TOUR ITINERARY                        CHECK DATES & PRICES
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GRAND TOUR OF SLOVAKIA  2012
 12 day tour from  € 1499.00 / $ 2005.00           
 

DAY 1

WELCOME TO BRATISLAVA, CAPITAL OF SLOVAKIA (2 NIGHTS)

We'll meet & greet you at the airport. Welcome drink and transfer to your hotel. Check in & free program.
Welcome Dinner in stylish restarant - We'll go through the itinerary. 

Overnight in Bratislava

Meal(s): buffet breakfast + 3-course welcome dinner
Hotel : Radisson Blu (DE)

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DAY 2 

BRATISLAVA VIP SIGHTSEEING - SMALL CARPATHIAN TRIP

Start the day with VIP sightseeing tour and see the highlights of the city such as Primate Palace - the largest in Bratislava where the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 was signed and Hall of Mirrors with famous and mysterious tapestries. St. Martin Cathedral - one of the largest gothic constructions of Bratislava where between the years 1563-1830 the coronations of 19 rulers including Austria-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa took place, Michaels gate - the only preserved gate, historical narrow streets, squares, Slovak National Theatre and more.

We'll continue by minibus to see former fortification walls, presidential palace, Slavin War Memorial and Bratislava castle - important settlement at the en of the 9th century.

Drive along  Small Carpathians along various vineyard(30min drive) -  we drive through several former free royal towns to famous Modra town. Visiting workshop Slovak Folk Majolik, the major producer of the world-known Majolica ceramics, you can learn about this creative handicrafts. A piece of ceramics makes an excellent present or souvenir.
 Lunch in a charming restaurant in a historical house from 1569 - trying gastronomical delights. Go back to the past on an thrilling castle tour in well-preserved, fully furnished Renaissance/Baroque castle - Red Stone castle.

Free time for relaxing & shopping.

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Radisson Blu (DE)

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DAY 3 

BOJNICE CHATEAU - CICMANY (2 NIGHTS)

Transfer to Bojnice (2hrs 15min drive). Guided tour in Bojnice chateau . They say, the most beautiful in Slovakia, originally from 13th century, renovated and rebuilt in the 20th century in a French style. Thanks to the last owner - count John Palfy who was a famouos art collector, enjoy fully furnished rooms with furniture and portraits from all around the globe. Interesting facts & legends are waiting for you. Lunch break.

Short drive to Cicmany Village (30min drive). Cute village located in Strazovske hills has only 400 inhabitants is famous for its hand-painted wooden houses. See how people lived & worked in the old times, as well as an example of folk costumes & folk arts.  

Dinner at the hotel. Relax in Spa Zone

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Kaskady (SF) with swimming pool

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DAY 4

KREMNICA - BANSKA STIAVNICA - BANSKA BYSTRICA

Visit of 3most important former mining towns, firstly we go to "golden" Kremnica town (30min), visit of Kremnica Mint is one of the oldest continuously manufacturing manufacturers worldwide.

Drive to "silver" Banska Stiavnica (40min),  to see a beautiful former mining town. Visit the Old Castle, the New Castle, the Knocking tower.
One journalist was describing Banska Stiavnica: "Beautiful Banska Stiavnica is such a beautiful town that with each visit I end up weeping in the beautiful streets, overcome by the incredible beauty and majesty of this beautiful town located in these beautiful forested hills in this beautiful country of beautiful Slovakia. It is very hard to describe this town without being mawkish ". Lunch break

Drive to  "copper" Banska Bystrica - walk around picturesque main square with well-preserved burgher houses, visit church of Virgin Mary, then climb up to the Town Clock... Banska Bystrica is the administrative, economic & cultural center of Central Slovakia.
Banska Bystrica is certainly one of the Slovakian cities with the richest architecture. We go to the museum of Slovak National Uprising - which commemorates the resistance to Nazi oppresion.


Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Kaskady (SF) with swimming pool

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DAY 5

VLKOLINEC - MASSIVE ORAVA CASTLE - MUSEUM OF ORAVA (2 NIGHTS)

Drive to Vlkolinec village (1hour drive). A short stop and enjoy this highly located tiny village. 

Drive to Orava castle (40min drive). We go back to the past. Little bit of history:  the castle, much like others in Slovakia, stands on the site of old wooden forts and it was constructed after the Tartar invasion in 1241. 
Originally, it was built in the Romanesque and Gothic styles and later reconstructed in the Renaissance and Neo-Gothic styles. It consists of several buildings copying the shape of the castle rock.
In 1556, the Castle fell into the hands of the Thurzos' who were the authors of the most extensive reconstruction of the castle's history. Museum of Orava (30min drive) - let's see the rural life from the past centuries. Lunch break. 

Drive through nice countryside to Liptovsky Hradok (45min drive) to Grand Castle. Admire beautifully reconstructed 14th century castle and 16th century manorhouse. Overnight in this spectacular place.
 Feel like a King or Queen in one of the chambers  from the previous centuries. 

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Grand Castle (DE)

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DAY 6

DEMANOVSKA CAVE OF LIBERTY - CABLE CAR TRIP TO CHOPOK 

Morning coffee in the castle courtyard. We'll visit of of the most popular caves in Slovakia. The cave stands out by its unbelievable variety of colours and shapes of flowstone fills, unique  calcite water lilies and other lacustrine forms of flowstone decoration. Then we take a cable car and get to the top of Low Tatra Mountain Range.

Enjoy Liptov region and Liptov Open Air Museum. Try different varieties of sheep cheese, Liptov is famous for it.

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Grand Castle (DE)

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DAY 7

HIGH TATRA MOUNTAINS FROM THE VERY TOP (2 NIGHTS)

Stop in  the village Svaty Kriz (20min drive) to see one of the biggest wooden churches in Europe. Drive through beautiful green countryside to one of the most famous resorts - Stary Smokovec (40min drive) 
Cable car ride to Skalnate Pleso. Enjoy stunning views. Easy walking tour 2hours.
 
 After the busy day you deserve more relax in - enjoy swimming,  saunas, massages.

Meal(s): buffet breakfast + dinner (Slovak cuisine)
Hotel : Grand Stary Smokovec (SF) with swimming pool

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DAY 8

SPISSKA SOBOTA - LEVOCA - SPIS CASTLE - SPIS KAPITULA - ZEHRA


History enhusiasts will admire charming  medieval square of Spisska Sobota, a beautiful medieval town (15min drive). The first written notice about Spisska Sobota is from the year 1256. In the 13th century it used to be an important centre of crafts, trade & culture, a town with a right to have its own sign. The most important crafts in the 17th & 18th century were: shoe's, boot's, tailor's..As the only Spis town it had a bookstore in 1821. Many gothic, renaissance and baroque townsmen houses remained preserved up to present day. Church of St. Jacob with its main altar made by famous Master Paul from Levoca. 

We'll continue to medieval town Levoca, cultural & historic jewel among Slovak towns. The highlights of Levoca is the Roman Catholic church of St. Jacob from 14th century with its largest wooden altar in the world - a masterpiece from Master Paul of Levoca. Museum visit & strolling around.

Further we visit  Spisska Kapitula, also known as "Slovak Vatikan" and enter into the Cathedral of St. Martin. Drive to  Spiss Castle (10min drive). On a dolomite rock, 200m above the surrounding land, there is one of the most precious cultural monuments in the Spis region - the Spis castle. It is not just an evidence of architectural development from the 12th to the 18th century - it is also one of the largest castles in the Central Europe. Listed in UNESCO world heritage sites. At the end, a short stop in Zehra church.

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Grand Stary Smokovec (SF) with swimming pool

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DAY 9 

BARDEJOV - DUKLA PASS - WOODEN CHURCHES

Drive to one of the most beautiful medieval towns - Bardejov (2hrs drive), settled in the 14th century, fortified with stone walls and bastions to repel foreign tribes. Most of the walls and bastions are still standing. 
In the 15th century, Bardejov became a scene of frontier justice when dozens of bandits who terrorized trade routes were hanged. Because the city is so attractive, visitors are often surprised by Bardejov's dark past.
The cobbled main square and its baroque buildings bring to mind images of promenades and warm spring afternoons, where gentlemen stroll arm-in-arm with young ladies in long dresses. And one can practically hear the distant singing of the faithfull in the grand Cathedral of St. Egidius. Bardejov is listed in UNESCO world heritage list.
In other words, Bardejov does not inspire images of corpses hanging from the gallows.... See Cathedral of St. Egidius, Tower ( with its fantastic view on former fortification walls around the city ), the Old Town Hall, City walls - seven of the original bastions are still standing.

Dukla pass - the scene of bitterly contested battle for the Dukla Pass (borderland between Poland and Slovakia) on the Eastern Front of World War II between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in September-October 1944.  the Battle of Dukla Pass occurred at the end of the Second World War in eastern Czechoslovakia.. As the Russian and first Czechoslovak Armies moved across Poland in 1944, they planned a quick diversion to aid the SNP ( Slovenske Narodne Povstanie - Slovak National Uprising ) via the Dukla Pass. This diversion became one of the bloodiest conflagrations in Slovak history with casualties over 138 000. The combatants were Russians, Czechoslovaks & Germans. The lands were remote, wooded and sparsely populated. The scene of one of the most famous battles of World War II, the Dukla Pass now has many tanks, cannons, guns, bazookas, planes strewn along its route as a memorial of what it took place here. 

Stop in Hervartov to see UNESCO wooden church. Tranfer to Kosice.

Meal(s): buffet breakfast 
Hotel : Zlaty Dukat (SF)

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DAY 10

KOSICE - FAMOUS TOKAJ WINE REGION

Start the day with sightseeing around the Old Town. Kosice, the metropolis of Eastern Slovakia, the second largest city, lying in the valley of the river Hornad in the basin that shares its name. Kosice is a regional administrative centre and Eastern Slovakia's hub of industry, commerce, science and culture. 
It is a city with an eventful and illustrious past, its earliest recorded mention dating from 1230, when it is referred to as " Villa Cassa". The coat of arms is the oldest in Europe. Other points of interests: St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, considered to be one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in the world, St. Michael's Chapel, Eastern Slovakia museum, Jakab palace, The State Theatre, St. Urbain's Tower.  Lunch break in and at leisure

Transfer to famous Tokaj region. (1hour 15min drive). Before we visit a famous wine cellar and start tasting 6 different types of wine, little bit of history about this gem... 
The singularity of Tokaj wine, the presentation of the Slovak part of the Tokaj vineyard region, growing and processing grapes as well as production technology led those involved and the local enthusiasts, growers and producers of wine to create the Tokaj Wine Road. The Tokaj vineyard region is the smallest of the six vineyard regions of Slovakia. The history of the Tokaj region reaches back to the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C.E. Hungarian King Belo IV arranged a revival of the Tokaj vines after the vineyards were destroyed by Tartar raids. The authenticity of Tokaj wine was indicated by the designation "samorodny" ( wine from selected grapes ).
Tokaj wine achieved its greatest fame and admiration in the French royal court under the rule of Louis XIV. The famous phrase " Vinum regum - rex vinorum " comes from this era, meaning "wine of kings - king of wines". The quality and exceptionality of Tokaj wines is due to the natural and climatic conditions as well as the varieties grown, which are capable of noble ripening and formation of cibeba ( a grape which has dried on the vine almost to raisin consistency and is ususally covered with a type of fungus ), the special processing technology and the unique form of storage and long term aging.
Three basic varieties comprise the character of Tokaj wines: Furmint, Lipovina and yellow muscatel. During the course of a long und warm autumn, these varieties use the help of the fungus Botrytis cinerea to create the cibeba - raisin.


Meal(s): buffet breakfast +  dinner
Hotel : Zlaty Dukat (SF)

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DAY 11

BRATISLAVA - DRIVE AND STOP IN BUDAPEST

Transfer to Bratislava through Hungary (3hrs drive to Budapest).  Budapest - the capital of Hungary. Lunch break - famous Hungarian cuisine.
Quality City Tour in Budapest to see  Buda Castle complex, one of the largest European parliaments, famous Hero's square with its memorial commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin,  Andrassy street, Vaci street and Danube promenade. Enjoy your afternoon in this charming city. Shopping & relaxing. Transfer to Bratislava (2hrs drive) 

Meal(s): buffet breakfast + farewell dinner
Hotel : Radisson Blu (DE)

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DAY 12 

GOOD BYE LOVELY SLOVAKIA
Free program until departure. Transfer to the airport.

Hotel Class Category: DE - deluxe hotels 
                                              SF - superior first class

Extend Your Stay - visit more countries with us
Let us know your travel dreams - we will make them true
Vienna, Budapest, Prague...let's do day-trips or tours in neighbouring countries
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Accommodation details:

• rich buffet breakfast is included and provided at the hotels
• every hotel on the route we have visited many times and we consider it as the best. We will send you links on the official hotel websites so you can check it.
• price is based on 2 people sharing a room
• single supplement available with a surcharge of EUR 500,00 ( USD 700,00 )
• rooms are equipped with a bathroom- shower or bath with WC, TV, radio
• Clothing required for this trip: appropriate shoes, jacket

What is included in the price

• professional private driver/guide also available for you as a translator & advisor
• 11x accommodation in 4star stylish & luxurious hotels
• 11x breakfast at the hotels
• 1x welcome dinner
• 1x traditional Slovak dinner
• 1x farewell dinner
• all transfers around Slovakia
• airconditioned luxurious limousines or vans Mercedes Benz Viano equipped with a fridge on board
• vans are equipped with comfortable & adjustable leather seats with DVD player
• refreshment on board (mineral water)
• diesel, all parking & motorway fees
• map of Bratislava & map of Slovakia, information material (brochures, leaflets)
• all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• everybody gets a CD-ROM with Photos of Your Holiday

What is NOT included in the price

• flights to/from Slovakia
• return airport transfers (will be arranged for discounted rate)
• lunch, dinner (except of welcome & traditional & farewell dinner)
• drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages)
• cable car tickets & souvenirs, tips, wine tasting in Tokaj
• any other trips not mentioned in this itinerary
  

Price valid from 01.01.2012

• EUR 1499.00 / USD 2005.00  
• per person sharing twin/double room
• land-only price
• deposit-individuals: 25% advance payment
• balance payment individuals: 75% after your arrival 
  
  
• deposit-groups: 50% advance payment
• balance payment-groups: 50% after your arrival

How to get to Slovakia from USA, Canada, Australia

• flight to nearest airport Vienna Schwechat, Austria (recommended), transfer to Bratislava only takes 30min
• flight to Budapest, Hungary, transfer to Bratislava takes 2hrs
• flight to Prague, Czech republic, transfer takes 4hrs
• flight to Krakow, Poland, transfer to the Central Slovakia only takes 2hrs
  
  

How to get to Slovakia from European countries

• direct flight to Bratislava M.R. Stefanik airport using low-budget airline Ryanair from most European cities
• flight to nearest airport Vienna Schwechat, Austria