Itinerary

Day 1 | To Amersfoort
Meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Amsterdam. Continue by rail to the attractive canal city of Amersfoort, a place with abundant history and culture packed into its compact centre. During your free time, you could explore the Old Town, filled with cafés and restaurants, or head to the Late Gothic church known as the Church of Our Lady. On some departures, you’ll stay in Utrecht, a historic and friendly city filled with tree-lined canals and a host of fascinating religious monuments.

Please note: For departures 22FAE01aa, 22FAE02aa, 22FAE03a you will be staying in Utrecht.

Day 2 | Exploring Amsterdam
Take the train to Amsterdam, a city of criss-crossing canals and a labyrinth of atmospheric streets. Take a guided tour, beginning at Dam Square. The lively square is surrounded by notable buildings, the jewel in the crown of which is the Royal Palace, the former home of the Dutch Royal family. Continue to the Begijnhof, a group of picturesque houses built around a secluded courtyard, and the Kalverstraat, Amsterdam’s bustling main street. Your afternoon is free. You could see the ‘Venice of the North’ from its waterways with a canal cruise. Or, visit the Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank and her family hid during the German occupation in WWII. Before your return train journey, make sure to sample one of the city’s famous treats, stroopwafel – thin waffles with a caramel filling.

Day 3 | Keukenhof Gardens
Transfer to Keukenhof for a visit to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s largest permanent flower garden. Known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, this glorious sea of rainbow-hued tulips is one of Europe’s most wonderful floral displays. You have plenty of time to admire the incredible explosion of colour, the result of around seven million tulip bulbs planted each year, along with an array of crocuses, daffodils, orchids and other flowers. Across 80 acres of parkland, there’s also tranquil ponds, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, a windmill and several cafés for you to enjoy. After a day spent immersing yourself in stunning sights, return to your hotel by coach this afternoon.

Day 4 | Floriade
Visit Almere, a modern ‘garden city’ and the host of Floriade 2022. A unique six-month event that takes place every ten years, this garden and exhibition festival celebrates the best of horticulture from around the world, this year following the theme of the ‘Growing Green Cities’. Spend time strolling amongst innovative exhibitions from over 30 different countries, all on a specially-made exhibition site built using reclaimed land from the sea. In line with the theme, the land will be transformed into a new sustainable city district following Floriade’s closure.

As well as discovering a breathtaking array of rare plants, shrubs, flowers and trees, you’ll learn about the creative solutions cities are showcasing in order to promote a greener future. Discover street food that grows in the street, with greenhouses where you can pick your own lunch. There are also fantastic pop-up restaurants where you can indulge in innovative cuisine, as well as lively street performers, informative talks and interactive exhibitions. After a day indulging your senses, return to your hotel where you enjoy dinner.

Day 5 | Home
Take the train to Amsterdam, where you join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.