Italy, the Adriatic and the Alps: the great journey

Thirty days between the Alps and the Mediterranean: Bavaria, Tyrol, the Dolomites, Venice, Bled and Ljubljana, Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Rome, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Lake Como and Lucerne.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1Heidelberg and Rothenburg — welcome of your group at the airport or station, Heidelberg Castle and Old Bridge, ramparts and half-timbered houses of Rothenburg, night in Rothenburg
2. Day 2Munich — drive through Bavaria, Marienplatz and Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, evening at the Hofbräuhaus, night in Munich
3. Day 3Neuschwanstein — Neuschwanstein Castle, drive over the Fern Pass into Tyrol, night in Innsbruck
4. Day 4Innsbruck and Brenner — Golden Roof and Hofburg in Innsbruck, Brenner Pass, arrival in South Tyrol, night in Bolzano
5. Day 5Great Dolomites Road — Lake Carezza, Pordoi Pass, Dolomites panoramas, night in Cortina d’Ampezzo
6. Day 6Venice — drive through Cadore and the Veneto, first vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal, night in Venice
7. Day 7Venice — St Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, gondola ride, night in Venice
8. Day 8Murano and Burano — glassblowers of Murano, colourful houses of Burano, free afternoon, night in Venice
9. Day 9Bled — drive through Friuli and the Julian Alps, Lake Bled and its castle, boat to the island, night in Bled
10. Day 10Vintgar and Ljubljana — Vintgar Gorge, Ljubljana old town, Triple Bridge and castle, night in Ljubljana
11. Day 11Postojna — Postojna Cave by little train, Predjama Castle, drive into Croatia, night at the Plitvice Lakes
12. Day 12Plitvice Lakes — national park, waterfalls and wooden walkways, boat on Lake Kozjak, night at the Plitvice Lakes
13. Day 13Pula — drive through Istria, Roman amphitheatre of Pula, old town of Rovinj, night in Rovinj
14. Day 14Rovinj — free day, optional Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, Istrian harbours and coves, night in Rovinj
15. Day 15Trieste — Miramare Castle, Piazza Unità d’Italia, drive across the Po plain, night in Ravenna
16. Day 16Ravenna — mosaics of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, drive across the Apennines, night in Assisi
17. Day 17Assisi — Basilica of St Francis and Giotto’s frescoes, medieval lanes, drive into Lazio, night in Rome
18. Day 18Ancient Rome — Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, night in Rome
19. Day 19Vatican — St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, evening in Trastevere, night in Rome
20. Day 20Pompeii — drive through Campania, ruins of Pompeii at the foot of Vesuvius, night in Sorrento
21. Day 21Amalfi Coast — clifftop road, Positano, Amalfi and its cathedral, gardens of Ravello, night in Sorrento
22. Day 22Sorrento — free day, optional boat trip to Capri, limoncello, night in Sorrento
23. Day 23Orvieto — Orvieto Cathedral on its rock, drive through Umbria and Tuscany, night in Siena
24. Day 24Siena and San Gimignano — Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral, towers of San Gimignano, night in Florence
25. Day 25Florence — Duomo and Brunelleschi’s dome, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo’s David, night in Florence
26. Day 26Pisa — Leaning Tower and Square of Miracles, drive along the Versilia, night in La Spezia
27. Day 27Cinque Terre — boat to Vernazza, Monterosso and Manarola, Ligurian pesto, free afternoon, night in La Spezia
28. Day 28Lake Como — drive through Lombardy, boat on the lake to Bellagio, villas and gardens, night in Como
29. Day 29Gotthard and Lucerne — drive through Ticino and over the Gotthard Pass, Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, night in Lucerne
30. Day 30Colmar — drive via Basel, Little Venice and half-timbered houses of Colmar, return to Luxembourg, then transfer to the airport or station

Included

• Welcome and transfers at the airport or station of your choice
• Coach with driver throughout the tour, two drivers when needed
• 29 hotel nights with breakfast
• Optional: guide speaking the language of the group and of the countries visited, half board, cruises, tickets