Day 1
U.S.A. to Iceland

Departures from various airports in the U.S.A. including:

Boston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Orlando, Seattle, Washington, DC, Toronto & Vancouver for your nonstop/overnight flights to Keflavik Airport via Icelandair. The airline will be adding more departure cities and we will update this list as they come on board.

A tour with Mary Kerr to Iceland-Germany and France. Mary is an American Quilter’s Society certified appraiser. She is a quilt historian who lectures and does workshops focusing on quilt history. On arrival in Iceland meet Eythor Bjorgvinnson, your local tour guide. Eythor will be proud to show off his homeland Iceland, featuring many of the attractions of this unique country – majestic waterfalls, boiling hot springs, volcanos and glaciers.

After your Iceland visit continue tour to Heidelberg, Germany // St. Marie aux Mines (Alsace-Lorraine, France) // & European Patchwork Meeting // Paris, France

Day 2
Reykjavik, Iceland

Early morning arrival at Keflavik Airport. Clear customs and then take a short drive to Viking World, a museum that features exhibitions about the time of the Vikings. Breakfast is served at the museum. Depart from the museum for Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, located just 32 miles from the airport. Once in Reykjavik, head directly for Hallgrimskirkja, the tallest and largest church in Iceland. You’ll get a great view of the city, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains from the top of the water tanks that supply the city with hot water.

After tour check-in at the Center Hotel Plaza, located on the main square in the heart of the old city, The hotel is perfectly situated to enjoy all that the Reykjavik city center has to offer. Enjoy a “Welcome Dinner” at Restaurant Apotek. (B,D)

Day 3
Reykjavik, Iceland

Today is free to enjoy on your own without regimentation to pursue your own interests. Reykjavik is a lively, colorful city with plenty to do to keep you busy. Many options are available to you such as: (B)

* The Whale Museum and a Whale Watching Tour
* Visit the National Museum of Iceland or the Harpa Concert Hall
* The Saga Museum
* The National Gallery + many other art museums to choose from
* The famous geothermal spa “The Blue Lagoon”

Day 4
Thingvellir - Geysir - Gullfoss - The "Golden Circle"

Depart Reykjavik after breakfast for todays tour of the “Golden Circle” which includes:

* Thingvellir National Park – this national shrine of Iceland has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thingvellir is the location of the oldest Parliament in the world, first assembled here in 930 A.D.
*Geysir Geothermal Area – the hot springs area famous for the first geyser ever mentioned in text: the one for which all geysers are named. The Strokkur Geyser erupts every 4 to 8 minutes.
*Gullfoss – the roaring and magnificent waterfall “Gullfoss”, a major highlight on the tour

Check in at Country Hotel Laekur for dinner and overnight stay. Time to hit the outside hot tub to round off a busy day. (B,L,D)

Day 5
Thorsmork

Today you will visit Thorsmork, a hidden valley between three glaciers. You reach this verdant nature reserve by crossing lava fields and glacial rivers in a modified “Monster” truck – a exhilarating but safe experience, an adventure of a lifetime. Thorsmork is a popular place for hikers. The “Ring of Basar” is a easy 1.5m walk. Buffet lunch is served at Volcano Huts in Husadalur. On your return visit Gigjokull glacier with its giant icicle ravines – a good introduction to the “Land of Fire and Ice.” Continue to Thingborg Wool Center where high quality Icelandic sweaters and other wool products can be found. Drive by shortest route to Keflavik. Check in at Hotel Keflavik****. Dinner at KEF Restaurant. Dinner at KEF Restaurant. Wake up calls for Northern Lights if appropriate. (B,L,D)

Day 6 & 7
Heidelberg, Germany

Day 6
Early morning flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Clear customs and meet your guide, Angela, who lives in Heidelberg. Angela will tell you about the Rhine Valley, the mighty river, the Lorelei and the wine industry in Germany. Arrive in Heidelberg, the oldest university town in Germany and proceed to the Hotel Weisser Bock****. Dinner in the Alstadt at the Red Ox Inn, built in 1703 and still owned/operated by the same family for 170 years. Enjoy good German food and music…visitors who have raised a glass here includes Mark Twain, John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe…an eclectic mix! (B,D)

Day 7
Visit Max Beck Textile Museum to view an extensive collection of antique quilts. The afternoon is free except for a White Fleet cruise on the River Neckar. On this 50 minute excursion you will get fascinating impressions of Heidelberg ad the castles of Neckar Valley.  (B)

Day 8
Colmar in Alsace, France

After breakfast at the hotel depart for a 2 hour walking tour through Heidelberg with Angela. Visit the Church of the Holy Spirit as well as Germany’s oldest university. Say goodbye to Heidelberg and drive south on the “German Wine Route” passing through the heart of the Palatinate (Pfalz).

Cross the border into France in the direction of Strasbourg, the capital and seat of the European Parliament. Continue west to the “Gateway to Alsace’s Wine Route”…lunch in the picture postcard town of Obernai. Afternoon arrival in St. Marie aux Mines, the venue of the Patchwork Meet (Quilt Show), the largest event in Europe that is devoted to quilting.  Transfer to nearby Colmar, a photographer’s dream, with its labyrinth cobbled lanes, flower lined canals and  timber-framed houses painted in a rainbow of pastel hues.  It is the quintessential Alsatian town, brimming with traditional restaurants and surrounded by vineyards and medieval castles. You wll stay at the 4 star Le Marechal Hotel, built in 1565 ad located in “Little Venice”, one of the most attractive quarters of the old town of Colmar. A  particularly charming feature of this hotel is the delightful restaurant “A l’Echevin”, where you will  enjoy dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 9
St. Marie aux Mines, France

After breakfast at your hotel transfer to the show in St. Marie aux Mines. The entire day is devoted to the Patchwork Meet. Transfer to your hotel in Colmar. Dinner own your own in town.

24th EUROPEAN PATCHWORK MEETING
This important quilting event was launched 26 years ago to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Jacob Amman’s founding of the Amish community in St. Marie aux Mines. Quilting has played an important role in Amish life ever since, making St. Marie the perfect location to celebrate the best that contemporary patchwork quilting has to offer. The event has developed to become the largest festival in Europe attracting over 22,000 visitors. (B)

Day 10
Alsace Countryside - Paris, France

Breakfast at hotel then take a walking tour of  “Little Venice, the historic old town of Colmar. Proceed to the countryside and visit the village of Riquewihr, the most authentic and beautiful of France’s storybook towns.  Continue today’s journey  in the direction of Paris. Arrive in Paris and check in at Hotel Monsieur Cadet. This elegant boutique hotel is well located in the 9th district, close to shopping and entertainment. Dinner is suggested at one of the many nearby bistros. (B)

Day 11
Paris, France

Breakfast then depart for a 4 hour city tour of Paris that includes the old Marais district, the Latin Quarter with the Sorbonne University, the Luxembourg Gardens and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The afternoon is free without a set program. If Paris is new to you just sitting in a sidewalk cafe sipping an aperitif or simple people watching in the splendid atmosphere of this remarkable city is a good choice. For the more ambitious a visit to the famous Louvre would easily fill the afternoon. Beneath the Louvre is a major shopping center.

Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 12
Paris, France

Today is the last day of your tour and is at your leisure to spend as you wish. For those in Paris for the first time and would like to see more of the many wonderful attractions that Paris has to offer – we offer optional tours to “The Palace of Versailles” and the “Moulin Rouge Dinner Show”.

Option 1) The Palace of Versailles – One of the most famous monuments in the world, the residence of the kings of France, Louis XIV, XV and XVI and their courts from 1682 to 1789. The Palace is over 721,000 square feet – for a comparison the White House is 55,000 square feet. The Coronation Room, the Queen’s bedroom, once occupied by Marie Antoinette, the Hall of Mirrors and the Gardens of Versailles are yours to explore on this tour.

Option 2} Moulin Rouge Dinner Show – A short drive from your hotel. Experience the most famous cabaret in the world in this atmospheric theater with a dazzling spectacle of drama, dance and music. Enjoy a fine french meal and champagne for a truly indulgent experience. (B)

Day 13
Paris to Home

A leisurely breakfast in your hotel then time to pack and say bye-bye to your new friends. Transfer from the Hotel Monsieur Cadet to Charles de Gaulle Airport. (B)

Late afternoon arrival in the United States and Canada.