2025 Gourmet Tuscany, Lake Como & Lucerne Plus Romantic Rhine River Cruise

2025 Gourmet Tuscany, Lake Como & Lucerne Plus Romantic Rhine River Cruise

Enjoy a 7-Night Gourmet Tuscan Land Tour, followed by a 3-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay in Lake Como & 1-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay in Lucerne, and a 7 Night River Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

• 18 Nights / 21 Days
• Avalon Panorama
• Featuring 200 sq. ft. Panorama Suites Travel to Montecatini, Italy & Return from Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Escorted From Honolulu

Countries: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France & the Netherlands

Rivers: Rhine River

Tour Dates & Managers:

October 05 – 25, 2025 • Tour Managers: Steven & Naomi Lee

VACATION OVERVIEW:

On this affordable Italy discovery package, the town of Montecatini serves as your home base from which to venture out to explore the surrounding landscapes of breathtaking Tuscany and getting to know its culinary and wine traditions. You’ll indulge in picturesque scenery, world-class local wines, traditional uisine, and cultural discoveries. From the rolling hills of Montalbano to Vinci and beyond, we’ll take you through bountiful vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees. You’ll even visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci to experience the Renaissance master’s life and art. Traveling through some of the most stunning and lush natural landscapes in Italy, you’ll embark to visit idyllic spots, including the gorgeous Chianti Valley and the Etruscan Coast. As you visit quaint wine shops, cafes, historic estates, and museums, you’ll feel immersed in the history and traditions of each destination. In addition to sampling the local gourmet Tuscan fare, you’ll also be treated to an Italian cooking lesson. You’ll prepare an authentic Italian dish inside a rustic Tuscan farmhouse where you and your travel companions will enjoy your culinary creations-complete with master-chef prizes. You’ll also learn the art of Italian dessert making at your hotel and get to taste some of the celebrated Chianti and Super Tuscan wines right where they are produced. You’ll revel in the beauty of becoming familiar with a single destination of Montecatini while making priceless discoveries of locales that are off the beaten path-perfect for the smart, creative, and budget-minded travel lover.

our European vacation continues with a 3-night stay in Lake Como and 1-night stay in Lucerne, with a special excursion up Mount Pilatus (or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility) for spectacular Swiss Alpine panoramas. In Como, an included guided walking tour features the charming historic district, the Gothic Town Hall, the impressive Duomo, and a boat ride on the lake. In Lucerne, your guided walking tour includes the Lion Monument, the Chapel Bridge and a special highlight excursion to Swiss Alps.

Embark on your Rhine River cruise through France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Basel, Switzerland, then head for Breisach, Germany, at the foot of the Kaiserstuhl Mountain on the French–German border. Here you’ll find the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest, an area of unrivaled natural beauty, best known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and the cuckoo clock. Continue your river cruise to Strasbourg, France, and marvel at the red-sandstone Gothic-style cathedral with ancient murals and the fascinating astronomical clock. Stroll through the lovely La Petite France district with its quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenade. Visit the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, towering magnificently over the city, or stop in Mainz for a guided walk and a visit to the captivating Gutenberg Museum. Sail to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, and a visit to the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, then pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge — the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Last stop in Germany is Cologne — a 2,000-year-old city known for its Gothic-style architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral.

At the conclusion of your Rhine River cruise, you’ll spend time in colorful Amsterdam. See the treasures of this 700-year-old city on an included canal cruise along the elegant grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.” Spend free time discovering world-famous museums, and an abundance of restaurants in the vibrant, modern capital of the Netherlands.