10 DAY Eastern Journey EHWXHG-6

Transcription

1 10 DAY Eastern Journey EHWXHG-6 This tour visits: Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany Welcome to Eastern Europe, where uber-cool night clubs blend effortlessly with magnificent medieval castles. This 10-day sojourn will take you from Budapest to Berlin, exploring Poland and the Czech Republic en route. Soothe your soul in Budapest s famed thermal baths, hunt for dragons in Krakow, sample mouth watering pierogi in Cesky Krumlov, meander the cobblestones in Prague and dance the night away in Berlin. Time for sleep? You better be joking. The Bucket List More Inclusions Stay at famous Hotel Gellért, Budapest Free entry to world-renowned Gellért Baths Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz- Birkenau Overnight stay in UNESCO heritage listed Český Krumlov 9 breakfasts, 5 dinners 9 nights hotel accommodation (twin or double) Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Budapest, Hungary Our trip begins this evening in Hungary's grand capital, Budapest, as we meet our Trip Leader and new travel pals for a group powwow. Budapest is situated on the banks of the mighty River Danube, and is home to sights such as Heroes' Square, Parliament House, Buda Castle and main boulevard Andrássy út. Get to know your fellow travellers over a mouth-watering Hungarian feast in a local restaurant, and then kick your feet up at the world-famous Hotel Gellért, home to some of the city's finest thermal baths. Day 2 - Budapest Free day = put down your Rubik's Cube and take on a city with enough baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture to keep you puzzled for hours. Take to the waters at the Gellért Baths and don't leave 'til you're pruny. There are 80+ thermal springs in Budapest but this is its most famous. Wave pool, anyone?! Indulge in a spa treatment then visit the Buda Castle or House of Terror Museum. Tonight, hang with the hipsters and drink local fruit brandy at one of the original ruin bars. Included today: -Entry to the world-renowned Gellért Baths Day 3 - Budapest to Krakow, Poland Legend has it a dragon had to be smited in order for Krakow to be built (with a sulphur stuffed lamb as bait). Bit tougher than the usual council approvals, no? Meet Poland's beating heart - and the largest medieval town square in Europe - on a walking tour. Buff up on history at Wawel Castle, feed the ducks amongst the slushy snow on the bank of the Wisla and after dinner, slay a few glasses of mead. Day 4 - Krakow Get all up in the streets of Krakow today and let the statement, ""Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire"" really sink in at Oskar Schindler's factory. Go 327-metres underground to see hundreds of shades of rock salt in the Wieliczka Salt Mine, visit a centuries-old synagogue in the Jewish district and shop for Amber in the UNESCO-listed Cloth Hall. Your day, your choice. Optional activities: -Wieliczka Salt Mine Day 5 - Krakow to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic This morning we pay our respects at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Afterwards, take some time to reflect before arriving into the fairytale that is Ceský Krumlov. The entire place is world heritage listed but basically it's all about the castle. And not just because bears live in the moat.

3 #TrueStory. After a stroll around town to get your bearings, embrace the wintry vibe while you tuck into a traditional Czech meal. It's pretty much the cosiest place in the world. Included today: -Auschwitz-Birkenau visit -Walking tour of Ceský Krumlov Day 6 - Cesky Krumlov to Prague Keep your Frozen fantasies rolling as the medieval beauty reigns on in Prague. Fuel up on trdelník (pastry deliciousness) before a walking tour amongst spires and cobblestone streets. Suss out the castle deemed worthy by Guinness World Records as being the largest ancient castle in the world, cross medieval Charles Bridge and watch 'Death' toll the hour on an astronomical clock that's over 600 years old. After dinner, get cosy in a cafe with hot chocolate so thick you can stand a spoon in it or slip into an absinthe bar to meet the green fairy. Day 7 - Prague Channel your inner bohemian and seek out the John Lennon memorial wall to start your free day. Soak up some more Czech history at the National or Communist Museum or get a taste of the quirky local culture at a marionette puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit a miniatures museum, eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square and drink beer. Really. Good. Beer. Day 8 - Prague to Berlin, Germany Get acquainted with 800 year old Dresden - a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt - and ogle the Frauenkirche before making your beard all the more ironic in Berlin. Prep yourself for currywurst and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around to see (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building before knuckling down with some pork at Hofbräuhaus. Save some room to get your DJ groupie on. Day 9 - Berlin Join the optional Third Reich walking tour for an insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during WWII, go on a museum crawl (covering everything from the Ramones to DDR) or head to the zoo. More culture awaits on Museum Island, with creative types and memorable meals available in the Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg neighbourhoods. Tonight, no curfew at clubs = all bets are off!

4 Optional activities: -Third Reich walking tour -Berlin Alternative Tour and Nightlife tour Day 10 - Berlin Auf Wiedersehen is hard enough to say in English, so book another trip so you can don your lederhosen once again. The trip's over after breakfast. #SadFace Accommodation We endeavour to select a combination of good quality hotels that reflect the character of the local area as well as being as centrally located as possible, all the while striving to keep the cost affordable. Your trip will stay in a range of European hotels of three and four-star quality. Please be aware that European hotel rooms, especially those in major urban centres or older cities, may be smaller than what you are used to in other parts of the world. Standards and ratings may also be different to your home country. Rooms are en-suite and either twin or triple-share, depending on what you have booked. If you are a solo traveller, you will always be sharing a room with someone of the same sex. If you are travelling as a couple and would prefer to have a double bed, please officially request a double room with your travel agent or Topdeck trip consultant. We never presume that two people travelling together are a couple, even if you share the same surname, unless informed otherwise. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Germany - Berlin Third Reich walking tour 9 Pub crawl 12

5 Meals Breakfasts are included every day in the hotel (except on the first morning). They are usually continental breakfasts, which are common in most European countries. A typical breakfast may consist of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, croissants, cold meats, cheese and a range of spreads, with fruit juice, tea or coffee to drink. It is rare to get a hot breakfast in continental Europe, though on some occasions there may be some hot food available as well. Included evening meals are in local restaurants or accommodation places, and are either two or three courses. In most cases table water is provided with the meals, and if you wish to purchase additional drinks you can do so at your own expense. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Topdeck Trip Consultant when you book. Please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! It is available for all passengers on our trips in Europe (excluding festivals) and in North America. More destinations coming soon With a range of cool features including a Currency Converter, Budget Planner, Check-In tool and Social Timeline (so your next #TravelEnvy post is never too far away) you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Get it for iphone Get it for Android