CRUISE & BIKE THE DANUBE Saturday 21 September - Monday 14 October nights

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1 CRUISE & BIKE THE DANUBE Saturday 21 September - Monday 14 October nights CYCLING TOUR OVERVIEW A unique way to visit seven countries in central and eastern Europe and observe how despite their intertwined histories, they also have unique cultures, traditions, and influences. The tour begins in Berlin where you will spend three nights. A walking tour will tell the stories of the War and the Wall and visit the key sights. Take a day trip to Potsdam to visit the Sanssouci Palace, the summer home of Frederick the Great and Schloss Cecilienhof where in 1945 Churchill, Truman and Stalin discussed how to partition Germany. Cross the border into the Czech Republic to Prague for a bike tour of the city and a two-night stay. Then cross back into Germany to Passau, known as the Three Rivers City, lying at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. It is here you will board you boat to spend two weeks cycling and cruising along the Danube River the ultimate bike and boat trip. Riding along Austria s Danube Bend makes a stunning introduction to your journey. Ride past baroque palaces in Bratislava, Slovakia s charming capital and enjoy a city tour by scenic train. Experience traditional folklore in Budapest and Belgrade. The Iron Gates gorge, forming a border between Serbia and Romania is a halfway highlight before you pedal through the vast Pannonian Plains, across the granaries of Croatia and Serbia. Discover Vienna by bike before attending a concert at the Schonbrunn Palace. Cycle beneath the hilltop monasteries and enchanted castles of the picturesque Wachau Valley. The cycling is mostly on riverside paths or quiet country roads with lots of sights to stop and explore. There are three rest days and, if you want to take more, you always have the option to stay on board and cruise to the day s destination instead. By the end of this tour you will have experienced a feast of natural beauty, art, culture and history and biked, eaten and enjoyed your way through seven countries! TOUR HIGHLIGHTS The first three nights in the fascinating city of Berlin. The four capital cities along the Danube: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. The mighty canyon known as the Iron Gates, one of the most spectacular gorges in Europe. Kalocsa, the Paprika Capital in Hungary known for its acres of paprika peppers and annual paprika festival and centre of folk art. The commanding citadel Petrovaradin which was a significant military fort of the Austrian rulers who, at the time of Napoleon s conquests, hid their treasures here. Today it is the city s art centre. Novi Sad, the magnificent capital of the Vojvodina. The Baroque palaces in Bratislava's picturesque old town. The Drava-Nemzeti National Park, one of the largest flood plains of Europe where a colourful ecosystem can be found. The picturesque countryside of the Danube Bend. The stunning natural beauty of the Wachau region with its vineyards and castles.

2 TOUR INCLUSIONS The services of an experienced, New Zealand-based Calder & Lawson tour manager Economy class airfares 2 nights accommodation in Dubai 5 nights accommodation in 3-4 star hotels 14 nights on board MS Theodor Körner, including all meals TOUR EXCLUSIONS Airline taxes Travel insurance Personal expenses Meals not specified in the itinerary Beverages during included meals, unless specified Hotel or airport porterage Breakfast daily, other meals as specified in the itinerary All group transfers as specified in the itinerary Admissions as detailed in the itinerary All tips for local guides and other service providers Pre-tour material Left: Folk painting in Kalocsa. TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland, Share twin per person Upper Deck Cabin NZD$12,355 Promenade Deck Cabin NZD$12,600 Single Cabin (two available) NZD$12,600 Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place. GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 18 VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour, or book business class seats for the flights. Please contact us. YOUR RIVER SHIP: MS Theodor Körner This spacious, traditional ship was completely refurbished in the winter of 2013/14, and offers a comfortable atmosphere in modern Art Deco style. Excellent service and attention to detail are the priority of the captain and crew. The ship offers a restaurant, a panorama bar with a dance floor, a salon with a sunny patio as well as a broad sun deck with comfortable deck chairs. The ship has 60 cabins, taking a maximum number of 126 passengers.

3 DAILY ITINERARY Saturday 21 September 2019 Auckland Dubai Meals: In flight Sunday 22 September Dubai Overnight: Dubai Monday 23 September Dubai - Munich - Berlin /in flight Tuesday 24 September Berlin /D Wednesday 25 September Berlin Thursday 26 September Berlin - Prague Overnight: Prague Friday 27 September Prague /D Overnight: Prague Saturday 28 September Prague - Cesky Krumlov - Passau Coach: Approx. 3 hours Sunday 29 September Schlögen Danube Bend - Engelhartszell Aschach Cycling: Approx. 42kms Monday 30 September Devin Bratislava Cycling: Approx. 43kms Depart Auckland in the late evening for your overnight flight to Dubai. After an early arrival in Dubai, transfer to your hotel. A morning flight to Munich and a connecting flight on to Berlin where we will arrive in the late afternoon and be transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day will be free to relax. Explore central Berlin on a walking tour visiting highlights of the city and hearing stories of the War and the Wall. You will also have time at leisure to visit places of interest to you before a welcome dinner in the evening. After breakfast, travel to Potsdam to visit Sanssouci Palace and gardens and Cecilienhof, where history was made in 1945 as the place where the Allied powers met after the Second World War to discuss the occupation of Germany. We will make a short stop at the historic Glienicke Bridge, where secret agents and secret service met; recently made famous in the film Bridge of Spies. Travel south to Dresden for a short tour of the city. Take in the spires, towers and domes belonging to palaces, churches and stately buildings. It is hard to believe that the city was all but destroyed by the Allied bombings of Travel on to Prague. Spend the day exploring Prague, the Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, the old town square with its 15th century Astronomical Clock and the beautiful Charles Bridge. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the River Vltava tonight Travel to Passau with a stop at Cesky Krumlov to admire the exquisite Renaissance and Baroque architecture of this town before continuing to Passau to embark on the ship. Enjoy a final view of the beautiful city of Passau as you cruise into the sunset, past dark green forests before entering the lock at the Jochenstein power plant on the border between Germany and Austria. Enjoy a delightful day s cycling from Engelhartszell (Austria s only Trappist monastery) through the ruggedly romantic Danube Bend at Schlögen, one of the most beautiful sections of the river lined with sleepy farming villages. Along the way, you can drop in at one of the many inviting cider taverns. Re-join the ship in the idyllic market town of Aschach, with its long tradition of ship-building and shipping, before sailing into the night. A narrow cycle path runs along the Iron Curtain from the castle ruins in Devin to the splendid palace of Schloss Hof, which boasts one of the most magnificent Baroque gardens in Europe. There follows a stretch of untouched countryside and a short time later, arrive in the vibrant city of Bratislava. Our miniature train tour of the Slovakian capital in which Hungarian kings were once crowned begins with a glorious view from the fortress perched on a hill overlooking the city and ends with a walk through the beautifully restored historic city centre.

4 Tuesday 1 October Budapest & Excursion to Szentendre Cycling: Approx. 53kms (or rest day) Wednesday 2 October Baja Mohacs Cycling: Approx. 37kms Thursday 3 October Belgrade Friday 4 October Cataract Canyons & Iron Gates National Park Saturday 5 October Novi Sad - Ilok Cycling: Approx. 48kms Sunday 6 October Batina - Mohacs Cycling: Approx. 42kms Monday 7 October Kalocsa Solt Cycling: Approx. 50kms Tuesday 8 October Danube Bend Esztergom Cycling: Approx. 43kms Wednesday 9 October Vienna Bike excursion to Klosterneuburg, Danube Island Savour the entrance to Budapest and the stunning views of the city s most famous buildings. Discover the city that straddles the Danube on a guided tour or take a detour to the delightful little town of Szentendre with its many artists and galleries. Get a taste of the fiery Hungarian temperament at a Hungarian folklore show with traditional music and folk dance accompanied by wine and hearty local food. From the quiet Baroque town of Baja that is famous for its fish soup, you ll cycle along the flood protection dykes in the Gemenc floodplain, through sleepy river landscapes. At the end of today s stage, you take the ferry to the little town of Mohacs, Hungary s most southerly town on the Danube and famously the site of two battles with the Ottoman Turks. Explore the fun-loving Serbian capital at the confluence of the Save and the Danube by bike. Take a journey in time from the past to the present and learn about the rise and fall of Yugoslavia. In the evening, Belgrade is bathed in a sea of light. Visit a colourful folklore show with traditional dances from all parts of the country, followed by typical regional specialities in the well-known bohemian district of Skadarlija with lively folk music from a Serbian band. Experience the stunning fjord-like landscape at close quarters from the ship s deck. The river cuts through the Romanian Carpathian Mountains and the foothills of the Balkan mountain range. A spectacular landscape with steep gorges, dark forests, historic monuments and impregnable fortresses. This miracle of nature will take your breath away! The imposing Petrovaradin fortress perches high above the provincial capital of the Vojvodina. After cycling upstream along a flat cycle path, you take a ferry to reach the gentle foothills of the Fruska Gora, with its orchards, vineyards and idyllic farming villages. Everything in the medieval town of Ilok revolves around wine. In the evening you will have the opportunity to sample some famous Croatian wines at a local wine cellar. In the border triangle you cycle through small idyllic villages and endless canola fields from Croatia to Serbia and Hungary. Farmers stop their work to greet you and every so often you will meet a carriage. Enjoy the untouched Nemzeti National Park. After the ferry ride to Mohacs there will be time to visit the White Stork Museum or the memorial of the Battle of Mohacs. Kalocsa is the Paprika Capital of Hungary as the character of the town is strongly influenced by colourful houses with hand-painted, bright floral patterns and the cathedral with its towers that can be seen from a distance. Visiting the Paprika Museum, we will learn about Hungary s favourite spice. Continue your journey on the well-built cycle path along the flood protection dyke, through the vast expanse of prairie, corn fields and orchards that stretch as far as the eye can see until you reach Solt, birthplace of the famous conductor Sir Georg Solti. The Danube is framed by steep wooded hills as it flows through the picturesque, hilly landscape of the Hungarian Wachau. Set in the middle of the Danube, the delightful island of Szentendre radiates romance. As we continue our journey through picturesque villages we will be able to experience the Hungarian zest for life at first hand. The dome of the imposing basilica in Esztergom that sits high over the Danube can be seen from far and wide. Hungary s largest church, with its Tuscan-style high altar and a side chapel with red marble walls makes an interesting visit. After so many action-packed days of cycling enjoy some relaxation. See the breath-taking view of the floodplain forest of the Donauauen National Park and the impressive skyline as we sail into Vienna. Go for a ride on the Danube Island Vienna s favourite recreational area, cycle out to the nearby Klosterneuburg Abbey or wander through the vineyards on Kahlenberg. The day ends traditionally with a concert of classic waltz and operetta music in the Schonbrunn Palace.

5 Thursday 10 October Vienna Friday 11 October Wachau & Krems Melk Cycling: Approx. 37kms Saturday 12 October Passau - Munich - Dubai /in flight Overnight: Dubai Sunday 13 October Dubai - Auckland /in flight Discover Vienna: from the saddle on a guided bike tour. Ride through the historic city centre at a leisurely pace. The Ringstrasse is considered the most beautiful boulevard in the world and is home to many of Vienna s best known sights: the Imperial Palace, the Natural History Museum, the Vienna State Opera House and the town hall. Magnificent palaces, extensive parks and important monuments also line the route. Maybe the inviting coffee houses will tempt you with delicious Viennese cakes and pastries. Afterwards, there s enough time to stroll through the quaint lanes or visit the Naschmarkt, a feast for the senses. End your day in Vienna in traditional fashion at a rustic wine tavern. This final stage of your cycling tour takes you back upstream to Passau and can be described as magical! The famous Wachau Valley scenery with its picturesque villages, historic castles and monasteries set amongst apricot orchards and terraced vineyards, is one of the loveliest stretches of the river. In Weissenkirchen the cycle path is lined with cosy vintner s taverns. Enjoy the first rays of sun and the early-morning tranquillity of the Danube valley one last time. Catch a final view of the Danube Bend at Schlögen before you reach Passau. We will disembark and make our way to Munich to catch our Emirates flight in the mid afternoon to Dubai arriving at midnight. Stay overnight at a hotel in Dubai Airport. We will catch a morning flight to Auckland arriving mid morning on Monday 14 October. IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? GRADE: EASY Level 1 & 2 Although almost completely flat, this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate (level 1&2) as the daily distance ranges from 37-54km. You will be cycling on the Danube Cycle Path which follows traffic free, well paved cycle paths and some quiet country roads. One day is hilly, however you have the option of staying on board if you don t feel like cycling. There are also easy bike rides in some of the cities - an engaging way to explore a city. A limited number of electric bikes are available on the boat. Left: Budapest, Queen of the Danube HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR A deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour will become a confirmed departure. At that point we will advise when the full tour payment will be due. Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $1,000 deposit and your spot in this tour is secured. Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can down load one from the website or give us a call and we will or post one to you. TERMS & CONDITIONS Can be found on the website on the back of the paper registration form or on the summary page when you complete an online registration. VARIATIONS This itinerary is Version 2 dated 23/10/2018 and is subject to change. Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a change to the tour price.