49 DAY Mega European EEMELL-8

Transcription

1 49 DAY Mega European EEMELL-8 This tour visits: France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Monaco, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina Introducing the heavyweight champion of Europe trips. Uncover this magnificent continent in all its glory as you spend seven fabulous weeks soaking up all the culture, cuisine, history and nightlife that you can handle. Experience the grand old capitals of Western Europe, the artistic allure and excitement of some incredible cities, and the beauty of the re-emerging Balkans. This is the Europe experience of a lifetime, and you ll never want it to end. Seriously.

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Driving tour of Berlin Walking tour of Krakow Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz- Birkenau Walking tour of Venice Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Driving tour of Copenhagen Walking tour of Rome Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden Driving tour of Athens Driving tour of Barcelona Walking tour of Prague Visit a traditional French perfumery Vaporetto ride in Venice Visit the Srebrenica Memorial Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration Driving tour of Tirana Walking tour of Dubrovnik with local guide Visit the cliff-side monasteries (entry not included) Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower 48 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 20 dinners 27 nights in hostels, 8 nights in bungalows at European campsites, 7 nights in hotels, 3 nights sailing in Greece, 2 nights canvas cabins & 1 night in a cabin on an overnight ferry English Channel crossings Modern air conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver + On- Site Chefs Trip Itinerary Day 1 - London, England to Paris, France Spot French poodles on an epic driving tour. Pinch yourself and instagram your first selfie before we dig into a gourmet picnic under the Eiffel Tower. Food matters. A lot. In Europe, it comes alive. Kick back under and watch Paris sparkle. -Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower Day 2 - Paris Grab your baguette and go. Run, don't walk. With Parisian charm crammed into every nook and cranny, make sure you hit all of the iconic haunts. 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. Later, if you are in the mood for an optional cabaret show, let us know we'll sort it. Optional Activities: -Traditional cabaret show in Paris

3 -Scenic river cruise on the Seine -Bike tour of Paris Day 3 - Paris to Bordeaux If you haven't gone fromage crazy just yet, grab a few wheels before we go and bid au revoir to Paree. Next, we make a quick stop in the heart of the Loire Valley. Later, enter Bordeaux where vineyards rule and fromage is King. Drink the best drops and hear tales of how these fiery reds came to be. Raise a glass to the winemakers. -Visit to the Loire Valley -Lunch -Visit to Châteaux de Chambord Day 4 - Bordeaux to San Sebastian, Spain Roll out of France and onwards to the top of Spain where the beaches are flawless and the food is to-die-for. Get your bearings and spend the night on the hunt for the best sangria this side of town. And, GO! Day 5 - San Sebastian to Barcelona, Spain Next up, rowdy Gaudi. Free day today to tick off Park Güell or the La Sagrada Familia. At night, rumble with Las Ramblas. Who needs the snooze button when you got a whole day in a city packed to the rafters with art nouveau, alluring accents and most importantly, tapas. Hit the side streets and alleyways give in to your inner football tragic and kneel to the sporting gods at Camp Nou. -Driving tour of Barcelona -Flamenco show in Barcelona Day 6 - Barcelona Barcelona has it all. From wacky architecture to culture, food and buzzing neighbourhoods you won't be short of things to do.

4 Day 7 - Barcelona to French Riviera, France Bye bye, Barca. Hello, to the turquoise waters and lush stylings of the French Riv. Get that selfie stick out as we roll on north along the coast to rub shoulders with the rich and famous at the world's most lavish waterfront property, aka the French Riviera. Swap your patatas bravas for hearty French cooking and get ready for tomorrow's adventures. -Visit a traditional French perfumery Day 8 - French Riviera including Monaco visit Picture life in the fast lane as we cruise through dazzling Monaco (ticking off another country in the process). Glitzy and glam? You bet your fur coat it is. Feeling lucky? Hit the tables at the Monte Carlo Casino and make it rain (or not). -Walking tour of Monaco Day 9 - French Riviera to Swiss Alps, Switzerland Roll up and out of the Riviera and onwards to the Alps. Aim high and think epic peaks. The scenes out your window today play like a documentary on 'world's sexiest views'. Unlike the Toblerone packaging, the Swiss Alps aren't all lined up perfectly so we weave up through the sexy valleys and handsome peaks. Grab your forks and prepare to chow down on Swiss cuisine then hit the bar in the Alps for a nightcap. Day 10 - 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, skydiving 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. Then head back down for some snow angels and hot chocolate. #hardlife. -Lunch Optional Activities: -Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') -Skydiving in the Swiss Alps -Scenic helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps -Aare river float

5 Day 11 - Swiss Alps to Venice, Italy Seek out Juliet's balcony in Verona and wave before we push through to the canal-lined maze of Venice. Then, 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. -Walking tour of Verona Day 12 - Venice We've got a sinking feeling that Venice is the way to go today. Keep dry with a walking tour of Venice's greats, before taking to the water on an optional gondola ride. Later, head into St Mark's Square, shoo pigeons and jump over the Rialto Bridge to find the best damn pizza before we leave tomorrow. -Walking tour of Venice -Vaporetto ride in Venice -Gondola ride in Venice Day 13 - Venice to Florence Renaissance beauty meets Italian style. Explore the streets of Florence with a local guide today. Florence has more stories than Bilbo Baggins, more culture than a Shoreditch hipster, over 1,800 restaurants and it gave the world gelato. Say ciao to cheeky David and strut along the Ponte Vecchio, gelato in hand. Obvs later, delve into a higher state of culinary consciousness. -Walking tour of Florence with a local guide -Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower -Lunch Day 14 - Florence to Rome Buh-bye Florence. Later, we enter Rome where history was born and made. Become an amateur historian in no time on our guided city walking tour in Rome. Cross off some red hot ruins, oodles of obelisks and of course, the big ticket sights. Refuel on pizza.

6 -Visit Orvieto -Walking tour of Rome Day 15 - Rome including Vatican City visit Down that espresso and make a quick visit to the Pope at the Vatican (a trip to Rome wouldn't be complete without it!). Last chance to find the best pizza or pasta before we head off tomorrow. -Guided tour of Vatican City Day 16 - Rome to Sailing in Greece via Overnight Ferry An Italian road trip today to meet our overnight ferry to Greece to the land of gyros and all things amazing. Play connect-the-dots with the stars or let the swell rock you to sleep as we ferry from Bella Italia to Greece. Day 17 - Sailing in Greece Bring on three great days of sailing on the Ionian Sea. Across these islands keep an eye out for ancient history steeped in mythology and sprawling ruins to sink your teeth into, what's not to love? Learn the ropes, navigate through awe-inspiring islands then laze on board like the god or goddess that you are. -Lunch Day 18 - Sailing in Greece Free day in para-para-paradise. Loving it up? Good, we hope so. Soak up those rays and make the most of 50 shades of blue. Spin the compass and watch the world go by remember, you're on sailing time so float on and relax. -Lunch Day 19 - Sailing in Greece Found your sea legs yet? Another day of loving life. And loving the turquoise water. Loving more swimming. More diving off boats. More epic Instagram shots. You could probably get used to this.

7 -Lunch Day 20 - Sailing in Greece to Athens Back on land, stretch your legs and explore the cradle of civilization on a guided tour. Cue jaw drop at the Acropolis and Parthenon then grab some yiros or hit the sack. -Driving tour of Athens Day 21 - Athens to Mykonos Two nights to kick back on Greek island time. Ferry over to Mykonos (aka 'that-island-with-the-cute-windmills') for two nights of tropical bliss. Epic beaches, sinfully good local restaurants and a bustling nightlife, what's not to love? Day 22 - Mykonos The DJ is calling. Go forth and party this is Mykonos. Day 23 - Mykonos Are you dreaming of another day in paradise? Yes. Great, you're in the right place. Soak up as much of this sun-soaked island as much as possible. Day 24 - Mykonos to Santorini Wave goodbye to Mykonos and try to contain your excitement as we arrive in Santorini home to the world's best sunset. Day 25 - Santorini Get ready for more romcom worthy landscapes and views to write home about. After dark, hit the local taverns to mingle with the locals.

8 Day 26 - Santorini to Athens Whip out your camera and snap one last shot of the postcard-worthy scenery on your last free morning in Fira. We're catching the ferry back to Athens for a final dose of ancient architecture and tragic myths. Day 27 - Athens Today is all about YOU! Spend it however you wish. Take the rest of the day to get lost and spend your evening searching for Greek grub and live entertainment at a traditional taverna. Day 28 - Athens to Meteora Leave your fear of heights in Athens. We're driving to Meteora, a city perched on the nail biting cliffs of Thessaly (Google it). Visit one of six remaining 14th century monasteries (out of 24) then round up the day with good friends, good food and some face-timing. -Visit the cliffside monasteries of Meteora (entry not included) Day 29 - Meteora to Tirana, Albania What happens when you paint a former communist capital in vivid colours? According to Tirana's artist-turned mayor- turned TED speaker Edi Rama, people start paying taxes and crime rates plummet. True story. -Driving tour of Tirana with a local guide Day 30 - Tirana to Dubrovnik, Croatia via Budva, Montenegro Pit stop via Montenegro en route to Dubrovnik. Lots more stunning gets pushed past the window as we head up the gorgeous coast and make for the most famous walled city in Europe (nope, not history. See: Game of Thrones). Wander Dubrovnik's tiny cobblestoned streets and explore hidden cafés and shops before grabbing some dinner and checking out the glitzy nightlife. -Visit Budva

9 -Walking tour of Dubrovnik with local guide Day 31 - Dubrovnik A free day in Dubrovnik for the win! Later, steal a cold beer on the wall as the sun sets over the Adriatic. This is the good life. Day 32 - Dubrovnik Are you a kayaker or a wall sitter? Today you can do both. Jump on the optional kayaking day trip. Explore King's Lan... sorry, Dubrovnik. Check out the residential homes further up in the old town for awesome views and a local perspective. -Sea kayaking around the Dubrovnik walls -Game of Thrones tour Day 33 - Dubrovnik to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Out of Dubrovnik and onwards to Sarajevo for a walking tour and a chance to get to know your A to Z of this town. -Walking tour of Sarajevo -Guided tour of The Sarajevo Tunnel Day 34 - Sarajevo to Belgrade, Serbia Belgrade = charm and charisma rising from a complicated past. More of Eastern Europe's unique mix of glasnost and capitalism as we dig into Belgrade, capital of modern-day Serbia as well as the former Yugoslavia. A product of the former nations of Yugoslavia, Serbia's religious and political past has cultivated a diverse cultural landscape throughout the city. Today we visit the Srebrenica Memorial to pay our respects and for a sobering reminder of historic events past. -Walking tour of Belgrade -Visit to Srebrenica Memorial

10 Day 35 - Belgrade to Budapest, Hungary Hello, twin cities: Buda and Pest. Check out Hero's Square, Parliament House, the National Palace, Fisherman's Bastion and swanky Andrássy Ave. After gorging on cabbage rolls and dumplings, roll into bed. -Driving tour of Budapest Day 36 - Budapest Free day = Put down your Rubik's Cube and take on a city with enough baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture to keep you puzzled for hours. Top tip: goulash is a MUST. Hot and dangerous (in a good way) this dish is the definition of 'Hungary'. Slurp your way through away a big ol' bowl of slow-cooked meat and spiced goodness. cruise on the Danube Day 37 - Budapest to Vienna, Austria via Bratislava, Slovakia Catch ya Budapest. Today we roll onwards to Vienna but first, a pit stop via Bratislava, Slovakia. Later, pick your Baroque from Rococo as we slide into The City of Dreams (kudos, Freud!). The Vienna Orchestra provides the soundtrack while we check out Europe's classiest capital. Wave hello to the President as we go past the Hofburg Palace. And because one palace isn't enough, we also take a peek at the Schonbrunn. Top off your day and search for a schnitzel and apple strudel. -Walking tour of Bratislava -Driving tour of Vienna -A night at the Viennese Chamber Orchestra (dinner optional at an additional expense) Day 38 - Vienna to Krakow, Poland Onto gothic Krakow to meet a fire-breathing dragon and devour all the pierogi. Legend has it a dragon had to be smited in order for Krakow to be built (with a sulphur-stuffed lamb as bait). -Walking tour of Krakow

11 -Nightlife tour of Krakow Day 39 - Krakow Miraculously untouched by the effects of war, this city boasts some serious Middle Ages swag and a quaint Old Town neighbourhood. Day 40 - Krakow to Prague, Czech Republic Pay your respects and learn more about the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Sombre, yes, but an important introduction to the region's history. Next: crack on to Prague. Welcome to cheap beer and fairytale-like architecture. -Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau -Walking tour of Prague Day 41 - Prague Channel your inner bohemian at the John Lennon memorial wall, soak up some more Czech history at the National or Communist Museum or get a taste of the quirky local culture at a marionette puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). Still have time to kill? Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit The Museum of Miniatures or eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square. Day 42 - Prague to Berlin, Germany Rock and roll on over to 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. -Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden -Driving tour of Berlin Day 43 - Berlin Berlin is yours. 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. Hackescher Markt is a hit for lunch. Afternoon suggestion? Have a picnic at the historic

12 Tempelhof airport turned public park #picniconthetarmac. Tonight: hit the hotspots on an optional nightlife tour. Next: currywurrst is another MUST try. Curry what? Wurst and don't forget the name. Somehow the trendy Germans managed to make a sausage a 'thing'. It's legit. Optional Activities: -Third Reich walking tour -Street art & nightlife tour of Berlin Day 44 - Berlin to Copenhagen, Denmark Home of more Nordic 'cool' than you can poke a hipster's beard at, Copenhagen is sure to impress. If you think you've eaten it all, nah-ah not even close. Uncover the food market gems scattered across Europe and satisfy your inner gastronome. Try: the food markets on Paper Island for a luxe 'warehouse vibe' experience -Driving tour of Copenhagen Day 45 - Copenhagen Romantic streak? Check out The Little Mermaid, a tribute to the fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen's pre-disney masterpieces. Spoiler: his version has the lovestruck mermaid become foam on the sea after she fails to win the prince's affections (even back then, it seems, #thestrugglewasreal). Day 46 - Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany Onto Hamburg aka the 'Gateway to the World'. Judge this port city yourself. Boasting more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined and the first zoo with no enclosures, Hamburg is one of the hippest cities in Europe. With 3km of funfair and the biggest Japanese garden in Europe why wouldn't you want to explore this unicorn gem. If you hear "Hummel, Hummel" be sure to reply with "Mors, Mors". Don't ask. Later, check out the nightlife at the Port. Day 47 - Hamburg to Amsterdam, Netherlands Welcome to the most liberal city in Europe. Fun times ahead. Cheese lovers, rejoice. 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. 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. -Walking tour of Amsterdam

13 -Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration Day 48 - Amsterdam Did you sneak a peek last night in the Red Light District? Freshen up and make your own way around the city. Grab some Dutch fries and finish on a high at our farewell dinner cruise tonight. Start swapping those phone numbers. -Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Optional Activities: -Bike tour of Amsterdam Day 49 - Amsterdam to London, England Phew! That. Was. MEGA! Love and leave Amsterdam this morning as we head back to London where this trip of a lifetime ends. 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. 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

14 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 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.