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European Magic
European Magic European Magic takes the tried & tested favourite destinations of travellers through Europe & packs them into 1 awesome itinerary - 7 countries in just over a week. The beauty of this tour is seeing so much in a short space of time & knowing that each day is guaranteed to bring something completely different from the day before! This version of the tour is available for departures from April - September. For departures from October - March, please see the European Magic Winter tour page. 11 days Hotel Accommodations: as per itinerary Dinner, Breakfast Meals: as per itinerary Belgium (in transit), Netherlands, Germany, Austria (in transit), Italy, Sightseeing: Switzerland, France Transportation: Coach, Ferry Return to Tour Length:

Itinerary
1. Day Depart for Europe

Jet off to the trip of a lifetime awaiting you in Europe! 2. Day Arrive London

Check-in to your hotel after 2pm and the remainder of the day is free to relax before meeting your fellow travellers at 6pm. After dinner take a short walk to explore nearby Covent Garden. 3. Day London to Amsterdam

Meet up with your Contiki Crew before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Next stop: the buzzing, freewheeling city of Amsterdam. Check out
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Amsterdams eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets. With an optional evening canal cruise, youve got a chance to get to know the group, unwind with a few drinks and uncover Amsterdam from the water. Get some pointers on the citys hot spots from your Tour Manager and head into town for a fun night out. 4. Day Amsterdam to Rhine Valley

Experience Amsterdams coffee shops, museums and cool, quirky boutiques. In your free time, wander along shady canals and pass gabled houses or hop on two wheels like the laid-back locals and bike through the centre of town. Next stop - the pretty, old-world village of St Goar, complete with fairy-tale castle and even a free standing cuckoo clock! Kick back with a glass of local wine and choose to nd out more with the optional wine tasting in a candlelit underground cellar. 5. Day Rhine Valley to Munich

Travelling south, pull into the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich - a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture with a modern lifestyle. Explore the heart of Munichs Old Town with the crew, and head to Marienplatz. Its a central gathering spot famous for the Glockenspiel - a gothic clock, complete with 32 dancing gures and 43 chiming bells. Get off the beaten track and onto Munichs side streets with our Local Guide in a fun biking tour around the city its a great way to see the sights. Then, get a taste of tradition at a typical beer hall. Park yourself at a long wooden table, order yourself some hearty local food, like roasted pork, and quench your thirst with a stein of one of Germanys 5000 brews. 6. Day Munich to Venice

On the coach, take it easy and catch up on some sleep or watch the world go by as we wind through the Bavarian Alps and the Brenner Pass to Italy, land of passion! But rst, pull into Innsbruck, a down-to-earth student city. Walk around the medieval streets of the old-town, grab some lunch, and check out Innsbrucks landmark Golden Roof and Royal Palace. Your pace will race when you see the totally impressive Olympic Ski jump. 7. Day Venice

Known as the oating city Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. The group travels on our private boat through the waters of the lagoon to visit the citys historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the gothic arches of Doges Palace and the expanse of St Marks Square (pigeons and all!) show off Venices unique beauty and way of life. Learn about local artistry with a traditional glass blowing demonstration a craft the city has been famous for since the 13th century. Take some time to explore the oating city and lose yourself in the backstreets. Theres an optional walking tour where you can discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with our Local Guide. Youll see historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto market - a local favourite for food shopping. Maybe grab a table on St Marks Square and eat some delicious Italian food al fresco. Cap

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off the day with an optional gondola ride with your friends. Take a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this unforgettable experience as you are punted through the waterways. 8. Day Venice to Lucerne

Catch a glimpse of stunning Lake Como as we make our way into the massive Swiss Alps. With covered wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and quaint buildings, Lucernes centre is perfect to explore on foot. Also to stock up on lots of genuine Swiss chocolate! Your Tour Manager can give you pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches that Switzerland is so famous for. This evening, choose an optional cruise on one of Europes most striking lakes, where stunning scenes of the Swiss Alps reect back across the water. 9. Day Lucerne to Paris

With down-time on the coach, plug in your MP3, chill out to some music and chat with friends while travelling through the scenic wine producing region of Burgundy. Tonight, the group kick-starts Paris with the Tour of Illuminations, which shows off the French capitals transformation into the City of Lights. Lamp-lit bridges and cool little cafs give us a real taste of Paris romance. Your Tour Manager will ll you in on the worlds most-recognised monuments, like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. 10. Day Paris

Next up: Fragonard! This perfumery has an elegant interior and is a unique setting for a look into the history of perfume. Its also a chance to pick up some French perfume at great prices. This town is loaded with possibilities. Discover its many bistros, museums, tree-lined avenues and diverse quartiers (neighbourhoods). Get a feel for French air by window shopping on the Left Bank. Step into the Notre Dame or explore the endless galleries of the Louvre, where you can get up close to the famous Mona Lisa. In your free time, try indulging in some delicious pastries and relax in one of Paris many city parks. Tonight is the last night with your friends, so make it special. Treat yourself to the full Parisian night out with a cabaret experience, complete with can-can girls, dinner and champagne. But dont stop there afterwards hit the clubs and nish up your travels with a big Parisian night out. 11. Day Paris to London

After breakfast, there will be a transfer for you to Charles de Gaulle Airport (estimated arrival at 10:00 am) OR choose to take a complimentary transfer to central London with your Tour Manager and Driver and extend your stay.

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Tour Map

Highlights
All these highlights along with city sightseeing are included in your tour price!
Included

Amsterdam: See the city's canals & gable houses by night Rhine Valley: Scenic drive along the Rhine River; See the Lorelei Rock; Learn how beersteins are crafted Munich: See the Glockenspiel & Marienplatz; Visit a beerhall; Locally guided bike tour of Munich's famous landmarks Innsbruck: See the Golden Roof, Royal Palace & Olympic Ski Jump Brenner Pass: Scenic drive past vineyards, orchards & castles Venice: See the Bridge of Sighs, the Doges' Palace & St. Mark's Square; Murano glassblowing & Burano lace-making demonstrations; Private boat through the canals & islands of Venice Lucerne: See the Wooden Chapel Bridge; Scenic Alpine drive Burgundy: See the Chablis & Burgundy vineyards Paris: See the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Champs lyses, and Notre Dame Cathedral; Visit a French Perfumery; Evening Tour of Illuminations; Check out Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower
Accomodations

9 nights twin or triple-share hotel accommodation

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13 meals: 8 continental breakfasts & 5 three-course dinners An experienced & professional Tour Manager & Driver team Modern, air-conditioned coach with power outlets for charging Sightseeing tours of all major cities plus orientations in all other destinations Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges Ferry crossings
Contiki Difference

Optional Excursions
Please Note Europe Optional Excursions () The optional excursions below are a guide of what may be available on this tour in 2011. Complete details will be updated in early 2011. Amsterdam Canal Cruise (Euro 29.00) Floating down Amsterdams canals by night is the perfect way to toast your travels with your friends and Tour Manager. Cruise past historic buildings and the eye-opening Red Light District. The cruise gives you a different take on one of Europes hot creative capitals! St. Goar Wine tasting (Euro 8.00) In the historic setting of an underground candlelit cellar, get the low-down on the regions reputation as a leading white-wine producer. Try out local wines as you sip on some Riesling & the exclusive ice wine - the areas specialty. Venice Gondola ride (Euro 21.00) Sit back & watch the city open up on the canals on a gondola ride. From magnicent palaces to the locals laundry strung across the backwaters, Venices charm gets at you at every curve. Venice walking tour (Euro 11.00) Get an in-depth look into Venice as you walk through the little lanes & gorgeous squares of the citys historic heart. Our Local Guide will show you the monuments of St Marks Square & reveal the hidden secrets of the oating city. Youll also visit the Rialto Market - the traditional food market for locals. San Giorgio (Euro 35.00) Feast on some authentic Venetian food. In a busy local eatery, start your culinary journey with traditional antipasto, before moving on to some regional specialties, where you take your pick from a huge variety of fresh pastas & tasty sauces. Sweeten the experience with desert at the end.

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Austrian Tyrol Bobsledding (Euro 22.00) Try it like the Olympians do with a bobsled ride! Grab 3 of your travel buddies & jump into a bobsled for a thrilling track ride down a mountain in the gorgeous Tyrol. Well kit you out with a helmet so youre ready to jump in & zip your way to an awesome adventure & an adrenalin rush! Lucerne Mt. Stanserhorn (SF 43.00) Journey up the steep slopes of Mt Stanserhorn via a vintage funicular train and aerial cable car. 1,920 metres (6298 feet) above sea level gives you a full-blown vista of mountain ranges, glistening lakes and meadows lled with wild owers. Lake Lucerne Cruise (SF 26.00) From the waters of Lake Lucerne, your jaw will drop at the endless postcard panoramas. Take in the typically Swiss scenes green pastures spotted with chalets and bell-wearing cows surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains. Paris Souvenir group photo at the Eiffel Tower (Euro 11.00) Join the group for a photo at Pariss most recognisable icon & take home a great picture to remember your travels by. Moulin Rouge (Euro 137.00) Dress up for a special night out at this world-famous cabaret and nish up your trip. The exciting atmosphere of the evening show is the perfect way to toast your travels with the group over a 3 course French meal. From your lamp-lit table, watch a whirl of can-can girls, acrobats, comedians, feathers and sequins go by as you sip on champagne. Copyright 2011

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