includes…

Floralies

Ghent

Amsterdam

Keukenhof Tulips

Monet’s Giverny

Paris

Loire Valley

Chateaux

London

Cotswolds

Wales

Malvern Flower Show

Floralies Flower Expo, Keukenhof

Tulips and Monets Giverny, PLUS

Cotwolds, Wales and RHS Show

Enjoy the beautiful historic Belgian city of Ghent with a tour incorporating the pioneering flower and plant festival FLORALIES.- only held every 4 years. At Floralies experience amazing, innova-tive and beautiful garden and flower displays and discover new trends and creative ideas. The display locations are in the artistic quarter of the city and include world class creations from florists and garden design-ers, plus art and a discovery trail. There are colourful flower displays running through the city itself. Our 14 day tour not only incorporates Floralies, but also the Keukenhof Spring Gardens (with over 8 million bulbs), Amsterdam, Monet's beautiful Garden of Giverny, Paris and Loire Valley chateaux. Then we continue to England for the Cotwolds, Wales and the RHS Malvern Garden Show. Our groups typically comprise a mix of solo travellers and couples. If you are by yourself - you WILL NOT be travelling alone.

This tour

commences

26 April and is

for 14 days.

Please refer

itinerary

overleaf.

RECOMMENDED POST

TOUR EXTENSIONS:

- extend your garden

experience by

continuing your tour

with FLORATOURS to

experience the French

gardens and flower

show in Chaumont

Sur Loire.

Or:

- Additional nights

accommodation post

the tour in London.

- Local sightseeing.

- Rail passes.

- Globus, Insight or

Trafalgar Tours.

- European river

cruise. FKM16 0415

SMALL GROUP TOUR

2016 TOUR ITINERARY THIS TOUR IS THE PROPERTY OF THE TOUR COMPANY AND FLORATOURS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

1) Tues 26 April Amsterdam

We arrive into Amsterdam airport at approximately 8am today. On arri-

val we have a short orientation tour and a canal cruise before we trans-

fer to the hotel - our base for the next 3 nights. Please be sure to wear

your name badge. This evening we enjoy a Welcome Dinner where you

will be able to meet and get to know your fellow travellers in our group. D

2) Wed 27 April Keukenhof

We spend the morning absorbing the majestic beauty of one of the world's finest bulb fields, the

Keukenhof Garden. Its 80 acres of winding paths, streams and placid ponds offer an exuberant feast

for the eyes. There are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowering bulbs, flowering shrubs,

ancient trees, indoor exhibitions, flower parades, and no fewer than seven themed gardens. B

3) Thurs 28 April Amsterdam

This morning we venture into the countryside to the pretty village of Limmen. This is the home of

Hortus Bulborum, established with tulips dating from 1595 as a gene pool for the Dutch bulb indus-

try. There are 3,500 different tulip, hyacinth and daffodil species. The preservation of heirloom bulbs

is a major focus. Many of them have no commercial value for modern mass production; the aim,

rather, is to keep these cultivars for future generations. The balance of the day is free. B

4) Fri 29 April Amsterdam - Ghent

After breakfast we travel to Ghent, home to Floralies 2016 and our base for three nights. We

have an introductory sightseeing tour of this beautiful old city. We have dinner in the historic

centre of Ghent tonight by the old harbour. B,D

5 & 6) Sat 30 & Sun 01 Floralies 2016

We spend two days enjoying Floralies. B

7) Mon 02 May Ghent - Paris

Depart Ghent this morning for Paris. On arrival we have a tour of Paris including views over the city

before transferring to our Paris hotel and base for the next 3 nights. B

8) Tues 03 May Paris

This morning we visit Monet’s Garden of Giverny, Monet's home for more than 40 years. There are

two parts to Monet's garden: a flower garden called Clos Normand in front of the house and a Japa-

nese inspired water garden. Both parts contrast and complement one another. Claude Monet did not

like organized or constrained gardens as you will see in the Clos Normand. In the water garden see

the famous wisteria covered Japanese bridge, weeping willows and memorable water lilies. Then to

Louis XIV's magnificent Versailles Palace with its sweeping gardens and water features. B

9) Wed 04 May Chateaux and gardens

Today we visit two of France's grand gardens - Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau. “The

forerunner of Versailles”, the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte was laid out in 1661, and includes a parterre,

immaculately clipped topiary yew, water features, reflective pools, and a grand canal with grottoes

on one side and a cascade on the other. Once the noblest garden in all France, Fontainebleau was

built for king, Francois I, to rival the great courts of Italy. B

10) Thu 05 May Paris – London - Cotswolds

Today we transfer to Paris' Gare du Nord Railway Station to join the Eurostar train to London, then

transfer to our Cotswolds hotel and base for 3 nights B

11) Fri 06 May Cotswolds

Two of the Cotswolds' best known gardens are Sudeley Castle and the Hidcote Manor Gardens - we

enjoy both these stunning gardens today.

Whether you love the simple beauty of an English country garden, the Cotswold countryside, or

places rich in history, Sudeley exhibits all in fabulous fashion. One of the most inventive and influen-

tial gardens of the 20th century is the National Trust's Hidcote Manor Garden. Its structure of

'outdoor rooms', linked by vistas and furnished with topiary, this reflects both the English garden

style and the European connections of its 1930s creator Major Lawrence Johnston. B

12) Sat 07 May Malvern Flower Show

We have a day at the Royal Horticulture Society Malvern Flower and Garden show. Check out the

fabulous displays, relax and explore the gardens. B

13) Sun 08 May Gardens of Wales

Today we explore two of famous Welsh gardens. We have a farewell dinner tonight. B,D

14) Mon 09 May London Heathrow

Time to depart the Cotswolds and transfer to London Heathrow. Optional extensions available. B