Four-Destination Benelux, France, Germany and Switzerland Tour

Düsseldorf and Amsterdam

We meet at the Turkish Airlines counter in the International Departures Terminal at Istanbul Airport 3 hours before departure. After completing baggage, ticket and passport procedures, we depart for Düsseldorf at 08.00 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1523. We arrive at 09.20 local time and begin our city tour in the vehicle waiting for us at the airport. In Düsseldorf, one of Germany's important cities for culture, art and industry, the sights we will see include the revolving restaurant at Rheinturm, the shopping street Königsallee and Horfgarten with its green spaces. After the city tour, we set off for Amsterdam. On arrival, we begin our Amsterdam city tour, with sights including Dam Square, Central Station, the National Monument, the Royal Palace and the Flower Market. After 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 can join the optional Fairytale Villages and Waterways (Zaanse Schans & Volendam & Giethoorn Hobbit Village) tour at an extra cost. (110 Euro) Our tour begins in the town of Zaanse Schans. One of the Netherlands' well-known towns, Zaanse Schans is noted 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 buildings create a setting reminiscent of an open-air museum.

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

After visiting Volendam, we head to our final stop, Giethoorn Hobbit Village. Giethoorn is one of the places in Europe that attracts visitors with its natural beauty. The village began to gain recognition through the 1958 film Fanfare, which was filmed here. Over time, it attracted more visitors and now welcomes over 800.000 tourists a year.

After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotels in Amsterdam or the surrounding area.

Onward to Brussels

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Brussels. Along the way, guests who wish can join the optional Bruges & Ghent tour at an extra charge. (90 Euro) The first stop on the tour is Bruges. One of Europe's most visited cities, Bruges was placed under Unesco protection in 1991. The city is known for its medieval architecture, canals, narrow streets, bridges, historic buildings and squares. After our visit to 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 that period and its university. After completing our tour here, we depart for Brussels. A stop on Benelux tours, Brussels stands out for its cosmopolitan character and the variety of activities it offers. On our city tour upon arrival, we will see 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. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel and have free time. Overnight at our hotels in Brussels or the surrounding area.

Onward to Paris

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Paris. Upon arrival, we take a city tour to see 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, Alexandre 3 Bridge, the Seine River, Napoleon's Tomb and the Eiffel Tower. After the tour, you have free time. Guests who wish can then join the optional Paris by Night tour at an extra charge. (35 Euro) On this tour, we see Champs Elysees, Concorde Square and the Louvre Museum, along with 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 each 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 Paris in two, viewing the historic buildings on both banks. After the boat trip, we take the funicular up Montmarte Hill, the highest hill in Paris. On this hill, which bears 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 the chance to have your portrait drawn. After the break, we visit Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the symbols of France's history and a building that shapes the Paris skyline. Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the orders of King Louis VII, who reigned between 1137 - 1180, to demonstrate the political, economic and cultural power of Paris to the world. 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, with sights including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, City Hall and Constitution Square. After the city tour, guests who wish can join the optional History and Mosaics (Trier & Remich & Schengen) tour for an extra charge of 65 Euro.

Our first stop on this tour is Trier, founded by the Romans in 15 BC and known as Germany's oldest city. Trier lies on the banks of the Moselle River, a tributary of the Rhine, in the Moselle Wine Region, among low, vine-covered red sandstone hills. During the city tour, we will see Porta Nigra, the largest surviving Roman city gate north of the Alps, along with the Roman Monuments, St. Peter's Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady and the Basilica of Constantine, which form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will also see 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, where you will find the lowest shopping prices on the 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 at low prices here.

Our final stop is Schengen, where the borders of Germany, France and Luxembourg meet. The free movement agreement that abolished passport checks 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, as well as the Monument. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight accommodation will be 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 see some of Europe's largest medieval neighborhoods with cobbled streets. Strasbourg is known for its natural surroundings, historic buildings, wooden houses, 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 the city tour, we see Strasbourg Cathedral, Rohan Palace, Kleber Square and the Petit France district, home to traditional Alsace houses.

After the tour, guests who wish can join the optional Fairytale Villages of Alsace (Eguisheim & Colmar & Kaysersberg & Riquewihr) tour. (110 Euro) Our first stop on this tour, with opportunities to take photographs, is Egusheim. Named France's Favorite Village in 2013, Egusheim is known for its historic buildings and natural surroundings. Colorful houses reflecting the traditional architecture of the Alsace region define the appearance of Equesheim.

After our visit, we depart for Colmar, known for its historic medieval buildings, Gothic churches and colorful houses. Walking through its well-preserved streets, we 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.

Our third stop is Kaysersberg. Kayserberg is a medieval town in the Alsace region of France. It is known for its colorful houses, narrow streets and historic character. The 13th-century Château de Kaysersberg castle is one of the town's main landmarks. Sainte-Croix Church in the town center stands out for its Gothic architecture.

We continue to our final stop, Riquewihr. This historic village in Alsace has many half-timbered houses. Old houses decorated with flowers, narrow streets and the walls surrounding the village reflect its medieval character. During our visit, we see the ruins of Riquewihr Castle and walk along the village's old walls.

After the tour, we transfer to our hotel in Strasbourg or the surrounding area. Overnight 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 natural beauty and historic medieval character. 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 depart for Basel and begin our city tour upon arrival. Switzerland's third most populous city after Zurich and Geneva, Basel brings together historic and modern buildings within a 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 18.05 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1926. Our tour ends upon arrival at 23.15 local time.