26 DAY Europe Inspired ECCLLL-8

Transcription

1 26 DAY Europe Inspired ECCLLL-8 This tour visits: France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands Introducing the Europe all-rounder a comprehensive exploration of some of Europe s most popular and sought-after destinations. Casually picnic by a certain tower in Paris, get your Dutch on with cheese, clogs and an optional bicycle tour, and vaporetto across Venice s Grand Canal. Combining east, west and bucket list must-dos, this epic European getaway will make all your holiday dreams a reality.

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Walking tour of Amsterdam Driving tour of Berlin Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz- Birkenau Driving tour of Copenhagen 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 Walking tour of Kraków Driving tour of Budapest Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal, Venice Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower 25 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 11 dinners 16 nights in European campsites in spacious twin-share dome style tents with air mattresses & 9 nights in hostel accommodation upgrades English Channel crossings Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver + Topdeck Chef 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 driving tour and picnic next to the Eiffel Tower with your Trip Leader. Home to Coco Chanel, the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa, Paris has more than earned its reputation as the European capital for all things culture, fashion and food. Now's your chance to find out why. -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 or roam the streets on your own. End your day with an optional Seine River cruise or a #throwback bohemian cabaret show. -Traditional cabaret show in Paris -Scenic river cruise on the Seine

3 -Bike tour of Paris Day 3 - Paris to Swiss Alps, Switzerland Trade in Parisian streets for snowy peaks. Home to the highest point in Europe, 72 waterfalls and one of the largest nature conservations in Switzerland, Lauterbrunnen is obviously where we're spending the night. Urban charm ain't got nothing on Swiss scenery. Upon arrival, chow down on Swiss cuisine and hit the bar for a nightcap. 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. Expect fairytale villages en route and sky-diving out of a helicopter upon arrival (if heights don't scare you). Another feast awaits your return, regardless of how you make your way back down. -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. Stop for THAT photo at Pisa, and then make your food baby sing as we roll into the land of hearty Tuscan cuisine and 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 Day 6 - Florence to Rome Step back to 753 BC in one of the world's oldest open-air museums on an in-depth walking tour and give that bucket list a workout. Make like

4 Caesar (the emperor, not the salad) 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. Tonight, you're in Disneyland for foodies. Have fun. -Walking tour of Rome -Walking tour of Florence with local guide 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 on the wall (or avoid the crowds and just marvel at the ancient arena). Say ciao to Venice from across the lagoon as we check into our campsite, have an Eat Pray Love-worthy relationship with an irresistible Italian (meal) and get pumped for living out your own version of The Italian Job tomorrow. -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

5 -Vaporetto ride in Venice -Gondola ride in Venice Day 10 - Venice to Pula, Croatia via Postojna Caves, Slovenia Check out Postojna Caves and cast your eye out for stalagmites on the way to one of Croatia's coolest places today. -Entry to the world-famous Postojna Cave Day 11 - Pula Two whole days to relax and chill out in the sun. The water is warm, the food is awesome and this city is ready to be explored. Later, discover what it means to party with a taste of the Pula nightlife. Day 12 - Pula Another day, another beach and another round of cocktails to sip as you watch the sun go down. Day 13 - Pula to Budapest, Hungary Hungary for more? Your house in Budapest awaits. A driving tour will get you down and Danube (that be the river) with twin cities, Buda and Pest. Check out Hero's Square, Parliament House, the National Palace, Fisherman's Bastion and swanky Andrássy Ave. Then it's time to meet the major food groups: goulash and cabbage rolls and dumplings, oh my! -Driving tour of Budapest

6 Day 14 - 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. Tonight, hang with the hipsters and drink local fruit brandy at one of the original ruin bars. cruise on the Danube Day 15 - Budapest to Krakow, Poland Legend has it a dragon had to be smited in order for Krakow to be built (with a sulphur-stuffed lamb as bait). Bit tougher than the usual council approvals, no? Meet Poland's beating heart and the largest medieval town square in Europe on foot. Buff up on history at Wawel Castle, feed the ducks on the bank of the Wisla and after dinner, slay a few glasses of mead. -Walking tour of Krakow -Nightlife tour of Krakow Day 16 - Krakow Your day, your choice. Wander the streets and discover the city's inner-hipster in the Jewish district and shop for amber in the UNESCO-listed Cloth Hall. Day 17 - Krakow to Prague, Czech Republic First, a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp for a lesson in the resilience of humanity. Then, onto Prague. Channel your inner bohemian and seek out 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). -Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau -Walking tour of Prague

7 Day 18 - Prague Another free day for the win. 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. Really. Good. Beer. Day 19 - 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. -Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden -Driving tour of Berlin Day 20 - 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. Afternoon suggestion? Have a picnic at the historic Tempelhof airport turned public park #picniconthetarmac. Tonight: explore modern Berlin on an optional alternative tour then hit the city's night time hot spots -Third Reich walking tour -Street art & nightlife tour of Berlin Day 21 - Berlin to Copenhagen, Denmark On to Copenhagen to find out why this city keeps popping up among the top five most liveable cities in the world. Get your bearings on a guided driving tour and discover why Copenhagen is home to half of the nation's population. -Driving tour of Copenhagen

8 Day 22 - Copenhagen Last night's tour crossed the main sights off your list. Today you have the chance to explore the city in true local fashion: on a bike. 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 23 - Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany Boasting more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined, no skyscrapers (views for days) 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 gem? Later, check out the nightlife at the Port. Day 24 - Hamburg to Amsterdam, Netherlands Amster-DAM it's going to be a good day! Start dreaming of cheese, clogs and cheeky cafe stops as we roll through tulip and windmill dotted fields to Amsterdam. Learn how cheddar and the chunky wooden shoes are made then get your bearings on a walking tour of the vibrant capital and see the Dam Square, Royal Palace and National Monument. End the night with a cone of hot chips with mayo. Mmm. -Walking tour of Amsterdam -Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration Day 25 - Amsterdam Join the 881,000 bicycles and get local on an optional city bike tour of Amsterdam's iconic canals, bridges and parks. Culture fiends, delve deeper with a visit to the 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 an optional drinks cruise on the canal. -Canal drinks cruise in Amsterdam

9 -Bike tour of Amsterdam Day 26 - Amstedam to London, England After all the Amster-damage has been done and dusted, it's time to hit the road and make tracks to ol' Blighty. Soak up all the happy group vibes you can possibly handle this is your last coach ride with the gang. #sadface. Accommodation Your trip will mainly stay in campsites. Topdeck provides comfortable, twin - share dome tents to sleep in and every passenger will have an inflatable air mattress to sleep on. If you are travelling alone, you will be paired with a tent partner of the same sex. The tents have ventilation windows, zipped-up fronts and sewn-in ground sheets. They are light and easy to erect (you will be given a demonstration at the start of the trip). You and your tent partner will be responsible for pitching your own tent, and you will generally have the same tent for the entire trip. Our camping trips encourage passenger participation in all activities - social and otherwise! The Camping trips feature some included accommodation upgrades in certain locations. On such occasions, the number of people in a room varies depending on the type of accommodation. Rooms in hostels are usually shared by four to six people. When staying in multi-share accommodation, our Camping trips operate a single-sex policy. Meals Accompanying you on your trip will be a trained Topdeck Chef who is responsible for providing any included meals. The coach will be equipped with all the utensils required for the Chef to cook dishes fresh at every destination, whether breakfast, lunch or a two-course dinner. Occasionally, some of the included meals may be in local restaurants or accommodations. A full list of included meals is in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. 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. 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 Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social

10 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.