Four-Destination Benelux and France and Germany and Switzerland Tour

Düsseldorf and Amsterdam

We meet 3 hours before departure at the Turkish Airlines counter in the International Departures Terminal at Istanbul Airport. After completing baggage, ticket and passport formalities, we depart for Düsseldorf at 06.50 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1523. Upon arrival at 09.00 local time, we board our waiting vehicle and begin our Düsseldorf city tour. In Düsseldorf, one of Germany’s key cities for culture, art and industry, the sights include the revolving restaurant at Rheinturm, the Königsallee shopping street and the green spaces of Horfgarten. After the tour, we set off for Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we begin our Amsterdam city tour, with sights including Dam Square, Central Station, the National Monument, the Royal Palace and the Flower Market. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel. We stay overnight at our hotels in or around Amsterdam.

Fairytale villages

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the optional Fairy-Tale Villages and Waterways (Zaanse Schans & Volendam & Giethoorn Hobbit Village) tour at an extra charge. The tour costs 110 Euro. Our first stop is the town of Zaanse Schans. This town in the Netherlands is known for its historic windmills dating back to the 17th century that still operate today, its wooden houses and its natural surroundings. The town's historic character gives visitors the sense of exploring an open-air museum.

The 2nd stop on our tour is Marken. Once an island, Marken was later connected to the mainland by filling in the area between them. After exploring Marken, we head to Volendam. Volendam is known for its harbour, traditional Dutch houses and people in traditional clothing. Here you can sample seafood and cheeses and buy reasonably priced souvenirs.

After visiting Volendam, we continue to our final stop, Giethoorn Hobbit Village. Giethoorn is one of the places in Europe that attracts attention for its village character. The village began to gain recognition when the 1958 film Fanfare was shot here. Over time, it attracted more visitors and became a destination welcoming over 800.000 tourists a year. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotels in or around Amsterdam.

Onward to Brussels

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Brussels. On the way, guests who wish can join the optional Bruges & Ghent tour at an extra cost. (90 Euro) The first stop on the tour is Bruges. One of Europe's many popular tourist destinations, Bruges was placed under UNESCO protection in 1991. As we explore the city, we see its medieval architecture, canals, narrow streets, bridges, historic buildings and squares.

After visiting Bruges, we continue to Ghent. With a history spanning 1400 years, Ghent was founded at the confluence of the Schelde and Lys rivers. One of the largest and wealthiest cities of the Middle Ages, Ghent is known for its historic monuments from this period and its university. After completing our city tour, we depart for Brussels.

A stop on Benelux tours, Brussels is known for its cosmopolitan character and the variety of activities it offers visitors. Upon arrival, our city tour takes us past the Royal Palace, the Chinese and Japanese houses, Brussels Cathedral, the city square, the Stock Exchange Building, the Atomium Monument and the Manneken Pis Statue. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel and have free time. We stay overnight at our hotels in Brussels or the surrounding area.

Onward to Paris

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Paris. Upon arrival, our city tour takes us past Charles de Gaulle and the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, the Louvre Museum and Pyramid, Etoile Square, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais exhibition halls, Concorde Square and the Obelisk, the French Parliament Building, 3. Alexandre Bridge, the Seine River, Napoleon's Tomb and the Eiffel Tower. After the tour, there is free time. Guests who wish may then join the optional Paris by Night tour at an extra charge. (35 Euro) On this tour, we see Champs Elysees, Concorde Square, the Louvre Museum and various boulevards, buildings and squares illuminated at night. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Paris or the surrounding area.

Paris landmarks

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the optional Paris Masterpieces & Seine River Boat Tour (Eiffel Tower & Seine River Boat Trip & Montmarte Artists' Hill & Sacre Coeur Basilica & Notre Dame Cathedral), available at an extra charge. (110 Euro) The first stop is the Eiffel Tower, one of the city's landmarks, visited by millions of tourists every year. We go up to the tower's 2nd floor to see Paris from above. We then take a boat trip on the Seine River, which divides the city in two. After seeing the historic buildings on both banks, we take the funicular up to Montmarte Hill, the highest hill in Paris. On this hill, which bears the traces of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henry Toulouse Lautrec, Dalida, Vincent Van Gogh and Jean Marais, we first see Sacre Coeur (Church of Vows). We then stop at Tertre Square for shopping and a chance to have your portrait drawn. After the break, we visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a symbol of the history of France and one of the buildings that define the Paris skyline. Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the orders of King Louis VII, who reigned between 1137 - 1180, to show the world the political, economic and cultural power of Paris. After the visit, we take a short photo break and then transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotels in Paris or the surrounding area.

Onward to Luxembourg

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Luxembourg. Upon arrival, we begin our city tour, where we see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Grand Ducal Palace, City Hall and Constitution Square. After the tour, guests who wish may join the optional History and Mosaics (Trier & Remich & Schengen) tour at an extra cost. (65 Euro)

The first stop on this tour is Trier, founded by the Romans in 15 BC and known as Germany's oldest city. The city lies on the banks of the Moselle River, a tributary of the Rhine, among low, vine-covered red sandstone hills in the Moselle Wine Region. During our city tour, we will see Porta Nigra, the largest surviving Roman city gate north of the Alps. We will also see the Roman Monuments, St. Peter's Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady, which form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Basilica of Constantine and the house where Karl Marx, the revolutionary thinker known as the father of scientific socialism, was born.

After visiting Trier, we head to the town of Remich, known as a tax haven and offering the lowest shopping prices on our tour. Thanks to Luxembourg's low tax policies and the town's border location, you can buy products such as chocolate, coffee and alcoholic drinks here at low prices.

Our last stop is Schengen, where the borders of Germany, France and Luxembourg meet. The agreement on free movement that abolished passport controls between European Union member countries was signed here. In this village, located in one of Europe's important wine regions, you can taste local wines and see the building where the Schengen Agreement was signed and the monument. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotels in Luxembourg or the surrounding area.

Strasbourg and Alsace

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France. On our city tour, we will see Europe's largest cobblestoned medieval neighbourhoods. Strasbourg is known for its natural areas, wooden houses, historic buildings, medieval churches, cathedrals and works of art. The city where the French national anthem La Marseillaise was written brings together Alsace culture and French architecture. During our city tour, we will see Strasbourg Cathedral, Rohan Palace, Kleber Square and the Petit France district, with its traditional Alsace houses.

After the city tour, guests who wish can join the optional Fairytale Villages of Alsace (Eguisheim & Colmar & Kaysersberg & Riquewihr) tour. (110 Euro) We will have opportunities to take photographs throughout the tour. Our first stop will be Egusheim. Named France's Favourite Village in 2013, Egusheim is known for its historic buildings and natural surroundings. Colourful houses reflecting the typical architecture of the Alsace region shape the appearance of Equesheim.

We then depart for Colmar, known for its medieval buildings, Gothic churches and colourful houses. During our walk through its preserved streets, we will see St.Martin Cathedral, built entirely of pink stone; Little Venice, whose small canals recall Venice in Italy; Maison Pfister, one of Colmar's oldest houses; and Maison des Tetes, a Renaissance building decorated with faces.

The third stop on our tour will be Kaysersberg. Kayserberg is a medieval town in the Alsace region of France. It is known for its colourful houses, narrow streets and historic character. The 13th-century Château de Kaysersberg castle is one of the town's landmarks. Sainte-Croix Church in the centre features Gothic architecture.

Our final stop will be Riquewihr, home to many half-timbered houses in the Alsace region. This historic village has old houses decorated with flowers, narrow streets and a medieval townscape enclosed by walls. During our visit, we will see the ruins of Riquewihr Castle and walk along the village's old walls.

After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel in Strasbourg or the surrounding area. Overnight accommodation will be at our hotels in Strasbourg or the surrounding area.

Freiburg, Basel and return

After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart for Freiburg. Germany's fourth-largest city, Freiburg, is located near the Black Forest and is known for its medieval buildings and natural surroundings. Our city tour includes sights such as Münster Cathedral, a symbol of the city with Gothic architecture, Markthalle (Covered Market), Münsterplatz (Main Square), Rathausplatz, Kaiser Joseph Street, Augustiner Platz, Adelhauser Platz and Gerberau.

After the tour, we set off for Basel. On arrival, we begin our city tour. Switzerland's third most populous city after Zurich and Geneva, Basel combines historic buildings with a modern urban landscape despite its small area. Sights on the tour include Basel Cathedral, which houses the tomb of the Dutch Renaissance writer Erasmus, the city's main square Marktplatz, the Government Building and Hotel Les Trois Roi.

After the city tour, we depart for Basel Airport. After completing baggage, ticket and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 19.10 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1926. Our tour ends upon arrival at 23.15 local time.