jewels of bohemia

Since 1978

OverseasAdventure TravelSM

Jewels of Bohemia:Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

202215-Day Small Group Adventure

EXTEND YOUR TRIPPRE-TRIPS Berlin, Wittenberg, Dresden & the Elbe River Valley OR Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw

POST-TRIPS Vienna: Palaces, Music, Architecture & Sachertorte OR Transylvania: Myths, Castles & Medieval Fortresses

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended O.A.T. trips. But our most impressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.

A WORD ABOUT ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Our adventure in the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. We seek out unusual experiences, in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. Unlike most group tours, ours is a small group experience that seeks to provide a more intimate and up-close view of Central European life. Traveling with no more than 15 others, you will find that camaraderie is an integral part of the experience.

Outside of the major cities, travel and schedules here can be sometimes unpredictable, and there may be times when we cannot follow your published itinerary exactly. The sequence of places visited may vary. In these cases we ask that you bring an open mind and a sense of humor. We are experienced in responding to changing circumstances on the spot, and will do whatever it takes to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.

To best enjoy this trip, bring a sense of open curiosity and an adventurous spirit.

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers (average group size of 13)

» International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

» All land transportation

» Accommodations for 13 nights

» 30 meals—13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 8 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)

» 21 small group activities

» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader

» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure


WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE

PACING » 5 locations in 14 days with two 2-night

stays and some early mornings

» International flights to Czech Republic depart around midnight

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS » Not appropriate for travelers using

wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

» You must be able to walk 5-6 miles unassisted and participate in 4-6 hours of physical activities each day

» Agility and balance are required for embarking inflatable rafts

» We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

CLIMATE » Daytime temperatures range from 35-70°F

» The Czech Republic and Hungary have relatively temperate climates, while Slovakia may see larger seasonal changes in temperature

» The hottest months are June-August, when mid-day temperatures can reach more than 95°F

» April weather can be unpredictable and can change quickly within a short period of time

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION » Travel on some rugged paths, as well as

bumpy, cobblestone roads, both by bus and on foot; climb uneven stairways

» Travel by 30-passenger coach, 50-passenger boat, and raft

» Several drives of 3 to 5 hours each

ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES » Hotel rooms are smaller than those in the

U.S. and offer basic amenities

» All accommodations feature private baths


Jewels of Bohemia: Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION5 nights in Berlin, Wittenberg, Dresden & the Elbe River Valley

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Day 2 Arrive Berlin, Germany

Day 3 Explore Berlin

Day 4 Berlin • Optional Potsdam tour

Day 5 Berlin • Wittenberg • Meissen • Dresden

Day 6 Dresden and Elbe River Valley tour

Day 7 Dresden • Overland to Prague via Sudetenland and Terezin • Home-Hosted Lunch • Begin main trip

OR5 nights in Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Day 2 Arrive in Krakow, Poland

Day 3 Explore Krakow

Day 4 Explore Auschwitz

Day 5 Transfer to Warsaw • Explore Podgorze and Kazimierz

Day 6 Explore Warsaw • Optional Chopin recital

Day 7 Fly to Prague, Czech Republic • Join main trip

Day 1 Fly to Prague, Czech Republic

Depart the U.S. today on your overnight flight to Prague, Czech Republic.

Day 2 Arrive Prague, Czech Republic• Destination: Prague, Czech Republic• Accommodations: K+K Hotel Central

or similar

Afternoon: Depending on what time you arrive in Prague, an O.A.T. representative will meet you at the airport and assist you to your centrally-located hotel, about a 45-minute


drive. Hotel amenities may include a bar, bistro, and fitness center depending on where you stay. Typical rooms come with air-conditioning, satellite TV, safe, minibar, wireless Internet access, and private bath with hair dryer.

You’ll get to know your Trip Experience Leader and small group, including those arriving from one of our two pre-trip extensions: Berlin, Wittenberg, Dresden & the Elbe River Valley or New! Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw, at 6pm during a short orientation walk around the neighborhood.

Dinner: On your own after your orientation walk. Perhaps you’ll enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants nearby or at the hotel’s on-site bistro.

Evening: The reminder of the day is free for you to explore the area or settle into your room.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Prague on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Step back in time when you walk to the Prague Municipal House with your Trip Experience Leader: Take a tour of Prague’s most prominent Art Deco building, built between 1906 and 1912, to transport yourself to another era. Visitors can see the Municipal House’s ceremonial halls, parlors, bars, and concert halls—including the so-called “American bar,” the first watering hole in the Czech Republic into which women could enter unaccompanied by a man.

• • How to get there: About a 30- to 35-min-ute walk with your Trip Experience Leader, or a 10-minute taxi ride, about $8 USD.

• • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily; tours must be reserved in advance.

• • Cost: About $12 USD.

• Visit the Naplavka farmer’s market: Located on the banks of the Vltava River beneath the Vysehrad fortress, this Saturday market is a popular place for locals to spend their day off. Come browse the produce stalls for a tasty treat, sample Czech beer and wine, and enjoy local people-watching—all while soaking in views of the Prague Castle in the distance. If you’re not in Prague on a Saturday, don’t fret: the city boasts three additional farmer’s markets available on other days of the week; check with your Trip Experience Leader for opening days.

• • How to get there: About a 30-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride, about $8 USD.

• • Hours: 8am-2pm, Saturdays.• • Cost: Free.

• Stop to smell the roses at the Botanical Garden of the City of Prague: A wonderful oasis tucked just outside the city center, Prague’s largest botanical garden offers a place for locals and visitors alike to relax in nature. The garden boasts more than thirty hectares of manicured lawns, flower beds, and a greenhouse devoted to tropical flora. There is also a cafe on the premises and a vineyard where you can enjoy a wine tasting.

• • How to get there: About a 10-minute taxi ride, about $8 USD.

• • Hours: 9am-7pm, daily.• • Cost: About $4 USD.

Day 3 Explore Prague• Destination: Prague• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: K+K Hotel Central

or similar

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring Czech and American dishes.

Morning: Our Trip Experience Leader will lead a Welcome Briefing this morning around 8am, when we will introduce ourselves and


review our itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and emergency procedures, answer questions we may have, as well as introduce any optional tours available.

We’ll then begin our Czech Republic travel experiences with a guided walking tour of Prague with a local guide, departing the hotel early at 9am to avoid the crowds at key sites. Nestled in a bend of the Vltava River, Prague’s spires have endured to create one of Europe’s most recognizable skylines. While other European capitals were leveled during World War II, Prague survived virtually intact. We’ll witness a few of its enduring landmarks during our tour, but we’ll also head down less-visited side streets—and tuck into a family-owned café for a brief coffee break—to get a better sense of the pace of life in Prague for everyday residents.

Lunch: At a local restaurant featuring Czech cuisine after concluding our tour around 1pm.

Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, you’re free to make your own discoveries. Perhaps you’ll visit Josefov (Prague’s Jewish Quarter). The Prague Ghetto and vibrant Jewish community have contributed to Prague’s character since the tenth century. Around 6:30pm, we’ll reconvene at the hotel and walk about 5 minutes to a local restaurant.

Dinner: Around 6:30pm at a local restaurant to enjoy a Welcome Dinner featuring locally-inspired dishes. You’ll get to know your fellow travelers and we’ll toast to the adventures ahead.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll take an evening stroll in town or enjoy a Czech Pilsner at a local bar.

Day 4 Explore Prague • Controversial Topic: The ideals of the Velvet Revolution versus today’s conservative Czech politics with Zdenek Vacek• Destination: Prague• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: K+K Hotel Central

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries will feature a Controversial Topic: We’ll meet with a local professor to talk about the the Velvet Revolution, learning about his firsthand experience of life under Communism and how modern-day Czechs are divided about their attitude toward the post-Communist government and current administration. Read more about this conversation below.


Morning: We’ll board our bus around 8:30am and drive roughly 30 minutes to our first destination of the day: Strahov Monastery. Founded in 1140, this sprawling complex sits high atop Petrin Hill on the opposite side from Prague Castle. Offering visitors the same sweeping views of the city below as Prague Castle does—but without the crowds—the monastery also boasts an impressive church, a library containing a number of rare medieval manuscripts, maps, and globes, and one of the best collections of Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo paintings in central Europe.

Then around 10:30am, we’ll walk to a local café to meet with Zdenek Vacek, a local professor and lifelong Prague resident who will speak with us about a Controversial Topic: The end of Communism in 1989, and how modern-day Czechs are divided about their attitude toward the post-Communist government and current administration.


Mr. Vacek was born in Prague and grew up beneath the boot of the Communist regime. When he was six years old, his father was taken from his home and detained by Communist police, who had come to nationalize his business. During the Prague Spring of 1968, he dodged bullets fired by Soviet soldiers who had come to crack down on liberal reforms. Then in 1989, Mr. Vacek joined hundreds of thousands in Wenceslas Square—including his own students—during the Velvet Revolution, the nonviolent movement which finally led to the downfall of Czechoslovakia’s Communist government. The café where we have met Mr. Vacek is situated in the same location where this famed revolution took place.

While the end of Czech Communism was a cause for celebration for him and his compatriots, the years since have been anything but harmonious. Although liberals and intellectuals in Prague and other urban centers looked forward to a new age of democracy and enlightenment, many Czechs who live outside of the cities in rural areas feel that the post-Communist reforms have left them behind and believe they lack meaningful representation in the national government. The country’s decision to join the European Union in 2004 has been especially contentious, with some believing that their economic interests and national identity have been threatened. We’ll hear more about this side of the issue on Day 6 from the point of view of a local from Cesky Krumlov.

Today, the modern Czech Republic is a divided nation, and its scandal-plagued president, Miloš Zeman, sits at the center of the controversy. Zeman participated in the Velvet Revolution and was elected to office in 2013—the first Czech president to be directly elected by the people instead of the parliament. Zeman, however, quickly courted controversy with many liberals—Mr. Vacek

among them—accusing him of abandoning the democratic principles that drove the revolution, and instead adopting a populist agenda aimed at courting disaffected rural citizens, and favoring strong relationships with foreign authoritarian governments such as Russia and China. Zeman was then narrowly re-elected in 2018 against a liberal candidate, Jiří Drahoš, a chemist and former head of the Czech academy of sciences, by a thin but decisive margin of 51.5% to 48.5%. His re-election marked a victory for anti-immigrant, far-right forces in Czech Republic, and tilted its politics in an anti-western direction.

Zeman and his current prime minister—Andrej Babiš, a former Communist Party member, and modern-day billionaire that owns the state-run print media—are frequent targets of mass protest. Notably, in 2014, on the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a crowd of thousands greeted Zeman in Prague with angry chants of “resign, resign,” going so far as to pelt him with eggs and other objects. Many believe that the pair of leaders threatens to undo the progress made toward democracy and human rights in the 30 years since the revolution, ushering in a dark age of oligarchy—or worse, a return to Communist rule.

We’ll learn more about this controversy, availing ourselves of the unique perspective offered by Mr. Vacek—an opportunity exclusively available through O.A.T.’s local connections in the region. We’ll listen to his stories of life before the Velvet Revolution, and how he feels betrayed by President Zeman who once joined him in his fight for liberty and democracy. Our conversation with Mr. Vacek will last around an hour, with 30 minutes to ask questions and gauge your own opinion. Our Trip Experience Leader will be ready to help facilitate the conversation. As you continue your journey through Czech Republic, be sure to


pay attention to local people and ask questions as you travel between city and country, judging for yourself how opinions are split.

We conclude our conversation at around 11:30am, then walk to visit Mala Strana, which translates to “the lesser side.” Our Trip Experience Leader will introduce us to this area as we explore its streets. Mala Strana is linked to Prague’s Old Town (Stare Mesto) by the Charles Bridge. Originally an eighth-century market town, today Mala Strana is a neighborhood of cobbled streets, boutiques, and Baroque churches and palaces. As you explore with your Trip Experience Leader, you’ll witness the iconic John Lennon wall and stroll along the tree-lined lanes of Kampa Park.

Lunch: On your own starting around 1:00pm. Perhaps you’ll choose to dine at the Kampa Park Restaurant, which overlooks the Charles Bridge.

Afternoon: Free time continues into the afternoon.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try vepřo-knedlo-zelo, a local specialty made of bread dumplings, roast pork, and stewed cabbage.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish, making any final discoveries during your last night in Prague.

Day 5 Travel to Cesky Krumlov • Visit Vojna Memorial• Destination: Cesky Krumlov• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Ebersbach or similar

Activity Note: Today’s transfer to Cesky Krumlov will be about 4 hours long, broken up by intermittent stops.


Morning: We board our bus around 9:30am and begin our overland journey to Cesky Krumlov, stopping around 10:15am to visit the Vojna Memorial. Located in the middle of a forest, Vojna was originally built by German prisoners of war after World War II as a labor camp to work in the nearby uranium mines. With the Communist takeover in 1948, Vojna transitioned into a notorious forced labor camp for political prisoners. Today, the Vojna Memorial is a powerful reminder of the many Czech victims of the Communist regime.

Around 11:30am, we’ll drive about 1.5 hours and stop in Pisek, a picturesque Bohemian town founded in the 13th century on the banks of the Otava River.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Pisek around 1pm, featuring Central European cuisine.

Afternoon: We’ll depart Pisek around 3pm and drive roughly 1.5 hours to Cesky Krumlov. Upon arrival around 4:30pm, we’ll check in to our hotel. Depending on which hotel you stay in, it may feature massage facilities or a restaurant. Typical rooms offer satellite TV, minibar, safe, wireless Internet, and private bath with hair dryer. In order to preserve the integrity of the original building, air conditioning is not possible in the rooms.

Later this afternoon, join your Trip Experience Leader on an orientation walk to get acquainted with the vicinity around your hotel. The walk will conclude around 6:30pm at a local restaurant.

Dinner: At a local restaurant around 6:30pm, including locally-inspired Czech dishes.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish.


Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Cesky Krumlov on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Try your hand at traditional Czech crafts when you walk to the Cesky Krumlov Monastery with your Trip Experience Leader: Czech monasteries have a long and rich tradition in the trades, dating back to medieval times when they were considered a center of knowledge and craftsmanship. A visit to the monastery’s workshops today showcases master craftsmen—tailors, blacksmiths, potters, glass bead makers, bookbinder, shoemaker, and dyer—still at work using the same techniques that were invented hundreds of years ago. After watch-ing demonstrations, you can even try using their traditional tools yourself.

• • How to get there: About a 10-minute walk with your Trip Experience Leader.

• • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily.• • Cost: Free.

• Take a step back in time at the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel: Follow in the footsteps of some of the first photographers in the region as their photos take you on a journey through time. Discover images that date back to the late 19th to early 20th centuries, and see displays of antique cameras used to capture the photos showcased here. This is a unique experience as the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel is only one of a few museums of its kind in Europe.

• • How to get there: About a 5-minute walk.• • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily in October-April,

and 9am-6pm, daily in May-September.• • Cost: About $4 USD.

• Stroll through the lovely Castle Gardens: Spanning over 25 acres, this serene garden is a great location to relax and escape the hustle

and bustle of the city while taking in pictur-esque views of the city from afar. Designed in the baroque style in the 17th century, the manicured appearance of the garden compliments the stately stature of the Cesky Krumlov Castle. Experience the tranquility of water trickling down the garden’s fountains, behold whimsical floral designs, and soak up the beauty of nature here.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.• • Hours: 8am-5pm, daily in October-April,

and 8am-7pm, daily in May-September.• • Cost: Free.

Day 6 Explore Cesky Krumlov • Rafting on Vltava River • Home-Hosted Dinner• Destination: Cesky Krumlov• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Ebersbach or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries will feature a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Czech family. Expect simple, hearty fare as you enjoy this unique opportunity to experience a slice of everyday life in Cesky Krumlov. Read on below to learn more about this experience.

Activity Note: Early spring and fall departures may not offer the rafting excursion, and adverse weather conditions may preclude rafting at any time of year.


Morning: Around 9:45am, we’ll witness the Cesky Krumlov of today when we join a local guide on a walking tour. Nestled inside a narrow loop of the Vltava River, this romantic town with its hilltop castle was once a wealthy trading center and a favorite of European nobility. Today, its confection of red-gabled roofs, elegant bridges, and storybook castle lures lovers of history, culture, and architecture alike. Established in 1250 by the Lords of


Krumlov, the 14th through 16th centuries brought a period of great splendor to Cesky Krumlov, which became a stop along one of the main trading routes to Italy. We’ll walk the winding, cobbled streets to admire the splendidly preserved historic buildings of the medieval town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and ascend to the top of the hill to stroll through the courtyards and gardens of Cesky Krumlov Castle, a Renaissance jewel that encompasses more than 40 buildings, a castle brewery—and live bears who roam the castle’s moat. We’ll also visit the recently opened Castle Museum, which features precious artifacts previously hidden in castle depositories. After our visit, around 12:15pm, we’ll walk down from the castle back to town.

Lunch: On your own around noon. Perhaps you’ll trysvíčková, a meat dish with sirloin steak, vegetables, and a thick cream sauce.

Afternoon: We’ll have some free time to make our own discoveries before we walk to a peaceful rafting excursion through the historical heart of Cesky Krumlov around 3pm, discovering this city from a different perspective. We’ll paddle about three miles on the gentle waters of the undulating Vltava River, with six travelers and an instructor in each raft. This 1.5-hour-long trip is easy enough for the novice but passes through parts of the city that will charm the more experienced rafters as well. Following our rafting adventure, you’ll have some free time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: Around 6pm, we’ll drive approximately 30 minutes to tonight’s special dinner location—in the the home of a local Czech family to enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner.

In an even smaller group of no more than 5 people, you’ll enjoy a taste of Czech culture and engage in lively conversation over a dinner of freshly-prepared, home-cooked dishes. Some

traditional favorites you may enjoy would be rajska, a traditional creamy tomato sauce served over bread dumplings and boiled beef, or knedlo vepro zelo—roasted pork with dumplings and sauerkraut.

This experience offers us a rare opportunity to connect with local culture on a more intimate level: In our hosts’ homes, we’ll see the family go about their evening routine and witness what life is like in this small town in South Bohemia. As you get to know your hosts, take the time to ask questions and get a better sense of not just local Czech culture, but also family dynamics and culinary traditions.

Evening: We’ll arrive back at the hotel around 8:30pm tonight. You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish.

Day 7 Explore Vyssi Brod Monastery • A conversation about restitution and property rights in Sudetenlands • Treetop hike at Lipno Lake• Destination: Cesky Krumlov• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel Ebersbach or similar


Morning: We’ll gather in a meeting room in our hotel around 8am to meet Oli, a local from Cesky Krumlov, and engage in a conversation about the controversy surrounding the Sudetenland region in western Czech Republic.

Following World War II, thousands of ethnic Germans were expelled from this region. The expulsion was a direct result of the German occupation of Czech Republic (then known as Czechoslovakia), beginning in 1938 and remaining throughout the war. Czech resistance groups demanded the deportation of ethnic Germans from their country and sought


the Allied Nations’ support. In the months following the end of World War II, Czech president Edvard Beneš gave his support of this idea as well, calling it the “final solution of the German question.”

However, the end of the war also brought about widespread chaos—central governments were unstable and it was difficult to carry out the deportations with any formal process. Many expulsions were carried out by local authorities, mostly consisting of armed volunteers. Several thousand Sudeten Germans died during the expulsion—some violently, others succumbing to hunger and illness.

In the deportation order’s original plan, only a few hundred thousand Sudeten Germans were to be affected, individuals that had been disloyal to Czechoslovakia and had acted as Hitler’s “fifth column” during the occupation. Yet as the Nazi atrocities in occupied Czechoslovakia escalated, Czech resistance groups—as well as a majority of the Czech population—called for the deportation of even more Germans, regardless of whether there had been an investigation or even an inference of guilt. In the end, around 1.6 million Sudeten Germans were deported to West Germany while another estimated 800,000 were sent to Soviet-controlled East Germany.

Oli’s family experienced this expulsion firsthand: Her grandfather’s fiancée, pregnant with their child, was deported from Cesky Krumlov because she was Sudeten German. Her family’s home was then given to a Czech family. She gave birth in West Germany—then known as the American zone—but in the interim, Czech Republic had fallen under Communist rule. It was therefore many years before Oli’s family was able to be reunited. This is a tragic tale, but sadly one of many, and we will learn

from her how this experience remains a bitter subject in areas of Czech Republic that used to be Sudetenland, like Cesky Krumlov.

Since the collapse of Communism, however, Sudeten German representatives in Bavaria have been pressing the Czech Republic for the return of properties that families had been stripped of during the expulsion. Other Sudeten Germans merely seek reconciliation with the country their families once called home. Over 75 years later, the scars of this period time have yet to heal, with Czechs falling on either side of the issue. During our 1-hour conversation with Oli, we’ll listen to her story and have plenty of time to ask our own questions. Opportunities to meet with locals and learn about the issues affecting them can occasionally be emotional and challenging—but we believe they are the best way to really get to know the heart of a destination.

Then around 9am, we’ll board our bus and drive 45 minutes outside Cesky Krumlov and your Trip Experience Leader will guide a tour of Vyssi Brod Monastery, a Cistercian monastery with roots that stretch back to the middle of the 13th century. Considered the spiritual center of South Bohemia, the monastery also features a richly decorated library that dates back to the Baroque period. At the onset of World War II, the religious order lost control of the monastery—first to the Nazis, and then to the Soviets. Following the Velvet Revolution, the monastery was returned to the monks, who have begun restoring it to its former glory. Our tour concludes around 11:30am and we’ll then drive about 30 minutes to the small town of Rozmberk nad Vltavou.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Rozmberk nad Vltavou around 12pm featuring typical Czech cuisine.


Afternoon: Following lunch, we’ll drive roughly 40 minutes to Lipno Lake, a body of water created by damming the Vltava River. Here, we’ll enjoy a “treetop hike” along a long wooden walkway for views of the surrounding Sumava countryside, the massive lake, and the distant Alps. After our hike around 3:45pm, we’ll depart for Cesky Krumlov, arriving around 4:45pm.

Dinner: On your own. The town hosts a variety of restaurant options including medieval taverns, a barbecue cellar, and even an Italian pizzeria.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll take one last stroll through town or rest up for tomorrow’s transfer to Slavonice.

Day 8 Budvar Brewery in Ceske Budejovice • Explore Trebon • Slavonice• Destination: Slavonice• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Dom u Ruze

or similar

Activity Note: Today’s transfer to Slavonice will be about 3 hours long, with stops along the way.


Morning: We depart Cesky Krumlov by bus around 8:15am for an overland journey to Slavonice. En route, we’ll stop around 9:15am in southern Bohemia’s regional capital, Ceske Budejovice, to visit the famous Budweiser Budvar Brewery for a tour led by a brewery worker. While the history of brewing in Ceske Budejovice dates back to the 13th century, Budweiser Budvar was founded here in 1895 (the U.S. brewer chose the name Budweiser in 1876 because it was synonymous for superior beer).

After our brewery tour around 10:30am, we’ll drive about an hour then stop in Trebon, an ancient walled town set among rolling hills and ancient fish ponds. Established in the middle of the twelfth century, Trebon has been a popular center of Czech fish farming since the Middle Ages and remains a picturesque spa town. There is also a brewery here that has been producing Bohemia Regent lager since 1379. We’ll stroll through the park surrounding Trebon’s Renaissance-era chateau, and visit the town center to admire the series of pastel-colored burghers’ houses and ancient fortifications.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Trebon around noon featuring regional fare.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll have around 30 minutes of free time to explore independently. Then we’ll walk about 15 minutes to our private motorcoach and depart Trebon around 2:30pm, continuing on to Slavonice. We’ll arrive around 3:45pm and have time to settle in at our centrally-located hotel, which may feature a pool, sauna, and restaurant, and typical rooms include satellite TV, wireless Internet access, minibar, and private bath. Around 4:45pm, we’ll reconvene in our hotel lobby and walk approximately 5 minutes to our next discovery: an hour-long, hands-on visit to a local ceramics workshop from 5pm to 6pm. Our creations will be fired, then delivered to our hotel tomorrow.

Afterwards, we’ll walk back to our hotel to meet our private motorcoach which will take us to to our dinner destination; around a 5-minute drive.

Dinner: Around 6:30pm, we’ll enjoy dinner together a local restaurant, including local dishes.


Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a nightcap in town or at the hotel’s restaurant.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Slavonice on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Walk to the Slavonice Community House with your Trip Experience Leader: While the community house you’ll explore today features a visitor center, café, and exhibition hall, this building has a complicated his-tory that you’ll dive into during your visit. Established in 1932, the community house was built solely for Germans, meaning the local Jewish and Czech populations were banned from entering the building. When the Germans were pushed out after World War II, plans were put in place to reconstruct the community center as a cinema, but the renovation was never completed. Eventually in 2013, the building was redesigned to be the community house you see today, which is open to everyone.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk with your Trip Experience Leader.

• • Hours: Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: Free.

• Ascend the Church of Our Lady’s Assumption Tower: Walk up 176 steps to the top of this tower to take in panoramic views of the village below. See the area from a different perspective here as you take in overhead views of the red-roofed buildings neatly lined in rows, verdant fields beyond the village, and people going about their daily lives.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.• • Hours: Daily.• • Cost: About $2 USD.

• Step inside the carving studio of Jiří Netík: Known for his incredibly distinct and detailed sculptures, Jiří Netík is revered in the local community and beyond. Notable icons like the crown prince of Liechtenstein and former Pope Benedict XVI own original pieces de-signed by Netík. Explore his carving studio to see where he gains inspiration and creates his sculptures. You may also learn about how the creative spirit runs in his family as his wife and son are also artists. It is recommended that you call the studio to plan the date and time of your visit.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.• • Hours: Daily in July-August.• • Cost: About $2 USD.

Day 9 Slavonice • A Day in the Life of a Czech farming village• Destination: Slavonice• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Dom u Ruze

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries will feature A Day in the Life of a rural Czech farming village. We’ll meet with the farm owner, help out with some of the chores, and learn about everyday farming life during lunch with our hosts. Depending on your departure, today’s A Day in the Life experience will take place either at a horse farm in Placovice (described below) or a goat farm in Penikov. Read more about this experience below.


Morning: We’ll be joined during breakfast by community leader Roman Steffl, who will set the stage for today’s activities—experiencing our A Day in the Life of a rural Czech village. Roman was born and raised in Slavonice, and his love for his small town led him to become a leader of cultural life and to work


to preserve local traditions. Roman is also a professional musician and founder of a local Slavonice band. Currently, he is a technical director at the Slavonice Cultural House, an organization which plans concerts, workshops, and cultural projects for the community; he also runs charity projects for children from disadvantaged families. In his spare time, Roman gives guitar lessons at the local musical school and organizes free concerts with one of the two bands he plays with. As we get to know Roman, we’ll also begin to appreciate how important community is in his small town.

We’ll say goodbye for now to Roman as we’ll see him later on today, then depart our hotel around 8:45am and continue on with our day’s discoveries: Taking advantage of our small group size, we’ll spend some time getting to know a farm owner (or a family member) and learn what everyday life is really like on a rural farm in the Czech Republic. Depending on your departure, you will either visit a horse farm or a goat farm. For those who visit the horse farm, we’ll journey about about 20 minutes outside Slavonice to the small village of Placovice. There are only eight buildings in the whole town, laid out in the shape of a horseshoe. The region also once belonged to Sudeten Germans who were forced to leave Czechoslovakia in 1946 (which we learn about on Day 6).

We’ll be greeted there by farm owner Olga Guevarová and her husband Pavel around 9:15am. Olga has loved horses since she was a little girl of six, when her neighbor’s grandfather—and paternal figure to young Olga—first helped her up onto one of his ponies. The daughter of a Czech mother and Nicaraguan father, Olga experienced bullying at a young age due to her dark coloring and was often called a “gypsy.” Her love of horses helped her deal with the bullying—when she was old enough, Olga spent all her spare time helping her neighbor with his horses and

learned to ride them. After eight years of work, she was able to buy her own horse and rent a stable. Today, Olga breeds and trains all the horses on her farm to prepare them for horse shows and to sell or lease them.

After getting to know our hosts, we’ll head outside to take part in some of the farm’s daily chores—perhaps learning how to brush and feed the horses. Then we’ll enjoy a horse-training demonstration at around 11am. Olga practices what is known as “horse whispering”—a variety of natural horsemanship that takes an empathetic approach to training. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the main house around 11:30am to help prep the midday meal together.

Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll sit down around a crackling bonfire and enjoy a hearty lunch featuring traditional cuisine. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about daily life on the farm. We’ll also have a chance to speak more with Olga’s mother, Ludmila, listening to her stories and learning what farm life is like for her. A former tour guide, Ludmila met her husband, Olga’s father, while studying at university. For most of her life she lived in the city of Prague, a metropolis when compared with little Placovice. And while she sometimes feels very much like a city mouse in the country, Ludmila packed up and moved her life to this rural village to help her daughter realize her dream of owning and operating the horse farm.

Afternoon: At 1:30pm, we’ll depart the farm to return to Slavonice. Upon arrival around 2pm, we’ll meet up again with community leader Roman. Roman will welcome us into his home, giving us the chance to see the differences between life in the countryside and in town. During the hour of so we spend with Roman, feel free to ask him any questions you have about the tight-knit Slavonice community.


We’ll return back to our hotel around 3:15pm, and then you’ll have some time to relax or continue exploring the town’s medieval streets on your own. If you’d like, around 6pm you may choose to visit a nearby 700-year-old wine cellar for a tasting featuring local vintages.

Dinner: We’ll gather together around 6:30pm for a festive dinner at our hotel’s restaurant complete with traditional Moravian music.


Day 10 Slavonice • Explore Trebic and Lednice • Travel to Bratislava, Slovakia• Destination: Bratislava, Slovakia• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: AC Hotel by Marriott

Bratislava Old Town or similar


Morning: We leave the Czech Republic around 8:30am by bus and travel to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. En route, we’ll stop for a visit to Trebic around 10:30am, an ancient Moravian city that is home to one of Europe’s best preserved Jewish ghettos—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jewish and Christian cultures co-existed here from the Middle Ages up to the 20th century, and our hour-long stroll will take us to Trebic’s ancient synagogue.

Lunch: At a cozy cafe in Trebic around 11:30am featuring traditional Czech cuisine.

Afternoon: Then, around 12:30pm, we continue on to Lednice, arriving about two hours later. Over the centuries, the region surrounding Lednice (and its twin town of Valtice) has been carefully landscaped with a series of woodlands, lakes, streams, gardens, and tree-lined chateaux—all of which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When we arrive, we’ll head to Lednice Castle. We’ll meet with a local guide around 2:30pm, and they will take us on a tour of the immense structure, which was built in the Neo-Gothic style; then we’ll get to wander among the tropical plants in the Castle’s original iron-framed greenhouse.

We continue our transfer a little after 4pm, arriving in Bratislava around 5:15pm to check in to our hotel. Typical rooms have coffee- and tea-making facilities, safes, minibars, flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet, and private bath, while amenities may include a restaurant, pool, sauna, and steam rooms. We enjoy some time to relax before our Trip Experience Leader leads us on a brief orientation walk of our surroundings at 6:30pm.

Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant featuring local specialties.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll begin your discoveries in Bratislava this evening by enjoying a nightcap at one of the bars or restaurants located within walking distance of the hotel.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Bratislava on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Discover Slovakian art when you take a taxi to the Danubiana Art Museum with your Trip Experience Leader: One of Europe’s newest modern art museums, the Danubiana hosts a permanent collection featuring some of Slovakia’s most renowned modern artists, as well as artists from abroad, and a rotating se-lection of visiting exhibits. After strolling the museum’s halls to admire the art, consider having a tea or coffee on the rooftop terrace,


which offers dramatic views of the Danube. Or, take a walk through the museum’s mani-cured grounds and sculpture park.

• • How to get there: An 35-minute taxi ride with your Trip Experience Leader, about $30 USD each way.

• • Hours: 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: About $12 USD; free for those over 75.

• Take in panoramic views from the UFO restaurant: Board an elevator and ascend to the UFO restaurant, which offers stunning views of the city below, including the New Bridge—one of the world’s biggest hanging bridges. You may choose to dine in the revered restaurant’s dining room, or simply enjoy the sights. If you would like to dine at the UFO restaurant, reservations are encour-aged because a table is not always guaranteed.

• • How to get there: A 30- to 35-minute walk.• • Hours: 10am-11pm, daily.• • Cost: About $8 USD.

• Behold the art housed at the Nedbalka Gallery: Located on an older street in Bratislava, the Nedbalka Gallery fuses history and modernity. Showcasing more than 1,000 pieces of art created by more than 80 local artists, the gallery is most notable for its modern 19th- and 20th-century art pieces. In addition to enjoying the works on display here, notice the modern architectural style of the gallery’s interior.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.• • Hours: 1pm-7pm, Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: About $5 USD.

Day 11 Explore Bratislava • Optional Jewels of Slovakia tour• Destination: Bratislava• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: AC Hotel by Marriott

Bratislava Old Town or similar

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring Slovakian and American dishes.

Morning: Just as in the Czech Republic, the Velvet Revolution spelled the end of Communism for Slovakia, a densely forested country with towering mountains in Central Europe’s heartland. Its capital, Bratislava, is situated along the Danube in Slovakia’s southwestern tip, close to the border with Hungary and Austria. Our morning walking tour will begin around 9am with a local guide and focus on Bratislava’s compact Old Town, home to a variety of 14th- and 15th-century structures that include the Old Town Hall, the Neo-classical Archbishop’s Palace, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a Gothic coronation church where several Hungarian Habsburg kings and queens were crowned.

Lunch: After our walking tour, we’ll head to a local restaurant around noon to enjoy lunch together, including local dishes.

Afternoon: During your free afternoon, perhaps you’ll check out the sweeping views of the city from the ramparts of Bratislava Castle, whose origins stretch back to the days of the Roman Empire. Or, you may choose to join our optional Jewels of Slovakia tour that includes a wine-tasting at a family-owned winery, a light dinner, and a visit to a traditional blueprinting workshop—a Slovak folk art that involves printing intricate patterns on white fabric.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll savor a hearty bowl of kapustnica—cabbage soup with sauerkraut, potatoes, mushrooms, ham, and


garlic. If you join the Optional Tour, a light dinner is included and you will return to the hotel around 8pm.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You might choose to take in one last view of the Danube illuminated at night.

Day 12 Bratislava • Explore Roman ruins at Carnuntum • Travel to Budapest, Hungary• Destination: Budapest, Hungary• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel President Budapest

or similar

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring Slovakian and American dishes.

Morning: After breakfast, we depart Bratislava around 8:30am by bus and begin our journey to Budapest, Hungary. En route, we’ll stop at the Roman city of Carnuntum around 9:15am, which began as a Roman army camp along the Danube River in what is now Austria. At its peak, some 50,000 people lived here, and after 1,700 years Carnuntum’s ancient glory is currently being recreated from the site’s extensive ruins. After our roughly 2-hour visit, including a tour of the open-air museum, we cross into northwestern Hungary, stopping in Gyor around 12:30pm, an ancient city situated at the confluence of the Danube, Rába, and Rábca rivers.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around 12:30pm in Gyor featuring regional dishes.

Afternoon: We’ll take a stroll to admire the Baroque and Neo-classical structures in Gyor’s pedestrian-only historic core then depart for the final leg of our journey to Budapest around 2:30pm. We’ll arrive around 4:30pm and check in to our centrally-located hotel that may feature a restaurant, and typical rooms includes a safe, minibar, satellite TV, and private bath.

Our Trip Experience Leader will guide us on a brief walk around the hotel’s vicinity before some free time to settle in.

Dinner: We’ll depart our hotel around 6pm and enjoy a stroll to a local restaurant where we’ll enjoy dinner together around 6:30pm, including local specialties.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll indulge in a popular beverage of Budapest, fröccs, which is a refreshing mixture of wine and soda water.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Budapest on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Take a dip in the Széchenyi Thermal Bath af-ter you take public transportation there with your Trip Experience Leader: “The Queen of the Danube” holds another significant title as the “City of Spas.” Because of the abundance of thermal baths here, spa culture has become a large part of Budapest’s society. For centuries, people have enjoyed the medicinal properties and soothing affects of the baths located along the Danube River. Aqua therapy is a common healing technique recommended by doctors, which is another way these spas are utilized. Slip into the thermal waters here and relax alongside locals enjoying the warm natural spas too.

• • How to get there: A 20- to 30-minute ride on public transportation with your Trip Experience Leader.

• • Hours: 6am-10pm, daily.• • Cost: About $22 USD.

• Learn how to cook like a local at Budapest Makery: Browse through a menu of tradition-al dishes, like lecsó—a vegetable stew—and select one that you’ll prepare during your


visit. All of the ingredients will be delivered to you at a station here, along with a tablet that will feature a step-by-step video of the recipe. This unique experience not only teaches you how to prepare a traditional dish but also allows you to be in charge of the full preparation of the dish.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.• • Hours: 12pm-8pm, Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: About $25 USD.

• Catch an organ concert at St. Stephen’s Basilica: Enter the imposing St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the most important cathedrals in Hungary, to enjoy an organ concert. Behold the neoclassical architectural style of the site while you sit back and relax to the soothing rhythms of the music.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.• • Hours: 8pm, daily.• • Cost: About $35 USD.

Day 13 Explore Budapest • Controversial Topic: The negative impact of Roma school segregation with Romani woman Judit Ignacz • Evening Danube River cruise• Destination: Budapest• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel President Budapest

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries will feature the Controversial Topic of school segregation between Roma and Hungarian children. We’ll speak to a local Romani woman and educational volunteer about the inequalities this segregation creates for Romani children, her own firsthand experience of being Romani in Hungary, and the steps programs like the Uccu Roma Informal Educational Foundation are taking to bridge the educational gap. Read below to learn more about this conversation.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring Hungarian and American dishes.

Morning: With a local guide, we depart by bus and embark on a morning city tour of the undisputed “Queen of the Danube” today around 9am. Budapest is divided by the river, with Pest (the left bank) to its east, and Buda (the right bank) to its west. A popular destination for international travelers, Budapest’s iconic landmarks are often bustling with visitors. We’ll stroll down side streets to uncover hidden highlights and witness unmissable sites like Pest’s city center and Buda’s Castle Hill—a massive castle complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site—from a local vantage point.

Then around 9:45am, we will re-board our private motorcoach and head toward the Jewish Quarter, arriving around 10am. Originally a ghetto during WWII, Budapest’s Jewish Quarter today is a lively district full of art galleries, shops, and bustling courtyards. During our one-hour guided tour we’ll witness such sights as the Great Synagogue—the largest in Europe—its Moorish design further enhanced by Byzantine, Romantic, and Gothic elements. Around 11am, we’ll finish our explorations here and drive 15 minutes to an area of the city more off the beaten path: District 8.

District 8, or Józsefváros, is where the majority of Budapest’s Roma population can be found. While distinctly less glamorous than the more touristed areas of Budapest (and considered a “no-go zone” for local Hungarians) its charming side streets, pop-up shops, and little cafes offer visitors a respite from the tourist crowds. Here, we will meet Judit Ignacz, a local Romani woman and educational volunteer, who will share with us the Controversial Topic of segregation in schools between Roma and Hungarian children and its negative impact on Romani citizens.


The Roma, once more commonly referred to as “gypsies,” are the largest ethnic minority in Europe. In Hungary alone, over 750,000 of its citizens are of Romani background—and have been subjected to violence and official persecution based purely on their race. They also suffer from extreme poverty, poor health care, and inadequate housing. This cycle of poverty has been allowed to continue as the education system is not designed to serve this at-risk community, but instead practices segregation between Roma and Hungarian children. In fact, 61% of Roma children attend schools in which all or most of the children are also Roma. Many of these schools provide a lower quality of education—yet addressing segregation does not appear to be a priority for the government.

Barely a fifth of Romani students complete secondary education and only one percent continues on to college or a trade school. And while Hungary was one of the twelve countries with significant Roma minorities that participated in the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015), this educational segregation has increased, with 30% to 44% of Roma children affected since 2013. Romani people also face significantly lower life expectancy and higher levels of poverty, which can be attributed to this lower educational standard. A recent study by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office revealed that among Roma between the ages of 15 and 64, a staggering 80% had not achieved 8 or more years of schooling. This included 16% of Roma people who had not finished primary school and another 63% who did not complete secondary education, compared to a mere 1% to 9% of non-Roma citizens.

These grim statistics—coupled with her own life experience—compelled Judit to become a Uccu Roma Informal Educational Foundation volunteer. The Uccu Foundation was established in 2010 initially as an answer

to a series of racially motivated hate crimes against Roma people in Hungary between 2008 and 2009. The current number of young Roma volunteers like Judit is only around 45, but still growing. These young Roma are driven by an intrinsic motivation to fight against prejudice and stereotypes, which they themselves have often experienced firsthand. The foundation provides an opportunity for primary and secondary school Romani students from all over Hungary to meet and engage in a meaningful conversation with their young Roma peers.

Judit will first take us on an hour-long walking tour of the neighborhood, during which she will engage us in interactive conversation. Then we will settle into a local café where we will have around 30 minutes to ask Judit any questions we may have. Throughout, Judit will share with us her own personal experiences growing up Roma in Hungary—and the acts of discrimination she has endured due to her ethnicity. Judit will describe the numerous challenges she and her fellow Roma people face on a daily basis, such as being followed by security while shopping, denied access to clubs, and experiencing racism on public transportation. She’ll also share the struggles of landing a job, renting an apartment, and catching up with educational studies after graduating from a segregated Roma school.

While this Controversial Topic may be emotionally challenging, it’s necessary to understand every aspect of Hungary, and travelers often find it a rewarding and eye-opening experience. We’ll thank Judit and say goodbye around 12:45pm, after which we’ll drive back to our hotel.

Lunch: Our city tour will wrap up around 1pm. At this time, you can enjoy lunch on your own at the Great Market Hall, the oldest and largest indoor market in Budapest where you can enjoy local Hungarian specialties.


Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon to make your own discoveries. You may wish to head to the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion for panoramic views of the city, or spend some time at the famous Chain Bridge, which was first opened in 1849 to link the two provincial towns of Buda and Pest, and now stands as a symbol of Hungarian liberty.

Dinner: Your free time continues into the evening for you to enjoy dinner on your own. From old-fashioned taverns to more modernized eateries, Budapest offers an array of restaurant choices.

Evening: Around 8:30pm, we’ll depart our hotel by bus and drive roughly 30 minutes to tonight’s activity. We’ll gather for an hour-long evening cruise on the Danube River—an opportunity to witness Budapest’s monuments illuminated, from Pest’s Danube Promenade to the Buda Castle District. We’ll return to the hotel around 10:30pm.

Day 14 Explore Budapest• Destination: Budapest• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel President Budapest

or similar


Morning: We’ll depart our hotel around 9am and take a short 10-minute subway ride to Parliament Square, home to one of Europe’s oldest legislative bodies, the imposing riverside Hungarian Parliament Building. In the square, we’ll meet a local expert around 9:15am to learn about the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, a time when students and workers took to the streets of Budapest in the first major threat to Soviet control of the region. Following our tour, we’ll walk to a local restaurant for lunch.

Lunch: Around noon, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, featuring regional cuisine.

Afternoon: After lunch, you have the remainder of the afternoon to make more independent discoveries in Budapest. Perhaps you’ll visit Heroes’ Square where you can witness a memorial to the great leaders in Hungary’s history, including the Millennium Monument. Around 5:45pm, we’ll meet at our hotel and reminisce on the highlights of our adventure and then walk to our dinner location together.

Dinner: Enjoy a Farewell Dinner of locally-inspired dished around 6:45pm at a local restaurant to celebrate our travel experiences.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a final nightcap in the city, or rest up for tomorrow’s return home.

Day 15 Return to U.S. or begin post-trip extension• Included Meals: Breakfast


Morning: Depending on your specific flight arrangements, you’ll transfer about 45 minutes to the airport sometime this morning for your return flight home. Or, begin your post-trip extension to either Vienna: Palaces, Music, Architecture & Sachertorte or New! Transylvania: Myths, Castles & Medieval Fortresses.


END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION5 nights in Vienna: Palaces, Music, Architecture & Sachertorte

Day 1 Budapest, Hungary • Transfer to Vienna

Day 2 Explore Vienna • Heurigen Wine Dinner

Day 3 Vienna • Belvedere Palace

Day 4 Explore Vienna • Optional Footsteps of the Great Composers tour

Day 5 Vienna • Schoenbrunn Palace

Day 6 Vienna • Return to U.S.

OR6 nights in Transylvania: Myths, Castles & Medieval Fortresses

Day 1 Budapest, Hungary • Transfer to Brasov, Romania

Day 2 Brasov • Visit Bran Castle

Day 3 Brasov • Explore Sighisoara • Sibiu

Day 4 Explore Sibiu

Day 5 Explore Sibiu • Optional Inside a Transylvanian Village tour

Day 6 Sibiu • Explore Bucharest

Day 7 Bucharest • Return to U.S.


OPTIONAL TOURS

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.

Jewels of Slovakia(Day 11 $80 per person)

Experience a sampling of the best Slovakia has to offer when we visit a local winery. First, you’ll enjoy a wine-tasting before interacting with the family who owns the winery to discuss their daily life and wine production in the area. Then, you’ll participate in a traditional blueprinting workshop. Learn more about blueprinting—a Slovak folk art that involves printing intricate patterns on white fabric—during conversations with the artist and hands-on activities.

Please note: In order for this optional tour to operate, a minimum of seven travelers must participate.


PRE-TRIP Berlin, Wittenberg, Dresden & the Elbe River Valley

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Bus transportation from Dresden to Prague

» Accommodations for 3 nights in Berlin at the Maritim Hotel or similar, and 2 nights in Dresden at the Hyperion Hotel or similar

» 11 meals—5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners




» All transfers

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARYExplore Berlin, the divided city that has blossomed anew in the era of reunification. Then discover how Dresden, Germany’s artistic hub for centuries before the destruction of World War II, has risen from the ashes, fully restored and gleaming.

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S. today on your international flight to Berlin.

Day 2 Arrive Berlin, Germany• Destination: Berlin, Germany• Accommodations: Maritim proArte Hotel

Berlin or similar

Afternoon: After an overnight flight, an O.A.T. representative will meet us at the airport and assist with your transfer to the centrally-located hotel. Depending on where you stay, amenities may include a restaurant, café, bar, and fitness center. Typical rooms feature satellite TV, wireless Internet, safe, minibar, and private bath with hair dryer. Upon arrival around 5:15pm, we’ll take part in a short briefing from our Trip Experience Leader.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try a local specialty eisbein (pork knuckle). In Berlin, the knuckle is boiled in sauerkraut for several hours until the meat is tender enough to fall off the bone.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You may choose to use this time to settle in, or begin your explorations of Berlin.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Berlin on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Visit Botanischer Garden, named one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Let the variety of international flora enchant you as you stroll through a transplanted trop-ical rainforest. While the gardens are close in


proximity to Berlin’s main attractions, the peaceful environment feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. After you’ve stimulated your senses in the greenhouse portion, deepen your discoveries with a visit to the Botanical Museum. Here, you’ll witness the unique biological and archaeological findings as you examine the collections of three passionate, renowned botanists.

• • How to get there: Approximately 30 min-utes from hotel by public transportation

• • Hours: 9am-8pm daily• • Cost: $7

• The Chamaleon is Germany’s leading attraction in contemporary theater. This exciting new art form deliberately blurs the boundaries between acrobatics, dance, music, and theater—in order to create something thrilling and cutting-edge. Located in the center of Berlin, this company has been entertaining audiences since 2004. The group describes themselves as “committed to presenting innovative circus productions from all over the world in a warm, beautiful space where hospitality is our top priority.”

• • How to get there: 20-minute walk from your hotel, or one stop away on the com-muter train.

• • Hours: 12-6pm Mondays, 12-8pm Tuesdays- Fridays, 12-9:30pm Saturdays, 12-6pm Sundays

• • Cost: $40-$60 depending on the show

• Visit Bikini Berlin, a self-described “oasis in the heart of the city, an urban hub and social universe.” The modern complex features shopping, restaurants, work spaces, and a movie theater. To enjoy a panoramic view of Berlin, head up to the green rooftop terrace free of charge and enjoy a peaceful manicured atmosphere in an otherwise busy city. You can even see the animals moseying around the zoo next door. This is an ideal excursion for those looking to immerse themselves

in German culture, whether by interacting with local store owners or grabbing a tradi-tional bite.

• • How to get there: 15 minutes from your hotel by public transportation

• • Hours: 10am-8pm Monday through Saturday, closed on Sundays

• • Cost: Free

Day 3 Explore Berlin• Destination: Berlin• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Maritim proArte Hotel

Berlin or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring German and American dishes.

Morning: Today, we’ll depart our hotel by bus around 9am to see Berlin’s highlights on an included city tour. The second-largest urban area in Europe, Berlin is an enormous city, but most of its iconic sites are relatively close together. Divided at the end of World War II, blockaded by the Soviets during the Cold War, riven by a cruel grey wall, and finally delivered by the sledgehammers of freedom fighters, Berlin is once again a united city. We’ll discover many facets of history on our tour which includes a look at the outside of the Olympic Stadium (made infamous by the 1936 Summer Olympics) and the exterior of pre-World War II Tempelhof Airport.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around 1pm, featuring local specialties.

Afternoon: After lunch around 2:30pm, we conclude our discovery walk with a visit to the Berlin Wall Documentation Center. Then around 4pm, use your newfound knowledge of Berlin to explore the city on your own. Perhaps you’ll like to explore Schloss Charlottenburg, the largest remaining palace in the city.


Dinner: We’ll gather for a Welcome Dinner around 6:30pm at a restaurant near our hotel.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You may choose to enjoy a glass of Berliner Weisse at a nearby bar, a popular sour beer that is often served in a bowl-shaped vessel with raspberry syrup.

Day 4 Berlin • Optional Potsdam tour• Destination: Berlin• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Maritim proArte Hotel

Berlin or similar

Activity Note: The Optional Tour is not available on Mondays or any other day that Cecilienhof Palace is closed.


Morning: Explore Berlin on your own today. The city’s lakes and forests provide retreats in an urban setting, while its divided history has led to a unique collection of architectural styles. If you find yourself in the old Soviet sector of the city, keep your eyes open for extant Ampelmannchen, the “little traffic light man” who adorned East German traffic lights.

Or, you may wish to join an optional tour around 8:30am to historic Potsdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features Sanssouci Park, Cecilienhof Palace, the New Garden, and Glienicke Bridge.

Lunch: On your own today. Your Trip Experience Leader is happy to provide local restaurant recommendations. Those travelers who joined the optional tour will enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant around 1pm.

Afternoon: Continue your free day into the afternoon—or if you joined the optional tour, return to Berlin around 3pm.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try a regional specialty, königsberger klopse (German meatballs) served in a white sauce flavored with lemon and capers.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You may choose to see a show at the CHAMÄLEON Theatre, known for its innovative circus productions.

Day 5 Berlin • Wittenberg • Meissen • Dresden• Destination: Dresden• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hyperion Hotel Dresden

or similar

Activity Note: Our total transfer time today is up to 5 hours, with stops along the way.


Morning: We check out of our hotel this morning and board a bus around 8am for Dresden. First, we stop in Wittenberg around 9:45am and enjoy a short walking tour with our Trip Experience Leader in this city that’s famous for its connection to Protestant leaer Martin Luther. Around 11am, we continue to Meissen.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Meissen around 1:15pm, featuring local specialties.

Afternoon: After lunch around 2:30pm, our Trip Experience Leader guides an informative stroll of this European center of porcelain, set on the banks of the Elbe with its castle and soaring Gothic cathedral.


An hour-long drive through scenic forests and farmlands brings us to Dresden around 4:30pm. We’ll have some time to relax after we check into our centrally-located hotel. Depending on which hotel you stay in, it may feature a restaurant, lounge, bar, and fitness center. Typical rooms include a safe, wireless Internet, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and private bath with hairdryer, robe, and slippers. Around 6pm, our Trip Experience Leader will then lead us on a short vicinity walk on the way to dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant around 6:30pm, featuring regional cuisine.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll begin your explorations of Dresden with a famous sweet treat. Dresdner Eierschecke is a three-layered sheet cake which includes vanilla pudding, sponge cake, and egg whites.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Dresden on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Visit Dresden Royal Palace: For almost 400 years, this royal palace served as the residence of the electors and kings of Saxony. Today, it is a museum complex divided into five sections: Historic and New Green Vault; Numismatic Cabinet; Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs; Dresden Armory with the Turkish Chamber; and the Dresden State Art Collections. The building itself is also well-known for it’s varied architectural styles, including Baroque and Neo-renaissance.

• • How to get there: About a 1-minute walk.• • Hours: 10am-6pm, Wednesday-Monday.• • Cost: About $16 USD.

• Experience the Museum of Hygiene: This permanent exhibit was founded in 1912 by Karl August Lingner, a Dresden businessman and manufacturer of hygiene products. The museum features an extensive collection of approximately 45,000 items related to bodily awareness and healthy behavior. Most of these items originate from the early 20th century and onwards. Major themes through-out the exhibit include living, dying, eating, drinking, sex, and beauty.

• • How to get there: About a 30-minute walk.• • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily.• • Cost: About $10 USD.

• Delve into the auto world at Glaserne Manufaktur: This car factory and exhibition space is owned by German car manufacturer Volkswagen and was designed by architect Gunter Henn. It opened in 2002, originally producing the Volkswagen Phaeton. By 2017, it was dedicated to producing the electric version of the Golf, a very popular car in Germany. Factory visitors have an opportu-nity to test drive VW vehicles for 30 minutes, take a virtual tour of Dresden, and experience various exhibits pertaining to VW’s electric and hybrid technologies. Car buffs won’t want to miss this.

• • How to get there: About a 30-minute walk.• • Hours: 9am-7pm, Monday-Saturday;

10am-6pm, Sunday.• • Cost: About $8 USD.

Day 6 Dresden and Elbe River Valley tour• Destination: Dresden• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hyperion Hotel Dresden

or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel starting at 7am, featuring German and American dishes.


Morning: Today, we’re off around 9am to tour the city of Dresden and the Elbe River Valley by motorcoach. Situated in a broad floodplain, Dresden was founded in the twelfth century by Slavs. In the 16th century, the finest painters, architects, and musicians from across Europe began to flood the city, which remained a cultural hub until World War II, when Allied aircraft used incendiary bombs to burn Dresden to the ground. The city was completely destroyed, and thousands of civilians were killed. Kurt Vonnegut, himself a survivor of the air raids, chronicled these events in Slaughterhouse-Five. Following the war, Dresden was rebuilt from the ground up, an eternal reminder of the folly of war and strength of the human creative spirit.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around noon, featuring regional specialties.

Afternoon: Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore Dresden on your own. Perhaps you’ll venture over to one of the oldest buildings in the city, the Dresden Royal Palace, located within walking distance of our hotel.

Dinner: On your own—perhaps enjoying the hearty Saxon cuisine this region is known for.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You may opt for an evening stroll to make any final discoveries in Dresden before our transfer to Prague tomorrow.

Day 7 Dresden • Overland to Prague via Sudetenland and Terezin • Home-Hosted Lunch • Begin main trip• Destination: Prague, Czech Republic• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Activity Note: Our overland transfer to Prague by bus will take around 9 hours, including stops along the way.

Breakfast: At the hotel starting at 7am, featuring German and American dishes.

Morning: We’ll board a bus around 8am for our transfer to Prague for our Jewels of Bohemia: Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary adventure. En route to Prague, we’ll pass through the Elbe Valley and the dramatic sandstone landscape of Saxon Switzerland. We’ll pause in Sudetenland around 10:30am and discover the flavor of life in this historic region of the Czech Republic. Here, we’ll visit Skanzen Zubrnice, an open-air museum of historic dwellings, where we’ll enjoy a glimpse of agricultural traditions during a farm presentation.

Lunch: Enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch around 11:45am near Skanzen Zubrnice.

Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we’ll drive for about 30 minutes and pause for a somber reminder of the Holocaust at Terezin, whose fortress was used as a Gestapo prison during World War II.

We’ll leave Terezin around 3:45pm and continue on to Prague, arriving around 5pm to settle into our hotel to begin our main adventure.


OPTIONAL TOUR

Potsdam(Day 4 $120 per person)

Join us on an optional tour of Potsdam, residence of the Prussian kings until 1918—and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll walk through the gardens of Sanssouci Park, visit Cecilienhof Palace, where the Potsdam Conference of August 1945 took place to lay the groundwork for Germany’s postwar fate, and stroll through the landscaped grounds of New Garden (Neuer Garten). Then, we’ll make a brief stop at Glienicke Bridge, which became known as the “Bridge of Spies” during the Cold War, as the superpowers used its midpoint as a place to exchange captured agents. We’ll also enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Berlin.

Optional Tour is not available on Mondays or any other day that Cecilienhof Palace is closed.


PRE-TRIP Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Flight from Warsaw to Prague,

Czech Republic

» Accommodations: 3 nights in Krakow at Hotel Kossak or similar and 2 nights in Warsaw at Polonia Palace Hotel or similar





» All transfers

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARYDiscover two of Poland’s historic and cultural epicenters—Krakow and Warsaw. Explore the centuries-old streets of Krakow with its stunning architecture, experience an emotionally-charged tour of the Auschwitz concentration camp of World War II, and venture through rebuilt Warsaw, Poland’s energetic capital city.

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Afternoon/Evening: Today, you’ll depart on your overnight flight from the U.S. to Krakow, Poland.

Day 2 Arrive in Krakow, Poland• Destination: Krakow• Included Meals: Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Kossak or similar

Activity Note: Groups not staying at the Hotel Kossak will have dinner at a local restaurant instead of the hotel.

Afternoon: We will arrive in Krakow, Poland, this afternoon and transfer 30 minutes by bus to your hotel. Likely located in the heart of Krakow, the hotel is situated near charming sites such as the medieval Market Square. Each

of its air-conditioned rooms typically include a TV, minibar, safe, iron, coffee- and tea-making facilities, Wireless Internet, and hair dryer.

Around 6pm, our group will come together for a 30-minute orientation walk around the vicinity of the hotel.

Dinner: At around 6:30pm, we’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the hotel restaurant, toasting to our arrival in this historic city.

Evening: You’re free to relax at the hotel after your flight or continue celebrating the kickoff of your journey with your fellow travelers.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Krakow on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.


• Learn about glass artistry at the Workshop and Stained Glass Museum: Observe artists and craftsmen as they form unique stained glass items, and make your own small memento out of provided materials under the guidance of an artist. Located in the oldest glass studio still in operation in Poland—over one hundred years old, you may also wish to take a guided tour through the museum, providing background on the premises and origins of the workshop. Over 200 stained glass windows created here can be spotted in the city of Krakow, including windows in the Wawel Castle and Franciscan Basilica. Plan to spend approximately 1 hour here during your visit.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.• • Hours: 12pm-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday.• • Cost: About $9 USD.

• Visit the historic Wieliczka Salt Mines: The mines, almost 2 miles in length, 450 feet deep, and often called “the Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland,” feature 20 chambers and an underground lake. You’ll venture deep into the mines, with over 900 steps to descend, and learn about the technology and history of the construction. Once belonging to the Polish royal family, the mines are over 700 years old and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only are they former salt mines, but they are also an art gallery of salt rock sculptures, featuring chiseled mythical figures. During your visit, it’s even possible to taste the salt in several spots within the mines. Standard mine tours are approximate-ly 2 hours.

• • How to get there: A 45- to 50-minute taxi ride, about $13-$15 USD.

• • Hours: 7:30am-7:30pm, daily, April-October.

• • Cost: About $24-$26 USD.

• Discover Soviet culture at the Forum Przestrzenie Café Club: This former Communist hotel forum is now home to numerous art galleries and performance spaces, and concerts, serving as a cultural and social hub for Krakow. Popular among the younger generation, this destination is prime for taking in a contemporary art exhibition or simply people watching over a coffee and local fare from the on-site eatery.

• • How to get there: A 25-minute walk.• • Hours: From 10am, daily.• • Cost: Free.

Day 3 Explore Krakow• Destination: Krakow• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel Kossak or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel starting at 7am, featuring hot and cold choices.

Morning: Around 9am, our group will come together for a 45-minute Welcome Briefing. During this briefing, we’ll introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and emergency procedures, as well as answer any questions we may have.

Then, around 10am, we begin our discoveries of Krakow on a 3-hour city tour, first walking and later riding through its lovely streets in golf carts—which, in recent years, has become a popular way of seeing the sights. While Poland moved its capital to Warsaw in 1596, Krakow remains the country’s cultural and intellectual epicenter, teeming with avant garde art, jazz music, and students. Unlike many of the surrounding cities, Krakow managed to escape significant damage during World War II, making it a historical hub and giving it a reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in central Europe. Krakow’s Old Town—or Stare


Miastro—in particular offers seven centuries of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, all surrounded by a ring of parkland known as the Planty.

Lunch: Around 1pm, you’ll have lunch on your own. Your Trip Experience Leader can provide recommendations on the best locales for whatever your preferences are. Try to find pierogi—hearty, Polish dumplings. Or seek out bigos, or “Hunter’s Soup,” made of sausage, sauerkraut, mushrooms, and onions.

Afternoon: After lunch, you have the rest of the day to do as you’d like. Or, you can explore the medieval splendors of Krakow independently. Perhaps you’ll mingle with the many jazz musicians, students, and street artists that bring the city to life. You may also care to visit the Krakow Underground Museum, an exhibit which illuminates the close connection between medieval Krakow and other European cities during the same time period.

Dinner: On your own. Consider asking your Trip Experience Leader about their favorite restaurant. One delicacy to look out for is zapiekanka, an open-face, toasted sandwich on baguette or other type of long bread, topped with sautéed mushrooms, cheese and sometimes various other ingredients.

Evening: On your own—you may retire to your room to rest before tomorrow’s explorations. Or, you may choose to venture out to discover Krakow’s nightlife. Your Trip Experience Leader can provide recommendations of the best bars and restaurants in the area.

Day 4 Explore Auschwitz• Destination: Krakow• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel Kossak or similar

Activity Note: Today, we’ll visit the Auschwitz concentration camp which may be a particularly emotional experience.


Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll drive 1.5 hours to reach Auschwitz, arriving around 10am. Here, we’ll delve deep into the camp’s controversial history and role in the Holocaust during a two-hour tour led by a local guide.

While the Auschwitz concentration camp complex was used to contain the diverse enemies of the Nazi regime, it is infamous for its shocking treatment of the 1.1 million Jews who were deported there from European countries occupied by or allied with Germany. The Jews who were sent to Auschwitz often faced starvation, extreme cold, hard labor, constant abuse, and in some cases, death upon arrival. In total, at least 960,000 Jews were killed in Auschwitz, in addition to thousands of Roma, Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, disabled people, as well as members of the LGBTQ community. Today, the complex stands as a stark reminder of one of the darkest periods in history. As we discover different historic buildings and areas of the concentration camp, we’ll learn stories of the brave and resilient individuals who endured this brutal period in history.

We depart by bus back to Krakow around noon, enjoying some snacks on the road. We’ll arrive back around 1:30pm.


Lunch: On your own anytime after we arrive back in Krakow after 1:30pm. Perhaps you might seek out zurek soup, made with rye bread broth and featuring hearty ingredients such as ham, sausage, and potatoes.

Afternoon: Your afternoon is free to spend as you wish. Maybe you’ll visit the local stained glass museum to observe the process of this traditional art form.

Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience Leader can recommend an interesting local restaurant for you to try. A popular dish you may want to seek out is golabki, boiled cabbage leaves stuffed with minced pork or beef, chopped onions, and rice or barley.

Evening: You are free to make your own discoveries in Krakow, spend time with your fellow travelers at the hotel, or retire to your room to rest.

Day 5 Transfer to Warsaw • Explore Podgorze and Kazimierz• Destination: Warsaw• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Polonia Palace Hotel

or similar


Morning: Today, around 9am, we’ll depart by bus for Warsaw, the capital of Poland, with stops along the way. Our luggage will be driven straight to Warsaw aboard a different bus and will be waiting for us upon arrival.

At around 9:45am, we’ll stop first at Podgorze, a neighborhood of Krakow that was once home to the Jewish ghetto during the Nazi regime. Here, a local guide will lead us through this historic central square before we leave to visit Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum around 9:45am. We’ll arrive at about 10am and

a local guide will take us through the museum, a tour of roughly 1.5 hours. Once a former enamel factory where Schindler employed Jews to save them from concentration camps, this museum provides a unique perspective on life in Krakow from 1939-1945, displaying 45 meticulously-restored rooms designed to show what streets, hair salons, train stations, and more looked like in Krakow during this contentious period in history.

At approximately 11:30am, we’ll drive about 15 minutes to the Kazimierz neighborhood of Krakow, a former Jewish district. Our Trip Experience Leader will take us through this historic district until about 12:30pm, at which point we’ll walk to a local restaurant in Kazimierz for lunch.

Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Around 1:45pm, we will drive 30 minutes to the train station to take our train to Warsaw, which departs around 2:45pm and will take nearly 3 hours. Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our hotel and have about 1.5 hours free to rest or explore. Depending on where we stay, our hotel is likely located within the city center, featuring modern accommodations and amenities, typically including a safe, complimentary access to the fitness center, and wireless Internet.

Shortly before 7pm, our group will reconvene and walk to a nearby restaurant.

Dinner: We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant around 7pm, serving Polish and international cuisine.

Evening: Enjoy the freedom to explore Warsaw this evening. Stroll through the city at night or enjoy a beer at the hotel bar with your fellow travelers and take in the spirit of the city.


Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Warsaw on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Learn about the history of Polish Jews at the POLIN Museum: The Hebrew word “Polin” refers to a legend about the arrival of the first Jews to Poland. This museum tells the 1,000-year-old history of Polish Jews and educates visitors about past and present Jewish culture. Situated in the former Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw, visitors can explore mul-timedia exhibits and period-specific galleries providing insight into how Jews came to live in Poland, how they once flourished, the horrors of the second world war, and finally, the postwar years. Designed by Finnish architects Rainer Mahlamäki and Ilmari Lahdelma, the building is comprised of glass, copper, and concrete, and faces the memorial commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Plan to spend 2-3 hours exploring the museum.

• • How to get there: A 10-to 15-minute taxi ride, about $6-$8 USD.

• • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily.• • Cost: About $6-$8 USD, free on Thursdays.

• Spend an afternoon at the National Museum: Founded in 1862, the National Museum is one of the oldest museums in Europe, featuring a collection of over 830,000 paintings and sculptures of both foreign and domestic origin. From ancient times to modern day, peruse paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, coins, as well as utilitarian objects and designs. The museum also features a selection of archaeological films, as well as the largest and most valuable collection of archaeological artifacts from

foreign excavation sites ever obtained by a Polish museum. Plan to spend approximately 1-2 hours here.

• • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute walk.• • Hours: 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: About $8 USD, free on Tuesdays.

• Meander through the trendy Rozyckiego Bazar and Praga district: This up-and-coming neighborhood has undergone rapid transformation in recent years, now it is home to clubs, restaurants, theaters, and artist studios. Located on the left bank of the Vistula River, Praga boasts some of Warsaw’s oldest surviving structures after World War II. It’s also home to the city’s oldest market, which now is filled with over 300 shopkeepers selling clothing, accessories, and fresh food.

• • How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride, about $15 USD.

• • Hours: 8am-5pm, daily.• • Cost: Free.

Day 6 Explore Warsaw • Optional Chopin recital• Destination: Warsaw• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Polonia Palace Hotel

or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine and seasonal dishes.

Morning: Around 9am, we’ll embark by bus on a 3.5-hour city tour of Poland’s flourishing capital, Warsaw. Unlike Krakow, much of Warsaw was destroyed in World War II, and since then, the city has used its vivacious spirit to rebuild. We’ll stroll through the Łazienki Park together, Warsaw’s largest park and home to the 13th-century Ujazdów Castle. Then, around 11am, we’ll arrive in Warsaw’s Old Town, where we can see a fusion of Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic


architecture, designed to make the area look as it did in the 17th and 18th centuries. On top of colorful open-air cafés and art stalls, the Old Town houses the Royal Castle—or Zamek Królewski—built in the 1740s as a precise recreation of the 14th-century original. Also in the Old Town is Warsaw’s monument of a sword-wielding mermaid—the beloved symbol of the city—as well as St. John’s Archcathedral, one of the oldest churches in Warsaw. Our tour will end around 12:30pm in the Old Town.

Lunch: On your own—your Trip Experience Leader can recommend their favorite local restaurant. For those who enjoy a wholesome stew, bigos is a common Polish staple: chopped meat of various kinds simmering in sauerkraut and fresh, shredded cabbage.

Afternoon: The remainder of the day is yours to explore the city on your own. Perhaps you’ll stroll the cobbled streets or relax in one of the many charming cafés. Or, you might take local transportation back to the hotel and explore the surrounding area.

As the evening approaches, at around 5pm, you can join us for an optional Chopin recital at Warsaw’s concert hall. It is an exclusive opportunity to have a special evening with the romantic compositions of Fryderyk Chopin. Enjoy a welcome drink around 5:15pm before taking your seat with the general audience for the music performance around 5:30pm.

Dinner: On your own for those who do not attend the Optional Chopin recital. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend their favorite local restaurant. Explore Warsaw’s thriving culinary scene and try a hearty, traditional meal at a local restaurant. For those who do join the Optional Tour, dinner is at a local restaurant around 6:30pm.

Evening: If you choose to take the optional Chopin tour this evening, you’ll return to the hotel around 8:30pm, with the remainder of the evening on your own. If you decide not to join the Chopin recital concert, you are free to explore more of this historic city, return to your room to rest before your explorations tomorrow, or join fellow travelers in the main hotel area for a nightcap to discuss the day’s activities.

Day 7 Fly to Prague, Czech Republic • Join main trip• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel starting at 7am, featuring local cuisine and seasonal dishes.

Morning: Around 8:45am, we’ll depart our hotel and transfer by bus to the airport to fly to Prague, Czech Republic, where we’ll join our fellow travelers to begin our discoveries of Jewels of Bohemia: Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary.

Lunch: Depending on our flight schedule, we’ll either receive boxed lunches or enjoy lunch upon arrival in Prague at a local restaurant.


OPTIONAL TOUR

Chopin recital(Day 6 $105 per person)

On this Optional Tour, join a general audience at Warsaw’s concert hall for a Chopin recital. Enjoy a welcome drink before taking your seat for an evening of classical music as the instruments fill the space with their melodies. After the concert, gather with the group for an included dinner.


POST-TRIP Vienna: Palaces, Music, Architecture & Sachertorte

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Bus transportation from Budapest to Vienna

» Accommodations for 5 nights in Vienna at Hotel Rathauspark or similar





» All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARYCity of waltzes and Habsburg glory, Vienna still charms with elegant architecture, thriving arts, and lush gardens. Witness the Ringstrasse, sip local vintages in the wine district, and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Schoenbrunn Palace.

Day 1 Budapest, Hungary • Transfer to Vienna• Destination: Vienna, Austria• Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Rathauspark

or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring Hungarian and American dishes.

Morning: Today, we’ll board our bus around 8:30am and begin our approximately 4-hour transfer to Vienna. Around 12:30pm, we’ll check-in at our centrally-located hotel. Depending on where you stay, it may feature a restaurant and bar while typical rooms include a mini bar, wireless Internet access, cable TV, and private bath with hair dryer.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around 1pm, featuring local specialties.

Afternoon: Lunch is followed by an orientation walk led by our Trip Experience Leader around 2:15pm. The balance of the afternoon is free for you to make your own discoveries in Vienna. Perhaps you’ll pay a visit to Naschmarkt, one of the city’s oldest markets, dating back to the 16th century.

Dinner: We’ll reconvene around 6:30pm tonight for dinner at a local restaurant, featuring regional cuisine.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. You may choose to continue exploring Vienna, or enjoy a nightcap at the hotel’s bar.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Vienna on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.


• Enjoy a unique Viennese coffee experience at Palmenhaus. Featuring greenery both inside and out and adjacent to a peaceful butterfly garden, this café—which was once a green-house built for Austrian royals—provides a unique dining experience. It’s a favorite spot of locals, and you’ll get the chance to interact with patrons as you sip a cup of Viennese coffee surrounded by colorful flora. Revel in the detailed Art Nouveau architecture, and relax in the warmth of the glasshouse’s tropical setting (complete, of course, with palm trees).

• • How to get there: An approximate 10-minute walk from the hotel.

• • Hours: 10am-midnight, Monday-Friday; 9am-midnight, Saturday; 9am-11pm, Sunday.

• • Cost: Free.

• Get a glimpse into Austria’s music culture at Weiner Staatsoper, the opera house built in the 1860s as the first building on Vienna’s iconic Ringstrasse (Ring Road). This ornate building houses the Vienna State Opera, who produce over 50 operas a year. You’ll also find the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Ballet here. Whether you visit to catch a live performance or to embark on a guided tour, you’ll find yourself among intricate marble décor, perhaps gazing upon the massive chandelier in the center of the auditorium.

• • How to get there: An approximate 25-minute walk or 10-minute tram ride from the hotel.

• • Hours: Tours offered hourly between 10am and 3pm.

• • Cost: Around $8 to $10 USD.

• Shop like a local at Naschmarkt, one of the oldest markets in all of Vienna dating back to at least the 18th century. The market is a mosaic of treats for the senses, serving as a produce market and traditional open-air market at once. You’ll find everything from

exotic fruit, to handmade scarves, to pastry stands here, and on Saturdays, Naschmarkt transforms itself into a bustling flea market. Take your time to peruse the plethora of stalls, perhaps stopping at an antique store or two or sampling a number of delicacies from around the world like Turkish kebab.

• • How to get there: An approximate 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel.

• • Hours: 6am-9pm, Monday-Friday; 6am-6pm, Saturday.

• • Cost: Free.

Day 2 Explore Vienna • Heurigen Wine Dinner• Destination: Vienna• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Rathauspark

or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 6:30am, featuring Austrian and American dishes.

Morning: We’ll depart our hotel by bus around 9am this morning for our our Vienna city tour, which features the Ringstrasse, probably the greatest achievement of the Emperor Franz Joseph. This boulevard encircling the Innen Stadt was mapped out in the 1860s along the ramparts Joseph II had begun clearing 80 years prior. The Neo-classical buildings along the Ringstrasse bring together all the greatest architectural styles in a celebration of all that seemed possible during the Industrial Revolution.

Lunch: On your own after the city tour around 12:30pm. Perhaps you’ll enjoy one of Austria’s national dishes—wiener schnitzel. This simple Austrian staple is made from a thin, breaded veal cutlet and then deep-fried in oil or butter.


Afternoon: Enjoy independent discoveries of Vienna this afternoon, perhaps taking in one of the city’s renowned museums. When the weather agrees, the entertainment moves outdoors to the sidewalks.

Around 5:30pm, we’ll drive about 30 minutes to the Grinzing wine district, the location of various authentic Heurigen restaurants. The Heurigen tradition began when Emperor Joseph II passed a law stating that small local winemakers were allowed to serve their vintages and food to members of the public so long as they sold only wine of their own making. Many people then opened the gardens of their own homes and small estates, and visiting one of these establishments became a traditional outing for the city dwellers. It’s a rich tradition that is maintained today.

Dinner: We’ll participate in this local tradition when we gather for dinner together around 6pm with local vintages at an authentic Heurigen restaurant in the Grinzing wine district.

Evening: Following dinner, we’ll arrive back at the hotel around 8:30pm where you have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish.

Day 3 Vienna • Belvedere Palace• Destination: Vienna• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel Rathauspark

or similar


Morning: We’ll depart our hotel around 8:30am this morning and take public transportation to the magnificent Belvedere Palace around 9am, which is actually two palaces set amidst a splendid park. Both palaces are home to

museums featuring Austrian art from the 18th to the 20th centuries, and we’ll explore one of the renowned galleries as well as the gardens. Our tour will last approximately 3 hours.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around noon, featuring a selection of regional cuisine.

Afternoon: The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. Make discoveries at your own pace in the city that served as home and inspiration to some of the world’s greatest artists, thinkers, and musicians.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a popular local dish, Austrian goulash. This hearty beef stew is seasoned with paprika, onions, and tomatoes, and is usually topped with dumplings.


Day 4 Explore Vienna • Optional Footsteps of the Great Composers tour• Destination: Vienna• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel Rathauspark

or similar


Morning: The day is free to relax or explore on your own. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a tour of Wiener Staatsoper, the Vienna State Opera house. Or, you may join our optional Footsteps of the Great Composers walking tour around 9am, which features museum visits and sites associated with Mozart and Beethoven. Tour highlights include the Mozart House Museum, where the composer lived from 1784 to 1787, and a visit to the House of Music, a museum


with a floor dedicated to Mozart, Beethoven, and other great masters of the Viennese music tradition.

Lunch: Travelers who joined the optional tour will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant around 12:45pm. Otherwise lunch is on your own.

Afternoon: All travelers will enjoy a free afternoon to continue exploring Vienna. After exploring the Vienna State Opera House this morning, you may have purchased tickets for a performance this afternoon.

Dinner: On your own. You may choose to dine at the hotel’s on-site restaurant or any of the eateries within walking distance of the hotel.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll opt for an evening stroll through the city to see it come alive at night.

Day 5 Vienna • Schoenbrunn Palace• Destination: Vienna• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Rathauspark

or similar


Morning: We leave our hotel this morning around 9am and hop aboard the local subway to visit the expansive summer estate of Habsburg royalty, Schoenbrunn Palace (whose name means “beautiful spring”). Featuring 1,400 rooms, meticulously maintained gardens, and an architectural legacy that stretches back to the 17th century, the palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our visit spans from 10am-12pm, and includes a tour of palace highlights and free time to spend exploring the palace’s park.

Lunch: On your own. There are a variety of cafés and restaurants on the grounds of the Palace you may choose to visit.

Afternoon: Enjoy time to make final discoveries in Vienna at your own pace, or prepare for your morning departure tomorrow.

Dinner: We toast our adventure tonight around 6pm during a Farewell Dinner together in a local restaurant.

Evening: Following dinner, you have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll enjoy one final Austrian beer or apfelstrudel (apple strudel).

Day 6 Vienna • Return to U.S.• Included Meals: Breakfast


Morning: After breakfast, we transfer for 45 minutes to the airport for our morning flight home.


OPTIONAL TOUR

Footsteps of the Great Composers(Day 4 $125 per person)

This half-day walking tour follows in the footsteps of two of the world’s greatest composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven—and how their paths are said to have crossed in Vienna. Our first stop is the Mozart House Museum, where we’ll learn about the legendary composer’s life, family, and friends at his residence from 1784 to 1787. Then, we head to the House of Music, a museum featuring an entire floor dedicated to Mozart, Beethoven, and other great masters of the Viennese music tradition. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.


POST-TRIP Transylvania: Myths, Castles & Medieval Fortresses

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Accommodations in a centrally-located

hotel 2 nights in Brasov, 3 nights in Sibiu, and 1 night in Bucharest





» All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARYExperience the Transylvania region of Romania, a castle-dotted landscape whose well-preserved, Old-World character evokes an era of bygone, macabre figures both mythical (Count Dracula) and actual (Vlad the Impaler). You’ll also discover there is so much more to this picturesque region nestled at the doorstep of the Carpathian Mountains—from charming medieval villages to grand Gothic cathedrals.

Day 1 Budapest, Hungary • Transfer to Brasov, Romania• Destination: Brasov• Included Meals: Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Brasov or similar

Morning: Today, we’ll board our private motorcoach and drive to the airport to catch our flight to Romania. Upon arrival, we’ll gather our luggage and begin our overland transfer to Brasov via motorcoach. After around 2 hours, we’ll stop in Sinaia to stretch our legs and grab some lunch.

With its sub-Alpine climate and the protection of surrounding mountains, Sinaia has long convinced visitors of its ideal location for recreational mountain sports. The atmospheric pressure is low, the air is free of allergens and pollutants, and the water is rich in minerals. Some people even believe the sunshine feels different here. This combination of natural

curative factors and geographic beauty has helped make Sinaia “the Pearl of the Carpathians”—the favored destination of Romanian royalty and a region rich in palaces, luxury hotels, fine dining, and skiing.

Lunch: At the Palace Hotel Restaurant, located in a former hotel dating back to the 1900s. It was originally opened by the first king of Romania to feed and entertain local and visiting nobles—today, we will get the chance to dine here, enjoying local Romanian specialties.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our drive to Brasov after lunch, arriving around 1.5 hours later. After checking in, the rest of the afternoon is free to rest after our day of travel or explore the surrounding area.

Dinner: We’ll reconvene in the hotel lobby to join our Trip Experience Leader on an orientation walk to Brasov’s main square where you’ll enjoy dinner on your own. There are


many options to choose from here—your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to share some recommendations.


Day 2 Brasov • Visit Bran Castle• Destination: Brasov• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel in Brasov or similar

Breakfast: At the hotel with Romanian and American options.

Morning: Climb aboard our private motorcoach this morning as we set off to explore one of Romania’s most infamous destinations—Bran Castle, often referred to as Dracula’s Castle.

Prince Vlad Tepes, the son of Vlad Dracul and the person who inspired Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, used this castle as headquarters for his incursions into Transylvania. This 15th-century ruler became known as “Vlad the Impaler” for his practice of impaling enemies of the kingdom, which was greatly threatened by the Ottoman Turks at the time. Stoker’s work of fiction drew inspiration from this bloody practice, the family name, and the castle-dotted mountain landscape of Transylvania.

You’ll see the interior and exterior of Bran Castle, which was built in 1377 to protect nearby Brasov from invaders as well as serve as a customs station. In 1920, the people of Brasov, who owned the castle, offered it as a gift to Queen Maria of Romania, and the castle soon became her favorite residence. After a guided tour of the castle’s interior, we’ll have some free time to stroll through the castle garden and explore the nearby local market.

We’ll then head back to Brasov, arriving in time for lunch.

Lunch: On your own—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations. Perhaps you’ll try ciorbă ţărănească, a traditional barely soup usually made with carrots, onions, celery, and peppers as well as meat such as pork or beef.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Brasov with our Trip Experience Leader. Continuously settled since the Bronze Age, the region that is now Brasov has been enriched by people of many heritages—Romans, Saxons, and Hungarians among them—as well as by traders from all over Europe and beyond who arrived in this long-thriving economic center. You’ll see some outstanding medieval architecture in Brasov, which is not far from the geographic center of Romania and is the largest city in the Transylvania region. We’ll also visit the Black Church: Built between 1384 and 1477, it is the largest Gothic church in Romania and one of Eastern Europe’s finest. Seeing this famed and ancient church, you might feel as if you’ve stepped back into the Middle Ages.

After about an hour, you’ll have around 2.5 hours to explore independently.

Dinner: Together, we’ll walk to a local restaurant to enjoy a dinner of local Romanian specialties.

Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish. Perhaps you will opt to join your Trip Experience Leader for a drive in our private motorcoach to an elevated viewing point where we can admire the city below twinkling in the night.

Day 3 Brasov • Explore Sighisoara • Sibiu• Destination: Sibiu• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel in Sibiu or similar



Morning: After breakfast, we’ll continue our Transylvania adventure to Sighisoara—about a 2-hour drive.

Upon arrival, we’ll set off to discover Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage site. A fortified medieval city with a history dating back to the 1100s, Sighisoara is known for its colorful buildings, pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets, and charming Old Town. Together with our Trip Experience Leader we’ll set off on a walking tour, stopping to discover some of the city’s historical gems, such as The Clock Tower, The Armory, and the infamous Torture Museum.

Lunch: On your own in Sighisoara—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll continue our journey to Sibiu via private motorcoach. We’ll check into our hotel; after settling in, the rest of the afternoon is free.

Dinner: On your own in Sibiu—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations.


Day 4 Explore Sibiu• Destination: Sibiu• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Sibiu or similar


Morning: Today we’ll discover Sibiu, one of Transylvania’s most charming medieval cities. Ideally situated at the base of the Carpathian Mountains, Sibiu is best explored by foot, which we will do today on a walking tour with our Trip Experience Leader—from its Piata Mare, Sibiu’s center since the 15th Century, to its Upper and Lower Towns, separated by cobblestone stairs.

Along the way, we’ll also meet with one of Sibiu’s local seniors for a conversation about Romania’s pension system.

Afterwards, we’ll experience Romania’s public transportation system as we hop a ride to our next destination—the Astra Open Air Village Museum, the largest open-air museum in Europe.

Lunch: We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at the Astra Open Air Village Museum, a picturesque spot to enjoy a typical Romanian midday meal.

Afternoon: We’ll return to our hotel via public transportation. The remainder of the day is yours to continue exploring Sibiu. Perhaps you’ll discover the famous houses with eyes—simple ventilation windows found in the attic of many of Sibiu’s homes that create the illusion of watchful eyes peering down from the rooftops.

Dinner: On your own in Sibiu—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations.

Evening: On your own. You may wish to listen to some live music at one of Sibiu’s cozy cafes.

Day 5 Explore Sibiu • Optional Inside a Transylvanian Village tour• Destination: Sibiu• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel in Sibiu or similar


Morning: Enjoy a free day in Sibiu, talking the time to discover more of this 12th-century city. Maybe you’ll walk across the Bridge of Lies—rumored to creak beneath the feet of anyone being less than honest. Or you may climb Sibiu’s Gothic Lutheran Cathedral for sweeping views of the city.


Or, you may wish to join today’s optional tour: Inside a Transylvania Village. We’ll drive to nearby Sibiel village, located in the Romanian countryside, via private motorcoach. Upon arrival, we’ll switch to a more rural mode of transportation, as we board horse-drawn carts for a tour of Sibiel. We’ll end our tour at the home of a local Romanian family, who will show us how to make sarmale—savory stuffed cabbage rolls served at every family event and considered the national dish of Romania.

Lunch: On your own in Sibiu.

Or, if you have joined our optional tour, we’ll sit down and enjoy the sarmales we just made with the local family. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions we may have about day-to-day life in rural Transylvania.

Afternoon: Travelers who have remained in Sibiu may wish to return to the hotel to rest up before going back out to dinner, or perhaps continue to explore the city’s Upper and Lower Towns—admiring the colorful houses and cobblestone streets.

If you have joined our optional tour, we’ll return to Sibiu via private motorcoach after lunch.

Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll opt to try a traditional Romanian dish such as tochitură—a stew made with various types of meat such as pork, beef or poultry.

Evening: On your own—ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations.

Day 6 Sibiu • Explore Bucharest• Destination: Bucharest• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel in Bucharest

or similar

Activity Note: Today’s overland transfer will take approximately 7 hours including a 2-hour lunch stop along the way.


Morning: We’ll begin our overland transfer to Bucharest this morning via private motorcoach. The trip will take approximately 7 hours in total, including a 2-hour stop in Pitesti along the way.

Lunch: In Pitesti at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll arrive in Bucharest this afternoon and set off to explore the city by motorcoach. This is an old city that has served as the capital of Wallachia, and later Romania, since 1659. Today, it is noted for its broad, tree-lined boulevards, well-kept parks, and mix of architectural styles that combine Neoclassical 19th-century structures with monumental 20th-century edifices (the latter built for the most part to satisfy the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu). You’ll drive along Victory Avenue to Revolution Square, where recent events in history are inscribed.

After our tour, we’ll check into our hotel to relax and refresh before dinner.

Dinner: Tonight, we’ll walk together to a local restaurant for a Farewell Dinner. Toast your fellow travelers and celebrate the highlights of your Transylvanian journey.

Evening: After walking back to the hotel, the rest of the evening is on your own.


Day 7 Bucharest • Return to U.S.• Included Meals: Breakfast


Morning: After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport via private motorcoach for our morning flight home.

OPTIONAL TOUR

Inside a Transylvanian Village(Day 5 $105 per person)

Discover what life is like inside a Transylvania village. We’ll drive to nearby Sibiel village, located in the Romanian countryside, via private motorcoach. Upon arrival, we’ll switch to a more rural mode of transportation, as we board horse-drawn carts for a tour of Sibiel. We’ll end our tour at the home of a local Romanian family, who will show us how to make sarmale—savory stuffed cabbage rolls served at every family event and considered the national dish of Romania. Then we will sit down with the family and enjoy the sarmales we just made together. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions we may have about day-to-day life in rural Transylvania.

jewels of bohemia

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