Booking Deadline - 15 January, 2009
Reserve a Space on this Tour

Space Available

$3348
(non-member: $3448)
Single Room - Add $595

Activity Level:
90% Easy
10% Moderate
 

Depart:  Saturday, May 9th no earlier than 10:30am.

Early Arrival Cost: 
To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, consider arriving a day early. The room cost will be:
    $115 dbl;  $230 sgl

- You will need a valid passport for this trip.
Check your expiration date. It cannot expire less than 6 months after your travel completes.

- This tour includes several walking tours, often over uneven stone surfaces.

· Any personal expenses, and any guide/driver gratuities.

. You will be responsible for your airport transfer if departing earlier than 10:30am on May 9th.

. Transfers are not provided for early arrival or late departure.

Saturday, May 2: Arrive Amsterdam; canal and walking tour; Dinner.

Today you arrive Amsterdam. The tour begins at the hotel at 1:00pm.  The WTT tour leader will greet you at the hotel. After our group meeting we take a narrated canal boat ride, passing gabled warehouses, arched bridges and colorful houseboats. This will be followed by a short walking tour with a local tour escort for an orientation of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a marvel! The city is comprised of 70 islands that are separated by nearly 60 miles of canals and connected by more than a thousand bridges. We will conclude our day with an early dinner together. Hotel: Golden Tulip Inntel City Center or similar. (D)

Sunday, May 3: Amsterdam City Tour, Diamond Factory and afternoon free.

After breakfast we will tour Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The town was founded in the Middle Ages and has many historical buildings. We will start with a visit to a Diamond Factory. Here you can see how diamonds are cut and polished. This is followed by a city tour and you'll see the most important sights such as Dam Square with the impressive Royal Palace, New Church, and Waterloo Square.

This afternoon and evening you have time to explore the city on your own.  Consider a visit to the Rijksmuseum which features such famous paintings as Rembrandt's `Nightwatch' and `Jewish bride' and the paintings of Vermeer, Frans Hals, Ruysdael etc. Another option is a visit to the Van Gogh museum. It has a collection of over 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent van Gogh. Amsterdam is also the location of the Anne Frank House-the hiding place of the young Jewish girl who wrote her famous diary here. (B)

Monday, May 4: Aalsmeer Flower Auction and Keukenhof Gardens

We leave Amsterdam today but in a very colorful way. Our day begins early with the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Here you will see the industry in action at the world’s largest flower market.

We continue our flower theme today with a visit to  the Keukenhof Gardens - the largest flower garden in the world! Well-marked paths take you all the way through the garden, which holds daffodils, narcissi, hyacinths and tulips. The display garden is showcase to over 6 million bulbs planted by the Dutch bulb industry.

After Keukenhof we continue on to Zutphen, a medieval city with over 365 monuments, small streets and fortifications, making it one of Holland’s most beautiful and special cities. We will have dinner together and overnight in Zutphen. Hotel Eden or similar. (B,D)

Tuesday, May 5:  Giethoorn - "Venice of the North"

After breakfast we head for Giethoorn, a picturesque town that stands in the middle of the vast bogland area known as De Widen. Giethoorn is also called “Venice of the North” because of all the waterways in this village. Peat used to be dug here on a massive scale, creating the many lakes in the region.

Enjoy Giethoorn on a boat trip through the heart of the town as cars are not allowed. See the pretty thatched cottages of Giethoorn that face onto the canals and the hump-backed bridges that span the canals. Giethoorn is a real true Dutch village! At the conclusion of our time in Giethoorn we'll return to Zutphen where the remainder of your day is at leisure. (B)

Wednesday, May 6: Bruges - A Step Back to the Middle Ages

After breakfast we check out and head for Bruges. The town of Bruges seems to come straight out of the Middle Ages; with beautiful decorated houses, old guild halls and churches. Upon arrival in Bruges a guide will take you on a walking tour through the picturesque centre and discover the Beguinage.  The Beguinage is a group of houses around a little garden covered with large poplar trees. It was here that during the last seven centuries the Beguines of Bruges lived. In 1937 the Beguinage became a monastery for the Benedictine sisters who still live here now. Besides the Beguinage you will visit Our Lady Church with a statue of Michelangelo, the lake of Love and many other medieval sights. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Bruges before we gather for dinner together and overnight in Bruges. Golden Tree Hotel or similar. (B,D)

Thursday, May 7:  Windmills, Delft Blue Pottery and the Hague

After breakfast this morning we departure for Delft. On your way we will make a stop at Kinderdijk to see the famous windmills.  In Delft we stop at the popular Delft Blue Pottery factory for an exhibition and tour. Then on to the city centre for a guided walk through the historic area of one of the most beautiful squares of Holland, where the town hall (1618) and the "New Church" (dating back to 1381) can be admired. In the New Church all members of the Royal family are buried. The afternoon is yours to enjoy Delft before we continue on a short distance to the Hague. After checking in to our hotel the reminder of the evening is free. Parkhotel Den Haag or similar. (B)

Friday, May 8: The Hague

After breakfast a local guide will take us on a sightseeing tour of The Hague. We will pass the houses of Parliament, The Innercourt, Queen Beatrix's working palace, Queen Beatrix House and Carnegie's Peace Palace. The afternoon is yours to relax or further explore the town. We will get together for one last dinner to celebrate the fun we've had in Holland. (B,D)

Saturday, May 9:  Return Home

Today you will depart for Schiphol Airport for your flight back home. Make your return flight for 10:30am or later. Two transfers will be arranged; one for early flights and one for the later flights. (Individuals with flights earlier than 10:30am will be responsible for their own airport transfer.) (B)

Important Note:
Due to the instability of the US Dollar value against foreign currencies, Women Traveling Together reserves the right to apply a surcharge to the price of this tour.

Should a surcharge be necessary, Women Traveling Together will notify those travelers already signed up for the tour.  In the event that the surcharge is greater than 5% the traveler will have the option to pay the surcharge or to cancel their booking with a full refund.

Should the US Dollar value strengthen significantly against foreign currencies, Women Traveling Together will pass on the savings in the form of a discount at time of final invoicing.

Reserve a Space on this Tour