Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and have the afternoon to yourself before the welcome dinner at your hotel. There's plenty to do if you want to get out and explore - try one of the thermal baths if you're interested in relaxing, or take a Danube River cruise to see Parliament and Buda Castle from the water. If you're up for something more active, Gellért Hill offers a good hike with panoramic views across the city. The Jewish Quarter's ruin bars are worth checking out too if you want to get a feel for the local scene. Then meet everyone for dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit Gellért Bath with Art Nouveau architecture
- Visit Széchenyi Thermal Bath with yellow Neo-Baroque facade
- Danube River cruise to view Parliament Building, Buda Castle, and Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- Hike Gellért Hill for panoramic city views
- Explore Jewish Quarter and visit ruin bars with pálinka (fruit brandy)
Landmarks/POIs Parliament Building Buda Castle Széchenyi Chain Bridge Gellért Bath Széchenyi Thermal Bath Gellért Hill 
- Day 2
Eger
Head out to Hollókő, a UNESCO World Heritage village, where you'll get a guided cultural tour with locals who'll show you traditional blacksmithing and hand-embroidered folk costumes. You'll have a homemade lunch with Palóc soup and apple strudel. Later in the afternoon, travel to Eger and spend time around Dobó István Square, the Minorite Church, and walk up to Eger Castle. The whole day focuses on getting to know Hungarian rural culture and history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hearty homemade lunch with Palóc soup (pork, vegetables, fragrant spices) and golden apple strudel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hollókő village
- Learn traditional dance steps
- Homemade lunch featuring Palóc soup and apple strudel
Optional Activities
- Visit cafés on Dobó István Square for people-watching
- View gilded frescoed ceiling of Minorite Church (Baroque)
- Explore 13th-century Eger Castle walls
Landmarks/POIs Hollókő Dobó István Square Minorite Church Eger Castle - Day 3
High Tatras
You'll head to the Tokaj wine region for a tasting session at a family-run winery, sampling five white wines including Tokaji Aszú. After lunch and a quick orientation tour of Košice, you'll venture into Slovakia's High Tatras mountains with views of Spišský Castle ruins along the way. By evening you'll be at a mountain retreat, giving you a chance to settle in and adjust to the elevation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting of five distinctive varieties at family-run winery in Tokaj
- Sample Tokaji Aszú golden dessert wine
- Orientation tour of Košice
Optional Activities
- Purchase wine to take home from winery
Landmarks/POIs Tokaj Wine Region Košice Spišský Castle High Tatras - Day 4
High Tatras
Take a cable car up to Lomnický štít, the second tallest peak in the High Tatras, where you'll get panoramic views of jagged mountain peaks in every direction. Coming down, you'll head to a local farm for cheese tasting and a rustic lunch featuring Oscypek (local cheese with garlic, paprika, and herbs). You'll have the evening free to relax at the hotel and rest up from the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light rustic lunch at local farm featuring Oscypek (region's signature cheese infused with garlic, paprika, and herbs))
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Lomnický štít summit
- Cheese tasting at local farm
- Rustic lunch with Oscypek cheese
Landmarks/POIs Lomnický štít - Day 5
Kraków
You'll descend 800 steps into the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a 13th-century underground complex with chandelier-lit chambers, ornate chapels, and salt sculptures. It's an unusual experience being that deep underground. Then you'll travel to Kraków, Poland's former capital, with the afternoon free to see Wawel Castle, explore the Jewish Quarter, or check out the local cellar bars. You'll spend the night in a characterful hotel in the Old Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with descent into chambers, chapels, and galleries
Optional Activities
- Visit Wawel Castle's State Rooms
- Explore the Jewish Quarter's independent boutiques
- Visit dimly lit cellar bars for Polish vodka
Landmarks/POIs Wieliczka Salt Mine Wawel Castle Kraków Jewish Quarter 
- Day 6
Kraków
Your morning starts with a guided tour of Kraków's Old Town led by a local expert, covering the historic Cloth Hall and the gilded St Mary's Basilica. The afternoon is yours for lunch and exploring on your own. Later, you'll join a hands-on pierogi-making class where you'll prepare and cook traditional Polish dumplings with savory fillings, then eat what you've made for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Freshly made pierogi with typical savoury fillings prepared during hands-on cookery class)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kraków's Old Town including Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica
- Hands-on traditional pierogi-making class
- Dinner featuring freshly made pierogi
Optional Activities
- Try Placki ziemniaczane (crisp potato pancakes with garlic or onion)
Landmarks/POIs Cloth Hall St Mary's Basilica 
- Day 7
Olomouc
You'll have a guided visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, which is a solemn reflection on World War II history and the lives lost there. After this, you'll continue into the Czech Republic and head to Olomouc. You'll explore the Old Town with its six Baroque fountains, the Town Hall's Astronomical Clock, and the neo-Gothic Saint Wenceslas Cathedral. Your evening is free to find dinner with recommendations from your Tour Leader.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp
Optional Activities
- Visit Old Town's six Baroque fountains
- Explore Town Hall's Astronomical Clock
- Enter Saint Wenceslas Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Auschwitz-Birkenau Olomouc Old Town Olomouc Town Hall Saint Wenceslas Cathedral - Day 8
Třeboň - Český Krumlov
You'll travel to Brno, Czech Republic's second largest city, for a walking tour through the markets and historic streets led by your Tour Leader. Then you'll continue to the charming town of Třeboň with its pastel buildings and terracotta rooftops for an orientation tour of the 17th-century Château, medieval walls, and local fishponds. By evening you'll be in Český Krumlov with time to wander the streets or settle into the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Brno led by Tour Leader
- Orientation tour of Třeboň including 17th-century Château and medieval walls
Optional Activities
- Explore Brno's market stalls and cultural scene
- Wander Český Krumlov's maze of picturesque streets
- Relax at hotel in Český Krumlov
Landmarks/POIs Brno Třeboň Třeboň Château - Day 9
Český Krumlov
A local guide will take you on a walking tour through cobblestone streets to the 13th-century Český Krumlov Castle, which has Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture and panoramic views over the Old Town and Vltava River. Your afternoon is free to explore the castle gardens while they're in bloom or relax at riverside cafés. You'll have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour with local guide to Český Krumlov Castle
- In-depth castle visit with views of Old Town and Vltava River
- Farewell dinner at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore castle's manicured gardens
- Relax at sun-soaked riverside cafés
Landmarks/POIs Český Krumlov Castle Český Krumlov Old Town Vltava River - Day 10
Prague
On your final day, you'll travel to Obrataň to visit Sudkův Důl Fortress and UTOPIA Cellar, where the owners show you how they make craft ciders and vinegars using natural ingredients and established fermenting processes. You'll sample their products, then head to Prague. You'll explore the 'City of a Hundred Spires' and walk across the iconic Charles Bridge before departing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit UTOPIA Cellar in Obratáň
- Guided cellar tour and tasting of local ciders and vinegars
Optional Activities
- Purchase cider or vinegar bottles from UTOPIA Cellar
- Explore Prague's streets
- Visit Charles Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Sudkuv Dul Fortress UTOPIA Cellar Charles Bridge Prague 
