Dates/times:
Wednesday, October 15 2014 at 10:00 AM (Get Tickets)
Location:
San Francisco International
780 S Airport Blvd
San Francisco,, CA 94203
Event Description:
On this adventure you’ll see the very best that three of the most famous and historic capitals of Europe; Edinburgh, London & Paris, has to offer. You’ll also visit the dynamic North East England city of Newcastle Upon Tyne en route between the Scottish and English capital cities, and ancient Salisbury from London & opulent Versailles from Paris. Along the way, local guides will share the history of their perspective city. We’ll ditch the motorcoach in London and travel to Paris via train, through the English Channel tunnel below 21 miles of sea! Once in France, our Parisian guide will soon have you falling in love with the city.
Sactrips.com Scotland, London, Paris Adventure
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. People from around the world love it’s uniqueness. It’s setting, the magnificent architecture from throughout the centuries, the art, the music, the whisky & tartan, the cosy pubs and the huge number of cultural events that take place every week of the year. With a population of approximately 450,000 (1 million in the city region), "Auld Reekie" as it’s known (Edinburgh) manages to combine both ancient and modern in a uniquely Scottish atmosphere and is very easy to get about and explore. It is a capital city that retains a human scale, without massive skyscrapers, instead the prominent features of the cityscape are Edinburgh Castle, built high on a craggy mound, home of past Scottish Kings, and King Arthurs Seat, a large grass hill, where the residents and tourists visiting the city go for bracing walks and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Edinburgh has some superb art galleries and museums, and unique attractions such as Real St Mary’s Close, which is a number of streets dating from the 17th Century that were built over when the city was re-developed. Now it is possible to go on a tour of these subterranean spooky houses below the bustling streets above. Another example is the Writer’s museum which looks at the lives of three famous Scottish writers; Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. The Castle is home to regimental museums, the National War Museum, and below the Great Hall you can visit the prison, where soldiers from various European battles were held, including a 5 year old drummer boy taken prisoner during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805! Edinburgh has a great zoo, home to the only pair of Pandas in Britain, and a lovely Botanical Garden that has been in existence for 330 years. The Scotch Whisky Experience in the city centre, is a popular tourist attraction all about the ‘wee dram’.
The city has great nightlife, with fine restaurants, historic pubs, comedy clubs and theatres. It won’t take you long once in Edinburgh to find out about an evening event you would like to go to, or perhaps you might just go with the flow of party goers as they visit the pubs of the Royal Mile.
After a journey of about 110 miles through the rolling hills of the Scottish border and Northumbrian countryside we arrive in the city of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Newcastle Upon Tyne
The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Saxons and the Danes amongst others. The route of Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Wall goes through the centre of the city. In the year 800 A.D Vikings arrived from across the North Sea and plundered Tynemouth Priory, and sailed up the River Tyne. Originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius, the name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England in 1066 A.D, after a new castle was built by the son of William the Conqueror. The ancient castle keep still stands within the heart of the city. Close by is St Nicholas Cathedral, with its beautiful 14th century lantern tower, that was only saved from Scottish cannons that besieged the city in 1644, after the mayor put captured Scottish soldiers at the the top of it! Inside is a memorial to a more recent war. In 1940, when Denmark was invaded, all Danish ships at sea were instructed to head for the River Tyne, which for the next 5 years was the home port for the Danish Merchant Navy and 3 to 4,000 of their sailors.
Newcastle and it’s river became one of the areas of the UK that thrived during the industrial revolution. The large number of coal mines in the area brought wealth to the city, as well as steel works and shipyards, that built many famous warships. George Stephenson born on the banks of the river, invented the steam train. Market Street was the first street in Britain and America to be lit by electric light bulbs, the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle was the first public building in the world to be lit by electricity and Sir Charles Parsons built the first power station in the world to generate electricity using turbo generators in the city. Car windscreen wipers and the safety match are just two other inventions from this industrious city.
Newcastle was redeveloped in the 19th century, in a style known as ‘Tyneside Classical’ The main streets of the city reflect this Georgian splendour, with columned buildings, made of rich sandstone. Grey Street, of this style, is often voted as one of the most beautiful streets in Britain, as it sweeps down towards the riverbank, which has a collection of six unique bridges all within the space of a mile, including the first combined double deck road and rail bridge in the world.
‘The Toon’ as its locally referred to as, has great pubs and is one of the most popular city break destinations for people living in the UK, as it is a friendly welcoming place. For American visitors it gives a real taste of what many other provincial cities throughout Britain, are like. A mix of old and new, theatres, department stores, etc. Of course, just as you wouldn’t leave Ireland without having a sip of Guinness, you have to try a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale, whilst your on the banks of the Tyne. Although the locals might warn you in their ‘Geordie’ accent, that has it’s roots in it’s Viking and Anglo Saxon past, to ‘Gan Canny’ (go easy) as you have a bus to catch the next morning!
A motor coach trip of about 270 miles will take you to one of the world’s greatest cities.
London
The cosmopolitan city of London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and its very name suggests history and grandeur. Once it was the city where an empire that covered ¼ of the world’s land area was run from. It is the premier city in Europe in terms of size, population (about 8 million) and per-capita wealth. It’s a city where a 12th century church can be on the same street as skyscrapers built within the last decade. What strikes visitors more than anything about London is the sheer size of this city, spreading across a huge area from its core on the River Thames, which meanders through the city centre, dividing it into northern and southern halves. However, despite it’s size it is still a city where you can find old quiet squares that would not look out of place in Mary Poppins, leafy parks where you could imagine 101 Dalmatians being taken for a walk and bustling farmers and antique markets, with backdrops that have not changed much since the days of Charles Dickens. You could say it’s like a patchwork quilt with many distinct parts, each with their own character and high streets, rather than just a centre and then suburbs. And all sewn together with the constant stream of red buses and famous black taxis, and below the ground the oldest undergound system in the world transports vast numbers of people to many stops, making getting around London, despite it’s size, very easy.
For the new visitor to the city, there is the traditional sights to see, such as Buckingham Palace; home of Her Majesty the Queen, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey that has played host to coronation’s of English and Britsh monarchs for many centuries. Beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and final resting place of Lord Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington who won the Battle of Waterloo. It miraculously survived firestorms that surrounded it during the Blitz bombing raids of World War Two, which killed thousands of Londoners. The Tower of London is another classic tourist attraction, home of the Crown Jewels, and where two of King Henry VIII’s six wives were executed.
Then there is the superb range of world standard art galleries and museums. Art galleries include, the Tate Modern, a huge modern art gallery on the south bank of the river, and the National Portrait Gallery that is in Trafalgar Square. It has hundreds of portraits of famous faces stretching back centuries right up until the modern era. Kings, rock stars, politicians and writers; they are all there. For museums, the visitor is spoilt for choice. The British Museum, is the national museum, and holds large collections from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and ancient Britain. Other major museums include, The Natural History museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Science Museum. There is also many smaller and more quirky historical attractions such as the bunkers where Winston Churchill worked during the air raids, and the Sherlock Holmes museum on Baker Street.
London is also a shoppers paradise, from alternative markets in Camden to the world’s most famous department store, Harrods of London. It’s also a city where window shopping is quite popular! Every visitor to London will find themselves distracted at some point by a window display; perhaps a Rolls Royce showroom, a private art gallery, or a designer fashion shop, such Versace. And all of this could be viewed from high above on the London Eye, a huge ferris wheel opposite the Houses of Parliament. It still can be, but as London is a city that is always changing, a new higher vantage point is now available. The Shard is a dramatic skyscraper built to resemble a shard of glass, and at 1,016 ft is currently the tallest building in Western Europe. It has a viewing platform on the 72nd floor that is open to the public.
Those without local roots will find this gigantic metropolis surprisingly diverse, and besides English, around 200 different languages are spoken within its confines, and all major religions are represented. At times, London can seem more like an independent city state. As writer Samuel Johnson wrote in the 18th Century, ““Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
Salisbury
Salisbury is a historic, small cathedral city, with a population of just 45,000, located in the rural county of Wiltshire, in the south of England. It retains much of its original architecture and is a pleasant and relaxing break from the crowded streets of London. With centuries old timbered buildings, an Early English Gothic Cathedral built in 1220 A.D, home to the illustrious Magna Carta that inspired the founding father of the USA, when they wrote the U.S Constitution; a thriving market and streets filled with gift shops and cafes, visiting the town is an unforgettable experience.
Within Salisbury's Cathedral Close there is a lot to be explored including Arundells, Mompesson House, The Rifles Military Museum and the award-winning Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum with its Stonehenge Gallery and skeleton of the Amesbury Archer, a bronze age man who lived in the area about 2,300 B.C. This delightful small city, set in the green and pleasant countryside, showcases what life is like in many old small towns and cities within England.
Stonehenge is a UNESCO World heritage site and prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, about 2 miles west of Amesbury and 8 miles north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks. It is in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.
Archaeologists believe it was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first stones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC, whilst another theory suggests that bluestones may have been raised at the site as early as 3000 BC.
The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Visitors are given audio devices when they visit Stonehenge which explain all about what historians have discovered about the site and how they think it was built. It really helps bring the stone circle to life and leaves visitors in even more awe of this mysterious and ancient monument. A true wonder of the world.
After our stay in London we will board the Eurostar train at the imposing St Pancras Station in the heart of the city. Three hours later, after travelling through the English countryside, under the English Channel and through the Normandy countryside, where 70 years ago American troops battled to help liberate Europe, we arrive in Paris.
Paris
No matter the season, Paris has a timeless familiarity, with more recognisable landmarks than any other city in the world. The graceful wrought-iron spire of the Eiffel Tower, the broad span of the Arc de Triomphe standing sentinel above Paris’ most glamorous avenue, the Champs-Élysées, the gargoyled Notre Dame cathedral, lamplit bridges spanning the Seine and art nouveau cafes spilling onto wicker-chair-lined terraces are indelibly etched in the minds of anyone who’s visited the city – and the imaginations of anyone who hasn’t (or at least not yet). But despite initial appearances, Paris’ cityscape isn’t static: there are some stunning modern and contemporary icons too.
Glorious Food
Paris’ dining is also iconic: France’s reputation for its cuisine (the French word for ‘kitchen’) precedes it. Whether you seek a cosy neighborhood bistro, a secret supper club or a triple-Michelin-starred temple to gastronomy, you'll find every establishment prides itself on exquisite preparation and presentation of quality produce, invariably served with wine. Enticing patisseries, boulangeries (bakeries), fromageries (cheese shops) and crowded, colourful street markets are perfect for packing a picnic to take to the city’s parks and gardens. And a host of culinary courses – from home kitchens through to the world’s most prestigious cookery schools – offer instruction for all schedules, abilities and budgets.
Stylish Shopping
Parisians are synonymous with style and fashion shopping is the city’s forte. Paris remains at the forefront of international fashion trends, and browsing emerging and established designer boutiques and flagship haute couture houses is a quintessential part of any visit. You’ll also find uberhip concept stores, quirky home and garden shops, and resplendent art nouveau department stores, along with a trove of vintage shops and flea markets, atmospheric bookshops (including the distinctive green-metal bouquiniste stalls lining the banks of the Seine), some adorable children’s wear and toy shops, art and antique dealers, venerable shops selling state-of-the-art professional cookware, and, of course, gourmet food and wine shops galore.
Artistic Treasures
With an illustrious artistic pedigree – Renoir, Rodin, Picasso, Monet, Manet, Dalí and Van Gogh are but a few of the masters who lived and worked here over the years – Paris is one of the great art repositories of the world, harbouring treasures from antiquity onwards. In addition to big hitting museums like the world’s largest, theLouvre, the Musée d’Orsay’s exceptional impressionist collection, and the Centre Pompidou’s cache of modern and contemporary art, there are scores of smaller museums housing collections in every imaginable genre, and a diverse range of venues mounting major exhibitions through to off-beat installations.
Versailles, France
Versailles is a city in the Yvelines département in Île-de-France region, world-widely renowned for its château, the Château de Versailles and the gardens of Versailles, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Château de Versailles is one of the most opulent and luxurious buildings in the world with a huge formal garden of astounding beauty. Home of French Kings until the French revolution, when the aristocracy of France were led to the guillotines.
A new town, founded by the will of King Louis XIV, it was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789, before becoming the cradle of the French Revolution. After having lost its status of royal city, it became the préfecture (regional capital) of Seine-et-Oise département in 1790, then of Yvelines in 1968, and a Roman Catholic diocese. Versailles is historically known for numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the American Revolutionary War and the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I.
Located in the western suburbs of the French capital, 0.6 mi from the centre of Paris, Versailles is in the 21st century a wealthy suburb of Paris with a service based economy and a major touristic destination as well. Besides, the Congress of France - the name given to the body created when both houses of the French Parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, meet - gathers in the Château de Versailles to vote on revisions to the Constitution.
Scotland London Paris day to day itinerary
Wednesday Oct 15, 2015-Travel Day* Land tour Only package is available
10:00am-Complimentary Shuttle from Sacramento to San Francisco International Airport
3:05pm- San Francisco to Frankfurt on Luthusana Airlines Flt# 455 arrive Frankfurt @ 10:55am
11:55am-Frankfurt to Edinburgh on Luthusana Airlines Flt # 962 arrive Edinbugh @ 1250pm
Thursday Oct 16, 2014
Day 1: Welcome to Scotland
Coach transfer from Edinburgh airport to hotel.
We'll meet around 6 p.m. at our hotel in Edinburgh for a "Welcome to Scotland" get-together and enjoy a group welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight The Mercure Edinburgh City - Princes Street Hotel (D)
Friday Oct 17, 2014 – Guided Walking Tour
Today we'll see the best of Edinburgh on foot, starting with a walking tour of the Royal Mile and its wealth of historic buildings, quaint shops, narrow lanes and hidden courtyards. Next we'll start the "hike" through the history of this nation at the impressive National Museum of Scotland. Then we're off to tour the birthplace of the city, the massive and imposing Edinburgh Castle (admission included) to soak up its dramatic views and go inside it‘s ancient interior. The rest of the day is free for your own explorations. No bus. Walking: Moderate. Overnight The Mercure Edinburgh City - Princes Street Hotel (B)
Saturday Oct 18, 2014-Free Day
Explore Edinburgh on your own. (B)
Sunday Oct 19 Edinburgh to Newcastle
After Breakfast, we’ll travel via private motorcoach to the historic Northumbrian city of Newcastle Upon Tyne, where will meet our step on guide who will show us the city highlights. Overnight Jurys Inn Newcastle (B)
Monday October 20 Newcastle to London
After Breakfast, we’ll travel via private motorcoach to London where will meet our guide who will show us the city highlights via the London Tube. Enjoy a group dinner at a local pub. Overnight The Park International Hotel (B/D)
Tuesday October 21, 2014- London hop on-hop off bus
Today, explore London on your own. Your open-top bus tour takes you to all of London’s famous landmarks and reveals London’s colourful 2,000-year history. Overnight The Park International Hotel (B)
Wednesday October 22, 2014 -Day trip to Stonehenge& Salisbury
After breakfast, we’ll travel via private motorcoach to Salisbury one of England's most important medieval cities.It is now one of its most beautiful and is full of history and intrigue.
Stonehenge is a world renowned stone circle sitting in the rolling chalkland countryside of Salisbury Plain. The surrounding landscape is unusually rich in archaeological monuments such as the Cursus, the Avenue, and numerous Barrows or burial mounds. Evening Free. Overnight The Park International Hotel (B)
Thursday October 23, 2014-London to Paris
This morning we’ll travel by train to Paris “The city of Light” After check-in our guide you’ll take us on a short walking tour of Paris. This evening you’ll enjoy a visit to the Eiffel Tower and Siene evening cruise. Overnight TBA hotel (B) (Hotel Tba)
Friday October 24, 2014- Montmartre - Champs Elysées
Today we’ll travel by metro and visit 2 Iconic locations in Paris
Montmartre-This iconic hilltop neighborhood’s striped awnings, cobblestone streets, and lively plazas rest at the foot of its pilgrimage-worthy basilica, Sacre Coeur. The neighborhood’s sacred structure and artisanal shops encourage frequent foot traffic, but Montmartre's ceaseless activity invites more than pleasure strollers along its cinema-worthy streets—entrepreneurial misfits add a picaresque slant to Montmartre’s picturesque street scenes.
Champs Elysees -This impressive promenade stretches from the Place the la Concorde to the Place Charles de Gaulle, the site of the Arc de Triomphe. At its western end the Champs-Elysées is bordered by cinemas, theaters, cafés and luxury shops. Near the Place de la Concorde, the street is bordered by the Jardins des Champs-Elysées, beautifully arranged gardens with fountains and some grand buildings including the Grand and Petit Palais at the southern side and the Elysée at its northern side. The latter has been the residence of the French Presidents since 1873. Overnight TBA hotel (B)
Saturday October 25, 2014 Versailles & Place des Vosges
Today we’ll travel by train to Versailles & Place des Vosges- Step back in time and learn all about the historic town of Versailles on this fascinating walking tour. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you anecdotes and stories that bring the past to life as you visit locations including the King’s Kitchen Garden. The Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Overnight TBA hotel (B)
Sunday October 26, 2014 Visit the islands of the Seine: the Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint-Louis.
Nestled in Paris’s historic heart, Ile de la Cite and Ile St-Louis are two natural islands in the Seine. The former is home to the renowned Notre Dame cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle, as well as the Holocaust Memorial and the Palais de Justice, the capital’s principal court of justice. Sitting next to it is Ile St-Louis, which resembles a village hidden in the middle of the city. Among the narrow streets are bakeries, cafes, boutique hotels, and galleries. There’s a number of bridges to enable you to reach these idyllic islands. Overnight TBA hotel (B)
Monday October 27, 2014
Free day to explore Paris on your own. Overnight TBA hotel (B)
Tuesday October 28, 2014-Travel Day
We’ll depart the hotel in time to catch our 7:05 am flight and start our journey back to California.
7:05pm- Charles de Gaulle Airport to Frankfurt on Luthusana Airlines Flt# 1051 arrive Frankfurt @ 8:24am
10:00am-Frankfurt to San Francisco on Luthusana Airlines Flt # 454 arrive San Francisco @ 1:45pm
2:30am-Complimentary Shuttle from San Francisco International Airport to Sacramento
Early Bird Rate: $3,799 per person l add $799 single supplement l deposit $399
Land tour only rate: $2399 per person double occupancy l add $799 single supplement l deposit $399
If you have any questions please call 916.443.8741 and ask for Grady