European Explorer tour: Paris, Amsterdam, Swiss Alps, Venice and Rome

The Eiffel Tower above the Seine River in Paris

Tour code AKSR0804. Multi Country Tour. 13 days, 20 cities.

Paris (3 nights), Amsterdam (1 night), Cologne (1 night), Zurich (3 nights), Innsbruck (1 night), Padua (1 night), Pisa (1 night), Rome (1 night), Rome

Starts in Paris. Ends at Rome. Tour in English.

From $3,399 per person, twin sharing. Next departure 29 April 2027.

About This Tour

Cross eight countries in thirteen days, with every meal on full touring days taken care of. You begin with three nights in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River cruise and the city lit up at night. Brussels and Mini Europe lead to Amsterdam and its canals, then the Black Forest and the Rhine Falls bring you into Switzerland for three nights, with Mt. Titlis and Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. From Liechtenstein and Innsbruck you cross the Alps into Italy for Venice by private boat, the Florence skyline, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the sights of Rome.

The European Explorer is a 13 day land tour that links the best-known sights of Europe in one route, from Paris to Rome. It runs north to south, so you start with three unhurried nights in Paris, with a guided city tour, the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River cruise and the city lit up at night, plus a free day or an optional trip to Disneyland Paris. From there the coach heads through Brussels and Mini Europe to Amsterdam, then into Germany for Cologne.

The middle of the trip is Switzerland, where you stay three nights in one hotel, so there is no packing and unpacking for the mountain days. You ride the Rotair and the Ice Flyer on Mt. Titlis, see Lucerne, and take the mountain railway to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. Liechtenstein, the Swarovski shop at Wattens and Innsbruck follow, before you cross the Alps into Italy for Venice by private boat, the view over Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the sights of Rome.

The pace is full. Most of the middle of the tour moves to a new hotel each night, and days 4, 5, 6 and 9 include long coach drives between countries, so it suits first-time visitors and active families who want to see a lot in one trip more than travelers who prefer slow days.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on touring days, along with coach travel, hotel city taxes and tips. Guests can share vegetarian, Jain or other food needs when they inquire, and we confirm what is possible on this route before they book. A 2 night London add-on is also available before the tour.

Highlights

  1. Eiffel Tower and Seine cruise, Paris
  2. Amsterdam canal cruise, Amsterdam
  3. Mt. Titlis and the Ice Flyer, Engelberg
  4. Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, Interlaken
  5. Venice by private boat, Venice
  6. Rome and the Vatican, Rome

Day by day

Day 1: Welcome to Paris

Paris

Sights: Arrival in Paris

Your European holiday begins as you land in Paris. You meet the group transfer and ride to your hotel, your home for the next three nights.

You check in at the hotel's usual check-in time and have the rest of the day to rest after the flight.

In the evening the group gathers for its first dinner together, a good chance to meet the people you will travel with across eight countries.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel Paris Charles de Gaulle or similar

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Paris city tour, Eiffel Tower and Seine cruise

Paris

Sights: Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Eiffel Tower, Seine River cruise, Paris by night tour

After breakfast you set out on a guided tour of Paris. You see the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, the grand open square at the end of the Tuileries Gardens.

Next you visit the Eiffel Tower for wide views over the city, then glide along the Seine River by boat, past old stone bridges and famous monuments.

After dinner, the Paris by night tour shows you the Eiffel Tower sparkling and the Champs-Elysees in its evening lights, before you return to the hotel. From the river you pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the gilded Alexander III Bridge, a lovely way to see so much of the city in an hour.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel Paris Charles de Gaulle or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Paris at leisure or Disneyland Paris

Paris

Sights: Free time in Paris, optional Disneyland Paris

Today is yours. After breakfast you can explore Paris at your own pace, shop, or sit at a cafe and watch the city go by.

Or join the optional day at Disneyland Paris, with a ticket for one park for the day. Please book it in advance, as places depend on availability.

Lunch and dinner follow the group meal plan, then you return to the hotel for your last night in Paris. Many guests like a walk through the Latin Quarter, a visit to Montmartre and the white domes of Sacre-Coeur, or an afternoon of shopping on the grand boulevards. Personal visits and local transport during free time are at your own cost, and Disneyland ticket and transfer prices are shown in the package details.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel Paris Charles de Gaulle or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Brussels, Mini Europe and on to Amsterdam

Brussels, Amsterdam

Sights: Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium photo stop, Mini Europe

After breakfast you leave Paris and drive north to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. On a short tour you see the Grand Place, lined with ornate guild houses, and the little bronze Manneken Pis, then stop for photos at the Atomium.

Next you visit Mini Europe, a park with detailed models of the best-known landmarks of Europe, all in one place.

Later you continue to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and check in at your hotel for the night. The Grand Place has been called one of the most beautiful squares in the world, and it is a good place to try a Belgian waffle. At Mini Europe you can walk from Big Ben to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in a few minutes, a fun preview of the trip ahead.

Hotel: Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Amsterdam canals and Cologne

Amsterdam, Cologne

Sights: Amsterdam canal cruise, Keukenhof Gardens or Zaanse Schans, Cologne Cathedral exterior

After breakfast you take a cruise on the canals of Amsterdam, past tall, narrow canal houses and under old bridges.

Depending on the season, you then visit Keukenhof Gardens in spring bloom or the windmills of Zaanse Schans.

In the afternoon you drive into Germany to Cologne and see its great Gothic cathedral from outside, before checking in for the night. Keukenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the world, with millions of tulips in spring, while Zaanse Schans keeps old green wooden houses and working windmills by the river. The cathedral in Cologne took more than six hundred years to finish, and its twin spires rise high above the city by the Rhine.

Hotel: MEININGER Hotel Koln West or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Black Forest and the Rhine Falls

Titisee, Schaffhausen, Zurich

Sights: Black Forest, Titisee cuckoo clock stop, Rhine Falls boat ride

After breakfast you drive south through the Black Forest, a region of thick evergreen woods and small villages, to Titisee for a stop at a cuckoo clock shop.

Next you reach Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls, where you take a boat ride close to the rushing water.

Then you continue into Switzerland and check in near Zurich for the first of three nights. Titisee is a pretty lake town, and cuckoo clocks have been made in this part of Germany for centuries. The Rhine Falls is the largest waterfall in Europe by volume, and the boat brings you close enough to feel the spray. It is a long and scenic day on the road, with lunch and dinner on the way.

Hotel: Movenpick Hotel Zurich Airport or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Mt. Titlis, Ice Flyer and Lucerne

Engelberg, Lucerne, Zurich

Sights: Mt. Titlis, Rotair, Ice Flyer, Glacier Cave, Titlis Cliff Walk, Lion Monument, Chapel Bridge, Lucerne Old Town

After breakfast you drive to the alpine village of Engelberg. Cable cars, including the Rotair, the world's first revolving cable car, carry you up Mt. Titlis with views of the snowy Alps all around.

At the top you ride the Ice Flyer chairlift over the glacier, walk through the Glacier Cave and cross the Titlis Cliff Walk, a suspension bridge high above the valley.

Later you visit Lucerne for a short tour of the Lion Monument and the old Chapel Bridge, with free time in the Old Town and by the lake, before you return to the hotel.

Hotel: Movenpick Hotel Zurich Airport or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Interlaken

Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Zurich

Sights: Jungfraujoch, Aletsch Glacier, Ice Palace, Sphinx observation deck, Grindelwald, Interlaken

After breakfast you travel to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, aboard the mountain railway, through some of the finest scenery in the Swiss Alps.

At the top you see the Aletsch Glacier, walk through the Ice Palace and step out onto the Sphinx observation deck for views over the peaks.

Later you come down to the mountain village of Grindelwald, then on to Interlaken, set between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, for free time before you return to the hotel. Jungfraujoch sits at 3,454 meters, and its station is the highest in Europe, so take a warm jacket and sunglasses, even in summer. This is a day many guests call the best of the whole tour.

Hotel: Movenpick Hotel Zurich Airport or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Vaduz, Swarovski and Innsbruck

Vaduz, Wattens, Innsbruck

Sights: Vaduz toy train, Swarovski crystal shop in Wattens, Innsbruck orientation visit

After breakfast you drive to Vaduz, the small capital of Liechtenstein, for a ride on the toy train around town.

Next you cross into Austria and stop at the Swarovski crystal shop in Wattens.

You finish with a short visit to Innsbruck, ringed by mountains, then check in at your hotel in the Innsbruck area. Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world, tucked between Switzerland and Austria, and Vaduz Castle looks down on the town from the hillside. Swarovski crystal comes from Wattens, and the shop is a good stop for gifts to take home. Entry to the Crystal Worlds museum is not included. Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, and its old town is known for the Golden Roof.

Hotel: Holiday Inn Innsbruck or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Venice by private boat and Padua

Venice, Padua

Sights: Private boat to Venice Island, guided walk in Venice

After breakfast you cross the Alps into Italy and drive to the Venice area. A private boat takes you across the lagoon to Venice Island.

On a guided walk you explore the city on foot, along its canals and through its narrow lanes and squares.

The boat brings you back to the mainland, and you continue to the Padua area for the night. Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in the lagoon, linked by about four hundred bridges, and there are no cars at all. You may see St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and the gondolas on the canals. A gondola ride is not included, but you are welcome to take one in your free moments.

Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Padova or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Florence panorama and Pisa

Florence, Pisa

Sights: Piazzale Michelangelo, Square of Miracles, Leaning Tower of Pisa exterior

After breakfast you drive to Florence and look out over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, with the great cathedral dome rising above the red rooftops.

Next you continue to Pisa and visit the Square of Miracles, where you see the Leaning Tower from outside.

In the evening you settle into your hotel in Pisa. Piazzale Michelangelo is the best viewpoint over Florence, with the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio and the red dome of the cathedral all in sight. In Pisa the white marble cathedral, baptistery and tower stand together on a wide green lawn, and the tower is the place for a playful photo. Entry inside the tower or other monuments is not included.

Hotel: B&B HOTEL Pisa Airport or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Rome sightseeing and the Vatican

Rome

Sights: Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Colosseum exterior, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica

After breakfast you travel to Rome for guided sightseeing. You see the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum from outside.

Then you have free time in Vatican City and at St. Peter's Basilica, depending on access that day.

In the evening you check in for your last night of the tour, a good time to share the best moments of the trip. Rome has been called the Eternal City for its long history, and almost every street holds a ruin, a fountain or a church. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world. Entry inside the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums is not included, and Vatican access depends on local opening and security rules.

Hotel: Mercure Roma West or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13: Farewell to Europe

Rome

Sights: Rome airport

After breakfast you check out and say goodbye to the friends you have made along the way.

The group transfer takes you to Rome airport for your flight home, with memories of eight countries in thirteen days. Safe travels.

Meals: Breakfast

Where you will stay

Paris (3 nights)

Amsterdam (1 night)

Cologne (1 night)

Zurich (3 nights)

Innsbruck (1 night)

Padua (1 night)

Pisa (1 night)

Rome (1 night)

What is included

Hotels and stays

Meals

Coach and ground transport

Tour manager and guides

Sightseeing and entry fees

Tips and gratuities

What is not included

Meals

Flights and visa

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Optional tours

Departures

Frequently asked questions

How many countries does the European Explorer tour cover?

It covers eight countries in 13 days: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. The tour starts in Paris and ends in Rome.

Are Jungfraujoch and Mt. Titlis included on this Europe tour?

Yes, both are included. On Mt. Titlis you ride the Rotair cable car and the Ice Flyer chairlift, and you reach Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, by mountain railway.

Are international flights included in the European Explorer tour package?

No, international flights are not included. This is a land package that starts in Paris and ends at Rome airport, with a scheduled group transfer on arrival and departure.

Which meals are included on the European Explorer tour?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on every full touring day. Day 1 includes dinner only, and the last day includes breakfast.

Can I add London to this Europe tour?

Yes, a 2 night London stay can be added before the tour. It includes the Eurostar from London to Paris in second class, and you join the group in Paris on the third morning.

How much coach travel is there on this Europe tour?

There is a fair amount, because the tour moves through eight countries. The longest drives are between countries, such as Paris to Amsterdam by way of Brussels and Cologne to Switzerland through the Black Forest, and they are broken up with sightseeing stops.

Is this Europe tour good for Indian and South Asian travelers from the USA?

Yes. Akshar Travels has planned trips for South Asian travelers since 1997 and is based in New Jersey. Travelers can share vegetarian, Jain or other food needs when they inquire, and we confirm what is possible on this route before they book. On the European Explorer you get coach travel across all eight countries, scheduled airport transfers in Paris and Rome, and a guided city tour in Paris and a guided walk in Venice.

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