Getaway through the Netherlands, Belgium and France: a Perfect Epicurean Trilogy

Start your vacation with friends in Europe: from Amsterdam to Brussels and Paris!

At your arrival at the Amsterdam Schiphol airport, you are welcomed by your private driver for a transfer to your hotel in the city center. From your comfortable seat and by the window, you glimpse the typical city landscape of the capital built around the beautiful network of canals. 

After check in to your hotel and some time to rest, enjoy a well-deserved first lunch in Amsterdam. 

For coffee and snack time, you meet with your private guide for an Amsterdam briefing and stroll (private tour / approx. 2 hours).

This welcome to Amsterdam orientation experience is designed as a practical and historical introduction to the city, one that is tailored to your individual interests. 

You begin your experience in your hotel lobby, where your local expert, explains the geographical layout of the city and how this relates to the area where you are staying. To help you get acquainted with the places and things that you can see, your guide brings along maps and resources, as well as offer tips on local Amsterdam customs and top suggestions for dining, shopping, insider events, and concerts.

You wake up after a first night in the Dutch capital. After a delicious breakfast, you make your way to the meeting point for your Waterways of Amsterdam canal tour (private tour / approx. 3 hours).

We think Amsterdam is meant to be viewed from the water—we’re constantly amazed at how good it looks. You join a local scholar for a 90-minute cruise in a historical saloon boat and see Amsterdam from a unique vantage point. Your route carries you through the world-famous canal belt (itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site), giving the best possible view of 17th-century architecture and quaint bridges. The small size of your boat allows you to wind easily through Amsterdam's network of waterways and avoid the worst of the traffic. And together with your expert guide, you dig deeper into the history of economic prosperity, strategic water management, and urban planning that defines the canal belt.

You reach the ground after your adventure on the water and take the rest of the day to discover what you saw from the distance on your cruise.

This morning, we invite you to fill your taste buds with the flavors of the international cuisine. Amsterdam gastronomy has its specialties but it is also very important to learn about the identity of the city/country and its diversity through the melting pot of its food. You make your own way to the meeting point and meet with your culinary expert for your De Pijp food tour experience (private tour / approx. 3.5 hours).

Hungry for a food adventure through the lovely little urban village of De Pijp? Originally a poor workers’ neighborhood, De Pijp has now become very popular and gentrified. Today it has inhabitants from all over the world and from all walks of life. The renowned Albert Cuyp Market and its surrounding ‘gezellige’ side streets can be considered the soul of this neighborhood.

During your experience through De Pijp you combine the traditional Dutch dishes (herring, stroopwafels, kroketen) as well as the melting pot of different ethnic flavors of Amsterdam. Whether it’s Dutch, Indonesian, Surinamese... Sometimes surprising - but never disappointing… Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, stay open-minded and try it all!

In the morning, you enjoy one last stroll along the beautiful canals with your friends before your driver picks you up at your hotel for a transfer to the train station. From there, you catch a direct train to reach Belgium.  The city of Antwerp is your first stop.

After a private transfer from the train station, you check in to your hotel and the rest of the day is for you to discover the city. Antwerp (Anvers in French) is Belgium’s second city, one of the world’s major seaports and cradle of diamond and fashion. It has long been a powerful magnet for everyone from fashion moguls and club queens to art lovers and diamond dealers. In the mid-16th century, it was one of Europe’s most important cities and home to baroque superstar painter Pieter Paul Rubens. Despite many historical travails thereafter, and severe WWII bombing, Antwerp retains an intriguing medieval heart with plenty of café-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside fortress and a truly impressive cathedral. Today, however, Antwerp’s top drawcards are its vibrant fashion and entertainment scene, along with its startling architectural and cultural contrasts.

Today, you take your time to stroll around the city and discover both the old town and the modern architecture of the harbor. 

Optional activity:  Your private driver-guide meets you in the morning at the lobby of your hotel and you go onboard for a unique and Great escape in Antwerp (private tour / approx. 5 hours).

Get on a vintage bus, sit back and allow your great driver-guide to steer you through the city's coziest neighborhoods and districts. Discover the secrets and hidden gems of Antwerp. Enjoy an atypical tour in a renovated Renault Estafette from 1963. Your driver avoids the well-trodden paths and shows you the real Antwerp. From the old city center to the old harbor punctuated with modern jewels such as the MAS museum and the Port House, you discover the several facets of this city from its glorious times and the "Belle Epoque" architecture to the street art. Your driver-guide reserves you little treats and nice stops along your way.

Before leaving Antwerp, you discover a very interesting part of its past and history by visiting the Red Star Line Museum (self-guided visit).

Between 1873 and 1935 the Red Star Line shipping company transported almost three million people with their life packed in a few cases and full of expectations from Antwerp to America and Canada, the promised lands for fortune seekers and everyone looking for a better life. It remains a place of remembrance, a "lieu de mémoire" for the millions of emigrants who set out for a new life in the States via Antwerp.

After your visit, your private driver transfers you to the train station where you take the train to your next destination, the beautiful Bruges.

Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day to stroll along the canals of this very pretty city.

If you set out to design a fairy-tale medieval town, it would be hard to improve on central Bruges. Picturesque cobbled lanes and dreamy canals link photogenic market squares lined with soaring towers, historic churches and old whitewashed almshouses. And there's plenty of it.  

To relax, we propose you a unique Afternoon tea at the beautiful hotel de Orangerie. 

The best way to know more about a city is with a passionate guide by your side, and so today, you have the opportunity to discover Bruges on a guided walking tour (private tour / approx. 2.5 hours).

Bruges is an ancient city located in the northern part of Belgium, about 100 km from Brussels. The city was once a main port of shipment and welcomed plenty of artists and nobles from Europe during the 15th century. Bruges maintained its medieval appearance thanks to various factors from the last centuries, about which you learn during the visit. Visit the historical center of Bruges listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Take a boat trip on the canals, which is how Bruges earned the nickname of the "Venice of the North". Treat yourself with some delicious chocolate to end your great afternoon in the charming city!

The itinerary is arranged to suit your needs and preferences (entertaining, academic, professional, etc.).

After your transfer from your hotel to the train station, you sit and relax on your train from Bruges to reach the capital city of Belgium, Brussels. 

Your driver welcomes you at your arrival and drives you to your hotel in the city center.

The rest of the day is dedicated to the exploration of the capital through an Introduction to Brussels guided walking tour (private tour / approx. 3 hours).

Discover the legendary landmarks and impressive monuments of Brussels on a walking tour with a local art historian. Set out to explore the sights, marvel at the medieval majesty of the Market Square; gaze at the remarkable façade of the City Hall; and uncover its secrets. 

Crafted to allow for a deeper narration of the city for curious travelers, the tour takes you through the city center as you discuss the city’s evolution from medieval foundations to modern political capital. Your route includes a range of sites important to the city’s diverse past including Grand-Place, Place Bourse, Brussels Park, and the Royal Palace amongst many others. You also take some time to have a break and try some local Belgian flavors, such as the famous fries.

Take a light breakfast this morning as you have plenty of sweet treats to taste in the capital. Meet with your local specialist and simply enjoy a Delicious Belgian Chocolate tour (private tour / approx. 2.5 hours).

A gentle stroll from Brussels’ medieval center to the poshest of neighborhoods, passing along beautiful galleries, romantic city views and impressive monuments. Not only do you taste the finest chocolate, but every shop you visit is an attraction in itself. From its Mayan royal drink origin to a 20th Century luxury product, the cocoa bean has come a long way to find its second home in Europe. You learn about the events that transformed Belgium into the mecca for chocolate lovers throughout the world.

You visit the most beautiful chocolate shops in Brussels. You taste at least 8 sublime chocolates, from the traditional pralines and truffles to the most avant-garde combinations. Your view of chocolate will dramatically change after this tour.

After enjoying a last Belgian hot chocolate, it is time to leave Belgium. Your private driver is waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel and drives you to the train station. You catch your train and travel from the Belgian capital to the city of lights. Welcome to Paris!

At your arrival, your private driver drives you to your hotel ideally located in the heart of the capital city. Enjoy a nice lunch and a stroll around your beautiful district.

To end this first day in Paris, you meet with your local guide for a unique Latin Quarter, pétanque, bites and wine tour (small group tour / approx. 3.5 hours).

Meet your guide by the Pantheon, in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the University district of Paris before heading to the Jardins du Luxembourg, possibly the most beautiful and romantic garden in Paris.

There you stop for your first food break in an iconic bakery/chocolate store to taste a butter-filled cake from Brittany.

From here you move to the beautiful surrounding square, the oldest in Paris, to play a game of steel balls, known here as "pétanque". Learn how to play this fun game originated from Southern France but played in every corner of the country. Couple the playing with a glass of wine or Pastis, to enhance your skills! Finally, you finish by the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

Today, you discover another side of French culture, its delicious food! You stroll through Paris, cross the Seine River and reach the right bank for a cheese and wine tasting in a Parisian cellar in the famous district of the Marais (small group tour / approx. 1.5 hours).

The French know that wine and cheese are made for each other. Treat your taste buds to this perfect pairing at a cheese cellar beneath the streets of Paris. Taste seven different French and Swiss cheeses accompanied by wines chosen to complement the aged flavors, plus bites of baguette and fresh fruit. A professional cheesemonger guides you through the tasting and shares his knowledge with you.

The morning is free to explore a little bit more about the capital city on your own. Of course, we give you our best addresses and recommendations to make sure you don’t miss anything on your list. 

In the afternoon, you reach the Orsay Museum and meet with your private guide for your Orsay Museum guided tour (private tour / approx. 2 hours).

You know about Van Gogh’s ear. You’ve heard of Monet’s water lilies. But how much do you really know about the treasures inside the Musée d’Orsay? Masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh, Pissaro, Manet, Degas & many more are awaiting you! 

Optional activity: In the evening, you walk to the Seine River for a unique dinner, the perfect way to conclude your great trip. Get on board for a Dinner cruise on the Seine aboard a beautiful and authentic yacht.

A unique view of the capital: this is an intimate and exclusive experience, that of a gourmet dinner on the water.

Daring associations, rich flavors and delicate gustatory touches. Embark on a light and delicious cruise onboard a charming yacht.

Give in to an irresistible, infinitely scrumptious cruise…

What a great way to end your 13-day Vacation with Friends: from Amsterdam to Brussels and Paris!