London-Paris-Madrid Tour

Afternoon           Meet as a group at LAX and board your overnight flight to London via connection!

Morning               Arrive in the culturally diverse city of London! This capital city is often referred to as the heart of England, and holds the Royal seat of Queen Elizabeth II: the longest-lived monarch in history.  Transfer to our hotel like locals on the famous London Underground or “Tube.”  After checking in to our hotel, it’s time to head out and start exploring the city!  We’ll arrive at Buckingham Palace in time to watch the official changing of the Guards Ceremony just before noon, which involves horses, music, and the tallest black hats you’ll ever see!  We’ll also get to see the one and only Big Ben. This great bell clock of the Palace of Westminster dominates the skyline along the River Thames, and is one of the most recognizable sights in England.  Stop and look at Westminster Abbey, a beautiful, gothic church known as the traditional coronation site for the royals.

Afternoon           For lunch we will sit down to enjoy the beloved English tradition of “High Tea.”  After “tea,” we’ll head out on a walking tour to see city highlights! We will visit Picadilly Circus, Carnaby Street, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and more!  Enjoy a self-guided visit to the National Gallery, which houses a great collection of the West’s finest and most celebrated paintings.

Evening After the National Gallery, we’ll head to the London Eye aka The Millennium Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel erected on the South Bank of the River Thames in 1999. When erected, The Eye was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, and remains as Europe’s tallest today. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of London from 135 metres above of the city!  Finally, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner together at Wagamama, a delicious, ultra-modern noodle house, in Southwark.  Head back to the hotel for a good (and well deserved) night’s rest.

Morning               Wake-up bright and early! Enjoy breakfast together as a group.   Then head out to visit the V&A Museum for a self guided tour. Some 150 grand galleries on seven floors contain countless pieces of furniture, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, posters, jewelry, metalwork, glass, and textiles, spanning several centuries.

Afternoon           Enjoy lunch, and take some time for window shopping in Knightsbridge. Pay a visit to the famous toy section of Harrods department store.  Cross over the Thames to the Tate Modern Gallery to explore some cutting-edge contemporary art.  Wander around Southbank, with its many vendors and open air book shops.

Evening Tonight, we will see a performance at the National Theatre before taking an evening stroll to see London Bridge and the surrounding area, all lit up for the night.

Morning               Enjoy breakfast together as a group.  Then head out to the British Museum, the first national public museum in the world. Take advantage of the “Schools and Young Audiences exclusive mornings” at the museum. Participate in a gallery art session with a skilled arts educator, who will make links between the Museum’s collections and different cultures through time.

Afternoon           Stop by one of London’s mouth watering green grocers to pickup some fresh produce. Then head to Hyde Park for a picnic! There are over 4,000 trees, a lake, multiple gardens, and the iconic Speaker’s Corner in the Park, not to mention a lively crowd of Londoners. Spend time discovering the green space.

Evening                 For dinner, enjoy classic English fare at The Anchor, a pub in Southwark that originated as a tavern over 800 years ago and was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666.  After dinner we will make our way to Butler’s Warf for a group photo by the Tower Bridge. Walk past City Hall along the pier and take the river bus to attend a performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (specific performance TBD, based on 2019 schedule).  This theatre is an accurate reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse on the same site that was built in 1599 by William Shakespeare’s play company for which he wrote productions.  Head back to the hotel and rest for the night.

Morning               Wake up bright and early, enjoy breakfast together as a group, and then transfer to the St. Pancras train station and ride the Eurostar across the English countryside and through the “chunnel,” a tunnel that runs under the English channel, connecting England with France. Come out on the other side and enjoy a scenic journey into Paris.

Noon     Welcome to Paris, known as the romance capital of the world, rich with fashion, philosophy, art, and haute cuisine.  Upon arrival, hop on the metro like a true local to transfer to our hotel. We will use Paris’ extensive metro system for our time in the French capital, under the guidance of our Evolve Tours director.  Drop-off luggage at the hotel and head-out for lunch as a group.

Afternoon           After lunch, we’ll make our way to Le Louvre. Originally constructed as a fortress on orders from Phillip II, Le Louvre Palace now houses the famous museum and gallery.  Our group will bypass lineups to enter the world’s largest gallery, where we will see medieval ruins, famous sculptures, the Mona Lisa, and more!  We will take the metro to Ile de la Cite for a self-guided tour of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.  After Notre-Dame, we’ll head back to the hotel to freshen-up before dinner.

Evening Enjoy dinner as a group then walk the length of the iconic Avenue des Champs Élysées and arrive at L’Arc de Triomphe, an honorary monument for those who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.  Following this iconic stroll, head out for a boat cruise on the Seine River! This 777 kilometre river is an important commercial artery in Northern France. We will appreciate a night time view of the city before returning to our hotel for a good night’s sleep. Bonne nuite!

Morning               This morning we will head to Les Catacombes de Paris: make your way through the caverns and tunnels that make up this underground cemetery with the remains of 6 million people!  After this head out for an early lunch together, as a group.

Afternoon           This afternoon, we will get further acquainted with Paris on a walking tour, led by our Evolve Tours director.  Get a sense of Parisian culture and see famous monuments and sites with educational (and engaging!) commentary.  Stops on the tour may include the Alexander III Bridge, Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre Museum, Champs de Mars, Ecole Militaire, Les Invalides, Napoléon’s Tomb, and Place de la Concorde. This day will be an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the local atmosphere and attractions of the area. Parlez-vous Francais?

Evening Before dinner we will have time to explore the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre, once home to the studios of famous artists, including Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gogh.  Enjoy dinner together as a group.  Then just in time for sunset, we will make our way to the most iconic sight in all of Paris, The Eiffel Tower. Learn the history behind the landmark and ascend to the observation deck for unparalleled evening views of the glowing “City of Lights!”

Morning               After breakfast, we will travel by train to the outskirts of Paris to visit The Palace of Versailles. This is one of the most important tourist destinations in France.

Afternoon           Discover more about this famous chateau, steeped in culture and history. Once a royal residence, it now embodies the history of France. It is still the location of official functions hosted by the French Republic.  See the royal living quarters including the boudoir of Marie Antoinette and the Hall of Mirrors.  Mid afternoon, we’ll hop back on the train and return to Paris. We’ll gather our bags from the hotel and head to the  Gare de Lyon station to board our train to Madrid.

Evening Kick back, relax, and look out over the French countryside in the fading sunlight on this 0vernight train ride to Madrid.  We will enjoy dinner as a group on board the train.

Morning               Wake-up to the whirring sound of your Eurorail train whizzing south across the Spanish countryside. Stretch your legs and enjoy a good cup of coffee and some breakfast in the meal car (money to be provided by your Evolve Tours guide).  Next thing you know… Welcome to Madrid!  Head to the hotel to drop-off luggage. Then embark on a guided walking tour through Los Austrias, one of the city’s many barrios (neighbourhoods or districts, each with its own character, sights and ambience).  Visit Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s most famous plaza before heading over to the nearbye Paseo del Arte barrio to visit the world renowned Prado Museum. See highlights including paintings by Goya, Valasquez and other renowned Spanish painters.

Afternoon           Head to the ornate and upscale Gran Via in Puerto del Sol for lunch. Described as the “Street that Never Sleeps,” Gran Via is one of the city’s most important shopping areas and main tourist arteries.  After a busy afternoon of sightseeing, head back to the hotel to relax and freshen-up.

Evening This evening, head out to La Latina barrio for a tapas tour. The idea of tapas is that you can choose from many different types of food and eat as little or as much as you like at any time of the day.  We’ll explore a range of eateries where we can enjoy this local experience. After dinner, we’ll head back to the hotel to get some rest after a successful first day in Madrid.

Morning               Wake-up and enjoy breakfast together as a group. Then head out for a relaxing morning at El Retiro.  After visiting museums and monuments, what you need is… a little rest. No better place to enjoy nature in the heart of Madrid than El Retiro, a beautiful and historic park. Enjoy free outdoor performances and a boat ride on the lake. For this old-fashioned activity all you need is sunscreen and the willingness to row. When in Madrid…

Afternoon           Head to Mercado de San Miguel for lunch. One of Madrid’s liveliest markets, this historic wrought iron and glass structure, has stalls selling everything from fresh produce to treats such as gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns) and banderillas (small skewers of olives, cucumbers, peppers and pickled onions). Have time to browse the market and enjoy a traditionally Spanish lunch experience.  After lunch enjoy some free time in this central park of Madrid to break into smaller groups and explore independently.

Late Afternoon  Regroup and head back to the hotel to relax and freshen-up.

Evening Enjoy dinner together as a group.  Then head out to see a live Flamenco show! After all, you are in the Flamenco capital of the world.  After the show, head back to the hotel, enjoying the buzzing night atmosphere in Madrid.

Morning               Enjoy your last breakfast as a group in Madrid.  This morning we will enjoy a visit to the Royal Palace where we will be welcomed on a guided tour. Although it is still officially the residence of the Spanish royal family, they no longer reside here and the incredible building is used mostly for official state functions.  Imagine living the royal lifestyle while walking through the grand hallways and elaborately decorated rooms. The Royal Armory is a highlight as well, containing a collection of medieval weapons and armor.

Afternoon           Transfer to the airport and board your group flight back home.

Evening Arrive at LAX after an incredible trip to Europe!