Romania, Slovenia — Europe — Explore Worldwide 2008/09 online holiday brochure

Brasov Sinaia Prut e Da km 0 160 nub EUROPE ROMANIA Sucevita painted monastery SLOVENIA Alpine Lakes of Slovenia 8 DAYS HOTELS THE GREENEST CORNER OF EUROPE Ref SO JFMAMJJASOND JFMA Village Folklore & Danube Delta TREKKING GRADE A/B Little Slovenia has big geography! Cobalt blue glacial lakes are fed by rivers from the snowy peaks of the southern Alps. The steep mountain cliffs slice into forested valleys and grassy meadows. Gentle hillsides swathed with vineyards roll towards the warm Adriatic Sea. On the way are some of the most spectacular cave systems in Europe. We aim to have a taste of it all in this short, active break. Romantic Castles & Lakes Ljubljana is Slovenias charming and atmospheric capital. We set out on foot to explore the narrow streets and baroque churches, and perhaps sit out on the main square or climb up to the sixteenth-century castle. Pausing at the medieval town of Skofja Loka, with its fairy-tale castle, we drive on to Lake Bled, situated in a serene valley beneath craggy mountains. You can explore on foot, or take a boat out to the Tyrolean-style church nestling on a wooded island. Alpine Peaks & Flowery Meadows From our base at Lake Bohinj, at the head of a carved glacial valley, we plan to explore the Triglav National Park. We ride the cable car to Mount Vogel, and set out on foot to enjoy the fabulous scenery of the jagged Alps, dressed with larch forests. On the lower slopes, we walk on meadows sprinkled with violet gentians and dotted with lonely farms. Well also see the Savica falls, which plunge 60m out of the rock, and theres a chance to go either rafting, canoeing or cycling. Ref TD JFMAMJJASOND JFMA 11 DAYS HOTELS/PONTON MOUNTAINS, VILLAGES & MONASTERIES A tour that enters the strongly traditional Transylvania and Maramures regions to explore villages that have hardly changed for centuries. We visit painted monasteries, enjoy walks in beautiful mountain ranges and cruise the Danube Delta one of the worlds greatest wildlife sanctuaries. Transylvania & Maramures Folklore From Bucharest, we head into the forested mountains of Transylvania, home to bear and eagle and, of course, the creature of film legend, Dracula. We visit imposing Bran Castle and the Art Nouveau Pelisor Palace (optional) in Sinaia, and may also spend time walking in the valleys of the impressive Bucegi Mountains. Travelling by train, we reach a corner of northern Romania called Maramures. The local people have always been proudly independent and have retained their traditions, still wearing typical costume and practising age-old crafts and folklore. Painted Monasteries We travel to the hidden Vaser Valley cut off from roads and reached only by narrow-gauge forest railway. Then walk on through the wooded hills to Borsa, in the Rodna mountains discovering unique wooden churches, with tall, slim towers and ornate carvings. Driving across the beautiful Carpathians we descend into sweet Bukovina part of northern Moldavia. Here, hidden in deep forested valleys, we come across a number of monasteries with remarkable frescoes on their outside walls. From Sucevita largest of the painted monasteries of Bukovina we walk on, passing hay meadows and scattered villages en route to Putna, which boasts the countrys Ponton cruise oldest monastery (1466). The brilliantlycoloured frescoes are some of Europes finest examples of Byzantine art. Danube Wildlife Continuing to Tulcea, we board our ponton (a type of barge which we use as a moving hotel) to cruise the lush backwaters of the Danube Delta a patchwork of silvery waterways and reedy lakes that glitter like polished mirrors in the sunlight. This is the greatest wetland area in Europe and is famous for its birdlife including cormorant, eagle, pelican, falcon, egret, heron and other waders. Lake Bled/Fiona Seton Down to the Adriatic Coast We board the train for a scenic ride through the famous vineyards, on the foothills of the Alps, towards the Adriatic coast. En route, well pause to see the amazing underground cellar of a thousand caves at Skocjan. Reaching Piran with its lively lanes, Venetian villas and pretty harbour, we relax a while on the coast. Finally, we return to Ljubljana stopping to admire dramatic Predjama castle, built into a 123m high cliff face, complete with drawbridge and tales of an errant knight! Sighetul Marmatiei Village Folklore & Danube Delta Ref TD UKRAINE Viseu Vaser Valley SUCEVITA trek PrislopPutna Painted monastery Pass Moldovita Monastery MOLDOVA BORSA ian Carpath ins M ou nta MOECIU Bran Castle Pelisor Castle Alpine Lakes of Slovenia Ref SO BACAU Triglav AUSTRIA Lake Bled Castle Skofja FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Ljubljana; visit old town on foot. 2 Drive Skofja Loka, visit old town; continue to Lake Bled, optional walks or boat trip; bus to Lake Bohinj in Triglav National Park. 3 & 4 In Triglav NP; various activities including walks in Julian Alps and to Savica waterfall; cable car to Mt Vogel; optional rafting and cycling. 5 Scenic train, then drive via Skocjan Caves to Piran. 6 In Piran; optional boat trip on Adriatic Sea. 7 Drive via Predjama Castle (optional) to Ljubljana. 8 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 7nts hotel; 7 breakfasts included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Train/Cable car/On foot. Comment: Slovenia is a small country (the size of Wales) so travel times are short, leaving us plenty of time to enjoy the variety of activities, scenery and sites. Plenty of opportunity for optional easy or moderate walks. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s). Group Size: Approx. 12 to 18. ROMANIA TRIGLAV NP 2864m Savica Lake Waterfall Bohinj Vogel 1922m Tr a n s y l v a n i a n Alps J U L I A N Loka A L P S S a va LJUBLJANA Old town GATEWAY TO THE DANUBE DELTA Tulcea Birdlife & Ponton cruise I T A LY SLOVENIA Predjama Castle BUCHAREST BLACK SEA Nova Gorica Adriatic Sea PIRAN Old Venetian Town Skocjan Caves FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Bucharest. 2 City tour; drive to Moeciu; optional visit to Pelisor Palace. 3 Optional walk in Bucegi Mountains; drive to Brasov via Bran castle; overnight train to Sighetul Marmatiei. 4 Arrive Sighetul Marmatiei; drive to Sapanta Merry Cemetery; continue to Borsa. 5 In Borsa; drive to Viseu; mountain train up Vaser Valley; walk to Moisei village (5hrs); return Borsa. 6 Chairlift and walk to Moldovita Monastery (2hrs); continue to Sucevita. 7 Visit Sucevita Monastery; trek to Putna (6hrs); visit monastery; drive to Bacau. 8 Drive to Tulcea; board ponton to cruise Danube Delta. 9 Explore Delta by boat and on foot. 10 End ponton cruise; drive to Bucharest. 11 Fly Bucharest/London. Accommodation & Meals: 6nts hotel, 1nt guesthouse, 1nt sleeper train, 2nts Ponton; 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Bus/Train/On foot/Chairlift/ Ponton in Danube Delta. Comment: Romania remains one of Europes quiet backwaters. This varied tour provides an insight into her cultural riches, wealth of natural beauty and amazing wildlife. Accommodation aboard the ponton is simple. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s) and boatmen Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16. km 0 50 C R O AT I A On foot through alpine meadows/Brett Williams Trek length and gradients 1500m 1250m 1000m 750m 500m 250m 0m Day 3 3hrs Borsa En route Borsa Sucevita Rest Day Day 4 Day 5 5-6hrs Day 6 2-3hrs Day 7 5-6hrs 56 Essential information, departure dates & prices see Pricing & Information Supplement

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