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Spend a week travelling with us for an escorted tour of Northern Italy, and let the landscape, art, food and wine transform you into an honorary Italian. This tour explores some of Italy’s most charming and iconic destinations, including Milan, Parma, Bologna, and Verona. Cosmos Lite is the first à la carte touring approach that lets you may explore as you wish—from active excursions, to gazing upon classic masterpieces, to full foodie experiences. So do as the Italians do… at your own pace to soak up the culture like a Northern Italy Explorer. From the fashionable city of Milan to the classic cuisine of Parma and Bologna, your days are yours to spend as you please. Ask your Tour Director for recommendations, or tap your CosmosGO app for directions to the best spots to eat. Your Cosmos Lite tour continues to the World Heritage Site of Mantua’s centre and the Gonzaga dynasty art collection. Next, get romantic in Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. You’ll travel to the heart of the Prosecco wine region in Treviso—the quintessential north Italian town—and just 45 minutes from Venice. You may choose to spend a leisurely day in Treviso, or take a complimentary round-trip train ride to explore the canals and classic architecture of Venezia. Your Cosmos Lite tour includes everything you love about Cosmos European guided tours—comfortable accommodations, deluxe transportation, expert Tour Director, and logistics handled. Without set itinerary schedules, you’re free to choose the excursions and activities that are perfect for you. Visit Manage my booking to pre-select your favourite excursions and enjoy your Northern Italy holiday your way, every day. This tour is from our new Cosmos Lite range, which offers all the hassle-free features of a Cosmos holiday while leaving the itinerary, pace and budget up to you. Learn more

The Blue Danube is both the inspiration and the guide for your escorted European tour from Vienna to Budapest. As you follow the river’s path, you’ll discover the elegant beauty of imperial cities along with charming hidden gems of Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Your Cosmos Lite independent escorted tour is the perfect way to vacation your way—with à la carte optional excursions and loads of free time. Choose the optional excursions that interest you on MyCosmos, get pointers from your Tour Director, and never lose your way with the CosmosGO app. Step back into the time of imperial splendour in Vienna and the “Pearl of the Danube”—Budapest. We make it easy to see it all with complimentary 24-hour public transport cards in both Vienna and Budapest. Linger in one of Vienna’s countless museums, visit the royal stables, explore the famous Schönbrunn Palace, or spend some time at the nearby Prater amusement park. Customize your day with your activities or spend leisure time in a Viennese café. Next, stop in the Slovakian city of Bratislava on the banks of the Danube. History buffs can select an optional biking excursion to the Iron Curtain, or take in the incredible views and local libations at a traditional tavern or at Bratislava’s UFO bar. On your way to Budapest, you’ll have the chance to explore the Hungarian towns of Györ, Esztergom, and Szentendre—each with historic, artistic, and natural wonders to explore. Before your trip, check out MyCosmos for your optional activity selections. With your choice of excursions, you can trust the travel details to us each step of your European holiday along the Danube. MyCosmos gives you the freedom to schedule your days as you please—or explore with no schedule at all! This tour is from our new Cosmos Lite range, which offers all the hassle-free features of a Cosmos holiday while leaving the itinerary, pace and budget up to you. Learn more

If you think a 6-day vacation in Ireland without the typical crowds and high-season prices costs a pot of gold, think again. Travel through Ireland’s rugged landscapes and welcoming locals during the off season and see your luck change! From Limerick to Dublin, you’ll experience the beauty and charm of the Emerald Isle. Take an excursion from Limerick to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Explore the buzzing harbor city of Galway, and be amazed at the 100-mile panoramic drive on the Ring of Kerry. From the town of Killarney, travel to Blarney and get a chance to kiss The Stone of Eloquence. Enjoy free time in the picturesque fishing-port town of Kinsale. Take in the old-world charm of Kilkenny, then continue to Dublin’s “Fair City” for an orientation drive to see O’Connell Street’s statues, red-brick townhouses of the Georgian squares, Trinity College, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Find the luck of the Irish on an off-season escape and guided tour of Ireland.

You've seen photos of the ancient Acropolis in Athens, dating back to the 5th century BC—now’s your chance to see it in person on this escorted Greek holiday. You've watched the Olympics on TV—now’s your chance to walk among the ruins in Olympia, where the Olympics began in 776 BC. You've eaten at Greek restaurants—now's your chance to enjoy an authentic Greek cooking demonstration, where you'll learn how to make the traditional Greek tzatziki appetizer. All this and more await you on this Greek Escape. History comes alive on your guided visits to many of Greece's ancient sites. In addition to the Acropolis and Olympia, you'll also visit the ruins in Mycenae, dating from 1,350 to 1,200 BC and described in Homer’s epic poem, “Iliad.” Also see the amazingly well-preserved, 2,300-year-old open-air theatre in Epidaurus. In ancient Greece, people travelled to Delphi to seek the wisdom of the Oracle. Learn about the Oracle, tour the excavations, and visit the Archaeological Museum. To add to your Greek experience enjoy a Sirtaki dance lesson and try a glass of ouzo. Plus, you'll be accompanied by an expert Tour Director who will bring this country to life by sharing its history, stories, and insider secrets. From the picturesque fishing villages to ancient historic sights, the Greek Escape has it all!

Join us for à la carte touring on your escorted vacation in Portugal—home to many of history’s great explorers. With so much to see and do in this beautiful country, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would leave to discover the world! From the international flair of Lisbon, to the cobblestone charm of Obidos, to the history of Coimbra, and the wine cellars of Oporto, your Tour Director will point you in the right direction to discover a new world of your own! Your escorted tour of Portugal begins in the capital city of Lisbon. Enjoy three nights in this dramatic seaside city, with lots of free time to dine, explore, and enjoy its nightlife. You can also choose an optional walking tour of the cobblestone streets, or find other excursions on MyCosmos. Travel along the Atlantic coast to stop within the medieval walls of Obidos on your way to lively Coimbra. Your CosmosGO mobile app is full of directions and recommendations for the best eateries and bars. On to the artistic city of Oporto, an artist’s haven and colorful ceramic tilework to the city’s famed street art and prolific graffiti. The real star of this region, of course, is its Port wine. You can reserve your space on our optional walking tour of Oporto, with lunch and wine-tasting in a local winery. Tap your CosmosGO mobile app for the best eateries and libations with optional guided tours of Portugal’s colorful and culinary delights! This tour is from our new Cosmos Lite range, which offers all the hassle-free features of a Cosmos holiday while leaving the itinerary, pace and budget up to you. Learn more

Take an exciting Caledonian adventure through the highlands from Edinburgh to Glasgow on this guided vacation in Scotland! Enjoy the moors even more by visiting during the off season, with fewer crowds and lower prices. Begin in Edinburgh to visit the Castle and admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Visit the home of golf at St. Andrews. Stop in the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry and admire its Scottish Baronial architecture, then cross the battle ground at Culloden Moor. Spend the night in the Highland capital of Inverness, and prepare for a day of glorious Scottish scenery on your drive along the shores of Loch Ness. Keep an eye out for the elusive Nessie! Take a spirited tour of Ben Nevis whisky distillery, and admire even more beautifully rugged landscapes from Glen Coe to Oban on the western coast of Scotland. Travel through the serene glens, lush forests, and rushing rivers of The Trossachs—Scotland’s first national park. Relish in the lovely views of Loch Lomond. Take a drive through Glasgow to see its 12th-century cathedral, stately university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares built in the heyday of the tobacco barons. Finally, gather with your traveling companions, and raise a glass to this bonnie jaunt of a guided vacation in Scotland.

Escape to the beauty and history of the “Emerald Isle” on your guided tour of Ireland. Enjoy your getaway into the green valleys and sweeping seashores without the large crowds or costs of the “busy” travel season. You’ll begin in the fair city of Dublin. Admire statue-lined O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare, and elegant Georgian squares with their red-brick townhouses and colorful doors behind the wrought-iron fences. You’ll also see Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral along the way. Leave the bustle of Dublin for the green landscapes of Ireland’s countryside, and visit Rathbaun Farm. You’ll learn about Ireland’s sheep-farming practices, and try your hand at scone baking in the farmhouse kitchen. You’ll travel on to western Ireland’s colorful harbor city of Galway, with its vibrant shops, cafés, and traditional pubs. On your way to Northern Ireland, pass through Westport, Donegal, and Letterkenny. Then, enjoy a guided walk on Derry’s Old Town walls, and visit the amazing natural formation of the Giant’s Causeway—massive interlocking basalt columns that dramatically extend across the seashore. Spend two nights in Belfast, with plenty to see in Northern Ireland’s capital city, including the fascinating Titanic Experience. On your way back to Dublin, stop in Carlingford. This Cooley Peninsula town is famous for its oyster farms, medieval buildings, and 12th-century King John’s Castle overlooking the city. Spend the last night of your escorted tour of Ireland where you began, in Dublin. You’ll see why this escape through Ireland’s beauty and history is made even better without the crowds of the high season on your affordable, guided Ireland vacation.

Forget the big city crowds and high prices—now is your time to holiday in Costa Rica! With its abundant wildlife and splendid beauty, it’s no wonder Costa Rica is synonymous with pura vida—the good life. On this Costa Rica tour, you’ll spend two nights each in San José, Monteverde, and Arenal. The verdant cloud forest of Monteverde is one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. Here, search for wildlife as you explore Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve—home to jaguars, resplendent quetzals, pumas, monkeys, sloths, ocelots, many species of birds, and a large diversity of plant species—with an expert Naturalist. In Arenal, located in the shadow of Arenal Volcano (considered one of the world’s most active volcanoes), visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Made up of 15 bridges suspended in the treetops, you’ll see the flora and fauna from a different perspective. Be sure to have your camera ready for when your Naturalist points out monkeys, sloths, butterflies, birds, and other animals commonly seen here. All of this and more—plus an amazing value—await you on this fantastic Costa Rica tour!

This off-season Scottish Escape tour is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty of Scotland’s rural landscapes, as well as the energy of its cities and iconic sites. Your escorted vacation begins in Scotland’s largest city—Glasgow. You’ll take a guided tour of a whisky distillery, visit Stirling Castle—home to Scotland’s Kings and Queens—and explore the sights of Glasgow as well. Travel along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond, and see awe-inspiring Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, Loch Linnhe, and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Keep an eye out for the Loch Ness monster, and learn about historic conflicts between Scottish clans. Spend the night in the Scottish highland capital of Inverness, and see the mountain resort of Pitlochry, and the legendary home of golf at St. Andrews. Cross the Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh, to spend three nights to see the historic sites, such as Edinburgh Castle and stunning views. Make your escape to see the best of Scotland, while enjoying reduced crowds and prices on the off-season. You’ll enjoy your guided tour of Scotland all the more!