Historic Baltic Republics, Backroads of Poland - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & Poland — Europe — Explore Worldwide 2010/11 online holiday brochure

Trakai Island Castle, Lithuania/Russell Baker DISCOV ERY Comfort Active Flight Inc lusive fro m �1310 LAND ON LY FROM HISTORIC BALTIC REPUBLICS EUROPE 50 REF: HB 15 DAYS � CITIES & NATIONAL PARKS OF THE BALTICS Many people still think of the three Baltic republics as one country, but our comprehensive trip shows just how different they really are. We discover delightful fishing villages, scenic National Parks, rivers, gorges, and fine cities with ornate and colourful architecture. FACTFILE Accommodation & Meals: 14nts hotel; 14 breakfasts included. See p244 & tour dossier for details. Transport: Charter bus/Public Bus/ Trams/Taxis/Ferry. Comment: This tour is suitable for anyone in reasonable fitness and walks in the National Parks are easy. Group Size: Approx. 15 to 20. www.explore.co.uk/tours/hb �1076 ESTONIA � LATVIA � LITHUANIA � POLAND TO BOOK CALL Alexander Nevsky Cathedral/ Russell Baker Historic Baltic Republics Ref HB of Fin lan d B A LT I C SEA Saaremaa G f ul TALLINN ESTONIA KURESSARE TARTU Cultural Centre RUSSIA Sigulda & Turaida Crusader Castles Old town Cesis SIGULDA RIGA L ATVIA Amber Museum Palanga Madona Rundale Palace (optional) Da Siauliai uga va Hill of Crosses AUKSTAITIJOS NP BEL ARUS KLAIPEDA Walks LITHUANIA Nemunas KAUNAS VILNIUS km 0 250 Cathedral & Trakai Castle ITINERARY Day 1 Fly Tallinn (Estonia). Day 2 Tallinn We explore the maze of cobbled streets and colourful buildings of the Estonian capital. Day 3 Tartu Continuing to Tartu, we discover Estonia's cultural capital. Days 4/5 Riga (Latvia) We enjoy a walking tour of Riga � arguably the most beautiful city in the Baltics � and have time to enjoy the markets and cafes. Day 6 To Klaipeda We stop at Rundale Palace, then cross into Lithuania where we see the unusual `Hill of Crosses' and possibly the amber museum at Palanga. Day 7 Neringa Spit We explore the beautiful Neringa Spit, dotted with picturesque fishing villages and spectacular sand dunes. Days 8/9 Vilnius Enjoying visits to Kaunas and Trakai Castle en route, we reach Vilnius. Days 10/11 Lakes and castles Driving along the backroads, through villages, we stop to walk in the Lithuanian Lakelands and explore the romantic Crusader castles at Sigulda and Turaida. Days 12/13 Saaremaa Island (Estonia) We cross to Saaremaa Island where old windmills, churches and juniper groves provide an appealing landscape. Isolated from the Soviet occupation, this land has retained a unique culture. Day 14 Drive to Tallinn. Day 15 Fly UK. TOUR DATES 2010 Sun 30 May - Sun 13 Jun Sun 27 Jun - Sun 11 Jul Sun 25 Jul - Sun 08 Aug Sun 22 Aug - Sun 05 Sep Sun 19 Sep - Sun 03 Oct 2011 Sun 29 May - Sun 12 Jun Sun 26 Jun - Sun 10 Jul Land Only tour: 15 days - start Tallinn day 1 (Sun), end Tallinn day 15 (Sun) BACKROADS OF POLAND 15 DAYS � HEART OF EUROPE REF: BP DISCOV ERY Comfort Active Flight Inc lusive fro m �1355 LAND ON LY FROM Canoeing in Wigry NP/Erik Burger Birthplace of Copernicus, Chopin, Marie Curie and Joseph Conrad, Poland has played a vital role in European history � stretching from the glittering medieval period to the modern day. We see both the old and the new, energetic, face of Poland in Warsaw and Krakow � and have time to savour the rural backroads: a patchwork of orchards and corn fields, hamlets with wooden churches, and the great tracts of wild beech and oak forest that are still home to bison and wolf. ITINERARY Day 1 Fly Warsaw. Days 2/3 Wigry NP We explore this beautiful region in the heart of Poland's lake district by canoe, paddling through reedy canals and rivers. Day 4 Biebrza & Narew NP Pausing to search for elk in Biebrza, we continue to Narew NP. Considered one of Europe's top bird watching spots, we punt past daisy meadows and marsh flowers that frame the labyrinth of channels. Days 5/6 Bialowieza NP Bialowieza National Park is a dark, sprawling primeval forest of towering oak and hornbeam and home to wild boar and bison. We can choose between hiking, biking or exploring by horse and cart. Later, we drive to Kazimierz Dolny. Day 7 Kazimierz Dolny A day to relax in cafes or hike up to the medieval castle for commanding views. Days 8/10 Walking in Bieszczady Mountains Stopping to visit renaissance towns en route, we arrive at the Bieszczady Mountains. We plan hikes along the mountain ridges to really appreciate the splendid scenery. Days 11/13 Krakow A days drive to Poland's most celebrated city, where we stay near the famous market square. There's time to visit Krakow fortress, the excellent museum, or make an excursion by train to Auschwitz. Day 14 Warsaw We take the train to Warsaw and tour the Old Town. Day 15 Fly UK. FACTFILE Accommodation & Meals: 10nts hotel, 4nts pension; 14 breakfasts & 1 dinner included. See p244 & tour dossier for details. Transport: Bus/Train/Canoe. Comment: You should be in good health and of reasonable fitness to make the most of this tour. Walks are graded easy to moderate and can be opted out of if you wish. No experience is necessary for the canoeing � it's great fun and the best way to explore the wetlands. Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16. www.explore.co.uk/tours/bp �1124 0844 499 0901 Backroads of Poland Ref BP WIGRY NP Suwalki Lakes Canoeing Wawel castle, Krakow BEL ARUS NAREW MARSHES Bug BIALOWIEZA FOREST Bison TOUR DATES 2010 Sun 30 May - Sun 13 Jun Sun 27 Jun - Sun 11 Jul Sun 25 Jul - Sun 08 Aug Sun 05 Sep - Sun 19 Sep 2011 Sun 29 May - Sun 12 Jun Sun 26 Jun - Sun 10 Jul Sun 10 Jul - Sun 24 Jul Sun 07 Aug - Sun 21 Aug WARSAW Old town POLAND Vis KAZIMIERZ DOLNY tula Tarnica 1346m Riverside hikes Zamosc Land Only tour: 15 days - start Warsaw day 1 (Sun), end Warsaw day 15 (Sun) UKRAINE KRAKOW 14th C Market Square BIESZCZADY CZECH MOUNTAINS SLOVAK R EP U BLIC R E P U B L I C Wilderness hikes km 0 250