UCLA Alumni 12th Annual Graduation Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to London

The Essential Europe begins with an overnight flight to “Merry Old England.”

Day 2: London

Enjoy a free afternoon to relax and unwind. In the evening we’ll have our welcome orientation followed by a fun London Pub Crawl.

Day 3: London

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus: these familiar names become familiar places on our morning tour. Afternoon at leisure, take in the city’s monuments or embark on a Harrods’ shopping spree. Explore the British Museum, the National Gallery or the London Dungeons. After dusk, you may want to take in some Shakespeare at the Globe Theater by the Thames River.

Day 4: London, English Channel, Paris

Travel to southeast England today and board our ship to the continent. Motor through northern France and arrive in Paris, “City of Lights.” We’ll dine together at our French Bistro dinner, and then enjoy our romantic Seine River cruise.

Day 5: Paris

Morning tour of Paris, see the hunchback “Quasimodo’s” Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine once stood, and the Eiffel Tower’s steel lacework. Free time in the afternoon – visit Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum, or shop the chic boutiques of Paris. Consider joining our optional can-can Cabaret Show tonight.

Optional Excursion: Cabaret Show

Day 6: Paris

A full day at leisure to browse at Left Bank bookstalls, have your portrait done by Place du Tertre artists or sample sinful French pastries. Your free evening may find you watching the world go by from a sidewalk café on the Champs Elysées

Day 7: Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam

Motor to Belgium and Brussels, and see the Grand’ Place, a perfect medieval square and the statue of naughty Mennekin-Pis. Continue to Amsterdam and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure

Day 8: Dutch Countryside

Go biking through 13th-century Dutch fishing villages along the Ijssel Lake beaches today, watch wooden shoes being carved and sample Edam cheese at a cheese farm. Free time this afternoon in Amsterdam to tour the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum, or visit Anne Frank’s house. This evening we invite you on a boat cruise on the canals of Amsterdam followed by our Dutch-Indonesian “Rice Table” dinner.

Day 9: Cologne, Rhine River, Heidelberg

Cross the German border into Cologne, famous for the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. Embark on a cruise along the fabled Rhine River, passing steeply sloped vineyards, ancient castles, and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Continue to Heidelberg, the “City of the Student Prince” and climb to the ruins of the Castle of the Palatine Elector for a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Neckar River.

Day 10: Black Forest, Rhine Falls, Swiss Alps

Journey south into the mysterious Black Forest. Stop deep in the forest, with free time to watch cuckoo clocks being made, enjoy lunch or try some delicious Black Forest cake. The Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, comes into view as we cross the Swiss border. Our route through Zurich brings us to William Tell Country and the world-famous resort areas surrounding Lucerne.

Optional Excursion: Swiss Folklore Party & Dinner

Day 11: Lucerne, Liechtenstein, Munich

Roam the picturesque old town of Lucerne this morning and catch up on your Swiss watch and chocolate shopping or consider taking an excursion up on one of the highest mountains in central Switzerland to enjoy panoramic Alpine views. Drive to the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, then on to the fun-filled Oktoberfest city of Munich. After our authentic Bavarian dinner,  check out the oompah-pah bands at the famous Hofbräuhaus.

Optional Excursion: Mount Pilatus Excursion