Canals, Castles and Alpine Peaks

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Friday March 12: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2, Saturday March 13: Amsterdam

Arrive in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and a city known for its rich art heritage; canals lined with tall, skinny houses and dotted with graceful bridges; and its bike-friendly ethos. (D)

Day 3, Sunday March 14: Amsterdam

Amsterdam is consistently ranked as one of Europe's top bike-friendly cities, so it's only fitting to start the day with a bike tour of this captivating city. Later, you'll trade in wheels for water when you take in city sights from a boat during an evening canal cruise, which underscores why Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North. (B,D)

Day 4, Monday March 15: Amsterdam

Today you are free to explore this amazing city, perhaps first sampling some of the iconic sweet and gooey stroopwafels. You may wish to admire tulips in every color at the city's famous floating Bloemenmarkt, wander the charmingly arty and atmospheric Jordaan neighborhood or visit a lesser-known museum such as the Willet Holthuysen, where you can explore the perfectly preserved grand canal house of a lavishly wealthy Golden Age family. (B,D)

Day 5, Tuesday March 16: Rhine

Depart Amsterdam and cross into Germany where you'll stop to visit Cologne. A walking tour with your ACIS Tour Manager shows you Germany's greatest Gothic cathedral and other highlights of this 2,000-year-old city and cultural center, which spans the Rhine River. After time for lunch, continue on to the Rhine Valley. (B,D)

Day 6, Wednesday March 17: Heidelberg

Board a boat this morning for a scenic cruise along the historic Rhine River, one of Germany's most important navigable waterways. When the cruise ends, drive to Heidelberg. Get your first taste of this romantic city with entrance to the centuries-old Heidelberg Castle, a notable example of Renaissance architecture that towers hundreds of feet above the Neckar River. (B,D)

Day 7, Thursday March 18: Heidelberg

This morning discover Heidelberg with a guided sightseeing tour. The city is famed for its venerable Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, and your tour will include a visit to the Studentenkarzer—the University's student prison, where until 1914 students were locked up as punishment for offenses like duels, disturbances, and pranks gone too far. Many of those detained here left their mark with portraits and inscriptions on the walls. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Perhaps visit one of the many museums or climb the steeple of the awe-inspiring Church of the Holy Spirit for a bird's-eye view of the city. (B,D)

Day 8, Friday March 19: Lake Lucerne

Depart early this morning for the scenic journey into Switzerland. Stop for a visit to see the magnificent, thundering Rhine Falls, Europe's most powerful waterfall. Then continue on to charming Lucerne. Renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and nestled amid scenic mountains, the city stands on the shore of pristine Lake Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 9, Saturday March 20: Lake Lucerne

This morning, take an excursion to the nearly 7,000-foot-tall summit of Mount Pilatus via the world's steepest cog railway, where on a clear day you can see 73 mountain peaks in the surrounding Swiss Alps. Later this afternoon, your Tour Manager leads a walking tour of Lucerne, showing you the magnificent Lion Monument, a touching tribute to Swiss mercenaries who died while fighting during the French Revolution, and the 669-foot-long Chapel Bridge, a 1300s engineering marvel that crosses the Reuss River. Linking the city’s Old and New Towns, it’s the world’s oldest covered bridge. (B,D)

Day 10, Sunday March 21: Departure

Depart for the USA. (B)