This personalized tour of Holland, Belgium and France was designed by

tour managers Ron and Rita Lazet in order to showcase some of the favorite sites in their home countries. Visit charming villages, view picturesque landscapes, taste wines at an originating vineyard, sample local cuisine, and explore ancient ruins. For further background on this tour, see page 2.

18-day tour including Rotterdam, Delft, Zeeland, Bruges, Rouen, Bayeux, Normandy Beaches, Loire Valley, Chenonceaux Castle, Blois, Bordeaux, Lourdes, Carcassonne, Pont du Gard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Avignon, Cannes, Nice & Paris

Departures Offered this Month

• September •For Specific dates and prices, see the brochure insert, ask your travel agent, or go to www.ImageTours.com.

POLAND

Amsterdam AirportBruges

Bordeaux

LourdesAvignon

Nice

Rotterdam

Number of Overnights Sightseeing StopOptional Excursion

BayeuxBlois/Loire Valley

Carcassonne

Rouen

Delft

NormandyBeaches

Cannes

St. Paulde Vence

Paris

Number of Overnights Sightseeing Stop

Train

Included Features: • Accommodations in Superior Tourist Class or First Class hotels

• 16 Breakfasts and 8 Dinners in addition to any in-flight meals

• Tour Manager for the full European duration of the tour

• Land Transportation in Europe by deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach. TGV high-speed train between Nice and Paris.

• Baggage Handling at hotels

• Confirmation Packet including our Touroclopedia® trip preparation booklet

• Trip Documents with luggage tags, final details and helpful travel tips

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Rotterdam French Riviera

Best of Our West Europe Tour

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Ron & Rita Lazet

Walking Expectations: An average of three miles per day, occasionally encountering uneven surfaces and steps.

Highest Elevation: 1380 feet in Lourdes, France

Greetings from Ron & Rita Lazet:

As long-time Tour Managers for Image Tours, we were frequently asked by travelers to plan a tour through Holland and France. We were both born in the Netherlands and moved to France 17 years ago. We are excited to finally have the opportunity to design a personalized tour of Holland, Belgium and France which we named the “Best of Our West” Europe Tour.

The “18-Day Best of Our West” Europe Tour combines some of our favorite places with a variety of experiences. We will take you to see UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visit the Normandy Beaches, tour a Loire Valley castle, walk through ancient towns, taste wines at a vineyard, sample local cuisine, relax on the French Riviera, and so much more.

Ron will host the September 2018 departure and Rita will join this tour for a day between Bordeaux and Lourdes. (Heads up: Rita is planning to host a Spring 2019 departure with details available in January 2018.)

We would love to see you on the “Best of Our West” Europe Tour!

Ron & Rita Lazet

DAY 2 - HOLLAND . . Arrival at Amsterdam Airport. Upon arrival, clear passport control and collect your luggage. Refer to your “Arrival Instruc-tions” page in your Trip Documents for directions on where and when to meet your tour manager. Board your deluxe motor coach for a pleasant drive through the neatly-groomed Dutch lowlands. Much of the Dutch countryside is at or below sea level and is characterized by canals, dikes and windmills. Check into

Tour Itinerary

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DAY 1 - Overnight flight to Europe. Refer to “Preparing for your Departure” in your Trip Documents for easy check-in procedures. Relax during your transatlan-tic flight with the assurance that Image Tours has taken care of all the details.

your Rotterdam area hotel in the early afternoon, allowing time to freshen upand relax before the “Welcome to Europe/Get-acquainted” dinner at the hotel. (Dinner)

DAY 3 - HOLLAND . . Kinderdijk – Delft – The Hague – Rotterdam. As you approach Kinderdijk, you will be delighted by Holland’s largest concentra-tion of old windmills. This system of 19 windmills, built around 1740, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a photo stop, travel to Delft to be captivated by quaint streets lined with medieval architecture, friendly cafes offering Dutch pancakes, and inviting shops selling the famous Delft Blue pottery. Drive through the neighboring city of The Hague, seat of the Dutch Parliament and the Royal Family, before heading to a dairy farm for insight on the production of Gouda cheese. An included dinner offers a tantalizing sampling of Dutch favorites before returning to your Rotterdam area hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - HOLLAND . . Rotterdam – Zeeland – Veere & BELGIUM . . Bruges.Following a bus tour through the harbor

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18-day Best of Our West Tour

Bruges, Belgium

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city of Rotterdam, travel across the bridges, dikes and islands of Zeeland. This southwest province of Holland is protected from the sea by an engineer-ing feat known as the Delta Works which was constructed after serious flooding in 1953. Stop for photos of the Zeeland Storm Surge Barrier and continue to the historic harbor village of Veere for an independent lunch. After crossing into Belgium, end the day with an indepen-dent dinner at one of the charming cafes located along the cobbled streets of Bruges. (Breakfast)

DAY 5 - FRANCE . . Rouen – Bayeux –Normandy. A drive past Calais will bringyou to Rouen, famously associated withJoan of Arc and Claude Monet, the impressionist painter. A walk through Rouen leads you back in time to witness inspiring sites such as the phenomenal Roman Catholic Gothic Cathedral with the tomb of Richard the Lionheart. Continue to Bayeux to admire the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 1000 year old embroidered cloth nearly 70 meters (230 feet) long, depicting events that led up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Regard the stories told today as you enjoy dinner at your hotel in Normandy. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 6 - FRANCE . . Normandy Beaches. The entire day is spent touring the fa-mous Normandy Landing Beaches. Stop in Sainte-Mère-Église, the site where

paratroopers landed during WWII as por-trayed in the movie “The Longest Day.” Next, visit the bunkers and museum at Utah Beach. After an independent lunch, see the German fortifications at Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Reflect on the sights of the day during a relaxing independent dinner, near your Normandy hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . Amboise – Chenonceaux - Blois. This day is de-voted to the enchanting Loire Valley. Instead of staying in busy Paris, the royal families of the 16th to 19th century pre-ferred to live in this peaceful area along the Loire River. Stop for an independent lunch in Amboise, a lovely town crowned by the chateau of King Charles VII. In the afternoon, discover a one-of-a-kind castle during the interior visit of Chenonceaux, which uniquely spans the River Cher. You will spend the night at a hotel in Blois, a hillside city along the banks of the Loire River. Before dinner, you will have time for a walk through town. (Breakfast, Dinner) DAY 8 - FRANCE . . Saint-Émilion & Bordeaux. Travel south, stopping for an independent lunch, before arriving in Saint-Émilion. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with history dating back to pre-historic times. As early as the 2nd century, Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion.

Narrow streets with Romanesque churches and ancient ruins make this an interesting village to explore. After checking in for a two-night stay in Bor-deaux, hub of the famed wine growing region, your hotel will host an included dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 9 - FRANCE. . Bordeaux. After anintroductory walking tour, set off for personal exploration of this exciting city. Some 1810 hectares of Bordeaux are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city offers a variety of museums, endless shopping, and stunningly de-signed public areas. The afternoon includes wine tasting at a vineyard and a drive along one of the famed wine roads. Pass by the distinctive Château Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Saint-Estéphe. Return to Bordeaux center to sample French cuisine at its best during an independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 10 - FRANCE . . Lourdes. Today’s travels will take you to France’s scenic south. Stop for an independent lunch at one of the romantic villages along the way. Reach Lourdes, a primary Catholic pilgrimage site, in the early afternoon. This small town sits on the edge of the Pyrenees mountain range, a breathtaking barrier along the border of France and Spain. After an included dinner at the hotel, you may wish to take part in the Torchlight Marian Procession, a tradition in Lourdes since 1872. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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18-day Best of Our West Tour

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Pont du Gard Aqueduct

Chenonceaux Normandy AmericanCemetery

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DAY 11 - FRANCE . . Lourdes – Carcassonne. In the morning, take some extra time to explore Lourdes. Visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Stop for an independent lunch on your way to Carcassonne, a fortified settlement, first built during the 12th century. This hilltop fortress is famous for its 53 watchtowers and double walls. Dinner is included at your hotel in Carcassonne. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 12 - FRANCE . . Pont du Gard – Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Avignon.Looming three tiers high, stretching fifty kilometers, and made with over fifty thousand tons of stone, the Pont du Gard Aqueduct arches stoically across the Bardon River. After taking some photos, continue to Châteauneuf-du-Pape for an afternoon of wine tasting. With your wine in hand, savor the views of winding streets, rolling hills and grape heavy vines. Your hotel for the next two nights is at the center of Avignon, an excellent loca-tion to partake in French cuisine during your independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 13 - FRANCE . . Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – Les Baux-de-Provence –Avignon. Depart Avignon for a visit to the hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where Vincent van Gogh voluntarily confined himself in 1889, a year before his death. The hospital gardens, Roman

ruins adjoining the property, and sur-rounding landscape became the subjects of van Gogh’s paintings. Later, discover Les Baux-de-Provence, a hidden gem tucked amongst the mountains. With sandy colored buildings set into the rocks, it is unclear where town and mountain meet in this petite commune. Return to Avignon for an independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 14 - FRANCE . . Cannes – Nice. The rolling landscapes of the Provence region give way to the playful scenes of the Riviera. During an independent lunch in Cannes, use your free time to see the Cannes Film Festival Theater and Walk of Fame. Make a stop in Grasse, perfume capital of the world, before reaching your

Paris

18-day Best of Our West Tour

hotel in Nice, the pearl of the Riviera. After taking time for an early indepen-dent dinner in Nice, the tour manager will offer a transfer into Monte Carlo, departing at 7:00 p.m. and returning by 11:00 p.m. (Breakfast)

DAY 15 - FRANCE . . St. Paul de Vence –Nice. Depart the hotel for a morning visit to the walled hilltop village of St. Paul de Vence. Marc Chagall lived and painted in this village for the last 19 years of his life. After seeing the views for yourself, it is not hard to understand why. Return to Nice around 1:30 p.m. for a leisurely afternoon. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner, as this will be your last dinner as a group. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 16 - FRANCE . . High Speed Train to Paris. Transfer to Nice train station to board the TGV high speed train. Take in the scenery during your relaxing journey north through the French countryside. You may wish to purchase some lunch items at the Nice train station or you may purchase lunch in the rail dining car. In only five hours, you are transported to Paris. Check-in and freshen up before tak-ing an independent dinner at the hotel or at one of the many Parisian bistros in the area. (Breakfast)

Day 17 - FRANCE . . Paris. Enjoy a full day in Paris. A morning transfer will be provided to the Place de la Concorde. Your tour manager will direct you to the location of the principal sights, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Opera, famous Galleries Lafayette depart-ment store, Louvre museum, Orangerie Museum and Champs-Élysées. The choice is yours. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel. Your tour manager will invite you to take the metro to the Montmar-tre district, the Old Town of Paris. Walk through the romantic narrow streets making discoveries around every corner. Montmartre provides wonderful options for your independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 18 - Daytime flight back to U.S.A. Transfer to the Paris Airport for the return flight home. (Breakfast)

Avignon