Vienna to Budapest Overland Tour
| country: | Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | Departs selected Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year, Mar - Dec |
| price: | From £1365 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Experience the best of this old-world region on a journey through enchanting Central Europe. Immerse yourself in Austria's superb musical heritage and step through time in the castles of the Czech Republic. Wander Krakow's romantic Old Town and get active in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains. Conclude this classical adventure by taking the road less travelled to Budapest.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-3: | Vienna/Bratislava. Spend free time enjoying a typical Viennese operetta or relaxing in the beautiful parks. Stroll into the city centre, along the Ringstrasse and past the former imperial palace - the Hofburg - to see the architectural splendour of Austria's capital. Of course there's always plenty of time for some local delicacies like sacher torte or a wiener wurstel.Take a day trip to Bratislava to discover the history of this utterly captivating Slovakian capital. |
| Days 4-5: | Cesky Krumlov. With its cobblestone alleys and beautiful old buildings, this picturesque hamlet is straight out of a fairytale. Explore the surrounding countryside on a bicycle then settle in the medieval town square in time for sunset. |
| Days 6-8: | Prague. The City of a Hundred Spires never fails to charm with its gorgeous architecture, crooked streets and buzzing nightlife. Walk through the Old Town for a tantalising glimpse of Bohemia - there?s ample time to explore, so wander the courtyards of Prague Castle and be sure to investigate the city's thriving jazz scene. |
| Day 9: | Teplice. This quiet little village offers a look at rural Czech life. Pass the afternoon contemplating the weird and wonderful sandstone formations in the rock forest. For the adventurous, climb steep stairs and ladders to the spectacular lookout point. |
| Days 10-11: | Krakow. Cross the border into Poland and stop for a sombre visit to the Auschwitz and Birkenau museums before continuing on to Krakow. Steeped in artistic traditions, this city has much to offer. Stop by St Mary's Church to see the Gothic altar and listen for the bugle call - every hour on the hour. |
| Days 12-13: | Tatra Mountains. Limber up for some trekking in the High Tatras, where the crisp mountain air and stunning views make for an unforgettable hike. Enjoy local hospitality at the alpine resort of Tatranska Lomnica, staying in a quaint, family-owned pension. |
| Days 14-15: | Budapest. The last stop is a city of two halves - literally. Buda, the west bank, features rolling hills while Pest, on the east bank, has a grid-like layout. Linking the two is the Chain Bridge, a towering monument of light at night. From here, take a moment to marvel at the Parliament building and charming Castle District. With museums, galleries and thermal baths scattered all over the city, Budapest is sure to entertain. |
travellers' tales
For me personally the walking in the high Tatra mountains was the highlight followed by the Adrspach rocky town area (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We are committed to a style of travel that is environmentally, culturally and socially responsible. With your participation we aim to travel in a way that conserves the areas we visit and bring positive benefits to local communities while minimising any negative impacts.
Your group leader and the local guides we use along the way will help to break down barriers in your interactions with local people. Local Guides are highly recommended on any trip as they are the experts who can share a passion and knowledge for their homes like no else can. Throughout the trip you will have several opportunities to use the services of these local guides in places such as Cesky Krumlov and Budapest which will add to the whole experience of discovering Central and Eastern Europe. In Cesky Krumlov you will be staying at a locally run pension that is full of charm and friendly service. The locals of Cesky Krumlov who own and run these pensions are very grateful for our business as they have had to compete with big groups coming into town the last few years who stay at bigger hotels. Also in Prague you will be staying in private apartments in a local neighbourhood which is central to the old town square. This is your chance to live like the locals and experience a different style of accommodation. The apartments are privately run and owned which helps support the local businesses instead of giving money to internationally owned hotels. You will also visit Vesmirna Café, a locally run and owned cafe in Prague. This is an excellent café that employs locally mentally and disabled people. This cafe helps teach them skills that will help give them the opportunity to be employed in other workplaces eventually. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |