palace.

Day 10: Free day in Paris
Included meal: Breakfast
Grab your camera (and your sketchbook, if you’re feeling inspired): Today’s optional outing to Giverny, home of the beloved Claude Monet, looks at the idyllic settings that inspired the impressionist movement. For a cultural outing closer to home, visit one of Paris’ 130-plus museums, displaying everything from Asian art to Arab archaeological finds.
Later in the evening, sip a farewell drink with your groupmates and toast to a fantastic trip.

Day 11: Departure - Flight Home
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.