Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

A Trilogy of Central European Countries

This tour is a perfect introduction to three of Central Europe’s most intriguing destinations. The Czech Republic boasts many historic towns, castles, monasteries and churches, whilst the capital, Prague can lay claim to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its own unique atmosphere. Music plays an important part in the everyday life of the country as does food. Many of the cakes and pastries popular in Central Europe originated here. As well as its food the country is well known for its celebrated beers and its excellent Moravian wines and you will have the opportunity to try these.

For history lovers, Slovakia has the highest number of castles and chateaux per capita in the world, ranging from simple ruins to well preserved habitable castles with furnishings. There are also numerous gothic and baroque cities and towns across Slovakia, including the capital. There are many well-preserved examples of wooden folk architecture, including churches made entirely out of wood and the tallest wooden altar in the world. Bratislava the capital and the largest city of Slovakia has a beautifully restored historical centre full of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance churches, houses and palaces, cobblestone streets, fountains, pleasant cafes and a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere and we will see this on our guided tour of the city.

On this tour you will experience the hospitality of the Hungarian people and see the country’s remarkable and varied architecture including the Baroque Festetics Palace , in Keszthely, that took over a century to build. You will marvel at the horsemanship of the Hungarian riders at the Tanyacsarda Ranch complex and you will spend time relaxing in the thermal waters and spas of Cegled. You will visit Hungary’s capital city Budapest and experience the many cultural influences of the country’s turbulent past. As the finale to the tour you will have an evening dinner cruise on the famous Danube River allowing you to enjoy the many beautifully illuminated buildings in the city

Day 1 – Sunday 21st August
The Tour starts here in Nuremberg. Those who have chosen to travel independently should aim to reach the campsite during the afternoon. In the evening we will meet at the Tour Directors van for welcome drinks and a tour briefing.

Day 2 – Monday 22nd August
Today we will cross into the Czech Republic and reach our campsite on the outskirts of Prague. In the evening we will have a group dinner with wine in the campsite’s excellent restaurant. 185 Miles

Day 3 – Tuesday 23rd August
Today we will have a free day to enable us to recover from our journey of the past few days. The campsite has excellent facilities including a swimming pool for you to enjoy

Day 4 – Wednesday 24th August
We will be met at the campsite this morning by our guide and taken into Prague by coach for a full day tour of this beautiful city. We will see the most popular and historic parts of the city including the famous Castle and the Old Town Hall. This is a walking tour but we may use public transport from time to time. We will have a break for lunch, at your own cost,, try a traditional Prague Pub or if you prefer continue sightseeing or shopping.

Day 5 – Thursday 25th August
Our coach tour today will be to the Skoda Factory and Car Museum in Mlada Boleslav a short distance from Prague. We will have a guided tour of both the museum and factory before moving on to a local Brewery for lunch in their stylish restaurant followed by a tour and tasting of their beers.

Day 6 – Friday 26th August
A free day – There are good public transport links between the campsite and Prague so you may choose to visit the city again or stay on-site and relax.

Day 7 – Saturday 27th August
Today we will make an excursion to a Bohemian Crystal Glassworks and the beautiful Karlestejn Castle. The Czech Republic produces some of the finest cut crystal glassware in the world and during our tour we will see the processes involved and learn something of the history of the industry. Moving on to Karlestejn this large Gothic Castle was founded in 1348 as a place of safe-keeping for the Royal Treasures including the Coronation Jewels and is an imposing sight on the hillside. We will have a typical regional lunch in a local restaurant before visiting the castle.

Day 8 – Sunday 28th August
We drive to our next location today at Ceske Budejovice, home of the famous Budweiser Lager, where it is still brewed today. The campsite was newly refurbished in 2014 and boasts some excellent facilities including a pool and restaurant and is located just a short stroll from the town. 88 Miles

Day 9 – Monday 29th August
A free day – You can walk into town and perhaps visit the brewery or just enjoy the atmosphere around the main square. In the evening we will have a group dinner, accompanied by Budweiser Beer or Wine, in the campsite’s excellent restaurant.

Day 10 – Tuesday 30th August
This morning our Guide and Coach will meet us at the campsite and take us to the fascinating town of Cesky Krumlov. The Old Town and Castle date from between the 14th and 17th centuries and are primarily in the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. We will tour the castle gardens with its unique “Revolving Theatre” before descending into the town through the castle complex. After our guided tour there will be free time for more sightseeing, shopping and/or lunch. Mid afternoon we will rejoin our coach for the onward journey to Zlata Koruna and its ancient Abbey where we will have a guided tour before returning to the campsite.

Day 11 – Wednesday 31st August
We move on to our next campsite not far from the city of Brno. There are good transport links by bus, train and boat into the city. 129 Miles

Day 12 – Thursday 1st September
We will have an excursion by coach with guide to the famous Moravian Karst Caves. This is a huge network of caves cut into the limestone by subterranean rivers. After our tour of the caves you will have some free time before continuing on a sightseeing journey around the region.

Day 13 – Friday 2nd September
Today is a free day and it would be possible to take a bus and train or a boat from the jetty about 100m from the campsite into the Old Town of Brno for a days’ sightseeing. This evening we will walk along the river bank to the nearby village for a meal in one of the local restaurants.

Day 14 – Saturday 3rd September
We leave the Czech Republic and continue our journey into Slovakia and to our destination in Bratislava. 104 Miles

Day 15 – Sunday 4th September
Our day is spent in the city of Bratislava, with the help of our English speaking guide we will learn about the Country and its most important city. We will have a typical lunch in a city restaurant.

Day 16 – Monday 5th September
A free day – You could re-visit the town after yesterdays guided tour.

Day 17 – Tuesday 6th September
We now leave Slovakia and make our way to our first campsite in Hungary in the lovely town of Keszthely, just west of Lake Balaton. The campsite is located within easy walking distance of the town and just a few hundred metres from the lakeside with its own pool. 135 Miles

Day 18 – Wednesday 7th September
This morning we will be collected by coach and taken on the short journey into town and the famous Festetics Palace. The Palace is one of the largest Stately Mansions in Hungary and one of the few to have escaped damage during the second World War. We will have a guided tour of the Palace and Coach House followed by free time which will enable you to explore the remaining exhibitions (entry fee). After leaving the Palace you could stroll through the town with its various other museums and exhibitions before returning the short distance to the campsite on foot.

Day 19 – Thursday 8th September
Today is a free day. You could stroll down to the lakeside or if you have a bike you could explore a bit further afield using the cycleway. In the evening we will be collected by coach and taken to the famous Esterhazy Wine Cellar for a tour and a tasting followed by a traditional Hungarian Buffet accompanied of course by the cellar’s wines.

Day 20 – Friday 9th September
We move on from Keszthely and travel to the Tanycsarda Ranch for one of the highlights of the tour. We will be staying on the ranches own private camping area and you should aim to arrive no later than 3:00pm. After settling in we will be welcomed with Cocktails accompanied by Cracked Scones after which we will have a little time to relax before making our way to the restaurant for the “Kings Feast” accompanied by live traditional “Gypsy Music”. After our meal we will move on to the main display area for a spectacular show of horsemanship before returning to our vans for a good nights’ sleep. 158 Miles

Day 21 – Saturday 10th September
No need to get up too early this morning to prepare breakfast as you will be treated to a traditional “Hungarian Buffet Breakfast” in the Ranch restaurant. After breakfast we will be taken on a tour of the surrounding Puszta (Plains) in horse-drawn carriages. The rest of the day will be free for you to visit the stables and enjoy the facilities that the ranch has to offer.

Day 22 – Sunday 11th September
This morning we will leave the ranch for a short drive to the Thermal Spa at Cegled. During our stay here you will be able to use all of the Spas facilities free of charge. A variety of special treatments are available at an extra cost. 22 Miles

Day 23 – Monday 12th September
A free day to give you time to enjoy the Spa Facilities. Weather permitting we could organise a group BBQ this evening

Day 24 – Tuesday 13th September
We drive today to our next campsite at Eger where we will stay for 3 nights. The campsite is located close to the centre of town in the “Valley of the Beautiful Women”. 114 Miles

Day 25 – Wednesday 14th September
This morning the “Little Tourist Train” will collect us from the campsite and take us into town where we will enjoy a guided tour of the castle and the town. The tour will end at about 1:00pm and you will have free time to have lunch, go shopping or further explorethis lovely town before returning to the campsite on foot or by the Little Train. In the evening we will walk the short distance to a Local Wine Cellar where we will enjoy a Wine Tasting accompanied by a Light Meal whilst being entertained by a local musician.

Day 26 – Thursday 15th September
A free day – why not stroll down into the “Valley” and visit some of the numerous Wine Cellars and sample the local wines including the famous “Bulls Blood”. In the evening we will have a group meal in a local restaurant – during the meal we will be entertained by local musicians.

Day 27 – Friday 16th September
Today we move on to Budapest the capital of Hungary. Our campsite is conveniently located for public transport (free to over 60’s) into the city. 87 Miles

Day 28 – Saturday 17th September
We will have a full day guided tour of this fascinating city. Our guide will explain the history of the city and we will visit many of the most significant landmarks and monuments including the castle area. During the morning part of our tour we will be treated to “Coffee and Cake” in the famous “Book Cafe” and we will have lunch in the castle area. After lunch there will be some free time before we are returned to the campsite by coach.

Day 29 – Sunday 18th September
A free day – Use the nearby excellent public transport links to re-visit this beautiful city.

Day 30 – Monday 19th September
Our coach and guide will collect us this morning from the campsite for an all-day guided tour to the “Danube Bend” where we will visit the lovely village of Esztergom and its’ Basilica, before going on to Visigrad to visit the Castle. A traditional lunch is included and there may be some time for additional sightseeing before returning to the campsite.

Day 31 – Tuesday 20th September
Another free day for you to continue exploring Budapest. This is the last day of the tour so make sure you have seen as much of the city as you can. In the evening we will have a wonderful Private Dinner Cruise on the Danube allowing us to enjoy the many beautifully illuminated buildings in the city. Our English speaking guide will be with us throughout the cruise to identify the buildings for us.

Day 32 – Wednesday 21st September
The Tour ends this morning. After saying our farewells you may choose to accompany the Tour Directors (at your own cost) on their journey back to Calais on the route and timing of their choosing, or you may make your own way back home.

PRICE

Motorhome with 2 people = £0000 per person
Motorhome with 1 person = £0000

DEPOSIT £000

INCLUDED IN PRICE

• 31 Campsite nights with hook-up
• Transport for Excursions/Events as per the itinerary
• Entrance fee’s on Excursions/Events as listed in the itinerary
• Tour Information Pack with suggested routes
• Services of Tour Directors throughout the tour travelling in their own motorhome

Excursions/Events

• All Day Guided Tour of Prague with optional lunch
• Excursion to Skoda Factory & Museum plus visit to Brewery with Tasting & Lunch
• Excursion to Karlestejn Castle & Bohemian Glass Works with Lunch
• Excursion to Ceske Krumlov and Zlata Koruna Abbey
• Excursion to the Moravian Karst Caves
• Guided Tour of Bratislava with Lunch
• Guided Tour of Festetics Palace in Keszthely
• Evening Visit to the Esterhazy Wine Cellars with Wine Tasting & Buffet
• Evening Show at the Tanycsarda Ranch with “Kings Feast”
• Morning Guided Tour of Eger
• Evening Wine Tasting with Buffet in Eger
• Full Day Guided Tour of Budapest with Morning Coffee & Lunch
• Excursion to the Danube Bend with Guide & Lunch
• Private Evening Dinner Cruise on the Danube

Meals

• Welcome Drinks Reception
• 2 Wine Tastings with Buffets
• 5 Dinners with wine
• 5 Lunches
• Morning Coffee & Cake
• Hungarian Buffet Breakfast
• Group BBQ

This tour starts in Nuremberg, but if you would like to travel on the outward journey with the Tour Directors, please book the optional tour package so that everything can be arranged on your behalf

OPTIONAL EXTRA PACKAGE

• Return Dover/Calais Ferry with 60 day Flexible Ticket + Club Class Lounge
• Four additional camping nights with electric hook-up in Kent, Gent, Rudesheim, Nuremburg
• Dinner at the campsite in Gent
• Tour information pack with suggested routes
• Services of Tour Directors travelling in their own motorhome

OPTIONAL PACKAGE PRICE

Motorhome with 2 people = £000 per person
Motorhome with 1 person = £000