Grand Slovakia & Czechia Tour 2019

Day 1
WELCOME TO BRATISLAVA – BEAUTY ON THE DANUBE RIVER

We can offer you a pick up from the airports in Bratislava, Vienna or Budapest and drive you safely to Bratislava. Please ask and get the discounted price for comfortable door-to-door-service.
Welcome to Bratislava. Relax or take a leisurely stroll around the city.

This evening join your Tour Guide and travelling companions for a Welcome Drink and itinerary introduction. Your lovely holiday has just started.

Accommodation: Hotel Radisson Blu**** or alternative
Overnight: Bratislava

Day 2
BRATISLAVA QUALITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR

We start with the quality sightseeing tour to show you the highlights of our charming city. Strolling through the historical streets up to the Bratislava castle – a symbol of our city and get the great views of the Danube river is a must. Walking through the city walls, visiting the St. Martin’s Cathedral – the coronation place of 18 rulers including Austria-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa, walking through the only preserved entrance – Michaels gate, the Primate Palace – the largest in Bratislava where the Treaty of Pressburg was signed in the Hall of Mirrors.
Take pictures of some of our funny statues such as Cumil.
Continue by car/van to Devin castle (castle history and Iron Curtain explanation and Communist history overview), then drive to Bratislava castle – important settlement at the end of the 9th century. Lunch break in the Old town and free time for shopping and relaxing.

Welcome dinner at Peter & Jane’s house, drive to the picturesque little village Limbach located in the heart of Small Carpathian Hills. Enjoy the home-made specialties, desserts and Slovak wine tasting.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Radisson Blu**** or alternative
Overnight: Bratislava

Day 3
BANSKA STIAVNICA & HIGH TATRAS

This morning we have a scenic drive northeast. A stop in a picturesque Banska Stiavnica town, connected with the mining of copper, silver and gold. It is like to step in the past centuries. Admire Old and New castle, St. Catherine church and the Holy Trinity square surrounded by renaissance houses. Get an overview of the rich mining history, famous dynasties such as Thurzo-Fugger and even become a miner for a short time.  Lunch break to try some traditional meals at the local restaurant and try beers from local microbrewery ERB.
Drive to Vlkolinec (UNESCO), a remarkably intact settlement with the traditional features of a central European village. It is the region’s most complete group of these kinds of traditional log houses, often found in mountainous areas. Great opportunity to try samples of honey wine (mead), from local wine makers. Go back in time and see how people used to live two centuries ago.

Visit of a little square, baroque chapel, wooden belfry and folk museum showing all the instruments of daily life and work. Continue to High Tatra Mountains.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel****
Overnight: High Tatras – at the Heart of our greatest mountains

Day 4
UNCOVER THE BEAUTY OF OUR MOUNTAINS

It’s easy to fall in love with High Tatras – mountains with its picturesque valleys, brooks, waterfalls, colorful meadows, tarns with crystal clear water.
We are very excited to show you our lovely mountains, firstly take a funicular railway (tickets not included) to get Hrebienok and walk to the waterfalls. An easy walking tour in the nature.

Then, we drive to Tatranska Lomnica town to take a cable car (tickets not included) to see the High Tatra mountains from above. Overnight in High Tatra Mountains.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel****
Overnight: High Tatras – at the Heart of our greatest mountains

Day 5
SPISS CASTLE, CHAPTER & ZEHRA CHURCH / UNESCO

Our first stop will be History enthusiasts will admire charming 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.
Continue to Spiss Castle. On a dolomite rock, 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. Stop in Zehra church famous for its fresco Tree of life. Further we visit Spisska Kapitula, also known as “Slovak Vatikan” and enter into the Cathedral of St. Martin.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel****
Overnight: High Tatras – at the Heart of our greatest mountains

Day 6
ORAVA REGION, ZUBEREC, HIGH TATRAS

Open-air Museum of Orava – let’s see the rural life from the past centuries. Drive to see mighty Orava 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. Comfortable drive to Trencin. At leisure.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Elisabeth**** or alternative
Overnight: Trencin

Day 7
WELCOME TO CZECHIA – LEDNICE-VALTICE & BRNO

Leaving Slovakia and entering Czechia. History joined us twice as CSR (we celebrated 100^thanniversary on Oct 28, 2018) and CSSR (during the communist times), now, since 1993, 2 independent countries with great relationships.
Get the overview of Czech history, what we (Slovaks) have in common, what is different. Try tasty Czech cuisine, famous beers and wines.

Drive to Lednice Chateau – Europe’s most beautiful example of the English Neo-Gothic style. Guided tour through the chateau and walking in the gardens.

Then we move to Valtice to see Baroque chateau, the former residence of the Lichtenstein family. Situated in the centre of a tradition wine region, the chateau was built in stages by thirteen princes and in the 18th century the residence, with its furnishings, collections and rich inventory competed with Imperial court in Vienna itself.
After a beautiful day of chateaux and gardens visits. Drive to Brno, 2nd largest city and a capital of Moravia. As the Czechs say, this city has rythm and drive.

A great opportunity to have a dinner in the Old town. Wine bar or beer pub afterwards? Brno has it all and we know the best places.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel****
Overnight: Brno

Day 8
TELC, Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov

Drive to fairytale-like little town – Telc. It is the most perfect example of the Italian Renaissance north of the Alps, square belongs to the most beautiful in Europe.

Continue to Ceske Budejovice – visit of a famous brewery, uncover the brewing secrets of the world-known and unique Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager. Lunch at beerhouse restaurant. Continue to Cesky Krumlov. At leisure.

Our recommendation is to take an evening walk through the mysterious streets and enjoy the well lid up castle. It’s breathtaking.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Grand**** or alternative
Overnight: Cesky Krumlov

Day 9
CESKY KRUMLOV – GEM AMONG THE CZECH UNESCO SIGHTS

A walk through narrow historical streets full of late gothic, renaissance and baroque well preserved houses. The town grew up within a meander of the Vltava river, which provides a natural setting of exceptional beauty.

Have you ever heard about the stone you can’t find elsewhere in the world? Discover mystery and beauty of the jewels from space – the light green to olive brown stones called the Moldavites.
Walk up to the symbol of this town – castle built on the rocky cliff, take a guided tour, later walk over the bridge, take pictures from the best view points.

Tasty lunch in the Old town and get ready for the next adventure – drive to world famous SPA Karlovy Vary.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Grand**** or alternative
Overnight: Karlove Vary

Day 10
KARLOVY VARY – WORLD FAMOUS SPA

Morning tour along the Promenade of Karlovy Vary, the incarnation of spa elegance, imposing colonnades, exclusive spa buildings and a wonderful layout in the heart of a forested valley.
Thanks to its unique architecture, it is one of Europe’s most beautiful spas.
Did you know that Karlovy Vary has the largest concentration of hot mineral springs in the world? 15 local mineral springs are used for drinking cures.
We try different types of the mineral water and of course, we can’t miss the famous chocolate, vanilla or hazel nut wafers.

A short visit of Grand Hotel Pupp, the world-famous hotel with 3 centuries of history.
The list with famous guests is never-ending, empress Maria Theresa, J.W. Goethe, Beethoven, Chopin, Paganini, famous show business people, famous movie Casino Royale with James Bond was partly filmed here.

We visit Museum of History of Karlovy Vary, an interesting journey back in time. Lunch in the Old town and afternoon walking up to the observation tower Diana – enjoy breathtaking views of the spa town. (possible to take a funicular)

Optional (not included in the package, booking in advance is necessary)
1, Visit of Moser museum of glass (luxury bohemian traditional crystal glass with more than 150 years of history), tour through the factory to see the process of glass making
2, Visit of Jan Becher museum – discover and try traditional Czech high-quality herbal liquor with 200 years of history

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Schlosspark****
Overnight: Karlove Vary

Day 11
PRAGUE – THE CAPITAL OF CZECHIA
– city of hundred spires and one of the most beautiful in the world

Drive to Prague. Which of the nicknames of Prague do you like the most? Mother of cities, City of Hundred spires, Golden city or a City of Legends and Ghost stories? The attraction of this city is mystical.
We start our journey through the history of this fascinating city with a Premium walking tour of the Old and New town. You will get the history overview of this former imperial and royal city, nowadays, a modern and attractive capital city.
We explore the ancient streets lined with historic buildings, pass through magnificent squares such as Old town square and of coure, the Astronomical clock and cross old bridge – the famous Charles bridge , and we learn of the people and of the events that have shaped the city over the past one thousand years.

As the walking tour is scheduled for 4 hours, we will have lunch break after 2 hours.
Which of these two Czech traditional meals you like more?  Svíčková na smetaně – tenderloin in cream sauce with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries or Vepřo, knedlo, zelo – roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut?

Evening free for enjoying the special atmosphere in this city

Evening concerts?
We are ready to help you and book the tickets

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Elite**** or alternative
Overnight: Prague

Day 12
PRAGUE – PRAGUE CASTLE
– the largest castle complex in the world

We stroll up to Prague castle through the former royal route through historical streets, cross the Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s oldest stone bridges and reach Lesser Town. Short stop to admire the most beautiful baroque church of Prague – St. Nicholas church, then, continue through the former Royal Route we come up to the Prague Castle complex to discover the major sights within.
Admire the architectural style from the medieval times up to 20^thcentury

Once a seat of the Bohemian kings, nowadays a seat of the Czech president
Your guide brings the magnificent castle buildings to life by explaining their often turbulent history, and their royal and presidential connections.

See the changing of the guards. We admire and enter the largest and most important church –  Saint Vitus Cathedral, it is the dominant of Prague castle complex, many Czech rulers and important saints have their resting place here.

The beautifully decorated interior created by medieval masters is lit to perfection by the rays of sunlight which stream through the beautiful stained-glass windows. Above all make sure to view the stained-glass windows by the Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha. From outside, look at the imposing mosaic of the Last Judgement above the Golden Gate. We’ll tell you the story.

Our ticket will allow you to visit the ancient architecture of the Old Royal Palace and Romanesque basilica St. George and Golden lane – the tiny lane will amaze you. Legend has it that the colourful houses were inhabited by alchemists working for the emperor Rudolf II, who wanted to discover the legendary Elixir of Youth and the Philosopher’s Stone. True or not, it is a special street where also world-famous Prague writer Franz Kafka worked.

After enjoying stunning views over the whole Prague we walk down to Lesser town full of baroque style buildings, home to government offices, embassies and foreign dimplomats. Time for a lunch break and we know where to try great Czech meals.

Have you seen the narrowest street with a traffic light? What about the controversial Czech artist David Cerny and his famous statues?  And of course, the John Lennon wall, the graffiti covered wall, with a special history representing global ideals such as love and peace.  Actually, the only place in the city where graffiti is legal.

Walking back to the Old town via Manesov bridge and visit of Jewish Quarter (outside only).

Optional(not included in the package)
If you would prefer a complete visit of a Jewish Quarter (with an entrance to all synagogues and cemetery, an advanced booking is necessary)

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Elite**** or alternative
Overnight: Prague

Day 13
BONE CHURCH & KUTNA HORA / UNESCO

Drive to Kutna Hora and visit of Sedlec Ossuary, a small roman-catholic chapel located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints.
It definitely belongs among the most unique churches in the world. From more than 40 000 human skeletons you can admire big chandelier of bones containing almost all human bones. Candle holders, vases, even walls are made from bones and skulls. Creepy? Maybe, but definitely worth to visit.

We move to Kutna Hora historical centre, known as the city of silver, symbol of Kutna Hora is the unique late gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara, founded as a miner’s church, dedicated to patron saints of miners. Lunch break.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Elite**** or alternative
Overnight: Prague

Day 14
FAREWELL and DEPARTURE

Your memorable holiday comes to an end today.We are ready to arrange for you an airport transfer for discounted rates.

Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast