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"...I want to thank you and your staff for a truly wonderful tour. Your company did an outstanding job putting together this custom tour package for us."

Lindy Rust, Choir Director
Crescent City, CA

DAY 1 DEPART FOR EDINBURGH

Board your flight for Edinburgh. Dinner, breakfast and snacks will be served on the flight.

DAY 2: EDINBURGH

Upon arrival at the airport, your Music Contact International tour escort will greet the choir in the arrival's area. Board your motor coach and transfer downtown where you will meet your local guide for a city tour of Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a study in stunning contrasts, pairing natural rock and hewn stone, wild landscapes and terraced gardens, the reels of bagpipes and the honking of car horns. Human art and architecture combine with natural beauty for a breathtaking effect on any visitor. Like, Rome, Edinburgh stands on seven hills, with the Castle overlooking the city on the highest peak. Ascend the Royal Mile starting from the Palace of the Holyrood House. This structure, which now contains Queen Mary's Apartments, was originally built as an Abbey in 1128, but was rebuilt in the 17th century after most of it was destroyed by fire. Learn more about the palace, whose walls embrace the history of the Scottish church and state, the Royal Family including Mary Queen of Scots, and Scotland's rich military legacy. See the Church of the Tollbooth St. John, also known as the Highland Church. View the outside of the remarkable old Parliament House, on the south side of Parliament Square. This was the meeting house for the Scottish Parliament between the time it left the Castle (1639) to when the Parliament was abolished (1709). The building now serves as the home of the Court of Session and the High Court.

Following the tour check into your hotel and take some time to relax. A welcome dinner may be arranged at the hotel or at a local restaurant.

After dinner, meet a local guide for the Ghosts and Ghouls tour of Edinburgh. The tour includes a visit to the underground vaults—enjoy the many stories of Edinburgh's grim and grisly past!

DAY 3: STIRLING • CONCERT

Following breakfast at the hotel depart Edinburgh for an exploration of the Scottish countryside. Today your main destination is the beautiful town of Stirling. With a name prominent in the military and political history of Scotland, the royal burgh of Stirling, looks proudly over the River Forth. Visit the magnificent Stirling Castle, rich in history and legend. Early inhabitants of the castle may have been ancient Britons (Welsh) since the name is thought to be a corruption from the Welsh for "The Place of Striving." Romans may also have been occupants of the castle and legend has it that King Arthur later took it from the Saxons. It is a historic certainty that Alexander I died in the Castle in 1125 and William the Lion died there in 1214. Stirling surrendered to the English in 1296 but was retaken the next year by William Wallace (subject of the film Braveheart) after his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Stirling then became the last place in Scotland to hold out against Edward I, whose forces took the castle for some years. By the mid-14th century, the castle was once again firmly under Scottish control and during the reigns of Scottish monarchs, assumed a more peaceful role as a favoured royal residence.

Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in the Chapel Royal in 1543 and her son James IV rebuilt the Chapel for the baptism of his own son, Prince Henry, in 1594.

After exploring the castle, enjoy some time to further explore the town on your own or with your tour escort.

In the late afternoon meet with a local choir to perform a friendship concert. Following the performance enjoy some time socializing with the members of the Scottish choir. Dinner may be planned at a local restaurant. Following dinner return to Edinburgh.

DAY 4: EDINBURGH • CONCERT

After enjoying a Scottish breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide and depart for a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. Archeologists have determined that the rock on which the castle is set was inhabited as early as 1000 BC. Over the centuries, Scots and Englishmen, Catholics and Protestants, soldiers and royalty have held the castle. View the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Scone, used to crown the Scottish kings before the Royal Families were merged in the 1600s. The Citadel sits upon the highest point and displays many cannons dating from the mid-15th century. The National War Memorial honors all of the Scottish regiments who served in World War 1. The oldest surviving building in the complex is the tiny St. Margaret's Chapel, the only building spared when the castle was razed in 1313 by Scots determined not to surrender it to their English foes.

After the tour you will perform a mid-day concert at St. Giles' Cathedral. St Giles' Cathedral is the High Kirk of Edinburgh, and has been at the heart of the city's spiritual life for at least 900 years. A living church with an active congregation, it is also host to around a quarter of a million visitors every year, who come to experience its unique atmosphere of continuing worship and ages-old history.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to further explore the city on your own or with your tour escort. You may also wish to visit the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, located in Reid Hall, Bristo Square. Over 1,000 musical instruments are on display here, including a large collection of bagpipes. The admission is free.

Tonight enjoy a festive Scottish dinner where you will be served traditional dishes, including the Scottish specialty "Haggis." Traditional music with bagpipes will make this evening complete!

DAY 5: YORK

Following breakfast check out of your hotel and depart Edinburgh for York, England. As you travel south along the coast, enjoy the dramatic scenery. Continue through Yorkshire Dales and The North York Moors, a landscape of wide-open spaces and never-ending horizons, with hills that seem to rear violently out of the plain. Here, the villages are among the most serene to be found in all of England. In the center of the great plain that separates the Pennines from the Moors lies York, dominated by the towers of its great minster. Once England's second most important city, this ancient town has survived the ravages of time, war, and industrialization. After London, York is noted as the best sightseeing city of the Britain, with Edinburgh not far behind!

After arriving in York, check in to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and refresh before meeting up with your tour escort for a leisurely orientation walk through the center of town.

In the evening, dinner may be planned for the group at a restaurant serving local specialties.

DAY 6: YORK • CONCERT

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to York Minster, the largest Gothic church north of the Alps, where you will attend Easter Mass. After Mass enjoy a guided tour of York Minster. Though the word "minster" refers to a church that is served by monks, York Minster has always been served by priests. Built between 1220 and 1470, this magnificent cathedral is home to approximately half of all the medieval stained glass in existence in all of England!

Following the church service, return to York where you will have lunch on your own. Later, meet your local guide for a walking tour of York, which is often referred to as the capital of North England. At approximately 3 miles around, the city boasts the longest circuit of medieval town walls in Britain. During your tour, take a stroll along the walls and visit the old city center, a dense web of narrow streets and tiny alleyways. View the attractive Georgian town houses and the Mansion House that is now the official residence of the Lord Mayor. Visit the famous Clifford's Tower, which dates back to the 14th century, standing on the mound originally erected for the keep of York Castle.

After your tour you may wish to visit the Castle Museum, a former 18th-century prison, which offers a number of detailed exhibitions and re-creations, including a cobble-stoned Victorian street complete with craft shops, a working water mill, and a 1,200 year-old Anglo Saxon helmet.

In the evening perform during evening Easter service at a local church (pending confirmation).

After the performance, dinner can be arranged for the choir in the hotel or at a local restaurant.

DAY 7: RUTHIN—MOLD

After breakfast check out of your hotel and depart for Wales. Stop en route for lunch as you make your way to the North Wales borderlands. This border country, centered around the pastoral Vale of Clwyd, is a mixture of heather-covered moors, forests, lake-lands, steep valleys and airy hills. The Clwydian Range of hills, which stands guard over the Wales/England border offers less challenging —but no less exhilarating—walking country than Snowdonia. An official 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', the Range looks out over the Vale of Clwyd's patchwork of fields and historic towns like castle-crowned Denbigh and medieval Ruthin.

In the early afternoon check-in to your hotel in Mold. The largest historic market town in the county of Flintshire, Mold is supposed to have been the site of a famous battle during Anglo-Saxon times between the Christians and the Pagans. The battle was called "Alleluia" as this is what the Christians were shouting on the battlefield. Legend has it that this chant echoed around the surrounding hills and vales, and had the Pagans convinced that there were many more Christians than Pagans. Today, Mold is a major cultural center of North Wales and boasts many excellent restaurants and pubs, as well as great shopping opportunities.

After freshening up at the hotel depart for Ruthin where you will visit Ruthin Castle for a guided tour. Originally, the castle was a Welsh fortress made of wood and stone. In 1296 the castle was rebuilt and enlarged by Reginald de Grey in the service of Edward I. Its stormy history saw the unsuccessful siege in 1400 by Owain Glyndwr, many noble changes of ownership, and it's near complete ruin by the Republican government in 1647, following the civil war attack by Major General Mytton. Today the rules have changed and guests are welcome inside the walls of this once great Welsh fortress to enjoy the authentic flavor of medieval banquets.

After the castle tour enjoy some more time on your own to explore the historic town of Ruthin.

In the evening, return to the castle to experience the famous medieval banquet.

Following the banquet return back to your hotel in Mold.

DAY 8: BATH

After breakfast check out of the hotel and board the motor coach for Bath, England. Enjoy some scenic stops and lunch on your own along the way to Bath.

Upon arrival check-in to your hotel and take some time to freshen up. Meet your tour escort for an orientation walk around the historic town of Bath. Explore the streets of this beautiful city with your guide before visiting the Roman Baths, which were still in use at the end of the 19th century. These baths date from 75 BC, their hot springs pouring forth a million liters of rich mineral water a day at the constant temperature of 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Since its earliest days as a Celtic settlement, the history of Bath is inextricably linked to the natural waters that rise up here. Stroll through the ancient Baths and the Temple of Sulis Minerva. Among the many antiquities on display are the gilt-bronze head of the cult statue of Minerva and the stone carving of the Gorgon's Head from the Temple. The heyday of Bath came in the 18th century when it became a fashionable spa town, and was a focus for English high society. Much of the architecture of Bath dates from this time, and the city is famous for its elegant Georgian townhouses and sweeping crescents. At the end of your walk, High Tea is planned at Sally Lunn's, a restaurant-museum, located in the oldest house in Bath. The building dates from the 15th century, although the façade is from the 17th century. It is named after the 17th century baker who invented the famous Sally Lunn Bun, similar to the French brioche. After high teac enjoy some time on your own exploring the town.

In the evening dinner can be arranged for the choir at the hotel or in a local restaurant.

DAY 9: LONDON CONCERT

Following breakfast check out of your hotel and depart for London. En route to London, stop in the town of Windsor for a tour of Windsor Castle. The oldest continuously inhabited royal residence in Britain, the castle, originally made of wood, was built by William the Conqueror in 1070 to guard the western approaches to London. The site was chosen because it was on high ground and just a day's journey from the King's base in the tower of London. Today, the castle is the primary residence of the Queen and her family who stay there on many weekends. After your tour of the castle perform a brief concert (pending confirmation).

Following your concert continue on to London. Originally settled by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, this ancient city is rich with history and tradition. Today, London is the largest city in Western Europe, with a population of over 7 million people. And yet life still goes on as it has for centuries: at the Inns of Court, for example, lawyers follow time-honored precedents as they have for 600 years; financiers at computers manipulate figures in skyscrapers that rise above the guildhalls of their medieval counterparts, guildhalls that in turn were built over the remains of Roman Londinium; the prime minister and his cabinet deliberate in a 18th-century town house off Whitehall.

Upon arrival in the city you will meet your local guide for a city tour of London. Visit many of the famous and historic sights of this wonderful city. See Buckingham Palace, where you may witness the Changing of the Guard, one of London's most celebrated ceremonies. Visit Trafalgar Square, the point from which all distances from London are officially measured.

After your city tour transfer to your hotel where you will check-in and have a chance to freshen up. An early dinner may be planned at your hotel or at a local restaurant.

Following dinner, the evening is set aside for students either to visit the theater or attend a concert. (Details on events will be forwarded as soon as they are available.)

DAY 10: LONDON

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a guided tour of the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are held. Right across the way is the medieval-looking Tower Bridge, which was actually built in the late 19th century. This is the only bridge spanning the Thames, which can be raised and lowered to allow ships to pass.

After the tour enjoy the remainder of the day to further explore the city on your own or with your tour escort, including a visit to the famous Harrod's department store, which offers customers impressive food displays and beautiful fashions. Students may also wish to visit Madame Tussaud's amazing wax museum, where historic and contemporary celebrities are immortalized in wax, or wander through the Tate Gallery, Britain's most important museum of British and modern art. Further exciting excursions might include a visit to the impressive Victoria and Albert Museum, or the National Gallery, which houses work representing most schools from the 14th to the 19th century, including works by masters such as Rubens and Rembrandt, Italian Renaissance works and paintings by French impressionists.

In the early evening return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. A festive farewell dinner may be planned on a dinner cruise on the River Thames. With the best view of the city from the ship, including the Houses of Parliament and the Tower Bridge, enjoy time together reminiscing about the times shared together on this concert tour of Scotland, England and Wales.

DAY 11: LONDON

Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart by motor coach for the airport and the return flight to Detroit.

This tour was designed as a concert tour for a high school choir and ran in 2002. Please let us know if you would us to research prices for this tour for 2007 or would like to discuss an alternative itinerary.