Wanderlust 2350 Kms Euro Trip - Experience from an Indian Backpacker

A naive experience of Europe tour in an odd season with freezing cold temperature.

Europe is all about small countries neighboring each other with well connected borders and a common VISA for travelers commonly known as SCHENGEN. Europe is really a natural heaven on the earth with magnificent European style architecture, beautiful country side villages, splendid greenfields, decent people's with different languages & culture, countries with one of the oldest civilization of the world, almost all developed countries with state of art infrastructure. 

We have booked Europe tour with Star Tours UK starting and terminating at London. It was a luxury bus tour with a planned but hectic schedule covering five different countries in five days. Here's mine day wise experience of Euro trip.

Day 1: *14 March 2018* 

 **London - Calais - Luxembourg -Brussels (Belgium Capital)**

Started from London early morning to Folkestone(UK). Folkestone to Calais (France) crossed Strait of Dover (English Channel) by Euro-tunnel. Started from Calais city to reach Belgium Capital.

On the way crossed France border via Dunkirk city (France). Reached Brussels in about 2 hours drive and witnessed Brussels city square with an amazing basilica church's with magnificent European architecture. Saw statue of little boy pissing in public & tasted handmade Belgium chocolates.

After having lunch in Belgium started for France to reach Germany border via Luxembourg. Had small shopping in Luxembourg a country with size of Mumbai.

Reached  Hotel "7 Hotel and fitness" in France near Germany border and Rhine river.

Day 2:  *15 March 2018* 

**Black Forest Germany - Rhine Falls Switzerland - Lucerne city (Switzerland)**

Started early morning at 9:00 from hotel to cross french border.  On motor way seen a famous amusement park named Euro park.

Reached Freiburg city in Germany famous for universities with lots of young crowd. This city is near to Switzerland border and the way to Swiss border is through the black forest of Germany to reach city Schaffhausen where the famous tourist attraction Rhine river falls.

Witnessed Black Forest in Germany and the reason why it is called as black forest is due to these forest are so thick that even in bright sunny day sunlight's are not able to reach the ground. It's also famous for cake called Black Forest with original chocolate fillings.

Black forests of Germany is also famous for it's handmade cuckoo clocks that was invented here long back in 18th century. Had a very good demonstration of how cuckoo clocks work and initially invented.

Started to reach famous Rhine falls that is on river Rhine in Schaffhausen city of Switzerland. To reach there we have crossed German border and through the dark black forest drive with natural scenic beauty with hills, long trees and snow to enter into Switzerland.

Switzerland is a very beautiful country with best in class infrastructure. Rhine Falls is natural waterfall of river Rhine and a boat tour is also there that take us to the center of waterfall with a very scenic natural beauty.

Started to Lucerne city from Schaffhausen which is about 1:30 hours drive. Lucerne is named as it is situated on Lucerne lakeside. Chappel bridge is a wooden bridge built over lake Lucerne in 14th century and is the oldest wooden bridge of the world. After visiting the lakeside we went to Lion monument which was made in honor of the Swiss guards.

Reached Engleburg a small city at the bottom of mount Titlis where we stayed in hotel.

Day 3: *16 March 2018* 

** Mt.Titlis Engleburg Switzerland- Interlaken - Geneva -Bern (Swiss Capital)**

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Started early morning to 8:15 AM from hotel to Mount Titlis highest point of Switzerland which is about 10,000 feet from sea level. The starting point of mount Titlis is about 10 mins drive from hotel. Amazing rope-way infrastructure and very strict safety precautions for going above 10,000 feet. The whole journey is divided into three stations. At the top of mount Titlis lots of skaters are doing the adventure sport and there is ice flyer at the top to view amazing view of snow. Enjoyed at lot on ice flyer and is totally worth. Hanging rope bridge is built on the top for tourists. Then we got opportunity to skate on tube and that was amazing.

Started journey to another destination Interlaken city that is about 1:30 hours drive from mount Titlis. This city is famous for paragliding adventure sport and statue of Bollywood legend Yash Chopra who is ambassador of this city for promoting Switzerland country through Bollywood.

Started journey to Geneva city which is about 3:00 hours drive from Interlaken city.

Explored Geneva city which is called as Peace capital of the world, situated on lakeside of Genev lake and it has headquarters of various international organization like WTO, Red Cross , United Nations. Seen UN building , Genev lake had dinner at Indian restaurant. Geneva city is bordered by France on all three sides and it is second most populous city after Bern Swiss capital. Because of french influence official language of the city is french. Hotel Best Western in which we have to stay is in France and about 30 mins drive from Geneva city so started to cross Swiss border.

Day 4: *17 March 2018* 

**Geneva - Paris**

It was a long traveling day from Geneva to Paris which is about 7:00 hours drive so we started same at 9:00 AM sharp.  To pass the time in bus we played little fun games and enjoyed a lot in coach. We reached hotel at 4:00 PM around and it was raining. Then we checked in to the hotel "Novotel"

and started for Paris city tour. Done boat cruise in river Seine and watched all the historic places like Eiffel Tower, Dome Church (Napoleon Bonaparte buried here), Alexander bridge most beautiful bridge of Paris, Grand palace and petty palace, Princess Diana statue and various other iconic monument. 

In evening we went Chams alese Street and done small shopping. Then we had our dinner at Indian restaurant. Enjoyed Eiffel Tower special light effects at 09:00 PM. Enjoyed the main excitement of the day  the famous Ledo cabaret show late night at Chams alese Street. Then we reached hotel.

Day 5: * 18 March 2018* 

**Paris - Calais - London (Back to London)**

We were in Paris and only thing left was Eiffel Tower top floor visit for seeing Paris City . We reached Eiffel Tower in morning but it was heavily snowing and due to bad weather conditions entry to Eiffel tower was closed. We waited but no luck then we clicked some picture of Eiffel tower. Then we started paris city day tour and had lunch in a restaurant in Paris. Finally the tour came to an end and we have to start journey to London. We started for London which is about 5 hours drive and 1:30 hours ferry ride over English channel. We reached London at scheduled time around 09:00 PM.

It was a memorable trip with lot of adventure and learning's about culture, history , geography. Made new friends had conversation with strangers and learned a lot.