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European Whirl

TOUR ITINERARY


TOUR ITINERARY
Day 01 Begin Your Tour | Arrive Into London
Welcome to your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE 'European Whirl' tour. Upon arrival in London, after immigration and customs, your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE representative will transfer you to your hotel (check in after 1400 hours).
Day 01 Begin Your Tour | Arrive Into London
Welcome to your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE 'European Whirl' tour. Upon arrival in London, after immigration and customs, your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE representative will transfer you to your hotel (check in after 1400 hours).
Day 02 London City Tour | Channel Crossing Through The Euro Tunnel | Onto Paris | Optional Gala Evening In Paris

After breakfast, enjoy a guided panoramic tour of the city. Get acquainted with some of London's iconic landmarks like the Tower Bridge, River Thames, London Eye, Tower of London, Hyde Park, Big Ben, Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Drive past Piccadilly Circus - a famous traffic intersection with its giant electronic advertisements and its fountain topped by the statue of Eros, the Greek God of Love, which has become one of the symbols of London. See the famous Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square and the majestic Buckingham Palace which is the Queen's official residence as well as the busy administrative headquarters of the Monarchy.

Later continue to Paris through the Channel Tunnel. Take a scenic drive to Paris, the romantic "City of Lights", through the beautiful landscapes. After dinner you will be checked into your hotel. This evening, don't miss our optional FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE Gala Evening where you will experience the joie de vivre of 'Gaie Paris', which unfolds with a world famous Lido. Enjoy the captivating music, extraordinary sets, extravagant costumes and a fascinating display of lasers and lights. We stretch this magical evening for you with an Illumination Tour, driving past the spectacularly lit Paris landmarks. It's magic! (B, D)
Day 03 Guided Panoramic City Tour | Visit Fragonard | Visit Grévin Wax Museum | Eiffel Tower | Optional Cruise On The River Seine

Today after breakfast, enjoy a half day guided panoramic city tour of the famous monuments of Paris like the splendid Louvre with its Glass Pyramid, Garnier's Opera - the largest opera theatre in the world, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Élysées - one of the most fashionable streets in the world ! See the Napoleanic Arc de Triomphe and Hotel des Invalides among others. Shop at Fragonard (closed on Sunday), offering an excellent selection of perfumes. Next, you visit the famous Grévin Wax Museum, an exclusive for FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE. It was created by Alfred Grévin in 1882 and was the forerunner of Madame Tussauds, who in fact trained here. Madame Tussauds finally opened her own wax museum in London. Our very own Shahrukh Khan is the newest attraction that was unveiled in the summer of 2008. Take a photograph with him.

Later take in the dazzling overview of the city as you ascend by an elevator to the viewing platform on the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower. You have the option of a cruise on the River Seine, sailing under old and beautiful bridges, admiring the many historic monuments as you glide by. True bliss ! Return to your hotel after dinner. (Note: Those not availing the optional tour for the day will be picked up from a pre appointed venue for dinner) (B, D)
Day 04 On To The Mont Blanc In Chamonix Valley | Visit Geneva

This morning, after an early breakfast drive to Geneva, one of Switzerland's most privileged cities, said to have the second highest quality of living in the world ! We begin with an orientation tour of the city which includes the Palais des Nations - the European Headquarters of the United Nations, and the Musée Ariana. Be awestruck by the great white plume of the world's tallest fountain in Europe - the magnificent Jet d'Eau and pause for a photograph here and the beautiful flower clock situated in the Jardin Anglais.

You then drive to the "Love at first sight" Chamonix valley and the majestic mountains of the Mont Blanc range. This is the third most visited natural site in the world. After dinner you will be checked into your hotel. (B, D).
Day 05 Morning At Leisure | Optional Cable Car Ride To Aiguille Du Midi And Visit The Mer De Glace In Chamonix Valley | On To Switzerland

Today you awaken to the delights of Chamonix valley. We recommend you take the optional excursion tour (weather permitting) - a ride on the highest and most impressive cable car, the Aiguille du Midi, which lifts you to 3842 meters for an unforgettable view of the entire Mont Blanc range. Continue your optional excursion with a ride on the nostalgic red cog railway to Montenvers, the highest scenic train ride in the Alps directly upto the "Mer de Glace" (sea of ice) Glacier at 1913 meters and soak in the exhilarating views around you. The "Mer de Glace" is 7 kms long and 200 meters thick with a surface dimension of 40 kms.

Take a scenic drive to Switzerland, through the beautiful landscapes of the Swiss Alps. After dinner, check into your hotel. (B, D)
Day 06 Day At Leisure | Optional Excursion To The Trümmelbach Falls, Jungfraujoch With An Indian Lunch And An Interlaken City Tour

The day is free but do take advantage of our optional excursion to the Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe", a wonderful world of glaciers and eternal ice. Stop at the Trümmelbach Falls, the only glacier waterfalls in Europe, cascading through the mountain. Reach the highest altitude railway station in Europe by a charming, red cogwheel train, via dramatic mountain scenery ! Walk on the Aletsch Glacier, at 22 kms - the longest ice stream in the Alps, visit the Ice Palace, and the Sphinx Observation Terrace, at 3571 m, the loftiest point of all, the Alpine view is simply stunning. What could be more tempting in this icy cold scenario, than a hot Indian lunch !Descend to visit the popular holiday resort of Interlaken, cradled cozily between the beautiful Lakes of Brienz and Thun, where even today you see horse-drawn carriages.Enjoy souvenir shopping at Kirchhofer's Casino Gallery. Return to your hotel after dinner. (B, D).
Day 07 Onto Innsbruck | Visit Vaduz | Visit Swarovski Crystal World | Orientation City Tour Of Innsbruck

Today after breakfast, enjoy a drive to the independent tiny principality of Liechtenstein famous for its postage stamps for a brief stop in the capital-Vaduz. Enjoy a scenic drive to Innsbruck. Stop at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens for a visit to the 'Chambers of Wonder'. A real treat for crystal enthusiasts is the Swarovski shop, which has a remarkable collection of beautiful exhibits. Visit Innsbruck for an orientation tour. View the Golden Roof or 'Goldenes Dachl', an ornate Gothic balcony erected by the Emperor Maximilian I in the 15th century, decorated with gold painted copper shingles. See the Imperial Church followed by the 'Hofburg' or Imperial Palace. This Capital of the Alps, has a history of 800 years. Later check into your hotel, after dinner. (B, D)
Day 08 Onto Venice Area | Walking City Tour Of Venice

Drive along the Adige River past Bolzano, across the Dolomites Mountains to the magical lagoon city of Venice. Nothing prepares you for the captivating city of canals and palaces - Venice is simply unique ! Built on 117 small islands, it is a pedestrian's city. Cruise from Tronchetto Pier and glide romantically past fairy tale palaces, through incredible miniature canals to the Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square) where you disembark. Napoleon dubbed the Square the 'finest drawing room in Europe' for its constant carnival atmosphere ! Witness the bronze Moors striking the hour, as they have been doing for the past 500 years ! From there to the Doge's Palace connected by the Bridge of Sighs to the feared prisons. It was from here that the legendary lover Casanova made his famous escape ! End this exciting afternoon with a brief visit to a Murano Glass Factory for a demonstration in glass blowing. It was on the island of Murano that glass was first made in Europe and hand blown Venetian glass is world famous. After dinner, drive to your hotel in the Venice area and check in. (B, D).
 
Day 09 Onto Tuscany | Pisa Orientation | Walking City Tour Of Florence

Today, drive to Galileo's coastal town of Pisa to visit the Field of Miracles, a square with Pisan - Romanesque buildings like the Duomo, the Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. At a photo stop here, note its striking beauty along with its characteristic tilt. Continue your drive to Florence - a shrine to the wonders of the Renaissance, with more artistic treasures per square metre than any other city in the world ! Included in your walking tour of Florence is a visit to the remarkable Duomo (when open for visitors) - the fourth largest cathedral in the world. Besides it is the 'Gate to Paradise' - the heavenly gilded bronze doors of the Baptistry, originally a Pagan temple and the open-air gallery in Signoria Square. Later stroll to the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest surviving bridge. Then drive through some of the finest Italian countryside to the Tuscany region and check into your hotel after dinner. (B, D








Day 10 Full Day Excursion To Rome | The Vatican

Start your introduction to Rome and The Vatican, an independent and the smallest state in the world within the city of Rome. Gaze in awe at Michelangelo's famous Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica. See the Piazza Venezia, the main square in Rome, where the grandiose monument is often referred to as the marble wedding cake ! Pass the ruins of the Roman Forum. See the mighty Colosseum - where the notorious and gory gladiatorial games were held. Drive past the triumphal Arch of Constantine - one of the most important commemorative monuments of antiquity.

Continue your half day guided panoramic city tour driving past the Circus Maximus - the Hippodrome - known for its ancient chariot races. End the tour at the famous Trevi Fountain, where if you make a wish and toss a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome! After dinner, check into your hotel. (B, D)

Note: Due to Rome city regulations, certain roads may be off limits for long distance coaches. This may result in the Rome sightseeing being done partly by foot / public transport.
Day 11 Return Home With Happy Memories

Today bid farewell to Rome and your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE 'European Whirl' tour, as you transfer to the airport, for your flight back home. Good times need never end ! We are confident you will join us again some time soon…. (B either in hotel or on board the flight)

We value and welcome any suggestions you may wish to share with us
.
 

SIGHTSEEING


London
Tower Bridge, River Thames, London Eye, Tower of London, Hyde Park, Big Ben, Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace

Paris
Eiffel Tower (1st level), Grevin Wax Museum, Louvre Glass Pyramid,Garnier's Opera, River Seine, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and Hotel des Invalides, Galeries Lafayette and Montparnasse

Geneva = Geneve
Palais des Nations, Musee Ariana, Lake Geneva with Jet d'Eau and the Jardin Anglais and the Flower Clock Chamonix
Chamonix valley
Jungfraujoch
Trummelbach Falls, Red Cogwheel train ride, Jungfraujoch, Alestch Glacier, Ice Palace, Sphinx Observation Terrace, Interlaken
Interlaken
City tour and shopping tour
Vaduz
Visit Vaduz
Wattens
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Innsbruck
Golden Roof or Goldenes Dachl, Imperial Church, Hofburg or Imperial Palace.
Venice
Cruise from Tronchetto Pier, Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square), bronze Moors, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Murano Glass Factory
Pisa
Field of Miracles (the Duomo, the Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa)
Florence
Duomo (when open for visitors), The Baptistry, The open-air gallery in Signoria Square, Ponte Vecchio
Vatican
Gaze in awe at Michelangelo's famous Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica
Rome
Piazza Venezia, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus - the Hippodrome, Trevi Fountain

traveller tips


Traveller Tips
Tour Locations
United Kingdom
London
France
Paris, Chamonix
Switzerland
Interlaken, Geneva
Liechtenstein
Vaduz
Austria
Innsbruck
Italy
Venice, Pisa, Florence, The Vatican, Rome

Hotels
Paris
Mercure Orly or similar
Chamonix
Alpina Hotel or similar
Innsbruck
Olympia Hotel or similar
Tuscany
Park Hotel or similar
Rome
Hotel Palacavicchi or similar
London
Hotel Ibis Excel / Travelodge Docklands or similar or similar
Switzerland
Hotel Banklialp or similar or similar
Venice
Holiday Inn Marghera or similar or similar

Shopping
Paris
Fragonard for perfumes
Interlaken
Kirchhofer's Casino Gallery
Wattens
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Venice
Murano Glass
Florence
Leather Bags and Souvenirs

Tips for Travellers
Come, discover the treasures of Europe on our Duniya Dekho Tours. Please find below a few of Cox & Kings suggestions and advice, to make this holiday simply perfect.

Shop Till You Drop !
Europe is a treasure trove for savvy shoppers. See first hand where some of the world's most exclusive products are made. Perfume blending in France, Crystals in Swarovski, Glass blowing in Venice. Find great gifts and souvenirs at great prices.

Picture Postcard Sightseeing !
To fit in as much as we can of Europe's beauty, we carefully structure our sightseeing tours to suit the itinerary. They are panoramic tours, orientation tours or visits, to give you a proper overview of the city.

Note:
Panoramic city tour
This tour gives you a view of the sights / monuments as you drive past, from your coach, with a few photo stops.

Orientation city tour
Here you walk and see the sights at close quarters but from outside.

Visit
A visit means that you will enter the site / monument & spend time in the place.

Tour Manager
We request you to kindly co-operate with your Tour Manager and abide by his / her instructions, for a successful and a memorable tour.

Professional Guides
There's no substitute for a little local flavour, so we employ local guides who provide insights in specific cities, thereby complementing your Tour Manager.

Coaches
Since most of your travel will be by road, we have carefully chosen an airconditioned coach for your comfort. We request you to assist us in keeping the coach neat and clean, so that all of you can be comfortable during your holiday. Please do not eat in the coach, as there is a possibility of some leftovers spilling and soiling the coach.

We regret that, in the interest of fellow customers, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages is not permitted on the coach. Frequent stops not only lighten the average 8 hour travelling time, but also enable you to use the rest rooms and enjoy a cup of coffee. Please note only one suitcase per person is allowed on the coach.

Hotels
Early check in and late check outs will not be permitted by the hotel.

Most hotels rooms in Europe are not air-conditioned and may have facilities like a mini-bar, pay television channels, telephones, etc. Please note that these facilities are not complimentary and have to be paid for, based on actual usage. Some hotels offer the facility of complimentary safe deposit lockers, which can be availed of.

Please ensure that there is no damage to your hotel room during your stay, as the same would be charged to you directly by the hotel.

While checking into the hotel, wait in the lobby or coach as advised by the Tour Manager. Crowding the reception would only delay the check-in process.

Some hotels have designated areas reserved for group dining and the same must be adhered to.

Rooms
We will try our best to provide you with adjacent rooms that have been requested for at the time of booking. The same will be subject to availability at the time of checkin. There is no guarantee for adjacent rooms and interconnecting rooms. However, wherever possible the tour manager and the hotel will endeavour to provide adjacent rooms.

We recommend a maximum of three persons in one room. Triple rooms are usually no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed is often a rollaway bed or cot. It is more comfortable to get a separate bed for an accompanying minor.

Optionals
Every Cox & Kings tour comes with a few optional exclusives, just for you. The price of the optional tours includes the cost of transportation to and from the sightseeing place; the services of a local representative; administrative and communication charges for booking and our professional charges in addition to entrance fees. Reservations and payments for optional tours can be made in India prior to departure. You can also pay on arrival on Day One of your tour, in Euros only, to the Cox & Kings Tour Manager. No credit card or Traveller's Cheques payments will be accepted.

What do you mean by "HONEST PRICES"?
We at Cox & Kings have always believed that if we offer a package it must represent the best value in the market. Our 250 years of experience has also taught us that the guest is the king; therefore, we realize that our esteemed travellers should be able to make a choice and not be dictated to. To meet this important requirement we allow you to build your itinerary to suit your needs. This allows you to add an exciting and sometimes exclusive optional to your tour, but does not force you to take an optional which is pre planned in the itinerary. More importantly, because we are transparent with our prices you can decide how your money is spent.

For example in all-inclusive tours, clients are sometimes forced to participate in all the sightseeing.

In our tours it is really very simple as we let you the client decide what you wish to add according to your tastes and budget. For example, if there are 5 mountains that you can visit in an itinerary, you could take as many as five mountains or none at all. A family of four would have to pay almost Euro 2000 for five mountains. It?s important that you feel empowered to pick and choose your optional rather than be forced to pay a huge all inclusive price even if you do not want to go on the optional.

Stopover Packages
Check out our exciting pre and post tour packages with terrific value at attractive prices. We also feature several exciting add-ons you can choose from, according to your budget and taste.

Complimentary Travel Kit
A travel bag per family is a complimentary gift with a Cox & Kings Tour.

Your Personal Tour Expenses
You need to carry money for your shopping and personal expenses like tips, mineral water (although tap water is safe for drinking), tea / coffee, soft drinks, telephone calls, laundry, mini-bars, pay channels on T.V., toilets etc. and meals not included in your itinerary.

Tipping is a way of life in Europe. As a guideline it is mandatory that you tip Euro 2 per person per day to the coach driver and local guides.

Punctuality
Your itinerary and sightseeing are carefully scheduled keeping in mind driving times etc. Hence, punctuality is essential and could impact the entire group leading them to missing certain elements if not adhered to. Please do understand that punctuality is solely in your interest to ensure that you have the full benefit of all services included in the package.

It is possible that if the group is delayed for some reason, the free time given at certain sightseeing places could be curtailed.

When free time is given during the tour, please return to the specified place at the allotted time and keep in mind your fellow traveller ! There will be no refund for missed sightseeing.

Tipping
Tipping in Europe unlike in many parts of the world is something that is expected of anyone providing you a service, for example: Coach Driver, Porters, etc. Since your coach driver spends a large part of the day driving you safely, unloads and loads your luggage onto the coach, it is customary to tip a nominal amount of EURO 2 per person per day for the duration of the tour. Please do note that the coach driver plays a very important role in making your tour a memorable one.

Airline Information
Passengers Meeting Point
Passengers joining the tour directly should report at the arrival hall as per the Cox & Kings flight or meet in the hotel booked for the group.

Ticketing
Once on tour, as per airline regulations, no change of date, sector or extension of air tickets is permitted. Any changes must be pre-planned and processed at the time of booking the tour in India.

Class of Travel
Passengers can upgrade to Business / First Class by paying the difference in the airfare at the time of booking the tour.

Taxes
The tour price does not include airport & government taxes applicable for the tour.

Ticket Add-Ons / Extensions
We recommend you travel with the group. If you already have a ticket, then a discounted tour price is given for such cases. It is your responsibility to meet up with the rest of the group at the airport / hotel at the appointed time. Please ensure you advise your flight details and date of arrival at the time of booking the tour. Should you be arriving earlier than the group, please advise your contact numbers overseas to enable us get in touch with you in case of any change.

If travelling in advance or extending your stay after the main tour, there are chances that you may not be booked on the same airline on which the group is travelling. Also as the flight arrival / departure schedules may be different from the group flights, you will be required to make your own transfer arrangements from the airport to the hotel or vice versa. In case you desire to have transfers provided, we can arrange the same for you at an additional cost. In case you are returning on a later date after the tour ends, you will have to personally re-confirm air tickets 72 hours prior to your departure flight.

Things To Carry On Tour
Warm clothing, 2 sweaters / pullovers, shawl, warm socks, casual clothing, 1 warm jacket, stockings, gloves, thermal wear, jeans, T-shirts, shirts, trousers, Punjabi dresses and formal wear for shows like the Lido.

Essential / Personal Items
Toiletries, medicines with doctor's prescription, sun glasses, walking shoes, torch, umbrella, universal electric plug pin, video or camera, film rolls or video cassettes, batteries, international roaming cellular phone and charger if necessary.

Medicines if required, with prescriptions, with a drug generic name listed, as the brand name would differ from country to country.

Please carry a multi-plug adaptor, as sockets vary in different countries

Baggage Information
Please carry one piece of luggage per person of 20 Kgs only and 5 kgs for checkin hand baggage. Use a strolley bag, as you have to carry your own bags in most places, since porterage is not included. Ensure that your hand baggage includes necessary documents like your passport, insurance policy, service vouchers, emergency contact numbers, toiletries, sweater / shawl, camera / video (batteries to be removed and kept in the check-in baggage), one set of clothes, valuables (not in check-in baggage), film rolls and medicines with prescriptions if required during the day. Please ensure, in keeping with the airline security norms, that metal objects, liquids and gels are packed in your check-in baggage. Please be alert while loading and unloading your luggage on the coach, at airports, railway stations and while walking in a crowd, as there is a danger of being robbed and also a danger of being pick pocketed.

Note:
Please note that the airline rules regarding handbags keeps changing and hence the above is subject to change.

Travel Documents
You should carry your Cox & Kings tour brochure, service vouchers, air tickets, passport, passport-sized photographs, overseas travel insurance policy, emergency numbers, etc, with you.

Please carry a photocopy of all the documents listed above including valid visa pages, which are to be kept separately from the original. Example: photocopy in your suitcase and the original passport in the pouch provided to you.

Travel Insurance
Normal Insurance for the duration of the tour is done through Cox & Kings and is included in your tour price. However, senior citizens above the age of 59 are required to submit an ECG and Fasting Blood Sugar Report, and a form to be filled by an MD Doctor (which is not more than 30 days old).

Subsequently there will be an additional supplement on the policy depending on the medical reports and tour duration.

The Policy can be extended for passengers staying back, if informed at the time of booking by paying the necessary difference in the insurance premium.

Time Difference
Country Time Diff Hours behind India GMT
    Mar-Oct Nov-Feb
U.K +0 4.30 5.30
EUROPE +1 3.30 4.30
*During Summer Season. Daylight Saving Time (DST) also referred to as Summer time, is the adjustment of time to local clocks taking advantage of available natural light in summer. In Europe, DST begins on the first Sunday of April and reverts to standard time on the last Sunday of October.

The best time to receive phone calls from India is 1000 hrs IST.

Currency In Europe
Country Currency Currency Code In INR *
Europe Euro EURO 67.50
U.K Pound Sterling GBP 85.10
Swiss Swiss Francs SFR 42.90
*As on August 22, 2008

Figures are subject to change.
Euro (EUR) currency is valid in: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and The Vatican.

Swiss Francs, Great Britain Pounds, Euros are required during the tour.

If you are carrying Travelers Cheques, please keep the purchase receipt in a safe place, away from the original Travelers Cheques.

Passport is required as identification to encash your traveler's cheques.

Most credit cards and US Dollar traveller's cheques are accepted widely.

The Weather - Check Out The Temperature !
Barometer - Average maximum temperature in Celsius
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DEC
London 6 7 10 13 17 20 22 21 19 14 10 7
Paris 6 7 12 16 20 23 25 24 21 16 10 7
Frankfurt 3 5 11 16 20 23 25 24 21 14 8 4
Zurich 2 5 10 15 19 23 25 24 20 14 7 3
Rome 11 13 15 19 23 28 30 30 26 22 16 13
For further details, please look up our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) section

The information contained herein is accurate at the time of going to print, but is subject to change. Cox & Kings accepts no responsibility or liability for changes / omissions and any loss or inconvenience caused.