17 DAY European Pathway EESDLL-8

Transcription

1 17 DAY European Pathway EESDLL-8 This tour visits: France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands Follow this European Pathway and you'll be amazed by the wonders you see along the way! Navigate the maze of canals and narrow alleys that is Venice, and then transcend the high Alpine passes of Switzerland. Find yourself strolling the grand, leafy boulevards of Paris one day to exploring the cobbled streets of Prague another. This isn't your average well-trodden pathway; this is travel in Europe at its best!

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration Bicycle tour of Amsterdam Paris city driving tour Gourmet picnic beside the Eiffel Tower Local guide in Florence Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal, Venice Farewell canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Walking tour of Munich Walking tour of Amsterdam Driving tour of Berlin Walking tour of Venice Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Walking tour of Rome Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower Walking tour of Verona Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden Walking tour of Prague Walking tour of Florence with local guide Vaporetto ride in Venice Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower 16 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 9 dinners 10 nights in hostels & 6 nights in bungalows at European campsites English Channel crossings Modern air conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Trip Leader + Driver + On- Site Chefs Trip Itinerary Day 1 - London, England to Paris, France All good things start with Paris. Meet the crew, grab some supplies and hit the road early in the morning as we jump across the English Channel to Paris. Pinch yourself and instagram your first selfie before we kick off the trip with a guided tour and gourmet picnic next to the Eiffel Tower. Home to Coco Chanel, the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa, Paris has more than deserved its reputation as the European capital for all things culture, fashion and food. -Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower Day 2 - Paris This morning: free time en Francais. From the Louvre and Musée d'orsay to the l'arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, you'll be sure to make a solid dent in your bucket list. Then: hop on an optional bike tour of Paris. End your day with an optional Seine River cruise or a #throwback bohemian cabaret show.

3 -Traditional cabaret show in Paris -Scenic river cruise on the Seine -Bike tour of Paris Day 3 - Paris to Swiss Alps, Switzerland Trade in Parisian streets for snowy peaks. Urban charm ain't got nothing on Swiss scenery. Upon arrival, chow down on Swiss cuisine and hit the bar for a nightcap. -Lunch Day 4 - Swiss Alps Scenic hikes and jaw-dropping views are on today's agenda. Go low key with a mountain walk or hop on board the Jungfraubahn railway for an optional visit to the Jungfrau Mountain summit. Fairytale villages en route, sky-diving out of a helicopter (if heights don't scare you). Another local feast awaits your return, regardless of how you make your way back down. -Lunch -Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') -Skydiving in the Swiss Alps -Scenic helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps -Schilthorn cable car experience Day 5 - Swiss Alps to Florence, Italy Hand back the skis and yodel your way down the mountains and into the land of the long boot. Make your food baby sing as we roll to birthplace of gelato: Florence. Whip around Santa Maria del Fiore before tucking into amore on a plate. Then the evening is yours to stroll along the real-life watercolour of the Arno River, wishing you were a painter. -Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower -Lunch

4 Day 6 - Florence to Rome Onwards to Rome. Make like Caesar and work up a colossus hunger as you pass by the Pantheon, throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain, sit on the Spanish Steps and visit ancient history's version of the Hunger Games set at the Colosseum. -Walking tour of Florence with a local guide -Walking tour of Rome Day 7 - Rome including Vatican City visit Create the ultimate Roman Holiday in one day with a whirlwind of Vespas, espresso, two-cheek kisses and pizza the way it's supposed to taste. Count your blessings on an optional tour of the Vatican City to see how Michelangelo messed around and created the High Renaissance, then play eye spy with two-and-a-half millennia worth of history. Shop 'til you drop on Via Condotti, head to Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum or just kick back in Piazza Navona for some dolce far niente (delicious idleness). -Guided tour of Vatican City Day 8 - Rome to Venice Hark! Maketh haste to whence the lady Juliet was wooed in Verona. Snap a selfie at her balcony and join throngs of lovers leaving notes in the wall (or avoid the crowds and just marvel at the ancient arena). Say ciao to Venice from across the lagoon as we check in to Venice. -Walking tour of Verona Day 9 - Venice You know it as the floating city, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Check out St. Mark's Square, Accademia Bridge and a who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a guided walking tour then jump on a vaporetto and explore the Grand Canal. Also on the schedule: an optional gondola ride through the maze of marble bridges and gelato shops we call Venice. Throw away your map in the afternoon and try to find the world's most epic little bookshop, Libreria Acqua Alta, or just go on a mission to find the perfect gelato. -Walking tour of Venice -Vaporetto ride in Venice

5 -Gondola ride in Venice Day 10 - Venice to Munich, Germany It's time to get to know the city where beer is officially considered a food. Your Trip Leader will clue you up on the Bavarian capital on a walking tour. Slide on your Lederhosen and have a royal Happy Hour experience (none of that craft beer nonsense here) at the 428-year-old Hofbräuhaus - the recipes here were passed down from Wilhelm V, the Duke of Bavaria. -Walking tour of Munich -Lunch Day 11 - Munich to Prague, Czech Republic Give one last prost to Munich before we press on to Prague. But first we'll be stopping at Dachau, one of Germany's former WWII Concentration Camps for a sobering lesson on the resilience of humanity. When we reach Prague, it s time to soak up some Czech history at the National or Communist Museum. Or, you could get a taste of the quirky local culture at a marionette puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). Tonight, dinner is on us. -Visit former concentration camp Dachau -Walking tour of Prague Day 12 - Prague Another free day for the win. Channel your inner bohemian and seek out the John Lennon memorial wall. 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. Good beer. Day 13 - 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, absinthe 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 making your food baby sing with a hearty German meal.

6 -Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden -Driving tour of Berlin Day 14 - Berlin Shake off last night with a wander around the German capital. Optional: Third Reich walking tour and local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during World War II. Kreuzberg is a hit for lunch - or save your appetite for an afternoon picnic at the historic Tempelhof airport turned public park #picniconthetarmac. Tonight: hit the hotspots on an optional street art and nightlife tour. -Third Reich walking tour -Street art & nightlife tour of Berlin Day 15 - Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands Cheese lovers, rejoice. Your next stop is a local Dutch farm to see how cheddar (and clogs) gets made. Next: Amsterdam, mayo-dipped fries and red lights. Get your bearings on a walking tour of the vibrant capital and see the Dam Square, Royal Palace and National Monument. Then: explore all that this notoriously liberal city has to offer. -Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration -Walking tour of Amsterdam Day 16 - Amsterdam Culture fiends, delve deeper with a visit to Anne Frank House, Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum. Still thirsty for more? Check out the Heineken Experience for an interactive visit and tasting at the brewery. Top it off with a dinner cruise on the canal. -Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam -Bike tour of Amsterdam

7 Day 17 - Amsterdam to London, England After all the Amster-damage is done and dusted, it's back on the ferry to ol' Blighty to start planning your next adventure. Facebook friends? Accommodation Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade - yeah!) or bungalows. The 'More Inclusions' section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip. The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. 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. France - Paris Traditional cabaret show in Paris 65 Scenic river cruise on the Seine 10 Bike tour of Paris 26 Switzerland - Swiss Alps - Lauterbrunnen Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') CHF Scenic helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps CHF 100 plus 20 deposit Skydiving in the Swiss Alps CHF 390 plus 30 deposit

8 Schilthorn cable car CHF 79 Italy - Rome Guided tour of Vatican City 40 Italy - Venice Gondola ride in Venice 20 Italy - Venice Personalised Topdeck group shirts & hoodies: between 21 and 32 Germany - Berlin Third Reich walking tour 10 Berlin Alternative Tour & Nightlife Tour 18 Netherlands - Amsterdam Bike tour of Amsterdam 14 Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. 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 Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, 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. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App

9 Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline 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. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.