Tour Details

Here are the details for our trip to Paris and London during Spring Break 2010!

Day 1
Saturday, March 27, 2010

Board your overnight flight to Paris!

Day 2
Sunday, March 28, 2010

Arrive in Paris!

Welcome to Paris, cosmopolitan City of Light. Over the centuries, Paris has grown to become the undisputed center of France, and one of the world’s most important cities both culturally and politically. Equally famed for its high fashion, awe-inspiring museums and elegant cuisine, Paris has also been a center of theater, literature and philosophy throughout the ages.

Overnight in Paris

Day 3
Monday, March 29, 2010

Guided sightseeing of Paris

Discover the city on the Seine during your morning bus tour. Learn about Paris’ origins as a Roman settlement as you pass through the Île de la Cité, where you will also see Notre Dame Cathedral. Pass by the imposing Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon’s Grande Armée, and the École Militaire, where he graduated to Lieutenant. Continue down the elegant Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde, dedicated to King Louis XV and the site where Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette were executed during the French Revolution. Then, head through the Quartier Latin where you will see the world-renowned Sorbonne University, and drive along the Seine for wonderful views of the Musée D’Orsay, the Louvre and the Pont de Neuf, or ‘new bridge’, which is ironically Paris’ oldest. Finally, make a photo stop at the iconic Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair. Learn why this impressive, yet controversial, symbol of Paris was spared the wrecking ball in 1909.

Optional Excursion to Versailles.
Step back into le grand siècle as you experience the opulence of Versailles, the elaborate palace of Louis XIV. Built to be the envy of all Europe, France’s most extravagant château continually threatened to bankrupt the national treasury. Here the Sun King held court in the most lavish style imaginable. At one point, 1,000 nobles were attended by 4,000 servants inside the palace, while 15,000 soldiers and servants inhabited the annexes. You’ll also tour the State Apartments of the King himself and walk through the historic Hall of Mirrors, where France, Spain and England officially recognized the independence of the United States in 1783, and where the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI, was signed. You’ll also witness the ornate decor of the Queen’s State Apartments, furnished for Marie Antoinette. After your visit inside the palace, be sure to take some time to stroll through the elaborate gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre. Because of the extreme popularity of Versailles, guided visits of the interior cannot be guaranteed during peak seasons. In this case, your group will hear a presentation from your guide before entering the palace.

Overnight in Paris

Day 4
Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tour Director-led walking tour of Paris

Begin your walking tour at the Louvre and cross over the Seine river. On the left bank, watch the bouquinistes selling old books and postcards and catch glimpses of the Conciergerie and St. Chapelle from the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the city. Continue through the Latin Quarter, an area dominated by the Sorbonne, Paris’ most famous university, founded in 1253. The quarter was named for its inhabitants’ native tongue; Latin was the official language until 1793. As you stroll, look for the Panthéon, created by Louis XV because of a promise he made during a severe illness to build a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève if he survived. Your tour will end at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Visit to the Louvre

The Palais du Louvre, built to defend the city in the 13th century, now safeguards one of the world’s greatest art collections. Enter the museum through world-renowned architect I.M. Pei’s 1989 modernist glass pyramid. Inside, discover priceless antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy and Asia such the statues of Venus de Milo and Nike of Samothrace, better known as Winged Victory. You’ll also see some of the Louvre’s most prized paintings by Renaissance and European masters, including Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the mysterious Mona Lisa.

Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral

Built between 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an ancient Roman temple, it was here that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. Victor Hugo once described the sculptured façade of Notre Dame as “a vast symphony in stone.” However, had it not been for the creation of his famous hunchback, Quasimodo, the cathedral might never have returned to its former glory. Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame helped inspire a 23-year restoration of the cathedral that began in 1841. Step inside to admire the stained-glass rose windows and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings.

Seine River Cruise

This evening, take a narrated river cruise along the Seine. As your boat glides from one graceful bridge to the next, sit back and gaze at the illuminated landmarks of Paris as they pan into view.

Eiffel Tower

Built in 1889 for the World’s Fair, the tower is now one of the world’s most recognizable monuments and a symbol of Paris. Standing over 300 meters high, with a viewing balcony on each of its three levels, a journey to the top is one of the must-do events in any visit to the city.

Overnight in Paris

Day 5
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Walking tour of Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur

Visit the spectacular Sacré-Coeur, a Catholic basilica built atop the Montmartre hill. From here enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of the City of Light before heading to the cafés and shops that line the small and quaint streets. Relax at the Place du Tertre and watch talented artists at work or choose to have your own portrait done. Montmartre was once home to many struggling artists, including Picasso, Monet, and Renoir.

Free time to visit the Galaries Lafayette

Shopping in Paris! Take some time to explore and shop Galeries Lafayette which has made fashion come alive for more than a century and has 63 stores and 10 affiliated outlets.

Overnight in Paris

Day 6
Thursday, April 1, 2010

Transfer on the Eurostar from Paris to London

In Paris, board the high-speed Eurostar, an 18-car train that runs through the tunnel connecting continental Europe with Britain. Completed in May of 1994, the Channel Tunnel provides travelers with easy access to and from the continent. Enjoy state-of-the-art technology as you are whisked under the English Channel to England.

Arrival in London

“Sound drums and trumpets and to London all”-(Shakespeare, King Henry VI part II).

Ranging from the North Sea in the east to the playing fields of Eton in the west, London covers an area of some 620 square miles and is home to over 8 million people. Prepare to observe the stunning architecture, vibrant street life and royal majesty of this bustling metropolis.

Tour Director-led walking tour of London (time permitting).

Stroll through the heart of London on your Tour Director-led walking tour of the city, which begins along the banks of the River Thames. As you walk along the ancient embankment, note that these shadowy waters gave the city its name, which derives from Llyn-Dyn, Celtic for “city of the lake.” Walk along the Strand and see the spot from which all distances to London are measured. Enter Trafalgar Square, where you’re sure to meet the world’s most famous pigeons, and pause at Nelson’s column, a symbol of Britain’s once unrivaled naval power. Continue on to Leicester Square, where duelists once fought to the death. Then saunter through London’s tiny Chinatown. Your walk ends at chic Covent Garden, where street performers (or “buskers”) and stylish passers-by amuse the lively crowds. (The exact walking route may vary, depending on your hotel location and the day’s other activities.)

Overnight in London

Day 7
Friday, April 2, 2010

Guided sightseeing of London

A local guide leads you on a panoramic tour of London. Begin in Grosvenor Square; site of the U.S. embassy and the house where Eisenhower once lived, this area is sometimes called “Little America.” Continue to Hyde Park Corner, located at the southeast corner of Hyde Park, one of London’s largest parks. At bustling Piccadilly Circus, the intersection of five busy streets, check out the bright lights and big city displays, before heading to Trafalgar Square, site of Nelson’s Column, built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Pass Speaker’s Corner, where anyone with something to say is invited to speak his mind. Snap a photo of the Houses of Parliament and continue along London’s South Bank for views of the famous Tower of London and London Bridge. Stroll across the Millennium Bridge for an orientation of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the magnificent 17th-century Baroque church designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Finally, witness a London tradition-the Changing of the Guard (subject to scheduling).

The London Eye

Board the London Eye-built to celebrate the millennium, the world’s largest Ferris wheel offers you the chance to take it all in at once. In its short existence the London Eye has become the most popular UK visitor attraction, with over 3.5 million visitors a year.

Evening Theatre

Participate in London’s vibrant drama scene as you attend an evening theater performance in the West End. London has over 80 mainstream theaters-the largest array in the world-featuring everything from traditional classics to cutting edge works by new writers.

Overnight in London

Day 8
Saturday, April 3, 2010

Guided excursion to Windsor

Journey to Windsor Castle for a guided tour of the Royal Family’s retreat. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, the castle has undergone many renovations over the last 800 years, as each new monarch has added a tower here and a wing there. Legend holds that the castle’s Round Tower was built on the site where King Arthur sat with his Knights of the Round Table. Priceless objects reside in the State Apartments, ranging from paintings by Rubens and Holbein to Henry VIII’s sword and suit of armor. Also visit Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St. George’s Chapel, final resting place of many monarchs including Henry VIII and Charles I. (Please note that St. George’s Chapel is closed on Sunday mornings for church services.) On the rare occasion that Windsor Castle is closed, you’ll instead visit Henry VIII’s extravagant retreat at Hampton Court.

Visit Stonehenge

Arguably, nowhere in Britain has created more debate than the simple ring of stones that dominate the gentle chalk plains of Wiltshire. Archaeologists remain baffled as to what the stone circle means and how it appeared. Ponder the mysteries of the past as you walk around the stones; imagine them in their entirety surrounded by a countryside that remains unchanged over millennia as you try to unravel the mystery.

Overnight in London

Day 9
Sunday, April 4, 2010

Transfer to the airport for your return flight. Your tour director assists with your transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.

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