DESTINATIONS – From Vienna to Prague (Austria and The Czech Republic)

Nestled in the beautiful landscape of Europe’s heartland, the two nations of Austria and the Czech Republic, with their corresponding capitals of Vienna and Prague, represent a glorious civilisation born of a rich, although sometimes turbulent, history. As Elder Expeditions participants engage in the active sports for which we are known, there will be a multitude of opportunities to partake of the history and culture (including the long tradition of art and music) of this yet unspoiled part of Europe.

Highpoints of this magnificent and carefully created Elder Expeditions tour will include a tour of the city of Vienna (home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), experiencing the Danube (central Europe’s longest river), discovery of the biodiversity rich landscapes along the Thaya River, exploring the magic of South Moravia, starting with the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Lednice-Valtice area and a visit to Prague, one of the most precious pearls of the historical and cultural treasure of the Czech Republic.

Minimum participants: 2 | Maximum participants: 10

Languages: English, German, Czech, Turkish

Day 1: (Arrival Day)
An Elder Expeditions representative will meet us at the Vienna airport at a time to be determined based on participants’ various arrival times. We will be transferred to our Lodging in Orth (Austria) on the Danube. (Participants arriving by other than plane should contact Elder Expeditions for instructions on a meeting point in Orth.)
Dinner: in Orth

Day 2: (Canoeing on the legendary blue Danube)
Morning: Breakfast at our lodging in Orth. The activity of the day is canoeing through the Danube National Park, across the last wet forests in Middle Europe
Noon: We will have lunch in Orth next to the Danube National Park.
Afternoon: We will visit the Carnuntum Archeological Park, a Roman army camp of ancient Panonia during the days of the Roman Empire.
Evening: Our evening meal will be served in our lodging facility in Orth.

Day 3: (Sightseeing in Vienna, Hiking)
Morning: Our day in the fascinating old city of Vienna will give us an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the once mighty Hapsburgs. Among the many features included in our day’s visit to Vienna will be a tour of the splendid baroque Schönbrunn castle, the girlhood home of Marie Antoinette and heart of the former vast Hapsburg Empire. We will stroll along Vienna’s magnificent Ring Boulevard. A visit to the world famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral will give us a sense of the lustre and glory of the old empire.
Noon: in Vienna’s Old Town.
Afternoon: Hiking along Vienna’s west-side Hills, we will enjoy top views over the entire city.
Evening: Our evening meal will be served in our lodging facility in Orth.

Day 4: (Hiking)
Morning: After breakfast, we will be driven to the contiguous National Parks of Thayatal (in Austria) and Podyji (across the border in the Czech Republic) where we will hike along the Thaya River, a 235 kilometer natural river that meanders along the border area between Lower Austria and South Moravia (the Czech Republic).
Noon: Lunch in the National park.
Afternoon: Transfer to the Czech Republic’s Lednice-Valtice Area, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and in close proximity to the Pálava Landscape UNESCO Protected Area and nearby Pálava Biosphere Reserve, another landscape system registered with and protected by UNESCO. The close proximity of the two protected landscape systems is a world unique phenomenon.
Evening: Tonight, our first in the Czech Republic we will dine in our lodging facility in Valtice.

Day 5: (Biking)
Morning: After breakfast we will start our bike tour of the Lednice – Valtice area and the nearby Palava man-made landscape Complex.
Noon:  We will stop for lunch at a restaurant on our bike trip.
Afternoon: During the afternoon we will have a wine tasting opportunity in the Valtice – Lednice area.
Evening:  Dinner will be served in our lodging facility in Valtice.

Day 6: (Sightseeing transfer to Slapy)
Morning: After breakfast, we will leave Lednice en-route to Slapy with a stop along the way in the old town of Moravsky Krumlov, the home of a series of paintings by Alphonse Mucha known as "The Slav Epic". We will also stop in the old town of Telc, known for its monumental Renaissance chateau and unique town square with Baroque houses, which have had UNESCO World Heritage status since 1992.
Noon: We will have lunch in Telc then resume our drive to Slapy.
Evening: Dinner will be served at our lodging facility in Slapy.

Day 7: (Kayaking)
Morning: After breakfast we will head out in to the Slapy-Lake, a dammed lake reservoir on the Vltava River, the longest river in the Czech Republic, south of Prague in central Bohemia, where we will spend the morning kayaking.
Noon: We will have lunch by the Slapy-Lake.
Afternoon: We will have an opportunity to engage in designated optional activities (hiking, badminton, petanque and swimming) or have an enjoyment in the Relax Centre. Participants can make their selections on site with the local host.
Evening: Dinner will be served at our lodging facility in Slapy.

Day 8: (Sightseeing in Prague)
Morning: Today we will visit Prague the capital city, also known as the golden City. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with a history and architectural splendors that are more than a thousand years old. Our tour will start with a drive through New Town and will include Wenceslas Square, the National Museum and a view of Prague Castle, Lesser Town and Charles Bridge. We then continue on foot, through the courtyards of Prague Castle, learning about its history along the way. We will visit the interior of Prague’s most important landmark, the St. Vitus Cathedral. Re-boarding our van, we will proceed through Lesser Town to Kampa Island. After walking across the Charles Bridge, we will continue on a pleasant stroll through Old Town and Jewish Town. The sightseeing tour ends at the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall and Týn Church.
Noon: In Prague’s Old Town.
Evening: In the late afternoon we will return to our lodging facility in Slapy where we will have dinner.

Day 9: (Transfer to Vienna, Classical concert)
Morning: Transfer to Vienna. (Participants choosing to remain for a day or two in Prague as an extension to their adventure tour will bid farewell to the remaining group members and hosts after breakfast.)
Noon: Before crossing the border into Austria, we will have lunch in the Czech town of Mikulov.
Evening: Following a short tour of Vienna’s old city, we will have our last dinner together and then it’s off to a classical concert at one of Vienna’s fine opera houses.

Day 10: (Departure Day)
After breakfast at our lodging we will be transferred to the Vienna airport where we will bid our local hosts a fond farewell.

Trip Extenstions
If you wish to extend your trip, for example, a day or two in Prague, Munich, Budapest or Salzburg (highly recommended), ELDER EXPEDITIONS is available to assist you in formulating your plans.

2012 DATES
June 3, 2012 to June 12, 2012 (9 nights)
September 2, 2012 to September 11, 2012 (9 nights)

2 to 3 trip participants: $3760.00 per person
4 – 6 trip participants: $2935.00 per person
7 – 10 trip participants $2710.00 per person

A single supplement of $330.00 applies unless a solo Participant agrees to share lodging and Elder Expeditions is able to arrange same sex shared lodging. The stated price includes all transportation from the meeting point at the Vienna Airport on Day 1 to the return to the Vienna Airport on Day 10, all lodging, most meals, all activities and safety equipment, and all entry fees. The stated price does not include gratuities, alcoholic beverages or items of a purely personal nature. A fifty percent deposit is due at the time of booking. The remaining balance (including the single supplement, if applicable) is payable thirty days prior to Day 1 of this expedition.

BASE LODGING

Base Lodging 1. For the first three nights of our expedition, our base lodging will be in a tranquil, tastefully decorated, country guesthouse in Orth on the Danube, south of Vienna.

Base Lodging 2. Located in Valtice, also known as the Czech Republic’s wine capital, our base lodging will be in a country style guesthouse with modern and comfortably equipped rooms and close to the local wine cellar labyrinth where we will have the opportunity to taste the local wines.

Base Lodging 3. Located in the romantic region of the Slapy Reservoir on the Zdan Peninsula. The close proximity (35 km / 21 ¼ miles) to the capital city of Prague enables us to enjoy not only the beautiful countryside but also a large number of leisure time activities.

Base Lodging 4. Located in Vienna, close to the Old City and the Concert house.

All of the lodging facilities have private baths.

The local hosts are an English speaking couple who reside in Vienna and who are thoroughly familiar with the region that we will be visiting.

The activities on this trip do not require any particular experience or skill level. Sufficient instruction will be provided for participants who are beginners or who have limited experience with respect to any of the listed activities. All that is required is a spirit of fun and adventure as well as an open mind and a willingness to try something new.

Elder Expeditions recommends that all participants engage in a physical conditioning and fitness program as part of trip preparation. Our fitness partner, Fit for Trips®, provides custom designed fitness programs designed especially for the activities of each of our ELDER EXPEDITIONS vacations.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Participants who are nationals of countries other than Austria or the Czech Republic are advised to check with BOTH the Austrian embassy (or an Austrian consular office) and the Czech Embassy (or a Czech consular office) in their home countries to determine the applicable passport / visa requirements. As of the date of publication, U.S. nationals planning to enter Austria and / or the Czech Republic for up to ninety days will need only a valid passport. Elder Expeditions advises its clients to be sure that their passport will be a valid for a period up to six months after their intended date of departure from Austria and / or the Czech Republic.

There is currently no requirement to have a visa for a stay of ninety days or less in Austria or the Czech Republic.

No inoculations/vaccinations are required to enter either Austria or the Czech Republic, unless you are coming from a country where Yellow Fever is present; in this case you may be required to show a current vaccination. All participants are advised to have a current tetanus shot. Elder Expeditions recommends that you consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/travel/ or your personal physician to consider whether you wish to get shots for typhoid, hepatitis, and other diseases.