Paris to Amsterdam

Bonjour! Welcome to Paris. Your trip kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe check out the world-famous Louvre, where you can see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, or climb the Eiffel Tower for some impressive aerial views of the city. If the weather’s nice, maybe take a picnic lunch of baguettes and cheese to the Tuileries Gardens, Jardin des Plantes or the Jardin du Luxembourg. After your meeting, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.

Leave Paris behind and jump on a train to Brussels. When you arrive, join your leader on a walk around the city. Craving some traditional Belgian fries? Grab some along the way to eat as you go, true local style. After your walk, you have free time to explore at your own pace. Maybe wander down to the Manneken Pis (Little Peeing Man) – an iconic symbol of Belgium. Or visit the Musical Instrument Museum to get your fix of cultural history. Tonight, maybe explore Ilot Sacre – a great place to find good food and fun bars.

Today is another free day in Brussels. Maybe wander the Jeu de Balle Flea Market, visit the Cantillon Brewery or walk through the Magritte Museum – an art museum in the Royal Quarters, dedicated to the work of the Belgian artist, Rene Magritte. This afternoon, maybe explore the Grand Palace or discover the miniature world at Mini Europe Attraction Park, where monuments in the European Union and other countries have been reproduced and are on display at a scale of 1:25. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner at a local restaurant – your leader will have the best recommendations.

After breakfast, take the train to Ghent – a port city northwest of Belgium, known for its medieval architecture and artwork. When you arrive, set off on an orientation walk around the city with your local leader. Then, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Gravensteen Castle, take a guided boat tour on the canal or find a restaurant for dinner and try a local dish like gentse waterzooi (fish or chicken stew).

This morning, take the train to Bruges. This city on the coast of Belgium looks like it’s been plucked straight from the pages of a fairytale book with its medieval buildings and crisscrossing network of canals. When you arrive, the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe stroll through the UNESCO-protected Old Town, discover the Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassicism architecture or visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which is said to be home to a vial of cloth stained with a drop of the blood of Jesus. When you return to Ghent, maybe find the best bowl of moules-frites (a Flemish classic of mussels cooked in white wine and served with a side of crunchy fries) for dinner.

Travel to Amsterdam this morning. When you arrive in the Netherlands capital, your leader will show you around the city, best known for its narrow houses and artistic heritage. Along the walk, stop at FEBO – an iconic local food stop where you can buy traditional snacks. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Maybe head to the Heineken Museum and learn about the Netherlands’ brewing history, wander along the canals, visit a gallery or settle into a cosy cafe and count the number of bikes that roll by.

Today is another to follow your curiosity about Amsterdam. Maybe visit Anne Frank’s House – the former hiding place of the famous child diarist and her family during WWII, or explore the De Waag – a 15th-century building on Nieuwmarkt Square first constructed as a gate for the city’s fortified walls. Or head to the Van Gogh Museum to see works by one of the country’s most famous artists. Later, maybe you’d like to visit the A’DAM Lookout in Amsterdam Noord for city views across the canals and harbour, then take the free ferry back across the IJ for a relaxed evening along the waterfront. Then, if you like, get together with your group for one last dinner to celebrate this fabulous adventure.