The Grand Tour

Welcome onboard one of the most important and historic rail journeys in Europe – the fulfilment of the centuries-old dream of connecting England with the continent. You travel under the Channel at high speed and in great comfort. We seat you in first class – called Standard Premier here. During the journey, your steward will serve you a light meals and drinks at your seat.

Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel.

Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

Allow us to quote the late Anthony Bourdain, expert in travelling off-the-beaten-track, who had this to say about visiting Paris: “Please, make the most of it by doing as little as possible. Walk a little. Get lost a bit. Eat. Catch a breakfast buzz. Have a nap. Try and have sex if you can.”

His point was, you do not experience the real Paris by following the crowds and adhering to a strict itinerary. Instead, just meander through a neighbourhood that seems intriguing. Strive to get lost, and while you’re doing so, pop into vintage shops, atmospheric bookshops, and local brasseries. Great advice for any city in our collection, and especially for this repository of hidden treasures.

One such hidden gem: The Promenade Plantée. This long-abandoned mid-19th century viaduct winds its way for three miles from the Bastille. It’s a magical, green stroll with several spectacular panoramas across Parisian rooftops. Don’t forget to occasionally descend to street-level where brick archways under the viaduct have been transformed into artisan showrooms that range from violin-makers to glass blowers and jewelers.

 

Welcome onboard Europe’s original high-speed train, the flagship of the French railways. Many TGV trainsets today are double-deckers, and your spacious first-class seat may well be on the upper deck, offering great views as well as an intimate cabin. As you would expect in France, the seats are stylishly designed. A café-car offers snacks and light meals.

Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel.

Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

 

Would you like to view the grandeur of the Alps from the comfort of a lakeside restaurant? In Lausanne you can enjoy a stunning Alpine panorama while sipping on a fine glass of local wine. And after lunch, visit the vineyard (where the view is just as amazing).

Lausanne is one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland with cobbled lanes, beautiful squares and 17^th century buildings. Plus, of course, that view: You’ll never tire of the lake and the mountains in the background. The city cascades down a hill from the original medieval centre at the top, to the modern marina and the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the bottom. The old town is completely car-free, which is not surprising when you discover how staircase-steep some of the narrow streets are.

As the sun sets, head for the Flon district where you will find cool cafes, eclectic bars and nightlife. However, some of your finest experiences will actually be away from Lausanne. Hopping on board one of the historic steamers that sail from town to town along the lakeshore is a must.

Step aboard your classy Swiss/Italian express train with modern tilting technology and dining car. This journey is a never-ending joy. First you travel alongside Lake Geneva. Note the steep terraces of the Lavaux vineyards on your left, marvel at the views over the lake below you on the right, and don’t miss the romantic Chillon Castle that is located on an island just off the shore.

You cross under the Alps through the Simplon tunnel, skirt the Como Lake, pass through Milan, and just as you finish your lunch in the dining car, you travel across the Venetian lagoon, with the domes and towers of Venice visible across the water. The moment you step off the train, your private guide welcomes you and escorts you down the steps to the Grand Canal, where your private water taxi awaits. The trip down the Grand Canal and several small and busy canals is unforgettable, with floating buses, merchants, even ambulances, all jostling for space.

All too soon you arrive at the doorstep of your perfectly located four-star hotel, and immediately after check-in, your private guide will invite you on a two-hour introductory walk through your new neighbourhood.

Step onboard one of the fastest and most modern high-speed trains in the world. Your Frecciarossa train – “the red arrow”–  is the flagship in the fleet. You travel in Business Class, in a spacious leather seat with a generous recline. The staff will bid you welcome with a snack, and as a VIP-passenger you may order a meal to be served at your seat (for a fee).

Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel.

Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

Looking very much as it did back in the 15^th century, Florence is one of Europe’s greatest art cities, packed with awe-inspiring masterpieces. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio. They are all here, in what was the most creative city in the world back in the day, the cradle of the Renaissance. You do not even have to venture into a museum to enjoy all of Florence’s beauty, because you are immersed in it: The historic centre is nothing but elegant palaces, candle-lit chapels, fresco-decorated churches, and marble basilicas, all crowded around achingly romantic squares.

Steeped in Renaissance art and architecture it may be, but Florence is also a living city with fine restaurants, cosy wine bars, and an active cultural scene with classical music and contemporary art.

When the sun sets, seemingly every romantic couple make their way to Piazzale Michelangelo, set above the south bank of the Arno and famous for its views over Florence. But leave the crowds behind and climb a little further up the hill to the beautiful Romanesque church of San Miniato. From her steps, the sunset over Florence is even more stunning, and also serenely peaceful.

 

Step onboard one of the fastest and most modern high-speed trains in the world. Your Frecciarossa train – “the red arrow”–  is the flagship in the fleet. You travel in Business Class, in a spacious leather seat with a generous recline. The staff will bid you welcome with a snack, and as a VIP-passenger you may order a meal to be served at your seat (for a fee).

Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel.

Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

For over a millennium, Rome controlled the destiny of the known world. Even though an incredible number of the ancient palaces, churches, and monuments still survive, Rome no longer feels like a mighty capital, but rather as one of the most charming cities in Europe. 2000 years after the glory days of Imperial Rome, all the intrigue and megalomania has somehow transmogrified into the very essence of beauty and romance. History is funny that way.

Equally surprisingly, Rome is eminently walkable. The city centre is quite compact, and with the famously ferocious traffic relegated to the main thoroughfares, you’ll find most of the ancient streets quiet and relaxed.

Meander for miles all day, then retire to a delicious trattoria and manage to ruin the calorie count anyway. About that dinner: These days, trendy Romans flock to the local restaurants around the old meat market in Testaccio, a 20^th century neighbourhood south of the historic centre. With few tourists, and fewer tourist traps, this is where you’ll find informal restaurants with often superb Italian cooking.

 

A chauffeured car will whisk you to the airport for your included flight back to London.