Prague, the capital city and jewel in the crown of the Czech Republic, presents the perfect introduction to a region of the world steeped in history and brimming with attraction, both modern and ancient. This magical city has a wholly unique atmosphere and having remained largely undamaged by the Second World War, boasts mazes of cobblestone alleys, medieval courtyards and historic site by the dozen. We visit the castle, the Old Town, the Jewish Quarter and Wenceslas Square, allocating enough time to let the poignant beauty of this metropolis sink in and then it's off to tour Renaissance chateaux, Gothic fortresses and the world-famous spa town of Karlovy Vary. Visits to Cesky Krumlov and the Heritage Site of Telc bring our Czech Republic leg of our tour to an exquisite close.
In Slovakia, we travel from the exciting capital, Bratislava, through picturesque rural sceneries punctuated by quaint towns and striking chateaux and on to one of Central Europe's most beautiful natural environments at Pieniny National Park. We come across unique wooden architecture amid the Low Tetras mountain range and medieval monasteries near the border with Poland before crossing into Hungary and heading for its capital, Budapest.
Known as 'the Paris of Central Europe', Budapest is as romantic and harmonious as a city can be, a feature that is mirrored in the enchanting towns of Holloko, where traditional dress is still worn by women, and Debrecen, the largest town in Eastern Hungary and today an important market town. As we make our way through glorious Hungarian countryside, stopping in at villages to mingle with friendly locals, taste local culinary delicacies and get a feel for rural lifestyle, we discover that there's so much more to this country than its famously bewitching capital.
Last on our destination list is Romania, a country with a fascinating blend of old and new. From the garden city of Bucharest, via the Bucovina monasteries with their stunning displays of Byzantine-influenced art, the Carpathian Mountains and UNESCO-designated fortified churches atop the Transylvanian plateau, we see the spectacular variety of man-made and natural wonder that Romania has to offer and discover its true character for ourselves.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (hotels & local restaurants) daily
- All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), domestic and international air taxes (if applicable), excursions referenced as 'optional'
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs and shopping.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Czech Republic
Hungary
Romania
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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