• England
  • France
  • Switzerland
  • Czech Republic
  • Germany

Overview

Europe has been an interesting experiment in the successes & shortcomings of capitalist & communism. It also continues to be the hub for a wide range of international industrial titans, like fashion icons, luxury car manufacturers, food producers, & more. As such, there is no better place to learn about business & business strategy in all its form. Not to mention, this tour is a great introductory tour to a continent of cultural & historical icons. 

Highlights

  • Visit to Gruyère & Cailler Factories – Learn how some of our favourite indulgences are made, like cheese & chocolate, at area factories.
  • Stop in a Watchmakers Workshop – Witness first-hand just why Swiss watches are internationally known for their quality & craftsmanship.
  • Visit Stock Exchanges – Experience the fast past environment of the European stock exchange during a visit to one of Europe’s capital cities.
  • Tour a German Car Manufacturer – Find out the secret to Germany’s success in car manufacturing during a tour of one of their national brands.

Itinerary

Day 1: London

Meet your guide upon arrival into London. Your coach will transfer you to the city center where you will disembark for a guided walking tour (luggage can be left on the bus). After you see some of London’s most iconic sites, your coach will take you to your accommodations at an area college.

Day 2: London

This morning, you will have a coach available for your London site visits. You may pay a visit to the London stock exchange, chat with business leaders & representatives, or sit in on a business school lecture at a local university. Later this afternoon, you will have the opportunity to tour the Tower of London, famous for being the historic home of those who were traitors to the crown. Return to London.

Day 3: London

Your coach will be available again this morning for site visits in the city. This is another chance to get a feel for business culture in London & the U.K. as a whole. Mid-day, you will visit Winston Churchill’s Bunker as well as the Churchill Museum & War Rooms where you will learn more about Churchill’s role in shaping world politics in the early 20th century.

Day 4: London - Paris

This morning, your coach will pick you up for transfer to the St. Pancras railway station. Board your train to Paris, the City of Lights. Upon arrival in Paris, you will be taken to your hotel for your overnight.

Day 5: Paris

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your day’s program. Paris is an economic hub for a wide range of industries, & particularly known for fashion. Your group may want to meet with an area designer or tour a design studio to learn the ins & outs of this international, mega-industry. This evening, reconvene for a group dinner at an area restaurant.

Day 6: Paris

Following breakfast, make your way to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Explore this iconic destination before heading out into the city for a guided walking tour of Paris.  Along the way, you’ll get to pay a visit to the internationally renowned Louvre Museum, home to the famous Mona Lisa. This evening, head to the docks to embark your evening Seine River Cruise. As you cruise to & from the Eiffel Tower, enjoy the illuminated city skyline.

Day 7: Paris

Grab breakfast at the hotel before returning to the Eiffel Tower. This time, you’ll get a view of the tower & the city from a different vantage point, the top floor of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll also get to learn more about what makes the Eiffel Tower an anchor for Paris’s tourist market. This evening, enjoy dinner at an area restaurant.

Day 8: Paris - Blois

Check out of the hotel, & head toward the Castle Chambord. En route, you will stop by the town of Chartres, known for being home to the 13th century, gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame (different from that of Paris). Here, you will learn a little more about the business workings of a small, tourist town. Then, continue on to the Castle, a French Renaissance icon, for a tour of the grounds before heading to your Blois accommodations. 

Day 9: Blois - Contres - Pontelier

This morning, your coach will pick you up for a transfer to Contres where you will visit one of France’s well-known bakery chains. In addition to delicious smells & snacks, you’ll have a better understanding of what makes French bakeries & cafés so popular. You will then head to Pontarlier for your dinner & overnight

Day 10: Pontelier - Gruyere - Broc - Collognes

Following breakfast & checkout, you will head toward Collonges, making stops in Gruyère & Broc along the way. In Gruyère, take a guided visit of a Gruyère factory. This unique style of cheese is a namesake for the town in which it is manufactured. In Broc, learn more about how one of our other indulgences, chocolate, is made. Continue on to Collognes sour Saleve for your overnight.

Day 11: Collognes - Geneva

From Collognes, your coach will transfer you to your Geneva program sites. Your first stop will be at the workshop of a Geneva watchmaker. The Swiss style of watch making is world renowned for its precision & quality. Learn what sets the watches apart. This afternoon, take a guided tour of the city before heading to your Switzerland accommodations. 

Day 12: Collognes - Ebat Kappel - Meersburg

Today, while en route to Meersburg, you will stop in Ehat Kappel, the site of the Kappel Wars or the Swiss Wars of Reformation.

Day 13: Meersburg - Bavaria - Ettal

After checking out of your hotel, you will head to Neuschwanstein Castle, a beautiful hilltop castle in Bavaria dating back to the 19th century. Along the way to the Castle, pass through Friedrichshafen, a small industrial city on the border of Switzerland & Germany. See how small business owners operate & capitalize on having easy access to two national economies. Once it Ettal, check in to your hotel for dinner & your overnight.

Day 14: Ettal - Putzbrunn - Prague

After breakfast at your hotel & check out, you will board your coach to visit Truma in Putzbrunn & then continue on to Prague for an evening arrival. Check in to your Prague accommodations for your overnight.

Day 15: Prague

After breakfast, your coach will be available for all of the day’s Prague visits.  Discover how a former soviet country, like the Czech Republic, can rebound so successfully after the failed communist experiment. Whereas many other countries still attempt to recover from the USSR legacy, the Czech Republic has become one of the most industrial economies of Central & Eastern Europe.

Day 16: Prague - Möckern

This morning, get breakfast & check out of the hotel. Your coach will be available to take you to your morning visit in Prague before departing for Möckern, a small college town in Germany. Your accommodations will be at a local university.  

Day 17: Prague - Möckern

Germany is known around the world for its car industry. This morning, pay a visit to one of Germany’s major car manufacturers & tour their factory. Have a Q&A with some of the leadership in the company to learn the many moving parts it takes to build a successful international car company. Return to your accommodations for your overnight. 

Day 18: Möckern - Witteber

Enjoy a free morning before meeting your coach. You will then head to Wittenberg to learn about the life & legacy of Martin Luther, the progenitor of the reformation. After a guided visit of the town, visit the Luther House. Return to your accommodations.

Day 19: Möckern - Berlin - Möckern

This morning, you will make your way to Berlin by coach. Upon arrival, meet your guide for a 3-hour tour of the capital of Germany.  Head back to your accommodations in Möckern.

Day 20: Möckern - Berlin

Transfer to Berlin for your return flight.