Istanbul (SAW) – Basel-Alsace
After completing our baggage and check-in procedures at the International Departures Terminal of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, we depart for Basel at 12:35 on AJet Airlines flight VF105. Following our arrival in Basel at 13:55 local time, we set off for our Basel city tour.
After the tour, guests may optionally join the Eguisheim, Colmar and Riquewihr tour (70 euros). Our first stop is Eguisheim, one of Alsace’s charming villages. As you stroll through its narrow, picturesque streets, among houses with wooden windows and balconies adorned with colorful geraniums, you will feel as though you are getting lost in stories from the past. A member of “France’s Most Beautiful Villages” association since 2003, Eguisheim was voted “France’s Favorite Village” in 2013.
Following our tour of Eguisheim, we continue to our second stop, Colmar. With its colorful houses, flower-decorated streets and enchanting beauty, Colmar is one of the most fascinating towns and is of great importance as the starting point of the Alsace Wine Route. The canals add even more beauty to Colmar and are branches of the Rhine River. The colorful historic buildings lining the river, dating back as far as the 1200s, are the town’s most distinctive and remarkable feature. During our Colmar tour, we stroll through its carnival-like streets and visit Saint Martin’s Church, distinguished by the giant stork nests on its roof, Rue Marchand (Merchant Street), and the Petite Venise area, meaning “Little Venice.”
Our final stop on the tour is Riquewihr, known as Alsace’s most famous village. This charming town, home to 1,200 residents, is visited by 2 million people each year, thanks to the harmony of its Alsatian half-timbered two-story houses, each differing in color and architectural style. You will not be able to take enough photographs in this wonderful town, where history, culture and nature blend together. Following the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
(Depending on regional occupancy, accommodation may take place in nearby cities, such as Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Basel, Belfort or Karlsruhe.)
Alsace-Luxembourg
After breakfast, we depart for Luxembourg. Guests who wish may join the Strasbourg & Trier tour (€70). Following the tour, we continue our journey to Luxembourg. Upon arrival, we will take a panoramic city tour. Luxembourg, the capital bearing the same name as the country, is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only city to have been named European Capital of Culture twice, in 1995 and 2007. During our city tour, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Ducal Palace, the City Hall, Constitution Square, and the Pétrusse River Valley will be among the sights visited. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
LUXEMBOURG-PARIS
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Paris. Guests who wish may join the Metz & Reims tour en route (€50). After the tour, we continue our journey to Paris. Upon arrival, during our panoramic city tour, we will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, the Louvre Museum, where Leonardo da Vinci’s painting is exhibited, and its famous pyramid, the Musée d’Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de l’Étoile, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Parliament Building, the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, built for the industrial exhibition in 1900, and Place de la Concorde, which witnessed the French Revolution of 1789. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Paris
Following breakfast, guests who wish may join the optional Eiffel Tower, Seine River cruise, Montmartre Artists’ Hill, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica tour organized by our guide (€150). During the tour, you will have the chance to ascend to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and discover this enchanting city from above. Afterwards, you will enjoy a one-hour boat cruise on the Seine, sailing around the islands and admiring Paris and its bridges from the river. We will then take the funicular up Montmartre, the city’s highest hill, which has a rich historical past. Following free time in Place du Tertre, where you can experience the bohemian lifestyle associated with the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and enjoy shopping opportunities, our tour will come to an end. In the evening, guests who wish may join the optional Paris by Night tour (€45). Overnight at our hotel. (The Paris by Night tour may be arranged according to the time of sunset.)
PARIS-BRUSSELS
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Brussels. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Bruges tour organized by our guide (50 Euros). During this tour, we will explore the city of Bruges, famous for its historic canals, old bridges, and UNESCO-protected sites. Upon arrival in Brussels, we will take a panoramic city tour. The Royal Palace, Chinese and Japanese houses, Grand Place (the city square), the Stock Exchange Building, the Atomium monument, Heysel Stadium, and, of course, the famous Manneken Pis statue are among the highlights we will see. You may also taste and purchase delicious chocolates unique to Brussels. Following the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Brussels-Amsterdam
After breakfast, depart for Amsterdam. Guests who wish may join an optional Rotterdam tour en route (€30). Following the tour, continue to Amsterdam. Upon arrival, our city tour will include Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the National Monument, and the Central Station. During their free time, guests may visit the Flower Market and the Red Light District. After the tour, guests who wish may join an optional Amsterdam night tour (€25). Transfer to our hotel in Amsterdam and overnight stay.
Amsterdam
After breakfast, guests who wish may join our guide’s optional Magnificent Holland tour (€150). We will visit the towns of Marken and Volendam, Zaanse Schans, and explore Amsterdam’s canals by boat. During our canal tour, we will see the canals and bridges of Amsterdam, known as the Venice of the North, accompanied by beautiful views. We will then visit the world-famous diamond factory. You will never tire of spending time in the harbor area of Volendam, an old fishing village that inspired the song, “Those who want to see the true beauty of Holland must go to Volendam.” During our visit to the town of Marken, you can observe the lives of fishermen in charming little houses and find the opportunity to buy souvenirs at affordable prices. We will also have the chance to see Zaanse Schans, a magical town famous for its windmills. After the tour, we will depart for Düsseldorf and, following our panoramic city tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Düsseldorf–Istanbul (SAW)
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, check out of your rooms. Enjoy free time until the time specified by your guide. Then, transfer to the airport. After completing your baggage and ticket procedures, depart at 16:35 on AJet Airlines’ scheduled flight VF28. Arrive at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 22:00 local time, marking the end of our tour.