Capitals and Canals

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: London

Arrive in London and begin to explore some of what makes this capital city thrive. Your central hotel location allows you to walk to many unique neighborhoods, museums and monuments with ease. Depending on which area you are in, perhaps find your inner fashionista on Oxford Street, stroll the artsy South Bank or dive right in to the culture and museums of South Kensington.

Day 3: London

This morning’s panoramic sightseeing tour, led by a local guide, shows you Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Continue with a guided visit of the British Museum, home to an astounding 150 million items. You'll discover objects from around the world including the Rosetta Stone and sculptural friezes from the Parthenon.

Day 4: Bruges

Enjoy scenes of the English countryside whizzing by your train window as you journey towards the English Channel on the Eurostar. You'll travel through the Chunnel and on to Brussels, where you'll catch your first glimpse of Belgium before driving to Bruges. Tonight, see Bruges without the crowds as you explore the city's beautiful architecture all lit up by floodlights. It's an impressive sight.

Day 5: Bruges

Your morning walking tour highlights the winding canals, ornate houses and medieval cobbled streets of a city that is often called the "Venice of the North" and was once a wealthy hub for merchants and traders. Feel the energy flow from the two main squares, Burg and Markt, and see the whitewashed house fronts and colorful garden of the Begijnhof. Then take in the sights of Bruges from a new perspective during a canal boat cruise along its unique network of waterways. During time to explore more at your own pace this afternoon, perhaps climb the Belfry's 370 steps for spectacular rooftop views and then reward yourself with one of the waffles or chocolate confections for which Belgium is famous.

Day 6: Paris

Drive from Bruges to Reims for a walking tour that includes a visit to its incredible Cathedral, where French kings were once crowned. You will get a sense for life in a thriving French village packed with café-lined squares, busy boulevards and a beautiful center. Then continue on to Paris in time for dinner. Tonight's highlight is an illuminated boat ride along the Seine.

Day 7: Paris

In the morning breeze by the crowds with your timed entrance to the Louvre and discover the many famous masterpieces that call it home. Insightful commentary from your local guide highlights the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo and more as you wander through the galleries. From its beginnings as a royal fortress to its current status as the world's most visited art museum, the Louvre has long been at the center of Parisian culture and home to a collection of 35,000 works of art from around the world. This afternoon's guided walking tour shows you some of the iconic sights for which Paris is famous such as Place de la Concorde, the mighty column in Place Vendome, the Opéra Garnier, temple-like La Madeleine church, and the Tuileries Garden.

Day 8: Paris

Enjoy a full-day excursion to Louis XIV's palace at Versailles. Your visit includes the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and Marie Antoinette's Hameau and Petit Trianon. These “small” cottages are delightful for their scale and grounds. After wandering about the exquisite and intensely manicured gardens on two feet, hop on two wheels and experience Versailles by bike, exploring the palace's surroundings beyond the gardens. Drive back to Paris where you may wish to spend your last evening abroad discovering the bohemian Montmartre district, once the artistic epicenter of Paris, or picking up a final souvenir from one of the shops along the Champs-Élysées.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.