COX AND KINGS

EUROPE

Welcome to your 'Cox & Kings European Discovery' tour. Your Cox & Kingsrepresentative greets you at the 'meeting point' at the exit after immigration and customs and transfers you comfortably to your hotel (check in after 1600 hrs).
Cox and Kings take care to start your sightseeing only the next day so that you can relax after your long flight and get over your jetlag.

Marvel at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir the first temple of stone to be constructed in Europe, with its luminescent white pinnacles and glittering marble pillars. Live history through a guided panoramic highlight tour of London city. Get acquainted with some of London's iconic landmarks like the Tower Bridge, River Thames, London Eye, Tower of London, Hyde Park, Big Ben, Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, the famous Piccadilly Circus, Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square followed by the majesty of Buckingham Palace which is the Queen's official residence. At the end of your tour the rest of the day is free, for your quest for great bargains or sample our Optional London Delights Tour! You have a date with over 400 celebrities at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the world's largest exhibition of life like wax models. Take a photograph with Amitabh Bachchan. Travel back in time with a visit to the Tower of London, a historic landmark where much royal blood was spilled! The aptly named Bloody Tower and Traitor's Gate still fascinate. The main attraction is the Jewel house, housing the incredible Crown Jewels including the Koh-i-Noor diamond! Later, ride the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and during the gradual 30-minute flight, see views of London.
The entire group will reunite in the evening to drive to Harwich to board your overnight cruise ferry to the Hook of Holland. Traveling in a ferry across the North Sea is sheer indulgence! Treat yourself to a world class maritime experience, sailing in total comfort. (B, D on board the ferry)

Onto Belgium  |  Full Day Excursion To Amsterdam  |  Visit Keukenhof / Madurodam  |  Orientation Tour of Brussels

Today, drive through Dutch countryside. If you come to Holland when tulips are in bloom (only from March 24th to May 20th) visit the 
  famous Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. The rest of the year we visit Madurodam, the enchanting miniature city that features the best of           Netherlands. Onto Amsterdam, where Windmills still wield their magic. There's a photo stop at one. Clogs, Cheese and Holland are inseparable and a factory visit demonstrates this business.
The canals beckon as you board a glass topped boat and glide past regal mansions, houseboats and bridges. A canal cruise in Amsterdam is a rewarding experience. Spend some free time at Dam Square with the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), the Royal Palace and the National Monument.
Then drive to Brussels. An orientation tour takes you to the magnificent Gothic St. Michel's Cathedral. Walk via Galeries Saint Hubert the world's first shopping mall, opened in 1847, to the Grand Place, Europe's most beautiful square. This exquisite market square is the main tourist attraction of the city. Time permitting, shop here for world famous Belgian lace, chocolate and Belgian Waffles dusted with caramelized sugar. Mmmm!
Visit the Mannekin Pis, (photo stop) - the cheeky statue of a boy, representing the "irreverent spirit" of Brussels, which has drawn sightseers for centuries. After dinner check into your hotel. (Breakfast on board, L, D)

Onto Paris  |  Excursion to Parc Asterix  |  Optional "Gala Evening In Paris"

Drive to Paris, the 'City of Lights'. We recommend you unleash the child in you and enjoy our highly recommended, funfilled exclusive excursion to Parc Asterixenroute. This is another first from Cox and Kings! 7 adventure areas, 27 attractions and 6 shows set your heart racing and keep you entertained. Ride the 80 kmph Tonnerre de Zeus - Europe's highest wooden roller coaster; the Goudrix, the Oxygenarium, the Transdemonium, the Menhir Express, a log flume ride with a 13 metre drop and the Grand Splatch - a rapid river ride to keep the adrenaline flowing. Thrilling rides and incredible shows make it a complete family attraction.
After check in this evening, don't miss our optional Cox and Kings Gala Eveningand experience the joie de vivre of 'Gaie Paris'. This enchanted evening unfolds with a cruise on the River Seine, sailing under old and beautiful bridges, admiring illuminated monuments as you glide by. True bliss!
Sparkle over a glass of champagne and an Indian dinner at the Lido. Here at the most famous nightclub in the world, enjoy the 'Bonheur Show', a cabaret with extraordinary sets and extravagant costumes. Take away a small remembrance of your visit. We stretch the night for you with an Illumination Tour, driving past spectacularly lit landmarks. It's magic! Return to your hotel. (B)

In Paris  |  Shop At Fragonard  |  City Tour Of Paris  |  Visit Grevin Wax Museum  |  Visit Montparnasse  |  Visit the Eiffel Tower

Visit and shop at Fragonard - The Parfumeur, an exclusive from Cox and Kings. Displayed are perfumery collections retracing 3000 years of history. Discover Fragonard's original perfumery creations on sale at factory prices. Fragonard celebrates the 250 years of Cox and Kings with a special souvenir for each visitor.
Enjoy a guided panoramic city tour of famous monuments like the pyramid of the Louvre, Garnier's Opera, the largest opera theatre in the world, the Place de la Concorde - the site of the infamous guillotine, the Champs Elysees - one of the most fashionable streets in the world, the River Seine, the Napoleanic Arc de Triomphe and the Hotel des Invalides.
Our next stop is the famed Grevin Wax Museum, an exclusive from Cox and Kings! Grevin, a legendary site of entertainment since 1882, was created by Alfred Grevin, to produce and showcase life size wax models of celebrities. At the end of the 19th Century, Arthur Meyer, founder of the famous daily newspaper "Le Gaulois", conceived the notion of showing his readers the people in the headlines of his paper, but in 3-D. At a time when the press did not use photographs, he came up with the idea of creating a site where the public could see people in the news. To implement this original plan, he called on Alfred Grevin, who was a cartoonist, designer and famous sculptor. The Grevin opened its doors on June 5th, 1882. It was an immediate success. At Grevin, relive glorious French history, meet celebrities and experience the Spirit of Paris, with over 300 wax figures in a setting of gold and marble! The latest addition is our very own Shah Rukh Khan". Commemorate your visit with a small memento.
Later today, another exclusive the Montparnasse tower - the roof of Paris, at a height of 210 metres above Paris. Discover a view of Paris with the crowning glory of the Eiffel Tower. Far above the hustle and bustle of the Montparnasse square, you can stand on the very roof of the capital. The city is spread out before you, swarming with life. Europe's fastest elevator will take you to a height of 196 meters (over 640 ft) for this magnificient experience. By using the viewpoint indicators, you can locate and see each of the districts and their monuments. Best of all get a memento to commemorate your visit!
End the day taking in the dazzling overview of the glittering city as you ascend by an elevator to the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower! After dinner return to your hotel. (B, L, D)

Onto Mont Blanc in Chamonix

Today, after breakfast, enjoy a six hour drive to the 'Love at first sight' the beautifulChamonix Valley and the majestic mountains of the Mont Blanc range. Whilst all the Hindi movies have launched the Swiss Alps, Cox and Kings is the first to introduce the French Alps and the home of Mont Blanc to India. 
Check into your hotel and after dinner tonight try out your winning streak at the casino! A voucher will get you a complimentary drink. Raise a toast to your tour withCox and Kings and the Chamonix Mt Blanc region. (B, L, D)

Onto Switzerland  |  Cable Car Ride To Aiguille Du Midi And A Visit To The Mer De Glace In Chamonix Valley  |  Visit Geneva Awaken to the spectacular delights of the glacier around you. A view of the facing peaks and of Mont-Blanc, awaits you at breakfast. Enjoy a free morning. Walk past picturesque hamlets and along alpine lakes, the spectacular scenery and surroundings. Stroll along the valley paths. Relax and be sure to feast your eyes on the wonderful views. Don't miss our excursion tour - a ride on the highest and most impressive cable car, the Aiguille du Midi, which lifts you to 3842 meters for an unforgettable view of the Alps, with its own postage stamp and a letterbox! Continue your excursion with a ride on the nostalgic red rack and pinion railway toMontenvers. The train climbs a steep track, through scenic Alpine scenery, to a stunning vantage point above the 'Mer de Glace' (sea of ice) Glacier. You know you've really arrived when you stand at 1913 meters, at the 'Mer de Glace', which is 7 kms long and 200 meters thick, with a surface dimension of 40 kms! A crystal gallery, a wildlife exhibition, an ice garden and the famous ice grotto 100 meters long, carved each year into the heart of the glacier, awaits you! Drive to Geneva, one of Switzerland's most privileged cities, said to have the second highest quality of living in the world! We begin the orientation tour with a drive to the Palais des Nations (the European Headquarters of the United Nations) and the Musee Ariana. Be awestruck by the great white plume of one of the tallest fountains in Europe - the magnificent Jet d'Eau and pause for a photograph here and at the beautiful floral clock in the Jardin Anglais! Continue your drive and check into your hotel. (B, L, D) In Switzerland  |  Visit to Glacier 3000  |  Visit Lucerne  |  Mt. Cox & Kings Gala Evening With Dinner - An Exclusive Mountain In Switzerland Cox and Kings gives you another first with the launch of Glacier 3000 - the everlasting snow mountain, offering panoramic views of the most beautiful summits of the Alps and the scene of the popular Indian film "Bachna Ae Haseeno". The day is free to visit the famous pedestrian zone with its shops and typical chalet style houses or the Glacier 3000 Awaits! Ascent is by cable car to Scex Rouge (2971m) (weather permitting). A special adrenaline kick with a wild ride on the Alpine Coaster (weather permitting), the world's highest bobsleigh track. You can cruise along at approx. 40 km/hour and with the brakes you determine how fast you want to go. The ultimate highlight is the 520-degree loop, followed by 10 curves, 6 waves, 3 jumps and 2 bridges. The View Point (stairs) located directly behind the Restaurant Botta 3000 has a 360-degree view that includes some of the most beautiful alpine peaks - from the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau to the Matterhorn - and views onto over 24 peaks that are over 4000 m high. There is also a tribute to Cox and Kings serving you for 250 years. Enjoy a hot buffet lunch and a souvenir for each family. Later ride the Snow Bus over the glacier - a unique experience of a comfortable ride on the eternal snow. Return to Col du Pillion. Move on to Lucerne with its picturesque mountains, lakes, cowbells, alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss. Pause at the poignant Lion Monument, built to commemorate the brave Swiss soldiers killed during the French Revolution. Stroll along the covered, wooden Kapellbrucke (chapel bridge), to the ornate Jesuit Church. You will have your first encounter with the marvels of Swiss shopping at Gubelin. Most visitors take home two things - memories of a beautiful country and a Swiss watch. Later drive on to the Swiss region of Lungern, where an exclusive Gala Evening is lined up for you. A mountain in Switzerland that's all yours! We make sure that ultimate fantasy comes true with Mt. Cox & Kings - a Swiss Mountain in the Lungern - Schonbuel belt, so exclusive, that it's only for you! Getting there is half the fun! Wind your way uphill in a cable car, with a panoramic 360 degree view of the Bernese Oberland. If viewing nature is not enough, there are walking trails and chocolate casting. That's not all! We top it with a sumptuous Dinner and Disco Dancing! Yes, with Cox and Kings you're constantly on a high! Later check in to your hotel. (B, L, D) Day At Leisure  |  Optional Excursion To The Jungfrau, Ascending By Cogwheel Train, Indian Lunch  |  Visit Interlaken  |  Visit The Trummelbach Falls The day is free, but do take advantage of our optional excursion to the Jungfrau, the 'Top of Europe', a wonderful world of glaciers and eternal ice. Stop at theTrummelbach falls, another highlight from Cox and Kings. This is the only glacier waterfalls in Europe, cascading through the mountain. Onto Jungfrau. Reach the highest altitude railway station in Europe by a charming, red cogwheel train, amid dramatic mountain scenery!  Walk on the great Aletsch Glacier, at 22kms - the longest ice stream in the Alps, visit the glistening Ice Palace and the Sphinx Observation Terrace, at 3571 m, the loftiest point of all, the Alpine view will take your breadth away. What could be more tempting in this icy cold scenario, than a hot Indian lunch!  Descend to visit the popular holiday resort of Interlaken, cradled cozily between the beautiful Lakes of Brienz and Thun, where even today you see horse-drawn carriages. Indulge in some shopping. Next to a virtually unlimited selection of watches and jewellery, every store carries a vast array of small famous brand gifts and souvenirs, priced for every pocket. (B, D) Onto the Rhineland  |  Excursion to The Rhine Falls At Schaffhausen  |  Drive Through The Black Forest  |  Visit Drubba  |  Orientation Tour Of Heidelberg Move onto Schaffhausen, where the Rhine River thunders over the Rhine Falls, forming Europe's largest waterfall - an excellent photo opportunity. Continue into Germany where time stands still at Drubba, the alpine nest of the Cuckoo Clock situated in the unique Hollental (Hell's Valley), directly at the mouth of the Ravennaschult (Ravenna Glen). Witness a demonstration to explain the making of authentic cuckoo clocks in their original form, each piece carefully crafted for precision! The Cuckoo Clock is said to have originated between 1740 and 1750 and has remained more or less unchanged in its unique design. A visit here is always a memorable experience. A special celebration surprise! Get a special souvenir....  yes with compliments of Drubba and Cox and Kings. Your scenic drive through the Black Forest continues to Heidelberg, in the valley of the River Neckar and known for its romantic castle and picturesque Old Town. Wander around the winding alleys of the 'Alstadt'- old section of the town. Spend some free time (and money!) at the Haupstrasse or high street, the main shopping avenue in Heidelberg. After dinner check into your hotel in the Rhineland. (B, L, D) Onto Innsbruck  |  Visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds Enjoy a picturesque drive to Austria. En route halt at the internationally renownedSwarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens and prepare to be dazzled at the 'Chambers of Wonder'! In a wondrous blue hall dominated by a Unicum- a wall of crystal, you see the world's biggest crystal and it's smallest! Over 7 million people from all corners of the globe, have already been thrilled by the Swarovski experience - now you are one of them! Continue to Innsbruck. Located on the Inn River, Innsbruck is one of Europe's most beautiful and lively cities. An international centre for winter sports, it has hosted the Winter Olympics twice! Our orientation tour introduces you to its world famous sights. View the Golden Roof or 'Goldenes Dachl', an ornate Gothic balcony erected by the Emperor Maximilian I in the 15th century, decorated with gold painted copper shingles. Next walk to the Imperial Church followed by the 'Hofburg' or Imperial Palace. This Capital of the Alps, has a history of 800 years! Check into your hotel. After a continental dinner, you can disco the night away with cold drinks, wine and beer to quench that thirst! (B, L, D) Onto Venice  |  Walking Tour Of Venice Today your journey takes you on a drive past quaint villages, medieval castles and fruit orchards and cutting across the fertile Adriatic Plains, to the magical lagoon city of Venice. Nothing prepares you for the captivating city of canals and palaces - Venice is simply unique! Built on 117 small islands, it is a pedestrian's city, so get set for awalking tour. Cruise from Tronchetto Pier and glide romantically past fairytale palaces, through incredible miniature canals to the Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square), where you disembark. Napoleon dubbed the Square the 'finest drawing room in Europe' for its constant carnival atmosphere! Witness the bronze Moors striking the hour, as they have been doing for the past 500 years!  From there to the Doge's Palace, connected by the 'Bridge of Sighs' to its prisons. It was from here that the legendary lover Casanova made his famous escape! End this exciting tour with a brief visit to a Murano Glass Factory for a demonstration in glass blowing. Hand blown Venetian glass is world famous.  Enjoyment at its peak this evening for the 250 years celebration of Cox & Kings with a scrumptious dinner and a surprise gift per family as you enjoy a tranquil cruise to Tronchetto Pier. (B, L, D) Onto Florence  |  Orientation Tour Of Pisa  |  Walking Tour Of Florence Drive across the Apennine Mountains, past Bologna, to Pisa, the hometown of Galileo and a city, which makes the most of its claim to fame - its Leaning Tower! It has leaned almost since construction first started, due to the swampy soil beneath it. At a photo stop here, note its striking beauty along with its characteristic tilt. It is the Duomo's (Cathedral) Bell Tower. Together with the Baptistry, these are all a part of the Field of Miracles.  Continue to Florence, a shrine to the wonders of the Renaissance, with more artistic treasures per square metre than any other city in the world!  Included in your walking tour of Florence is a visit to the remarkable a (when open for visitors), which is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. It dominates the city's skyline and still defines its scale - no building in town is taller! Besides it is the 'Gate to Paradise' - the heavenly gilded bronze doors of the Baptistry, originally a pagan temple and the open-air gallery in Signoria Square. Walk on the famous Ponte Vecchio, the oldest surviving bridge in the city. After all that exercise, add to the feel good factor. Its time to indulge yourself with some more works of art - genuine Florentine leather bags and souvenirs! Happy shopping!  After an exciting tour, drive through a stretch of olive groves and vineyards and arrive at your hotel and check in. (B, L, D) Full Day Excursion To Rome  |  Visit the Time Elevator  |  Visit The Vatican  |  Guided Panoramic City Tour Of Rome 'Rome was not built in a day'- the truth of this oft quoted adage hits you with full force, as we pack in all the 'must see' agenda into our guided panoramic city tour! According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC.  Start your introduction to Rome with a journey on the Time Elevator and enjoy a 4 dimensional view of Roman Glory. Then onto The Vatican, the smallest nation in the world! The most famous square of The Vatican is St. Peter's Square with St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world.  Gaze in awe at Michelangelo's Pieta. See the triumphal Arch of Constantine, one of the most important commemorative monuments of antiquity and then drive through Piazza Venezia, where the grandiose monument to the reunification of Italy is often referred to as the Marble wedding cake! Pass the Circus Maximus - the Hippodrome - known for its ancient chariot races, which was reconstructed by Hollywood for the well known movie 'Ben Hur'! Tribute is paid to the brave Gladiators of Rome, as you pass the mighty Colosseum.  At this amphitheatre, the notorious and gory gladiatorial games were held, where they fought one another and wild animals while the crowd roared! Pass the ruins of the Roman Forum and end the tour at the famous Trevi Fountain.  Legend has it, that if you make a wish and toss a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome! We at Cox and Kings look forward to that! After an exciting tour relax and enjoy your drive to the hotel. (B, L, D)  Note: Due to Rome city regulations, certain roads may be off limits for long distance coaches. This may result in the Rome sightseeing being done partly by foot / public transport. Homeward Bound Good times need never end! As you get ready for the airport and your flight back home, relive the high points of your 'Cox and Kings European Discovery' tour.  We are confident you will join us again sometime soon… (B either in the hotel or on board the flight)  This tour may be reversed due to Operational constraints. JOIN THIS FABULOUS TRIP WITH COX & KINGS WITH 15 DAYS AND 14 NIGHTS.                            HAPPY VACATIONS