Holland's Floriade Expo 2022: See the festival on a tour of the Netherlands, Belgium & France
Dutch windmills, cosy streets, bubbling champagne, and the “City of Light” – experience the essence of 3 European countries. Explore new trends and innovations in the horticultural world at the Floriade Expo 2022. Cruise through the canals of Amsterdam on a private boat. Sample Gouda in its namesake town. Stand in awe before the powerful windmills of Kinderdijk. Spend 2 nights in the storybook town of Bruges. Spend the day in the lively city of Brussels. Travel along the Route du Champagne and enjoy a local tasting menu. See Parisian boulevards through an open-roof retro car at night. Make the most of a free day in Paris. Connect with deeply rooted cultures as you make your way through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
This package includes:
- 4 star accommodation throughout your trip
- Meals: 10 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- all transport while on tour
Day 1: Amsterdam, Netherlands - Tour Begins
Narrow canals, stone bridges, and bike-brimmed lanes – this is Amsterdam, the lively starting point of your journey. Check into your boutique hotel, located in the heart of the city centre and your home for the next 3 nights. Get a taste of the local flavours and meet your fellow travellers at a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands
See the city the way it’s truly meant to be seen – by canal. On your private boat, cruise under sloping bridges and pass by quintessential Dutch houses. This afternoon, visit the Floriade Expo 2022, a once-in-a-decade international garden and horticultural exhibition whose theme is "Growing Green Cities." As the day draws to a close, meet with a local for a chat about the city’s progressive and often controversial culture. The evening is yours.
Day 3: Amsterdam
This morning it’s your choice! Hop on the train to The Hague and visit the Mauritshuis, home to iconic paintings of the Dutch Golden Age and the renowned Girl with a Pearl Earring -OR- bike the countryside with a local guide, riding through villages as you take in the charming scenery and history. No matter how you spend your day, come together for an Impact Moment at a local brewery that employs individuals that face obstacles in the workplace. Then, make the evening your own with Diner’s Choice, selecting the perfect spot for dinner from a “menu” of restaurants.
Day 4: Amsterdam - Gouda - Kinderdijk - Bruges, Belgium
Say hello to Gouda, famous for its namesake cheese. Get a taste of this celebrated product at a nearby farm, learning about the process and trying a bite yourself. Head through the countryside to Kinderdijk (UNESCO), where iconic Dutch windmills spin slowly over the marshy landscape. Step into a storybook when you end your day in Bruges, settling in for the next 2 nights. As the crowds leave, get familiar with this cosy Belgian town and wander the cobblestone streets with a guide.
Day 5: Bruges - Optional Excursion
The day is yours. Perhaps you’ll embark on an optional tour of Bruges, where you’ll cruise through fairy-tale canals before connecting with local traditions – tasting Belgian chocolate and learning about the intricate craft of lace making. After a day at leisure, embark on a tasting tour of Bruges. Start with Belgium’s most quintessential beverage and some small bites at a historic family-run brewery. Your culinary campaign continues at a local restaurant that fuses the best of French and local specialties.
Day 6: Bruges - Brussels - Reims, France
Enjoy a day in Brussels, the bustling capital of Belgium and the base of the European Union. Meander alongside 19th-century facades and medieval towers as you get a local’s perspective on the city. After some free time to explore, trade your waffles for wine as you enter Reims, set in the heart of France’s illustrious Champagne region. Settle into your city-centric boutique hotel before dining your way through French cuisine with a 5-course tasting menu and glass of champagne.
Day 7: Reims - Épernay - Reims
Discover Reims, uncovering the city’s Celtic roots and Gothic architecture. Step into Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, gazing up at a sea of colourful stained glass. Cityscapes give way to vineyard rows as you make your way along the Route du Champagne, learning about this world-famous artisan production. Peer at the sprawling mansions on the Avenue de Champagne en-route to Épernay, where you’ll have free time to explore followed by a tour and tasting at a nearby maison du champagne
Day 8: Reims - Paris
Say bonjour to Paris, a hub of innovative cuisine and artistic culture. Experience this creative flare in the Montmarte neighbourhood, where hip bohemia meets heaven-seeking basilicas. Make the most of your free time before settling into your one-of-a-kind abode in the 2nd arrondissement. Explore your new neighbourhood until the sun fades and the “City of Light” debuts its sparkling grandeur. Spin the wheels of time from the backseat of a retro car, cruising through the chic boulevards and peering up at the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from the car’s open roof.
Day 9: Paris - Optional Excursion
Let the art scene leave its impression on you with a Claude Monet inspired choice on tour! Experience Monet in the city at the Musee D’Orsay, a former railway station that now houses the world’s best impressionist art -OR- visit Monet’s countryside home* at Giverny with a local guide, where you’ll see the source for the artist’s inspiration, including the setting for his iconic Waterlilies. Or consider spending your evening with an optional dinner at the dynamic Paradis Latin* cabaret show, featuring champagne, can-can dancers, and endless excitement.
Day 10: Paris
Today’s your day to experience Paris however you please. Hop on Le Métro like a local, skirting your way to each iconic neighbourhood and district. Perhaps you’ll spend your morning at the legendary Louvre, an otherworldly glass pyramid home to Da Vinci’s elusive Mona Lisa. End the day with a hands-on cooking class, mastering Parisian classics before dining on your creations at a farewell dinner.
Day 11: Paris - Tour Ends
Say au revoir to Europe as you depart for home.
Looking to extend your stay in Europe? As a full-service travel agency, Travel at 60's friendly consultants can happily help you find a good deal on airfares, accommodation and more. Call 1300 414 198 for a chat about your plans.
Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.
- 15 May - 25 May 2022 - from $6,199 per person, twin share
Additional travel dates are available - call us now on 1300 414 198 and our experienced team can provide you further details.
4 star accommodation is used throughout this tour:
- Stay: Swissotel, Amsterdam (3 nights)
- Stay: Aragon Hotel Bvba, Bruges (2 nights)
- Stay: Continental Hotel, Reims (2 night)
- Stay: Millennium Hotel Paris Opera (3 nights)
Note that hotels due to operational requirements may change without notice.
Tour Fitness Level Recommendation - Level 3:You’re an on-the-go traveller. You don’t want to miss a thing, so walking and standing for longer periods of time (1-2 hours) isn’t a big deal. You can navigate hills and uneven ground, climb into various modes of transport (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.), and could possibly anticipate changes in elevation. You can expect some longer days balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure.
Masks - Guests are required to bring their own personal protective equipment they are comfortable with using, as wearing a mask may be required during some parts of your tour experience.
Motor Coach - All surfaces will be sanitised often, including regular cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitiser will be available at all times and drivers will wear protective gear.
Will I need a passport? Passports are needed when travelling outside of your home country. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of your trip.
Will I need a visa? You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your guided holiday. Depending on your nationality, you may need visas to enter certain countries included on your trip. Please note that obtaining visas can take up to six weeks prior to your departure. It is strongly advised that you consult your Travel Agent and the local Consulate or Embassy of the country you are visiting well in advance to determine which visas they require and how to obtain them.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply
Ask about the tour operators cancel for any reason waiver. Cancellation Waiver financially protects you in the event you need to cancel or move your trip to a different date.
As of April 2021 all guests Travelling with Collette, regardless of destination or point of origin, must provide proof of one of the following to verify information you will be providing to Collette when filling out our Wellness Declaration upon arrival on tour:
- Proof of Negative Covid-19 Test would include a verifiable negative FDA- approved diagnostic COVID test (electronic or paper) showing date and time of test, taken within 72 hours of the start date of your tour.
- Proof of recovery from COVID-19 would include both a copy of a positive test result dated within 3 months prior to the end of your tour and also written documentation from your health care provider that you have been cleared to end quarantine. This written documentation must include your name and the date your positive test was performed.
- Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is your official vaccination certificate (electronic or paper) and must identify your name and date of vaccination with final dose given at least 14-days before the start date of your tour.
You can rest assured that Collette has been operating tours in select regions where local government regulations permit travel and where proper health measures are in place to mitigate risk, protect our guests’ well-being, and ensure an enjoyable experience. We will notify you of necessary requirements for your destination prior to departure.
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