Poland, Czech Republic, & Hungary!

It's been a couple years since we've been to Eastern Europe and it's time to go back! We'll explore the culture, food, architecture & natural beauty of Poland, Czech Republic, & Hungary! This time we've added more time to explore the Czech Republic, an incredible country with so much beauty outside of Prague that few tourists explore (we'll go to Prague too of course!). In Poland, the historic city of Krakow is extremely well preserved and a delight for our cameras and history buffs, not to mention the amazing food! In Hungary, we'll visit the astounding waters of Eastern Europe's largest & shallowest body of water, Lake Balaton. And of course Budapest, with it's legendary Danube River splitting the beauty in half between the banks and offering fantastic castles, hot springs, restaurants, museums, & so much more!

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Poland: 2 Nights

Krakow

One of the country's most vibrant cultural centers, with more than one thousand years of history, Krakow is clearly the spiritual heart of Poland. "If you believe the legends, Kraków was founded on the defeat of a dragon, and it’s true a mythical atmosphere permeates its attractive streets and squares." -Lonely Planet

- Privately guided city tour of Krakow:

- Royal Wawel Castle: This Gothic Royal Capital is now a necropolis of Polish kings, dukes, and noble citizens.

- Old Town: Visit the Market Square, Cloth Hall (iconic central feature of the market), St. Mary's church, and the Florianska Gate, resembling an open-air art gallery with numerous paintings and water-colors displayed by local artists.

- Auschwitz-Birkenau: Experience & learn about the ever-important and tragic history of the world's most infamous concentration camp during the Nazi Regime.

Czech Republic: 4 Nights

Cesky Krumlov 

If you put the best parts of Prague in an even more beautiful surrounding with green rolling hills & pastures as her backdrop, you get Cesky Krumlov (not to mention it's way less crowded than Prague!)  An "Unesco World Heritage Site with a stunning castle above the Vltava River, an old town square, (&) Renaissance and baroque architecture" -Lonely Planet

- Sloupsko-Šošůvské Caves: En route to Cesky, we'll make a must stop at this mind-boggling wonder of nature. These are the largest accessible caves in the Czech Republic with an extensive complex of caverns, corridors, and chasms. An exciting guided adventure into the abyss will be a real highlight during our time in this remarkable country. 

- Privately guided city tour throughout Cesky Krumlov:

- Chateau Cesky Krumlov: This 13th-century gothic castle stands proud overlooking the quaint historical epicenter of Moravia. A delight for our eyes and camera's inside & out; lavish interiors, fascinating history, gorgeous castle gardens, and architecture that brings us back in time!

- Castle Tower: The iconic symbol of the great history and beauty that is Cesky Krumlov. Once characterized as "The towerest of all towers", we'll have the opportunity to climb all the way to the top & witness the outstanding view all around with cameras in hand!

- Privately guided walking tour through Old Town:  Highlights, as we stroll through the medieval streets as if it were still the 13th century, include the Renaissance town hall, former Jesuit hall of residents, Gothic Church of St.Vit, former Town Brewery, Renaissance House, Old Mill, Barber´s House, Old Orphanage and Hospital, aqueduct view bridge, Castle Gardens with Baroque Fountain, Roccoco House, & beautifully preserved Latran Quarter Houses.

- Museum Fotoatelier Seidel Photo Exposition:  An awesome presentation with a wealth of unique period images, post-cards,  glass-plate negatives, and the well-preserved, functioning cameras, enlargers, and darkroom equipment in honor of the historic work by Josef and František Seidel. This outstanding collection is enhanced even further by Seidel's personal notes, diaries, customer records, and the original furniture and fixtures in the house.

- A host of awesome optional activities during free time (e-mail for daily itinerary and pricing):

- Revolving Auditorium & Open Air Theater Show: See a performance at this 6-decade old unique performing arts space.

- Kayak the Vltava River: Take an easy and short float through on the iconic river that winds its way through Cesky Krumlov.

- Hike to the Divci Kamen Castle Ruins: A short drive from Cesky Krumlov takes us to a small village where an easy-moderate trail allows for a unique hike to the ruins of this medieval castle.

- Kutna Hora: En route to Prague we'll explore the beauty of this former epicenter of wealth & royalty that rivaled Prague for centuries. 

"Enriched by the silver ore that veined the surrounding hills, the medieval city of Kutná Hora became the seat of Wenceslas II’sroyal mint in 1308, producing silver groschen that were then the hard currency of Central Europe. Boom-time Kutná Hora rivaled Prague in importance, but by the 16th century the mines began to run dry, and its demise was hastened by the Thirty Years’ War and a devastating fire in 1770. The town became a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1996, luring visitors with a smorgasbord of historic sights. It looks it's flower-bedecked best in May and June but is worth a full day’s visit at any time of year." - Lonely Planet

- Privately guided city tour throughout Kutna Hora:: Highlights include the Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara, Assumption of Our Lady and St John the Baptist Cathedral, and the Little All Saints Church situated in the middle of a picturesque cemetery, famous for its elaborate ossuary decorated with the skulls of former monks! 

Prague 

"The City of a Thousand Spires has seen it all. Centuries of Bohemian kings, classical composers, invading Nazis, Soviet tanks and Velvet Revolutionaries have passed over Prague's cobblestones, and the spires survived it all, creating one of Europe's most romantic and beautiful skylines. Stroll the Charles Bridge at dusk or get lost in a labyrinth of picturesque, medieval, cobbled streets in the Old City to discover what makes this Baroque jewel so alluring." - Frommers

- Privately guided city tour of Prague

- Magical Old Town square with the Tyn Church clock

- Jewish Quarter: Filled with culture, history, and architecture. An iconic treasure of the city

- Atmospheric 15th Century Charles Bridge: One of the most famous bridges in Europe crossing the Vltava river connects the Castle Quarter with the rest of the city.

- Castle Quarter: Filled with amazing cobblestone streets, shops, cathedrals, & Prague Castle (1,000-year-old symbol of Czech statehood). Highlights here will include the Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, and St. George Monastery.

Hungary: 3 Nights

Budapest

"Budapest has something for everyone – from dramatic history and flamboyant architecture to healing thermal waters and a nightlife that is unrivaled in Eastern and Central Europe." - Lonely Planet "Architecturally stunning Budapest is a tour de force of Hapsburg splendor, best appreciated over rich cream cakes in a chandelier-lit Gerbeaud coffee house or a sumptuous steam in a Gellért thermal bath. Free of its communist shackles, a dynamic cultural undercurrent once again flows freely down the Danube and across the city's grandly designed boulevards." - Frommers

- Private guided city tours of Buda & Pest sides:

- Castle Hill: See & photograph the Neo-Gothic Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion

- Panoramic views of the city atop Gellert Hill next to the Citadel (Rock church)

- Relax and soak in Budapest’s famous Gellert Thermal Baths: Known world-wide, the baths were built in the Art Nouveau style and opened in 1918.

- Visit the striking 19th century Parliament

- Visit the Great Synagogue: the world's second-largest!

- Explore Vaci Street & Great Market Hall

- Enjoy a show at Budapest’s Neo-Renaissance Opera House (optional)

- Discover Heroes' square with a mammoth tribute to Hungary’s historic figures

-  Explore Budapest City park with art Nouveau Zoo & Transylvanian Vajdahunyad Castle replica

- Full-day adventure to Lake Balaton & her surrounding gems!

"Extending roughly 80km like a skinny, lopsided paprika, at first glance Lake Balaton seems to simply be a happy, sunny expanse of opaque tourmaline-colored water in which to play. But step beyond the beaches of Europe’s biggest and shallowest body of water and you’ll encounter vine-filled forested hills, a national park and a wild peninsula jutting out 4km, nearly cutting the lake in half. Oh, and did we mention a hilltop fairy-tale fortress?" -Lonely Planet

- Veszprém: First stop takes us to the ’Northern Capital’ of Balaton, with an impressive castle & the beautiful Basilica of St Michael on Castle Hill.

- Balatonfüred: Next stop is the delightful resort and spa town on Hungary’s largest lake where we'll visit the Old Hospital, 19th Century Old Town Harbor, Round Church, Kossuth Spring, & The Park of Celebrities, with statues of poets, politicians, and scientists.

- Tihany & her 1000-year-old Abbey: We'll discover the 11th-century abbey and photograph the magnificent views of the lake from the hill this 11th-century gem is perched upon.

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Price: $2695.00

Single Supplement: $895.00

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Cancellation Policy & Refunds

*There is a $100.00 administrative fee for all cancellations. Cancellations made 120 days (03/29/22) or more prior to trip departure date are fully refundable except for the $100 fee. Cancellations less than made 120 days (03/29/22) prior to the trip departure date will receive no refund of the full amount due. No refunds on unused portions of the tour. Credit card fees and paypal processing fees cannot be refunded. After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy and are usually non-refundable and changeable with a fee plus new ticket price. Travel insurance strongly encouraged (ask us about policy options).

COVID Cancellation Policy – Local Planet Travel Services OR Guest may cancel this reservation if the USA or country(s) we are visiting mandates a country-wide closure due to COVID. If this happens, you would receive a full refund. If guest chooses, the funds can remain on file and be applied for any future tour with PhotoFly Travel Club. *Please note bank merchant service fees when using a credit card are non-refundable.

MANDATORY VACCINE REQUIREMENT: The safety of all our guests is a top priority regardless of where our adventures take us. All travelers are required to have an approved COVID-19 vaccination to participate in this tour. Travelers that meet this mandatory requirement can join our adventures after 14 days has elapsed since their final dose. Proof of vaccination must be provided by emailing a copy of the participants COVID-19 vaccination card to joinus@photoflytravel.com upon sign up. *Guests who are not vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt from this mandatory vaccine policy with proof from a certified medical professional.

*Hotels subject to change based on availability

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