24 days / 23 nights - from £2,595 per person

This exclusive escorted Eastern European tour includes highlights of 7  countries which are enticing and rich in beauty and culture in just 24 days – Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Russia!
The tour starts in Prague, where you will explore the magnificent Old Town with breath-taking beauty , and have a chance to visit the impressive Bohemian Gothic Castle. In Poland you will stay in Krakow as well as Warsaw, will visit Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, before continuing to the grand Baltic capitals – Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. Following that you will go by ferry across the Gulf of Finland to the trendy and  Finnish capital – Helsinki and continue in the footsteps of the czars to the Russian capitals - St. Petersburg and Moscow full of active tourism, fascinating history and beauty.

2012 guaranteed departure dates:

Package price is from £ 2,595 per person based on availability and two people sharing a twin or double room.  Single supplement is £970.

Package includes:

• Direct flights from London Heathrow to Prague and return from Moscow
  (we can arrange flights from other airports upon request)
• Airport transfers in Prague and Moscow 
• 23 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
• 23 x buffet breakfast
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrances to Old Town Hall in Prague, Wawel Castle in Krakow, Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw and Old University in Vilnius, Rundale Palace, St. Peter’s, Church in Riga, medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn, Church-in-the Rock in Helsinki, Vyborg Castle, Peter-Paul-Fortress in St. Petersburg and Moscow Metro
• Service of English speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
• Ferry Tallinn - Helsinki 
• Sapsan high-speed train St. Petersburg - Moscow
  
• Portage at hotels and railway stations
• Service and VAT
• QUIETVOX audio communication system in use throughout the Finnish and Russian part of the tour

Eastern European Explorer Tour itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN PRAGUE
Arrival in Prague, transfer to Hotel Novotel Praha Venceslas Square 4* or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

DAY 2: PRAGUE
Prague has been a cultural centre of central Europe for the over 1,100 years of its existence and 20 years after the velvet revolution it is more than ever one of the most beautiful and exciting cities of the world. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the Old Town Square surrounded by historical buildings such as the Old Town Hall with the famous Astronomical Clock, the imposing St. Nicholas Church and Church of Our Lady, the Jewish Quarter and the Wenceslas Square. The afternoon offers an optional tour to the castle area with Prague Castle, residence of Czech Kings, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golden Lane with fairy small houses, the Kings Road, the Lesser Town and the Charles Bridge. The evening is offering an optional dinner cruise on the Vltava-River.

DAY 3: PRAGUE
The morning offers an optional half day tour to the impressive Bohemian Gothic Karlstejn Castle, located about 35 km southwest of Prague in the Karlstejn village. We admire the rich interior of the caste and the stunning views of Karlstejn and the surrounding countryside. The rest of the day is reserved for exploring more of the Golden City on own hand.

DAY 4: PRAGUE – KRAKOW
Today we head for Brno, the capital of Moravia and a charming historical town dominated by the Spilberk Royal Castle and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. After a lunch break we continue via the mining town of Ostrava into the picturesque mountainous South of Poland. We reach Krakow in the late afternoon and check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Krakow 4*.

DAY 5: KRAKOW
For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls and Wawel with the Wawel Castle and the Wawel Cathedral. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.

DAY 6: KRAKOW – WARSAW
We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, where we visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna. Through the flat low-laying plain of Central Poland we reach Warsaw in the early afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Warsaw 4* or similar.

DAY 7: WARSAW
Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town. The morning sightseeing tour includes the Royal Route and the Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square and the Barbican. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water.

DAY 8: WARSAW
The morning offers an optional excursion to Zelozawa Wola, the romantic birthplace of the Polish composer and pianist, Frederyk Chopin, who played an exceptional role in shaping Polish national identity. The afternoon is reserved for exploring more of Warsaw’s secrets individually. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale.

DAY 9: WARSAW – VILNIUS
We continue through the well forested North Poland along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland. We continue into Lithuania and driving through the Dzukija region, densely covered with pine forests, before we arrive in the late afternoon to Vilnius. Check in at Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva 4* or similar.

DAY 10: VILNIUS
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.

DAY 11: VILNIUS – RIGA
Heading for Riga, the first stop is the Hill of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon, check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Latvija 4* or similar.

DAY 12: RIGA
Before we get acquainted with Riga we have the possibility of discovering medieval Latvia. The optional tour for this morning takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers an optional visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a spacious exposition of 18th century country life. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

DAY 13: RIGA
Riga, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.

DAY 14: RIGA – TALLINN
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia 4* or similar.

DAY 15: TALLINN
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the medieval Old Town Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park with a visit to the Kadriorg Palace and its art collections. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

DAY 16: TALLINN – HELSINKI
In the morning we take the hydrofoil from Tallinn to Helsinki and enjoy a refreshing tour through the Finnish archipelago before arriving in Helsinki, transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza 4* or similar, check-in. The balance of the day is reserved for exploring the Finnish capital individually.

DAY 17: HELSINKI
Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and this is refl ected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbors, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and for a visit at the famous Church-in the-Rock. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, an oasis in the midst of the city with cottages, farmsteads and manors from all around Finland.

DAY 18: HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG
Today we continue eastbound to St. Petersburg. Shortly after crossing the border into Russia we arrive in Vyborg, where we take time for a short sightseeing tour and a visit to Vyborg Castle. In the late afternoon we arrive in St. Petersburg and check-in at Hotel Radisson Sonya 4* or similar.

DAY 19: ST. PETERSBURG
St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title “The Venice of the North”. During the morning sightseeing tour we get acquainted with all the splendours of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folklore show and Russian „champagne” and snacks.

DAY 20: ST. PETERSBURG
The morning is reserved for an optional excursion to Tsarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the afternoon, an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is offered. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdoroviye.

DAY 21: ST. PETERSBURG – MOSCOW
The early morning is reserved for an optional guided shopping tour to fashion and souvenir boutiques on the Nevsky Prospect. Around noon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Sapsan high-speed train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the late afternoon we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4* or similar.

DAY 22: MOSCOW
Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolis in the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes all the highlights of the vast city: the Red Square with Kremlin, the Theater Square with Bolshoi Theater, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and a visit to the famous Moscow Metro. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Kremlin grounds with a visit to the cathedrals. The evening offers an optional excursion with a cruise on the Moscow River.

DAY 23: MOSCOW
The morning offers an optional excursion to Novidevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city’s most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is Moscow‘s most prestigious resting place after the Kremlin. The balance of the day is reserved for exploring more of Moscow individually. The evening offers an optional visit to the Old Russian Circus.

DAY 24: DEPARTURE FROM MOSCOW
Transfer to Moscow airport. Return flight.

Optional tours and meals:
- 3 hr to of the Prage Castle area:£ 30.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion and dinner cruise on the Vltava-River: £ 47.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Karlstejn Castle: £ 43.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mine: £ 50.00 pp
- Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka: £ 34.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with Palace on the Water: £ 34.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Zelozawa Wola: £ 50.00 pp
- Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale: £ 34.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Trakai and visit to Trakai Castle: £ 34.00 pp
- Folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas: £ 34.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Trakai Castle: £34.00 pp
- Folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas: £34.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Gauja National Park: £43.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Open Air Museum - £34.00 pp
- Organ concert at Dome Cathedral: £30.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Jurmala: £34.00 pp
- Latvian dinner at Restaurant La Boheme : £34.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Kadriorg Park and Palace: £30.00 pp
- Medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack: £34.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Seurasaari Open Air Museum: £38.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Peterhof: £60.00 pp
- Visit to folklore show at Nikolaevsky Palace: £42.00 pp
- 4 hr guided tour to Catherine's Palace: £50.00 pp
- 3 hr visit to the Hermitage Art Museum: £38.00 pp
- Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdrorovie: £45.00 pp
- 3 hr guided shopping tour on Nevsky Prospekt: £29.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion to Kremlin and one cathedral: £42.00 pp
- 4 hr excursion to Novodevich Convent: £46.00 pp
- 3 hr excursion and cruise on the Moscow River: £38.00 pp
- Visit to Old Russian Circus: £59.00 pp
- Half board (23 x 3-course dinners): £520.00 pp