This magnificent Northern California tour blends the sights of sophisticated San Francisco with the inspired beauty found in California's national parks and picturesque areas, including its scenic towns—Carmel and Monterey. Spend two nights in San Francisco, where Globus has arranged a city tour of all the "must see" sites. Other tour highlights include a stop in California's wine country for a tour and tasting at a Sonoma vineyard (another exciting adventure offered by Globus), and a cruise on beautiful Lake Tahoe. In Monterey, journey along 17-mile drive and enjoy views of the Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and million-dollar homes.

Spectacular scenery awaits you on this Northern California tour. Marvel at Lake Tahoe, North America's largest alpine lake surrounded by the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains. Enjoy the beauty of Yosemite National Park, one of the country's first wilderness parks with waterfalls, grand meadows, and ancient sequoias. Stand in awe as you witness the world's largest sequoia trees in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, including General Sherman Tree, the world's largest tree (by volume). You'll overnight in the heart of Sequoia National Park at the Wuksachi Lodge, a beautiful stone-and-cedar mountain lodge surrounded by a mighty sequoia forest and soaring Sierra peaks. Enjoy a stargazing program in Sequoia, where you'll witness the brilliant sky while listening to ancient and cultural stories about the constellations—another unique experience Globus has arranged for you!

California offers amazing scenery and on this Northern California tour, you'll have the opportunity to experience it plus much more. Be sure to bring your camera to capture this memorable vacation.

This vacation shows you all of Portugal at a relaxed pace, thanks to the well-planned 2two-night stopovers in Lisbon, Oporto, and the Algarve, and overnights also in Tomar, Viseu, and Evora. Start and end in Lisbon, and see the interior and almost the entire coastline of Portugal. Throughout this Portugal tour, you will visit the must-see attractions, including the Ossuary Chapel in Evora, its walls covered with thousands of human bones and skulls; the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Fátima, a pilgrimage site where apparitions of the Virgin Mary were reported by three local children in 1917; the Church of São Francisco in Oporto, the city's most important gothic monument originating from the 14th century; and Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. Built in the 16th century and now regarded as Lisbon's most important landmark, it was traditional for Portuguese seafarers to pray in the chapel before their departure to the unknown.

Visit the 700-year-old University of Coimbra, and a cork factory in Evora; spend time in the Algarve, Portugal's most popular vacation area, and enjoy an excursion to the Promontory of Sagres, where Henry the Navigator lived and planned his overseas expansion. For those interested in food and wine, Globus has arranged some special treats for you. Enjoy an olive oil tasting in Belmonte (birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil), a wine tasting at a Port wine cellar in Oporto, Portuguese tapas specialties at a winery, and a cocktail and farewell dinner in Lisbon.

All of this and much more await you on this wonderful, in-depth Portugal tour—a vacation of a lifetime!

Experience Portugal at a relaxed pace while taking in the important cities of Lisbon and Oporto—typical towns and villages and the stunning north-west coastline. Throughout this tour, you'll visit the must-see attractions, including the 16th century Jeronimos Monastery. Often regarded as Lisbon's most important landmark, it was traditional for Portuguese seafarers to pray in the chapel before their departure to the unknown.

You'll visit the Sanctuary of our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima, a pilgrimage site where apparitions of the Virgin Mary were reported by three local children in 1917; the 700-year-old university in Coimbra; the Arabian Hall and the Church of Sao Francisco in Oporto, and the Ossuary Chapel in Evora, with its bone- and skull-covered walls. For this exceptional escorted tour of Portugal, Globus has arranged some special treats so that you can savor Portuguese cuisine and wine. Enjoy an olive oil tasting in Belmonte (birthplace of Pedro Alvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil), and tapas with wine at the Quinta de Aveleda winery. All of this and much more await you on this wonderful Portuguese Escape!

Your escape to Switzerland begins in the dynamic city of Zürich, where you'll meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner with wine served at your hotel. Your stay in Zürich includes an orientation of the Old Town. Your first stop on your guided tour of Switzerland is the picturesque, watch-making town of Biel, also called Bienne, at the foot of the Jura Mountains. You'll take a scenic drive to lakeside Neuchâtel with its impressive castle and medieval cathedral. Stroll along the lake promenade before venturing to Montreux—situated on the shores of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps, and famous for its annual jazz festival.

Your escorted tour of Switzerland includes a visit to the stately capital of Berne. Enjoy a guided tour of the city's Bear Park, a panoramic view from the Rose Garden, and see the Old Town's clock tower with its painted figures, and ornate, flowered-adorned fountains. In lovely Lucerne, be captivated by the Lion Monument, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards of the French Revolution, as well as the ornate patrician houses of the Old Town. Cross the famous covered Chapel Bridge to Lucerne's Jesuit church. Drive through the magnificent Swiss Alps via the famous St. Gotthard tunnel to the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland, home to the lakeside resort of Lugano. Enjoy a full day to relax or explore this beautiful setting, before a wonderful farewell dinner on your last night in Switzerland. The wonderful memories of your Swiss Escape are made all the sweeter by the absence of high-season crowds on your stunning Switzerland escorted vacation.