Central European and Baltic Explorer tour
Prague - Krakow - Warsaw - Vilnius
July - August 2012, 11 days / 10 nights

Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival Prague
Arrival in Prague, optional transfer to Hotel Novotel Praha Venceslas Square**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

Day 2 (Sunday): Prague
Prague has been a cultural centre of central Europe for the over 1,100 years of its existence and 20 years after the velvet revolution it is more than ever one of the most beautiful and exciting cities of the world. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the Old Town Square surrounded by historical buildings such as the Old Town Hall with the famous Astronomical Clock, the imposing St. Nicholas Church and Church of Our Lady, the Jewish Quarter and the Wenceslas Square. The afternoon offers an optional tour to the castle area with Prague Castle, residence of Czech Kings, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Golden Lane with fairy small houses, the Kings Road, the Lesser Town and the Charles Bridge. The evening is offering a fabulous dinner cruise on the Vltata-River.

Day 3 (Monday): Prague
The morning offers an optional half day tor to the impressive Bohemian Gothic Karlstejn Castle, located about 35 km southwest of Prague in the Karlstejn village. We admire the rich interior of the caste and the stunning views of Karlstejn and the surrounding countryside. The rest of the day is reserved for exploring more of the Golden City on own hand.

Day 4 (Tuesday): Prague-Krakow
Today we head for Brno, the capital of Moravia and a charming historical town dominated by the Spilberk Royal Castle and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. After a lunch break we continue via the mining town of Ostrava into the picturesque mountainous South of Poland. We reach Krakow in the late afternoon and check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Krakow****.

Day 5 (Wednesday): Krakow
For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls and Wawel with the Wawel Castle and the Wawel Cathedral. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.

Day 6 (Thursday): Krakow-Warsaw
We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, where we visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna. Through the flat low-laying plain of Central Poland we reach Warsaw in the early afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Warsaw**** or similar.

Day 7 (Friday): Warsaw
Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town. The morning sightseeing tour includes the Royal Route and the Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square and the Barbican. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water.

Day 8 (Saturday): Warsaw
The morning offers an excursion to Zelozawa Wola, the romantic birthplace of the Polish composer and pianist, Frederyk Chopin, who played an exceptional role in shaping Polish national identity. The afternoon is reserved for exploring more of Warsaw’s secrets individually. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale.

Day 9 (Sunday): Warsaw-Vilnius
We continue through the well forested North Poland along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland. We continue into Lithuania and driving through the Dzukija region, densely covered with pine forests, before we arrive in the late afternoon to Vilnius. Check in at Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar.

Day 10 (Monday): Vilnius
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.

Day 11 (Tuesday): Vilnius Departure
Optional transfer to the airport.

Package prices per person:
EUR 1095.00 (double occupancy)
EUR 450.00 (single supplement)

Including:

• 10 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
• 10 x buffet breakfast
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrances to Old Town Hall in Prague, Wawel Castle in Krakow, Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw and Old University in Vilnius
• Service of German and English speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of Italian and Spanish speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of 1st class coach or 1st class minivan throughout the itinerary
• Portage at hotel
• Service and VAT
  

Optional:

• Transfer from airport to Hotel Novotel Praha Venceslas Square: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• 3 hours to of the Prage Castle area: EUR 35.00 pp
• 4 hours excursion and dinner cruise on the Vltava-River: EUR 55.00 pp
• 4 hours excursion to Karlstejn Castle: EUR 50.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mine: EUR 60.00 pp
• Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka: EUR 40.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with Palace on the Water: EUR 40.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Zelozawa Wola: EUR 60.00 pp
• Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale: EUR 40.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion to Trakai and visit to Trakai Castle: EUR 40.00 pp
• Folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas: EUR 40.00 pp
• Transfer from Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva to airport: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• Half board at hotel (10 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea): EUR 250.00 pp