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