John Howie was a secondary school music teacher for 23 years (taught Kylie Minogue). He and his twin brother, Graeme, perform as The Howie Brothers. John has been leading successful music tours and music cruises for 30 years.
DAY 1 Thursday 9 July 2026 Depart Australia
Depart Australia on our flight to Berlin.
DAY 2 Friday 10 July 2026 Berlin, Germany This afternoon we arrive in Berlin and transfer to our hotel. Overnight: Ibis Berlin Hauptbahnhof. (D)
DAY 3 Saturday 11 July 2026 Berlin
Morning: Enjoy sightseeing coach tour of Berlin, with local guide. Berlin is being revitalized after many years of communist rule in the East. Explore this fascinating city of museums and modern architecture, visiting the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag building, and much more. Afternoon: Free time. Evening: Commencement of Tour Dinner, at one of Berlin's popular Hofbrauhaus (Beer Hall) establishments, with colourful German 'Oom-Pah' music, featuring brass instruments and, often, accordion. (B,D)
DAY 4 Sunday 12 July 2026 Hamburg, Germany
Morning: Travel to Hamburg - Germany's second-largest city, and one of Europe's most important port cities. Afternoon: Sightseeing tour of Hamburg, with local guide. Hamburg has a long and colourful R & B, Blues, and Jazz music history. We will visit the Star Club memorial, in St Pauli, where the likes of Ray Charles, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers & The Beatles performed in the 60s & 70s. We will also visit Hamburg's historic harbour and Lake Alster. Evening: Dinner at a pub, or venue, with live German folk music ('Volksmusik'), if available. Overnight: Intercity Hotel Hamburg Dammtor-Messe. (B)
DAY 5 Monday 13 July 2026 Hamburg
Morning: Free time. Afternoon: Enjoy Stefanie Hempel's Beatles Tour. She takes us to locations where The Beatles performed in their early years, perfecting the sound that made them famous. With ukulele, she sings some of their songs as we wander along the Reeperbahn & Große Freiheit (streets in St. Pauli's red-light district where The Beatles performed night after night in smokey clubs). At end of tour there's a concert, featuring the big hits. Evening: Enjoy a Beatles Tribute Band performance, if available (optional). (B)
DAY 6 Tuesday 14 July 2026 Hoorn, The Netherlands
Today we travel to the beautiful Dutch port city of Hoorn, approximately 40 kms north of Amsterdam. Here we visit Café 't Schippershuis, where Dutch musician Pierre Kartner wrote the famous song The Red Rose Café. Evening: Enjoy dinner and a fun-filled folk music session with local musicians. Overnight: Hotel Villa Groet Uit Avenhorn. (B,D)
DAY 7 Wednesday 15 July 2026 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Morning: Visit the Volendam region - get a glimpse of traditional Dutch dress & windmills. Visit Alida Hoeve Cheese Farm (cheese-making; clog-making; excellent shopping). Then proceed to Amsterdam. It's a city of canals, bridges, bicycles (there are millions of them!) and distinctive canal houses with their stately facades and striking gables. Afternoon: Coach tour of Amsterdam with local guide. Evening: John Howie will take those interested on a walking tour of Amsterdam's colourful Red Light District. Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Rembrandtpark. (B)
DAY 8 Thursday 16 July 2026 Amsterdam
Morning & early afternoon: Free time for you to explore Amsterdam. You may like to visit the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, or the Van Gogh Museum (all optional). Late afternoon: Enjoy a 1-hour canal cruise, including afternoon drinks. Evening: Enjoy dinner in a pub or venue that has live Dutch folk music, if available. (B, Afternoon Drinks)
DAY 9 Friday 17 July 2026 Maastricht, The Netherlands
Travel to Maastricht, one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the southern Netherlands. On the way, visit Rotterdam, Europe's largest seaport. Rotterdam is known for its bold, modern architecture. On outskirts of Rotterdam, see the famous Kinderdijk Windmills (19 windmills, built in 1738-1740). On arrival in Maastricht, check into our hotel. Evening: Explore the charming historic centre of Maastricht. Overnight: Hotel Porta Cité, Maasmechelen. (B)
DAY 10 Saturday 18 July 2026 Maastricht
Morning: Sightseeing tour of Maastricht and the surrounding region, with local guide. Afternoon: Free time for you to explore Maastricht at your leisure. Evening: You may wish to attend a fabulous concert by Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra (optional). For this series of summer concerts Andre transforms Maastricht's Vrijthof Square into a grand, romantic open-air concert hall. Please note: Andre Rieu concert (to be confirmed), as tickets are very hard to get! (B)
DAY 11 Sunday 19 July 2026 Villers-Bretonneux/Amiens, France
Travel to Villers-Bretonneux and Amiens, in northern France. Afternoon: Visit the French village of Villers-Bretonneux. See the famous school that was re-built, after WW1, partly with donations from school children in Victoria, Australia. Above every blackboard is the inscription 'N'oublions jamais l'Australie' (Let us never forget Australia). We then visit the impressive Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery & Australian War Memorial, on the outskirts of the village. Then travel on to the city of Amiens, capital of the Somme region of France. On arrival, panoramic coach tour of Amiens. Evening: Enjoy a group dinner followed by an informal music/singalong session, hosted by John Howie. Overnight: Ibis Amiens Centre. (B,D)
DAY 12 Monday 20 July 2026 Bayeux, France
Morning: Travel to the Normandy region of France. In the city of Caen we visit the Memorial de Caen (a museum & war memorial, relating to the D-Day Landing on the Normandy beaches). Afternoon: On arrival in Bayeux, enjoy a walking tour of the central part of this charming town. Overnight: Novotel Bayeux. (B)
DAY 13 Tuesday 21 July 2026 Bayeux
Morning: Visit the D-Day Landing beaches, including Omaha Beach, with local guide. Also visit the American Cemetery. Afternoon: Free time for you to explore Bayeux. Evening: Enjoy another informal music/singalong session, hosted by John Howie. Your chance to perform, or join in and perform with the rest of the group! (B)
DAY 14 Wednesday 22 July 2026 Quimper, France
Morning: Travel to Quimper (pronounced 'cam-pare'), in the heart of France's Brittany region. Afternoon: Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Quimper, with local guide, including the beautiful Gothic-style Quimper Cathedral (featuring twin spires) and the historic town center (featuring half-timbered houses dating from early 16th century to 19th century). Also visit the Breton County Museum, which has archaeological finds & traditional Breton costumes. Evening: Attend a Festival de Cornouaille music or dance event. Overnight: Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper. (B)
DAY 15 Thursday 23 July 2026 Quimper
Morning: We take an excursion to the coast, with visits to picturesque towns like Concarneau and Pont-Aven. Afternoon: More time at the Festival de Cornouaille, with lively performances and cultural displays. Evening: Enjoy some of the Festival's live Breton music. (B)
DAY 16 Friday 24 July 2026 Paris, France
Travel to Paris, one of the world's most interesting and impressive cities. On arrival, check into our 4 star hotel in the historic centre of Paris, close to the River Seine. Overnight: Holiday Inn Paris Gare de Lyon Bastille. (B)
DAY 17 Saturday 25 July 2026 Paris
Morning: Enjoy a sightseeing coach tour of Paris with local guide. See the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and Hotel des Invalides. Also see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Latin Quarter, and the Jardin des Tulleries. Afternoon: Visit the Musée d'Orsay, famous for its impressive collection of Impressionist art. Evening: Attend the legendary Parisian cabaret show, Moulin Rouge (optional). (B)
DAY 18 Sunday 26 July 2026 Paris
Today is a free day for you to explore Paris at your leisure. You may wish to visit Montmartre, a charming hilltop village in Paris, offering stunning views of the city. Or you may like to visit the Palace of Versailles, the opulent former royal residence of Louis XIV, with its magnificent gardens and grand halls, including the famous Hall of Mirrors. All activities today 'optional'. Evening: Farewell dinner, at a Parisian restaurant with live French café music (e.g., a French accordion & fiddle duo). (B,D)
DAY 19 Monday 27 July 2026 Departure
This morning we transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport and begin our journey back to Australia. (B)
DAY 20 Tuesday 28 July 2026 Arrive Australia
We arrive back in Australia. The tour concludes.
| Per person twin-share | $10,595 |
|---|---|
| Air taxes and fuel surcharges at 1/8/25 | $340 |
| Total per person twin-share | $10,935 |
| Single supplement | $2,195 |
Please indicate, when booking on the tour, if you would like to attend the Andre Rieu concert, on Saturday evening 18th July. We have made this concert ‘optional’ and TBC (To Be Confirmed), as it’s difficult to get tickets. John Howie will do his best to get the required tickets. Once you tell us you wish to go to the concert, you can’t cancel, as the tickets are non-refundable. We will try to purchase ‘Rank 3’ tickets (midway from stage, LH and RH sides of seating layout). In 2023 these tickets cost €95 each, plus a small booking fee. Estimated cost for 2026: €120, plus small booking fee? If you would prefer tickets other than ‘Rank 3’, please let Travelrite know (look at seating plan on Andre Rieu website).
At time of publishing our tour brochure the program of concerts/cultural events for the 2026 Festival is not finalized. So, we’ve decided to put €25 per person in the tour budget, for admission to Festival concerts/cultural events (that have an admission price). This should cover your admission to 1 ticketed concert/cultural event. Admission to any additional Festival de Cornouaille concerts/cultural events (that have an admission charge) will be ‘own expense’.
You have the option of attending the 9pm Moulin Rouge show, in Paris, on Sat. evening July 25th, 2026. The tickets we are recommending do not include dinner, but a half-bottle of champagne, wine, or other non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink, per person, is included. Up ‘til end of June 2026, these tickets cost €157 plus possibly a small booking fee, per person. So, in July 2026 the tickets may be approx. €165 plus possibly a small booking fee. Please indicate, when booking on the tour, if you wish to attend the Moulin Rouge show, on Sat. evening July 25th, 2026. Transport to and from the show will be ‘own expense’.
It is important that all tour participants have a basic level of physical fitness that allows them to take part in this activity without the need of assistance from others.
TOUR OPERATOR:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd. ABN 64 005 817 078 is the tour operator.
TOUR COSTS:
The tour's costs are based on transport, accommodation costs and entrance costs at 1 June 2025. Travelrite reserves the right to alter the costs if any of these factors change including currency changes, giving any passenger that has booked the right to withdraw with full refund of monies paid or modify arrangements. No alterations to costings will be made within 60 days prior to departure.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS:
A non-refundable deposit of $900 per passenger is required at the time of booking. Full payment will be required 60 days prior to departure. A 1.5% administration charge will be added to payment by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
CANCELLATIONS:
Cancellations within 60 days of depar-ture will result in the loss of all monies paid. Cancellation outside 60 days from departure will result in a cancellation fee of $900 per person. Travel insurance is recommended to cover the costs of cancellation fees due to illness, death in family, etc. Changes to the Tour Itinerary. Travelrite International reserves the right to make changes to the tour itinerary to fit in with operational requirements. Any changes to the itinerary will be replaced with similar arrangements with an equal or greater value.
MINIMUM TOUR NUMBERS:
The tour has been costed on the basis of a minimum number of passengers having booked 60 days prior to departure. Travelrite reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of all monies paid or offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a modified cost if the minimum number is not achieved.
BAGGAGE:
All passengers qualify for 1 piece free baggage allowance.
Andre Rieu concert, in Maastricht:
Please indicate, when booking on the tour, if you would like to attend the Andre Rieu concert, on Saturday evening 18th July. We have made this concert 'optional' and TBC (To Be Confirmed). as it's difficult to get tickets. John Howie will do his best to get the required tickets. Once you tell us you wish to go to the concert, you can't cancel, as the tickets are non-refundable. We will try to purchase 'Rank 3' tickets (midway from stage, LH and RH sides of seating layout). In 2023 these tickets cost €95 each, plus a small booking fee. Estimated cost for 2026: €120, plus small booking fee? If you would prefer tickets other than 'Rank 3', please let Travelrite know (look at seating plan on Andre Rieu website).
Festival de Cornouaille concerts/cultural events, in Quimper:
At time of publishing our tour brochure the program of concerts/cultural events for the 2026 Festival is not finalized. So, we've decided to put €25 per person in the tour budget, for admission to Festival concerts/cultural events (that have an admission price). This should cover your admission to 1 ticketed concert/ cultural event. Admission to any additional Festival de Cornouaille concerts/ cultural events (that have an admission charge) will be 'own expense.
Moulin Rouge show (optional), Sat, evening July 25th:
You have the option of attending the 9pm Moulin Rouge show, in Paris, on Sat. evening July 25th, 2026. The tickets we are recommending do not include dinner, but a half- bottle of champagne, wine, or other non-alcoholic or alcoholic drink, per person, is included. Up 'til end of June 2026, these tickets cost €157 plus possibly a small booking fee, per person. So, in July 2026 the tickets may be approx. €165 plus possibly a small booking fee. Please indicate, when booking on the tour, if you wish to attend the Moulin Rouge show, on Sat. evening July 25th, 2026. Transport to and from the show will be 'own expense.
REFUNDS:
The tour is based on arrangements which do not allow for any refunds in respect to sightseeing, accommodation, meals or other services not utilised after the tour has commenced.
RESPONSIBILITY:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd. (Licence number 30858) is the tour organiser. Travelrite International acts only as agents in making of arrangements with carriers, hoteliers and others for the tour. As a result we cannot accept liability for any act or omission whatsoever, whether negligent or otherwise of those carriers, hoteliers or other persons providing services in connection with the tour over whom we have no direct or exclusive control. We do not accept responsibility for any injury, damage, death, loss, delay, change of schedule or any other events which are beyond our direct control, such as, but not limited to, war, flood, fire, civil disturbance, acts of God, acts of government, or any other authorities, terrorism, accidents to or failure of machinery or equipment, or industrial action. The passage contract in use by the carriers concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies or firms and the purchasers of these tours and the passengers. Baggage is at own risk throughout the tour. This contract shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia and any legal action must be taken in the State of Victoria.
DELAYS AND UNFORESEEN EVENTS:
You engage Travelrite to book this tour on your behalf and you acknow-ledge that Travelrite acts as your agent for the purpose of making contracts between you and the various providers of accommodation, transportation and other services that comprise the tour. Travelrite may without reference to you provide or make available to you, or may as your agent engage any third party to provide or make available to you, any good or service which Travelrite reasonably believes is necessary for your benefit to maintain the tour itinerary, repatriate you or otherwise accommodate, transport or sustain you in circumstances in which the tour itinerary fails wholly or partly for any reason. You appoint Travelrite your attorney for this purpose. You agree to pay Travelrite any cost thereof and you indemnify Travelrite in respect of any cost it incurs in this regard. Travelrite advises you to obtain travel insurance generally including in respect of the risk that any such good or service may become required.
HOW TO BOOK:
Bookings can be made by completing a booking form and sending it with a non-refundable deposit of $900 per person to: Travelrite International Pty Ltd 423 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn Victoria 3103
Further information can be obtained by telephoning Toll Free: 1800 630 343 Phone: (03) 8803 6868 Email: sales@travelrite.com.au www.travelrite.com.au www.musictours.com.au
ABOUT TRAVELRITE INTERNATIONAL:
Travelrite International Pty Ltd (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a well-established family-owned business that's been operating in Melbourne's eastern suburbs for more than 40 years. Traveirite International is a full member of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), is fully Accredited with ATAS (A10538) and IATA. As such they directly represent the major airlines of the world and all major domestic and international hotel, tour and transport operators.
“One of the best tours we have ever done. Great program and lovely people.”
“Well organised tour that ran smoothly. Very impressed with Wayne Horsburgh, intelligent, talented and caring.”
