Central European holidays
| country: | Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 19 Apr, 10 May, 31 May |
| price: | From £1665 (15 days) excluding flights, based on twin share. Offset your carbon emission for £5. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The countries and lands of Central Europe are fascinating in their diversity. The countries we visit on our journey have endured tumultuous recent histories in the wake of the Second World War and, with the exception of Austria, decades of Communism. However, prior to the 20th Century, the area had known grandeur and splendour, as the ruling class of the ‘old’ Europe left their mark with grand palaces and monuments that still stand as a proud testament to this time of plenty. In recent times change has occurred rapidly as the wave of democracy has spilt over from Western Europe and a rich nationalism and thirst for independance has swept through the former 'Eastern Bloc.'
The towns and cities are full of historic and grandiose buildings that give a hint as to the former greatness of the Hapsburg Empire. Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Krakow have found the happy marriage of past and present. Modern day bustling and cosmopolitan cities whose monuments, culture and legacies will carry you back through the centuries. Includes tour leader, accomodation (14 nights comfortable hotel), some meals (14 breakfasts, 5 dinners), transport and sightseeing.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
The towns and cities are full of historic and grandiose buildings that give a hint as to the former greatness of the Hapsburg Empire. Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Krakow have found the happy marriage of past and present. Modern day bustling and cosmopolitan cities whose monuments, culture and legacies will carry you back through the centuries. Includes tour leader, accomodation (14 nights comfortable hotel), some meals (14 breakfasts, 5 dinners), transport and sightseeing.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | (Sun) Arrive in Prague. |
| Day 2-3: | Sightseeing tour of Prague, largely untouched by both World War I and World War II. As a result, the city's Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings have remained incredibly intact and, with their graceful spires, spacious plazas, magnificent cathedrals and charming town houses, the city has taken on the appearance of a living architectural museum. |
| Day 4: | Travel to Kutna Hora, stroll through the town's medieval lanes and alleyways and visit the famous Cathedral of Saint Barbara - one of the finest Gothic churches in Europe. Continue on to Cesky Krumlov. |
| Day 5: | Morning tour of Cesky Krumlov, the centre of which is an enchanting labyrinth of cobblestone streets, Baroque and Renaissance houses, vaulted passageways, shops, cafes and hidden squares. Free afternoon. |
| Day 6: | Travel into Austria via the lovely Wachau Valley, probably the prettiest part of the Danube River, it is surrounded by medieval villages, vineyards and castles. Walking tour of Vienna including visit to St Stephen's Cathedral and the Winter Palace of the Habsburgs. |
| Day 7-8: | Days at leisure to further explore Vienna, the museum district offers you a myriad of choices and a great way to cap off the day is to spend the evening at Prater amusement park where you can ride on the world's oldest ferris wheel. |
| Day 9: | Drive to Bratislava, an often over-looked city, its beautifully restored with an old town square full of Baroque palaces; time to explore the historical city centre of the Slovakian capital before travelling on to Budapest in Hungary. |
| Day 10-11: | Sightseeing tour of Buda and Pest. On the Buda side we visit the Castle District as well as some interesting museums. We cross the Szechenyi Chain Bridge to the old town of Pest and visit the Parliament building, Heros' Square, Museum of Fine Arts and Vajdahunyad Castle. Free day on day 11 to further explore Budapest. Perhaps experience a thermal bath at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths in the City Park. |
| Day 12: | Full day trip to Esztergom, home to the biggest cathedral in Hungary, Visegrad Castle which dates back to 1323 and dominates the bend on this section of the Danube River and the colourful Szentendre. |
| Day 13: | Drive via northern Hungary and the Slovakian town of Banska Bystrica to Krakow in Poland. |
| Day 14: | Morning walking tour of Krakow starting in Rynek Glowny, the market square and the largest medieval square in Europe. Krakow was the only city whose architectural jewels survived World War II intact, as we appreciate during our walk through the streets. Our walk ends at Wawel Hill and Wawel Castle. Afternoon at leisure. |
| Day 15: | Our trip ends this morning in Krakow (Sun). |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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See Central Europe through the eyes of locals, as your local tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up this vibrant area. Wandering around historic towns and cities, discovering the magnificent Baroque influences, exploring medieval palaces and uncovering secluded villages impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people living in the regions also have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leader help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.
To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |