PLEASE NOTE: Price is per person and based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements and upgrades are not included.
Itinerary
14 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.
Day 2 - Mohne Dam
This morning we travel across the border into Germany and include a stop at the Mohne Dam in the Ruhr Valley, heroically breached by the Lancasters of 617 Squadron (Dambusters) in 1943. At Mohne you can walk on top of the dam and still see where the breach was made. Of the 20 massive dams constructed in the Ruhr Valley, six dams were selected as targets with three of these being the primary targets - the Möhne, the Eder and the Sorpe dams. Between the Möhne and Sorpe, they held back 76% of the total water available to the industrial valley, one of the main reasons they were two of the primary targets. If breached, these dams would bring the whole industrial valley to a standstill, causing massive damage to the steel industry devastating production of tanks, aircraft, guns and locomotives which were all vital to Germany's war effort. After our visit we continue through the states of Lower Saxony to our hotel in Berlin for a two-night stay.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Berlin
This morning we travel in to the centre of Berlin on our included excursion. Having re-gained its pre-war status as the capital of Germany, Berlin now thrives on its exciting new architecture, youthful vibrancy and rich cultural diversity. The city has a cosmopolitan buzz that makes it one of Europe’s top city destinations. Berlin is a city with something for everyone, from fantastic gastronomic experiences, art, shopping, culture, history and much more. Why not take the optional sightseeing tour to introduce you to the city’s array of famous sights. During the “cold war” period the city was divided between east and west but is once again the flourishing capital of the unified Germany. Our guide will explain about the changes that have taken place since the unification of the city as well as pointing out and explaining the interesting stories behind many of the buildings. We see the sights of former West Berlin including the famous street of the Kurfurstendamm with its cafes, theatres, cinemas and art galleries and amongst others the newly refurbished Reichstag building, the home of the German Parliament. We pass by the Brandenburg Gate and continue into former East Berlin where we see the famous Unter den Linden Street with the Cathedral and Humboldt University. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and with such a chequered past there is plenty for you to see and explore.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Travel to Poland
We depart our hotel early this morning as we make our way east towards Poland, and the capital city of Warsaw. During our journey, we will pass the city of Poznan, where the first Polish state was created over a thousand years ago. We reach Warsaw this evening for a two-night stay.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Warsaw
Today we travel into the centre of Warsaw for free time. Although the beginnings of Warsaw go as far back as the 12th and 13th century, the city was forced to completely rebuild after its near-total destruction during World War II. The symbol of the capital’s rebirth was an unprecedented post-war re-creation of the Old Town, which in 1980 was put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. To introduce you to the sights join our included guided sightseeing tour. You will see the “Royal Route” with its aristocratic residences, statues and historic churches before visiting the Old Town, the Castle Square the Barbican and such historical sites as the Ghetto Memorial, the Chopin Monument and the Belvedere Palace. Our local guide will provide an informative commentary, and reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities that have shaped the often-tragic history of this fascinating city. The remainder of the day is at leisure in this remarkable city. Explore the streets of the Old Town with atmospheric alleys, squares and cosy cafés.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex
Today we drive south to the old Polish capital of Kraków. En route we spend time at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex. A site of great importance to the Holocaust story, Auschwitz will forever be seen as the centre of a vast plan to exterminate a whole race of people. Rudolph Hess was given the assignment of expanding the camp to accommodate 30,000 prisoners. In this process he built an annex that would hold 100,000 prisoners of war. As the prisoners arrived, approximately 25 percent were then and there determined to be “fit for work” and allowed to live a bit longer. The great majority of Jews, however, who were deported to Auschwitz - men, women and children - were immediately sent to their deaths in the gas chambers of Auschwitz II - Birkenau. When the SS realized that the end of the war was near, they attempted to remove all evidence of the atrocities committed there. They dismantled the gas chambers, crematoriums and other buildings. They burned documents and evacuated all the prisoners who could walk to the interior of Germany. The number of victims was approximately one million, only 667 prisoners escaped; 270 were recaptured and executed. Those who were not evacuated where liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945. Auschwitz is an emotive symbol of terror and genocide; we stop here to pay a Remembrance visit where so many needlessly lost their lives. We arrive at our hotel in Kraków this evening for a two-night stay.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Kraków & Wieliczka Salt Mines
We start our day with an included guided sightseeing tour of Kraków. As the ancient capital of Poland, the city was the royal residence for centuries, and the only major city in the country to escape major damage during World War 2. Its assembly of monuments are listed by UNESCO as one of the world's twelve most significant historic sites. During the tour we will see the magnificent Wawel Castle, (entrance at extra cost), impressively situated on a hill-top overlooking the Vistula River. The rest of the day can be spent exploring the city at your leisure. Alternatively, why not join our afternoon optional excursion to the town of Wieliczka and the oldest salt mine in Europe. The mines are an impressive underground world of salt lakes and galleries extending to a depth of 327m with approximately 300km of tunnels stretching over an area some 10km wide. They are a masterpiece of generations of miners who have created a subterraneous world of chambers and lakes, where galleries, halls, chapels and numerous sculptures have been carved in the salt rock. The mine is beautifully maintained and this is a visit not to be missed. The journey starts at the Danilowicz Shaft where we meet our guide and then descend via some 380 steps to 64 meters below ground. Our guide takes us on a fascinating journey through the magnificent chambers revealing the history and the secrets of the mine. At the end of our visit we return to the surface by the miners lift.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 8 - Tatra Mountains
We leave Poland this morning and head south into Slovakia. Our scenic journey will take us through the Tatra Mountains, the central, highest and most beautiful section of the Carpathian mountain range. We continue into Hungary and to its capital, Budapest arriving early evening for a two-night stay. Budapest is one of Europe’s most delightful and enjoyable cities. Due to its scenic setting and its architecture it is nicknamed 'Paris of the East'. To introduce you to this beautiful city, why not join our optional Budapest by Night excursion? In the company of our guide we take a tour of Budapest, for a chance to see the famous sights of the city by night. We start with a drive to the city's Art-Nouveau Concert Hall where we enjoy a short Organ Concert and a glass of sparkling wine. From here we continue to the city park to have a walk around the medieval Vajdahunyad Castle and Heroes’ square before joining the coach for an illumination drive on the Pest and Buda side with a stop for photo opportunity of the Parliament building all lit-up.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Budapest
Today you will have the full day to discover the Hungarian capital of Budapest. The city is composed of two historically independent communities, Buda and Pest, separated by the majestic River Danube. Our included guided sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city’s array of spectacular sights. We start with a panoramic view of the city from the top of the Gellert Hill and then continue by foot to the Liberty Statue, built in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War II. We re-join our coach and travel to the Pest side of the city to see the City Park and Heroes Square. We drive down Andrassy Avenue where we see the grand State Opera House and the beautiful St. Stephens Basilica. Our next stop is Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city where we leave our coach and visit the old medieval city. To further enhance your day, why not join the optional Danube Lunch Cruise this afternoon? The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga, which flows through central Russia. Classified as an international waterway, the Danube originates in the town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest of Germany. It then flows southeast for almost 3,000 km passing through four central European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea. Our cruise boat has an airconditioned dining hall, with panoramic windows and will take you along the majestic Danube River allowing you to take in the spectacular views of Budapest, which can also be enjoyed from the sundeck with guided commentary on the second part of the cruise. A sumptuous buffet lunch of traditional Hungarian dishes is provided, alongside a complimentary welcome drink from the bar as well as half a bottle of white or red wine. The cruise lasts 1.5 hours and parking is located close by to the boat, so guests with walking difficulties can join. Alternatively, spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city at your own pace. Maybe take a stroll by the river or visit the tempting stores of the Vaci Utca Street, ensuring that your time in this wonderful city is certainly something to remember.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Vienna
We leave Budapest today and head over the border into Austria, reaching Vienna at approximately midday. The Imperial City of Vienna is without question one of Europe’s great cities, and as the home of the former Habsburg monarchy and the present day capital of Austria, it has much to charm the visitor. There is a lot of walking involved to see all the sights, so why not let us introduce you to Vienna on our optional guided sightseeing tour by coach and on foot. Our guided tour will begin by coach, where we will be taken along the Imperial Boulevard known as the Ringstrasse. Here you will see the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament building, the Opera House, National Theatre and City Hall. During our tour we will also see the majestic Danube River, and later as we pass by the Prater amusement park a chance to view the famous “Giant Wheel” built over 100 years ago, and today one of the most well-known landmarks of the city. There will be frequent stops during the drive, where you will have photo opportunities and the chance to admire Vienna at its very best. Our guide will provide commentary throughout, revealing the history; culture and stories of without question one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Following the tour you will have time at leisure to explore independently before travelling to our overnight hotel.
This evening an optional Vienna Supreme Concert will be available. The Vienna Supreme Orchestra and its soloists will offer you a truly magical evening where you can experience the happiness, optimism and flair of this wonderful city. Immerse yourself in the delightful Viennese music, be enchanted by its elegant waltzes, refreshing folk polkas and its many romantic arias and duets. Experience works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and, of course, the Strauss Dynasty, the masters of operetta all within a wonderful, intimate venue. A complementary CD will be yours to take home as a souvenir of this delightful evening.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Prague
This morning we begin our journey towards the Czech Republic, reaching Prague at approximately lunchtime. There will be free time this afternoon for you to explore the centre before we continue to our hotel where we will stay for the next two nights. This evening why not join our optional evening in Prague excursion? Accompanied by our local guide we travel by coach to Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle in Europe. We take a stroll through the courtyards viewing the exterior of the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. We walk to the main parade entrance where the soldiers stand guard and take in the lovely views of the city. We then continue by coach to the Strahov Monastery for the best views of the Old Town and also to sample a glass of special beer from the monk’s own brewery.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Prague with Guided Walking Tour
Today we travel into the centre of Prague where we have an included morning walking tour to introduce you to this beautiful capital, affectionately known as the ‘Golden Town’. The many historic buildings, grand squares and elegant landmarks such as Wenceslas Square, the famous astronomical clock and Charles Bridge make it a lovely place to explore on foot, and our local guides informative commentary will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities which have shaped the history of this magnificent city. Afterwards, why not join an optional cruise on the Vltava River with lunch included. Lasting for approximately two hours, the cruise will take you along the majestic Vltava River past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialities for you to enjoy. So, sit back on the sundeck and admire the outstanding views of the city of a hundred spires. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the sights further at your leisure.
Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13
We have an early start this morning as we leave Prague and make our way past the Czech town of Pilzen, the official capital of West Bohemia, and cross the border into Germany. During the day we will cross Germany, bypassing places such as Nuremburg and Charlemagne’s Aachen. We cross the border into Belgium and arrive at our overnight hotel.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 14
Return home.
Meals - Breakfast
Accommodation
You will stay for two nights in Berlin - at the Holiday Inn Berlin City West or similar; two nights at the Vienna House Mokotow or the Focus Hotel Premium Warszawa in Warsaw; two nights at a minimum 3-star hotel in Kraków, such as the Novotel Kraków City West; two nights in Budapest at Novotel CIty Budapest hotel, overnight at a minimum 3-star hotel in the Stockerau or Vienna Woods area; and two nights at a minimum 3-star hotel such as the Hotel Duo or Ibis Mala Strana in Prague.
Overnight stays in Belgium are in city-style hotels.
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