Our tour leaves from Paris for a delightful scenic journey through the rolling countryside of the Champagne region, famous the world over for the sparkling white wine produced here. Enjoy seeing the historic attractions of provincial capital Reims, including the city’s cathedral – a key national heritage site, where coronations of French kings took place from the 11th century onwards.

History and tradition are equally evident in your next location: Luxembourg, the world’s only remaining Grand Duchy. After arriving in refined Luxembourg City, you’ll be introduced on foot to the main places of interest, including the Place de Constitution and Pont Adolphe, before having time for further exploration on your own.

Today we leave Luxembourg behind and head across another European border into Germany. The first stop is historic Trier, Germany's oldest city and the birthplace of Karl Marx. You'll have the chance to see from the outside the house where the influential philosopher was born, which now functions as the Karl Marx Haus museum.

Your walking tour then takes you into the centre of Trier; here you can look around the city's impressive cathedral, where the celebrated Holy Robe – said to be the tunic of Christ – is preserved and occasionally displayed. Trier is also known as 'The Second Rome' (Constantine served as an administrator here for 10 years), and significant legacies of the once-great empire remain today. The highlight is undoubtedly Porta Nigra, the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, which you'll get to see and photograph.

After an exciting morning in Trier, you'll drive on to Koblenz, famous as the location of the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Here you have the option of indulging in a relaxing lunch alongside the water, and then afterwards you can also choose to add on a scenic Rhine boat cruise for some memorable city vistas. Back on dry land you'll drive through the wine-making town of Rüdesheim. Then it's on to Frankfurt am Main, where you'll discover the delights of Römerberg, a charming plaza with a distinctive medieval town hall as its centrepiece

We'll depart in the morning, reaching the Czech border in the early afternoon and Prague by dusk. Commonly referred to as Golden Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is a resplendent vision of Old World glory.
  

Your Prague adventure begins with a spectacular walk along the coronation path of the kings and queens of old Bohemia. We'll start at the top of Castle Hill in the Hradcany District and then visit Prague Castle, official residence of the president of the republic, and according to Guinness Book of World Records, the largest ancient castle in the world. Fees for the castle also include admission to Golden Lane, a street of 11 historic houses situated inside the castle complex, and the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Crossing the Charles Bridge, we'll enter the old quarter and see the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, which has played host to both uprisings and executions, and remains the political and cultural heart of the city to this day.

After lunch in the square, we will make the scenic transfer from Prague to the hotel in or near the Slovakian capital of Bratislava.
  

After breakfast we'll depart for Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

Major attractions on our tour include Heroes' Square, featuring statues of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and other important national leaders, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the Hungarian Parliament Building; Elisabeth Bridge; Fisherman's Bastion; and Matthias Church. You will then have the option of joining the scenic Danube River cruise. We'll spend the night in Budapest.
  

We'll drive to the Croatian capital Zagreb, whose buildings are still well preserved despite having gone through several military incursions. This ancient city is full of beautiful Gothic architecture with exquisitely crafted detailing. Together with its Mediterranean cuisine and locally produced wines, as well as friendly Croatian hospitality, Zagreb is sure to be a wonderful experience. You will visit the city's highlights such as Zagreb Cathedral, the Ban Jelacic Square, and the Church of St. Mark.
 

Enjoy a guided tour to Plitvice Lakes National Park, consisting of 16 lakes joined by waterfalls, walkways, and hiking trails. In the dense mountains, layers of travertine barriers create a natural dam, forming fairy tale lakes. The calcium carbonate rich water has a special silver color, mirroring the trees on its surface. The views are stunning.
 

Accommodations for the evening are in Zadar or a nearby city.

After breakfast we'll do some sightseeing in the ancient city of Zadar. This city retains the narrow streets and buildings of medieval times, infused with a strong religious atmosphere. Close to the waterfront, you can admire the modern Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, an amazing solar light display. Then we'll drive to Split, the second largest city in Croatia. The city has many ancient Roman style buildings dating back over 1,700 years. The most famous are the ruins of Diocletian's Palace, built in the fourth century AD.



 



Accommodations for the evening are in Dubrovnik or a nearby city.

People fall in love with Dubrovnik at first sight. This culturally and historically rich city is more recently known as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. But the real stars of the show are Dubrovnik Old Town, the city walls, Lovrijenac Fortress, Rector's Palace, and the Franciscan Monastery. You can also take a cable car to up to the mountain for an aerial view of the city below (own expense).

 



Accommodations for the evening are in Dubrovnik or a nearby city.

The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the focus of today’s itinerary. Our first stop: Pocitelj, the stepped medieval fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will also see stunning Blagaj with its Dervish Monastery nestled in a 200 meter high cliff, surrounded by crystal clear streams. Then we head to the ancient city of Mostar, to cross the magnificent ancient arch bridge and capture the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river. After visiting this ancient city of poetry and paintings, we'll drive to our hotel for the evening, in or near Sarajevo.
 

Sarajevo was once an important gateway to the East. This city, which combines different religions and cultures, has a very unique European style. Its profound historical imprint, which includes the assassination at Latin Bridge that caused the First World War, and the Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures Line, can still be found in the Old Town. The rebirth and transformation of Sarajevo is reflected in the modern architecture of the new city. After our visit, we'll cross the border back into Croatia.
 

Accommodations for the evening are in or near Vinkovci.

Departing in the morning we'll first visit Pecs. Located between the Danube and the Drava, it is one of the most attractive cities in Hungary, with a pleasant climate and long history. Pecs also features a magnificent museum and the best Turkish ruins in the country. Pecs is known for music, opera, and ballet. The highlight is the Pecs Cathedral towering over central Szent Istvan Square. We'll drive back to Budapest in the afternoon.