Triple Benelux and France and Alsace Tour

Strasbourg and Alsace

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 formalities, we depart for Stuttgart at 08.55 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1701. Upon arrival at 10.00 local time, we take our waiting vehicle to Strasbourg.

During our Strasbourg tour, we see some of Europe's largest medieval quarters with cobbled streets. The city is known for its natural surroundings, historic buildings, wooden houses, medieval churches, cathedrals and works of art. Strasbourg, where the French national anthem La Marseillaise was written, brings together Alsace culture and French architecture. Our city tour takes us to Strasbourg Cathedral, Rohan Palace, Kleber Square and the Petit France district, home to 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) Our first stop on this tour, with opportunities to take photographs, is Egusheim. Named Favourite French 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.

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

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

We then continue to our final stop, Riquewihr. This historic village in Alsace has many half-timbered houses. Its old houses decorated with flowers, narrow streets and surrounding walls 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.

Onward to Brussels

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Brussels. A stop on Benelux tours, Brussels offers visitors a range of options with its cosmopolitan character. 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. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel and have free time. We spend the night at the hotel.

Onward to Amsterdam

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Amsterdam. Along the way, guests who wish can join the optional Bruges & Ghent Cities 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 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 tour here, we depart for Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, which borders Germany to the east and Belgium to the south. Sights on the city tour include Dam Square, Central Station, the National Monument, the Royal Palace, the Flower Market and the Red Light District. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel and spend the night there.

Fairytale villages

After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the optional Fairy-Tale Villages and Waterways (Zaanse Schans & Marken & Volendam & Giethoorn Hobbit Village) tour at an extra cost. 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, its wooden houses and its natural surroundings. Walking around the town feels like exploring an open-air museum. Stop 2 on our tour is Marken. Once an island, Marken was connected to the mainland by filling in the stretch of water between them. After our visit here, we head to Volendam. Volendam is known for its harbour, traditional Dutch houses and people wearing traditional clothing. In the town, you can taste seafood and cheeses and buy reasonably priced souvenirs. After our time in Volendam, we head to our final stop, Giethoorn Hobbit Village. Giethoorn is one of the places in Europe that draws interest for its village character. The village began to gain recognition through the 1958 film Fanfare, which was filmed here. Over time, it attracted more visitors and now welcomes more than 800.000 tourists a year. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Onward to Paris

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Paris. On arrival, we take a 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 join the optional Paris by Night tour at an extra charge. (35 Euro) On this tour, you can 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), offered 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 Paris in two, and see 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 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 the chance to have your portrait drawn. After the break, we visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a symbol of French history and one of the buildings that shape 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 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. On arrival, we begin our city tour, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of the Dukes, City Hall and Constitution Square. After the tour, guests may join the optional History and Mosaics (Trier & Remich & Schengen) tour at an extra charge. (65 Euro)

Our 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 see Porta Nigra, the largest surviving Roman city gate north of the Alps; the Roman Monuments, St. Peter's Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady within the UNESCO World Heritage Site; 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 Remich, the town 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 final stop is Schengen, where the borders of Germany, France and Luxembourg meet. The agreement allowing free movement and abolishing passport checks between European Union member countries was signed here. In this village, located in one of Europe's key 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 at our hotels in Luxembourg or the surrounding area.

Return home

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Luxembourg Airport. After completing baggage, ticket and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 18.00 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1706. Our tour ends upon arrival in Istanbul at 23.25 local time.