The Yellow Roads of Europe by Travel Masters

TAUCK YELLOW ROADS OF

EUROPE 2019

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 – SEE PAGE 16

ONE & TWO WEEK LAND TRIPS ~ RIVER CRUISES ~ FAMILY JOURNEYS

RS N LLA I ES O IC N D R P LIA A TR S AU

how you see the world matters tm

We believe that when you travel, you should never settle for ordinary. You deserve to travel in good company, with someone who cares. We believe that good value sells itself – you should get what you pay for, and then some, in one upfront price with virtually everything included. Leave your worries at home; we take on all the planning, all the logistics. To you, it’s peace of mind travel. To us, it’s 90+ years of integrity.

So read on. Be inspired. Make every moment count. Starting now.

Castle of Óbidos

When it comes to enriching travel, Europe continues to be a popular destination for our guests, whether it’s their first or one of many return trips� And it’s no wonder� With an array of historic treasures that date back millennia, myriad cultural traditions centuries

strong

and

scenic

beauty that changes from one neighbouring country to the next, it’s an incredible place to explore your unique interests and discover new ones along the way� We’ve been travelling in Europe for more than 25 years and offer more than 60 different trips across the Continent by land, riverboat, and small ship, each meticulously designed with our

WHATÕS INSIDE

guests’ best interests in mind� We continue to introduce new experiences and itineraries to meet growing guest demand, as well as adding more small group departures and hotel upgrade options on select trips� You’ll find them throughout our journeys in Europe in 2019�

ITALY & THE MEDITERRANEAN Classic Italy �� 22 Classic Italy, Small Groups �� 26 A Week In… Tuscany & Umbria �� 28

Your travel investment is always top of mind at Tauck� We

Lake Como, Venice, Florence & Rome �� 30

believe that value goes way beyond price to include all those

Bellissima Northern Italy �� 32

intangible advantages that ensure an exceptional experience�� outstanding personal service, uncompromising standards for quality, a steadfast commitment to making the most of your holiday time and the peace of mind that’s inherent in travelling with an industry leader� You’ll experience all this and more when you travel with Tauck; it’s a brand promise we made back

A Week In�� Venice, Florence & Rome �� 34 A Week In�� Puglia �� 36

New! Uncommon Venice, Florence & Rome��

�� 38

Tuscany & Cinque Terre ��

�� 40

New! Sicilian Odyssey �� 42 A Week In�� The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Rome �� 44

New! A Week In�� Naples, Capri & Amalfi �� 46

in 1925 and we haven’t deviated from it since� Join us in 2019 and take the Europe trip you’ve been dreaming of, with added experiences you never imagined you’d have and inclusive value you could never replicate on your own�

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND New! Grand European Holiday �� 50 England, Scotland & Wales �� 54 A Week In�� London and Paris �� 58 Ireland & Great Britain �� 60 The Best of Ireland �� 64

Daniel W� Mahar, CEO

The Best of Ireland, Small Groups �� 68 A Week In�� Ireland �� 70 A Week In�� Scotland �� 72

Front Cover: London

Scandinavia �� 74

Tuscany

Russian Glories, Baltic Treasures �� 78

Belgium & Holland in Spring ��

�� 137

A Week In�� The Baltics �� 82

The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam��

�� 138

The Rhine and Moselle ��

�� 140

Norwegian Fjords & Coastal Treasures ��

�� 142

Adriatic Treasures: Croatia to Venice �� 86

Treasures of the British / Irish Isles��

�� 144

The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites �� 90

RIVERBOATS �� 146

CENTRAL EUROPE Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna & Prague �� 94 A Week In… Imperial Europe�� 98

BRIDGES FAMILY TRAVEL

Switzerland: Europe’s Crown Jewel �� 100

The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento ��

�� 150

Romantic Germany�� 102

New for 2019! Italia Bella: Rome to Venice��

�� 152

Alpine Adventure ��

�� 154

FRANCE, SPAIN & PORTUGAL

Castles & Kings: London to Paris��

�� 156

Spain and Portugal �� 108

Grand European Family Holiday ��

�� 158

New for 2019! A Week In… Portugal �� 112

Ireland Forever ��

�� 160

A Week In… Spain �� 114

Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure ��

�� 162

New for 2019! Paradors of Northern Spain �� 116

Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure

�� 164

Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley �� 120

Bon Voyage! France Family River Cruise ��

�� 166

Provence ��

Family Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy ��

�� 167

�� 124

A Week In�� Paris & Provence �� 126 GENERAL INFORMATION �� 168

RIVER CRUISING / SMALL SHIP CRUISING

CALENDAR �� 170

Cruising the Seine Plus Paris & London��

�� 130

Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat��

�� 132

The Blue Danube��

�� 134

The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel ��

�� 136

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

GOOD TO KNOW Great for Families

Culturious Journeys

Go by Ship Go by River Cruise

tauck.com.au 5

TAUCK VALUE... ALL THIS AND MORE

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

STAY IN PREMIUM ACCOMMODATIONS

EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS

Where you stay is an important part of your trip. Which is why we include premier accommodations renowned for ambiance, service, comfort and convenience, from grand city hotels and country inns to paradors, castles, villas, manor houses and more, in every destination.

We are proud to share our long-standing relationships with Celia Sandys, Churchill’s granddaughter; Princess Di’s former chef, Carolyn Robb; the Ferragamos; and noblemen like William Lobkowicz of Prague... with our guests.

OUR HANDPICKED LOCAL GUIDES AND EXPERTS

OUR TAUCK DIRECTORS

We introduce you to local experts who welcome you to their home and share their insights and information with you, including winemakers, chefs, art historians, musicians, artists and farmers.

Averaging 10 years of service with Tauck, our Tauck Directors handle all day-to-day travel details for you, enriching your trip with their knowledge and passion for travel, while making it hassle-free and fun every step of the way.

SAVOUR LOCAL CUISINES

UNIQUE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

Sip wines in the vineyards where they’re produced. Drink cider and Calvados in an apple orchard. Shop with a French chef for a market fresh dinner. Make pasta and pizza in Italy, have tea in London, whisky in Scotland...

Do what the locals do. Ride a troll car in Norway, a cogwheel train up a Swiss peak, a Venetian gondola, a rabelo boat on the Douro. Go truffle hunting in Umbria, punting in Cambridge. Try falconry in Scotland, rock climbing in the Dolomites...

WE MANAGE LOGISTICS

ONE UPFRONT PRICE

Airport and train transfers to and from your hotels are included. Your luggage is handled for you from start to finish. And your Tauck Director takes care of every travel detail, from on-tour logistics to hotel check-in and checkout.

No extra costs, no hidden fees, no surprises, no options sold – just about every travel expense is included in one upfront price, along with priceless experiences for Tauck guests only, so you can relax and enjoy a carefree trip.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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Infante de Sagres, Porto

STAY IN TAUCK STYLE

Hotel Imperial, Vienna

The Gritti Palace, Venice

Hotel Marqués de Riscal, Elciego

Ashford Castle, Ireland

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

Enjoy an authentic sense of place wherever we travel in Europe… Our handpicked hotels are among the finest in Europe. Ideally located, they are renowned for their service, hospitality and ambiance, embodying the essence of their destination. Set in the heart of Venice on the Grand Canal, the historic Gritti Palace is an icon of Venetian style. Ireland’s emerald landscapes provide a royal setting for Ashford Castle, voted among Europe’s top ten resort hotels. The legendary grande dame of Portuguese hotels, Porto’s Infante de Sagres is steeped in a rich heritage of luxury and hospitality. Visionary architect Frank Gehry designed the Hotel Marqués de Riscal to blend the character of Spain’s Rioja region with the wine produced there. Old world elegance reigns at Vienna’s Hotel Imperial and views of the Adriatic and Old Town enchant at the Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik. New for 2019, you can upgrade your accommodations at select hotels on England, Scotland & Wales (p. 54), A Week In... London & Paris (p. 58), Ireland Forever (p. 160) and Italia Bella: Rome to Venice (p. 152). Ask at booking!

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS Castel Gandolfo

MusĂŠe du Louvre

Royal Opera House

Berchtesgaden Salt Mines

The salt of the earth Board a miners’ train and descend deep into the Bavarian Alps to the Salt Mines of Berchtesgaden, for a tour and an exclusive Tauck dinner in a gigantic salt cathedral where slides, overalls – and tons of salt – let you experience what the miners do. The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites, page 90

One enchanted evening Picture yourself enjoying an enchanted evening at Schloss Ehreshoven in a storybook setting near the Rhine River, where gardens, a castle moat and a beautiful Baroque manor house, centuries old, are the stuff of today’s fairy tales. The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam, page 138

St. Mark’s Basilica, without crowds St. Mark’s Basilica

Founded in the 9th century and rebuilt after it burned down in 932, it’s hard to believe that sumptuous St. Mark’s Basilica was once a private chapel for the Doges of Venice, just like it is for Tauck guests during an exclusive after-hours visit. Classic Italy, Small Groups, page 26

A treasure hunt in the Louvre With tens of thousands of works of art dating to the earliest civilisations, the Musée du Louvre is the perfect setting for a family treasure hunt that has kids of all ages hunting for lions, galloping horses, a little lady with a magical smile... Castles & Kings: London to Paris, page 156

When in Rome, do as the Popes did Not everyone is invited inside the Pope’s private chapel during a guided tour of his lakeside summer residence, 17th-century, 135-acre papal palace Castel Gandolfo – but when you travel to Rome with Tauck, you’ll be the only ones who are! Uncommon Venice, Florence & Rome, page 38

A backstage pass in Stockholm The opera is part of a living tradition in Sweden, rich in history and renowned for world-class singers. Enjoy an exclusive backstage look at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, including a private tour and dinner that are music to your ears. Scandinavia, page 74

Schloss Ehreshoven

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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Tauck Directors – Simply the Best Averaging 10 years of service, our Tauck Directors are the world’s best travel companions. They’re your planning expert. Your helping hand. Your fellow globetrotter. They’re not just experts on local culture, customs, and traditions. They’re more than just your guide. They’re the difference between a trip, and the trip of a lifetime. They manage every travel detail, every day, from checking you in and out of hotels to all luggage handling, overseeing on-tour transportation. Choreographing every day’s sightseeing, they work behind the scenes to make every moment count and ensure a day that’s on time. And they find creative ways to share their love of the destinations you’ll explore together, earning high praise from our guests for their wealth of information, warmth and efficiency – our guests continually rate them as one of the best reasons to travel with Tauck. In many destinations our Tauck Directors are joined by local experts who share their passions and special interests that make them “experts.”

TRAVEL with EASE Discover Europe, your way SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES. Look for specially priced small group departures, averaging 24 guests, on most Europe trips – you’ll find departure dates highlighted in blue – along with trips designed for small group travel, all the time. TRAVELLING SOLO? Travelling solo to destinations across Europe provides peace of mind as all the details will be handled for you. Enjoy special solo savings on select journeys and dates – look for dates marked in red. TRAVEL WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. To make it easier for everyone to travel together, if you book a group of 10 or more on the same trip, the 11th person travels FREE. Families booking a Tauck Bridges family adventure need just 8 or more for the 9th person to come along FREE. Please call us at 1300 732 300 for complete details. PRIVATE DEPARTURES. Contact us for full details if you want to plan a private departure of your favourite trip with just your friends, family or special interest group – along with a dedicated Tauck Director who takes care of all the day-by-day logistics for you.

Bellagio

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Another wonderful trip with Tauck – our third. We love the small group format that allows you to get to know your fellow travellers. We had a great group and an excellent tour director. Ð John Saxton

Venice

THE ART OF GOING SMALL We don’t believe in one size fits all travel. So we offer trips tailored to your interests, including small group travel that averages 24 Tauck guests.

Enriching Travel, Intimately Sized Smaller group sizes encourage camaraderie and lasting friendships among like-minded guests. They enable you to more closely connect with your Tauck Director and local experts who enrich your perspectives through insider stories personally shared.

More Time To Explore Fewer guests on sightseeing excursions mean less time spent travelling from place to place, fewer lines and crowds, and more room to move about. You’ll benefit from the freedom and flexibility to spend more time exploring the sights you’ve planned to see.

More Places To Go To meet our guests’ growing demand for small group travel, we have added more small group departure dates to our Europe trips in 2019, as well as including trips in Italy, Ireland, and France that are all small groups, all the time. Want to book a private departure for your group only? We do that too. Go to tauck.com.au/small-group-travel for details.

Ischia

Westminster Abbey

Santiago de Compostela

Villa Romana del Casale

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019

Palace of Queluz

From a closer look at Naples and Sicily to a European trifecta in Paris, London & Rome and a Christmas river cruise for families… we’re introducing more new ways to discover Old World Europe in 2019. Ride a ferry across the Gulf of Naples to Ischia for a visit to a 5th-century castle, impressive still, on our new all small group A Week In... Naples, Capri & Amalfi, featuring multi-night stays in the Leading Hotels of the World. Experience the best of London, Paris, Rome and Umbria on our new Grand European Holiday, a 12-day, three-country small group tour averaging 24 guests. Go local on our new Sicilian Odyssey and Uncommon Venice, Florence & Rome, uniquely designed with authentic experiences and insider connections that welcome you like family. Making its debut in December, Tauck Bridges Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise is a festive affair, onboard and ashore, with interactive discoveries that celebrate the season with traditions and tastings passed down through the generations. Look for new hotels and included experiences in Portugal, Spain, and Venice too as we wow you with exclusive access to places only open to Tauck!

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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EXPERIENCE 2020 OBERAMMERGAU

A Once-A-Decade Event, Experienced in Tauck Style Produced every ten years by residents of the Bavarian village of Oberammergau since the 1630s, the Passion Play (Passionsspiele) is a beloved highlight of every decade; on select river cruises and land journeys for 2020, Tauck’s Oberammergau experience will include: • Premier seating in the best available category at the Passionsspiele • Private tours of must-see sights and attractions • Exclusive cultural connections and more for Tauck guests only • Premium accommodations

WITH TAUCK

Tauck Journeys featuring the Oberammergau Passion Play Tauck’s Oberammergau experience will be featured on departures of the following European land journeys and river cruises between May and September 2020. Visit us online at tauck.com.au/oberammergau for more details... space on these special departures is filling quickly, so call now to reserve your Tauck 2020 Oberammergau trip risk-free!

2020 EUROPEAN LAND JOURNEYS SWISS HIGHLANDS & BAVARIAN ALPS – 8 Days / 7 Nights Bern, Bernese Oberland, St. Gallen, Lake Constance, Oberammergau, Munich 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: 18, 25 May; 01, 15, 22, 29 Jun; 06, 13, 20, 27 Jul 03, 10, 17, 24, 31 Aug; 07, 14, 21, 28 Sep

ROMANTIC GERMANY – 14 Days / 13 Nights Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Black Forest, Oberammergau, Munich, Dresden, Berlin 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: 16⁄ , 23 ⁄ , 26 ⁄ , 30⁄ May; 06⁄ , 09⁄ , 13⁄ , 20 ⁄ , 23, 27 Jun; 04⁄ , 07, 11, 18⁄ , 21, 25 Jul 01, 04, 08, 15, 18, 22, 29⁄ Aug; 01⁄ , 05⁄ , 12⁄ , 15⁄ , 19⁄ , 26 ⁄ Sep ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, specially priced; specific dates apply – ask at booking.

THE ULTIMATE ALPS & DOLOMITES – 13 Days / 12 Nights Munich, Oberammergau, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Grossglockner, Bolzano, Davos, Lucerne 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: 17⁄ , 24⁄ , 31⁄ May; 07 ⁄ , 14⁄ , 21 ⁄ , 28⁄ Jun; 5⁄ , 12⁄ , 19⁄ , 26 ⁄ Jul 02⁄ , 09⁄ , 16⁄ , 23 ⁄ , 30⁄ Aug; 06⁄ , 13⁄ , 20⁄ , 27 ⁄ Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

2020 RIVER CRUISES THE BLUE DANUBE – 13 Days / 12 Nights Munich, Oberammergau, Salzburg / Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: Begins Munich: 17 ⁄ , 31⁄ May; 14⁄ , 28 ⁄ Jun; 12, 26 Jul; 09⁄ , 23⁄ Aug; 06⁄ , 13⁄ , 27 ⁄ Sep Begins Budapest: 25⁄ May; 01⁄ , 08⁄ , 22⁄ Jun; 06⁄ , 20⁄ Jul; 03⁄ , 10, 17 ⁄ , 31⁄ Aug; 14⁄ , 21⁄ Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

THE ROMANTIC RHINE – 11 Days / 10 Nights Amsterdam, Köln, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel, Lucerne, Oberammergau, Munich 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: Begins Amsterdam: 20⁄ May; 17 ⁄ Jun; 15⁄ , 29 ⁄ Jul; 26⁄ Aug Begins Munich: 24⁄ May; 21 ⁄ Jun; 05⁄ , 19⁄ Jul; 02⁄ , 30⁄ Aug ⁄ = Sold Out!

DANUBE REFLECTIONS – 11 Days / 10 Nights Munich, Oberammergau, Regensburg, Passau, Grein, Dürnstein, Vienna, Bratislava 2020 DEPARTURE DATES: Begins Munich: 07⁄ Jun; 16⁄ Aug; 20 ⁄ Sep Begins Vienna: 13⁄ May; 01⁄ Jul; 09⁄ Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Time slows to a roll along the storied shores of the Mediterranean

Sea, home to lemon-scented seaside villages that line the Amalfi Coast; at family-owned Tuscan vineyards; on Pugliese farms lush with cheese and olives; on a Neapolitan island, castle topped and thermally rich; at a Sicilian villa, nobility hosted; and in Umbrian hamlets crowned with basilicas, mosaic blessed. Time pauses beside ancient Roman ruins, in ash-covered towns frozen in place, and inside Renaissance cities reflecting their treasured past. Good times await at cooking schools, agriturismos, workshops, masserias, palazzos and art museums. And private times make the most of your exclusive after-hours visits to the Vatican Museums and St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica, perfectly paced by Tauck.

Taormina

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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CLASSIC ITALY

Rome

MONUMENTS, MASTERPIECES AND MARVELLOUS FOOD...

Travel beside vineyard-draped

hills and vertical cliffs along the blue Mediterranean Sea... stop to gaze upon graceful piazzas and towering duomos... discover a city frozen in time and the treasures of the Vatican after hours... imagine the glories of ancient Rome and roars rising from the Colosseum... absorb the artistry of Florence in architecture and paintings... indulge in views of the Umbrian countryside and a tasting of its classic wines... fall in love with five villages perched by the sea and a city of canals and palaces...

1. ARRIVE NAPLES / SORRENTO

2. DISCOVER THE AMALFI COAST Rise early for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast. Stop for a visit in the seaside cathedral town of Amalfi and continue to Ravello, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;terrace over the seaâ&#x20AC;? known for its beautiful villas. Panoramic views of the sea offer a picture-perfect backdrop for a lunch of local specialties. Return to Sorrento for time at leisure. Meals BL

ITALY

Venice

ADRIATIC SEA Florence Viareggio Assisi San Gimignano Perugia Orvieto

Cinque Terre

FRANCE

H igh-Spee d Tra i

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport or Naples Central Train Station to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, overlooking the bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. An optional full-day excursion to Capri is available today; ask at booking (additional charge of AUD $360 per person). Join us for a welcome dinner. Meals D

CORSICA

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Rome

TYRRHENIAN SEA

Naples Sorrento

Pompeii

SARDINIA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Amalfi

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Travel along the Amalfi Coast renowned for spectacular scenic beauty, lemony landscapes, seaside villages and stunning views of the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – An after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – without the daytime crowds • A wine tasting and a chocolate making lesson in Umbria • An in-depth briefing by an art historian in Florence and guided visits through the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Uffizi • A boat cruise along Cinque Terre for a look at these centuries-old coastal villages (weather permitting) • A serenade aboard a gondola ride in the canal city of Venice • Airport and train transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 26 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Venice

3. ASH-COVERED POMPEII AND ON TO ROME

5. WHEN IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO

Travel to Pompeii for a guided walk through its well-preserved ruins and discover what life was like in the 1st-century city; visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late af ter noon in Rome; your hotel is ideally located on the Via Veneto. Meals BLD

This morning’s guided sightseeing takes you back in time to ancient Rome as you see the ruins of the Imperial Palace, Circus Maximus, the 4th-century stadium where chariot races were held, and other important sites. We’ve pre-reserved tickets to visit the 2,000-year-old Colosseum without having to stand in long lines. The rest of the day is yours to explore Rome as you like. Meals B

4. AFTER HOURS AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS Spend the morning on a guided tour of St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The rest of the day is free, until it’s time for what is sure to be a highlight of your visit to Rome – a special after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary). You’ll see the Candelabra Gallery, the Map Gallery, the Raphael rooms, and the Tapestries, and enter the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling – without the crowds! Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

6. HILLTOP ORVIETO AND PERUGIA Journey into the region of Umbria, dotted with hill towns and cypresses, to hilltop Orvieto, overlooking vineyards. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals. Following a traditional trattoria lunch, continue to the outskirts of Perugia for a two-night stay at a peaceful resort hotel retreat high above one of the most beautiful valleys in Umbria. Enjoy a tasting of local wines before dinner at your park-like resort this evening. Meals BLD

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Florence

7. MEDIEVAL TREASURES OF ASSISI Take a scenic drive to Assisi, the home of St. Francis, who left his position of wealth to found the religious order whose followers became known as Franciscans. The town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture. You’ll visit St. Francis Basilica, which today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, as well as the final resting place of the town of Assisi’s beloved favourite son, who is also the patron saint of animals. Enjoy free time before returning to Perugia for an afternoon at leisure – followed by a hands-on chocolate making class and dinner at your hotel. Meals BD

and the rugged coastal moun tains, was ac ces si ble only by sea. Weather permitting, travel by boat to the town of Vernazza to explore along its cobblestone streets and alleyways as you please. For lunch, you might sample the flavours of the local cuisine accented with olives and citrus fruit. A train ride to La Spezia provides another perspective on these storied “Five Lands.” Then you’re off to Florence for a three-night stay. Your hotel is ideally located along the Arno River. Dinner this evening is served at your hotel’s glass-walled rooftop restaurant, where you’ll be treated to panoramic 360° views of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Meals BD

10. THE ART OF FLORENCE 8. SAN GIMIGNANO TO SEASIDE VIAREGGIO For centuries in Tuscany, the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuity of mankind; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees, and fields of poppies. As you approach the hilltop town of San Gimignano, you’ll see its twin medieval towers from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets of this quintessentially Tuscan small town and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Continue through the Tuscan countryside to the seaside resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay. Dinner is served tonight at your Michelin-starred luxury hotel. Meals BD

9. PICTURE-BOOK VILLAGES OF CINQUE TERRE For hun dreds of years, Cinque Terre, five colourful fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters

Enjoy a lecture by an art historian, whose insights enlighten on a guided walking tour of Florence’s Renaissance heart, followed by a guided visit at the Galleria dell’Accademia, seeing works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others. This world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon exploring as you wish; your hotel is centrally located. Join us this evening for dinner at a popular local restaurant. Meals BLD

11. INSIDE THE UFFIZI GALLERY A local expert accompanies you on a walking tour that goes inside the Uffizi Gallery. Built as a suite of offices in 1581, it was used to display the Medici family’s private art treasures, making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Today the collection includes some of the most revered

works of the Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, Leonardo da Vinci’s unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Bellini’s Allegory, and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. The rest of the day is free for you to discover Florence as you please. There are many inviting restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy the best Tuscan cuisine. You might try ribollita, a white-bean stew, or bistecca alla fiorentina, a succulently prepared steak, cantuccini and vin santo, a dessert of biscotti-like almond cookies served with sweet wine for dipping and gelato of course! Meals B

Burano, known for its lace makers; or visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of 20th-century masters. Join us for a farewell re cep tion and dinner at the hotel. Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Danieli, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice to Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

12. RIDE A FAST TRAIN TO VENICE A high-speed train whisks you from Florence to Venice, where some 100 “streets” are canals, many lined with palaces dating back to the 12th century. A canal boat carries you to your hotel, located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, take a guided walking tour of must-see city sights. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica – flanked by angels and blending architectural and decorative styles from the East and West, the cathedral is considered one of the greatest buildings in all of Europe. You’ll also tour the Doge’s Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. Indulge in the ultimate Venetian experience – a soulful serenade aboard a gondola, gliding along the scenic canals. Meals BL

13. VENICE AS YOU WISH The entire day is free to do as you like in Venice, truly one of the world’s most remarkable cities. There’s a lot to choose from – exploring its narrow streets, lanes, and countless bridges; boating to the island of Murano, famous for its hand-blown glassware, or the island of

14 DAYS from AUD $10,860 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS NAPLES 10, 17, 22 ⁄ Apr 06, 13⁄ , 15, 20⁄ , 27, 29 May 05, 12, 19, 26 Jun 03, 10, 24 Jul 07, 19, 26 Aug 02, 04, 09, 11, 16, 18, 25 Sep 02, 09, 16 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April; 26 – 31 August; 14 – 31 October Double $11,490 Single $15,342

Triple $10,781

May – June; September – 13 October Double $12,240 Single $16,096

Triple $11,495

July – 25 August Double $10,860

Triple $10,189

Single $14,458

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask at booking about additional hotel nights.

3 ACTIVITY Vernazza

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7 Night 8 Night 9-11 Night 12,13*

GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR VITTORIA THE WESTIN EXCELSIOR, ROME BORGO DEI CONTI RESORT GRAND HOTEL PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE THE WESTIN EXCELSIOR, FLORENCE HOTEL DANIELI, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, VENICE

Sorrento Rome Perugia Viareggio Florence Venice

*Tours of 15, 29 May and 04 Sep will stay at Splendid Venice Starhotels Collezione.

New for 2019! Optional Sightseeing to Capri Guests may choose an optional guided excursion to Capri on Day 1, including a tour of the island, visits to the towns of Anacapri and Capri, and more. Additional AUD $360 per person; inquire at booking.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 25

CLASSIC ITALY, SMALL GROUPS

Umbria

DISCOVER ITALY, UP CLOSE... on a small Day Destination

group travel experience averaging 24 guests. With a similar

Arrive Naples / GRAND HOTEL LA FAVORITA, SORRENTO

itinerary to our popular Classic Italy trip, this two-week journey

Amalfi Coast drive / Amalfi / Ravello

stays at intimate hotels and includes more opportunities to

Pompeii / GRAND HOTEL DE LA MINERVE, ROME

Rome sightseeing / Colosseum visit

St. Peter’s Basilica / After hours at the Vatican Museums

Umbria / Orvieto / ALLA POSTA DEI DONINI, PERUGIA

Assisi / Classical music recital

Tuscany / GRAND HOTEL PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE, VIAREGGIO

Cinque Terre / HOTEL BRUNELLESCHI, FLORENCE

Art lecturer / Walking tour / Galleria dell’Accademia

Uffizi Gallery / Time at Leisure

Train / St. Mark’s Square / Doge’s Palace BAUER PALAZZO, VENICE

dine out as the locals do, along with an optional excursion to Capri for early arrivals. Your explorations begin at the Grand

Serenaded gondola ride / After hours at St. Mark’s Basilica

Depart Venice

Hotel La Favorita in Sorrento where the rooftop offers a glimpse of the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast. On the next day,

Cinque Terre

FRANCE

Viareggio

CORSICA

H igh-Spee d Tra i

ITALY

Venice

ADRIATIC SEA Florence Assisi Perugia Orvieto

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Rome

TYRRHENIAN SEA

Naples Sorrento

Pompeii

SARDINIA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Amalfi

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience, highlighted by stays at chic hotels in fabulous locations • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A special guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, after hours • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds • In Umbria, a tasting of local wine and a private recital in your hotel’s frescoed music room

MEET FERRAGAMO... at a private wine-tasting reception on Day 10 in Florence! This exclusive Tauck experience, made possible by our partnership with AuthentEscapes, will be personally hosted by a member of the fashion icon Salvatore Ferragamo’s family and will feature locally produced Ferragamo wines. Visit the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum and taste vintage Ferragamo wines on select departures priced from AUD $14,090: 12, 26 May; 09⁄ Jun; 01, 15 ⁄ , 29 Sep

⁄ = Sold Out!

• An art history lecture, a tour of Florence & guided visits to the Uffizi & Galleria dell’Accademia • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 26 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

14 DAYS from AUD $11,990 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 9 Dinners)

BEGINS NAPLES 07, 14, 21⁄ , 30 ⁄ Apr 02⁄ , 05⁄ , 09, 12, 14, 16, 19⁄ , 23, 26, 30 May 02, 06, 09⁄ , 13, 16, 30 ⁄ Jun 28 Jul 11, 27 Aug 01, 05, 08⁄ , 10, 12, 15⁄ , 19, 22⁄ , 24, 29 Sep 06, 08, 13, 20 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! drive along the coast, pausing in lemon-scented Amalfi and

All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests.

climb to hilltop Ravello for a lunch that nourishes body and

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

soul. En route to Rome for a three-night stay at the Grand Hotel de la Minerve, walk back in time at Pompeii, buried under volcanic ash for centuries and now excavated to reveal daily life in 79 AD. Visit Rome as a VIP, going inside the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel on Tauck’s after-hours tour without crowds. Our local guide shows you the sights of ancient Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus, before bypassing the lines at the Colosseum with pre-secured tickets. A family-style Italian dinner whets your appetite for a wine tasting and music recital during two nights at the Alla Posta dei Donini just

PRICE PER PERSON April; 13 – 31 October Double $12,860 Single $17,036 May – 29 June; 25 August – 12 October Double $13,740 Single $17,443 30 June – 24 August Double $11,990 Single $15,396

Triple $11,873 Triple $12,898 Triple $11,242

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask at booking about additional hotel nights.

Meet Ferragamo: Tours of 12, 26 May; 09 Jun; 01, 15 and 29 Sep are priced from AUD $14,090 per person double; see the “Meet Ferragamo” box above. Optional Capri Excursion: Additional cost of AUD $360 per person; ask at booking.

outside of Perugia. Explore the Tuscan countryside, then head to seaside Viareggio for an overnight stay at Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte and a boat cruise past Cinque Terre. In Florence, learn about – and see – world-famous Renaissance art while you stay at historic Hotel Brunelleschi. Ride the rails to Venice where a private boat takes you to Bauer Palazzo for your last two nights. Highlights include an after-hours visit inside St. Mark’s Basilica and a serenaded gondola ride on the canals. For complete day-by-day details,

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7 Night 8 Night 9-11* Night 12,13

GRAND HOTEL LA FAVORITA GRAND HOTEL DE LA MINERVE ALLA POSTA DEI DONINI GRAND HOTEL PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE HOTEL BRUNELLESCHI BAUER PALAZZO

Sorrento Rome Perugia Viareggio Florence Venice

visit tauck.com.au.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 27

A WEEK IN… TUSCANY & UMBRIA

Tuscany

1. ARRIVE FLORENCE

3. AREZZO, LAKE TRASIMENO & GUBBIO

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Villa La Massa. A transfer is included from Florence’s Peretola Airport to Villa La Massa, located in the countryside along the Arno River, gateway to the Chianti region. Meet your fellow travellers at a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

Journey to the Tuscan town of Arezzo this morning for a guided walking tour. Arezzo is an architectural gem known for its hilltop cathedral, impressive frescoed basilicas and a Medici fortress. Cross into Umbria, stopping to take in the beauty of Lake Trasimeno. Continue on to your hotel in Gubbio, set in a 17th-century stone monastery overlooking wooded hills, and enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals BD

2. TUSCAN WINE & A COOKING CLASS

Drive through the Chianti countryside to a farmhouse cooking school in the ancient Tuscan village of Candeli Florence Montefiridolfi. This morning’s hands-on cooking class ADRIATIC Bargino with expert Italian chefs introduces you to the tastes and SEA Montefiridolfi traditions of Tuscany’s regional food through anecdotal Gubbio Arezzo stories that add more flavour to this immersive culinary experience. Wine tasting is on the menu during a rooftop Perugia Lake lunch at the hillside winery of Marchesi Antinori Chianti Trasimeno Assisi Classico, whose historic wine-making heritage dates Torgiano Bevagna back to the 12th century. A guided visit to the museum Spoleto ITALY and unique cellars reveals the family’s wine-making philosophy from the vineyard to the bottle, with a Narni MEDITERRANEAN step-by-step look at the production process, including SEA insights on fermentation, aging, and environmental responsibility. After time spent at leisure at your hotel, join us for dinner this evening at a typical Tuscan Maximum Elevation: 1,713 ft. Rome trattoria. Buon appetito! Meals BLD

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes…

7. SPOLETO & UNDERGROUND NARNI

• T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – An al fresco wine pairing lunch in a renowned Torgiano vineyard

Travel to Spoleto for a guided tour of the city. See the Ponte delle Torri (Bridge of Towers) erected in the 14th century on the foundations of a Roman aqueduct and visit the 12th-century Duomo of Spoleto. After time at leisure, head to Narni for a fascinating underground look at the ancient Roman ruins which lay hidden for centuries until six young speleologists on a caving expedition rediscovered them in a vegetable garden in 1979. Discover a 12th-century chapel covered in frescoes, secret tunnels leading under the monastery complex of San Domenico, a papal inquisition torture chamber and a prison cell covered in cryptic graffiti. Arrive in Rome late afternoon for an overnight stay, and then join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

• A Tuscan cooking class with expert Italian chefs who share their culinary secrets

8. JOURNEY HOME

• ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • T AUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive to the heart of Chianti country, where landscapes of verdant valleys, ancient vineyards and olive groves lead to hilltop Tuscan and Umbrian villages centuries old

• A tasting tour and rooftop lunch at Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico winery; a truffle- hunting lunch at an Umbrian farm

Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Splendide Royal to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino or Rome Termini Train Station. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

• 1 5 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

4. MEDIEVAL GUBBIO & TRUFFLE HUNTING Explore medieval Gubbio on a walking tour with a local guide. View the town’s well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, its 13th-century church, and the turreted 14th-century tower of Palazzo dei Consoli; see extraordinary ancient Umbrian tablets at the Civic Museum. Lunch at a local truffle farm includes a truffle-hunting experience with the farmer and his dog. The evening is yours to spend as you please. Meals BL

5. ASSISI & A WINE PAIRING LUNCH Discover the treasures of hilltop Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided walking tour that visits the Basilica di San Francesco. Continue to Lungarotti Winery in Torgiano for a Tauck Exclusive wine pairing lunch in its historic vineyards. Your hotel for two nights is located in the heart of Perugia where your evening is free. Meals BL

6. PERUGIA & BEVAGNA Enjoy guided sightseeing in Perugia this morning, followed by free time or a visit to a hand weaving workshop. Drive to medieval Bevagna this afternoon to learn about life in the Middle Ages with a visit to a medieval artisan workshop. Back in Perugia, join us at local restaurant for a taste of daily life. Meals BD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

8 DAYS from AUD $4,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS FLORENCE 22, 29 Apr 06, 13, 20, 27 May 03, 10 Jun 29 Jul 05 Aug 02, 09⁄ , 11, 16⁄ , 23, 30 Sep 07, 14 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April, October Double $4990 May – September Double $5860

Single $6098

Triple $4778

Single $6997

Triple $5643

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour. Pre-stays are available in the centre of Florence at the Grand Hotel Minerva, minutes from the Duomo and the train station.

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5,6 Night 7

VILLA LA MASSA PARK HOTEL AI CAPPUCCINI HOTEL BRUFANI PALACE HOTEL SPLENDIDE ROYAL

Candeli Gubbio Perugia Rome

tauck.com.au 29

LAKE COMO, VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME

Lake Como

Day Destination 1

Arrive Milan / To Bellagio GRAND HOTEL VILLA SERBELLONI, BELLAGIO

Lake Como cruise to Villa del Balbianello / Isola Comacina

Venice / Serenaded gondola ride SAN CLEMENTE PALACE KEMPINSKI VENICE

Inside St. Mark’s Basilica / Venice at Leisure

Train to Florence / Galleria dell’Accademia THE ST. REGIS FLORENCE

SPARKLING JEWELS OF ITALY... From Milan, set off for your historic lakeside hotel, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, in Bellagio, the “Pearl of Lake Como.” One of the most alluring Italian lakes, Lake Como, with the Alps in the distance, is yours to discover on a private boat cruise to Villa del Balbianello, where the terraced gardens may steal your heart, and the island of Isola Comacina for a special lunch. Your two-night stay in Venice on a private island at the San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice, a boat ride away from your inside visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, enchants with a

The Uffizi Gallery / Free time to explore as you wish

pool, gardens and exceptional service. First class seats on

Siena / Rome / THE ST. REGIS ROME

a high-speed train whisk you off to Florence, the birthplace

St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square / After-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without crowds

Sightseeing Imperial Rome / Guided visit to the Colosseum

the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David,

Depart Rome

and the Uffizi Gallery, founded by the Medici dynasty. Pop

of the Renaissance, where you’ll stay two nights at The St. Regis Florence, an updated 15th-century palace. A private talk by an art historian sets the stage for your guided visits to

over to Siena, through Chianti country rich with vineyards and olive groves, for a visit inside the Duomo. The grand palatial St. Regis Rome is your home away from home for three nights in the Eternal City, where an authentic dinner

Watch our video at tauck.com.au/italynorth

awaits in a Roman restaurant. Visit the Vatican Museums and

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes…

Vatican Museums

• Premier accommodations in grand, ideally located hotels that are among the best in Europe • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without crowds; a private boat cruise on Lake Como to an 18th-century lakeside villa • Inside visit to Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica; serenaded gondola ride • First class train travel to Florence; a private lecture by an art historian & guided visits to the Uffizi & Galleria dell’Accademia • Guided tour of Imperial Rome; visits to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Roman Colosseum • Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

10 DAYS from AUD $9,090 plUS AirfAre

• 17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides & driver, admission fees, taxes & porterage

BEGINS MILAN

(9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

18, 29 Apr 09⁄ , 23, 30 May 03, 10, 13, 24 Jun 08 Jul 15 Aug 05, 12, 16, 23, 26 Sep 07 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,990 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking.

the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel after hours – no crowds! – a Tauck Exclusive. Take in St. Peter’s Basilica and the

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking.

sights of ancient Rome. You won’t have to stand in line at

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

the Colosseum – just go right in for your guided tour. For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au.

SWITZERLAND Venice

High-Speed Tra in

Bellagio Lake Como Milan

FRANCE

Siena

April Double $9090 May – June Double $9740 July – August; October Double $9360 September Double $9990

Single $11,711

Triple $8643

Single $12,473

Triple $9154

Single $11,968

Triple $8865

Single $12,665

Triple $9472

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

Florence

LIGURIAN SEA

PRICE PER PERSON

ITALY

ADRIATIC SEA

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS TYRRHENIAN SEA

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Rome

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Night 1,2

GRAND HOTEL VILLA SERBELLONI

Night 3,4*

SAN CLEMENTE PALACE KEMPINSKI VENICE

Bellagio Venice

Night 5,6

THE ST. REGIS FLORENCE

Florence

Night 7-9

THE ST. REGIS ROME

Rome

*Tour of 13 Jun will stay at Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 31

BELLISSIMA NORTHERN ITALY

Venice

ROMANCING THE SENSES... is an apt

JOURNEY AT A GLANCE

description for experiences you’ll enjoy on this 11-day

Day Destination

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Basilica

Arrive Milan / GRAND HOTEL ET DE MILAN, MILAN

Milan / Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper / Brera Gallery

Italian lakes / GRAND HOTEL DES ILES BORROMƒES, STRESA

Isola Bella / Lunch on Isola Pescatori / Free time in Stresa

Bergamo / Franciacorta wines / DUE TORRI HOTEL, VERONA

Juliet’s house in Verona / Free time / Dinner at a local eatery

Modena / Cheese farm / Ferrari / Balsamic tasting GRAND HOTEL MAJESTIC GIË BAGLIONI, BOLOGNA

Bologna sightseeing / Cooking demo and dinner

Boat ride to Torcello & Burano / After-hours at St. Mark’s Basilica THE GRITTI PALACE, VENICE

Time at Leisure / Farewell dinner

Depart Venice

journey at the top of Italy’s boot. Feast your eyes on di Santa Maria delle Grazie, Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà in Sforza Castle and Caravaggio’s The Supper at Emmaus at the Brera Art Gallery during two nights at the

SWITZERLAND

Lake Maggiore Stresa

Tremezzo Bellagio Lake Como Como Bergamo Lake Garda Milan

Verona

Franciacorta

ITALY

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Modena Bologna

Venice

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Picture-postcard settings throughout the Italian Lakes region • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – An after-hours guided visit to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice • Private Lake Como & Lake Maggiore cruises with spectacular scenery & elegant villas • A cooking class demo & epicurean dinner in Bologna; learn culinary secrets from a master chef • Tours & tastings in Modena; experience the art behind balsamic vinegar at the source and learn how Parmesan cheese is made; visit to an agriturismo in the Franciacorta wine region, including a tasting and lunch • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 20 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes & porterage

Lake Como

11 DAYS from AUD $8,090 plUS AirfAre (10 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 6 Dinners)

BEGINS MILAN Grand Hotel et de Milan. Drink in the aquatic beauty of idyllic island villas on Lake Maggiore and Lake Como from your accommodations at the Grand Hotel des

20 Apr 04, 06⁄ , 11, 18, 20 ⁄ , 25 May 01, 03⁄ , 08, 15, 29 Jun 13 Jul 24 Aug 02⁄ , 07, 09, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 Sep 05, 07, 09 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $9,490 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking.

Iles Borromées, your home for two nights. Travel along

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at booking.

Tauck’s scenic Yellow Roads to the medieval town of

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

Bergamo for a guided visit and get a taste of rural life in the Franciacorta wine region during a sparkling wine tasting lunch at a family-owned vineyard. Spend the next two nights romancing the history of Verona, founded by the Romans

PRICE PER PERSON 29 June – August Double $8090 Single $10,341 April – 28 June; September – October Double $8590 Single $10,893

Triple $7728 Triple $8197

in the 1st century AD, at Due Torri Hotel, a restored XIV century home located steps from Juliet’s balcony in Romeo and Juliet. En route to Bologna, stop in Modena to see how the king of cheeses, Parmigiano-Reggiano, is crafted at a local dairy farm. You’ll discover that speed is king at

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

the futuristic Enzo Ferrari Museum, and that the opposite prevails at a typical “azienda” where the balsamic vinegars it

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

produces are slowly aged from 18 to 25+ years. Your taste

Night 1,2 Night 3,4

buds are in for more culinary treats during your two-night stay at the Grand Hotel Majestic Già Baglioni, where dining Italian style includes a cooking class demonstration.

Night 5,6 Night 7,8

GRAND HOTEL ET DE MILAN GRAND HOTEL DES ILES BORROMÉES DUE TORRI HOTEL GRAND HOTEL MAJESTIC GIÀ BAGLIONI THE GRITTI PALACE, VENICE

Venetian pleasures during two nights at The Gritti Palace,

Night 9,10*

Venice include a boat cruise to the islands and an

*Tour of 09 Oct will stay at the Hotel Danieli.

Milan Stresa Verona Bologna Venice

exclusive after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. Find all the day-to-day itinerary details at tauck.com.au.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 33

A WEEK IN… VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME

The Colosseum

1. ARRIVE VENICE

4. ARTISTIC FLORENCE... THE UFFIZI GALLERY

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Baglioni Hotel Luna. A transfer is included from Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia Train Station to Baglioni Hotel Luna. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at one of the city’s top restaurants just a short walk from your hotel. Meals D

On a guided walking tour, visit the Uffizi Gallery to see works by Leonardo, Botticelli and other Renaissance artists. The rest of your day is free. Besides Michelangelo and Botticelli, Florence is also the home of Gucci and Ferragamo and a wealth of shops and galleries on the edge of fashion and modern culture. Meals B

2. ST. MARK’S AND THE DOGE’S PALACE

ITALY

ain

Venice

High-S pee dT r

A walking tour of Venice with a local guide introduces you to St. Mark’s Basilica, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful churches in Europe, and the 14th-century Doge’s Palace, once the home of the city’s ruling dukes and today a museum housing art treasures. After time at leisure, enjoy a serenaded gondola ride through the city’s canals. Dine as you please this evening and explore the city’s vibrant contemporary culture in its fine restaurants, shops, and galleries. Meals B

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Florence H igh

ADRIATIC SEA

-S

in Tra

A high-speed train ride in First Class seats whisks you to Florence for a three-night stay. A private talk by an art historian precedes lunch, a guided walking tour of city sites, and a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia. Dinner at a local restaurant is included on day 3 or day 4. Meals BLD

ed pe

3. FLORENCE & GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA

TYRRHENIAN SEA

Rome

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes…

7. ST. PETER’S BASILICA & VATICAN MUSEUMS Enjoy a guided visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica, a cathedral filled with masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s Pietˆ, housed under his dome, his greatest architectural achievement. Join us for a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without crowds (subject to availability; day of the tour may vary). You’ll have time to take in the treasures without being rushed, and linger under Michelangelo’s magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – a truly remarkable experience. Meals B

• TRAVEL BY TRAIN – Travel First Class on Italy’s high-speed trains • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums, without the crowds • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Vineyard and cellar tour and a wine-paired lunch at a famous abbey • G uided tours of Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace and the Colosseum in Rome

8. JOURNEY HOME • A talk by a Florentine art historian & guided tours of the Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Accademia

Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Baglioni Hotel Regina to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino or Rome’s Central Train Station. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

• Guided Rome sightseeing and a serenaded gondola ride in the canal city of Venice • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

0 • 13 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides and drivers, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $5,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 3 Dinners)

BEGINS VENICE 5. A WINE-PAIRED LUNCH & OLIVE OIL TASTING Drive to the Chianti region today. Stop for a tour, wine-pairing lunch, and a tasting of olive oil and cellar-aged Sangiovese wines at Badia a Passignano, a winery dating back to the year 395 owned by the Antinori family. Return to Florence for free time. Meals BL

10, 17 Mar 07, 14, 21, 28 Apr 05, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 May 02, 05, 12, 16, 23, 30 Jun 07, 14, 21, 28 Jul 04, 18, 25 Aug 01, 15, 18, 22, 29 Sep 06, 09, 13, 20 Oct 03, 17 Nov 22 Dec Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 26 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $7360 per person double; specific dates apply. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON 6. EXPLORING MONUMENTAL ROME Travel to Rome by train in First Class. An afternoon sightseeing tour includes a guided visit inside the Colosseum. Due to tomorrow’s exclusive after-hours Vatican Museums visit, we invite you to join us for our farewell reception and dinner this evening. Meals BLD

March; November – December Double $5990 Single $7953 1 – 27 April; 30 June – August; 13 – 31 October Double $6590 Single $8849 28 April – 29 June; September – 12 October Double $7090 Single $9498

Triple $5675 Triple $6192 Triple $6643

International Airfare is additional. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights.

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS NEW! SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES

A Week In... Venice, Florence & Rome (averaging 26 guests) Priced from AUD $7360 28 Apr; 12, 26 May; 02, 23 Jun; 14 Jul; 18 Aug; 15, 22 Sep and 09 Oct.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Night 1,2* Night 3-5** Night 6,7

BAGLIONI HOTEL LUNA HOTEL BERNINI PALACE BAGLIONI HOTEL REGINA

Venice Florence Rome

* Tours of 05,19 May and 07 Jul will stay at Splendid Venice. ** Tours of 05,15, 22, 29 May; 02, 16, 23 Jun; 18 Sep; and 09 Oct will stay at

Grand Hotel Minerva.

tauck.com.au 35

A WEEK IN… PUGLIA 1. ARRIVE BARI / MATERA Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Palazzo Gattini, Matera. A transfer is included from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport to Palazzo Gattini, set in a 15th-century palace in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera, a hilltop medieval city named the European Cultural Capital of 2019. Join us for a welcome reception on the rooftop of your hotel, followed by dinner at a cave restaurant. Meals D

Matera

hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city. Join a local guide this afternoon for a walking tour of Lecce. See the ornate 15th-century Chiesa di Santa Chiara; the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheatre, unearthed in 1901; the Piazza del Duomo; and the allegorically dressed Basilica di Santa Croce, a must-see site inside and out. Spend the remainder of the day exploring as you wish. There are many sights to see and restaurants to sample within walking distance of your hotel. Meals BL

2. CAVE HOMES & A CASTLE Hop aboard an open-air tuk-tuk this morning for a ride through the winding streets of Matera. Go inside a typically furnished cave home with a local guide, before driving to Altamura, known as the “City of Bread,” for an authentic taste of local life. This afternoon you’re off to 13th-century Castel del Monte, one of the best-preserved castles in southern Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided visit. Return to Matera for a free evening to spend as you please. Meals B

Bari Castel del Monte

Polignano a Mare Savelletri di Fasano Altamura

ITALY

Alberobello

Matera

Ostuni PUGLIA Lecce

Manduria

3. BAROQUE LECCE

GULF OF TARANTO

Drive south through the countryside today, stopping en route at a winery known for its Apulian Primitivo wines. Enjoy a tasting tour and lunch and continue on to Lecce for a two-night stay. Dating back to 1880, your landmark

Otranto Galatina Supersano

Maximum Elevation: 1,770 ft.

ADRIATIC SEA

IONIAN SEA

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • A two-night stay in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata, with sightseeing by tuk-tuk and a visit inside a cave house • Guided explorations of Baroque Lecce; walking tours of Galatina and Otranto; a visit to Alberobello’s limestone trulli houses • Excursion to seaside Polignano a Mare, built into the cliffside grottoes of the Adriatic • Local Primitivo wine tasting in the heart of the Manduria vineyards • 15 meals, airport transfers as noted, gratuities to local guides, service charges, porterage and taxes

4. GALATINA & OTRANTO Drive to Galatina for a tour of the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria and a visit inside the Baroque Chiesa di San Paolo to see the church well that was reputed to have healing powers from magic spiders. After lunch, drive to seaside Otranto. A guided walking tour includes the town’s castle and medieval cathedral. Savour a family-style farm-to-table dinner this evening at a masseria – a historic farmhouse estate typical of Puglia – featuring ingredients grown on site. Enjoy Salento pizzica folk music and dance, originating from the Tarantella. Dating back centuries, the wildly energetic Tarantella was believed to be a cure for spider bites. Meals BLD

400 whitewashed trulli still stand today. Nearby, visit Trullo Sovrano; now a museum, it was built in the 18th century for a priest and houses religious relics. Enjoy free time before dinner at a family-owned restaurant. Meals BD

7. SEASIDE CAVES & A FAREWELL Built into a ravine pitted with caves, Polignano a Mare is renowned for its cliff diving, for inspiring the song “Volare” by native son Domenico Modugno, and for its gelato, according to the locals. Spend a free morning discovering this beautiful town and have lunch as you please. Return to your masseria to relax and enjoy its resort amenities. Join us for a special farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Savelletri di Fasano. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Masseria Torre Coccaro or Masseria Torre Maizza to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport or Brindisi Airport is included. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $5,590 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS BARI 25 Mar 01, 08, 15, 29 ⁄ Apr 06⁄ , 13, 20, 27 May 03, 10 Jun 02, 09, 16⁄ , 23 ⁄ , 30 Sep 07, 14, 21 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON March – April; October Double $5590 May – September Double $6240

Single $6412

Triple $5414

Single $7081

Triple $6028

5. HILLTOP OSTUNI

International Airfare is additional.

Drive to the medieval city of Ostuni, dazzling with Mediterranean-inspired whitewashed houses and ocean views, for time to explore as you wish. Then you’re off to a masseria for lunch before continuing on to your masseria hotel where dinner is at leisure tonight. Meals BLD

Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

6. TRULLI IN ALBEROBELLO Journey to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique limestone trulli houses with conical roofs. Walk down the narrow alleys of the tightly packed “small barnyard district” of Rione Aia Piccola, where some

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2* Night 3,4 Night 5–7**

PALAZZO GATTINI RISORGIMENTO RESORT MASSERIA TORRE MAIZZA / MASSERIA TORRE COCCARO

Matera Lecce Savelletri di Fasano

*Tours of 25 Mar; 01, 08 Apr and 21 Oct will stay at Hotel Palazzo Viceconte. **Tour of 15 Apr will stay at Il Melograno.

tauck.com.au 37

! NE W Small Group. Active Journeys.

UNCOMMON VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME

Castel Gandolfo

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Grand Hotel dei Dogi. A transfer from Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia Train Station brings you to Grand Hotel dei Dogi, a 17th-century palazzo. Board a boat from your hotel and cruise to San Giorgio Island for a visit to its church and tower. From this vantage point, the views of St. Mark’s Square are gorgeous. Join us for a welcome reception at your hotel and walk to dinner at a local restaurant. Meals D

2. LIVING LIKE A LOCAL & BASILICA DEI FRARI Enjoy a private talk for the inside scoop on daily life in Venice by an American professor who has lived in the city for more than twenty years. A walking tour takes you to the Cannaregio district, through the Jewish Ghetto, to the San Polo neighbourhood for a guided visit to Basilica dei Frari, where you’ll see Titian’s Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro, and the artist’s own monumental tomb. Meals B

in Tra

On a guided walk this morning, discover the green-and-white marble VENETO Renaissance façade of Basilica di Santa Maria Padua Venice Novella, just outside your hotel, and stroll up the street EMILIAROMAGNA to the cathedral, il Duomo. Continue your walking tour to the National Museum Florence Rufina of Bargello for a TOSCANA guided visit. You’ll discover sculptures and paintings by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Luca della Robbia. Late afternoon travel to Rome Castel Castello di Nipozzano Gandolfo LAZIO in Chianti Rufina for an exclusive visit to the famous S pe

Say goodbye to Venice and head to Padua for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a short walk to the Scrovegni Chapel, home of Giotto’s precious early 14th-century frescoes. Considered one of the most important masterpieces of Western art, they tell the story

4. BARGELLO MUSEUM & A CHIANTI CASTLE

H ig h-

3. THE SCROVEGNI CHAPEL IN PADUA

of the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in monumental panels of scenes. After your guided visit, take a high-speed train to Florence in First Class seats. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local osteria. Meals BLD

HighSpe ed Tra in

1. ARRIVE VENICE

ITALY

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 22 Tauck guests • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private entry to the Pope’s private chapel during a visit to his summer residence • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Visit to Opificio delle Pietre Dure, an art restoration studio in Florence • Travel by high-speed train in First Class – Padua to Florence , Florence to Rome • A visit to Scrovegni Chapel in Padua to see Giotto’s frescoes; a private wine tasting dinner at the Frescobaldi vineyards in Chianti Rufina; a piano recital at the Palazzo Bargellini in Florence

7. THE POPE’S SUMMER RESIDENCE With a local guide, head to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence, for a guided visit to the palace. Your visit to Castel Gandolfo includes a Tauck Exclusive – entry into the Pope’s private chapel. Tour the magnificent Barberini Garden, where you’ll see artefacts and works of art from the ancient villa of Emperor Domitian. Weather permitting, we invite you to join us for a reception in your hotel’s garden; the reception is followed by our farewell dinner on the rooftop, overlooking the city. Meals BLD

8. ARRIVEDERCI, ROMA Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Indigo® Rome – St. George to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino or Rome Termini Train Station. Please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

• 14 meals, service charges, airport and train station transfers as noted, gratuities to local guides and drivers, admission fees, taxes and porterage

wine cellars of the Frescobaldi family, whose client list included Michelangelo and Henry VIII. Enjoy an aperitivo followed by dinner paired with their wines. Meals BD

5. INSIDER ART AND MUSIC IN A PALAZZO Open to Tauck guests only, Opificio delle Pietre Dure is a prestigious institute specialising in art restoration; during your exclusive visit, a former student provides insights into the work they do here. After a free afternoon, join us at Palazzo Bargellini for a visit with concert pianist Gregorio Nardi and his wife Annagret; they welcome you to their home with a tour of their gracious Renaissance palazzo, a piano recital, conversation, and an aperitivo. Meals B

6. ROME & THE VATICAN MUSEUMS Travel in First Class by high-speed train to Rome. A walking tour introduces you to historic Via Giulia and the cobblestoned Trastevere district, along with the market of Campo de’ Fiori, a neighbourhood of narrow streets, small piazzas, and ancient churches. Have lunch at a local restaurant. This evening enjoy a special after-hours visit to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums (subject to availability; day of tour may vary). See the Raphael Rooms, the Map Gallery, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece – all without crowds and with time to linger. Meals BL

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

8 DAYS from AUD $5,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 4 Dinners)

BEGINS VENICE 21, 28 Apr 12, 19, 26 May 16, 30 Jun 07 Jul 25 Aug 08, 15, 22 Sep 06, 13, 20 Oct All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 22 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $5990

Single $7519

Triple $5728

May – 29 June; August – 12 October Double $6740 Single $8412

Triple $6468

30 June – July; 13 – 31 October Double $6240 Single $7868

Triple $5984

4 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2

GRAND HOTEL DEI DOGI

Venice

Night 3-5

HOTEL SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

Florence

Night 6,7

HOTEL INDIGO® ROME – ST. GEORGE

Rome

tauck.com.au 39

Small Group. Active Journeys.

Manarola, Cinque Terre

TUSCANY & CINQUE TERRE 1. WELCOME TO FLORENCE Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Plaza Hotel Lucchesi. Buongiorno! Look for us at Florence Airport, Peretola for your included transfer to the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi in Florence. Take a walking tour with our local guide this afternoon that includes a guided tour of the Opera del Duomo. Cocktails and canapés follow on the hotel’s rooftop. Dinner is at a restaurant steps from your hotel. Meals D

restoring and immortalising art from all genres. Your walk continues over the Ponte Vecchio to the architectural gem of Orsanmichele, renowned for the guild sculptures of saints on all four sides of the church. Your walk ends in front of the building that was once the artisan guild hall. This evening, concert pianist Gregorio Nardi and his wife Annegret invite you to their home – a Renaissance palace – for a personal tour, a piano recital, discussions on history and politics, and an aperitivo. Meals B

2. RENAISSANCE ART Walk with a local guide to Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s main government square, and on to the Uffizi Gallery. View works of art by Giotto and Michelangelo, as well as Leonardo’s Annunciation and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. The remainder of your day is free. Meals B

3. FLORENTINE ARTISANS, PAST AND PRESENT Join a local guide for a walk exploring the city’s rich artisan traditions this morning. Go inside two working art restoration studios – open by special appointment only – to meet the people behind the art, including Art Restoration Specialist Bettina Schindler-Pratesi, who gives new life to antiques dressed in ivory, bone and mother-of-pearl. Next door, see artists at work

Watch our video at tauck.com.au/smallgroupitaly

LIGURIA

Vernazza Monterosso Carrara al Mare Colonnata Cinque Terre Lucca Portovenere

Florence Siena

ITALY

TUSCANY

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 18 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • Room with a view in Florence overlooking the Duomo and Basilica di Santa Croce or the Arno • An insider tour of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence • Meet a restoration specialist inside an artisan workshop in Florence; hike Cinque Terre’s ancient trails; take a guided 4x4 vehicle ride at a Carrara marble quarry • A recital by a concert pianist in his private palace • A pasta class, and wine & olive oil tasting in Lucca • 12 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

a hands-on lesson with local chefs, an olive oil and wine tasting, and a pasta-making class. Continue to your five-star historic hotel in the centre of Siena. Meals BL

7. NEIGHBOURHOODS OF SIENA If you like, rise early for an optional hot air balloon ride* and champagne breakfast (additional cost per person; see below). This afternoon, take a walking tour of Siena with a local guide. Join us for a farewell reception in an ancient wine cellar, followed by dinner at your hotel. Meals BD

8. ARRIVEDERCI, TUSCANY Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Siena’s Grand Hotel Continental to Florence Airport, Peretola, or Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. Meals B

8 DAYS FROM AUD $5,990 PLUS AIRFARE (7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 3 Dinners)

4. CARRARA MARBLE & ON TO CINQUE TERRE

BEGINS FLORENCE

En route to Cinque Terre, stop at Carrara for a guided tour of its marble quarries aboard a 4x4 vehicle*. Savour a family-style lunch of regional specialties in the village of Colonnata. Then it’s on to Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets for a walking tour. Together Cinque Terre and this ancient town are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you’ll see why. Colourful houses line the seafront, connected with the main street by staircases and tunnels. Walk through the narrow alleyways and enjoy a gelato. Lord Byron lived in Portovenere, and the spirit of the Romantic poets lives on. Weather permitting, ride a boat to the village of Monterosso al Mare, one of the five coastal villages of Cinque Terre, where your hilltop hotel overlooks the harbour. Dine at your hotel. Meals BLD

20, 27∕ , 29 Apr 04∕ , 06, 11∕ , 13, 18, 25 May 01∕ , 08, 15∕ , 17, 22∕ Jun 24, 31 Aug 07, 14, 16∕ , 21∕ , 23, 28 Sep 05, 12∕ , 19 Oct ∕ = Sold Out!

5. A HIKE OR A TRAIN RIDE IN CINQUE TERRE

All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 18 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $5990

Single $7747

Triple $5664

May – 02 June; 12 – 31 October Double $6590 Single $8412

Triple $6285

03 June – 11 October Double $6860

Triple $6516

Single $8718

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride and Champagne Breakfast, Day 7: Add AUD $480 per person; ask at booking. Ask about additional hotel nights at booking.

Explore Cinque Terre your way. Hike cliffside trails through terraced vineyards overlooking the sea from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza or linger in Monterosso al Mare and ride the train to Vernazza, “the Pearl of Cinque Terre.” The rest of the day is free. Meals B

6. CYCLING, COOKING, AND TASTINGS

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

4 ACTIVITY 3 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-3 Night 4,5* Night 6,7

PLAZA HOTEL LUCCHESI HOTEL PORTO ROCA GRAND HOTEL CONTINENTAL

Florence Monterosso Siena

*Tours of 08, 17 Jun will stay at Grand Hotel Portovenere.

Head to the walled town of Lucca for exploration, either joining a bicycle* tour led by a local guide or taking a guided walk through the city. At a cooking school, enjoy

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 41

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SICILIAN ODYSSEY

Ragusa

1. ARRIVE CATANIA / SIRACUSA

4. A TASTE OF LIFE IN RAGUSA

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Ortigia. A transfer is included from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport to Grand Hotel Ortigia, ideally located in the heart of Siracusa. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

Spend the morning at leisure enjoying the many amenities of your Sicilian resort. Visit a local herb farm for a tour and a family-style lunch as you sample a taste of daily life in Ragusa. Your authentic discoveries of la dolce vita continue on a walking tour in Ragusa Ibla, where Tauck has arranged insider visits to the Arezzo family’s private courtyard garden, intimate Il Piccolo theatre and the century-old “gentlemen’s club,” Circolo di Conversazione.

2. MYTHICAL SIRACUSA Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks and Romans on a walking tour in Neapolis Archaeological Park that includes the Teatro Greco, the Ear of Dionysius and the 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre. Return to town to visit the Theatre of Apollo, the Duomo, and see the Caravaggio painting in the Basilica Santa Lucia al Sepolcro, schedule permitting. Enjoy lunch at a Baron’s palazzo, with wines from the family vineyard, before time at leisure at your hotel. The evening is free. Meals BL

3. BAROQUE GEMS OF NOTO & MODICA Drive to Noto this morning, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for a parade of Baroque buildings. See the Basilica di San Salvatore, the Duomo and the ornate Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata before time to explore on your own. Continue on to Modica this afternoon for a walking tour with a local guide. Dine at a choice of restaurants at your hotel this evening. Meals BD

MEDITERRANEAN SEA Palermo

ITALY

Cefalù

Castelbuono SICILY

Piazza Armerina

Catania

Agrigento Siracusa Ragusa

Maximum Elevation: 6,233 ft.

Taormina

Mt. Etna

Noto

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes…

8. CEFALÙ CATHEDRAL & MOUNTAIN MAJESTY

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private lunch at a Baron’s palazzo in Siracusa with a wine tasting; dinner and an art tour with the son of a Baroness at their historic villa in Palermo

Drive to Cefalù for a guided tour of its 12th-century Arab-Norman cathedral and have lunch in the Madonie Mountains en route to a two-night stay in Taormina. Arrive at your hotel late afternoon for an evening at leisure. Meals BL

• Insider visits to the private courtyard garden, theatre and club of the Arezzo family; a private cooking demonstration and dinner at a restored convent in Ragusa Ibla

9. ANTIQUITIES IN TAORMINA OR MT. ETNA

• Lunch at an aromatic herb farm with locally grown flavours and spices

On a walking tour of Taormina, explore the Teatro Greco. Or embark on an optional 4x4 adventure to Mt. Etna with a wine tasting lunch (add’l AUD $280 per person). After free time to enjoy as you please, we invite you to join us for tonight’s farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

• Guided visits to the Roman Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina and Cefalù Cathedral

10. JOURNEY HOME

• 22 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Tour ends: Taormina. included from Grand Airport. Please allow flight check-in at the

Fly home anytime. A transfer is Hotel Timeo to Catania-Fontanarossa a minimum of three hours for your airport. Meals B

Dinner tonight follows a private cooking demonstration at a restored Capuchin convent in a garden setting. Meals BLD

10 DAYS from AUD $7,490 plUS AirfAre

5. A ROMAN VILLA IN PIAZZA ARMERINA

BEGINS CATANIA

Visit Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Roman Villa del Casale, dating to 320 BC. Inside see mosaics covering the floors, walls and columns, depicting scenes from poems, myths, nature and aristocratic lifestyles. Return to your resort for lunch and an afternoon at leisure and join us for a pizza party tonight. Meals BLD

6. TEMPLES OF AGRIGENTO & PALERMO

(9 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

08, 19, 22, 29 Apr 03, 10, 13, 20, 24, 31 May 03, 10, 14 Jun 30 Aug 09, 13, 16, 20, 27, 30 Sep 07, 11, 18, 28 Oct Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $8740 per person double; specific dates apply. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $7490

Single $9478

Explore the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk up to the Temple of Juno and make your way down cobblestone roads to columned temples, Doric in style, and the Tomb of Theron. Have lunch overlooking the ruins and drive to Palermo for a two-night stay at a villa-style hotel overlooking the bay. Meals BLD

International Airfare is additional.

7. PALERMO, PAST AND PRESENT

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

Sightseeing in Palermo includes a visit to 9th-century Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel, aglow in mosaics. See Teatro Massimo where scenes from The Godfather, Part III were filmed. Join the son of a Baroness for dinner and an art tour at their historic villa designed by Ernesto Basile. Meals BLD

Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7 Night 8,9*

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Triple $6523

Mt. Etna 4x4 Adventure with wine tasting lunch: Additional fee of AUD $280 per person applies; ask at booking. Ask about additional hotel nights and our Guest Protection Product.

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

GRAND HOTEL ORTIGIA DONNAFUGATA GOLF RESORT & SPA GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA GRAND HOTEL TIMEO

Siracusa Ragusa Palermo Taormina

*Tours of 22, 29 Apr, 03, 24 May, 13, 16 Sep, 07 and 11 Oct will stay at the NH Collection Taormina.

tauck.com.au 43

A WEEK IN… THE AMALFI COAST, CAPRI & ROME

Positano

1. ARRIVE NAPLES / POSITANO Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Agavi Hotel, Positano. A transfer is included from Naples Airport to Le Agavi Hotel in Positano, built into a cliff overlooking the bay. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at the hotel. Meals D

2. A TASTE OF LIFE IN AMALFI & RAVELLO Journey along the Amalfi Coast, stopping to explore the town of Amalfi before driving on winding roads up to Ravello, and dramatic views of the Gulf of Salerno. Savour homemade pasta at a legendary fourth-generation family restaurant for lunch before wandering through the gardens that inspired composer Richard Wagner at Villa Rufolo. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy Positano. Meals BL

Travel by private convertible taxi to one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe, set on exclusive Via Camerelle in the heart of the glamorous island of Capri. Meals BLD

4. CAPRI & ANACAPRI BY CONVERTIBLE Today’s guided touring to Anacapri is by private convertible car; visit beautiful 19th-century Villa San Michele, built atop

ADRIATIC SEA

ITALY

Rome

HighSpe ed in Tra

3. HERCULANEUM & FERRY TO CAPRI Head to Herculaneum this morning where a locally guided tour reveals the remains of this ancient Roman resort city, frozen in time after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. After lunch, take a high-speed ferryboat to the Isle of Capri, once a second home to Europe’s emperors and today a favourite destination for celebrities and jet setters.

TYRRHENIAN SEA

Naples Capri

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Herculaneum Positano

Amalfi Coast

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – A drive along the Amalfi Coast amidst views of the turquoise sea, vine-covered hills, lemon and olive trees • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – An after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private lecture on contemporary Italian society at a private villa on the Isle of Capri • A two-night stay on Capri after the day’s crowds have left & VIP sightseeing by convertible car

7. ST. PETER’S AND ROME AS YOU PLEASE City sightseeing today begins in St. Peter’s Square, created in the 17th century by Italian sculptor and architect Bernini. See more of his work when you go inside St. Peter’s Basilica, on a guided tour. After a free afternoon, join us for a farewell dinner at a restaurant on the Appian Way. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel Majestic Roma is included to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino or Ciampino Airport in Rome or Rome’s Termini or Tiburtina train stations. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

• Lunch at a family-run restaurant in Ravello for an authentic taste of regional specialties • 14 meals, airport and train transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides & drivers, admission fees, taxes & porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $6,860 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 3 Dinners)

BEGINS NAPLES the ruins of Capri’s ancient Roman palaces and villas. Get an insider’s perspective on contemporary Italian society when you attend a lecture given by a professor at her private villa. The rest of the day is at leisure. Meals B

21, 28 Apr 05⁄ , 12, 26 May 02, 09 Jun 25 Aug 01, 08, 22 Sep 06, 13 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $7990 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

5. TO ROME & VATICAN MUSEUM GLORIES Board a high-speed ferryboat back to Naples, then ride a high-speed train in First Class to Rome. Arrive in the Eternal City in time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. Join us for tonight’s Tauck Exclusive Event – a very special after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums that takes you inside the Candelabra, Map and Tapestry galleries and the Sistine Chapel without the daytime crowds (subject to availability and day of tour may vary). Meals BL

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $6860 May – June Double $7240 August – October Double $7490

Single $9116

Triple $6515

Single $9926

Triple $6741

Single $10,144

Triple $6998

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Note: Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

6. ROME’S MAGNIFICENT PIAZZAS Today’s guided walking tour of Rome’s famous piazzas includes the Piazza del Pantheon, housing a place of worship since the 2nd century, and the spectacular Baroque Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’s four-figured fountain, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near the fountain, before time at leisure. Meals BL

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5-7

LE AGAVI HOTEL GRAND HOTEL QUISISANA HOTEL MAJESTIC ROMA

Positano Capri Rome

tauck.com.au 45

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A WEEK IN… NAPLES, CAPRI & AMALFI

Naples

1. ARRIVE NAPLES

4. HERCULANEUM & FERRY TO CAPRI

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Vesuvio. A transfer is included from Naples Airport or Naples train station to the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, ideally located in Naples’ pedestrian area of St. Lucia. Enjoy views of the bay, the island of Capri and Mount Vesuvius during a three-night stay in your Neapolitan home, a favourite retreat for celebrity guests. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

Head to Herculaneum this morning where a locally guided tour reveals the remains of this ancient Roman resort city, frozen in time after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. After lunch, take a high-speed ferryboat to the Isle of Capri where a private convertible taxi awaits to bring you to one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe. Meals BLD

5. CHARMS OF CAPRI & ANACAPRI 2. NEAPOLITAN DELIGHTS Enjoy an overview of culturally rich sights today on a panoramic city tour that includes iconic piazzas, royal palaces, castles and ancient ruins. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant before a guided walking tour of Old Town Naples. Stroll through alleyways lined with merchants’ shops, artisan workrooms, cafés, squares and balconied homes with free time to explore as you wish. Meals BL

Explore Anacapri on a walking tour that highlights local specialties, from perfume to ceramics and sandals. Visit

ITALY

Naples

3. THE ISLAND OF ISCHIA Board a high-speed ferry for a ride across the Gulf of Naples to the volcanic island of Ischia, home to thermal springs, Roman ruins and medieval Aragonese Castle, dating back to 474 BC. A locally guided sightseeing tour of the island brings you to the hilltop castle for a closer look of this veritable fort city, set on its own rocky isle. Drive to the picturesque fishing village of Sant’Angelo for lunch and free time before returning by ferry to Naples. Meals BL

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Herculaneum Ischia Sant’Angelo

GULF OF NAPLES

Ravello Sorrento

MEDITERRANEAN SEA Anacapri

Capri

Amalfi Amalfi Coast

ITALY/MEDITERRANEAN

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 guests for a more personal travel experience • Multi-night stays in Leading Hotels of the World in Naples, Capri and Amalfi overlooking the coast • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private lecture on contemporary Italian society on Capri • Ferry to Ischia Island to visit the Aragonese Castle and a guided visit to Herculaneum • A two-night stay on Capri after the day’s crowds have left & VIP sightseeing by convertible car • Exploration of Ravello with a traditional lunch • 15 meals, airport and train transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides & drivers, admission fees, taxes & porterage

saltwater pool and two seaside restaurants, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a true taste of la dolce vita. Meals BL

7. BREATHTAKING AMALFI & RAVELLO Spend time exploring the lemon-scented town of Amalfi this morning before driving up to the 5th-century village of Ravello for lunch at a four-generation, family-owned restaurant and time to enjoy the beautiful gardens at 13th-century Villa Rufolo, overlooking the sea, which inspired Richard Wagner’s dream garden in Parsifal. Return to Amalfi this afternoon and join us this evening for our farewell reception and dinner at your hotel. Meals BLD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Naples. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Santa Caterina is included to Naples Airport or the Naples train station. Allow three hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Villa San Michele and learn about contemporary Italian lifestyles during an exclusive lecture by a professor at her villa. Spend the remainder of the day as you like. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $8,360 plUS AirfAre

6. SORRENTO AND THE AMALFI COAST

BEGINS NAPLES

Ride a ferry back to the mainland today for a two-night stay in Amalfi. Have lunch in Sorrento, and drive along the Amalfi Coast to your 19th-century cliffside hotel, perched over the Mediterranean Sea. Spend the rest of the day luxuriating at your hotel; with a private beach club, heated

25 Apr 02, 09, 16, 23, 30 May 06 Jun 29 Aug 05, 12, 19, 26 Sep 03, 10 Oct

(7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 3 Dinners)

All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Aragonese Castle

April – 08 May Double $8360 09 May – June Double $8590 August – October Double $8990

Single $10,914

Triple $8923

Single $11,586

Triple $9315

Single $11,941

Triple $9718

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-3 Night 4,5 Night 6,7

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

GRAND HOTEL VESUVIO GRAND HOTEL QUISISANA HOTEL SANTA CATERINA

Naples Capri Amalfi

tauck.com.au 47

NORTHERN EUROPE

From the Emerald Isle, the Scottish Highlands, the lakeside hamlets

England

and

picturesque Welsh ports to Scandinavian fjords, Baltic beauties and the glories of Russia, the landscapes of Northern Europe are as distinctive as the cultural experiences they offer. Taste Irish traditions at a whisky distillery, in Guinness Storehouse, at castles and on family farms. Meet Winston Churchill’s granddaughter and Princess Diana’s personal chef in London. Cruise Scotland’s Loch Lomond, and kick up your heels with bagpipers and Highland dancers. Go for the gold in St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum and opulent Russian palaces. Walk back in time on cobbled streets in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, and attend an exclusive private concert in Helsinki, paying tribute to Finland’s national identity.

Peterhof Palace

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 49

UR UR OP E

FIR PER N ST FE E TR C T F W IP O TO R Y E O

GRAND EUROPEAN HOLIDAY

Gubbio

LONDON, PARIS, ROME, AND THE ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE...

Begin in the UK’s historic

capital with Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Shakespeare’s world. In Paris, visit the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower with lunch in the tower, cruise the River Seine, and savour a chocolate demonstration. Spend a day at Vaux-le-Vicomte, an historic French château, then fly to Italy for truffle hunting in Umbria, a ceramics workshop, a winery, a Colosseum visit in Rome, an after-hours Sistine Chapel tour – and much more!

1. ARRIVE LONDON

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND London

Eu ro

English Channel Tunnel

Paris

r sta

Tour begins: 3:30 PM, The Langham, London. A transfer is included from Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport to The Langham, London. Take a guided stroll through the West End theatre district. Wander along fashionable Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, the heart of the entertainment district, and on to bohemian Soho. Enjoy a peek inside BBC Broadcasting House. Join us for a welcome reception at your hotel with canapés and open bar, followed by dinner. Meals D

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

2. TOWER OF LONDON & A DOUBLE-DECKER Begin a full day of guided sightseeing aboard an iconic double-decker bus reserved just for Tauck. Disembark for lunch at the infamous Tower of London, the medieval castle and fortress where, in bygone days traitors to the monarch were imprisoned – and sometimes lost their heads. Meet the guards known as Beefeaters on a guided tour that includes the Crown Jewels, the armoury

FRANCE

Umbria Gubbio Maximum Elevation: 522 ft.

ITALY

Rome TYRRHENIAN SEA

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 26 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Journey through the Umbrian countryside, the green heart of Italy and its most traditional province. Immerse in hill towns, woodlands, vineyards… and culinary and artistic delights • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Early-opening guided visit at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte near Paris • Multiple-night stays at premier hotels in London, Paris, Rome and the Italian countryside • Travel aboard the Eurostar from London to Paris and fly from Paris to Rome • Airport transfers as noted • 24 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Westminster Abbey

of antique weapons, and Traitors’ Gate as you learn the history of the “Bloody Tower,” steeped in eerie stories and legends. Your evening is free to do as you like. Meals BL

3. LONDON EYE & SHAKESPEARE’S SOUTHWARK Go soaring over the city in a private capsule aboard the London Eye. On a clear day, you can see 48 kilometres in all directions, taking in all the glorious sights at once – Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, Buckingham Palace, and more. A walking tour along the South Bank of the Thames reveals London “now and then,” including a look at the city as it was in William Shakespeare’s day. You’ll hear about entertainment in Elizabethan times, and Shakespeare’s influence both past and present. Walk to Borough Market in Southwark, one of the largest and oldest food markets in the city, where Shakespeare did his shopping! Its overflowing stalls are a mecca for chefs and foodies, offering produce and artisan foods from all over the world. You’ll have free time for lunch here before heading to Westminster Abbey for a guided visit. This grand Gothic church is where generations of the royal family have been married, and also where, by tradition, Britain’s leading figures of all

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

walks are buried and memorialised. You’ll see tombs and plaques commemorating everyone from Charles Darwin and Jane Austen to Winston Churchill and Laurence Olivier. Return to your hotel; the evening is free. Meals B

4. EUROSTAR TO PARIS & A RIVER SEINE CRUISE At historic St. Pancras Station, settle into your seat aboard the Eurostar for a ride under the English Channel; you’ll reach Paris in just over two hours. A boat cruise along the River Seine introduces you to the city’s magnificent architecture and landmarks before you arrive at the Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris, one of the best addresses in the city, just a short distance from the Arc de Triomphe, between Avenue George V and the Champs-Elysées. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Meals BD

5. THE LOUVRE AND THE EIFFEL TOWER The palace of the Louvre was the French king’s residence in Paris for generations until Louis XIV built himself the mother of all palaces at Versailles to live in and used the Louvre just to house his art collection; the Louvre opened as a public museum after the French Revolution and today

tauck.com.au 51

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

is home to centuries of art, including the Mona Lisa. Enjoy a guided visit, then head to the Eiffel Tower for a tour and lunch in the tower at 58 Restaurant. Dine at a local restaurant and be sure to leave room for dessert – a Tauck Exclusive demonstration in making artworks from chocolate at a renowned chocolatier. Meals BLD

underling was embezzling from the treasury – and threw him in prison. The king then hired Fouquet’s architects to build him an even more spectacular residence – the palace at Versailles. Lunch at a restaurant on the grounds. Meals BL

6. EXPERIENCE LIFE AT A CHÂTEAU

A flight from Paris lands you in Rome, and from there you’ll journey to the pastoral landscapes of Umbria. En route, contemplate the answer to this question: What is the most expensive food in the world? It is a somewhat rare, pungent fungus that grows wild under the hills of Umbria, and is hunted and dug out of the ground by specially trained dogs! You are about to become acquainted with truffles, an indispensable ingredient in Umbrian cuisine, and prized by chefs and gourmands around the world. On a visit to a family-run farm, one of the major purveyors of truffles and truffle products in Italy, enjoy a truffle-hunting demonstration, a tasting, and an early dinner. Continue on to your hotel in the town of Gubbio, perched on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Your hotel is elegant and unique, having formerly been a medieval village with a church and a 17th-century monastery; amenities include a swimming pool, tennis court, and spa. Meals BD

Leave the city for a pre-opening visit to opulent Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte; you’ll go inside before the general public arrives to avoid lines and crowds. On your guided visit, discover the château built in the 15th century by Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finances for the court of Louis XIV. The palace and gardens are so magnificent that when Fouquet threw a grand party at the château in honour of the king, his royal guest suspected his

7. ON TO ITALY... FOR TRUFFLE HUNTING

8. A DAY IN THE UMBRIAN COUNTRYSIDE

The Sistine Chapel

Experience the rural heart of Italy in this beautiful region of mountains and plains, vineyards and rolling hills dotted with medieval castles and hilltop villages. Visit a farm that raises alpacas and angora goats for their fleece, prized in the fashion industry. Then it’s on to lunch and entertainment at a country house in the Upper Tiber Valley, where Tuscany and Umbria meet, for a taste of authentic Umbrian cuisine (flavours enhanced with truffles, naturally). Return to your hotel; join your Tauck Director in discovering the town of Gubbio, if you like. Dinner is at your leisure. Meals BLD

9. CERAMICS, OLIVE OIL, AND WINE Depart your hotel for more exploration of Umbrian life and culture en route to Rome. Stop in Deruta, a village famous for its hand-painted ceramics, and watch a demonstration at a local workshop. In Montecchio, enjoy a guided tour and tasting at Frantoio Bartolomei, renowned makers of olive oil, and see a demonstration of their time-honoured methods; the family has been producing oil for centuries, and their museum of vintage machinery includes a 16th-century olive press. Enjoy a tour, tasting, and lunch at a local winery. Arrive in Rome for a three-night stay in a neo-classical palace hotel, Palazzo Naiadi, where the rooftop bar and swimming pool overlook ancient monuments of the Eternal City. Dine at your five-star hotel this evening. Meals BLD Truffle hunting in Umbria

10. AFTER-HOURS AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS Get an orientation tour of Rome aboard a private double-decker bus and explore the Colosseum on a guided visit. Enjoy free time this afternoon, then join us for a Tauck Exclusive after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability, the day of your visit may vary). Millions of people visit every year, but you will experience these treasures without the crowds and without being rushed. View the Candelabra Gallery, the Map Gallery, and the Tapestries, as well as Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Meals B

Hotel Le Fouquet’s Paris

11. WALKING AND TASTING IN ROME Explore the city’s main piazzas on a guided walking tour, followed by a food tasting tour and lunch. Join us for an exclusive farewell evening at a villa with a reception, entertainment, dinner, and fireworks! Meals BLD

12. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Palazzo Naiadi to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino is included. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for check-in. Meals B

12 DAYS from AUD $12,090 plUS AirfAre (11 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS LONDON 04, 18 May 01 Jun

14 Sep 12 Oct

All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 26 Tauck guests Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $12,090

Single $15,312

Triple $11,268

3 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-3 Night 4-6 Night 7,8 Night 9-11

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

THE LANGHAM, LONDON HOTEL LE FOUQUET’S PARIS PARK HOTEL AI CAPPUCCINI PALAZZO NAIADI , THE DEDICA ANTHOLOGY, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

London Paris Gubbio Rome

tauck.com.au 53

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & WALES

Hampton Court

CELEBRATE GLORIES PAST AND PRESENT... as you travel in the storied lands of England, Scotland & Wales... attend a world-class show in London’s theatre district... discover whiskies, tartans, and castles in Edinburgh... brave ancient fortified walls in England and Wales... see Wordsworth’s cottage, Shakespeare’s home, Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court... learn more about mysterious Stonehenge... explore one of the world’s finest topiary gardens... dine at a country pub... enjoy a special lunch in Bath, dinner at Oxford University and cooking with cutting-edge Welsh chefs... and tour Westminster Abbey while staying at The Savoy!

1. ARRIVE EDINBURGH Tour begins: 1:00 PM at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh. A transfer from Edinburgh Airport or Edinburgh Waverley train station to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, is included. Your journey starts with a guided visit to Stirling Castle, where memories of the historic struggle between the Scots and the English for control of the kingdom live on. We invite you to join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. Meals D

2. CASTLES, CAPITAL SIGHTS & WHISKY Enjoy an introductory tour of Edinburgh, including the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland (if Her Majesty is not visiting), and Edinburgh Castle. At tonight’s “Scotch Whisky Experience,” learn the history of Scotland’s most famous export and enjoy a

SCOTLAND

NORTH SEA

Stirling Edinburgh Maximum Elevation: 1,500 ft.

UNITED KINGDOM

Hadrian’s Wall Rockcliffe Grasmere Ambleside Kendal

ENGLAND Deganwy Caernarfon

WALES ATLANTIC OCEAN

Chester Stratford-upon-Avon

Woodstock Bath Stonehenge

Oxford

London

Hampton Court

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – In-depth exploring from Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh to England’s Lake District, coastal Wales, and across the heart of England to London • A choice of restaurants and West End shows during a three-night stay in London at The Savoy • Royal history & noble architecture on guided visits to Edinburgh, Stirling, Caernarfon, Blenheim & Hampton Court • Exploration of ancient roots in Wales’ walled cities, Stonehenge & Bath’s Roman Baths • In-depth insights about literary history & learned traditions at landmark sites in Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford • Tasting discoveries: Scotch whisky & a showcase of traditional Welsh foods • Airport and train transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 27 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Stratford-upon-Avon

tasting dinner. Please note that on journeys departing 02 August through 23 August guests will attend an outdoor evening performance of the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Meals BD

3. ON TO ENGLAND’S LAKE DISTRICT Depart your hotel for a visit to Hadrian’s Wall; the most famous of all the frontiers of the Roman empire, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The views of the wall from Birdoswald Roman Fort or the Steel Rigg are spectacular. Drive through landscapes of forest, rivers, castles and country houses en route to England’s Lake District, stopping for lunch in a manor house. Traveling on, pause in the village of Grasmere. As you please, enjoy the sights of this pretty village of pubs, cafés, and the churchyard where William Wordsworth lies. Or visit tiny Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth wrote some of his most famous poems. You will arrive at your hotel in Ambleside late afternoon; dine at your leisure in the hotel this evening. Meals BLD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

4. A TOPIARY GARDEN & A NIGHT AT THE PUB Explore Levens Hall today, renowned for its gardens, particularly its topiary garden, one of the oldest and most extensive in the world (closed on Saturdays). Stop in Bownes-on-Windemere for time to explore, before returning to your country club hotel. Dinner tonight is at a local pub where you can learn the finer points of pairing your favorite ale with your choice of pub fare. Meals BLD

5. WALLED CITIES OF YORE & MODERN WALES Journey to Wales today and visit Chester, one of England’s best preserved Roman walled cities, along the way. Your accommodations for the next two nights are ideally located in Colwyn Bay, a seaside resort town on the north coast of Wales. A taste of local specialties awaits tonight at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre when artisan chefs share the best of Welsh cuisine at a Tauck-only cooking demonstration which is followed by dinner with the chef. Meals BD

tauck.com.au 55

9. ANCIENT WISDOM AT STONEHENGE & BATH Visit Stonehenge this morning en route to Bath. A self-guided walk around the famous ring of stone introduces you to the mystery of its origins. Continue to Bath, arriving in time for lunch and live music at the sought-after Pump Room Restaurant, set within the city’s ancient Roman Baths complex. Founded upon natural hot springs, the baths were built for bathing and socialising around 70 AD; they are among the world’s best preserved as you’ll see on your included tour. Settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight. Meals BLD

10. GEORGIAN BATH: EARLY URBAN ELEGANCE

Drive to Cardiff for a guided tour of Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the investiture of the Prince of Wales took place. On the way back to your hotel, you may choose to explore the walled city of Conwy on your own. Dinner is at the hotel this evening, where optional outdoor dining offers inspiring views. Meals BD

Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa and developed more than a thousand years later into a lavish and popular resort by 18th-century British aristocracy, Bath today reigns as a magnificent Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone. Architecturally, it ranks among Britain’s finest cities and enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. You’ll learn why on a city tour with a local guide that takes in the 18th-century terraced houses known as the Royal Crescent and the Circus, distinctive elements of British urban planning that were later incorporated in the city of London. View the Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey, where the first king of England was crowned. The remainder of the day is free to experience the town’s delights as you wish. Cream teas, tempting with toasted buns served with strawberry jam and clotted cream, are a tradition here! Meals B

7. SHAKESPEARE’S STRATFORD & OXFORD

11. HAMPTON COURT & LONDON BOUND

Walk in the footsteps of one of the most acclaimed English playwrights of all time when you visit places where Shakespeare lived and wrote hundreds of years ago. The pursuit of literary history takes you to the village of Shottery to visit the timber-framed childhood home of Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare. Then on to Stratford-upon-Avon, to discover Shakespeare’s birthplace. Your destination tonight is Oxford, home to the esteemed Oxford University. A guided orientation walk precedes a special hosted dinner at the university. Meals BD

The history of Hampton Court, the grand 500-year-old, 1,000-room Tudor palace reigning over the north bank of London’s River Thames, is inextricably tied to the lavish lifestyle of King Henry VIII and the doomed fates of his six wives. Learn more about the legends and lore of royal life here as you tour the palace and gardens with a local guide this morning, followed by time to explore on your own. It’s on to London after lunch, welcoming

Oxford

6. MIGHTY CAERNARFON & MEDIEVAL CONWY

8. BLENHEIM PALACE AND THE COTSWOLDS Visit simple St. Martin’s Church in Bladon and see the gravesite of Sir Winston Churchill, followed by a private tour of his birthplace, the splendid Baroque Blenheim Palace and Park. The palace was built as a celebration of English victory over Louis XIV’s troops at the Battle of Blenheim. It has been home to 11 Dukes of Marlborough (Churchill was the grandson of the seventh). After lunch, choose between exploring more of Blenheim on your own, or spending time in nearby Woodstock, a charming Cotswolds village complete with dove-gray cottages, a village green, and a park said to have been the hunting grounds of Henry II and a place of seclusion for his mistress. Meals BL

CAROLYN ROBB,

co-founder of The Royal Touch and former Executive Chef to the royal household of TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana, gives a special dinner presentation in London on the following small group departures, priced from AUD $10,360: 12, 26 May; 09, 23 June; 07 July; 04 ⁄ , 09, 18⁄ , 23 August; and 01, 15, and 20 September.

⁄ = Sold Out!

before joining us for our farewell reception and dinner at The Savoy. Note: Select 2019 small group departures, specially priced, include an exclusive presentation by Carolyn Robb, former Executive Chef to the royal household of TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana. See box on page 56. Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: London. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Savoy to the train station or Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

Caernarfon

14 DAYS from AUD $8,990 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 10 Dinners) with an orientation tour of its landmark sites, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and coveted accommodations at The Savoy, one of the world’s most iconic hotels. The evening is free to do as you wish. Meals B

BEGINS EDINBURGH 05, 12, 17, 19, 26, 31 May 02, 09, 16, 23, 30 Jun 07, 14 Jul 02, 04 ⁄ , 09, 11, 16, 18⁄ , 21, 23, 30 Aug 01, 08, 15, 20, 22 Sep

⁄ = Sold Out!

12. LONDON & WEST END DELIGHTS Spend the day indulging your interests in the exciting multicultural capital city of England, inviting with leafy spaces, architectural artistry and urban innovations, historically rich and culturally diverse, along with culinary treats difficult to resist. Tonight, dine at a choice of restaurants, followed by your choice of select theatre performances. Meals BD

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 01 August; 25 August – September Double $8990 Single $11,873 Triple $8798 02 – 24 August* (The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo) Double $9590 Single $12,643 Triple $9561 International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

13. A DAY IN LONDON Visit Westminster Abbey this morning on a guided tour; the final resting place of 17 kings and queens, this esteemed city landmark is alive with storied treasures. Explore London sights as you wish this afternoon,

*Please Note: Due to the evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, guests on departures of 02 – 24 August will have dinner in the hotel and will not have The Scotch Whisky Experience on day 2. Please inquire at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your journey.

3 ACTIVITY

UPGRADE TO JUNIOR SUITES AT THE SAVOY IN LONDON You have an opportunity to purchase upgraded accommodations to Junior Suites at The Savoy during your 3-night stay in London at an additional cost per person (in AUD below); please note, limited availability. For room descriptions, go to tauck.com.au – please ask for details at booking: Single $1,310

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

NEW FOR 2019!

Double $660

3 PACE

Triple $440

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5,6 Night 7,8 Night 9,10 Night 11-13

SHERATON GRAND HOTEL & SPA, EDINBURGH THE LANGDALE HOTEL QUAY HOTEL & SPA MACDONALD RANDOLPH HOTEL, OXFORD FRANCIS HOTEL BATH MGALLERY COLLECTION THE SAVOY

Edinburgh, Scotland Langdale, England Conwy, Wales Oxford, England Bath, England London, England

tauck.com.au 57

A WEEK IN… LONDON & PARIS

Windsor Castle

1. ARRIVE LONDON

5. EUROSTAR TO PARIS

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. A transfer is included from Heathrow Airport to Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. Please join us this evening for our welcome reception and dinner. Note: On select, specially priced Small Group departures (see box on p. 59), former Royal Chef Carolyn Robb shares stories and introduces a welcome dinner menu. Meals D

Enjoy premier class seats aboard the Eurostar to Paris; discover the city’s landmark attractions on an afternoon sightseeing tour. Select departures enjoy a private evening visit to the Louvre (see box at right). Meals BLD

2. WINDSOR CASTLE & WESTMINSTER ABBEY Journey to Windsor Castle to see Queen Mary’s Dollhouse and more. Return to London for a city tour that includes Westminster Abbey; dine tonight at chef Gordon Ramsay’s Maze Grill. Note: On select departures Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, gives a special presentation. Meals BD

3. THE TOWER, THE EYE & WEST END THEATRE Tour the Tower of London, viewing the Crown Jewels. Take a boat to the London Eye for a ride in a private capsule. Enjoy a pre-show dinner at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand and a popular theatre performance in London’s West End. Meals BD

6. ART IN VERSAILLES & MONTMARTRE A guided tour of King Louis XIV’s 17th-century Château de Versailles includes the Hall of Mirrors. Have lunch in Versailles, then return to Paris for a walking tour of artsy Montmartre and free time to spend as you wish. Meals BL

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND London Windsor

4. BRITISH MUSEUM & AFTERNOON TEA

Eurosta

Maximum Elevation: 1,000 ft.

English Channel Tunnel

Join our local guide for an expert introduction to the venerable British Museum and its priceless treasures, then indulge your taste for sweets and tradition during an elegant Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason; the rest of the day is free. Meals BL

Versailles

Paris

FRANCE

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private after-hours visit to the Louvre (select departure dates – see below) • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Presentation by Celia Sandys, author & granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill (select departure dates – see below) • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Presentation by Carolyn Robb, formerly Personal Chef to TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana (select departure dates – see below) • Afternoon Tea, West End theatre, British Museum visit & a private capsule on the London Eye • Farewell dinner aboard a private evening cruise on the River Seine & visit to Versailles • 15 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides & drivers, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $7,240 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS LONDON 21, 28 Apr 05, 12, 26 May 02⁄ , 16⁄ , 23, 30 Jun 07, 21 Jul 04, 18, 25 Aug 01, 08, 15, 29 Sep 06, 13 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Select departures feature presentations by Carolyn Robb and Celia Sandys as well as private after-hours visits to Musée du Louvre (see highlight boxes for details). Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $8590 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $7240

Single $9373

Triple $6695

05 – 11 May; 19 May – 03 August; 13 – 31 October Double $7360 Single $9744

Triple $6741

12 – 18 May; 04 – 24 August; 06 – 12 October Double $7740 Single $9748

Triple $7233

25 August – 07 September; 29 September – 05 October Double $7990 Single $10,142 Triple $7436

7. NOTRE DAME & A RIVER SEINE CRUISE Schedule permitting, guided tours of the Louvre or Notre Dame Cathedral are followed by an optional architecture walk. You’ll enjoy a farewell dinner cruise this evening, gliding on the Seine in the quintessential city of romance. Meals BD

08 – 28 September Double $7590

Single $10,018

Triple $6983

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Please ask about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

8. JOURNEY HOME

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from InterContinental Paris Le Grand to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

Night 1-4

HYATT REGENCY LONDON – THE CHURCHILL Night 5-7 INTERCONTINENTAL PARIS LE GRAND

London, England Paris, France

NEW FOR 2019!

CAROLYN ROBB, formerly Personal Chef to TRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana, gives a special welcome dinner presentation on the evening of Day 1 on select small group departures, priced from AUD $8590: 05 May; 02⁄ , 23 Jun; 21 Jul; 08 and 29 Sep

UPGRADE TO PREMIER ROOMS AT ALL HOTELS You have an opportunity to purchase upgraded accommodations to premier rooms at all hotels on A Week In... London & Paris at an additional cost per person (in AUD below); please note, limited availability. Go to tauck.com.au for room descriptions – please ask for details at booking: Double $2380

Single $4750

Triple $1580

CELIA SANDYS, author & granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, gives a special presentation in London on select departures including small group departures and solo traveller savings departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price: 21, 28 Apr; 05, 26 May; 02⁄ , 16 ⁄ , 23, 30 Jun; 07, 21 Jul; 18, 25 Aug; 01, 08, 15, 29 Sep; and 06 and 13 Oct

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

AFTER-HOURS VISIT TO THE LOUVRE PRIVATE EVENING VISIT TO MUSÉE DU LOUVRE ON SELECT DEPARTURES! In Paris, Tauck guests skip the lines, and the general public, on a Tauck Exclusive private after-hours visit to Musée du Louvre on select departures: 21, 28 Apr; 12 May; 04, 18, 25 Aug; 01, 29 Sep; and 06 Oct; priced from AUD $7240

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IRELAND & GREAT BRITAIN

Ring of Kerry

EXPERIENCE INSIDER PLEASURES

on a journey through Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England,

venturing from grand cities to picturesque villages, rich in culture, and scenically rewarding. Travel the Ring of Kerry to the lakes of Killarney, immersing in the beauty of the emerald isle. Sample a taste of life at an Irish sheep farm, Guinness brewery, Edinburgh Castle and Cambridge University. Experience the Titanic, see the Cutty Sark, spend time in Greenwich and find awe in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

1. ARRIVE SHANNON Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Old Ground Hotel. A transfer from Shannon Airport to your accommodations at the historic Old Ground Hotel is included. Located in the charming town of Ennis, known as “the friendliest town in Ireland,” this landmark 18th-century manor house was once a private residence and opened as a hotel in 1895. Accordingly, the Old Ground Hotel has a “long tradition and connection to the people of County Clare.” Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals D

2. CAPTIVATING KILLARNEY The picturesque town of Killarney has drawn visitors for centuries to its idyllic setting on the shore of Lough Leane, surrounded by the inspiring mountain peaks, woodlands, moors, and lakes of Killarney National Park. Drive through head-turning scenic landscapes en route to

SCOTLAND

Edinburgh NORTH SEA

NORTHERN IRELAND Belfast

IRELAND

Dublin

York IRISH SEA

UNITED KINGDOM

Ennis Shannon Killarney Ring of Kerry

Cambridge

WALES ENGLAND Maximum Elevation: 1,800 ft.

London

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – In-depth exploring through Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland & England – with multiple night stays in Dublin, Killarney, York, Edinburgh & London • TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private visit to an Irish sheep farm for a shearing demonstration; early opening visit to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh when the Queen is not in residence • Tasting tour and lunch at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin • Lunch at Cambridge University with Winston Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys, and punting on the River Cam • Guided tour and medieval lunch at Alnwick Castle; visits to the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich • 31 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Edinburgh Castle

your stately Victorian hotel, the Great Southern Killarney. A favourite retreat of royalty and celebrities since it opened in 1854, it is ideally located on six acres of private gardens in the heart of town, and has been recently restored to its classic grandeur. Spend the rest of the day exploring as you wish. Dinner at the hotel is included tonight or tomorrow night, as you choose. Meals BLD

3. SHEEP SHEARING & THE RING OF KERRY Drive the spectacular coastal route along the Iveragh Peninsula known as the Ring of Kerry, where ocean vistas, islands, inlets, forests, rugged mountains and scenic villages unfold around every turn. Enjoy a taste of fresh scones and tea before stopping at a farm in Derreen for a private visit and a sheep-shearing demonstration by world-record-breaking champion Patrick Moran, who shears in the traditional way, by hand. At Sneem, enjoy lunch in elegant Victorian surroundings at the Parknasilla Resort, an 18th-century manor house with stunning views of Kenmare Bay. Return to your hotel in Killarney this afternoon and spend the rest of the day experiencing the local sights in town

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

as you please. Boutiques, cafés and pubs are a short walk away from your hotel – the evening comes alive with traditional Irish music and fun in different venues. Meals BL

4. CORK’S BALLYVOLANE HOUSE & DUBLIN Depart for Dublin this morning, with a stop outside Fermoy, County Cork, for a guided visit to Ballyvolane House, a classic Georgian mansion built in 1728 for Lord Chief Justice Sir Richard Pyne. This elegantly furnished country estate is nestled in a setting of magnolia trees, formal gardens and parkland in the beautiful Munster Blackwater Valley; your visit includes traditional Irish music and lunch. Arrive in Dublin late afternoon for a brief tour, then check into your five-star hotel in the heart of the city next to St. Stephen’s Green and a short walk from Temple Bar. Dinner is included tonight or tomorrow night. Meals BLD

5. DUBLIN SIGHTS & THE PERFECT PINT Discover the picturesque charms and historic sights of Dublin today on a guided city tour that includes Trinity College, Georgian row houses, St. Stephen’s Green and

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(twisting alleys). A city tour includes an early-access private visit to Holyrood Palace (when Her Majesty is not in residence) before it is open to the public, and massive Edinburgh Castle, rising over the city atop an extinct volcano. A visit to the castle, steeped in 800 years of history, includes the crown jewels, the National War Museum, and glorious views of the city. Enjoy lunch in the castle, then spend the rest of the day and evening as you please; there is much to explore along Edinburgh’s inviting cobbled streets, including museums, pubs, galleries, Georgian parks, and a vibrant nightlife. Note: Departures of 27 July – 17 August will attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this evening; ask at booking. Meals BL

Cambridge

the former Irish Houses of Parliament. Visit the Guinness Storehouse for a magical journey into the heart of Ireland’s legendary stout, from the towering Pint Glass Atrium to a look inside the brewing process, combining age-old traditions with state-of-the-art technology, to a lesson at the Guinness Academy where you can learn the art of pouring the perfect pint and have lunch. Return to your hotel for an afternoon on your own; must-see sights and dining venues are just a short walk away. Meals BL

9. ALNWICK CASTLE, NORTHUMBERLAND Travel from Edinburgh to Alnwick Castle, seat of the Duke of Northumberland in England. Built in the 11th century, the castle with its wonderfully preserved battlements and towers is frequently a film location, and its most famous resident, Sir Harry Hotspur, was immortalised as a character in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1. Early private entry to the state rooms provides an opportunity for stories of intrigue; tour the grounds, then enjoy a traditional glass of mead prior to a weapons demonstration followed by

6. BEGUILING BELFAST Journey to Northern Ireland’s capital, once known for linen, shipbuilding, and political conflict; today the city has evolved into a beguiling, cosmopolitan mix of Victorian and modern architecture, hip restaurants and pubs, and a youthful art scene. Arrive in time for lunch and a guided city tour then check into your elegant hotel opposite the Grand Opera House. Visit Titanic Belfast, where interactive exhibits recreate the Titanic experience and uncover the myths and legends surrounding her story, before spending the rest of the day exploring Belfast as you like. Dine at the hotel this evening at your leisure. Meals BLD

7. FLY TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Depart Belfast mid-morning on a flight to Scotland’s fascinating capital city, Edinburgh. You’ll arrive midday for a two-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, a recently renovated five-star luxury hotel in the heart of Edinburgh, just off the west end of Princes Street in New Town; “The Caley” is a former Victorian railway hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure, before joining us for a private Scottish evening at your hotel, with a bagpiper, stories about haggis and the tartan, and dinner. Meals BLD

ALNWICK CASTLE, ENGLAND Alnwick Castle is the home of the Duke of Northumberland and his family... but it looks so much like a quintessential medieval castle that it’s often used as a location in films – Becket, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth – and played an illustrious “role” as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. In television, Alnwick Castle showcased its rich World War I-era heritage as “Brancaster Castle” in Downton Abbey’s 2014 Christmas special. During

8. CASTLES, COBBLED STREETS AND WYNDS Medieval and modern weave together in this wondrous city of castles, hidden treasures, nooks, and wynds

your visit you’ll explore with interpreters who share inside stories of its ancient, dramatic history and famous residents as they make images of the castle in times past come alive today.

a medieval lunch. Depart for York, passing the village of Washington where George’s ancestors came from. Dine at leisure tonight or tomorrow night at the hotel. Meals BLD

10. MEDIEVAL YORK MINSTER The walled city of York was a wealthy wool-trading centre in the Middle Ages, and much of its medieval character is still intact. A city tour with a local guide includes a visit to York Minster, a spectacular Gothic cathedral emblazoned with medieval stained glass, which dominates the city. The remainder of the day is free to explore captivating York as you please. Meals B

11. THE HALLS OF CAMBRIDGE Visit Cambridge and its famous university, founded by scholars who fled Oxford in 1209. Get a taste of university life during lunch at Cambridge University, enriched with a talk by Celia Sandys, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter, then tour King’s College. “Punting” is an English tradition – experience it today when you punt on the River Cam that winds through the middle of town. Dine at leisure at your hotel this evening, Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hotel, located in the heart of Cambridge. Meals BLD

Dublin

14 DAYS from AUD $9,090 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS SHANNON 18 May 01, 15, 22 Jun 07, 14, 21, 28 Sep

12. A CLIPPER SHIP & GREENWICH TIMEPIECES Journey to Greenwich today for a guided sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the 19th-century British clipper ship, Cutty Sark. One of the last of her kind to be built, in her day she was also one of the fastest ships to sail the seas. Stop at the Royal Observatory to see the timepieces that literally changed the world and stand astride the Prime Meridian Line, placing one foot in the east and the other in the west. Enjoy an orientation tour of London en route to your fabulous hotel, close to Covent Garden, where the evening is free. Meals BL

13. LONDON & ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL A guided tour of London includes iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral and its awe-inspiring dome, the Whispering Gallery, the crypts where British heroes like Nelson and Wellington are buried, and the Golden Gallery with its breathtaking views of the city. Return to your hotel, Rosewood London, or you can spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring London as you please. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell dinner. Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: London. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Rosewood London to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. You should allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

03, 10, 17 Aug

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional departures may become available as these sell out. Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,590 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 26 July; 24 August – September Double $9090 Single $11,996

Triple $8678

27 July – 23 August (The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo) Double $9740 Single $12,848 Triple $9334 International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour. Note: Tours of 27 Jul and 28 Sep will feature a talk by Carolyn Robb, former chef to TRH Charles and Diana on day 11.

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1 Night 2,3 Night 4,5 Night 6

OLD GROUND HOTEL GREAT SOUTHERN KILLARNEY THE FITZWILLIAM HOTEL EUROPA HOTEL

Night 7,8

WALDORF ASTORIA EDINBURGH – THE CALEDONIAN THE GRAND HOTEL & SPA HILTON CAMBRIDGE CITY CENTRE HOTEL ROSEWOOD LONDON

Night 9,10 Night 11 Night 12,13

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

06, 27 Jul

Ennis, Ireland Killarney, Ireland Dublin, Ireland Belfast, Northern Ireland Edinburgh, Scotland York, England Cambridge, England London, England

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THE BEST OF IRELAND

Giant’s Causeway

EMERALD LANDSCAPES, ROYAL GEMS & HISTORIC JEWELS Find treasures around every bend in Ireland... natural ones like sculpted cliffs that soar majestically over the rocky ocean coast below, a wild ring of scenic landscapes and lakes, the limestone Burren abundant with wildlife and basalt giants that march into the sea... cultural riches that speak volumes about Irish life, in castles, on dairy farms, in crystal and pottery factories, in poetic haunts and an Ulster Folk Park...

Maximum Elevation: 1,500 ft.

1. ARRIVE DUBLIN

Ulster American Folk Park

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Conrad Dublin. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Dublin Airport to the five-star Conrad Dublin near St. Stephen’s Green and opposite the National Concert Hall. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel. Meals D

Sligo

Connemara/ Kylemore Abbey

2. SIGHTS OF DUBLIN City sightseeing today takes you to Phoenix Park and Victorian St. Stephen’s Green with a local guide; drive down O’Connell Street, and see the Lord Mayor’s residence. A highlight of your explorations is a guided visit to Trinity College and The Book of Kells. The afternoon is free for you to explore Dublin as you please. Meals B

Cliffs of Moher

Belleek

Galway

Enniskillen

NORTHERN IRELAND

Killarney Midleton

Belfast

IRELAND Dublin

Ennis

Kilmallock

Ring of Kerry

Giant’s Bushmills Causeway Derry

Kilkenny Thomastown

Travelling Well Includes…

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS take you on a journey to discover Ireland, north and south, west and east, including spectacular coastal scenery such as the famed Antrim Coast Road, the Ring of Kerry, remote Connemara... • A visit to Belfast’s award-winning Titanic exhibit and a sumptuous 9-course Titanic tasting dinner in the historic The Merchant Hotel • Visits to castles, abbeys, walled cities and a graveyard with stories to tell, history to reveal • Accommodations at country estates, lakeside resorts and city-centre hotels • Two nights in Dublin to explore the best of one of Europe’s iconic capital cities • Opportunities to learn about Irish cultural traditions at an Irish farm, Belleek Pottery Ltd., and the Ulster American Folk Park • An opportunity to learn the secrets of making Irish whiskey at the famed Jameson Distillery • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 32 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes & porterage Trinity College Library

3. BELFAST & TITANIC HISTORY

5. DERRY & A FOLK PARK

Head to Northern Ireland and the vibrant capital of Belfast for a day that begins with a visit to the Titanic Quarter to see the award-winning interactive Titanic exhibit followed by a guided city tour. This evening, a special treat – a nine-course Titanic tasting menu dinner in the sumptuous Great Room of the historic Merchant Hotel, honouring the ship’s grand style. Meals BLD

Explore Derry on a walking tour with a local guide; highlights include the Peace Bridge and the city’s famed street murals, emblazoned with political messages. In nearby Omagh, visit the Ulster American Folk Park, where you will hear the stories of three centuries of Irish emigrants who left the Emerald Isle to build new lives in North America. Spend two nights at a lakeside resort in Enniskillen, one of Northern Ireland’s top hotels. Meals BLD

4. GLENS & GIANT’S CAUSEWAY Depart Belfast and travel the spectacular Antrim Coast Road, one of the world’s most scenic drives, through the haunting Glens of Antrim. Arrive in the town of Bushmills; lunch is served up with a warm welcome and a “fire that is always lit,” a tradition at the Bushmills Inn whose origins date back to 1608. Explore the Giant’s Causeway, a natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; over 40,000 symmetrical interlocking basalt columns lead from coastal cliffs to the sea. Return to Belfast and spend the evening as you please. Meals BL

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

6. BELLEEK & A VISIT TO A MEDIEVAL TOWN You have a choice today – spend the day in the magnificent Fermanagh Lakelands of evocative islands, rivers, loughs, and ruins, or, if you wish, join us for a visit to the market town of Belleek for a tour of the famed porcelain factory where you’ll meet craftspeople using techniques handed down from generations past; Belleek porcelain is valued by collectors around the world. Midday, visit a town renowned for its medieval heritage, and return to your resort for dinner at leisure. Meals BD

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Kylemore Abbey

7. DRUMCLIFFE AND GALWAY

8. AN ABBEY & A CASTLE

Leave Northern Ireland for the foothills of monumental Benbulben Mountain, “Yeats Country.” Stop in the village of Drumcliffe to see the final resting place of poet W. B. Yeats. Arrive in eclectic, colourful Galway City where you’ll have some free time to explore and have lunch on your own before arriving at your luxury lakeside estate hotel on the edge of Connemara. Meals BLD

Venture out into the countryside today and discover what Oscar Wilde described as the “savage beauty” of Connemara, a desolate region of bogs, heathland, mountains and shimmering lakes dotted with villages and seaside hamlets. Visit lakeside Kylemore Abbey; built in the late 19th century as a private residence, the estate is now home to Benedictine nuns, a prestigious boarding school for girls, a Gothic church and Victorian gardens. After lunch at Kylemore Abbey, return to the five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel Galway where the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. The hotel’s features include a golf course and driving range – shooting and fishing are available (extra cost may apply); its restaurants are historic Pullman dining cars. Meals BLD

BUILDING THE TITANIC

9. CLIFFS OF MOHER & ENNIS

Seafaring History Meets a Modern Maritime Model in Belfast Learn the insider stories behind the ill-fated Titanic, designed to be one of the finest ships ever to grace the seas, on your visit to the city’s Titanic Quarter, built on the site of the former shipyards on Queen’s Island. In envisioning his dreams for an Olympic-class passenger steamer that would compete with the Cunard Line, J. Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star Line, asked Lord Pirrie of the shipbuilding firm Harland & Wolff to construct “a stable ship that will not disturb the sediment in the fine wines” they were drinking together during the planning meeting that ultimately set a new benchmark of excellence in naval architecture. And while the Titanic was, according to her builders, “as nearly as perfect as human brains can make her,” nature’s ice proved no match. Discover more in modern-day galleries that bring the legendary Titanic back to life.

The dramatic Cliffs of Moher soar up to 214 m above the ocean along Ireland’s “Wild Atlantic Way” – and they are your first visit today. The cliffs wander for kilometres along the coast with breathtaking views, and are home to more than 30,000 birds. Spend time in the medieval town of Ennis, known as a modern hub of traditional Irish music. Check into the landmark Old Ground Hotel, built as a private mansion in the 18th century, now an elegant boutique-style hotel which blends the warmth of a country home with luxury amenities. Dinner tonight features Irish music and entertainment. Meals BD

10. DAIRY FARM & KILLARNEY Visit a working dairy farm to learn about Ireland’s important agribusiness pursuits, and savour a light Irish lunch and stories. Then it’s on to Killarney for a guided visit to Muckross House, a historic mansion in Killarney National Park. Enjoy legendary Irish hospitality when you dine in the award-winning restaurant at Killeen House, a charming country inn in Aghadoe Heights. Meals BLD

11. THE RING OF KERRY Today’s scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry passes waterfalls and lakes, skirts the ruins of ancient monasteries, castles and forts, and takes you to small villages, like seaside Waterville, that reveal a glimpse of local life. Return to Killarney for an afternoon spent in town or at your hotel and spa, an award-winning retreat which is set on a hill with breathtaking panoramic views of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Meals BLD

12. JAMESON & A MANOR HOUSE The Jameson Experience in Midleton, County Cork, is a journey through Irish whiskey making, past and present – complete with a tasting! Following a local lunch that provides a true taste of Ireland, continue on to the Mount Juliet Hotel in Thomastown; the five-star hotel is an 18th-century baronial mansion whose modern features include a full-service spa, swimming pool, and the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Ireland. Meals BLD

Ennis

13. KILKENNY TALES Explore the ruins of 12th-century Jerpoint Abbey, then travel to Kilkenny for a guided walking tour providing insight into the Black Abbey, Rothe House, and Kilkenny Castle. Spend the rest of the day as you please. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

14 DAYS from AUD $8,490 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 11 Dinners)

BEGINS DUBLIN 14. JOURNEY HOME

04, 11, 18, 25 May 01, 08, 15, 29 Jun 13, 27 Jul 07⁄ , 21, 28 Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

10, 24 Aug

Tour ends: Kilkenny. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa to Dublin Airport. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON May Double $8490

Single $10,616

Triple $8293

June – September Double $8740

Single $10,834

Triple $8548

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5,6* Night 7,8 Night 9 Night 10,11 Night 12,13** Belleek

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

CONRAD DUBLIN THE MERCHANT HOTEL LOUGH ERNE RESORT GLENLO ABBEY HOTEL OLD GROUND HOTEL AGHADOE HEIGHTS HOTEL & SPA MOUNT JULIET HOTEL & SPA

Dublin Belfast Enniskillen Galway Ennis Killarney Thomastown

*Tour of 01 Jun will stay at Lough Eske Castle in Donegal. **Tour of 08 Jun will stay at Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny.

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THE BEST OF IRELAND, SMALL GROUPS

Killarney National Park

JOURNEY AT A GLANCE

THIS INTIMATE IRELAND TOUR immerses you and your small group of travellers in a close-up look at Irish

Day Destination

culture, history, and scenic beauty on a 14-day journey from

Arrive Dublin / THE WESTIN DUBLIN

Dublin to Belfast to Connemara and the Ring of Kerry with stays

Dublin sightseeing / The Book of Kells

in castles, country estates and grand hotels along the way.

Belfast / Titanic Belfast / THE MERCHANT HOTEL

Giant’s Causeway / Glens of Antrim

Derry / Ulster American Folk Park / LOUGH ESKE CASTLE

Belleek or Enniskillen

Sligo / Galway / ASHFORD CASTLE

Connemara / Kylemore Abbey

Cliffs of Moher / Ennis / THE OLD GROUND HOTEL

Irish Farm / Killarney / AGHADOE HEIGHTS HOTEL & SPA

Ring of Kerry / Killarney

Jameson Distillery / Kilkenny / LYRATH ESTATE HOTEL & SPA

Jerpoint Abbey / Kilkenny

Depart Dublin

Check into The Westin Dublin, a five-star hotel in a former bank

Maximum Elevation: 1,500 ft.

Ulster American Folk Park

Donegal Sligo Ashford Castle Connemara/ Kylemore Abbey Cliffs of Moher

Killarney Midleton

NORTHERN

Belleek IRELAND Enniskillen

Belfast

IRELAND Dublin

Ennis

Kilmallock

Ring of Kerry

Galway

Giant’s Bushmills Causeway Derry

Kilkenny

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests

18th-century manor house, where an exclusive dinner features traditional cuisine, music, and entertainment. Loop around the Ring of Kerry, one of the world’s great scenic drives, along a dramatic landscape of mountains, valleys, farms and

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Journey through Connemara and along Northern Ireland’s spectacular Antrim Coast Road • A visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast interactive museum and a 9-course tasting dinner featuring a Titanic menu • Accommodations at country estates, lakeside resorts and historic city-center hotels including two nights in the heart of Dublin • Learning – at an Irish farm, the Belleek Pottery factory and the Ulster American Folk Park; visits to castles, abbeys, walled cities and a graveyard with stories to tell, history to reveal

fishing villages. Lunch at a dairy farm in Kilmallock, explore whiskey making in Midleton, and visit historic Muckross House in Killarney National Park. Enjoy two nights at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa set on a hill amid a panorama of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Explore the ruins of Jerpoint Abbey and the medieval heart of Kilkenny with a local guide. End your trip with a two-night stay at Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa, an opulent Georgian manor house on a parkland estate with a full-service spa and award-winning restaurants. Go to tauck.com.au for the complete day-by-day itinerary.

• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 32 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes & porterage

14 DAYS from AUD $9,860 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 11 Dinners)

BEGINS DUBLIN 07 ⁄ , 09⁄ , 14⁄ , 16⁄ , 21⁄ , 23⁄ , 28 ⁄ , 30 ⁄ May 04⁄ , 06⁄ , 1⁄1 , 13⁄ , 18, 20 ⁄ , 25, 27⁄ Jun 02, 04, 1⁄1 , 16, 18, 25⁄ , 30 Jul 01⁄, 08 ⁄ , 13, 15, 22⁄ , 27, 29⁄ Aug 03⁄ , 05⁄ , 10⁄ , 12⁄ , 17⁄ , 19⁄ , 24, 26 Sep ⁄ = Sold Out! All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests.

only steps from Trinity College, and get a tour of city sights that includes The Book of Kells. Depart for Belfast, where an

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

interactive state-of-the-art museum lets you experience what it

PRICE PER PERSON

was like to be a passenger on the Titanic; after a guided tour

May Double $9860

Single $12,211

Triple $9644

June – September Double $10,240

Single $12,816

Triple $10,118

of Belfast’s restored historic centre, your stay at The Merchant Hotel, a palatial Victorian landmark, includes a nine-course Titanic-themed dinner. Wind along the Antrim Coast to the Giant’s Causeway, one of Ireland’s great natural wonders.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Take in urban art at Londonderry, and Irish emigrants’ history

Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

at the Ulster American Folk Park, then settle in at 15th-century

2 ACTIVITY

Lough Eske Castle, the ancestral home of the O’Donnell clan, now one of Ireland’s top luxury hotels. You’ll have a choice of sightseeing in County Fermanagh – visit the factory where exquisite Belleek porcelain has been made since the 19th century, or explore the medieval town of Enniskillen. Visit the grave of WB Yeats in Sligo and wander the enchanting lanes of Galway. Experience life in an Irish castle during a two-night stay at Ashford Castle (rated one of the world’s great hotels by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler) and explore the rugged beauty of Connemara. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views at the towering Cliffs of Moher. Discover Ennis, a hub of traditional

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4* Night 5,6 Night 7,8** Night 9 Night 10,11 Night 12,13

THE WESTIN DUBLIN THE MERCHANT HOTEL LOUGH ESKE CASTLE ASHFORD CASTLE THE OLD GROUND HOTEL AGHADOE HEIGHTS HOTEL & SPA LYRATH ESTATE HOTEL & SPA

Dublin Belfast Donegal Cong Ennis Killarney Kilkenny

*Tour of 16 Jul will stay at the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa and tour of 18 Jul will stay at The Stormont Hotel. **Tours of 14, 21, 28 May; 18 Jun; 02, 16, 30 Jul & 15 Aug will stay at Glenlo Abbey Hotel.

Irish music, and stay in town at The Old Ground Hotel, an

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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A WEEK IN… IRELAND

Cliffs of Moher

1. ARRIVE SHANNON

4. SEASIDE KINSALE & CORK AS YOU PLEASE

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Dromoland Castle. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle, an ancestral castle-turned-five-star hotel, and your royal home for two nights. The enchantment begins this evening with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner in the castle. Meals D

Today you’re off to the picturesque harbour town of Kinsale for a visit to Charles Fort, one of Ireland’s best examples of 17th-century fortifications. Take some time in this foodie haven to explore and have lunch as you please. Return to Cork for a free afternoon. Dinner this evening is served at your leisure in one of your elegant hotel’s fine restaurants. Meals BD

2. SOARING SIGHTS AT THE CLIFFS OF MOHER You’re off to see the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher this morning, more than 8 kilometres long and towering up to 200 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, reigning unrivalled over the coastline – the views are spectacular! Drive through the Burren, stopping for lunch in the riverside town of Ennis, and return to Dromoland Castle beside its enchanting lake for an afternoon at leisure. Dine at a choice of hotel restaurants this evening. Meals BLD

3. BLARNEY CASTLE & A CONCERT IN CORK It’s on to County Cork for a two-night stay at a manor house hotel and an in-depth discovery of all things Irish. Pucker up for the “gift of gab” at Blarney Castle if you climb its ramparts to kiss the magical stone during your visit. Enjoy a private recital in grand St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral before dinner at your hotel. Meals BD

NORTHERN IRELAND

IRELAND

Cliffs of Moher

Dublin Glendalough

Newmarket-on-Fergus Shannon Waterford Blarney

Cork Kinsale

Maximum Elevation: 1,600 ft.

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Journey off the beaten path, from the stunning Cliffs of Moher to the lunar-like landscapes of the Burren and the lush Wicklow Hills • A private late afternoon recital at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork • Two nights at the world famous Dromoland Castle • Tour of the Waterford Crystal Centre • Guided visit through Glendalough to see the ruins of a 6th-century monastic settlement • 15 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

5. CRYSTAL IN WATERFORD & ON TO DUBLIN Drive to Waterford where you will embark on a visual journey chronicling more than 220 years of the fine art of glass making at Waterford Crystal, renowned for its luxurious crystal. Continue to Ireland’s capital city of Dublin for a three-night stay that begins with dinner at a local restaurant. Meals BLD

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND 7. SPEND THE DAY IN WICKLOW AND DUBLIN The country beckons as you venture into the hills of Wicklow to the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough via the scenic Yellow Roads. Founded in the 6th century, most of the ruins and sites you’ll discover here today date from the 10th century and are remarkably preserved; learn about some of the most significant on a guided tour. Return to Dublin for free time to explore at your leisure. This evening, your Irish eyes will be smiling when we celebrate the new friendships we made and the fun we had together on the Emerald Isle at a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Dublin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Shelbourne Dublin, A Renaissance Hotel, to Dublin Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $5,360 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 6 Dinners)

BEGINS SHANNON 05, 12⁄ , 19, 26, 28 May 02, 04, 09, 11, 16, 18, 23, 30 Jun 02, 07, 14, 21, 28 Jul 04, 11, 18, 25 Aug 01, 03, 08, 15, 17, 22, 29 Sep 06 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, specially priced from AUD $6090 per person double; ask at booking.

6. DUBLIN HOSPITALITY Laid back and laden with charm, Dublin is small and compact and made for walking. Get an overview of city sights on a guided tour with a local expert who takes you down O’Connell Street, past elegant Georgian squares and parks. Visit Trinity College Library before exploring the city as you please. Dublin restaurants earn high marks on the European culinary scene, offering many appealing possibilities for lunch and dinner. Popping into a pub for a pint is also fun! Meals B

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for space availability; additional departure dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON May & October Double $5360 June – September Double $5860

Single $7018

Triple $5123

Single $7464

Triple $5621

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask about additional hotel nights before or after your tour. Trinity College

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2* DROMOLAND CASTLE Night 3,4 HAYFIELD MANOR HOTEL Night 5-7** THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN, A RENAISSANCE HOTEL

Newmarket-on-Fergus Cork Dublin

*Tour of 07 Jul will stay at Old Ground Hotel. **Tour of 02 Jun will stay at The Merrion Hotel Dublin; tours of 04 Jun & 08 Sep will stay at Dylan Hotel Dublin.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 71

Edinburgh Castle

A WEEK IN… SCOTLAND 1. ARRIVE GLASGOW / LOCH LOMOND Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Principal Blythswood Square Hotel. A transfer is included from Glasgow Airport to the landmark Principal Blythswood Square Hotel in the heart of Glasgow. Join us for a private welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner at your hotel. Meals D

wild with moors, lochs, forests, and craggy mountains, stopping in Glen Coe to admire the grandeur of the countryside surrounding this famous glen. Continue to Fort Augustus to see the dramatic locks of the Caledonian Canal en route to Inverness at the mouth of the River Ness. Dinner is served at leisure this evening in your hotel near the centre of Inverness. Meals BLD

2. STIRLING CASTLE & ROB ROY COUNTRY Visit 12th-century Stirling Castle, an example of Scottish Renaissance architecture, and the town that developed around the castle. At Glenturret Distillery a guided tour takes you behind the scenes in the Highlands’ oldest single malt distillery; learn about the art of whisky making and enjoy a tasting. Journey into the wilderness of the Trossachs and experience a hands-on falconry presentation. Return to your hotel for dinner. Meals BLD

Inverness

Glasgow Stirling

Head to Balloch for a boat cruise on fabled Loch Lomond to experience the beauty along its “bonnie, bonnie banks.” Disembarking in the village of Luss, travel through the Highlands, where the landscapes are Maximum Elevation: 1,500 ft.

Tro s

Loch Lomond

s a c hs

Loch SCOTLAND Ness Blair Atholl Glen Coe

3. GLEN COE TO THE HIGHLANDS

Culloden Battlefield

St. Andrews Edinburgh UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes…

7. EXPLORING EDINBURGH OR ST. ANDREWS

• Private cruise on Loch Lomond; falconry and sheepdog demonstrations

Today is yours to pursue what interests you most. In Edinburgh you’ll find a treasure trove of atmospheric cobbled streets, Georgian architecture and hedged closes, along with museums, galleries and gardens. If you wish, journey to nearby seaside St. Andrews, known for having hosted some of the greatest names in golf history, and as the home of the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

• Visits to Cawdor, Blair & Edinburgh castles; a private visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse when the Royal Family is not in residence

8. JOURNEY HOME

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – A drive off the beaten path in the Scottish Highlands • Dinner in Inverness, with bagpiper and tartan demonstration • Private tour of Glenturret Distillery

• Performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for tours departing 28 July – 18 August

Tour ends: Edinburgh. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Balmoral to Edinburgh Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 16 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $5,590 plUS AirfAre 4. CULLODEN & CAWDOR CASTLE Delve into Scottish history on visits to Culloden, site of a battle that divided clans, and the burial site at Clava Cairns. Visit Cawdor Castle, discovering its gardens, Cawdor Big Wood, and connection to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This evening enjoy bagpipers, Highland dancers, and a tartan and kilt making demonstration. Meals BLD

5. MEDIEVAL BLAIR CASTLE / EDINBURGH Visit a country farm for a sheepdog demonstration, then travel along the Yellow Roads through the granite Cairngorm mountains and the soaring peaks of the Grampian range to Blair Castle. Your visit to the great white house reveals more than 30 rooms superbly furnished with historical art and artefacts that give insights into seven centuries of Scottish life. Spend the next three nights in the heart of Edinburgh. Meals BD

(7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 6 Dinners)

BEGINS GLASGOW 26 May 02⁄ , 05, 09, 12, 16⁄ , 19, 26, 30 Jun 07, 21, 28, 31 Jul 02⁄ , 04⁄ , 07⁄ , 09⁄ , 11, 14⁄ , 16⁄ , 18⁄ Aug 01, 04, 11, 15, 18, 25 Sep

⁄ = Sold Out!

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $6240 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 27 July; 25 August – September Double $5590 Single $6726

Triple $5586

28 July – 24 August: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Double $6090 Single $7748 Triple $5955 International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

6. INSIDE ROYAL EDINBURGH Drive along the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a private visit – the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Queen’s official residence when in Edinburgh (subject to closure). City sightseeing continues on a visit to the medieval fortress of Edinburgh Castle, a witness to many defining moments in Scottish history. The rest of day is free to explore as you please. Note: tours departing 28 July – 18 August will attend a special evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5-7*

PRINCIPAL BLYTHSWOOD SQUARE HOTEL KINGSMILLS HOTEL THE BALMORAL

Glasgow Inverness Edinburgh

*Tours of 05, 12, 19, 26 Jun and 04, 11 Sep will stay at Principal Edinburgh George Street.

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SCANDINAVIA

Geirangerfjord

STUNNING SIGHTS AROUND EVERY BEND... Discover awe-inspiring Norwegian fjords, thundering waterfalls and massive glaciers by ferry and troll car... Experience royal life of times past in Denmark at Rosenborg and Frederiksborg castles and the comforts of a lakeside manor house inn... Admire the artistry behind a stave church and a 17th-century warship rescued from Stockholm Harbour... Fly from Stockholm to Bergen, steeped in history and music... Explore Edvard Grieg’s villa, Vigeland’s breathtaking sculpture park, and Copenhagen’s celebrated Tivoli Gardens... and view Viking ships, perfectly preserved.

1. ARRIVE COPENHAGEN Tour begins: 1:00 PM, Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Copenhagen. A transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport to the Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Copenhagen upon arrival. Gather for a city tour that includes a visit to Rosenborg Palace to see the Danish Crown Jewels. Meet your travelling companions at a welcome reception, followed by dinner. Meals D

Maximum Elevation: 4,800 ft. Geiranger Briksdal Glacier Fjaerland Slinde Lavik Laerdal Oppedal SWEDEN Flåm Flåm Railway Bergen Myrdal Oslo Troldhaugen

Hellesylt Loen

NORWAY

Stockholm Norrkoping

2. NORTH ZEALAND & FREDERIKSBORG PALACE Head to North Zealand for Tauck’s early-entry, private visit to 17th-century Frederiksborg Palace, considered one of the finest examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture. After a Danish family-style lunch in a local restaurant, return to Copenhagen. We’ve included

DENMARK

Toftaholm

Frederiksborg Palace Malmš Copenhagen

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Travel through Norwegian fjordlands and across southern Sweden from Toftaholm to Stockholm, surrounded by forests and farmlands • TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Dinner, drinks and a private tour at Stockholm’s Royal Opera House and an early-entry private visit to Frederiksborg Palace in Denmark • Fly from Stockholm to Bergen; ferry cruises on the waters of the Naerøyfjord and the Geirangerfjord • Visits to Rosenborg Castle, the Vasa Museum and Borgund Stave Church • Admission to Tivoli Gardens; a “troll car” ride up to beautiful Briksdal Glacier and a trail walk to spectacular views • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 31 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Stave Church

admission to 160-year-old Tivoli Gardens, with beer garden, fireworks, and evening music, it’s a Danish experience unto its own, to visit at your leisure. Meals BL

3. SOFIERO SLOTT AND TOFTAHOLM Drive past idyllic meadows, forests, and lakes along the Yellow Roads into Sweden today. In Helsingborg, enjoy a guided visit at Sofiero Slott – a majestic castle built in 1865 as one of the royal family’s country mansions, with a magnificent heritage of flowering beds and kitchen gardens. Continue on to lovely Toftaholm, where your lodging is a family-run manor house hotel on Lake Vidostern. Dine at the hotel this evening. Meals BLD

4. THE RÖK & THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE En route to Stockholm today, stop to see the unique Rök Runestone, believed to have been carved in the first half of the 9th century and considered to be the first piece

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

of written Swedish literature. Continue to Norrkoping for lunch at a manor house once owned by the family of Axel von Fersen the Younger, a Swedish count who served with French forces in the American Revolution, and was involved in attempts to save his friend Marie Antoinette and her family from perishing in the French Revolution. An afternoon arrival in Stockholm includes an orientation tour of the city and a Tauck Exclusive guided tour of the Royal Opera House, followed by drinks and dinner. Meals BLD

5. DISCOVER STOCKHOLM AND THE VASA Explore Stockholm’s iconic City Hall, where the annual Nobel Prize award festivities take place. See the Council Chamber; the Gold Room, whose walls sparkle with 18 million pieces of gold mosaic and glass; and the famous Blue Room, misnamed because the architect changed his mind and left its beautiful red-brick walls intact. Enjoy a drive among Stockholm’s small islands, offering views of Old Town, the Baltic Sea, Lake Malaren, the Strandvagen waterfront, the inner harbour, the Royal

tauck.com.au 75

Copenhagen

Palace, the Cathedral and Parliament. Next, visit the Vasa Museum, featuring the Vasa, an ornate royal warship that sank in Stockholm’s harbour in 1628 and was raised in 1961. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Sweden’s sensational capital city as you please. Meals B

6. FLY TO BERGEN FOR NORWEGIAN STORIES Travel to Arlanda Airport and have lunch before boarding a flight to Bergen on Norway’s west coast. After becoming

familiar with the city on an orientation tour, join us aboard a private boat for a ride to a local restaurant whose owner shares stories over dinner; return by boat to your hotel, located in one of Bergen’s most historic buildings. Meals BLD

7. TROLDHAUGEN & BERGEN AT LEISURE Drive to Troldhau gen this morning for a guided tour of composer Edvard Grieg’s former lakeside villa, today a living museum and concert centre. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure in Bergen. Meals B

8. FERRY TO LAVIK & ON TO LOEN Ferry across part of the Sognefjord from Oppedal to Lavik, and wind your way through the countryside to Loen, your jumping off point for exploring Norway’s fjordlands during a three-night stay at the venerable Hotel Alexandra, operated since 1884 by five generations of the Loen family. Enjoy a barbecue dinner tonight at the hotel. Meals BLD

AN EXCLUSIVE EVENING AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Celebrate your first night in Stockholm with a private tour of the Royal Opera House followed by drinks and dinner. Gustav III introduced opera to Sweden, and since then this little country has probably produced more world-class opera singers per capita than any other country – the likes of Jenny Lind and Nina Stemme. Discover this grand tradition in a grand setting.

9. BRIKSDAL GLACIER & A “TROLL CAR” RIDE Travel today to one of Norway’s most inspiring natural wonders, Briksdal Glacier, in a setting of roaring waterfalls and mountain peaks at the end of one of the Nordfjord’s three branches. A ride on a motorised “Troll Car” and a short hike to the foot of the glacier lead to stunning views! Enjoy a three-course lunch in Briksdal, then return to your resort for time at leisure. This evening a local fjord guide lectures on Norwegian history before dinner. Meals BLD

10. CRUISING THE GEIRANGERFJORD Weather permitting, unforgettable views of towering cliffs and waterfalls greet you on a drive to Dalsnibba, the region’s highest point reached by road, followed by a cruise to Hellesylt on Geirangerfjord, one of the longest, deepest, and most scenic fjords in the world – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After disembarking in Hellesylt, a country drive brings you to a serene alpine village and lunch at the Hotel Union Oye, in operation since 1891 and a favourite retreat among the elite for decades. Meals BLD

11. GLACIERS & A FERRY RIDE At the Norwegian Glacier Centre, learn all about the glacial landscape and its impact on the people who have called it home throughout history. Following lunch, drive to Gudvangen to take a ferry cruise along the Naerøyfjord, one of Norway’s narrowest fjords and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Flåm. Dine at your leisure tonight at your hotel, close to the Aurlandsfjord. Meals BLD

Viking Ship Museum

14 DAYS FROM AUD $8,990 PLUS AIRFARE (13 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches & 9 Dinners)

12. A STAVE CHURCH & ON TO OSLO

BEGINS COPENHAGEN

Drive to Laerdal for a guided visit to the Borgund Stave Church, dating from 1180. With lavishly carved portals and dragon head roof carvings, it is one of Norway’s finest, best-preserved examples of a traditional wooden stave church. After lunch, head through stunning countryside to Oslo where the afternoon and evening are free to experience the sights as you like. Meals BL

17, 24, 27, 29 ⁄ , 31 May 03, 05, 07, 10, 12⁄ , 14⁄ , 17, 19, 21, 26, 28 Jun 05, 10, 12, 19, 24, 26 Jul 02, 07, 09, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 Aug 02, 04, 06, 11, 13 Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

13. OSLO, VIGELAND SCULPTURES & VIKINGS An orientation tour of Oslo provides a look at the striking modern opera house and City Hall downtown. A local guide leads you through the Vigeland Sculpture Park, featuring 212 life-sized granite and bronze sculptures by the beloved Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland that celebrate all that it means to be human; the beautiful park is a popular Oslo destination and gathering spot. Next up, view skillful Norwegian works of a different kind during a guided visit to the nearby Viking Ship Museum, featuring three well-preserved ships dating to 800 AD – some of the best-preserved Viking ships in the world. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your landmark hotel in the heart of the city – in celebration of two weeks well spent! Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Oslo. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Grand Hotel Oslo to Oslo Airport is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for check-in at the airport. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,240 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking.

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $500 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.co.au for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional departure dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON May; September Double $8990 June – August Double $9360

Single $11,065

Triple $8423

Single $11,197

Triple $8898

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS RADISSON COLLECTION HOTEL, ROYAL COPENHAGEN Night 3 TOFTAHOLM HERRGÅRD Night 4,5 SHERATON STOCKHOLM HOTEL Night 6,7 CLARION COLLECTION HOTEL HAVNEKONTORET Night 8-10 HOTEL ALEXANDRA Night 11 FLÅMSBRYGGA HOTEL Night 12,13 GRAND HOTEL OSLO Night 1,2*

Copenhagen, Denmark Toftaholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden Bergen, Norway Loen, Norway Flåm, Norway Oslo, Norway

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RUSSIAN GLORIES, BALTIC TREASURES CULTURALLY RICH AND REWARDING...

Peterhof

Experience living history... in Vilnius & Riga, a showcase of Art

Nouveau buildings and architectural gems from the Middle Ages... on an overnight in medieval Tallinn, charming with centuries-old sites... in Helsinki, where past meets present, perfectly... during four “white” nights in St. Petersburg, enticing with palace visits, ballet & priceless art in The State Hermitage Museum... and in Moscow where Tauck’s exclusive access introduces you to a Kremlin insider, an artist’s palette, Red Square sights, the opulent Metro and more from a grand city landmark hotel steps from iconic Red Square.

1. ARRIVE VILNIUS, LITHUANIA Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square. A transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to the Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square in the heart of Vilnius’ Old Town, where Tauck’s guest rooms boast breathtaking views of Cathedral Square. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at the hotel. Meals D

Experience a living museum of Baroque and Renaissance architecture on a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Vilnius’ Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the oldest and largest surviving medieval town in northern Europe, Vilnius abounds with historic sites, including its magnificent Cathedral. Travel via back roads

Helsinki

BALTIC SEA

Parnu

Jurmala

Petrodvorets

ESTONIA

Riga

RUSSIA

Hi gh -

LATVIA Maximum Elevation: 700 ft.

LITHUANIA Moscow Vilnius

St. Petersburg Tallinn

rain dT ee Sp

2. THE HEART OF OLD VILNIUS

FINLAND

BELARUS

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive along coastal roads, through peaceful forests and idyllic farms as you travel across the Baltic region from Lithuania to Latvia and Estonia • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Guided early-morning visit to The State Hermitage Museum, allowing you to view its treasures when crowds are fewer • In-depth sightseeing in the centuries-old Baltic capital cities of Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia; and Helsinki, Finland • A gala “Tchaikovsky Night” dinner with live music at L’Europe in St. Petersburg • An evening of Russian ballet in St. Petersburg • Two journeys by high-speed train • Lunch in the Gallery of Artist & a visit to Apple Hall to see works by Zurab Tsereteli in Moscow • A private lecture on Russian history with a Kremlin insider from the Soviet era • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 28 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage St. Basil’s Cathedral

to medieval Trakai for a visit to its 14th-century castle and lunch. Spend the evening in Vilnius. Meals BL

sombre reminders of the Holocaust at Riga’s former Jewish Ghetto, Jewish Museum and old Jewish cemetery (holidays permitting). The rest of the day is free. Meals B

3. ON TO RIGA, LATVIA Journey through the pristine Lithuanian countryside to culturally rich Latvia today, stopping for lunch in seaside Jurmala – a favourite holiday retreat for former Communist elites. Your destination is the capital city of Riga, the largest city in the Baltic States. Upon arrival, visit the 19th-century Opera House, before exploring as you wish. Your hotel is in the heart of the city. Meals BLD

4. DISCOVER HISTORIC RIGA Riga is renowned as having the most and best-preserved Art Nouveau structures in Europe. Discover them on a guided walking tour of New Town, Riga Market and the cobbled streets of Old Town, revealing buildings dating back some 800 years; see Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and Three Brothers Medieval Dwelling Houses. If you wish, join us to explore some of the

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

5. MEDIEVAL TALLINN, ESTONIA Depart this morning for Estonia along the Riga-Tallinn Road. Have lunch in the resort town of Parnu en route to Tallinn. This afternoon our local guide takes you on a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Lower Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval town. See the Town Hall square, walls and towers, notably the one affectionately dubbed “Fat Margaret,” and view St. Olaf’s Church, which reigned as the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625. Dine tonight at Tallinn’s elegant Gloria restaurant. Meals BLD

6. FERRY TO HELSINKI, FINLAND Tour Tallinn’s Upper Town on a guided walk to see its cathedrals, the old Estonian Royal Palace and Toompea

tauck.com.au 79

8. THE PALACE AT PETERHOF & THE BALLET Head outside of the city for a guided tour of Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets), the summer palace and gardens originally built by Peter the Great and added to by successive tsars. The palace – or really a complex of multiple palaces – is often referred to as the “Russian Versailles,” but many think Peterhof is even more sumptuous. After lunch at a restaurant on the grounds of the palace, return to St. Petersburg via hydrofoil. Tonight head to the theatre to enjoy a quintessentially Russian evening of ballet (schedule subject to change). Meals BL

9. RUSSIAN IMPERIAL TREASURES Enjoy an excursion to Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) to explore the Catherine Palace, also inspired by Versailles. Peter the Great built it for his wife, Catherine I; it was augmented and embellished by their daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, who made it her summer palace, and later by Catherine the Great. Your guided visit includes the recreated Amber Room, once symbolic of the alliance between 18th-century Russia and Prussia before being looted by the Nazis during World War II. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Back in St. Petersburg, a guided tour includes the 19th-century Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood, crowned with onion domes and glittering mosaics and built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated by revolutionaries. Meals BL

St. Petersburg

Castle – long a centre of power in Estonia – before riding a high-speed ferry to Helsinki, Finland’s capital. Sightseeing on arrival includes the Neoclassical Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral. Visit the “Rock” Church, hewn from solid granite bedrock and bathed in natural light, the Sibelius Monument and Finlandia Hall, designed by Alvar Aaldo. Enjoy the city as you like tonight, perhaps dining in one of the restaurants near your hotel. Meals BL

7. FAST TRAIN TO ST. PETERSBURG You’re off to Russia this morning aboard a fast train to the glorious city of St. Petersburg for a four-night stay. An afternoon orientation tour on the way to your hotel includes a guided visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress – for generations a notorious tsarist prison where everyone from Dostoyevsky to Trotsky was incarcerated – and its magnificent Cathedral, burial place of the Romanovs. Dine at a popular local restaurant this evening. Meals BLD

Tallinn

10. THE HERMITAGE & TCHAIKOVSKY NIGHT A private, early-opening guided visit in The State Hermitage Museum, chronicling incomparable collections of art from the Stone Age to the 21st century, includes a special visit to the Gold Room. Here you’ll find gold and jewelled artefacts, both secular and religious, from ancient through Imperial times. Explore St. Petersburg on your own before joining us for an unforgettable “Tchaikovsky Night” at L’Europe restaurant. Enjoy a four-course dinner, with wine and beer included; you’ll be entertained by opera singers, ballet dancers – and the music of Russia’s most beloved composer. Meals BD

11. MOSCOW VIEWS & AN ARTIST’S PALETTE Another high-speed train journey takes you to Moscow, home to the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, for three nights. A drive along the river leads to lunch at the Gallery of Artist restaurant in Dolgorukov House, one of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings in the Old Moscow district. The President of the Russian Academy of Arts, artist Zurab Tsereteli, restored and reconstructed the building and opened his art gallery here; see a collection of his unusual works. After lunch, visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and tour Manege Square; GUM, the State Department Store; and Red Square before arriving at your hotel where dinner tonight includes beer and wine. Meals BLD

Old Town Riga

14 DAYS from AUD $9,490 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS VILNIUS 22, 29 ⁄ May 05, 12⁄ , 19, 26 Jun 03, 05, 17, 24, 31⁄ Jul 07, 14 ⁄ , 21, 28, 30 Aug 11, 13 Sep ⁄ = Sold Out!

12. CENTURIES OF RUSSIAN ART & THE METRO

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,860 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking.

Enjoy a lecture this morning on the history of Russia by a local expert before viewing extraordinary examples of Russian fine art on a guided visit to The State Tretyakov Gallery, devoted to Russian paintings, sculpture, and graphic art. Drive to Bolshoi Square for a tour of the beautiful Moscow Metro, renowned for its opulent architectural designs, with a local guide. Spend the afternoon and evening discovering Moscow as you please; if you wish, visit the Cathedral of the Archangel and the Cathedral of the Assumption. Meals B

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional departure dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 20 August Double $9990 21 August – September Double $9490

Single $12,046

Triple $9528

Single $11,535

Triple $9032

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

13. INSIDE RED SQUARE & THE KREMLIN

Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

Take a guided tour of Moscow’s iconic Red Square and the 64-acre Kremlin – literally a “fortress within a city,” the centre of Russian power for centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy time at leisure. Tonight, join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel “on the doorstep of the Kremlin,” close to Red Square. Meals BD

2 ACTIVITY

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Moscow. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow to the Sheremetyevo International Airport or Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS KEMPINSKI HOTEL CATHEDRAL SQUARE Night 3,4 GRAND HOTEL KEMPINSKI RIGA Night 5* SWISSÔTEL TALLINN Night 6 HOTEL KÄMP Night 7-10 BELMOND GRAND HOTEL EUROPE Night 11-13 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MOSCOW Night 1,2

Vilnius, Lithuania Riga, Latvia Tallinn, Estonia Helsinki, Finland St. Petersburg, Russia Moscow, Russia

*Tour of 22 May will stay at Telegraaf Hotel.

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Trakai Castle

A WEEK IN… THE BALTICS 1. ARRIVE VILNIUS

4. A DAY WELL SPENT IN LATVIA’S CAPITAL

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square. A transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to the 5-star Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at the hotel. Meals D

Take a drive through Riga’s Art Nouveau New Town neighbourhood, among the largest and best-preserved in Europe, for a guided walking tour; also check out Riga Market and the cobbled streets of medieval Old Town, where some buildings date back 800 years. You’ll see Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and the Three Brothers Medieval Dwelling House. Those who wish may join

2. OLD VILNIUS & THE CASTLE OF TRAKAI A walking tour of Old Town Vilnius reveals the city’s Baroque architecture. Stroll through the old Jewish Quarter and, if you wish, visit the museum in the former KGB headquarters. Wind along the Yellow Roads to Trakai, and visit its medieval castle before returning to Vilnius. Spend the evening as you please. Meals BL

FINLAND Helsinki Tallinn

3. THE COUNTRYSIDE, A BEACH TOWN & RIGA Journey through the pristine countryside of Lithuania; cross into Latvia, stopping for lunch and free time in seaside Jurmala, once a vacation spot for high-level Communists. Arrive in Riga, an important trading centre during the late Middle Ages. Visit the city’s opulent 19th-century Opera House, which was painstakingly rebuilt in the 1990s and is a source of great national pride for the Latvian people. Your hotel is located in the Vidzeme district, in the heart of the old city. Meals BLD

BALTIC SEA

ESTONIA Parnu

Jurmala

Riga

LITHUANIA Vilnius

RUSSIA

LATVIA Maximum Elevation: 700 ft.

BELARUS

NORTHERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive through peaceful forests and idyllic farms across the Baltic region from Lithuania to Latvia and Estonia • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private concert in Helsinki featuring music of composer Jean Sibelius • Riga sightseeing including Art Nouveau New Town, medieval Old Town and the historic former Jewish Ghetto; in Tallinn, a visit to Toompea Castle • Visits to Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall, Temppeliaukio (The Rock) Church, Sibelius Monument and more • Lunch in the Estonian summer resort town of Parnu; first-class ferry ride – Tallinn to Helsinki • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 15 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

us to explore poignant reminders of the Holocaust in Latvia in Riga’s former Jewish Ghetto, as well as at the Jewish Museum and the old Jewish Cemetery (holidays permitting). Spend the rest of the day as you like. Meals B

7. SIGHTS OF HELSINKI & A PRIVATE CONCERT On a guided visit to the National Museum of Finland in central Helsinki, you’ll find a vast collection that includes archaeological finds, coins, weapons and other artefacts chronicling Finnish history and culture from prehistoric times to the present day. Visit Temppeliaukio (The Rock) Church, built into solid granite in the 1960s. Later, a Tauck Exclusive private concert features the works of beloved Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), whose music helped foster his country’s national identity during the 19th and 20th centuries. Your afternoon is free. This evening, join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel, an iconic luxury landmark. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Helsinki. A transfer is included from the Hotel Kämp to Helsinki Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $5,240 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 4 Dinners)

BEGINS VILNIUS 14, 28 Jun 26 Jul 02, 23 Aug 06 Sep

5. SEASIDE PARNU AND OLD TOWN TALLINN Cross into Estonia this morning, with a stop for lunch in the seaside summer resort town of Parnu, known for its sandy beaches and popular promenade. Continue on to the capital city of Tallinn, an outstanding and well-preserved example of a medieval Northern European trading centre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Lower Town on a walking tour with a local guide. Your luxury hotel is ideally located just minutes from Tallinn’s enchanting Old Town. Enjoy dinner out this evening at a popular local restaurant. Meals BLD

6. TOOMPEA CASTLE AND A FERRY TO HELSINKI Begin the day in Tallinn’s Upper Town, where you’ll visit Toompea Castle, long a centre of power in Estonia, and today the seat of the country’s Parliament. Then board a high-speed ferry and cruise in first class across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. Explore Finland’s capital, including neoclassical Senate Square, the green cupolas and white columns of Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, and Finlandia Hall. There are many restaurants within walking distance of your hotel in the centre of town. Meals BL

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $5860 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON June – 22 August Double $5740

Single $6559

Triple $5623

23 August – September Double $5240

Single $6062

Triple $5141

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5 Night 6,7

KEMPINSKI HOTEL CATHEDRAL SQUARE GRAND HOTEL KEMPINSKI RIGA SWISSÔTEL TALLINN HOTEL KÄMP

Vilnius, Lithuania Riga, Latvia Tallinn, Estonia Helsinki, Finland

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CENTRAL EUROPE

The countries in the heart of Europe, alpine beauties and coastal gems, beat with a shared history and cultural

bond that transcend time and place. Discover their legacies in Imperial palaces, family castles, lakeside chĂ˘teaux, fountained squares, medieval hamlets, Baroque buildings, half-timbered houses, and poignant ruins that whisper of days and deeds long past. Dine with royals in their palatial residences. Have cocktails and conversations with locals in private homes. Experience exclusive visits to historic caves, salt mines, and an Ice Palace atop a Swiss peak. Enjoy piano recitals, classical concerts and cooking classes with experts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and create memories equally enduring.

Prague

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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ADRIATIC TREASURES: CROATIA TO VENICE

Mostar

A NECKLACE OF HISTORIC CITIES, SPRAWLING VINEYARDS & GORGEOUS BEACHES Ð along a sun-drenched coastline that’s best described in jewels... Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic; Split, nestled against a turquoise sea; Zagreb, a diamond in the rough; Ljubljana, a city of ruby red wine; Istria, bucolic and blessed with garnet soil, emerald valleys and sapphire seas; and Venice, gilded with gemstone palaces, laced with canals and graced with treasures that are nothing less than exquisite... Explore them up close and in depth through cultural experiences equally dazzling.

1. ARRIVE DUBROVNIK Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Dubrovnik Airport to the Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik, overlooking the Adriatic Sea and Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a local historian this evening for dinner and an insightful lecture at our private welcome dinner at a popular restaurant, featuring a traditional klapa a cappella singing performance, recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Meals D

Bled

Buje Venice Savudrija ITALY Rovinj

2. OLD TOWN & WINE TASTING Ride a cable car to the top of Srd Hill for dazzling views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding landscapes. Get a

SLOVENIA

AUSTRIA

Radovljica Ljubljana Postojna

HUNGARY Trakošćan Zagreb

CROATIA

Vodnjan Pula Krka NatÕl Park Stankovci Split

Maximum Elevation: 1,792 ft.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Brač

SERBIA

Mostar MONTENEGRO

Orašac Gruda Dubrovnik Kotor ALBANIA

CENTRAL EUROPE

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drives along coasts of Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro; visits to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private lecture with the former Croatian Minister of Tourism • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Early opening visit and private train tour of Postojna Caves • A royal welcome, guided tour and lunch in Trakošćan Castle; wine, olive oil & truffle tastings at private family-owned farms • A klapa performance, Croatian wedding-style lunch; a beer-pairing dinner at a brewery • 26 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Venice

closer perspective when you descend for a walking tour through Old Town and visit the Main Square. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is surrounded by stone walls that date to the 10th century; view them on a boat ride along the walls. Wine tasting is on the menu during an afternoon visit to a winery where you sample wines made from ancient grapes known as “Malvazija” with the guidance of a viniculture engineer. En route back to your hotel, stop in the village of Gruda to meet an “academic artist” who serves as the keeper of local traditions. During your visit, she will present a step-by-step tutorial on silk making as you are treated to homemade juice and cake typical of this region. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish in charming Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Meals B

3. MONTENEGRO, KOTOR AND A CHURCH Cross the border into neighbouring Montenegro for a ferry crossing and free time in Porto Montenegro. Continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor for a walking tour and a guided visit to the Maritime Museum, housed in an 18th-century palace and honouring the city’s proud history as a naval power through its collection of art and artefacts. Weather

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

permitting, ride aboard a private boat to the man-made islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, topped by a lone church and steeped in legends. Return to Dubrovnik and have dinner at your five-star hotel, a former royal villa. Meals BD

4. ORAŠAC VILLAGE, MOSTAR AND SPLIT Drive through seaside villages and farmland to the scenic village of Orašac, founded in 1040, overlooking islands and an azure sea. A family-hosted visit to a private farm reveals the time-honoured steps of producing olive oil the old-fashioned way and includes a morning snack of fresh cow cheese, homegrown vegetables, warm-from-the-oven bread and wine. Continue to Bosnia for a visit to Mostar, known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. Damaged during the 1990s conflict, the Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been rebuilt, as have many of the edifices in the Old Town. A guided walking tour ends inside a Turkish house where a resident who lived through the bombings of the 1991-1995 war shares personal stories of survival. Travel to the historic, coastal city of Split for a two-night stay. Meals BLD

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Dubrovnik

5. SCULPTED ART, A PALACE & A FERRY RIDE

8. TRAKOŠĆAN CASTLE AND LJUBLJANA

See the acclaimed collection of works by Croatia’s premier modern sculptor, Ivan Meštrović , at the gallery he built as his private residence on a guided tour. Drive to Diocletian Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Roman emperor Diocletian as his retirement home between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries using local limestone and Bra č marble. A guided walking tour of the palace complex includes the palace cellars. Your explorations continue on a ferry ride to Bra č Island where you will visit Jak šíc gallery, going behind the scenes to see the artist’s studio and myriad works of art. After a family-style lunch in Donji Humac overlooking the bay, an afternoon ferry brings you back to Split for time at leisure enjoying this remarkable city as you wish. Meals BL

One of the most impressive castles in Croatia, Trakoš ćan Castle dates back to the 13th century and reflects myriad architectural styles and restorations over its 800+-year history. Costumed knights and ladies in waiting welcome you to the castle for a tour and lunch. Your final destination today is Ljubljana, where your stunning city-centre hotel soars over the city with great views. Take a walking tour of this capital city before enjoying a taste of local culture during dinner at a restaurant close to your five-star hotel. Meals BLD

6. KRKA NATIONAL PARK AND FLY TO ZAGREB Take a scenic drive to Krka National Park to see its spectacular waterfalls and inherent natural beauty. Board a private boat and sail to Skradin for a visit to Roca, the House of Dalmatian Smoked Ham, a talk with a farmer and a wedding-style lunch featuring traditional culinary specialties and entertainment. Fly to Zagreb this afternoon for a two-night stay. Dinner is at leisure. Meals BLD

7. A TASTE OF DAILY LIFE IN ZAGREB Meet with the former Minister of Tourism for a discussion about Croatia, past and present, before joining our local guides for a walking tour. See the neo-Gothic Cathedral, enjoy a cheese tasting at the local market, walk through the main square and take a funicular ride to the Upper Town where you will have lunch. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in town or back at your hotel. Meals BL

9. TAUCK TREATS AT LJUBLJANA CASTLE Ride a funicular up to Ljubljana Castle this morning; savour panoramic city views and tastings of local cookies, teran liqueur and honey. Venture outside of the city to a

Postojna Caves

gingerbread making workshop in a country village to see how these beloved decorated pastries have been made for centuries, with a tasting of course! After lunch, drive to Bled for a visit to 1,000-year-old Bled Castle; learn about the history of Bled during your visit. Return to Ljubljana and spend the rest of the day as you please. Meals BL

10. POSTOJNA CAVES, TRUFFLES & FRITAJA Tauck has arranged an exclusive early morning visit to a subterranean world of caverns, halls and passages some two million years in the making when you explore the surprise-filled Postojna Caves from aboard a private electric train and on a guided walk. Head off for another Tauck Exclusive experience as you drive to a family-owned truffle farm. Learn about the hunting process, and meet the dogs who sniff out this underground delicacy. Have a glass of grappa and wine from the family’s vineyard and sit down for a taste of the region’s famous scrambled eggs, fritaja, cooked just for you by the lady of the house. Travel back to Croatia, to the Istrian Peninsula and settle in at Kempinski Hotel Adriatic Istria, your home for the next two nights. Meals BD

11. PULA, OLIVE OIL & BEER PAIRING DINNER Drive to Pula at the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula for a visit to its great amphitheatre, constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD with much of it still standing today. Continue on to a family-run olive oil farm in Vodnjan, renowned for producing one of the top 15 olive oils in the world, for a tasting tour. Enjoy lunch at your leisure in the fishing village of Rovinj before returning to the hotel. Dinner tonight is a special affair at San Servolo brewery and includes a guided tour of the production process, expert insights by the beer master, and a beer pairing dinner featuring six beers and six regionally inspired courses, presided over by a professional beer sommelier. To top off a wonderful evening, a guitar player entertains with traditional Istrian songs. Meals BD

12. EXPLORE VENICE AND THE DOGE’S PALACE Journey to Venice this morning, arriving in the canal city midday. After riding a private boat to your hotel and settling in for your overnight stay, join us for a guided walking tour and a visit to the sumptuous Doge’s Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant in your historic hotel, just a few steps away from Piazza San Marco, Venice’s most beautiful square. Meals BD

13. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Metropole Hotel to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Ljubljana Castle

13 DAYS from AUD $9,590 plUS AirfAre (12 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS DUBROVNIK 11, 18 ⁄ , 25 ⁄ Apr 02 ⁄ , 09 ⁄ , 16⁄ , 23⁄ , 30⁄ May 02, 06 ⁄ , 13⁄ , 20 Jun 29 ⁄ Aug 01, 05 ⁄ , 08, 12⁄ , 15, 19 ⁄ , 22, 26 Sep 03 ⁄ , 06, 10, 13 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $9590 May – June Double $10,360 August – September Double $10,740 October Double $9990

Single $11,743

Triple $9148

Single $12,994

Triple $9866

Single $13,554

Triple $10,219

Single $12,535

Triple $9493

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-3

HOTEL EXCELSIOR DUBROVNIK Dubrovnik, Croatia

Night 4,5

HOTEL PARK

Split, Croatia

Night 6,7

ESPLANADE ZAGREB HOTEL

Zagreb, Croatia

Night 8,9

INTERCONTINENTAL® LJUBLJANA Ljubljana, Slovenia

Night 10,11

KEMPINSKI HOTEL ADRIATIC ISTRIA

Savudrija, Croatia

Night 12

METROPOLE HOTEL

Venice, Italy

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THE ULTIMATE ALPS & DOLOMITES

Innsbruck

JOURNEY THROUGH FOUR MAJESTIC COUNTRIES –

Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland,

linked through history and soaring heights as you experience soul-stirring Alpine views from mountaintop idylls steeped in beauty, legends and lore... storied sights in Salzburg... a salt mining and dining adventure for Tauck guests only, schnapps sipping, alphorn music, cheesemaking, and beer brewing traditions centuries old... culinary delights and wine tasting treats... and country inns and grand city hotels where hospitality is an art and the scenery takes your breath away.

1. ARRIVE MUNICH Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Franz GERMANY AUSTRIA Dachau Munich Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich to the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich in the heart of the Salzburg Oberammergau city. The capital of Bavaria, “München” welcomes you with Berchtesgaden Kehlsteinhaus Seefeld riverside treasures, views of the Alps, and beer gardens. Innsbruck Tratzberg Lucerne Einsiedeln Join us for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D Grossglockner Dolom SWITZERLAND Stansstad Davos Dölsach it

2. MUNICH SIGHTS & DACHAU

Mt.Titlis

A modern-day metropolis that blends laptops with lederhosen, Munich traces its history back to the 12th century. Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Baroque-inspired Nymphenburg

Bolzano

ITALY

Maximum Elevation: 10,500 ft.

Monstein

Cortina d’Ampezzo

CENTRAL EUROPE

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Unparalleled Alpine views when you scale the heights of Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland by cable car and mountain coach • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private dinner & entertainment in the Salt Mines of Berchtesgaden • A private tour and wine reception in storybook Tratzberg Castle • A day in the Dolomites with a choice of hiking, rope climbing or relaxing with great views • Alphorn traditions, cheesemaking and a beer tasting in Europe’s highest brewery during a two-night stay in Davos • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed • 26 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Salzburg

Palace and its Carriage Museum. You’ll have time for lunch as you like, before driving to Dachau for a poignant visit. Return to Munich where the rest of the day is free. Meals B

the luxurious Hotel Sacher Salzburg, ideally located in the heart of the Old Town close to the Salzburg State Theatre. Dine at your hotel this evening. Meals BD

3. OBERAMMERGAU & SEEFELD

5. SALZBURG & SALT MINES

Drive to Seefeld this morning, stopping en route for a special visit in Oberammergau, renowned for its once-in-a-decade performance of the Passion Play, starring the town’s residents. After lunch, continue to your hotel in Seefeld, where dinner is at your leisure. Meals BLD

Waking up in Salzburg is akin to seeing the opening images of the beloved film, The Sound of Music. Frosted mountains frame the backdrop, the turquoise Salzach River punctuates the landscapes, and a parade of Baroque churches line tangled lanes that lead to the palatial Residenz and Mozart’s childhood home. Take a walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage town with a local guide and enjoy time to wander on your own. This afternoon, head out into the countryside for an excursion to the mountaintop Kehlsteinhaus, popularly known as the Eagle’s Nest. Spend a memorable evening discovering the nearby salt mines at Salzbergwerk on a train ride and mine tour, followed by a Tauck Exclusive dinner with entertainment. Put on protective overalls to experience slides* down into the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines, if you like! A private dinner follows. Meals BD

4. INNSBRUCK, TRATZBERG CASTLE & SALZBURG Drive to the picture-book town of Innsbruck this morning, guarded by a grand Habsburg palace and Baroque cathedral with stunning mountain views, for a walking tour with a local guide, followed by free time for lunch. Stop next at Tratzberg for a train ride up to a storybook castle nestled on the slopes of the Alps; a private tour and wine reception features wines produced from the castle’s vineyards. Continue to Salzburg for a three-night stay at

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 91

Join a local guide for an easy hike around the rifugio (alpine hut); sharpen your rock climbing skills with an experienced mountain climber who shows you the ropes in a mountain climbing session; or relax and enjoy the alpine views at the rifugio. Take the opportunity to ask everything you ever wanted to know about mountain climbing from a well-known Italian mountain climber during lunch before descending the mountain to your hotel and spending the evening as you please. Meals BL

9. BOLZANO, A RAIL RIDE & ON TO DAVOS

Nymphenburg Palace

You’re off to Switzerland today. Drive through the Dolomites to Bolzano in South Tyrol for lunch as you wish, and ride a train along the high Alpine Flüela Pass (conditions permitting) to your Baroque-style hotel in Davos, centrally located in the heart of the city. Enjoy a typical Swiss dinner with fondue and wine. Meals BD

10. ALPINE CHEESES & MOUNTAIN BREWS 6. THE SOUND OF MUSIC & A LOCAL FARM After spending the morning at leisure indulging in the pleasures of Salzburg, join us for a visit to the picturesque village of St. Gilgen; this area of peaceful lakes and craggy peaks is where The Sound of Music was filmed. Take the opportunity to meet the residents of this idyllic region when you are welcomed inside a local farm this afternoon. Return to captivating Salzburg and spend the rest of day and evening as you please. Meals B

7. THE DOLOMITES & CORTINA D’AMPEZZO Journey to Cortina d’Ampezzo today along the high alpine road, Grossglockner Pass, weather permitting, pausing along the way to take in the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Dolomites, perfectly posed. From the highest point, you’ll be able to see more than 30 mountains towering more than 2,400 metres over the landscapes. Appetite for more Austrian discoveries heightened, enjoy a lunch of traditional East Tyrolean fare – along with the requisite schnapps tasting – at a 400-year-old family farm in the town of Kuenz. Your destination tonight is a historic hotel in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Cortina, a resort area in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, ringed by the Dolomites. Dine at your leisure at the hotel tonight. Meals BLD

8. THE DOLOMITES, UP CLOSE Weather permitting, head out with experienced mountain guides to spend a full day in the Dolomites, their sheer rock walls standing like silent stone sentinels against the sky. You’ll have a choice of excursions this morning for in-depth exploration of this starkly beautiful region, which a century ago was the scene of harsh, bitter fighting between Italian and Austrian troops during World War I; the front line passed through the area you’ll visit today.

You won’t have to be reminded to smile for the camera when you see what’s in store for you during a visit to a cheesery, where expert cheesemakers share their secrets, musicians show you how to play the alphorn, and you have lunch surrounded by Alpine scenery. Raise a toast to the village of Monstein this afternoon as you explore with a local guide and visit Europe’s high-altitude brewery for a beer tasting, known locally as “the last beer stop before heaven.” Spend the rest of the day as you like in Davos, taking in the landscapes that inspired Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to paint them and Thomas Mann to write The Magic Mountain. Besides the restaurants, boutiques, and bars, the area is so beautiful you’ll understand why international business leaders hold the World Economic Forum here every year! Meals BL

Palace Hotel at BŸrgenstock Resort

The Dolomites

11. SKI JUMPS, ALPINE STORIES & LAKE LUCERNE Ski jumping is a favourite pastime in this land of soaring snow-capped slopes. Learn about the sport’s traditions today in the Einsiedeln region. Ride a chairlift to the ski jumping facility, and take an elevator to the top for breathtaking views of the village of Einsiedeln below. Continue on to Lucerne where “William Tell” regales you with stories; enjoy lunch at the restaurant in Lucerne’s one remaining guild house. Go on a guided walking tour, before continuing to your hotel, the Palace Hotel at Bürgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne. With spectacular views of the city across the lake, your hotel is frequented by the glitterati; Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren stayed here! Dine at your leisure this evening at your choice of select restaurants at the resort. Meals BLD

13 DAYS from AUD $9,740 plUS AirfAre (12 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS MUNICH 26 May 02, 09, 16, 23 Jun 07, 14, 21, 28 Jul 04 Aug 01, 08⁄ , 15, 22 ⁄ , 29 Sep ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,990 per person double. Specific dates apply; ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional departures may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $9740

12. MOUNT TITLIS & A FAREWELL IN LUCERNE Head across the lake to Stansstad for an excursion to Mount Titlis, Central Switzerland’s tallest mountain. Take in 360° views of the scenery as you ascend to the summit. Activities on the mountaintop include opportunities to experience Glacier Park, the illuminated Glacier Cave, Titlis Cliff Walk, and lunch. This evening, enjoy a farewell reception at your hotel, followed by a dinner cruise on shimmering Lake Lucerne. Meals BLD

13. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Lucerne. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Bürgenstock Resort to Zurich Airport (approximately 82 kilometres). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

Single $12,928

Triple $9559

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour. Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

3 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS HOTEL VIER JAHRESZEITEN KEMPINSKI MUNICH Night 3 ASTORIA RELAX & SPA HOTEL Night 4-6 HOTEL SACHER SALZBURG Night 7,8 CRISTALLO HOTEL SPA & GOLF Night 9,10* STEIGENBERGER GRANDHOTEL BELVÉDÈRE DAVOS Night 11,12 BÜRGENSTOCK RESORT Night 1,2

Munich, Germany Seefeld, Austria Salzburg, Austria Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Davos, Switzerland

Lucerne, Switzerland

*Tours of 26 May; 02 Jun; and 15, 22, 29 Sep will stay at Hotel Grischa Davos.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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WARSAW, BUDAPEST, VIENNA & PRAGUE

Prague

POIGNANT PERSPECTIVES... Experience the music of Chopin and a Polish folklore evening in Warsaw... discover the heartbreaking and heroic struggles of the Warsaw Ghetto, Kraków and Auschwitz... explore both sides of Budapest, feeling the pull of history in its iconic monuments... stroll through 17 centuries of culture in Bratislava... walk back in time in old Vienna, enjoying a classical concert and strüdel-making at Schönbrunn Palace... and feel like royalty in Prague during a private tour of the Baroque libraries at Strahov Monastery and a special Tauck Exclusive evening at Lobkowicz Palace.

1. ARRIVE WARSAW Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Bristol, Warsaw. A transfer is included from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport to Hotel Bristol, Warsaw, which is ideally located in the city close to the Royal Palace. We invite you to join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel tonight. Meals D

Maximum Elevation: 3,000 ft.

POLAND

Warsaw

GERMANY

2. EXPLORE WARSAW & A CHOPIN RECITAL

Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC Vienna

SLOVAKIA Bratislava

AUSTRIA

Budapest

ITALY

SLOVENIA

Krak—w

Auschwitz

HUNGARY

Danube River

Since World War II, Warsaw has been rebuilt into one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals, using pre-war paintings and sketches as a basis for the restoration of many historic buildings. A guided sightseeing tour includes the Palace of Culture; Radziwill Palace, where the composer Frederic Chopin gave his first concert; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and Constitution Square. A walking

CENTRAL EUROPE

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive through the forested Tatra Mountains, stopping for lunch in a Slovak village • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Gala evening with dinner at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private tour of the Baroque libraries of Prague’s Strahov Monastery • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private Polish folklore evening in a Warsaw restaurant • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private after-hours visit at Imre Nagy Memorial House in Budapest • A private Chopin piano recital in Warsaw and a private classical concert at a Viennese palace • Dinner at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Budapest and a private dinner cruise on the Danube River • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 29 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Krak—w

tour takes you through medieval Old Town, followed by free time. Chopin’s music comes to life at a private piano recital which is for Tauck guests only; the piano recital is followed by a traditional Polish dinner with folkloric entertainment at a local restaurant. Meals BD

3. ON TO KRAKÓW AND OLD TOWN Villages and farms dot the countryside as you wind through Poland to Kraków, which is one of the finest medieval cities in Europe – it’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided walking tour includes a visit to St. Mary’s Church; you’ll see Jagiellonian University, one of the world’s oldest; the Franciscan Church; and the Archbishop’s Palace. Meals BLD

4. KAZIMIERZ OR WAWEL / AUSCHWITZ

Kazimierz, the city’s former Jewish Quarter, for a visit inside the Old Synagogue / Museum (holidays permitting). Or walk to Wawel Hill, to view Wawel Castle, Poland’s seat of power and royal residence for five centuries, and go inside the cathedral. You have another choice this afternoon – free time in Kraków, or a guided visit in the memorial and museum at Auschwitz, 64 kilometres from the city. Dine out at a local inn this evening. Meals BD

5. TATRA MOUNTAINS & ON TO BUDAPEST Depart Kraków and travel past dense forests and idyllic farmland as you make your way into the scenic Tatra Mountains en route to Hungary, stopping along the way for lunch in Slovakia. Arrive in Budapest, once two independent cities on opposite sides of the River Danube, now linked by the Chain Bridge. Join us for dinner with wine included aboard a private Tauck cruise on the Danube, enjoying the skyline illuminated at night. Meals BLD

Take your choice of locally guided sightseeing in Kraków this morning. One possibility is to drive through historic

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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6. THE ARCHITECTURE OF PEST Today your local guide shows you the best of Pest. View the embassy district; City Park; and Andrassy Avenue, one of Budapest’s main shopping boulevards and a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with 19th-century mansions and townhouses. Go inside the State Opera House for a special visit; tour St. Stephen’s Basilica and the synagogue at Dohány (holidays permitting); and visit monumental Heroes’ Square, where impressive statuary commemorates many of Hungary’s early rulers and national heroes. Dinner is served at chef Jamie Oliver’s restaurant this evening. Meals BD

JEWISH HERITAGE DEPARTURES

The Parliament, Budapest

Priced from: AUD $8,590 per person double plus airfare 2019 Departure Dates: 11 May; 15 Jun; 13 Jul; 17, 31 Aug and 14 Sep.

7. EXPLORE BUDA, CASTLE HILL & MORE

Many sites throughout Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna and Prague are inextricably linked to their Jewish heritage and history. Tauck’s special Jewish Heritage departures explore, in depth, more of these poignant places; ask for day-by-day details at booking. Jewish Heritage departures do not visit the Imre Nagy Memorial House in Budapest. Additional experiences include: • Visits to Warsaw’s Ghetto Memorial, Umschlagplatz, the Jewish Historical Institute, Nozyk Synagogue & POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) • Visit to Plaszów concentration camp in Kraków • Visits to Blocks 4, 5, 7 and 11 in Auschwitz-Birkenau and dinner in the Jewish Quarter with Klezmer music • Walking tour of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, with private access to Frankel Synagogue and a Q & A with the rabbi; inside visits to Dohány & Kazinczy synagogues; and a guided tour of Hungary’s Holocaust Memorial Centre

• Bratislava walking tour with commentary about the Holocaust in Slovakia • Visits to Jewish historic sites in Vienna: Leopoldstadt; Hundertwasserhaus; the Heldenplatz; and Judenplatz, the centre of Vienna’s former Jewish Quarter, with its Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Museum • Private Vltava cruise and Q & A with a concentration camp survivor; visits to Terezin (Theresienstadt) & Prague’s Jewish Quarter, including synagogues

Today includes a guided tour of Hungary’s neo-Gothic Parliament building in Pest, an icon of the Budapest skyline. Crossing over to the Buda side, you can practically feel the history that’s been made inside the Gothic Matthias Church, among the city’s most notable sites, where the last two Hungarian kings were crowned. Check out the imposing Fisherman’s Bastion looming over the Danube, and stroll the cobblestone streets of Castle Hill, perched above the river’s western bank, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant in Buda. A Tauck Exclusive after-hours visit to the Imre Nagy Memorial House this afternoon includes a lecture on the 1956 Revolution and special “Molotov” cocktails. Meals BL

8. TO VIENNA VIA BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Head to Slovakia’s ancient capital city, Bratislava. Discover 17 centuries worth of history along the cobblestoned streets of the city’s Old Town, both on a walking tour with our local guide and during time on your own. Your journey continues to Vienna, Austria, for a three-night stay at one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe. Join a local guide for an orientation walk, before dinner at the hotel. Meals BLD

9. FINE ARTS MUSEUM & SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE Following a drive along the famous Ringstrasse and the Danube, view masterworks from the Imperial Habsburg art collections on a guided visit to the Kunsthistorisches (Museum of Fine Arts). Then it’s on to Schönbrunn Palace, an architectural treasure built to rival Versailles, and the former summer residence of Austria’s emperors. Enjoy a demonstration of the art of making Vienna’s delectable strüdel... with a tasting... as well as lunch and a tour of the grand Imperial State Apartments. Meals BL

10. OLD VIENNA & A PRIVATE PALACE CONCERT

13. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF PRAGUE

A walking tour explores the city’s medieval section, including Neuer Markt, Ballgasse, Franziskanerplatz, Bäckerstrasse and Mozarthaus; the mosaic-roofed St. Stephen’s Cathedral, much of which dates to the 15th century; and Vienna’s historic Jewish Quarter, including the Seitenstettengasse Temple, the city’s only synagogue to survive WWII. After dinner at iconic Café Landtman, enjoy a private classical music concert at a palace. Meals BD

Explore Prague on a walking tour of Wenceslas Square and a visit to the historic Estates Theatre, followed by your choice – an architectural tour of Prague highlighting its grand blend of styles, from the medieval Town Hall to the Art Nouveau Municipal House; or an exploration of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), including the Old-New Synagogue, founded in the 13th century, and the Pinkus and Maisel synagogues (holidays permitting). This evening, join us for a Tauck Exclusive farewell event at family-owned Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle; your evening includes a guided tour of the palace exhibit, a reception and a gala farewell dinner hosted by a palace insider. Meals BD

11. ON TO PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC Travel to Prague, the ancient capital of today’s Czech Republic, where you’ll spend three nights at a former 15th-century Baroque palace in the heart of the city. After lunch at your hotel, discover the city’s roots on a walking tour of Old Town, linked to the castle district by the ornate Charles Bridge – lined with statues from centuries past, and alive with street musicians, artists and craftspeople; you’ll see the Black Madonna and the Astronomical Clock. Meals BLD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Prague. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Grand Mark Prague to Václav Havel Airport Prague. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for check-in. Meals B

12. VISIT PRAGUE’S CASTLE QUARTER This morning, a guided tour of Prague’s Hradcany (Castle) district reveals magnificent palaces, museums and monasteries surrounding 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Explore its halls and courtyards; visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus; and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private guided tour of the magnificent Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery, where more than 125,000 volumes include one of the world’s best collections of philosophical and theological texts, along with illuminated manuscripts and first editions. View treasures the general public doesn’t see! The rest of the day is free. Meals B

14 DAYS from AUD $8,490 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 10 Dinners)

BEGINS WARSAW 20 Apr 04, 08 ⁄ , 18⁄ , 22, 25 May 01, 08, 22, 29 Jun 20, 27⁄ Jul 10, 24 Aug 07 ⁄ , 11, 21, 25 Sep 05, 09 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $9590 per person double. Specific dates apply; ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

April; 22 June – 23 August Double $8490

Single $10,674

May – 21 June; 24 August – October Double $9360 Single $11,812

Triple $8123 Triple $8924

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please inquire at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your journey.

3 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5-7 Night 8-10 Night 11-13

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

HOTEL BRISTOL, WARSAW SHERATON GRAND KRAKOW KEMPINSKI HOTEL CORVINUS HOTEL BRISTOL, VIENNA THE GRAND MARK PRAGUE

Warsaw, Poland Kraków, Poland Budapest, Hungary Vienna, Austria Prague, Czech Republic

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A WEEK IN... IMPERIAL EUROPE

Budapest

1. ARRIVE BUDAPEST

4. VIENNESE TREASURES AND TRADITIONS

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport to Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at a restaurant on the Buda side of the river. Meals D

Drive along the Ringstrasse, one of the world’s most stately boulevards. A guided walking tour brings you to the courtyards of Hofburg Palace and Judenplatz, long the centre of Jewish life in Vienna. A guided visit to the Belvedere’s complex of palaces reveals galleries devoted to the artists Klimt and Schiele, and gardens adorned with fountains. Waltzing has played an important role in Vienna’s history – and 100-year-old Elmayer Dance School is the standard-bearer for this revered tradition. You’re invited to a private champagne reception and

2. DISCOVER PEST & CRUISE THE DANUBE A sightseeing tour in Pest takes you to the old Jewish Quarter; go inside the Great Synagogue for a guided visit. Enjoy lunch aboard a private cruise along the River Danube, then head to the iconic Hungarian Parliament building for a guided visit. Your evening is free. Meals BL

Maximum Elevation: 1,610 ft.

3. THE OPERA HOUSE AND STRÜDEL Visit the Hungarian State Opera House with a local guide followed by a tasty Hungarian strüdel making demonstration and lunch at a local restaurant. Then you’re off to the Imperial city of Vienna for a three-night stay in a grand hotel in the heart of one of Europe’s grandest cities. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening. Meals BLD

POLAND

Prague CZECH REPUBLIC

GERMANY

SLOVAKIA Vienna

AUSTRIA

Budapest

HUNGARY

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Authentic cultural discoveries as you travel from Hungary through Austria and on to the Czech Republic • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – An insider visit at the Strahov Monastery library in Prague • Luncheon cruise along the Danube in Budapest and a cruise on the River Vltava in Prague • In Vienna, a private evening of waltzing, a private tour of Schönbrunn Palace, and guided tour of the Belvedere gardens and museum • A visit to the Jewish Museum in Prague • A visit to the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest and a strüdel making demonstration

CENTRAL EUROPE 7. THE CASTLE DISTRICT AND OLD TOWN SITES Enjoy a Tauck Exclusive visit to the Strahov Monastery library, where you’ll view treasures that other visitors don’t see. Discover the Castle District on a walking tour, including Belvedere Palace – a web of courtyards and gardens – and the Cathedral of St. Vitus. An Old Town walking tour takes you to the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock. Enjoy a farewell reception and dinner accompanied by a musical quintet in your hotel, which was built as a monastery in the 13th century. Meals BD

8. “SBOHEM” TO PRAGUE Tour ends: Prague. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague to Václav Havel Airport; please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in. Meals B

• 15 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees, porterage

performance by students of the dancing school in the Marble Ballroom of your hotel. Join them for a lesson in Viennese ballroom etiquette, waltzing, and more! Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $6,090 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS BUDAPEST 5. A PALACE, A MARKET & COLD WAR VIENNA

05, 19, 26 May 02, 09 Jun 28 Jul 04 Aug 08, 15, 29 Sep 06 Oct

Go on a private tour at Schönbrunn Palace. Then choose either a walking tour with a local guide to Naschmarkt, Vienna’s outdoor market, or a Cold War walking tour with a local guide to The Third Man Museum. Enjoy dinner at a famous coffeehouse and a classical music concert. Meals BD

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $7490 per person double; specific dates apply – inquire at time of booking.

6. ON TO PRAGUE AND A PRIVATE CRUISE Arrive in Prague. On a private boat cruise along the Vltava River, enjoy views of the city. Visit the Jewish Museum, and walk along the Mánes Bridge to your hotel. Meals BLD

Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON May – June; September – October Double $6490 Single $7826 July – August Double $6090 Single $7559

Triple $6248 Triple $5834

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7 Vienna

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

KEMPINSKI HOTEL CORVINUS BUDAPEST HOTEL IMPERIAL, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, VIENNA AUGUSTINE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, PRAGUE

Budapest, Hungary Vienna, Austria Prague, Czech Republic

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SWITZERLAND: EUROPE’S CROWN JEWEL The Matterhorn

JOURNEY AT A GLANCE Day Destination Arrive Geneva / Lausanne Palace & Spa

Château de Chillon / Castle tour or free time in Gruyères / Train to Zermatt / HOTEL MONT CERVIN PALACE

Cogwheel train ride up to Gornergrat / Matterhorn Museum

Train and coach to Stresa on Lake Maggiore / Isola Bella palace and gardens tour / HOTEL SPLENDIDE ROYAL LUGANO

Lugano / Lake Lugano cruise and wine tasting

St. Moritz / KEMPINSKI GRAND HOTEL DES BAINS

The Glacier Express train ride / Interlaken / VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU GRAND HOTEL & SPA

Cogwheel train ride to Jungfraujoch / Private cocktail reception at the Ice Palace

Guided walking tour of Bern / Taste of Switzerland lunch / Lucerne / HOTEL SCHWEIZERHOF LUZERN

Guided walking tour of Lucerne / Free time / Farewell dinner

Depart Zurich

Arrive at Lausanne Palace & Spa in the heart of Lausanne, the perfect starting point for exploring one of the most stunning countries in the world. Discover Lake Geneva on a

GERMANY

Maximum Elevation: 11,333 ft.

Zurich

SWITZERLAND Lake Lucerne Lucerne

FRANCE

AUSTRIA

Bern Glacier Ex Grindelwald pr Gruyères Interlaken Andermatt Lausanne Lauterbrunnen Kleine Scheidegg St. Moritz (6,000 ft.) Lake Chillon Jungfraujoch Cogwheel Train Geneva Castle Taesch Cogwheel Train Lake Geneva Maggiore Lugano Lake Zermatt (5,000 ft.) Lake Como Stresa Isola Lugano Matterhorn Bella s es

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ALPINE TREASURES, LAKESIDE GEMS...

ITALY

CENTRAL EUROPE

Travelling Well Includes…

Express, take in the Alpine vistas of massive peaks, glaciers, and lush valleys speckled with villages. Continue

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – 11 days of in-depth exploration in the Alpine landscape

on to Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A reception at the Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe”

Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe.” Celebrate your arrival

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private funicular ride up Harder Kulm for dinner with views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau • A rail journey to your Alpine resort in Zermatt, where views of the Matterhorn are spectacular, passage aboard Tauck’s private domed observation car on The Glacier Express, a private Tauck boat ride on Lake Maggiore, and a private wine tasting cruise on Lake Lugano • Multiple-night stays in Zermatt, Lugano, Interlaken, and Lucerne

and, weather permitting, ascend by cog rail train to with a Tauck Exclusive reception in the Ice Palace and a guided tour. Later, a Tauck Exclusive funicular ride takes you up Interlaken’s mountain, Harder Kulm, to dine in a restaurant with amazing views. In Bern, enjoy a walking tour of the Old City and a “Taste of Switzerland.” Then you’re off to Lucerne for a two-night stay at Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern; see the poignant Lion Monument and, on a guided walking tour, discover a lakeside city with loads of Old World charm surrounded by mountains. A boat takes you across Lake Lucerne to our farewell dinner at the restaurant Seehotel Baumgarten. For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au.

• 23 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

11 DAYS from AUD $9,090 plUS AirfAre (10 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS GENEVA guided visit to Château de Chillon, an island castle fortress that has inspired writers and painters from Hugo and Byron to Delacroix and Courbet. After free time and lunch at a restaurant in medieval Gruyères, ascend to Zermatt by train for a two-night stay at Hotel Mont Cervin Palace, nestled in the shadow of the Matterhorn. A cogwheel train takes you up to Gornergrat, one of the best vantage points for taking in breathtaking views of the great mountain, and you’ll learn more at the Matterhorn Museum. Travel by

9⁄ , 12⁄ , 14⁄ , 16⁄ , 19 ⁄ , 21⁄ , 23⁄ , 26 ⁄ , 28, 30 Jun 03, 05, 07, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31 Jul 02, 04, 07, 09, 11⁄ , 14, 16, 18, 21, 23 ⁄ , 25, 28, 30 Aug 01⁄ , 04⁄ , 06 ⁄ , 08⁄ , 11, 13, 15⁄ , 18, 20, 22 ⁄ Sep ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,240 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $9090

Single $10,296

Triple $8679

train and coach over the Simplon Pass to Stresa on Lake

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Maggiore. A private water taxi carries you to Isola Bella,

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

where you’ll visit the palace and gardens, before continuing on to Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano on Lake Lugano. Enjoy a walking tour of town, followed by a private wine

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

tasting cruise on the lake and lunch at a grotto restaurant. As

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

you cross between Italy and Switzerland along the ancient

Night 1 Night 2,3 Night 4,5 Night 6 Night 7,8

Roman road of Via Regina, you’ll soak in some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe before arriving at Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in the glamorous resort town of St. Moritz, where celebrity spotting is a local sport. From Tauck’s private panoramic dome car aboard The Glacier

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Night 9,10

LAUSANNE PALACE HOTEL & SPA HOTEL MONT CERVIN PALACE HOTEL SPLENDIDE ROYAL LUGANO KEMPINSKI GRAND HOTEL DES BAINS VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU GRAND HOTEL & SPA HOTEL SCHWEIZERHOF LUZERN

Lausanne Zermatt Lugano St. Moritz Interlaken Lucerne

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ROMANTIC GERMANY

Heidelberg

EPIC LEGENDS AND STORYBOOK IMAGES come to life on this journey from Frankfurt to Berlin, and you’re right in the middle of it all, cruising the Rhine past vineyards and ancient ruins, listening for the song of the Lorelei... wandering the narrow cobblestone streets of Rüdesheim and Rothenburg, straight out of Grimms’ fairy tales... discovering King Ludwig II’s splendid royal villa... dining lakeside in the foothills of the Alps and in a cosy traditional hut in the Black Forest... discovering the hidden treasures of Dresden, the medieval romance of Heidelberg, and the excitement of Berlin, old and new.

1. ARRIVE FRANKFURT Maximum Elevation: 3,000 ft.

Berlin

GERMANY

e Ri

Rhin

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Villa Kennedy. A transfer is included from the Frankfurt Airport to Villa Kennedy, ideally located in downtown Frankfurt and named in honour of President Kennedy’s visit to the city in 1963. Your five-star hotel was built around a Renaissance-style NETHERLANDS villa owned by the Speyer family. Their guests included composer Richard Strauss and German cellist Hugo BELGIUM Becker, who often performed at the villa. Join us for a St. Goarshausen welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

The River Rhine exudes romance around every bend. A riverboat cruise on the Rhine from St. Goarshausen to Rüdesheim reveals enchanting landscapes as you glide past green hillsides and romantic castle ruins, and hear

Dresden

ver

Rhine Cruise Rüdesheim

2. A CRUISE IN THE RHINE RIVER VALLEY

Frankfurt

Heidelberg

FRANCE

CZECH

Prichsenstadt REPUBLIC Rothenburg

Stuttgart Dachau Baiersbronn Meersburg Munich AUSTRIA Black Forest Oberammergau Lake Constance Bad Wörishofen

SWITZERLAND

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POLAND

Travelling Well Includes…

CENTRAL EUROPE

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive along the Black Forest High Road and the Romantic Road • Ride in restored Aagland horseless carriages followed by a sparkling wine lunch • An interactive cooking demonstration featuring German specialties in the Black Forest or a guided tour of the Mercedes Museum • Dinner at a romantic pudelstein hut in the heart of the Black Forest • Dinner at the German parliamentary building in Berlin overlooking the city • A private tour of Ludwig II’s Linderhof Palace in Bavaria; a private tour of the New Green Vault in Dresden’s Royal Palace • A choice of audio-guided visits to several Berlin museums; a cruise along Berlin’s River Spree • 27 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage The Black Forest

the legendary story of the enchantress, Lorelei, who lured love-lorn sailors to their demise with her beauty and song as they cruised the river. Disembark in the wine town of Rüdesheim for exploring at your own pace – be sure to walk along the famous Dros sel gasse, a cobblestone lane of half-timbered houses, wine taverns and cosy cafés. Return to Frankfurt for a free evening to explore as you wish; your hotel is located within easy reach of local restaurants. Meals B

3. MEDIEVAL HEIDELBERG & THE BLACK FOREST Travel through villages along the very back roads that 25+ years ago inspired Arthur Tauck Jr. to design our Europe trips along the less travelled roads marked in yellow on Michelin maps. On Arthur’s way to Heidelberg, which you’ll explore today, he followed the yellow roads instead of the fast-paced autobahn, and our Yellow Roads of Europe journeys were born. In Heidelberg, a walking tour leads you to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, perched above the town, a beloved symbol of Romanticism, with incredible views. Continue to Traube

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Tonbach, the grande dame of Black Forest spa resorts. Founded in 1789 by a resourceful baker who opened his home to provide refreshments to lumberjacks, the inn has been owned and operated by eight generations of the same family! Enjoy a tradition of warm hospitality during your two-night stay here. Meals BD

4. MERCEDES & THE ROMANTIC BLACK FOREST You have a choice of activities today, both steeped in iconic German ingenuity. Motor car aficionados will want to join us for a guided tour and lunch at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart; see a treasure trove of historic cars and exhibits that trace the 131-year evolution of the legendary automaker and the brand’s prized motor cars from 1886 to today. Culinary enthusiasts can participate in a cooking lesson at the hotel, with chefs who’ll demonstrate the art of regional delicacies, from maultaschen to Black Forest cake. Enjoy time at leisure then join us for dinner at a romantic pudelstein hut – a Black Forest tradition! Meals BLD

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Meersburg Castle

5. LAKE CONSTANCE & MEERSBURG PALACE Drive the scenic Black Forest High Road into the foothills of the Alps en route to Lake Constance. Nicknamed the Schwäbische Meer (Swabian Sea) and formed by the Rhine Glacier during the last Ice Age, Lake Constance is Central Europe’s third largest lake, and it straddles Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Enjoy a private lunch at the New Palace of Meersburg Castle. You’ll have an opportunity to tour the palace afterwards, if you’d like. Continue to Bad Wörishofen for an overnight stay. Dinner is served at your hotel this evening. Meals BLD

royal avenues lined by neo-Gothic buildings and luxury shops; the Residenz, a former Royal Palace; and the old Town Hall. Visit Nymphenburg Palace, a favourite home of generations of Bavarian royalty originally designed as their summer residence, and explore the carriage museum at the palace. Enjoy free time to do as you wish for the remainder of the day or join us for a poignant visit to Dachau Memorial Site; between 1933 and 1945, more than 206,000 prisoners from 30 countries were imprisoned at Dachau. Meals B

8. THE ROMANTIC ROAD TO ROTHENBURG 6. KING LUDWIG’S PALACE & OBERAMMERGAU King Ludwig II, who reigned from 1864 to 1886, may have been Bavaria’s most quirky king, but he is also its most beloved. He lived in a bit of a fantasy world, dressed up frequently as a medieval king, stayed up all night, and often imagined that he was dining with Louis XV and Marie Antoinette (who were long since deceased). He also built three magnificent castles, including Linderhof Palace. Linderhof was the king’s personal retreat – built in splendid Rococo style, an homage to Versailles and the pre-French Revolution belief in the divine right of kings, for which he was nostalgic. Go inside for a private guided visit, enjoying a close-up look at his royal abode. Continue on to Munich, stopping for lunch in the village of Oberammergau, renowned for its Passion Play, performed here by the locals every ten years since 1634. Have dinner at your choice of restaurants in your landmark hotel in Munich. Meals BLD

7. A DAY IN MUNICH This morning set off on a guided city sightseeing tour that includes Maximilianstrasse, one of the city’s four

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Leaving Munich this morning, follow the Romantic Road to the old-fashioned town of Rothenburg, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval gems, for an overnight stay. Have lunch at your hotel before a walking tour with a local guide. Soak up the charming atmosphere as you wander the winding cobblestone streets lined with old half-timbered houses unchanged for centuries. Meals BL

9. HORSELESS CARRIAGES & A PALACE HOTEL En route to Dresden, weather permitting, travel back in time aboard old-timer Aagland cars, “horseless carriages,” and enjoy lunch in Prichsenstadt, complete with sparkling wine. Spend the next two nights at an 18th-century palace in Dresden’s historic centre. Dine at a choice of hotel restaurants tonight. Meals BLD

10. BAROQUE GEMS IN THE CITY OF DRESDEN Explore Dresden today. Before World War II, Dresden was known as “The Jewel Box” for its magnificent art and Baroque architecture. Though the city was heavily bombed during the war, much of its former glory has

been restored, including the Royal Palace, where the museum displays some 4,000 works of art; a private tour of the New Green Vault reveals Renaissance and ancient treasures made of gold, ivory, mother-of-pearl, and much more. Enjoy free time the remainder of the day. Meals B

11. FREE TIME IN DRESDEN & OFF TO BERLIN Spend the morning in Dresden as you please – perhaps visiting one or two of the city’s world-class museums. Your Tauck Director will have suggestions for places to go and things to do. This afternoon depart for Berlin, Germany’s dynamic capital city, for a three-night stay. Your five-star hotel is located in the historic Mitte district, the political and cultural heart of the city. We invite you to join us this evening and go out on the town for dinner at a local restaurant. Meals BLD

12. DISCOVER LEGENDARY BERLIN Our local guide shows you the city today. View the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral); the Reichstag, seat of the German Parliament; Unter den Linden Boulevard, where the free-spirited cabaret scene of the 1920s flourished; Brandenburg Gate, arguably the city’s most important building, a symbol of unity since the fall of the Berlin Wall; and Checkpoint Charlie, the crossing point between the former East and West Berlins. The rest of your day and evening is free to explore this wonderful German city as you wish. Berlin has a vibrant contemporary art scene and lively nightlife. Meals B

13. YOUR CHOICE OF MUSEUMS IN BERLIN Set off for Museumsinsel (Museum Island), not far from your hotel. This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses five museums and priceless cultural treasures that will astonish even the most seasoned museum visitor! You

have your choice of visits with audio guides at several museums today. Afterward, get another perspective on the city aboard a boat cruise along the River Spree. Spend the afternoon exploring Berlin as you like, perhaps sampling one of the locals’ favourite foods, currywurst, a dish so tasty and emblematic of Berlin that there’s a museum devoted to it. If you’re curious to see a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, you might go to the East Side Gallery, a stretch of wall inventively painted by commissioned artists after reunification to commemorate that momentous occasion. Join us for a farewell reception at your hotel, followed by dinner at the rooftop restaurant of the Reichstag – the German Parliament. The views of nighttime Berlin are spectacular! Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Berlin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Regent Berlin to Berlin-Tegel Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland! Meals B

14 DAYS from AUD $7,990 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS FRANKFURT 11, 18, 25 May 08, 15, 22, 29 Jun 06 Jul 03, 17, 31 Aug 04⁄ , 07, 18, 21 Sep 02, 05 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $9090 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $7990

Single $9998

Triple $7619

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask us at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your journey.

3 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2* Night 3,4 Night 5 Night 6,7 Night 8 Night 9,10 Night 11-13 Brandenburg Gate

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

VILLA KENNEDY TRAUBE TONBACH STEIGENBERGER HOTEL DER SONNENHOF BAYERISCHER HOF HOTEL EISENHUT HOTEL TASCHENBERGPALAIS KEMPINSKI DRESDEN THE REGENT BERLIN

Frankfurt Baiersbronn Bad Wörishofen Munich Rothenburg Dresden Berlin

*Tour of 18 Sep will stay at Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof.

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FRANCE/SPAIN/PORTUGAL Feast on a banquet of regional specialties in countries enticing with culinary and cultural arts. Sample vintage port, barrel-aged to perfection, in Porto where it takes its name; savour sherry and tapas at an 18th-century winery in Jerez; sip wines at private French vineyards with vintners who share secrets of the terroir; and try locally produced cider and Calvados on Normandy farms. Drink in architectural gems, medieval, Moorish and modern, throughout Spain. Toast life in Paris at brasseries, cathedrals and art-filled museums that nourish your soul, in Barcelona where GaudĂâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whimsical works are on the menu, and in Lisbon, flavoured with maritime traditions.

Paris

106

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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SPAIN AND PORTUGAL SUN-BLESSED LANDSCAPES AND SOULFUL CULTURES

Toledo

are reasons enough to explore the

Iberian Peninsula, but there’s also... the royal Portuguese retreat of Sintra, and walled Évora, adorned with medieval churches and monasteries... a heritage of resplendent Moorish design at the Alhambra, in Ronda, and at Mezquita de Córdoba... the flavours of rich sherries and savoury tapas... an exceptional Andalucían dressage demonstration, the passion of a flamenco dance performance... and a world-class collection of art at the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid!

1. ARRIVE LISBON Maximum Elevation: 3,200 ft.

PORTUGAL

Madrid

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Toledo

SPAIN

2. ROYAL SINTRA AND SEASIDE CASCAIS Not far from Lisbon, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra was once the summer retreat for Portugal’s monarchs. With a local guide, tour the Royal Palace, where you’ll find decorative surprises like

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Sintra Cascais

Lisbon Évora

Mérida

AVE Tr

ain

Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A transfer is included from Lisboa Airport or the train station to the five-star Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon in the heart of the city. A city tour takes you inside Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Coach Museum to view its collection of state carriages. See the Discoveries Monument and the Tower of Belém. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel. Meals D

Sierra

Morena

Córdoba

Jerez de la Frontera

Seville Ronda Marbella Gibraltar

MOROCCO

Granada

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Enjoy scenic vistas as you climb from seaside Marbella to cliff-top Ronda, and into the Sierra Morena mountains to Moorish Granada • An authentic taste of Andalucían cuisine and regional specialties during a family-style dinner • A visit to the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art • Lunch at a sherry bodega for a unique opportunity to learn the winemaking process • A ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage in Seville; a private flamenco performance in Granada • Sightseeing in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Toledo • Airport and train station transfers upon your arrival and departure as noted • 27 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Seville

Moorish-influenced azulejos, painted ceramic tiles from the 16th to 18th centuries. Visit the seaside village of Cascais for a tour, and then either stay in Cascais to explore on your own or return to Lisbon to spend the rest of the day and evening as you please. Meals B

3. MEDIEVAL ÉVORA Cross the Tagus River over the Vasco da Gama Bridge as you travel to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval towns. A guided tour takes you through narrow cobblestone lanes once completely enclosed by ancient walls, home to 16th- and 17th-century houses, Roman ruins, Moorish arches, and more than 20 churches and monasteries. See the cathedral and the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in the Igreja de São Francisco Church. Lunch is served at a historic former convent, and your accommodations tonight are in another former convent, renovated as a heritage hotel and spa, surrounded by gardens. Dine at your hotel this evening. Meals BLD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

4. FROM ANDALUCÍA TO SEVILLE You’re off to Andalucía, Spain’s southern province of whitewashed villages, seaside resorts, and olive groves. On your way, stop in Mérida for a driving tour that includes the Circus Maximus and the Roman Bridge, a walking tour of the Roman theatre and amphitheatre, and lunch at a local parador. Spend the next two nights in Seville at one of Europe’s most luxurious hotels, commissioned by King Alfonso XIII. Guest rooms are decorated with hand-painted tiles, and palm trees line the courtyards. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. Meals BLD

5. DISCOVER HISTORIC SEVILLE Experience the sights of Seville today by motor coach, by horse-drawn carriage, and on a walking tour with a local guide. Visit one of the world’s most beautiful Gothic places of worship, Seville Cathedral, where Christopher Columbus lies in eternal repose. Stroll through the labyrinthine cobblestone lanes of medieval Barrio de Santa Cruz, the city’s historic Jewish Quarter. Meals B

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EXPERIENCE THE TRADITIONS Feast your eyes on Portugal’s exquisite azulejos. These colourful glazed tiles are an integral part of Portuguese architecture and design; their centuries-old patterns and the stories they tell reveal much about the history and culture. You’ll see stunning azulejos in the Royal Palace at Sintra on your guided visit. Celebrate one of the world’s oldest wines during a sherry tasting tour and tapas lunch at an 18th-century winery in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Sherry making traditions have been passed down through the ages in the “sherry triangle” around the city, and the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Spanish, and British have all had an influence on the sweet wines you’ll taste. “Sherry” is the anglicised word for Jerez – and remember, only wines from this area can truly and properly be called sherry!

6. EQUESTRIAN ARTS AND GIBRALTAR Head to Marbella today on the southern coast of Spain. En route, stop in Jerez de la Frontera for a visit to the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art. You may have an opportunity to watch a training session with dancing Andalucían horses, and visit the Carriage Museum (please note – subject to closure and availability). A tapas lunch at a nearby sherry bodega includes a tour of the winery. Continue on to Gibraltar to see the “rock,” St. Michael’s Cave, and the Barbary Apes’ Den, before arriving at your beachfront resort in glamorous Marbella on the Costa del Sol. Meals BLD

7. A DAY AT LEISURE IN SEASIDE MARBELLA Spend a free day in the resort town of Marbella, home to whitewashed summer villas and sun-kissed beaches. A port at the foot of the Sierra Blanca mountains, Marbella shows traces of centuries past in its palatial town hall, medieval ruins, and Moorish walls. You might stroll to the Old Quarter and explore its narrow lanes. Amenities at your beachfront hotel, long a favourite of celebrities, include a spa, fitness centre, tennis courts, sauna, swimming pools and a choice of restaurants. Meals B

8. THE MOUNTAINS OF RONDA TO GRANADA Taking in views of mountain landscapes, visit Ronda, perched on cliffs high above the El Tajo gorge. Dating

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Ronda

to the 9th century, Ronda has a legacy as an Islamic cultural centre, and its Old Town is filled with mosques and palaces. Take a guided walking tour of Moorish sites and Plaza de Toros, one of Spain’s oldest bullrings, the perfect place to learn about bull fighting. Set off for Granada, where your hotel is just steps from the celebrated Alhambra Palace – among the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture. This evening you’ll attend a private flamenco performance! Meals BLD

9. THE ALHAMBRA AND GENERALIFE GARDENS Caliphs designed the Alhambra Palace as a “paradise on Earth” in the 13th century. Discover this haven of palaces, intricate mosaics, and hidden courtyards on a guided tour that takes you inside the Royal Palace and the Generalife Palace gardens, where ruling families used to retreat from public life for relaxation. Enjoy dinner out at a popular local restaurant tonight. Meals BD

Lisbon

13. THE ART OF MADRID This morning, enjoy a guided visit to view the art treasures of the celebrated Museo Nacional del Prado, the neoclassical edifice that Ferdinand VII turned into a world-class art museum because his wife, Maria Isabel de Braganza, wanted to create a museum to rival the Louvre in Paris. The rest of the day is free to spend as you please in one of the world’s most popular cities. Tauck includes admission to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, illustrating the history of Western art through its collection of masterpieces by Titian, Goya, van Gogh and Picasso, which you can visit at your leisure any time during your stay. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner with Castilian entertainment! Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME

10. CÓRDOBA AND ON TO MADRID Córdoba has long been known as a multicultural melting pot and a centre of Spanish intellectual life. Journey there today for a walking tour through the Jewish Quarter and a visit to the Mezquita de Córdoba, a cathedral and former mosque more than 1,200 years old – an iconic symbol of the city and its multicultural heritage. Then it’s all aboard the AVE train in Preferente class seats for a train ride to Madrid. Arrive at your hotel in the centre of Spain’s capital city and enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals BD

11. TREASURED SITES OF MADRID An orientation tour introduces you to Madrid, a cosmopolitan metropolis known for its incredible art collections, inventive cuisine, and lively nightlife. Take a walk with a local guide through Plaza Mayor and the Mercado de San Miguel, and enjoy a guided visit to the Royal Palace, where you might spot works by some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco, and Caravaggio. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is free. Meals BL

12. TOLEDO, CITY OF THREE CULTURES This morning, set off for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, known as the “city of three cultures” because for centuries Christians, Arabs and Jews have lived together behind its walls – as the range and artistry of the city’s architecture attests. A guided walking tour includes the Synagogue Santa María la Blanca and the Church of Santo Tomé. Return to Madrid for a free afternoon and evening. Your hotel, with its stained glass dome, is ideally located in the cultural heart of the city, across the road from Parliament, near the opera house, and in the centre of the “Art Triangle” formed by the Museo Nacional del Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Museo Reina Sofía. Meals BL

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid-Barajas Airport or the Atocha train station is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

14 DAYS from AUD $7,490 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS LISBON 05, 12, 19, 24, 26 ⁄ , 28 Apr 01⁄ , 03⁄ , 05⁄ , 08, 12, 15, 17, 24⁄ , 26, 29, 31 May 02, 05, 07, 14, 28 Jun 12 Jul 23, 28, 30 Aug 04, 06, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 27 Sep 02, 04, 09, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, specially priced from AUD $8490 per person double; ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; ask at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON 05 – 11 April; 21 June – August Double $7490 Single $9966 12 April – 20 June; September – October Double $8240 Single $10,748

Triple $7093 Triple $7821

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please inquire about additional hotel nights before or after your journey.

3 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3 Night 4,5* Night 6,7 Night 8,9 Night 10-13

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RITZ LISBON CONVENTO DO ESPINHEIRO HOTEL ALFONSO XIII GRAN MELÍA DON PEPE HOTEL ALHAMBRA PALACE THE WESTIN PALACE, MADRID

Lisbon, Portugal Évora, Portugal Seville, Spain Marbella, Spain Granada, Spain Madrid, Spain

*Tours of 12 Apr; 01, 03, 05 and 08 May will stay at Gran Meliá Colón.

tauck.com.au 111

9! 1 20

A WEEK IN… PORTUGAL 1. ARRIVE PORTO Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Hotel Infante Sagres. A transfer is included from Porto International Airport to Hotel Infante Sagres in the heart of the city. Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the city’s colourful centre, followed by a boat ride on the Douro River aboard a traditional rabelo boat. This evening, join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. Meals D

2. PORTUGAL’S DOURO VALLEY Travel to the beautiful Douro Valley this morning, enjoying scenic views of some of the most unusual and breathtaking wine country in the world. Stop for lunch and a tasting tour at a picturesque quinta (wine estate) before returning to your hotel in Porto’s historic district where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Meals BL

Queluz National Palace

before driving to the Templar city of Tomar for a guided tour of the Convento de Cristo, built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar. Explore the wonders inside this labyrinthine complex that includes the fortified Round Church. Spend the night at a seaside resort near Óbidos tonight where dinner is at your leisure. Meals BLD

Porto

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Maximum Elevation: 2,137 ft.

Coimbra

Tomar Óbidos

3. EXPLORE COIMBRA & TOMAR Visit the University of Coimbra today on a guided tour; a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is renowned as one of the world’s oldest universities. Enjoy free time to explore

112

Sintra Cascais

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

Lisbon

Queluz

Évora

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private tour and dinner at the lavish Palacio de Queluz in Lisbon • Two nights in Porto with a rabelo boat ride and wine tasting lunch in the Douro Valley • Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic centres of Porto, Évora and Sintra, Tomar’s Convento de Cristo & more • Wine tasting lunch at a traditional winery and a visit to a cork factory in the Alentejo region • Guided tour of University of Coimbra and the candy-coloured National Palace of Pena • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

Museum, home to one of the world’s largest private art collections. Check into your city-centre hotel for an evening at leisure in scenic, captivating Lisbon. Meals BL

7. SINTRA’S CASTLES, PALACES & MORE Drive along the coast to Sintra for a guided visit to the National Palace of Pena, crowning a mountain peak with Gothic towers, Moorish minarets, Renaissance domes, crenellated turrets and studded archways that lead to a treasure trove of furnishings from around the world inside. Enjoy free time this afternoon and join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour and dinner at Palacio de Queluz, a lavish 18th-century royal retreat. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Tivoli Lisboa Hotel to Lisbon Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

• 17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $4,860 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS PORTO 4. ÓBIDOS, ALENTEJO WINE & CORK Enjoy free time this morning to explore Óbidos, charming with narrow cobbled streets, quaint houses and an imposing medieval castle. Have lunch at an Alentejo wine estate renowned for its wines and its historic carriage collection, before visiting a family-owned cork factory to discover the stories and manufacturing processes of one of the most important and highly sustainable industries in Portugal. Continue to your convent hotel in medieval Évora for a memorable two-night stay. Meals BLD

27 Apr 04, 11, 18, 25 May 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 Jun 24, 31 Aug 07, 14, 21, 28 Sep 12, 19 Oct Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $6090 per person double; specific dates apply. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; ask at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 28 June; 31 August – October Double $5240 Single $6361

Triple $5282

April; 29 June – 30 August Double $4860 Single $5983

Triple $4898

5. MEDIEVAL ÉVORA

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Enjoy a guided walking tour along the narrow lanes of the 14th-century walled town of Évora, viewing its medieval cathedral and cloisters, Roman temple, picturesque squares and garden, before lunch at a family palace and time at leisure in town or back at your hotel. Meals BLD

Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

6. COASTAL CASCAIS & ART IN LISBON Visit the seaside town of Cascais on the Portuguese Riviera for a walking tour and lunch en route to Lisbon, where a guided city tour includes the Gulbenkian

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3 Night 4,5 Night 6,7

HOTEL INFANTE SAGRES PRAIA D’EI REY MARRIOTT GOLF & BEACH RESORT CONVENTO DO ESPINHEIRO TIVOLI LISBOA HOTEL

Porto Óbidos Évora Lisbon

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A WEEK IN… SPAIN

Plaza de España, Seville

1. ARRIVE BARCELONA

4. THE ALHAMBRA

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport and Barcelona França and Barcelona Sants train stations to Le Méridien Barcelona, ideally situated along Las Ramblas. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

Get an insider’s tour of the 14th-century palaces and the magnificent gardens of the Generalife at the Alhambra, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites and inspiring with Moorish splendors centuries old. Travel through the whitewashed villages of Andalucía to Seville. Enjoy a private flamenco show before dinner tonight. Meals BLD

2. BARCELONA WHIMSY

3. FLY TO MÁLAGA Fly to Málaga for a drive along mountain roads to clifftop Ronda for a walking tour and lunch; your local guide shares insights, including a look at the historic bullring. Continue on to Granada for an overnight stay at a palace hotel close to the Moorish Alhambra. Meals BLD

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Pyre

Maximum Elevation: 3,200 ft.

SPAIN ATLANTIC OCEAN

nee s

Barcelona

Madrid

PORTUGAL

AVE T r ain

A guided Barcelona walking tour includes the pedestrian promenade of Las Ramblas and the medieval streets of Barri Gòtic. Drive through the seaside Montjuic area, and visit Antoni Gaudí’s whimsical cathedral, la Sagrada Família, still unfinished today, before exploring the city as you wish. Meals B

FRANCE

Sierra Morena

Córdoba Seville Andalucía Granada Ronda Málaga

MOROCCO

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Journey off the beaten path, from clifftop Ronda to Granada in the Sierra Nevada foothills and through whitewashed Andalucían villages to Seville • On-tour flight from Barcelona to Málaga • Guided tour of Alhambra Palace & the Generalife gardens, UNESCO World Heritage Sites • Private flamenco performance; horse-drawn carriage ride; guided tour of Madrid’s outstanding Museo Nacional del Prado with a local expert

La Sagrada Família

• Airport and train transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 14 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $5,590 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 4 Dinners)

BEGINS BARCELONA Go on a walking tour through Barrio de Santa Cruz and the former Jewish Quarter and visit the impressive Seville Cathedral, said to house the remains of Christopher Columbus. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Meals B

6. CULTURAL CÓRDOBA Journey to Córdoba for a walking tour of the former Jewish Quarter and a visit to La Mezquita, the great candy-striped Mosque-Cathedral with a history that spans eight centuries. After free time to explore the sights, ride in Preferente class aboard the AVE train to Madrid. Your home for the next two nights is a grand Belle Epoque-style hotel within the Art Triangle. Meals BL

7. MAGNIFICENT MADRID Begin the day with a city tour and a guided visit to Museo Nacional del Prado; the remainder of the day is free. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner this evening featuring traditional entertainment. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Barajas Airport or Atocha Train Station. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

07, 14, 21, 28 Apr 05, 08, 10, 12⁄ , 17, 19⁄ , 29, 31 May 02, 09, 16, 23 Jun 07 Jul 25 Aug 04, 08, 11, 18, 25 Sep 02, 06, 13, 20, 23 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $6,990 per person double; specific dates apply. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; ask at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON 01 – 13 April; 30 June – July Double $5590 Single $6779 14 April – 29 June; August – October Double $6090 Single $7671

Triple $5411 Triple $5873

International Airfare is additional. Call for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Please ask about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

2 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3 Night 4,5* Night 6,7**

LE MÉRIDIEN BARCELONA HOTEL ALHAMBRA PALACE HOTEL ALFONSO XIII THE WESTIN PALACE, MADRID

Barcelona Granada Seville Madrid

*Tours of 14 Apr; 05, 08, 29 May; 04, 11, 18, 25 Sep; 02 and 23 Oct will stay at Gran Meliá Colón. **Tours of 10, 17 and 31 May will stay at InterContinental Madrid.

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20 19 ! R FO EW N

PARADORS OF NORTHERN SPAIN

Santillana del Mar

STEP BACK IN TIME on a journey that spans centuries and borders. Art and architecture capture your imagination in Gaudí’s Barcelona, both Gothic and whimsical. Scenic Yellow Roads wind through the Pyrenees and Picos de Europa, welcoming with paradors and pastimes steeped in history. Basque Country evokes images of bulls in Pamplona, pintxos and big waves in San Sebastián and contemporary visions in Bilbao. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims past in Santiago de Compostela, finding hospitality in a 15th-century hotel. Port wine, university treasures, and monuments chronicle life in Portugal, inviting up-close discovery with Tauck.

1. ARRIVE BARCELONA Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona Franca Train station to Le Méridien Barcelona, ideally located on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you meet your fellow travellers. Meals D

2. ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN BARCELONA Quirky, with a mix of modern day whimsy and Gothic treasures, Barcelona enjoys a prime location on the Mediterranean Sea. Explore this Catalan capital city on a guided walking tour as you stroll down tree-lined Las Ramblas, lively with cafés, restaurants, flower stalls and street performers, to the city’s Gothic Cathedral tucked away in the medieval warren and hidden courtyards of Barri Gòtic. Step aboard our private coach for a drive through Montjuic to see the Olympic Stadium and continue on to Gaudí’s unfinished whimsical

masterpiece, la Sagrada Família, for an inside visit. A profoundly religious man, Antoni Gaudí was fondly referred to as “God’s architect.” He began work on the cathedral in 1912, passing away before he saw his life’s work finished. Ongoing construction is scheduled to

Santillana San FRANCE The Way Oviedo del Mar Sebastián of St. Jam P es y renee Santiago de Picos de Bilbao s La Seu d’Urgell Compostela Pamplona Europa ATLANTIC OCEAN

Cardona Porto

PORTUGAL

SPAIN

Coimbra MEDITERRANEAN SEA Lisbon

Maximum Elevation: 6,300 ft.

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Barcelona

Travelling Well IncludesÉ

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

• TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Cultural charms and scenery entice during overnight stays in historic paradors, authentically restored with modern-day comforts • A visit to the beautiful Benedictine enclave atop saw-toothed Montserrat and lunch in Cardona • Choice of spa treatment or cooking demo at El Castell de Ciutat and seven-course feast in a medieval castle featuring entertainment • Overnight in Oviedo at a restored 18th-century hospice with an artisan cheese and wine tasting • Two nights in the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela at a 15th-century parador • Port wine tasting and Douro River cruise in Porto; visit to Coimbra and two nights in Lisbon • Airport and train transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 29 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage Santiago de Compostela

be completed by the 2026 centenary of Gaudí’s death. Spend the remainder of the day as you please, exploring the sights of the city on your own. Meals B

3. COUNTRY ROADS OF CATALONIA You and your fellow travellers venture into the mountains today, stopping at the saw-toothed mountain of Montserrat, just northwest of Barcelona, to visit the Benedictine monastery and see the shrine of la Moreneta, the Black Madonna. According to the legend, the statue was discovered in the year 880 by shepherds who saw a strange light in the sky and heard music coming from a cave in the mountain. Since then, it has become one of the most famous pilgrimage sights in Spain. Continue on to Cardona for a visit to the Romanesque Church of Saint Vicenç, consecrated in 1047. Have lunch in the medieval dining room at 9th-century Parador de Cardona, holding court over the countryside from its hilltop perch. Drive through the snow-capped Catalonian Pyrenees to El Castell de Ciutat, your resort hotel in La Seu d’Urgell for a memorable two-night stay. Enjoy dinner this evening served at your hotel, with wine included. Perhaps a toast to glorious Catalonia is in order? Meals BLD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

4. THE INCOMPARABLE PYRENEES A morning walking tour with your Tauck Director on the cobblestone lanes of La Seu d’Urgell brings you to the 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral, renowned as the finest in the Pyrenees. Enjoy a paella demonstration and lunch at your hotel, followed by a choice of afternoon activities today. They include a hike with a local guide, a Catalan cooking demonstration in your hotel’s kitchen, or a pampering massage in the hotel’s on-site spa. Feast on a memorable seven-course wine-tasting dinner in a medieval 9th-century castle tonight. Meals BLD

5. THE HEART OF BASQUE COUNTRY Your journey through Spain continues as you drive to Pamplona this morning. Ernest Hemingway immortalised the town in his famous book, The Sun Also Rises; walk the route followed during the running of the bulls today. Then it’s on to coastal San Sebastián in Basque Country, where your first view of this popular oceanfront town is from the top of Mt. Igueldo. Regarded by many as Spain’s culinary capital, this pretty town also boasts great surfing beaches, stunning architecture and myriad pintxos bars tucked into the maze of medieval lanes in its old town of Parte Vieja. Settle in at your elegant

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in the world, it has opened its doors and welcomed travellers since the 15th century. Dine tonight at a choice of restaurants in the parador. Meals BLD

9. EXPLORE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Embark on a walking tour through the narrow streets of Santiago de Compostela that visits the heart of the city, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. James, dating back to the 11th century. Legend has it that a bright star led a shepherd boy to the forgotten tomb of the apostle St. James the Greater in the 9th century; today your local guide leads the way. The rest of the day is free to spend exploring as you like. Meals BL

10. JOURNEY TO PORTO, PORTUGAL

Guggenheim Museum

Belle-Époque hotel for a two-night stay. Opened in 1912, its lavish interior is decorated with soaring columns, 19th-century portraits, silk brocades and crystal. Meals BD

Turn your clocks back one hour on a drive along the coastal route from Spain to Porto, Portugal. This ancient port city is nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Douro River with a rich port-wine trading history. Enjoy a private visit and tasting dinner at one of Porto’s oldest port houses, learning about the history and processing of this prized fortified wine produced exclusively in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Meals BLD

6. ENJOY SEASIDE SAN SEBASTIÁN A walking tour with a local guide offers an in-depth introduction to the historic Old Town and paves the way for time at leisure to explore San Sebastián as you wish. Sample typical Basque food and enjoy the many waterfront activities, including world-class surfing. Meals B

7. ART IN BILBAO & ON TO OVIEDO Start your day with a guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum, a treasure trove of modern art, in nearby Bilbao, before venturing to medieval Santillana del Mar in the Cantabria region of Spain. Enjoy lunch in the heart of the town in a beautiful ancestral home that dates back to the 8th century and has been declared a National Monument en route to Oviedo. Stay overnight at a restored 18th-century hospice that was featured in the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Enjoy an artisan cheese tasting and wine pairing tonight. Meals BLD

8. A PILGRIMAGE, CENTURIES OLD Explore Oviedo on a walking tour this morning, seeing a mix of historic and artistic monuments, including two acclaimed churches built in the Astorian pre-Romanesque architecture when the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages. Stop for lunch along the coast en route to your historic parador in Santiago de Compostela. Considered to be one of the oldest hotels

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RIOJA VALLEY – SPECIAL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES!

5 Exclusive Small Group Departures will venture off the beaten path to the Rioja Valley for a two-night stay at the Marqués de Riscal hotel in Elciego, a Frank Gehry designed hotel renowned for its architectural splendours, locally produced wines and Michelin-starred restaurant. Highlights include a private tasting tour in the on-site winery and a guided walk to the walled town of Laguardia and its underground wine caves. Select departures only, 26 Apr, 24 May, 07 Jun, 11 Oct and 18 Oct, priced from AUD $8,360.

Porto

11. SIGHTSEE PORTO Visit São Bento Train Station, a former convent with striking glazed tiles, and the gilded Gothic Church of São Francisco, featuring Gothic and Baroque elements. Enjoy time to stop in Livraria Lello, considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Cruise on the Douro River aboard a flat-bottomed rabelo boat; your local guide will point out interesting sights, including the six bridges that span the Douro, one of which was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy on your own. Meals BL

14 DAYS from AUD $7,240 plUS AirfAre (13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS BARCELONA 05, 12 ⁄ , 19, 26 ⁄ Apr 03, 06⁄ , 08, 10 ⁄ , 13, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 31 May 03, 07 ⁄ , 14, 21, 28 Jun 05, 19 Jul 02, 16, 23, 30 Aug 02, 04, 06, 09, 11, 13, 20, 23, 25, 30 Sep 02, 04, 09, 11, 16, 18, 21 Oct

⁄ = Sold Out!

Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $8,360 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $500 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking.

12. COIMBRA & ON TO LISBON

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

Journey to Coimbra, home to Portugal’s oldest university, en route to Lisbon today. A locally guided tour in Coimbra includes a visit to the Baroque library at the University of Coimbra, lined with some 300,000 books, and the ornate Saint Michael’s Chapel. Savour an authentic taste of traditional culinary fare during lunch at a local restaurant in Pombal. Settle in your hotel in the heart of this fabulous capital city, before experiencing Lisbon as you wish. Meals BL

PRICE PER PERSON 01 – 11 April; 28 June – 27 August Double $7240 Single $9215 13 April – 27 June; 28 August – October Double $8240 Single $10,334

Triple $6998 Triple $7993

3 ACTIVITY

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

13. SIGHTSEEING INTRIGUES IN LISBON Visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Maritime Museum (subject to Monday closures); see the Tower of Belém and the Discoveries Monument, iconic city landmarks. We invite you to join us for our farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

14. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to Lisbon’s International Airport or Santa Apolónia Train Station is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS LE MÉRIDIEN BARCELONA EL CASTELL DE CIUTAT HOTEL MARIA CRISTINA HOTEL DE LA RECONQUISTA PARADOR DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Night 10,11*** INTERCONTINENTAL PORTO Night 12,13 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RITZ LISBON Night 1,2 Night 3,4* Night 5,6** Night 7 Night 8,9

Barcelona La Seu d’Urgell San Sebastián Oviedo Santiago de Compostela Porto, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal

*Tours of 26 Apr, 24 May, 07 Jun, 11 and 18 Oct will stay at Marqués de Riscal in Elciego. **Tours of 06, 13, 20, 27 May, 03 Jun, 05 Jul, 02, 09, 23, 30 Sep & 21 Oct will stay at Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao and will not visit San Sebastián. ***Tours of 06, 13, 20, 27 May, 03 Jun, 05 Jul, 02, 09, 20, 23, 30 Sep & 21 Oct will stay at Pestana Porto.

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NORMANDY, BRITTANY, PARIS & THE LOIRE VALLEY

Château de Villandry

CHÂTEAUX, A 1,000-YEAR-OLD ABBEY, AND VILLAGE LIFE...

discover history and beauty

inexorably entwined in the stained glass of Chartres Cathedral and the threads of medieval tapestries... during D-Day’s 75th anniversary year, on the Normandy beaches that once echoed with sounds of battle... in manicured gardens at Château de Villandry and along flower-lined lanes in a Brittany village... in historic castles and a mountaintop abbey... from quaint timbered houses to a walled city famed for its pirate history... in the opulent Palace of Versailles, the museums of Paris, and on a romantic cruise on the Seine...

1. ARRIVE PARIS / VERSAILLES

Port du Crouesty

Rochefort-en-Terre Angers

Versailles

Giverny Paris

ein e River

FRANCE

Josselin Vannes

Rouen

Bayeux Deauville

St-Malo

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ANY

Begin your day with an excursion to medieval Chartres, where sightseeing includes a visit and demonstration of the art of stained-glass window-making at the Centre International du Vitrail (International Stained-Glass Centre). Then view magnificent examples of that time-honoured art on a guided tour of medieval Chartres Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details, and

HANNEL HC Omaha Beach

Mont-Saint-Michel BRITT

2. CHARTRES TO CHÂTEAUX

IS GL

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Trianon Palace Versailles. A transfer is included from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, within two kilometres of Louis XIV’s Château de Versailles; explore it on an included independent visit today. Please join your fellow travellers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel. Meals D

Chartres ire River Lo

Langeais Villandry

ATLANTIC OCEAN Maximum Elevation: 1,000 ft.

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Explore Brittany’s rugged headlands and the Normandy coast • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours visit to the Louvre (select departure dates only) • Dinner at a private country estate with a hunting hounds demonstration in full regalia • 3 nights in Paris, a guided tour at the Musée d’Orsay, and a Seine River dinner cruise • Visits to Chartres Cathedral, Loire Valley châteaux, and Monet’s home & gardens at Giverny • Guided tour of D-Day beaches and a special exhibit honouring the troops who fought here • Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 24 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes & porterage Mont-Saint-Michel

a walk through the town’s historic heart. Continue to Langeais for a two-night stay at Château de Rochecotte, once the private estate of diplomat Prince Talleyrand. Spend an enjoyable evening with Le Baron at Château de Champchevrier, where a private reception, dinner, and hunting hounds demonstration are memorable. Meals BD

3. THE LOIRE VALLEY & CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY The châteaux, gardens, and towns of the Loire Valley, the “Garden of France,” are yours to explore today. Begin with a guided tour at fortress-like Château de Langeais, with richly furnished rooms and a working drawbridge. Next, it’s a private visit at Le Moulin Bleu vineyards for wine tasting and lunch, followed by a tour of the Renaissance gardens of Château de Villandry, considered among the most spectacular in all of France. Enjoy dinner at leisure in your hotel tonight. Meals BLD

4. CHÂTEAU D’ANGERS AND THE SEASIDE En route to Port du Crouesty, pause at the 17-towered Château d’Angers to view the famous medieval Apocalypse Tapestry, a series of tapestries

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

commissioned by Louis I and woven in Paris between 1373 and 1382. The tapestry was made in six sections, comprising some 90 different scenes; an audio tour introduces the stories that are depicted in threads of ivory, red and blue. Drive through storybook villages and countryside to your seaside hotel in Port du Crouesty on the Golfe du Morbihan. Meals BD

5. A GOLFE CRUISE AND ROCHEFORT-EN-TERRE Enjoy a walking tour of “Petit Mont” and a sightseeing cruise on the scenic Golfe du Morbihan, home to some 40 small islands. Next it’s off to pretty Rochefort-en-Terre in Brittany for a guided tour and time on your own; its narrow streets and artisan workshops are colourfully bedecked with flowering pink and red geraniums, a tradition begun early in the 20th century by Alfred Klots, an American painter and resident. Meals BL

6. FROM VANNES TO JOSSELIN & ST-MALO Inside the medieval walls of Vannes, a walking tour reveals the immense Gothic cathedral (under construction across five centuries) and half-timbered houses standing side by side on cobblestoned streets and the tree-lined

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Omaha Beach, Normandy

village that grew up beneath its walls in medieval times. According to legends, the abbey, once totally unreachable at high tide, was constructed on that site at the request of Archangel Michael and has remained since the 8th century as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Europe. Today’s well-timed visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site requires a bit of steep walking, but you’ll discover a unique place beautifully adapted to its natural environment. On your return to St-Malo, join your Tauck Director for a walking tour of the city’s walled centre, followed by free time to explore as you choose. Meals B

8. CENTURIES OF HISTORY IN NORMANDY

7. MONT-ST-MICHEL & MEDIEVAL ST–MALO

Travel along the Normandy coast to Bayeux, a Roman settlement that grew into a town of winding medieval streets and wooden-framed houses that survived the ravages of WWII practically intact. Visit the museum that houses the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a UNESCO Memory of the World. Exquisitely embroidered in 1066 and over 60 metres in length, the tapisserie portrays Viking ships and Norman and Saxon cavalries struggling for control of the English throne. Drive on scenic Yellow Roads to Le Mémorial de Caen, commemorating the sacrifices of World Wars I and II, with a theme of reconciliation. After lunch, arrive in Deauville, renowned as a beach resort since 1860. Dinner is served at your hotel this evening. Bon appŽtit! Meals BLD

Perched high on a rocky promontory on an islet between Normandy and Brittany stands Mont-Saint-Michel, the famed thousand-year-old Benedictine abbey and

9. POIGNANT MEMORIES OF D-DAY

Promenade de la Garenne. Onward to Josselin for a visit to the formidable three-towered château, inhabited by the Rohan family for nearly ten centuries, then head to the English Channel for a two-night stay in beachfront St-Malo. Meals BD

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces invading Occupied Europe landed on a number of now-famous, code-named beaches along the Normandy coast, etching the history of that day into the sands of time; Tauck’s World War II expert relates the many poignant stories of “D-Day” at Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, and the now-quiet Omaha Beach, where American assault units took heavy casualties in establishing a beachhead. Walk along the beaches; view a private World War II memorabilia collection and a hands-on exhibit honouring the troops who fought here; and visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Meals BL

10. MONET’S ROUEN & GIVERNY / ON TO PARIS

STAY AT LE MEURICE ON SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES Enjoy a 3-night stay in Paris at Le Meurice, ranked among the most elegant hotels in the world. Embodying the perfect French palace hotel, Le Meurice is ideally situated between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre; artist Salvador Dalí was a regular guest, and the hotel still enjoys a close relationship with noted artists.

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En route to Paris, stop for a guided visit in Rouen, once home to writer Gustave Flaubert, Impressionist artist Claude Monet, and Joan of Arc, who met her tragic end in the Place du Vieux Marché (the Old Marketplace), in 1431. Your guided city tour takes you to historic sites, including Saint Joan’s chapel and the immortalised Gothic cathedral that Monet painted more than 30 different times. Continue on to Giverny for a visit to Monet’s elegant countryside home and gardens. He designed the gardens and turned them into his outdoor studio where he painted. You may recognize them from his paintings! Arrive at your hotel in Paris early this evening for dinner. Meals BD

12. IMPRESSIONIST ART AT MUSÉE D’ORSAY A local guide gives a tour at the Musée d’Orsay, where a treasure trove of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art is housed in a renovated Beaux-Arts railway station. Please join us for a farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine; you’ll experience the magic and romance of the city lit up for the evening – a memorable fin parfaite to an extraordinary journey! Meals BD

13. JOURNEY HOME

Château de Champchevrier

Tour ends: Paris. A transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, or the Paris train stations from Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

11. PARISIAN PLEASURES Join a local guide for an orientation tour of Paris, taking in an overview of quintessential Paris landmarks; see the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame Cathedral. If you wish, come along for a walking tour with a local guide from the cathedral to Place de la Concorde and your hotel this afternoon – or go exploring on your own. The remainder of your day and evening is free to enjoy the French capital as you please. Your hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the city, a short distance from the fashionable Faubourg Saint-Honoré neighbourhood and the glorious Champs-Élysées, one of Europe’s most beautiful boulevards. Meals B

13 DAYS from AUD $8,740 plUS AirfAre (12 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS PARIS 21, 26 ⁄ Apr 03, 05, 10⁄ , 12, 17⁄ , 19, 24 ⁄ , 26, 31⁄ May 02, 14 ⁄ , 21, 28 Jun 26, 28 Jul 23 Aug 01, 06 ⁄ , 08, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 Sep 04, 06, 11 Oct

⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $10,990 per person double; specific dates apply. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $380 on the single room price; inquire at time of booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $8740

Single $10,928

Triple $8229

May – June; 30 August – October Double $9490 Single $12,168

Triple $8892

July – 29 August Double $9240

Triple $8534

Single $11,816

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

3 ACTIVITY

VISIT THE LOUVRE MUSEUM AFTER HOURS Tours of 21, 26 ⁄ Apr; 05 May; 14 ⁄ Jun; 26, 28 Jul; 06⁄ , 22, 29 Sep and 11 Oct will feature a Tauck Exclusive after-hours visit to MusŽe du Louvre (visits scheduled for Day 10, 11 or 12), specially priced from AUD $8,740 per person double (small group departures from AUD $10,990). Ask at booking for details.

⁄ = Sold Out!

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1 Night 2,3 Night 4,5 Night 6,7* Night 8,9 Night 10-12*

TRIANON PALACE VERSAILLES CHÂTEAU DE ROCHECOTTE MIRAMAR LA CIGALE LE GRAND HÔTEL DES THERMES HÔTEL ROYAL BARRIÈRE – DEAUVILLE SOFITEL PARIS LE FAUBOURG

Versailles Langeais Port du Crouesty Saint-Malo Deauville Paris

*Small Group Departures (dates in blue) will enjoy sea-view rooms at Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes in St. Malo nights 6, 7 and will stay at Le Meurice in Paris nights 10 – 12.

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Small Group. Active Journeys.

PROVENCE 1. AIX. ART. A MANSION HOTEL. Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Le Pigonnet, Aix-en-Provence. A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to Le Pigonnet in Aix-en-Provence. Stroll the painted streets of Aix on a guided walking tour and join us for cocktails and French fare at your 18th-century mansion hotel. Meals D

Avignon

naturellement, wine… anything that tempts your palate! Picnic in a Provençal meadow that looks out over a picturesque valley, before heading to your hotel, an ancestral castle on a cliff overlooking Gordes. Dine this evening at the hotel, which boasts a restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire. Meals BLD

2. A PROVENÇAL PALETTE Discover a glimpse of daily life for the artist Paul Cézanne in Aix. See the landscapes he painted, the views of Mont Sainte-Victoire that inspired him, and his studio. Then it’s off to the 17th-century Château la Coste. Explore its beautiful sculpture park and learn how organic wine is produced at its modern winery, before enjoying lunch al fresco, weather permitting. The rest of the day is free to experience the charms of Aix as you please. Meals BL

3. A FEAST FOR THE SENSES IN GORDES Drive through the countryside this morning to the hilltop villages of Luberon, standing like sentinels of time for centuries, en route to medieval Gordes. A walking tour of the vaulted, arcaded lanes reveals the town’s many charms and leads to local markets where you can pick up the makings for a traditional picnic lunch – perhaps a baguette, fruit and meats, cheese, olives and,

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FRANCE

PROVENCELANGUEDOCROUSSILLON

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Gordes Avignon Murs Pont du Gard PROVENCERoussillon ALPESSt Rémy-de-Provence Ménerbes CÔTE D’AZUR Glanum Aix-en-Provence

Marseille

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 22 Tauck guests for a more personal travel experience • S ee artists’ studios, visit an organic winery or explore a sculpture park, and enjoy a wine tasting lunch during two nights in Aix • G o to a market with a chef in Avignon to select fresh ingredients for a cooking class • V isit the ancient ruins of Glanum and learn the finer points of wine tasting with a sommelier • M eet Vincent van Gogh through the eyes of a learned scholar • P icnic in a tranquil meadow in the Luberon hills and walk to Abbaye de Sénanque; walk atop the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site • 15 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

4. A MEDIEVAL ABBEY, MÉNERBES & ROUSSILLON Hike through quintessential landscapes to the 12th-century Abbaye de Sénanque for a visit to its medieval chapel and have lunch in a café in Ménerbes, the town made famous by author Peter Mayle in his book, A Year in Provence. After lunch, take an easy hike through the red ochre quarries of Roussillon. Return to your hotel in Gordes. The rest of the day is free. Meals BL

5. VAUCLUSE AND VAN GOGH’S ASYLUM Drink in the sights at the source of the Sorgue River in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Visit the paper mill and see the old water mill or stop in the Santon Museum. Continue to Saint Rémy-de-Provence, forever entwined with the legacy of Vincent van Gogh. Explore Saint-Paulde-Mausole and hear about the artist’s life and letters on a tour of the asylum grounds with a van Gogh scholar. Explore the ancient Roman city of Glanum en route to your farmhouse hotel; dinner is at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant this evening. Meals BD

then help prepare a traditional lunch. A professional sommelier guides you through a tasting and pairing of Rhône wines for your meal. Join us for an insider’s visit to the 14th-century Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where popes once resided and ruled, followed by free time to explore Avignon. Meals BL

7. PONT DU GARD & CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Journey back in time at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Pont du Gard for a walk atop the ancient bridge, testament to Roman engineering skills and love of public baths. Spend the afternoon at leisure and join us tonight for a wine tasting and farewell dinner in Châteauneuf-duPape, revered for its heavenly wines. Meals BD

8. AU REVOIR, PROVENCE Tour ends: Avignon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Auberge de Cassagne & Spa to Marseille Provence Airport. Allow three hours for check-in. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $5,740 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 4 Dinners)

BEGINS MARSEILLE 28 Apr 05, 12, 19, 26 May 02, 09, 16 ⁄ Jun 25 Aug 08, 15, 22 Sep 13 Oct ⁄ = Sold Out! All departures are Small Group Departures averaging 22 Tauck guests. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON April Double $5740 May & October Double $6090 June – September Double $6590

In medieval Avignon, a chef accompanies you to the local markets, brimming with fresh produce, baguettes straight from the oven, fragrant herbs, and seasonal specialties; choose ingredients for a hands-on cooking lesson,

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Triple $4285

Single $8031

Triple $4659

Single $8748

Triple $4914

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Ask about our private group departures, additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

4 ACTIVITY

6. A TASTE OF AVIGNON

Single $7654

3 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5-7

LE PIGONNET LA BASTIDE DE GORDES AUBERGE DE CASSAGNE & SPA

Aix-en-Provence Gordes Le Pontet-Avignon

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A WEEK IN… PARIS & PROVENCE

Paris

1. ARRIVE NICE AND ON TO CANNES

4. ARLES, THE PONT DU GARD & OLIVE OIL

Tour begins: 6:30 PM, JW Marriott Cannes. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to JW Marriott Cannes, gracing one of the most famous waterfronts on the French Riviera. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening at your luxury hotel. Meals D

Travel to medieval Arles where a walking tour of Old Town takes in the Roman ruins and includes places you might recognize from van Gogh’s art, including The Café Terrace and others. Continue to the Pont du Gard for a walk atop the 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct. Tour

2. EXPLORE CANNES & CRUISE TO NICE Paris

S e ine

ve r Maximum Elevation: 1,500 ft.

re Loi R ive r

FRANCE

ra eed T igh Sp TGV H

Take a guided walking tour in star-studded Old Town Cannes and, seas permitting, board a private boat for a cruise to Nice. Enjoy a guided visit to the Chagall Museum, a national museum spotlighting religious-inspired works by the Russian-born painter who made France his home, followed by a walking tour, lunch, and free time to explore as you wish. Return to your hotel for an evening spent as you please. Meals BL

SWITZERLAND

3. AIX-EN-PROVENCE & WINE TASTING View Mont Sainte-Victoire, often painted by Paul Cézanne, en route to Aix-en-Provence for a walking tour with a local guide. This afternoon visit a private estate and winery in the Baux Valley for a wine tasting. Continue to St-Rémy-de-Provence for a two-night stay at a hotel and spa in the heart of the town. Meals BD

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ITALY

Avignon St-Rémyde-Provence Pont du Gard Pro Nice ven Arles ce Aix-enCannes Provence

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

FRANCE / SPAIN / PORTUGAL

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Traveling along the back roads of Provence is a vivid contrast of lush forests, olive groves, deep valleys & ancient villages splashed with sepia tones • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Select departures enjoy an after-hours evening visit to Musée du Louvre • Two nights in Cannes with a private cruise to Nice (seas permitting) for sightseeing and lunch • An olive oil tasting at Moulin Castelas and a Provençal dinner with folklore at a farmhouse • Inside visit to the Palais des Papes in Avignon with a local guide; wine tasting at a château near St-Rémy-de-Provence • 14 meals, airport transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

the award-winning Moulin Castelas olive orchards for an insider’s look at their oil production process and a tasting. Then it’s on to a local farmhouse for dinner and a presentation of Provençal folklore. Meals BD

5. MEDIEVAL AVIGNON & TGV TRAIN TO PARIS Tour the Palais des Papes in medieval Avignon with a local guide and enjoy time to explore this walled papal city on your own. This afternoon, board the high-speed TGV for a three-night stay in Paris. You’re in for a culinary treat this evening – dinner at the acclaimed Alain Ducasse restaurant, Aux Lyonnais. Meals BD

6. DISCOVER THE JOIE DE VIVRE OF PARIS Today’s orientation tour gives you a great overview of city landmarks and includes the Arc de Triomphe,

Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and Cathedral of Notre Dame. Join us for lunch at a local restaurant with great views of landmark sights, then explore Paris as you wish for the rest of the day. Meals BL

7. MUSÉE DU LOUVRE & A FAREWELL TO PARIS Take a guided tour of the Musée du Louvre, before enjoying free time or a visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame with a local guide. (Due to Tuesday closures, day of Louvre visit may vary.) Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight at a local restaurant with views of the Eiffel Tower, all lit up for the evening. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hôtel Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg to Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport is included. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

8 DAYS FROM AUD $5,740 PLUS AIRFARE (7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

BEGINS NICE 21, 28 Apr 05, 26 May 02, 09, 30 Jun 04, 25 Aug 01, 08, 29 Sep 06 Oct Dates in blue indicate Small Group Departures averaging 24 Tauck guests, priced from AUD $6490 per person double; specific dates apply – ask at booking. Special Solo Traveller Savings: dates in red indicate special departures where you save AUD $250 on the single room price; inquire at booking. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional departure dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON May – 29 June; October Double $5990 30 June – August Double $5740 September Double $6240

Single $7945

Triple $5656

Single $7695

Triple $5413

Single $8195

Triple $5914

EXCLUSIVE AFTER-HOURS VISIT TO THE LOUVRE See Mona Lisa smile, fall in love with Venus de Milo, and mingle with Monets, Michelangelos, Rembrandts, and Renoirs on Tauck’s private after hours visit to the Louvre on departures of 21 Apr; 26 May; 25 Aug; 01, 29 Sep; and 06 Oct– specially priced from AUD $5,990. Ask at booking.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3,4 Night 5-7

JW MARRIOTT CANNES LE VALLON DE VALRUGUES & SPA SOFITEL PARIS LE FAUBOURG

Cannes St-Rémy-de-Provence Paris

tauck.com.au 127

RIVER CRUISING/SMALL SHIP CRUISING From great seafaring expeditions bound for ocean shores to royal voyages on the rivers of kings, the stories of Europe unfold along

waterways, historically rich and culturally resplendent. Come aboard Tauckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riverboats, custom crafted with onboard luxuries for your cruising comfort, for a picturesque parade of treasured sights, pausing in medieval villages for wine tastings, palace feasts, musical interludes and local diversions that welcome your interests. Set sail with us aboard a small ship designed for intimate exploration as you drop anchor in hidden harbours and island ports for personal discoveries of daily life uniquely orchestrated and delightfully experienced. Aboard and ashore, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy the connections, camaraderie and choices that are inherent in a Tauck cruise, finding magic in the moments and carefree joys untold.

Moselle River

128

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 129

CRUISING THE SEINE PLUS PARIS & LONDON VOYAGE AT A GLANCE M 9 CRUISE DAYS London to Paris Day

Destination 1

Arrive London The Savoy

London

M 3

London / Embark Paris

M 4

Paris

M 5

Paris

M 6

Conflans-Sainte-Honorine / Auvers-sur-Oise

M 7

Vernon / Giverny

M 8

Rouen

M 9

Le Havre / Étretat / Honfleur

A RIVERBOAT REVERIE ONBOARD & ASHORE Discover a tale of two cities, Tauck Style, as you journey from London to Paris for a cruise steeped in art, culture and historic treasures. Spend two nights at The Savoy, one of London’s most storied hotels, enriched with personal stories about one of England’s most historic figures during dinner with Winston Churchill’s accomplished granddaughter, author Celia Sandys. Ride the rails to Paris, travelling under the English tunnel, before embarking

UNITED KINGDOM London

Eu Étretat

M 10 D-Day Beaches M 11 Les Andelys 12 Disembark Paris / Journey home

130

Les Andelys

D-Day Beaches

Le Havre Honfleur

Bayeux

Caen

Maximum Elevation: 528 ft.

ro st ar

BELGIUM

Caudebec-en-Caux Rouen S Riveine er

Les Andelys Tilly

Vernon Giverny Conflans-Sainte-Honorine Versailles

Auverssur-Oise

Paris

FRANCE

RIVER CRUISING

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private dinner with musical entertainment at Château de Bizy; presentation by Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill; and an early opening visit to Claude Monet’s home and gardens at Giverny • T wo nights in London at The Savoy with guided sightseeing and free time to explore • A choice of guided excursions to Étretat and Honfleur or a visit to Caen Memorial & Bayeux • V isit to D-Day Beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial; cider and Calvados tasting at a farm in Normandy • 2 9 meals, airport transfers as noted, gratuities, service charges, taxes, porterage, and more

12 DAYS from AUD $8,740 plUS AirfAre (11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 10 Dinners)

BEGINS LONDON CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS SAPPHIRE Date

CAT 1

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

16 Apr

$8740

$9050 $9240

23 Jul, 08 Oct

$9490 $9800 $9990 $10,930 $11,680 $11,930 $12,550

17 Aug

$9740

ms Sapphire, one of Tauck’s recently reconfigured dream

07 ⁄ Jun

$9990 $10,300 $10,490 $11,430 $12,180 $12,430 $13,050

boats, for a 9-night idyll along the River Seine. Experience

13 ⁄ May, 13⁄ Sep

$10,240 $10,550 $10,740 $11,680 $12,430 $12,680 $13,300

the art of Paris on a guided sightseeing excursion, a tour of Versailles or Montmartre and a choice of museum visits, from the Louvre (ask about our special after-hours visit on select dates) to the Musée d’Orsay, designed to impress with painted landscapes reflective of the ones you will see on your cruise. They include van Gogh’s haunts in Auvers-sur-Oise, Monet’s home and gardens at Giverny, open early for Tauck guests only, medieval Rouen oft pictured in Monet’s works, and seaside Honfleur, beloved

CAT 5 CAT 6

CAT 7

$10,180 $10,930 $11,180

$11,800

$10,050 $10,240 $11,180

$11,930 $12,180 $12,800

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Note: Single prices Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises or inquire at booking for complete pricing plus up-to-the-minute space availability.

woven with history. Pay tribute to the sacrifices of D-Day

on beaches immortalised by the sands of time and in

International Airfare is additional.

the American Cemetery and Memorial, eternally peaceful.

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Note: Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking. Ask about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

by Impressionist artists. Dine like royalty during an exclusive evening at 17th-century Château de Bizy, inspired by the palace at Versailles. Visit seaside Étretat, sculpted in natural beauty, or the Caen Memorial and Bayeux, intricately

Climb up to a clifftop castle in Les Andelys built in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart, Duke of Normandy, and discover the apples of Normandy’s eye at a countryside farm inviting with locally produced cider, Calvados, brandy rich, and pâté and confiture, culturally distinctive – all included and uniquely orchestrated for a delightfully carefree voyage. For complete details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Go to page 146 for riverboat deck plans & specifications.

tauck.com.au 131

BUDAPEST TO AMSTERDAM BY RIVERBOAT Amsterdam

3 RIVERS, 5 COUNTRIES!

VOYAGE AT A GLANCE M 14 CRUISE DAYS

Begin your adventure

surrounded by the architectural grandeur of Budapest, the “Pearl of the Danube,” known for its hot-spring baths and a Parliament building that will take your breath away! Sail to Bratislava, an ancient city with a modern vibe, where our

Amsterdam to Budapest

Day

Destination

Day

Destination

M 1

Embark Budapest

M 1

Embark Amsterdam

M 2

Budapest

M 2

Amsterdam & Nijmegen

M 3

Bratislava / Vienna

M 3

Köln

M 4

Vienna

M 4

Rüdesheim

M 5

Melk

M 5

A Day Cruising the Main River

M 6

Passau

M 6

Würzburg / Rothenburg

M 7

Regensburg

M 7

Bamberg

M 8

Nürnberg

M 8

Nürnberg

M 9

Bamberg

M 9

Regensburg

M 11 Melk / Vienna

M 12 Rüdesheim

M 12 Vienna

M 13 Köln

M 13 Vienna / Bratislava

M 14 Amsterdam

M 14 Budapest

15 Disembark Amsterdam

132

15 Disembark Budapest

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

Amsterdam

Maximum Elevation: 1,332 ft.

Köln

BELGIUM

LUX.

POLAND Würzburg Main River

M 10 Passau

M 11 A Day Cruising the Main River

carpet in Vienna... dine with entertainment at a historic palace

ive

M 10 Würzburg / Rothenburg

Slovakia expert regales you with stories. Tauck rolls out the royal

Rhine R

Budapest to Amsterdam

Bamberg

CZECH REPUBLIC

Rüdesheim

FRANCE

Rothenburg Main-Danube Canal

Nürnberg Regensburg Melk Passau v er D an u be R i

AUSTRIA

SLOVAKIA Bratislava Vienna Budapest

HUNGARY

RIVER CRUISING

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A private evening at a beautiful palace in Vienna with a gala dinner and performance • I n Amsterdam, a canal cruise luncheon and a guided tour of world-famous art at the Rijksmuseum

15 DAYS from AUD $9,490 plUS AirfAre (14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches & 14 Dinners)

BEGINS BUDAPEST OR AMSTERDAM

• Guided sightseeing choices in Nürnberg and a choice of palace visits in Vienna

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS ESPRIT / MS TREASURES Date

CAT 1

CAT 2

CAT 3 CAT 4

CAT 5 CAT 6

• A ll meals – 41, including select meals in local restaurants; airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted; gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director; service charges, taxes, porterage, applicable fuel surcharges, and more

25, 28 Jul 08*, 11* Aug 17, 20* Oct

$9490 $9990

$10,300 $11,690

$12,680 $12,930 $14,430

02 ⁄ *, 05 ⁄ * May

$9860 $10,360 $ 10,680 $12,060 $13,050 $13,300 $14,800

22 Aug

$9990 $10,490

19 May

$10,360 $10,860 $11,180

03*, 06 Oct

$10,490 $10,990

– a Tauck Exclusive! – and take your choice of guided tours at the Imperial residences, Schönbrunn Palace or Hofburg Palace. Cruise through the Wachau Valley, passing rolling hills, vineyards, and fortresses; come ashore for a choice between a village walking tour and a guided bicycle ride*. Sail on to discover Melk Abbey, a beacon of learning for 900 years. Is the best German sausage in Passau, Regensburg, or Nürnberg? Though they all claim the honour, the decision is yours as you investigate their cobblestoned town squares and lanes. See Baroque buildings in Passau and enjoy a guided visit to the palace (and home) of the noble Thurn und Taxis family in Regensburg. You have a choice in Nürnberg of an Imperial castle walking tour or an exploration of sites associated with WWII. In Bamberg, choose an Old Town walking tour taking in the cathedral or a bicycle ride*. When your riverboat arrives in Würzburg, you have two

30 ⁄ May, 02*, 13*, 16, 30* Jun $10,740 $11,240 05 ⁄ *, 08⁄ , 19, 22* Sep

$10,800 $12,190

CAT 7

$13,180 $13,430 $14,930

$12,560 $13,550 $13,800 $15,300

$11,300 $12,690 $13,680 $13,930 $15,430

$11,550 $12,940 $13,930 $14,180 $15,680

⁄ = Sold Out! Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers! Solo Travellers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4, 5 and 6 on the 02 May, 28 Jul, 22 Aug, and 20 Oct departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at booking. Note: *Indicates Amsterdam to Budapest direction. Single prices in Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; ask at booking or visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises for complete pricing.

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

River carries you past castles and cathedrals until you

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. South and north itineraries are similar; for complete details please go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises or ask at booking. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking.

reach Rüdesheim for lunch and a visit to a castle museum

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

of ingenious mechanical musical instruments. Glide through

Note: Tour of 30 May will feature evening at Palais Ferstel on night 4 instead of night 3.

possibilities: a tour of one of Germany’s largest palaces followed by a wine tasting, or a visit to the “perfect fairy tale town” of Rothenburg. A day’s cruising along the Main

the romantic Lorelei Valley en route to Köln, home of one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals. Finally, you arrive in Amsterdam for a guided visit at the famed Rijksmuseum, followed by a luncheon cruise along the city’s historic canals. For complete details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

tauck.com.au 133

THE BLUE DANUBE VOYAGE AT A GLANCE M 7 CRUISE DAYS

Budapest

PICTURE YOURSELF IN PRIVATE ROYAL PALACES... with invitations for Tauck guests only... during a gala evening of Imperial entertainment

Prague to Budapest

Budapest to Prague

and dining at Palais Pallavicini in Vienna and at a private

Day

Destination

dinner and tour in Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, just

Arrive Budapest Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

two of the exclusive experiences included on this Danube

Destination 1

Arrive Prague InterContinental Prague

Prague

1 2

Budapest

Regensburg (check at booking for embarkation location)

M 3

Embark Budapest

M 4

Bratislava

M 4

Engelhartszell

M 5

Vienna

M 5

Cesky Krumlov or Salzburg

M 6

Vienna

M 6

Wachau Valley, Dürnstein

M 7

Dürnstein, Wachau Valley

M 7

Vienna

M 8

Cesky Krumlov or Salzburg

M 8

Vienna, Bratislava

M 9

Engelhartszell

M 9

Bratislava

M 3

11 Budapest

11 Prague

12 Depart Budapest

12 Depart Prague

134

POLAND GERMANY Prague CZECH REPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA

Regensburg

Cesky Krumlov Dürnstein Vilshofen Linz Vienna Engelhartszell Salzburg AUSTRIA

ITALY

SLOVENIA

Bratislava an

10 Disembark Budapest, The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest

10 (Check at booking for disembarkation location) Regensburg, Prague InterContinental Prague

Maximum Elevation: 1,610 ft.

ube River

HUNGARY

Budapest

Travelling Well Includes… • T AUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private Imperial Evening at a Viennese palace; private dinner at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague; private tour of Strahov Monastery’s Baroque libraries • T wo nights at a hotel in both Prague and Budapest • A choice in Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg • G ratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director • 2 8 meals, service charges, taxes, porterage, airport and train station transfers, and applicable fuel surcharges

RIVER CRUISING 12 DAYS from AUD $7,490 plUS AirfAre (11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches & 9 Dinners)

8-DAY crUiSe-onlY from AUD $5,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS PRAGUE OR BUDAPEST CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS SAVOR / MS JOY Date

CAT 1

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

08, 08* Apr, 28, 28* Oct

$7490

$7990 $8550 $8930 $9680 $9930 $10,550

15* Apr

$7860 $8360 $8930 $9300 $10,050 $10,300 $10,930

22, 29* Apr, 21, 21* Oct

$8090 $8610

08, 15, 15* Jul, 19, 19* Aug

$8360 $8860 $9430 $9800 $10,550 $10,800 $11,430

06, 13, 13*, 20, 20* May, 14, 14* Oct

$8740

$9240

27 May, 10 ⁄ , 17*, 24 Jun, 26 Aug, $9090 $9610 07 Oct

riverboat cruise. You’ll also discover royal legacies among the Baroque architectural gems of Salzburg and high atop

$9180

CAT 5 CAT 6

CAT 7

$9550 $10,300 $10,550 $11,180

$9800 $10,180 $10,930 $11,180

$11,800

$10,180 $10,550 $11,300 $11,550 $12,180

02*, 09 ⁄ , 16*, $9490 $9990 $10,550 $10,930 $11,680 $11,930 $12,550 23, 30, 30* Sep

Castle Hill in Budapest... during a hike up to the ruins of Kuenringer Castle above the River Danube... on your choice of insider tours at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Apartments at Hofburg Palace... on an optional excursion to Cesky Krumlov and its medieval castle... as you cruise through the Wachau Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval gems... on a locally guided walking tour through 17 centuries of noble history in Bratislava’s pedestrian centre, lined with Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, an Opera House and more... and inside the grand Baroque libraries of Prague’s Strahov Monastery on a VIP tour for Tauck guests only, where other visitors can only peer in over the velvet ropes. You’ll feel like royalty during your stay at The Ritz-Carlton Budapest or the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest where you will be wined and dined at a private Tauck dinner in the exclusive Akadémia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, arguably the most prestigious learned society in Hungary... and at the InterContinental Prague, your home base for two days of guided sightseeing and sparkling events. Add wine tastings, bicycle rides* and entertainment, onboard and ashore, and you’ll have a hint of the special experiences you’ll enjoy on our most popular riverboat cruise.

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Note: *Indicates Budapest to Prague westbound direction. Single prices Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; please visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises for complete pricing; ask at time of booking about additional 8-Day Cruise-Only pricing. Note: Cruise-only departure of 05 Jun is priced from AUD $7,490 per person.

Land / cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Note: Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer & premium spirits, in addition to specialty coffee, water & soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions are valued at AUD $4,569. International Airfare is additional. Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Please go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises for day-by-day details; east and west itineraries are similar. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking in each city. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. Eastbound tours of 13 May & 27 May will stay at the Boscolo Hotel in Budapest. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans.

For complete details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 135

Travelling Well Includes... • T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – A farm-to-table dinner at a forest retreat outside of Köln • 2 0 meals; gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director; airport and train station transfers as noted; service charges and more

Cruise with Chef Luca Manfè on 08 April, 2019! Join MasterChef winner Luca Manfè for an exclusive departure featuring onboard demonstrations, tastings and a Signature Dinner by Chef Luca.

Heidelberg

8 DAYS from AUD $5,860 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

THE ROMANTIC RHINE: AMSTERDAM TO BASEL

BEGINS AMSTERDAM OR BASEL CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS INSPIRE / MS GRACE Date

CAT 1

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

CAT 5 CAT 6

CAT 7

SAIL FROM THE NETHERLANDS, THROUGH GERMANY AND FRANCE TO SWITZERLAND... Immerse in the enchanting

08 Apr, 19* Oct $5860 $6360 $6930 $7300 $8050 $8300 $8930 08* Jul

$6240 $6740

$7300 $7680 $8430 $8680 $9300

29* Apr

$6590 $7110

$7680 $8050 $8800 $9050 $9680

scenery of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, losing count of the

13* May

$6990 $7490

$8050 $8430 $9180

castles, vineyards, and picturesque towns along the river.

24* May, 12* Jun, $7360 $7860 $8430 $8800 $9550 $9800 $10,430 02*, 10* Sep

Other highlights include Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses and pink Gothic cathedral, a canal cruise and guided visit to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, a thrilling ride up Mt. Pilatus, and more! For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

Note: *Indicates Amsterdam to Basel southbound direction. Single prices in Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; please visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises or inquire at time of booking for complete pricing plus up-to-the-minute space availability.

NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Utrecht

Maximum Elevation: 6,982 ft.

Engelskirchen

Köln Rh

GERMANY

ine

BELGIUM

Ri v

Koblenz

Bacharach Speyer

Mannheim Heidelberg

FRANCE Baden-Baden

Strasbourg Ch‰teau du Haut-Koenigsbourg

Breisach Basel

Mt. Pilatus

136

Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers! Solo Travellers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4 and 5 on 08 April, 08 July and 19 October departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at booking.

$9430 $10,050

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Land / cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, and on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions are valued at AUD $2,641. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Northbound and southbound itineraries are similar; please go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises or ask at booking. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking.

SWITZERLAND

Lucerne

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

RIVER CRUISING /SMALL SHIP CRUISING

The Netherlands

Travelling Well Includes… • T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private opening at the Mauritshuis museum, including a tour and dinner • 2 0 meals; gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director; airport & train station transfers as noted, service charges, taxes, porterage & applicable fuel surcharges

8 DAYS from AUD $4,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS BRUSSELS OR AMSTERDAM CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS ESPRIT / MS TREASURES

BELGIUM & HOLLAND IN SPRING TULIPS, ART, WINDMILLS & BREWERIES!

Date

CAT 1

07*Apr

$5490 $5840 $6060 $6990 $7800 $7980 $8980

11, 14, 18 ⁄ *, 21*, 25, 28 Apr

$6240 $6590 $6810

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

$7740

CAT 5 CAT 6

CAT 7

$8550 $8730 $9730

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS GRACE Date

CAT 1

There’s no more iconic part of the world to experience spring.

02* Apr

$4990 $5340 $5560 $6430 $7180

$7480

$8480

Explore Keukenhof Gardens in full bloom, discover Amsterdam by

09 Apr

$5990 $6340 $6560 $7430

$8480

$9480

canal boat, and enjoy guided visits to the Rijksmuseum... the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp, where many Europeans set sail for a new life as Americans... the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk... historic Bruges, Ghent, and Dordrecht... and the Mauritshuis, home of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Savor a Belgian chocolate demonstration, a Flemish brewery tour, and more! For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

CAT 5 CAT 6

$8180

⁄ = Sold Out! Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers! Solo Travellers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4, 5 and 6 on the 07 and 28 April departures. Solo Travelers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4 and 5 on the 02 April departure. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

CAT 7

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Note: *Indicates Amsterdam to Brussels direction. Single prices Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; please visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises or inquire at time of booking for complete pricing plus up-to-the-minute space availability.

NETHERLANDS

Maximum Elevation: 190 ft.

Haarlem

Amsterdam Huizen Utrecht Rotterdam Kinderdijk Dordrecht

Den Haag

Lisse

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

GERMANY

Antwerp

Bruges Ghent

Brussels

BELGIUM FRANCE LUX.

Itinerary Changes: North and south itineraries are similar; please go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises or ask at booking. Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Further, museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 137

THE RHINE, SWISS ALPS & AMSTERDAM

The River Rhine

NETHERLANDS

VOYAGE AT A GLANCE M 7 CRUISE DAYS

Amsterdam

Arrive Amsterdam Embark Amsterdam

Bern

M 2

Amsterdam

M 3

Lucerne / Embark Basel

M 3

Dordrecht / Kinderdijk

M 4

Breisach / Colmar

M 4

Köln / Engelskirchen

M 5

Karlsruhe / Stuttgart

M 5

Rüdesheim

M 6

Rüdesheim / Linz am Rhein Engelskirchen / Bonn

M 6

Karlsruhe / Stuttgart

M 7

Breisach / Colmar

M 7

Köln

M 8

Dordrecht / Kinderdijk

M 9

Amsterdam

Disembark Basel / Lucerne / Bern Bellevue Palace Bern

Bern

Köln

BELGIUM Rüdesheim

Karlsruhe

FRANCE

Colmar

Bern

10 Depart Bern

Stuttgart

Breisach

Basel

10 Disembark Amsterdam

Zurich Lucerne

SWITZERLAND Maximum Elevation: 1,036 ft.

138

Engelskirchen

Riv er

Destination

M 1

Rhine

Day

Arrive Zurich / Bern Bellevue Palace Bern

Destination 1

GERMANY

R iv

Day

Dordrecht

in e

Amsterdam to Bern

Bern to Amsterdam

Jungfraujoch

Travelling Well Includes… • T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – Visit to Jungfraujoch, high in the snow-clad Swiss Alps • T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – Reception at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar

RIVER CRUISING to Bern for a two-night stay at historic Bellevue Palace Bern. Immerse in jaw-dropping Alpine scenery as you head to the highest railway station in Europe – the bucket list destination of Jungfraujoch! For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

• T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – Dinner and entertainment at Schloss Ehreshoven • Two nights at the Bellevue Palace Bern • A guided visit to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, plus a canal boat cruise or a walking and tasting tour of the Jordaan district • 2 4 meals; gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director; airport and train station transfers as noted, service charges, taxes, porterage and more

CRUISE THE ENTIRE RIVER RHINE PLUS TWO NIGHTS AT A PREMIER HOTEL IN SWITZERLAND... Embark your riverboat in Amsterdam, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour at the famed Rijksmuseum and either a canal boat cruise or a walking tour of the historic Jordaan District – with tastings! Your ship sails to Dordrecht for a guided stroll and a visit to the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk; discover the area on a guided bicycle ride*, if you like. Cruise on to Köln for a visit inside one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals and a walking tour, followed by a magical Tauck Exclusive evening with a reception, dinner, and tour at the country estate of Schloss Ehreshoven. Gliding through Germany’s romantic Middle Rhine Valley, you’ll pass castles, historic towns, and vineyards en route to Rüdesheim for a choice between a walk along cobblestone streets lined with storybook houses and wine taverns plus a visit to a castle museum of antique self-playing musical instruments, or a guided bicycle ride* along the Rhine. In Karlsruhe, choose a guided bicycle excursion* or a drive to Stuttgart for a walking tour, sightseeing, and a visit to the Porsche Museum. In France’s Alsatian wine country, experience charming Colmar, where a walking tour leads to the Unterlinden Museum, home

10 DAYS from AUD $7,240 plUS AirfAre (9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 8 Dinners)

BEGINS ZURICH OR AMSTERDAM CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS INSPIRE / MS GRACE Date

CAT 1

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4 CAT 5 CAT 6 CAT 7

15* Apr, 27* Oct $7240

$7740

$8300 $8680 $9430 $9680 $10,300

26 Apr, 27 Jul, 24 Aug

$7740

$8240 $8800 $9180 $9930 $10,180 $10,800

15 May

$8240 $8740

27* May 01, 29 Jun 01, 07, 21 Sep

$8490 $8990 $9550 $9930 $10,680 $10,930 $11,550

$9300 $9680 $10,430 $10,680 $11,300

Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers! Solo Travellers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4 and 5 on 15 Apr, 29 Jun, 24 Aug, and 27 Oct departures. Certain restrictions apply; please ask for more details at the time of booking.

2 ACTIVITY 3 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Note: *Indicates Amsterdam to Bern direction. Single prices Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; please visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises or inquire at time of booking for complete pricing plus up-to-the-minute space availability. Land / cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, and on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions are valued at AUD $4,441. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. North and south itineraries are similar; for details, please go to our website at tauck.com.au/river-cruises or ask at booking. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. This cruise includes a fair amount of walking. Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

exploring Switzerland with a drive to lakeside Lucerne, where

Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

you’ll see the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge. Travel

Note: Tour of 27 Jul will have dinner at an alternate location night 6.

of masterpieces including the Isenheim Altarpiece, for a Tauck Exclusive private reception. Disembark in Basel to begin

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 139

THE RHINE AND MOSELLE

Cochem

VOYAGE AT A GLANCE NETHERLANDS

M 12 CRUISE DAYS

Destination

M 1

Arrive Amsterdam

M 1

Arrive Basel

M 2

Amsterdam

M 2

Basel or Rhine Falls

M 3

De Hoge Veluwe Nat’l Park

M 3

Strasbourg

M 4

Köln

M 4

Baden-Baden

M 5

Cochem, Moselle Valley

M 5

Heidelberg

M 6

Luxembourg, Traben-Trarbach

M 6

Middle Rhine Valley, Boppard

M 7

Trier

M 7

Cochem, Moselle Valley

M 8

Boppard, Middle Rhine Valley

M 8

Luxembourg, Traben-Trarbach

M 9

Heidelberg

M 9

Trier

M 10 Baden-Baden

M 10 Köln

M 11 Strasbourg

M 11 De Hoge Veluwe Nat’l Park

M 12 Basel or Rhine Falls

M 12 Amsterdam

13 Depart Basel

140

13 Depart Amsterdam

De Hoge Veluwe National Park Nijmegen

Maximum Elevation: 1,919 ft.

BELGIUM

Köln

Engelskirchen

TrabenKoblenz GERMANY Trarbach Cochem Boppard

LUXEMBOURG

lle

Trier Luxembourg

Mo se

Day

Destination

Ri v

Day

Amsterdam

ine

Basel to Amsterdam

Amsterdam to Basel

Bad Dürkheim

Heidelberg Speyer Karlsruhe

FRANCE

Strasbourg

Basel

Baden-Baden

Rhine Falls

Schaffhausen

SWITZERLAND

RIVER CRUISING

Travelling Well Includes… • T AUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private evening with dinner and a guided tour at Schloss Ehreshoven in Germany, hosted by a member of nobility • A cruise along the canals of Amsterdam, and a Rijksmuseum visit

when you visit the spa town of Baden-Baden and see the Belle Époque casino. In Strasbourg, explore Old Town, a blend of Germany and France that is as enchanting as can be. And discover the charms of Basel with a choice of sightseeing – city sights and free time or a boat cruise to spectacular Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall. Please visit tauck.com.au/ river-cruises for complete day-by-day details.

• C able car to Heidelberg Schloss; a walking tour and lunch in Heidelberg’s Old Town • W ine tasting at a Moselle Valley winery museum, family-owned for 11 generations • A n excursion to Kröller-Müller Museum in De Hoge Veluwe National Park • 3 5 meals, airport transfers as noted, gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director, service charges, taxes, porterage and more

13 DAYS from AUD $7,990 plUS AirfAre (12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches & 12 Dinners)

BEGINS AMSTERDAM OR BASEL CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS GRACE / MS INSPIRE Date

CAT 1

16* Apr

$7990 $8680 $9460 $9980 $10,990 $11,360 $12,240

15 Oct

$8490 $9180

CAT 2 CAT 3 CAT 4

CAT 5 CAT 6

CAT 7

$9960 $10,480 $11,490 $11,860 $12,740

29* Jul, $8590 $9300 $10,080 $10,600 $11,610 $11,990 $12,860 10, 22* Aug 05*, 31 May, $9360 $10,050 $10,830 $11,350 $12,360 $12,740 $13,610 19 Jun $9590 $10,300 $11,080 $11,600 $12,610 $12,990 $13,860

CASTLES, VINEYARDS & CATHEDRALS...

30* Sep

in picture-perfect poses invite discovery as you cruise the Rhine

Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travelers! Solo Travellers also enjoy Savings of AUD $1,250 per cabin in Category 4 and 5 on 16 April, 29 July, 10 August, and 15 October departures. Certain restrictions apply; ask at time of booking.

between Amsterdam and Basel. Enjoy a boat cruise along the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam, a guided tour at the Rijksmuseum, and a visit with a family in their canal houseboat. Venture ashore to explore the Kröller-Müller Museum in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, and its world-class collection of art, including many van Goghs – or bicycle* through the park. In Köln, take a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Old Town, under the watch of Köln Cathedral, one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic confections. Dine like royalty at Schloss Ehreshoven open to Tauck for an exclusive evening hosted by an ancestor of the noble owners. Veer down the Moselle River to Cochem for a tour of Reichsburg Castle and a tasting at a wine museum. In Luxembourg, visit Old Town and the cathedral before heading to the Luxembourg American Cemetery & Memorial. If you like, bicycle along the Moselle before sailing on to Trier. Wind through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its picturesque riverside castles, medieval hamlets and terraced vineyards. Choose between a tasting at a family-owned organic winery or a visit to Heidelberg to see a great symbol of European Romanticism, Heidelberg Castle. Follow in the steps of 19th-century elite

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Note: *Indicates Amsterdam to Basel southbound direction. Single prices in Category 2 and above start at 40% over the double price; for complete pricing and space availability, please inquire at time of booking or visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

Cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes cruise fare, most meals, unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship including regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges, and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions are valued at AUD $3,714. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air, in coach or business, for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. South and north itineraries are similar; go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises or ask at booking. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays. Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

tauck.com.au 141

NORWEGIAN FJORDS & COASTAL TREASURES

Bergen

VOYAGE AT A GLANCE

M 7 CRUISE DAYS ABOARD LE DUMONT DÕURVILLE Bergen to Oslo

Oslo to Bergen

Day 1

Destination Arrive Bergen RADISSON BLU ROYAL HOTEL, BERGEN / CLARION COLLECTION HAVNEKONTORET

Day 1

Destination Arrive Oslo GRAND HOTEL OSLO / HOTEL BRISTOL

M 2

Oslo / Embark Oslo

Bergen / Embark Bergen

M 3

Göteborg

Olden / Mt. Hoven

M 4

Arendal

Hellesylt

M 5

Stavanger

Ålesund

M 6

Ålesund

Stavanger

M 7

Hellesylt

Arendal

M 8

Olden / Mt. Hoven

Göteborg

Disembark Oslo GRAND HOTEL OSLO / HOTEL BRISTOL

10 Depart Oslo

Ålesund Hellesylt Geiranger Loen/Loen Lake Olden

NORWEGIAN SEA

Disembark Bergen RADISSON BLU ROYAL HOTEL, BERGEN / CLARION COLLECTION HAVNEKONTORET

Maximum Elevation: 4,800 ft.

Bergen

Oslo

NORWAY SWEDEN Stavanger

Arendal

Göteborg

NORTH SEA

10 Depart Bergen DENMARK

142

Travelling Well Includes…

RIVER CRUISING /SMALL SHIP CRUISING

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Presentations by the Tauck team onboard ship during the cruise to provide insights for Tauck guests • 7-night cruise, with premier hotel stays and sightseeing in Oslo and Bergen • An exclusive tour, reception and private concert at Edvard Grieg’s historic home in Bergen • Choice of fjord country sightseeing: a private guided cruise on Lake Loen and a walk to Kjenndal Glacier or a troll car ride and views of Briksdal Glacier; Geirangerfjord, with a gondola ride up to the Sunnmøre “Alps,” Dalsnibba or kayaking to Geiranger • 25 meals; all gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and ship staff; airport transfers as noted; applicable fuel surcharges, service charges, porterage and more

10 DAYS from AUD $10,360 plUS AirfAre (9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 9 Dinners)

BEGINS BERGEN OR OSLO Westbound – Oslo to Bergen 08 Jun

Eastbound – Bergen to Oslo 01, 15 ⁄ Jun ⁄ = Sold Out!

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

LAND / CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON M Deluxe Cabin – Deck 3 Double $10,360

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 4 Double $11,240

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 5 Double $11,590

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 6 Double $11,860

Single $14,499

Triple N/A

Single $15,733

Triple N/A

Single $16,248

Triple N/A

Single $16,615

Triple N/A

M Deluxe Suite – Deck 3, 4, 5, 6 Double $13,740

M Prestige Suite – Deck 5

SUBLIME BLUE FJORDS, GLACIERS, MOUNTAINS, CULTURE & HISTORY Your cruise journey in one of the world’s most spectacular countries begins with an overnight in the beautiful port city of Bergen, at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bergen or Clarion Collection Havnekontoret. Enjoy a guided tour of Bryggen

Double $16,360

Single $19,224

Triple N/A

Single N/A

Triple $11,623

MM Prestige Suite – Deck 6 Double $16,990 Single N/A

Triple $12,053

MM Privilege Suite – Deck 5, 6 Double $17,240 Single N/A

Triple $12,216

M Grand Deluxe Suite – Deck 5, 6 Double $19,090

M Owner’s Suite – Deck 6

Single N/A

Triple N/A

Single N/A

Triple N/A

harbour, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a visit to a stave

Double $20,360

church before heading to the home of Edvard Grieg, Norway’s

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

greatest composer, for a tour, a private reception, and a private piano concert. Sail aboard Le Dumont d’Urville to Olden for a gondola ride to the summit of Mt. Hoven followed by a choice between a Lake Loen boat cruise and a guided walk to views of Kjenndal Glacier, or a troll car ride and walk to Briksdal Glacier in Jostedalsbreen National Park. Experience Geirangerfjord your way – from sea to mountains with a gondola ride to the Sunnmøre “Alps,” a cruise to the village of Geiranger and a drive to Dalsnibba for breathtaking views, or guided kayaking. In Ålesund, choose an Art Nouveau walking tour, a panoramic drive, bicycling, or kayaking. Discover Stavanger at Swords in Rock, an Iron Age Farm, and the Norwegian Petroleum Museum... or on an Old Stavanger walking tour. Take in the Botanical Garden or the Volvo Museum in Göteborg, Sweden. Overnight in Oslo at Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol; visit the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Museum devoted to polar expeditions, and Frogner Sculpture Park. For complete day-by-day details, deck plans,

2 ACTIVITY

Land / Cruise Price includes everything described in General Information as well as private Tauck shore excursions, cruise 2 fare, port charges, applicable fuel surcharges, entertainment and PACE gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff. Aboard ship alcoholic Go to page 169 for activity and pace and non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the day, level details. including house wines & spirits; premium spirits and wines are available at extra cost. Departures will be hosted by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at AUD $3,894. Travel East or West: Go to tauck.com.au/small-ship-cruises for complete itineraries. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Please inquire at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1

RADISSON BLU ROYAL HOTEL, BERGEN / CLARION COLLECTION HAVNEKONTORET Night 2-8 ABOARD LE DUMONT DÕURVILLE

Bergen

Night 9

Norwegian & North seas Oslo

GRAND HOTEL OSLO / HOTEL BRISTOL

and ship specifications, visit tauck.com.au/small-ship-cruises.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 143

TREASURES OF THE BRITISH/IRISH ISLES VOYAGE AT A GLANCE M 7 CRUISE DAYS ABOARD L’ AUSTRAL

NORTHERN IRELAND

ISLE OF MAN

Belfast

Douglas

IRELAND

IRISH SEA

Dublin

Liverpool

UNITED KINGDOM

Blarney Castle

NORTH SEA

ENGLAND

WALES

Cork Cobh Kinsale

London Portsmouth ENGLISH CHANNEL

Tresco

ISLES St. Mary’s OF SCILLY

St. Peter Port

Maximum Elevation: 115 ft.

144

Dublin to London

London to Dublin

Day

SCOTLAND

GUERNSEY

FRANCE

Guernsey

Destination Arrive Dublin CONRAD DUBLIN THE WESTBURY THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN

Sightsee Dublin

M 3

Dublin Embark L’Austral

Destination Arrive London HYATT REGENCY – THE CHURCHILL, LONDON THE LANGHAM, LONDON THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS

Sightsee London

M 3

Portsmouth Embark L’Austral

M 4

Belfast

M 5

Isle of Man

M 4

Guernsey

M 6

Liverpool

M 5

Isles of Scilly

M 7

Cobh / Cork / Kinsale

M 6

Cobh / Cork / Kinsale

M 8

Isles of Scilly

M 7

Liverpool

M 9

Guernsey

M 8

Isle of Man

M 9

Belfast

10 Portsmouth / Disembark L’Austral / London HYATT REGENCY – THE CHURCHILL, LONDON THE LANGHAM, LONDON THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS

10 Dublin / Disembark L’Austral CONRAD DUBLIN THE WESTBURY THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN

11 London

11 Dublin

12 Depart London

12 Depart Dublin

RIVER CRUISING /SMALL SHIP CRUISING

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Talk by a local historian on “The Troubles” in Belfast, plus a choice of Titanic- inspired tours or a scenic coastal drive • Two-night stays in Dublin and London

12 DAYS

Prestige Suite – Deck 6 Double $12,460 from

AUD $10,740 plUSTriple AirfAre Single N/A $8969

(11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches & 9 Dinners)

• A choice of included shore excursions in every port • Explore the Isle of Man by steam train, on a guided hike or a panoramic sightseeing tour

BEGINS DUBLIN OR LONDON 20 Apr; 04⁄ May – Westbound – London to Dublin 27 Apr – Eastbound – Dublin to London

• Visit to Abbey Gardens on Tresco Island or St. Mary’s Island in the Isles of Scilly

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

• All gratuities to Tauck Director(s), ship staff aboard L’Austral, and local guides

M Superior Cabin – Deck 3

• 29 meals, airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted, service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes and porterage

LAND / CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON Double $10,740

M Deluxe Cabin – Deck 3 Double $11,190

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 4 Double $11,680

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 5 Double $11,890

M Prestige Cabin – Deck 6

ISLES OF DELIGHT... Enjoy the best of land from

Double $12,140

the sea as you cruise aboard L’Austral between Dublin

Double $14,190

M Deluxe Suite – Deck 6

and London going ashore in fabled ports for cultural

MM Prestige Suite – Deck 5

discoveries that meet your interests. Explore the capital

Double $15,690

cities of Ireland and England from a choice of premier hotels, enjoying guided sightseeing and special Tauck

⁄ = Sold Out!

Single $15,033

Triple $7892

Single $15,689

Triple N/A

Single $16,345

Triple N/A

Single $16,678

Triple N/A

Single $16,997

Triple N/A

Single N/A

Triple N/A

Single N/A

Triple $11,191

Single N/A

Triple $11,612

Single N/A

Triple $12,466

MM Prestige Suite – Deck 6 Double $16,340

M Owner’s Suite – Deck 6

experiences from an exclusive children’s choir performance

Double $17,590

in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral to an exclusive early

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on int’l air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

opening visit to the Tower of London. Learn about Belfast’s politically charged struggles from a local expert and choose to discover an array of city sites and the Titanic your way. Go wild on a scenic excursion or a hike on the Isle of Man or ride the rails to new heights with staggering views. Follow in the Beatles’ footsteps in Liverpool or venture to Chester for a look back in time. Explore Cork, Kinsale, Cobh or Blarney Castle in southern Ireland; cast anchor amid the Isles of Scilly for a visit to St. Mary’s or Tresco islands; and experience the Victorian charms of

2 Land / Cruise Price includes everything described in General ACTIVITY Information as well as private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, applicable fuel surcharges, entertainment and gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff. Alcoholic and 2 non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the day aboard PACE ship, including house wines & spirits; premium spirits and wines Go to page 169 for activity and pace are available at extra cost. Departures will be hosted by one Tauck level details. Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions are valued at AUD $4,638. Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections. Travel East or West: Go to tauck.com.au/small-ship-cruises for day-by-day itineraries. Ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise.

Guernsey, with tastings of cream tea or gin, a feast of scenic beauty on a nature hike or a WWII-inspired tour that

Please go to tauck.com.au for deck plans and ship specifications.

enlightens with history and heroics. Have lunch in Hampton

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

Court Palace and toast culinary specialties in a London

Night 1,2

CONRAD DUBLIN / THE WESTBURY / THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN

Dublin, Ireland

Night 3-9

ABOARD L’AUSTRAL

Irish Sea / English Channel

Night 10,11

HYATT REGENCY – THE CHURCHILL / THE LANGHAM, LONDON / THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS

London, England

pub. Onboard ship enjoy comfortable accommodations, warm camaraderie, convivial conversation, chef-made cuisine and complimentary house wines and spirits, along with regional entertainment and performances that celebrate the essence of the places you visit. For complete details, visit tauck.com.au/small-ship-cruises.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 145

MS EMERALD, SAPPHIRE, ESPRIT & TREASURES Category 1

Built: 2006 – 2011 Refurbished: 2017, 2018 Registry: Swiss Length: 361 ft. / 110 m. Width: 37 ft. / 11.4 m. Draft: 4 ft. / 1.2 m. Maximum Number of Guests: 98 Number of Guest Cabins: 49 Crew Members: 36 Tauck Director Staff: 4 Number of Decks: 3 plus a Sun Deck Fully air conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes – between the Ruby and Diamond decks; stairs (12 steps) between the other decks Internet: Service levels may vary

(13.9 sq. m.)

SHIP SPECIFICATIONS

Category 2

Putting Green

(17 sq. m.)

Category 3 (13.9 sq. m.)

Category 4 B

(17 sq. m.)

Panorama Lounge

Arthur’s

Bar

Category 5 (17 sq. m.)

Category 6

(20.9 sq. m.)

Category 7 (27.8 sq. m.)

The Compass Rose

couch

Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out sleeping couch

Kitchen

B = Boutique E = Elevator F = Fitness Centre J = Jacuzzi M = Massage R = Reception Desk T = Tauck Desk

MS INSPIRE, SAVOR, JOY & GRACE Category 1 (13.9 sq. m.)

Category 2 P

SHIP SPECIFICATIONS Built: 2014 – 2016 Registry: Swiss Length: 443 ft. / 135 m. Width: 37 ft. / 11.4 m. Draft: 4 ft. / 1.2 m. Maximum Number of Guests: 130 Number of Guest Cabins: 67 Crew Members: 39 Tauck Director Staff: 4 Number of Decks: 3 plus a Sun Deck Fully air conditioned: Yes Elevator: Yes – services all decks except the Sun Deck Internet: Service levels may vary

(13.9 sq. m.)

Putting Green

Category 3 (20.9 sq. m.)

Category 4 (17.6 sq. m.) T

(17.6-20.9 sq. m.)

Arthur’s

Panorama Lounge

Bar

Category 6 (20.9 sq. m.)

Category 7 (27.8 sq. m.)

The Compass Rose E

M S

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Category 5

Kitchen

Note: All Category 7 cabins are three-guest capacity suites with a pull-out sleeping couch

B = Boutique C = Closet for Storage E = Elevator F = Fitness Centre H = Hair Salon M = Massage P = Plunge Pool R = Reception Desk S = Spa T = Tauck Desk

THE TAUCK DESTINATION FLEET

Riverboats Custom-Made for Your Cruising Comfort. Recognised as among the best in the industry, the Tauck Destination Fleet includes two sizes of custom-designed riverboats – 135 metres (443 feet) and 110 metres (361 feet) – to maximise our cruising flexibility on Europe’s rivers. We recently marked the completion of a two-year redesign and “down-tothe-steel” refurbishment of our 110 metre ships – ms Emerald, Sapphire, Treasures and Esprit – with a new, innovative deck plan providing more space per guest with no more than 98 guests onboard. Our 135 metre sister ships – ms Joy, Savor, Grace and Inspire – can each accommodate up to 130 guests in 67 cabins and suites, and offer 22 Tauck Suites (28 sq. m.), the most of any riverboat on any European river. Amenities in

Watch our video at tauck.com.au/rivercruising

these signature Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets, large bathrooms with rainfall showerheads, and two French balconies with sliding floor-to-ceiling windows. And all four of our 135 metre ships also feature eight innovative “loft” cabins extending from the first to the second decks, affording more natural light, fresh air and scenic views. All Tauck riverboats feature two indoor dining venues – The Compass Rose, our main dining room, and Arthur’s, featuring more casual fare. Other public spaces include a piano bar and lounge, and a fitness centre. Outdoor pleasures include a Sun Deck complete with a putting green and a plunge pool or Jacuzzi, along with complimentary bicycles available for your use ashore; al fresco dining is also available on the Sun Deck, weather permitting.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 147

Make travel a family affair and share a lifetime of memories with every generation. Meet Beefeaters at the Tower of London, gladiators in Rome, ski jumpers in the Alps, cowboys in Provence and friendly families who travel with you. Walk a hawk at an Irish castle, ride a bike along the Danube, play pŽtanque in a medieval village, hunt for truffles with dogs and make pizza in Italy like the locals do. Explore London on a private double-decker bus, dress up for life in a 17th-century French château, learn to cook like the Irish, yodel like the Swiss, and waltz like the Viennese on included excursions that are fun for everyone to do together. Treasure your exclusive visit to the Sistine Chapel, the Musée du Louvre, a horse ranch in Provence and private palaces in Austria and Germany, while treasuring your family time without crowds. Your family’s unforgettable European holiday starts here...

Schšnbrunn Palace

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To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

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World Travel. Family Discovery.

THE SWEET LIFE: ROME & SORRENTO

Capri

1. CIAO BELLA ROMA

3. VATICAN CITY AND PIAZZA NAVONA

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & SPA. A transfer is included upon arrival from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & SPA overlooking Villa Borghese Park. A brief city tour shows you some of Rome’s most famous sights; view the Circus Maximus, Piazza Venezia, and Palatine Hill – palatino means palace! – and go inside the Colosseum with a guide. Then join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

Visit the Basilica of St. Peter, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and one of the largest churches in the world; Michelangelo designed the dome, and his famous sculpture the Pietˆ resides here, along with works by some of the greatest Italian masters of his time and embellishment by the great Bernini. Explore the basilica and St. Peter’s Square with our local guide before a walking tour takes you to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the rest of the day as you please with your family seeing the sights of remarkable Roma. Meals BL

2. GLADIATORS, CATACOMBS & THE VATICAN Head out along the Appian Way to Gladiator School, where you’ll not only get a fun introduction to ancient Roman history but also learn the essentials of fighting, gladiator style. Next up is a guided visit to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where you’ll learn about the “secret language” of the early Christian symbols found in frescoes and inscriptions throughout the underground tunnels. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then enjoy some free time in Rome or go to the Trevi Fountain; according to legend, if you make a wish as you toss a coin in the fountain you’ll return to Rome someday! Tonight enjoy a special experience – a Tauck Exclusive after-hours, guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability, day of visit may vary), without crowds. You’ll be able to take your time to contemplate the treasures inside, including Michelangelo’s spectacular frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which took four years to paint. Meals BL

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Rome

Hig h-s pe ed

ITALY tra in

Naples Sorrento

Pompeii Amalfi

Capri

Positano

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

Travelling Well Includes…

FAMILY JOURNEYS

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

pool or see the town. Perched on cliffs overlooking the bay, Sorrento is magical with colourful architecture, citrus groves, gardens, and charming narrow streets. Meals BL

• Guided visits to Rome’s Colosseum & catacombs and a lesson in how to be a gladiator

6. THE AMALFI COAST, A CRUISE & MORE

• A special evening at an agriturismo outside Sorrento where you make your own pizza

As you drive along the Amalfi Coast, the road rises, falls, twists and turns beside the sea! Take a walking tour of Positano, a town of pastel houses on steep cliffs above a bay of blue water, then board a private boat for a cruise to enchanting seaside Amalfi. Spend free time exploring its winding lanes, go for a swim, or visit the Cathedral of St. Andrew, filled with medieval art. Return to Sorrento and join us for a farewell barbecue dinner. Meals BD

• A day on the Isle of Capri; arrive by ferry and explore by convertible car

7. JOURNEY HOME

• High-speed train from Rome to Naples; a local guide takes you through the ruins of Pompeii • Three nights at Hilton Sorrento Palace in Executive Level rooms with sea views

• A drive along the spectacular Amalfi coastline and a private cruise to Amalfi

Tour ends: Sorrento. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hilton Sorrento Palace to Naples Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

• Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted • 13 meals; gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides, drivers; service charges, taxes, and porterage

7 DAYS from AUD $4,590 plUS AirfAre (6 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 3 Dinners)

BEGINS ROME 4. POMPEII AND A SLICE OF LOCAL LIFE Travel in First Class aboard a high-speed train to Naples. Then you’re off to Pompeii, a city frozen in time when the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried it under ash and pumice in 79 AD. On a guided walk, you’ll see ancient houses containing furniture and art! After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Sorrento. Later you’ll visit Agriturismo La Galatea Farm to see how olive oil and mozzarella cheese are made, complete with a taste. An expert pizza maker shows you how to make your own pizza for dinner, and you’ll dance the Tarantella! Meals BLD

14, 21 Apr 05, 09⁄ , 12⁄ , 16 ⁄ , 19, 23, 26⁄ , 30 ⁄ Jun 03, 07, 10, 14, 17, 21⁄ , 24, 28 Jul 04, 07, 11, 18 Aug ⁄ = Sold Out! Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability. Additional dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $4990

Triple $4590

Single $6446

AUD $250 Child Savings: Children 11 and under

Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers & local guides are included.

5. THE ISLE OF CAPRI Cruise across the Gulf of Naples on a ferry boat to the Isle of Capri, where Roman emperors built their vacation homes; more recently the island has become famous as a fashionable retreat for artists and celebrities. A ride in a private convertible chauffeurs you along the island cliffs to the town of Anacapri. Ride a funicular to the highest point on the island for awe-inspiring views. After lunch in the town of Capri, enjoy free time followed by a return ferry ride to Sorrento, where you can relax by your hotel

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

3 ACTIVITY

Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms.

3 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Recommended age: 8+

Your family’s comfort is important to us. Ask us about booking an additional hotel night before or after your journey.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-3 Night 4-6

PARCO DEI PRINCIPI GRAND HOTEL & SPA HILTON SORRENTO PALACE

Rome Sorrento

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! 20 19 FO R NE W

ITALIA BELLA: ROME TO VENICE

Venice

Tour begins: 2:00 PM, The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A transfer is included from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport to The Westin Excelsior, Rome. Your adventure begins with an ancient sightseeing tour, including Circus Maximus, once used for chariot races. Inside the Colosseum, a guide tells of gladiators! Enjoy a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel tonight. Meals D

2. ST. PETER’S & VATICAN MUSEUM TREASURES A guided visit at St. Peter’s Basilica is followed by a gelato making class at a cooking school in Piazza Navona. Visit the Vatican Museums and the magnificent Sistine Chapel after-hours, without the usual crowds (subject to availability; day of tour may vary). Meals B

3. UNDERGROUND ORVIETO & FLORENCE Travel to Orvieto for a guided visit to the network of caves and tunnels beneath the town. Continue to Florence, and drive around town in a vintage Fiat 500! Head to the Romanesque Church of San Miniato al Monte for a panoramic view of the city. Meals BD

it was built in the 14th century. Work has been done to keep it from falling, but, as you will see, it still looks as if it’s about to lie down for a nap! Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then return to Florence. Meals BL

5. THE MANY ARTS OF FLORENCE With a local guide, stroll along the River Arno, learning about the city’s neighbourhoods and landmarks. Family-friendly guided visits to the Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia introduce masterpieces of Renaissance art. Join us for a pizza making class at a local restaurant, where you’ll feast on masterpieces made by you. Meals BD

ITALY

Pisa

High-s pee d tr a

1. ARRIVE ROME: THE CITY OF SEVEN HILLS

Venice

Florence

LIGURIAN SEA Orvieto

4. PISA AND ITS LEANING TOWER Your family drives to Pisa to visit the cathedral, the baptistery, and the famous Leaning Tower. You can even climb it if you like! The tower began to tilt not long after

152

TYRRHENIAN SEA

ADRIATIC SEA

Rome Maximum Elevation: 1,300 ft.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Watch our video at tauck.com.au/familyitaly

FAMILY JOURNEYS

7. A DAY TO EXPLORE VENEZIA

Travelling Well IncludesÉ • After-hours tour of Rome’s Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without the crowds • Guided visit to the Colosseum and gelato making lesson in Rome • Ride in a vintage Fiat 500 and hands-on pizza making in Florence • Pirate ship cruise in Venice

Travel by boat to St. MarkÕs Square for visits to St. MarkÕs Basilica and the DogeÕs Palace, with collections of art and weapons, plus a labyrinth of prisons! The afternoon is free. A boat shuttle back to your hotel will be available. Enjoy a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel, beside the pool (weather permitting). Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from San Clemente Palace Kempinski to VeniceÕs Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia Train Station. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in. Meals B

• High-speed train travel in first class from Florence to Venice • Guided tours of the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia • Going underground in Orvieto’s ancient caves and climbing Pisa’s leaning tower

8 DAYS from AUD $6,460 plUS AirfAre

• Airport and train station transfers on arrival and departure as noted

BEGINS ROME

• 14 meals; all gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides & drivers; service charges; admission fees; taxes and porterage

(7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

17, 24 Mar 14, 21 Apr 04, 11⁄ , 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28 Jun 02, 05, 09, 12, 19, 26 Jul 02, 09, 16 Aug 22, 26 Dec ⁄ = Sold Out! Dates in red indicate special holiday departures. Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON 6. TRAIN TO VENICEÕS PALACES & CANALS Travel in first class by high-speed train to Venice. A boat carries you past ornate palaces to St. MarkÕs Square for lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy free time before boarding our private boat to your hotel, a palace on a private island! It can only be reached by boat – and youÕll love the hotelÕs swimming pool, tennis court, walking trails, and gardens! A throwback to days of old, a pirate ship docks on your hotelÕs island to pick you up for a private cruise, with dinner. Meals BLD

March – August Double $6740 Triple $6460 Holiday Departures – December Double $6990 Triple $6740

Single $8998 Single $9096

AUD $250 Child Savings: Children 11 and under Accommodation Upgrade – Limited Availability: Upgrade to premier rooms at all hotels on Italia Bella: Rome to Venice – additional cost per person: Double AUD $750

Triple AUD $590

Single AUD $1220

Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms. Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers & local guides included. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Inquire at booking about additional hotel nights.

UPGRADE TO PREMIER ROOMS AT ALL HOTELS You have an opportunity to purchase upgraded accommodations to premier rooms at all hotels on Italia Bella: Rome to Venice at an additional cost per person; please note, limited availability. For room descriptions, go to tauck.com.au – please inquire at time of booking: Double AUD $750 Triple AUD $590 Single AUD $1220

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Recommended age: 8+ Note: The Vatican is unavailable for the after-hours visit on the departure of 14 April. We have arranged priority early morning entry (ahead of regular visitors).

3 ACTIVITY 3 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7*

THE WESTIN EXCELSIOR, ROME THE WESTIN EXCELSIOR, FLORENCE SAN CLEMENTE PALACE KEMPINSKI

Rome Florence Venice

*Tours of 22, 26 Dec will stay at Hotel Danieli.

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World Travel. Family Discovery.

ALPINE ADVENTURE 1. ARRIVE ZURICH AND ON TO LUCERNE Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern. A transfer is included from Zurich International Airport to Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern. Meet your Tauck Director for a walking tour of Lucerne’s cobblestone streets and colourful medieval architecture. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner in your grand hotel. Meals D

Morteratsch Glacier

jaw-dropping views as the train winds its way through spectacular Alpine passes and past lakes, steep cliffs, forests, and mountain villages. Your destination today is St. Moritz, one of the most glamorous ski resorts in the world. Dine at leisure this evening in your family’s elegant resort hotel in the scenic Engadine countryside, nestled at the foot of the snow-capped Swiss Alps. Meals BLD

2. A COGWHEEL CLIMB & MT. PILATUS’ SLOPES Take in the Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who lost their lives in the French Revolution, en route to the world’s steepest cogwheel train ride. The steam-powered “Pilatus Railway” began regular service in 1889; today you’ll ride to the top of Mount Pilatus – over 2,100 metres – on an electrified train, surrounded by scenery straight out of Heidi, before descending by aerial cableway. Enjoy a choice of activities at Switzerland’s largest suspension rope park*, including the country’s longest summer toboggan run* and a safe, thrilling giant tubing slide*. Take a gondola down the mountain and a short drive back to Lucerne. Meals BL

3. A LAKE CRUISE & THE GLACIER EXPRESS Poets love to write about the beautiful scenery of Lake Lucerne; you’ll see why on this morning’s cruise across the lake to Stansstad. Once ashore, drive to Andermatt to board the famous Glacier Express for more

154

GERMANY

Munich

Ettal Zurich

SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA

Lucerne Lake Lucerne Mount Pilatus Stansstad Alpnachstad E Glacier xpress Andermatt

Area 47

Innsbruck

Längenfeld

St. Moritz Morteratsch Glacier

Maximum Elevation: 9,500 ft.

ITALY

FAMILY JOURNEYS

Travelling Well Includes… • Mountain bicycling, suspension rope climbing, whitewater rafting & summer tobogganing • A ride up Mt. Pilatus on the world’s steepest cogwheel train • A cruise on Lake Lucerne & a ride on the Glacier Express • An after-hours visit to a re-created Neolithic Age village, followed by Tyrolean fun & games • An Engadine Valley day: ride a cable car, hike to a glacier and visit an Alpine cheesemaker • A visit with an “emperor,” time with a ski jumper, and a choice of activities in Ettal

7. A FOREST HIKE OR ABBEY SPIRITS IN ETTAL Head to Ettal for a choice of activities. Weather permitting, join a park ranger for a guided hike on a forest trail or tour Ettal Abbey and its distillery and brewery, where you will enjoy a tasting. Everyone meets up for a visit inside the abbey’s church, topped with an enormous, frescoed dome. Continue to Munich. This evening join us for a musical farewell dinner at your hotel’s Palais Keller, dating back to 1425. Meals BLD

8. AUF WIEDERSEHEN – JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Munich. Fly home anytime. Transfers are included from the Bayerischer Hof to Munich Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for your flight check-in. Meals B

• Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted • 17 meals; all gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers; service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $6,290 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 5 Dinners)

4. ENGADINE VALLEY: CABLE CAR & ROPES Take a cable car up Piz Diavolezza for head-turning vistas of the Engadine Alps. Take an easy hike to the breathtaking Morteratsch Glacier for a few steps on its surface. Experience the Alps as the Swiss do, rock climbing*, hiking*, and abseiling* with local guides. Have lunch in a meadow, and learn about making cheese at an Alpine cheesery. Try your hand at traditional forms of Alpine sports, including crossbow and ski racing. If you wish, join us for an adventurous mountain bicycle ride* back to your resort where your evening is free. Meals BL

5. AN EMPEROR AND SKI JUMPERS Discover the labyrinthine heart of Old Town Innsbruck, Austria. History comes alive when, on a walking tour, you meet up with the German Emperor Maximilian I and his two wives. Then you’re off to visit the world-class Bergisel Ski Jump and sports facility. After a thrilling ski-jumping demo, meet the jumper in person. Meals BD

BEGINS ZURICH 09, 16, 23, 30 ⁄ Jun 07, 14, 28 Jul 04, 11, 18 Aug ⁄ = Sold Out! Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $6490

Triple $6290

Single $7329

AUD $310 Child Savings: Children 11 and under

3 ACTIVITY

Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms.

3 PACE

Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers and local guides are included.

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

Recommended age: 8+. Children must be 8 or older to participate in activities requiring a waiver and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please ask when booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour. Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS 6. WATER WOWS & TYROLEAN GAMES At Area 47 in the Ötztal Valley, put on a wetsuit and helmet for a whitewater river-rafting adventure* and enjoy swimming and water-sliding in Europe’s biggest outdoor water park. Relax at an after-hours visit to Ötzi-Dorf, an open-air museum about Neolithic Age village life, followed by dinner and Tyrolean games and activities. Meals BLD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Night 1,2 Night 3,4* Night 5,6 Night 7

HOTEL SCHWEIZERHOF LUZERN KEMPINSKI GRAND HOTEL DES BAINS ST. MORITZ AQUA DOME – TIROL THERME LÄNGENFELD BAYERISCHER HOF

Lucerne, Switzerland St. Moritz, Switzerland Längenfeld, Austria Munich, Germany

*Tours of 09 and 16 Jun will stay at Hotel Schweizerhof St. Moritz.

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World Travel. Family Discovery.

CASTLES & KINGS: LONDON TO PARIS

Paris

1. ARRIVE LONDON / DOUBLE-DECKER FUN

4. MUSEUM EXPLORING AND SPY WALKING

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, The Royal Horseguards. A transfer is included upon arrival from London’s Heathrow or Gatwick airports to The Royal Horseguards, ideally located near Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks. You and your fellow travellers are invited to join us aboard a private double-decker bus for city sightseeing before a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

Discover the treasures inside the British Museum with a local guide. Have lunch at the museum, then set off on an outdoor London Spy Walk. Tonight is free. Meals BL

5. EUROSTAR TO PARIS / MONTMARTRE Take the high-speed Eurostar train to Paris where sightseeing starts with a petite train ride to hilltop

2. TOWERING LONDON / THAMES SPEEDBOAT Explore the Bloody Tower with a Beefeater today and view the royal gems, before boarding a speedboat for a Thames River adventure*, finishing at the London Eye. You’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city as you soar high in Tauck’s private observation capsule over 135 metres above the river! Eat your way through London’s Soho District with tales and tastings at a historic pub, an award-winning fish and chips restaurant with musical roots, and a floating pub. Meals BLD

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND London Windsor

3. FROM WINDSOR CASTLE TO THE WEST END

Eurosta

Maximum Elevation: 1,000 ft.

English Channel Tunnel

Discover Windsor Castle today on a guided visit and be sure to check out Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a miniature palace with working parts! An afternoon bicycle* ride and a musical in the West End theatre district round out a wonderful day. Meals B

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Versailles

Paris

FRANCE

FAMILY JOURNEYS

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private after-hours visit (select dates only) in the Musée du Louvre • Private double-decker bus tour of London and a private capsule ride on the London Eye; a “Spy Walk,” a guided tour of the British Museum and a progressive dinner ; speedboat ride on the River Thames, bicycling in the Royal Parks and tickets to a West End musical performance • Guided visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, Montmartre and the Château de Versailles; a Tauck Exclusive magic show dinner in Paris • 14 meals; airport transfers as noted; all gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides & drivers; service charges; admission fees; taxes & porterage

Lisa, as you embark on a scavenger hunt through the museum. Visit nearby Tuileries Garden before a tour of Notre Dame Cathedral. Join us for our exclusive farewell dinner tonight that is magical in every way. Meals BD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports from The Westin Paris – Vendôme. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

8 DAYS from AUD $6,050 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners)

BEGINS LONDON Montmartre. Head out on the town tonight for dinner at a restaurant near your hotel, just a few steps from the Tuileries Garden, Place Vendôme, Place de la Concorde, and the Musée du Louvre. Meals BD

14⁄ , 21 Apr 06, 09 ⁄ , 10, 13⁄ , 16, 17, 20 ⁄ , 23, 27, 30 Jun 04, 07, 11, 14, 21 Jul 04, 08, 11, 15, 18 Aug ⁄ = Sold Out! Go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises for up-to-the-minute space availability. Additional dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON 6. AWESOME VERSAILLES / PARIS SIGHTS Venture outside of Paris for a guided visit to Château de Versailles. Hear what it was like to live in this 2,300-room palace as you see the Hall of Mirrors; the private apartments of the king and queen; and walk around the formal gardens. Lunch and a guided visit at the Eiffel Tower is followed by a city sightseeing tour. Meals BL

7. THE LOUVRE, TUILERIES AND MAGIQUE At the Musée du Louvre, take a privately guided tour to meet some of its celebrated residents, including Mona

April Double $6490

Triple $6050

Single $8185

01 – 12; 14 – 19 June; 21 June – 03 August; 05 – 17 August Double $6860 Triple $6340 Single $8748 13, 20 June; 04, 18 August Double $7240 Triple $6740

Single $9046

AUD $250 Child Savings: Children 11 and under Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms. Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers & local guides are included. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Recommended age: 8+

AFTER-HOURS VISIT TO THE LOUVRE ON SELECT DATES In Paris, Tauck Bridges guests skip the lines – and the general public – on a Tauck Exclusive after-hours art-filled scavenger hunt in Musée du Louvre on Day 5 of tours departing 13 ⁄ , 20⁄ June, 04 and 18 August, 2019. See Mona Lisa smile, fall in love with Venus de Milo, meet Bernini’s sleeping beauty, and mingle with Monets, Michelangelos, Rembrandts, Renoirs and more without crowds! ⁄ = Sold Out!

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Note: Departures of 13 and 20 June and 04 and 18 August will enjoy an after-hours evening at the Musée du Louvre; see box at left for details. For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required. Please ask us at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your journey. See General Information.

2 ACTIVITY

2 PACE

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1-4 Night 5-7

THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS THE WESTIN PARIS – VENDÔME

London, England Paris, France

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World Travel. Family Discovery.

GRAND EUROPEAN FAMILY HOLIDAY THREE COUNTRIES, THREE CAPITAL CITIES AND TWO NIGHTS IN UMBRIA celebrate treasured family traditions

Paris

UNITED KINGDOM

centuries in the making! Travel back in time to the days of Sherlock Holmes, the reign of the Bloody Tower, the

ENGLAND

enduring legacies of 1,000-year-old Westminster Abbey,

London

a three-night stay at Europe’s first grand hotel, The Langham Hotel, London, where traditional afternoon tea was born. Cultural pastimes during three nights at Hotel

Eu ro

English Channel Tunnel

Paris

r sta

to Shakespeare’s haunts, and Harry Potter’s world during

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Le Fouquet’s Paris delight with a River Seine cruise, a treasure hunt in the Musée du Louvre where Mona

FRANCE

Lisa will share her timeless smile with you, lunch at the

ITALY

Eiffel Tower soaring over Paris since 1889, a chocolate Umbria Gubbio

shop where you’ll create your own delicious work of art, and an early entrance, costumed look at life inside a 17th-century country château! Families rule in Italy as you’ll discover on a two-day stay in Umbria at the Park

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Maximum Elevation: 522 ft.

Rome TYRRHENIAN SEA

FAMILY JOURNEYS

Travelling Well Includes… • A scavenger hunt, Harry Potter-themed tour, a private pod on the London Eye and guided visits to Shakespeare’s haunts and venerable Westminster Abbey in London

12 DAYS from AUD $9,980* Includes On-Tour Air (11 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS LONDON

• Rail travel aboard the Eurostar from London to Paris & a flight from Paris to Rome

08, 22 ⁄ Jun 06⁄ , 20⁄ Jul 03 Aug

• A River Seine Cruise, lunch at the Eiffel Tower, a lesson in making chocolate art, a treasure hunt in the Louvre, and an early-opening visit to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

PRICE PER PERSON

• A truffle hunt, an alpaca farm, ceramic making, olive oil tasting and a winery visit during a two-night stay in Umbria • An after-hours tour inside the Vatican Museums, a visit to the Colosseum, an art workshop and an exclusive dinner with entertainment and fireworks at a Roman villa • 24 meals; airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted; all gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides and drivers; service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage

⁄ = Sold Out!

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability.

LAND PRICE + ON-TOUR AIR (1 flight) = TOTAL PER PERSON Double $10,490 + $370 = $10,860 Triple $9610 + $370 = $9980 Single $13,798 + $370 = $14,168 AUD $380 Child Savings: Children 11 and under Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms. Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers & local guides are included.

3 ACTIVITY

*International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability).

2 PACE

Recommended age: 8+. Your family’s comfort is important to us. Ask us about booking additional hotel nights.

Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details.

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS

Hotel ai Cappuccini, your home base for a truffle hunting competition with trained dogs, a warm and fuzzy visit to

Night 1-3 Night 4-6 Night 7,8 Night 9-11

THE LANGHAM, LONDON HOTEL LE FOUQUET’S PARIS PARK HOTEL AI CAPPUCCINI PALAZZO NAIADI , THE DEDICA ANTHOLOGY, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

London Paris Gubbio Rome

an alpaca farm, a hands-on tour of a ceramic factory, an olive oil tasting outside in the orchards where olive trees grow, and a private tour of a winery led by a friendly winemaker happy to share a toast and a tale with you! Drive to Rome and do as the Romans do! Feel like an

LIVE LIKE ROYALTY When it comes

emperor when you spend three nights in a neo-classical

to enriching family travel, we believe

palace hotel, Palazzo Naiadi, where the rooftop bar and

in rolling out the red carpet at places

swimming pool look out over the ancient monuments you

that inspire your imagination. Like our

will explore here. Make your entrance at the Colosseum

pre-opening visit and private tour at the

with pre-reserved tickets; view the masterpieces of the Vatican Museums and the magnificent Sistine Chapel, after hours, without the crowds; take an art class with the masters; and be entertained at a Roman villa, where an exclusive farewell dinner with music and fireworks wows Tauck Bridges families like yours.

beautiful Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte outside of Paris where the kids dress up like they lived there in period costumes that transport them to 17th-century France and our after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums during a three-night stay at a palace hotel in Rome.

Go to tauck.com.au for complete day-by-day details.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 159

World Travel. Family Discovery. World Travel. Family Discovery.

IRELANDFOREVER FOREVER IRELAND

Dromoland Castle

HANDS-ON FAMILY FUN HAS EVERYONE’S EYES A-SMILING...

learn how to Irish Step

Dance... explore Dublin by land and water and go on a treasure hunt back in time, from the Viking age to the Middle Ages... ride in First Class aboard a train through emerald landscapes... make pottery, Celtic jewellery and a home-grown Irish dinner... explore Killarney by bicycle... stay in a castle, walk with a hawk, see farm dogs herding sheep... and make new friends everywhere you go.

1. ARRIVE DUBLIN

4. MAKE POTTERY OR CELTIC JEWELLERY

Tour begins: 3:30 PM, Conrad Dublin. A transfer is included from Dublin Airport to the Conrad Dublin hotel, only steps from St. Stephen’s Green. Board a private amphibious vehicle* for a sightseeing tour by land and water. Enjoy Irish step dancing lessons at our welcome reception, followed by a performance by a singer from the Celtic Woman show during dinner. Meals D

Visit the Kinsale Pottery and Art Centre for a tour and workshop. Artisans will show you how to hand-build and paint a piece of pottery – or try your hand at Celtic jewellery making. Enjoy free time in Kinsale. Meals BLD

2. A TREASURE HUNT IN DUBLIN Maximum Elevation: 1,600 ft.

Follow clues to Dublin’s history on a treasure hunt ending in Trinity College with a look at the illustrated Book of Kells. Have lunch at a traditional pub. Meals BL

3. RIDE THE RAILS TO CORK & A GIFT OF GAB Travel by train in First Class to County Cork and a visit to Blarney Castle. Legend says if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you will be granted the gift of gab and become a master of conversation and storytelling. Continue to your resort hotel. There you’ll meet an Irish storyteller who demonstrates his gift of eloquence through stories and music at our private barbecue dinner. Meals BD

160

IRELAND Cliffs of Moher Newmarket-on-Fergus Shannon

Killarney

Blarney Castle Cork Kinsale

Castlemartyr Ballymaloe

Dublin

FAMILY JOURNEYS

Travelling Well Traveling Well Includes… Includes… •• Dublin Dublin sightseeing sightseeing by by amphibious amphibious vehicle, vehicle, step dancing & a treasure step dancing & a treasure hunt hunt •• Pottery design with Pottery making making or or Celtic Celtic jewellery jewelry design with local artisans at a renowned art centre local artisans at a renowned art center •• A A cooking cooking demonstration demonstration & & dinner dinner with with entertainment at the Ballymaloe entertainment at the Ballymaloe Cookery Cookery School, School, set set amidst amidst aa 100-acre 100-acre organic organic farm farm

prefer not to bicycle can spend the morning exploring town. Have you ever spent the night in a castle? Tonight we roll out the royal red carpet for you at 15th-century Dromoland Castle, once home to Irish nobility. Meals BLD

7. GIANT CLIFFS AND FUN ON THE FARM Drive to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the world’s jaw-dropping natural wonders, beside the Atlantic Ocean. Back at Dromoland Castle, a raptor expert shows you how to take one of his magnificent hawks* on a walk. At a nearby farm, watch sheepdogs herd their woolly flocks, see a sheep-shearing demonstration, feed the lambs, and enjoy a festive farewell Irish dinner. Meals BLD

•• An An optional optional bicycle bicycle ride ride around around Killarney Killarney Lake Lake and a jaunting cart ride into town and a jaunting cart ride into town •• A A walk walk with with aa hawk hawk during during aa two-night two-night stay stay at at Dromoland Castle, dating to the 5th century Dromoland Castle, dating to the 5th century •• Sheepdog Sheepdog & & sheep-shearing sheep-shearing demonstrations demonstrations during a farewell during a farewell dinner dinner on on aa working working farm farm

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Newmarket-on-Fergus. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Shannon Airport from Dromoland Castle. Allow a minimum of 3½ hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

•• Airport Airport transfers transfers on on arrival arrival and and departure departure as as noted noted •• 18 18 meals; meals; all all gratuities gratuities to to Tauck Tauck Director, Director, drivers drivers and guides; service charges and and guides; service charges and porterage porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $5,560 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 6 Dinners)

5. COOK UP A TASTE OF DAILY LIFE Try some Irish outdoor activities at your resort, including golf, hurling*, archery*, and pony trap* rides. Head to Ballymaloe, a cookery school for a tour of its gardens and farm and a cooking demonstration by chefs. Cook your own dinner! A local musician performs for you. Meals BLD

BEGINS DUBLIN 09, 16, 19, 23, 30 ⁄ Jun 07, 14, 21, 28 Jul 04, 11, 18 Aug

⁄ = Sold Out!

Go to tauck.com.au for up-to-the-minute space availability. Additional dates may become available as these sell out.

PRICE PER PERSON Double $5590

Triple $5560

Single $7044

AUD $250 Child Savings: Children 11 and under

6. KILLARNEY BY CART & BICYCLE & A CASTLE Experience the beauty of Killarney on a bicycle ride* by the lake and a jaunting cart ride into town. Those who

Children under 18 must be booked in a room with at least one adult. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed; quadruples will be accommodated in two separate rooms. Gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers & local guides are included. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Recommended age: 8+ Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.

NEW FOR 2019!

UPGRADE TO PREMIER ROOMS AT ALL HOTELS You have have an anopportunity opportunityto to purchase upgraded accommodations to premier purchase upgraded accommodations to premier rooms atatallallhotels on Ireland Forever at an additional cost per cost person; hotels on Ireland Forever at an additional perplease person; note, availability. For room Go descriptions, go to tauckbridges.com pleaselimited note, limited availability. to tauck.com.au/family-travel for –room please ask for– details booking: descriptions please atask for details at booking: $1,100 Triple Triple $2,200 DoubleDouble AUD $1,380 AUD$835 $1,040 Single Single AUD $2,750

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

Ask at booking about additional hotel nights before or after your tour.

3 ACTIVITY 3 PACE Go to page 169 for activity and pace level details. Go to page 169

FINE HOTELS / GREAT LOCATIONS Night 1,2 Night 3-5 Night 6,7*

CONRAD DUBLIN CASTLEMARTYR RESORT DROMOLAND CASTLE

Dublin Castlemartyr Newmarket-on-Fergus

*Tours of 19 Jun and 07 Jul will stay at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel.

tauck.com.au 161

World Travel. Family Discovery.

BLUE DANUBE:

Vienna

FAMILY RIVERBOAT ADVENTURE 1. ARRIVE BUDAPEST / M EMBARK RIVERBOAT Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport or the Keleti train station directly to your riverboat. A guided city tour includes Heroes’ Square and Fisherman’s Bastion. Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals D

palace, where a royal dinner includes entertainment by musicians and dancers who teach you to waltz! Meals BLD

5. M DÜRNSTEIN AND DANUBE BICYCLING Wake up in Dürnstein for a bicycle ride* to a country village or a guided walking tour of Dürnstein. Meals BLD

2. M OLD TOWN BRATISLAVA & CASTLE GAMES Cruise to Bratislava for medieval games at 9th-century Devin Castle and a scavenger hunt of Old Town. See a performance by Slovak dancers aboard ship. Meals BLD

3. M A PALACE & THE PRATER IN VIENNA In Vienna, take a guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace including Labyrinthikon, a garden maze dating back to 1698, and enjoy a marionette performance. Join us for an evening visit to Prater amusement park. Meals BLD

4. M CARRIAGES, CATACOMBS & A PALACE Take a carriage ride and tour the catacombs beneath St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dress up for a Tauck Exclusive Imperial Evening at Palais Pallavicini, a private Viennese

GERMANY

POLAND CZECH REPUBLIC

Vilshofen Passau Salzburg

SLOVAKIA

Dürnstein

Bratislava Vienna Da nu be R iver AUSTRIA Linz

Budapest

HUNGARY

ITALY

SLOVENIA Maximum Elevation: 1,450 ft.

162

FAMILY JOURNEYS

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – A gala Imperial Evening in a private Viennese palace featuring dinner, music, dancing, and more • Bicycling along the Danube, castle games in Slovakia, marzipan making or geocaching in Passau, family fun at Vienna’s Prater amusement park, and tours of Schönbrunn Palace and magical Hellbrunn Castle where the trick-filled gardens spell fun for everyone • 20 meals, airport and train station transfers as noted, all gratuities, unlimited beverages aboard ship, select meals ashore, service charges, taxes and porterage

6. M SALZBURG AND HELLBRUNN CASTLE Visit Hellbrunn Castle on a private tour and take a walking tour of Salzburg, including Mirabell Gardens. Meals BLD

7. M CHOICES IN PRETTY PASSAU A choice of activities in Passau includes a walking tour and marzipan making, geocaching or a bicycle ride. More fun awaits at the captain’s farewell reception! Meals BLD

8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Bavaria. Disembark and fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Munich Airport or Munich Hauptbahnhof train station (approximately two hours); allow three hours for check-in. Meals B

HOLIDAY MAGIC: DANUBE FAMILY RIVER CRUISE TWO SAILINGS ONLY – 22 AND 23 DECEMBER, 2019! Make the December holidays even more magical for your family by joining our 8-day family river cruise along the Danube, when Europe’s riverside towns and villages are aglow with Yuletide traditions and festivities, and the joys of the season are shared onboard and ashore. Visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises for all the day-by-day details.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

8 DAYS from AUD $5,990 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS BUDAPEST OR VILSHOFEN – 11*, 18 Jul For up-to-the-minute space availability, go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS TREASURES ! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Double

Single

Triple

Quad

$6240 $6550 $6740 $7680 $8430 $8680 $9300

$6240 $9170 $9430 $10,745 $13,480 $14,750 $15,810

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $7035

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $5900

BEGINS VILSHOFEN – 31 Jul CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS SAVOR ! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Double

Single

Triple

Quad

$5990 $6490 $7050 $7430 $8180 $8430 $9050

$5990 $9080 $9870 $10,395 $13,080 $14,325 $15,385

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $6875

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $5775

BEGINS BUDAPEST – 3*, 24* Jul CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON - MS JOY / MS SAVOR ! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Double

Single

Triple

Quad

$6240 $6740 $7300 $7680 $8430 $8680 $9300

$6240 $9430 $10,220 $10,745 $13,480 $14,750 $15,810

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $7035

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $5900

AUD $630 Child Savings: Children 12 and under

2 Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the ACTIVITY same as the double price for a savings of up to 50%! Note: *Indicates Budapest to Vilshofen direction. Children under 18 must be booked in a cabin with at least one adult. Accommodations for families of 3 or 4 2 in Categories 1 through 6 consist of two adjacent, but not connecting, PACE double cabins. Triple and quadruple accommodations in Category 7 Go to page 169 for consist of a suite featuring a pillow top queen-sized bed (with optional activity and pace level details. twin-bed capacity) and a full-sized pull-out couch. Please note that Category 7 suites accommodate a maximum of three adults over the age of 18. Cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes: cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at AUD $2,795. International Airfare is additional. Departure tax is not included and is additional. Recommended age: 8+ Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Itinerary Changes: Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Go to page 146 for riverboat deck plans & specifications.

tauck.com.au 163

World Travel. Family Discovery.

CASTLES ON THE RHINE:

FAMILY RIVERBOAT ADVENTURE

Koblenz

1. ARRIVE BASEL / M EMBARK RIVERBOAT

5. M CASTLES, LEGENDS, KOBLENZ & BICYCLES

Tour begins: 4:00 PM, ms Inspire or ms Grace. A transfer is included from Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Bahnhof Basel SBB to the riverboat. We invite you and your family to kick off your cruise at a welcome dinner aboard your grand floating hotel. Meals D

Play “I Spy a Castle” and hear about the legends and lore of the Lorelei as you cruise along the Rhine to Koblenz. Upon arrival, choose to join your local guide on

2. M THE TOP OF MT. PILATUS AND LUCERNE NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Rh

Maximum Elevation: 1,036 ft.

3. M FRENCH FOR A DAY IN STRASBOURG

A choice of activities this morning includes time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Speyer with your family or an excursion to Heidelberg with a funicular ride to Heidelberg Castle. Spend the afternoon cruising and enjoy an evening of musical fun onboard. Meals BLD

Burg Satzvey

BELGIUM

Köln Königswinter

GERMANY

Koblenz Bingen

FRANCE

Strasbourg

Basel

SWITZERLAND

Lucerne

164

Mannheim Heidelberg

Speyer Germersheim Ri v

4. M SPEYER OR HEIDELBERG

Become “French for a Day” in Strasbourg during a morning filled with fun, including a sing-along and a yummy chocolate tasting, with time later to explore the city as you please. Meals BLD

Rhi n e

Hop on the world’s steepest cogwheel train for your 2,134-metre ascent of Mt. Pilatus – at a 48° angle! Descend to explore Lucerne as you wish and enjoy an afternoon of Swiss fun, including fondue and a folklore show. Meals BLD

Travelling Well Includes… • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private medieval evening including tour and dinner at a historic moated castle, Burg Satzvey

FAMILY JOURNEYS 8. JOURNEY HOME Tour ends: Amsterdam. Disembark by 9:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport or Centraal Station. Fly home anytime. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

• A ride on the world’s steepest cogwheel train & bicycling along the Rhine & Moselle rivers • Unlimited complimentary beverages including premium wine & spirits included aboard ship • G ratuities to Tauck Directors & Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, drivers and local guides • 2 0 meals, select meals ashore, airport & train station transfers, service charges, taxes & porterage

8 DAYS from AUD $6,240 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

BEGINS BASEL OR AMSTERDAM 01* ⁄ , 08, 15*, 22, 22* Jul

05* Aug

⁄ = Sold Out!

For up-to-the-minute space availability, go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON – MS GRACE / MS INSPIRE

a walking tour of Koblenz’s Altstadt (Old Town) or set off on a bicycling tour* along the Rhine-Moselle bicycle route through meadows and winelands. This evening cross the moat for a very special Tauck Exclusive evening of medieval fun at Satzvey Castle, dating back to the 12th century and steeped in fairy tale romance! Meals BLD

6. M KÖLN, A CATHEDRAL & CARNIVAL NIGHT Start your exploration with a walking tour of Köln (Cologne) dominated by twin-spired Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose construction took 600 years! Cruising the Rhine this afternoon, learn about the traditions of Carnival, an important part of German culture for centuries. Then create your costumes and enjoy the excitement of an onboard Carnival party after dinner this evening. Meals BLD

7. M CANALS & VAN GOGH IN AMSTERDAM In Amsterdam, visit the Van Gogh Museum, where you’ll find the world’s largest collection of works by Dutch Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. A canal boat cruise this afternoon introduces you to the heart of the Netherlands’ amazing capital city as you glide beneath curved bridges, take in the townhouses and houseboats lining the canals, and check out how fast Dutch folks bicycle through the streets! See a host of historic places, including Centraal Station, the city flower market, and more. Onboard this evening, cap off your family cruise with our farewell dinner and a special show! Meals BLD

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Double

Single

Triple

Quad

$6240 $6740 $7300 $7680 $8430 $8680 $9300

$6240 $9430 $10,220 $10,745 $13,480 $14,750 $15,810

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $7035

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $5900

AUD $630 Child Savings: Children 12 and under Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers! Note: *Indicates southbound Amsterdam to Basel direction.

2 ACTIVITY 2 PACE

Go to page 169 for Note: Children under 18 must be booked in a cabin with at least activity and pace one adult. Accommodations for families of 3 or 4 in Categories level details. 1 through 6 consist of two adjacent, but not connecting, double cabins. Triple and quadruple accommodations in Category 7 consist of a suite featuring a pillow top queen-sized bed (with optional twin-bed capacity) and a full-sized pull-out couch. Please note that Category 7 suites accommodate a maximum of three adults over the age of 18.

Cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes: cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at AUD $2,654. International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Departure tax is not included and is additional. Recommended age: 8+ Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Itinerary Changes: Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Ask us about booking an additional hotel night before or after your cruise. Go to page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

tauck.com.au 165

World Travel. Family Discovery.

Travelling Well Includes... • T AUCK EXCLUSIVES – Visit to a family-owned ranch in la Camargue for lunch and a cowboy show; in Paris, a scavenger hunt in the Louvre & bicycling along the Seine • 18 meals; airport transfers; all gratuities to Tauck Directors, ship staff, guides & drivers; taxes, porterage & more

8 DAYS from AUD $6240 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 6 Dinners) Tournon-sur-Rh™ne

BEGINS PARIS 27 Jun

09, 21 Jul

For up-to-the-minute space availability, go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises

BON VOYAGE! FRANCE FAMILY RIVER CRUISE PARIS, LYON & PROVENCE... Your family holiday begins with two nights in Paris at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel just a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower itself (you’ll have lunch there)! A high-speed train whisks you to Lyon to board your riverboat, and the next day you’re in Tournon-sur-Rhône for a cooking class and a chocolate demonstration. Meet cowboys on white horses, explore van Gogh’s haunts in Arles, tour a palace in Avignon, walk high atop the ancient Pont du Gard, and more! For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

Paris

H TGV S igh rain dT pee

SWITZERLAND

Single

Triple

Quad

$6240 $6500 $6660 $7460 $8100 $8310 $8840

$6240 $9100 $9325 $10,450 $12,960 $14,130 $15,025

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $6725

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $6165

3 ACTIVITY 3

Viviers

Recommended age: 8+ Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

ver

e Ri

Rhô n

Tournon

Avignon Arles Pro ven ce

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

166

Double

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Departure tax is not included and is additional.

Lyon

Pont du Gard La Camargue

! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Maximum Elevation: 925 ft.

FRANCE

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON Ð MS EMERALD

ITALY

Itinerary Changes: Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

FAMILY JOURNEYS World Travel. Family Discovery.

Travelling Well Includes… • T wo nights in Paris, a bicycle or walking tour and a scavenger hunt in the Louvre; D-Day Beaches; a choice of activities at Château de Versailles • 1 9 meals; airport transfers; all gratuities to Tauck Directors, ship staff, guides & drivers; taxes, porterage & more

8 DAYS from AUD $6,240 plUS AirfAre (7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 7 Dinners)

Paris

BEGINS PARIS

FAMILY FUN ALONG THE SEINE: PARIS TO NORMANDY MAKING ART & HISTORY FASCINATING... During your two-night stay in the heart of Paris onboard your riverboat, your family will discover the Louvre Museum on an art-inspired scavenger hunt, have lunch at the Eiffel Tower, and bicycle along the Seine or take a city tour. Sail to Monet’s house in Giverny, hike to a castle in Les Andelys, and visit the D-Day Beaches of Normandy with a hands-on experience of WWII artefacts from vehicles to radios. At Château de Versailles, choose a guided tour inside the palace or a bicycle ride through the gardens to Queen Marie Antoinette’s farm – and more! For complete day-by-day details, visit tauck.com.au/river-cruises.

04, 11, 18 Jul

For up-to-the-minute space availability, go to tauck.com.au/river-cruises

CRUISE PRICE PER PERSON – MS SAPPHIRE ! Category 1 ! Category 2 ! Category 3 ! Category 4 ! Category 5 ! Category 6 ! Category 7

Double

Single

Triple

Quad

$6240 $6550 $6740 $7680 $8430 $8680 $9300

$6240 $9170 $9430 $10,745 $13,480 $14,750 $15,810

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $7035

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $6400

3 ACTIVITY 3

Note: Children under 18 must be booked in a cabin with at least PACE one adult. Accommodations for families of 3 or 4 in Categories 1 Go to page 169 through 6 consist of two adjacent, but not connecting, double cabins. for activity and pace level details. Triple and quadruple accommodations in Category 7 consist of a double-bedded suite featuring a full-sized pull-out sofa; these are not available for more than three adults over the age of 18 sharing a cabin. Cruise price per person, based on double occupancy, includes: cruise fare, most meals, port charges, shore excursions, applicable fuel surcharges and gratuities to Tauck Directors, Tauck Cruise Director, ship staff, local guides & drivers, as well as on all included meals. Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks. Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at AUD $2,893.

Caudebec-en-Caux D-Day Beaches

27 Jun

Rouen Les Andelys Giverny Vernon Seine Rive

Poissy Paris Versailles

FRANCE

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in Australia (subject to availability). Departure tax is not included and is additional. Recommended age: 8+ Note: For all bike rides, hikes and activities marked with an asterisk (*), participation is at your own risk and requires a signed liability waiver to be provided. Itinerary Changes: Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after your cruise. See page 146 for riverboat deck plans and specifications.

Maximum Elevation: 528 ft.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

tauck.com.au 167

GENERAL INFORMATION Inclusive Prices 2019 tour prices are per person in Australian Dollars. Prices include all accommodations, airport and train station transfers as detailed, entertainment, special dinners, land and cruise transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling and services of local guides and Tauck Directors. Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Hotel & Ship Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel & ship accommodations. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort; aboard ship, triples are accommodated with a pull-out sleeping couch in limited Category 7 suites. Internet – Complimentary basic Internet where available in hotel rooms and aboard riverboats; service levels are not guaranteed. Tauck Director – Each tour is conducted by a Tauck Director. Tauck Directors are professional employees of Tauck. Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, dining room servers and local guides are included. Tauck Director and Driver gratuities are not included on land trips and should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis. As exceptions, gratuities are included on cruises and Tauck Bridges family journeys. Luggage Handling & Restrictions – Luggage handling is included in the cost. Due to space restrictions we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 23 kg and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 136 cm. Most airlines require that checked luggage not exceed 23 kg per piece. Luggage exceeding the maximum restrictions is subject to expensive overage fees or is at risk of being left behind. Many airlines are now charging fees for checked luggage regardless of the number of bags. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently, and often without notice; therefore Tauck or Tauck Australia cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline. We urge you to check with your airline before travelling to verify current number, size and weight limits. Additionally, guests on tour should limit their hand luggage to a small carry-on piece and only items needed during the day. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or large items. Space under seats or in overhead racks is typically small and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, small camera bags, etc. Items too large to fit underneath seats or in overhead racks must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Airline Security Measures – The Transportation Security Administration requires all passengers to provide their name as it appears on the passport or government-issued ID to be used whilst travelling, their date of birth and gender when making airline reservations. This information will be requested at time of booking for all flight arrangements made through Tauck Australia. Air Services – International airfare may be purchased through Tauck Australia. By using Tauck Australia’s air services you agree that Tauck Australia, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck or Tauck Australia. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck or Tauck Australia, even if purchased through Tauck Australia). Tauck and Tauck Australia are not liable and do not assume responsibility or accept claims in regard to seat assignments, name changes, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss or expense incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation of a carrier or similar relief from creditors) when purchasing or using the carrier’s services. Tauck Australia must handle ticketing for Tauck Australia special fares which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer and must be booked in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Electronic ticket numbers will be sent with final documents. Should you cancel or change your air once deposit has been paid including before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

How to Make A Reservation

Not Included Insurance – We recommend that all guests independently purchase comprehensive Travel Insurance for the full purchase price of the tour as well as air and / or land program arrangement costs plus medical coverage. Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airport tax and departure taxes are not included. Hotel Rooms Before or After Tours – To avoid jet lag, many guests prefer to make hotel arrangements before their tour departs. As a service, Tauck and Tauck Australia will make hotel reservations before or after your trip on a space available basis upon request. Hotel charges will be added to your tour cost. Note: Airport and train station transfers are included for these bookings; ask for details when booking. Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges and other optional extras are not included. Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage or personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is more important to have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities.

Before You Go Itinerary Changes & Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate all cruises and tours as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, ports, hotels and / or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realised by these changes will be refunded to passengers. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Note: Although not expected, brochure prices may be modified due to unexpected significant factors not forecasted at printing. Passports & Visas & Immunisations – Guests are required to hold reservations under their passport names. All guests are required to carry a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months after completion of their booked tour. Visas remain the responsibility of the Travel Agent and / or guest. Please contact the appropriate consulates for the most up to date information regarding visas. As to immunisations, please check with a travel medicine specialist or local health department for specific recommendations and / or requirements. All matters relating to compliance with the laws and regulations of all immigration authorities are solely the guest’s responsibility. International Cruise Regulations – Guests must provide their passport number and date of birth to Tauck for all cruises. Tauck must provide this information to the cruise line before departure or you may be denied boarding. Membership & Health – Membership will be granted to all persons. Please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behaviour disrupts the tour. Guests Needing Special Assistance – Tauck regrets it cannot provide individual assistance to a guest for walking, dining or other personal needs. Guests needing such assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist them. Tauck regrets it cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorised scooters on these itineraries. Please enquire at time of booking.

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Deposit – In order to hold space beyond the option date, a NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE DEPOSIT is required by the due date shown on your Tauck Australia invoice. Bookings made within 100 days of departure from Australia will require full payment upon confirmation. The deposit amount varies according to the type of tour and destination. Please contact Tauck Australia for the specific amounts and details. If a deposit is not received at Tauck Australia by the due time / date shown on invoice, the booking will automatically cancel. Tauck requests an upfront deposit on a tentative booking for a tour departing less than 60 days and / or tour space is no longer held by Tauck. This goodwill deposit is required before space will be retrieved. The deposit is fully refundable should Tauck not be able to confirm tour space; however once all tour space is confirmed, deposit is non-refundable and full payment is due immediately. Deposit Guideline – Amounts payable in AUD as listed below:

$750 per person – European Land Tours $1100 per person – European River Cruises $1700 per person – European Small Ship Cruises Deposit Protection Plan – Tauck provides “Deposit Protection Plan” at a cost of AUD $75 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and non-transferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to final payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can’t be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck “Deposit Protection Plan” only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking. Booking – It is important the reservation is booked using full names as per passport. Fees may apply to amend names after booking is confirmed. By confirming your booking with payment you are agreeing to the terms and conditions below and those outlined in the relevant Tauck brochure and / or Tauck website. No responsibility will be taken by Tauck Australia or Tauck for incorrect information supplied by guest/s. Booking Forms – It is a mandatory requirement of Tauck & Tauck Australia that a booking form is fully completed and returned with deposit. The booking form should have been sent with the initial Tauck Australia invoice. If you have not received the Tauck / Tauck Australia Booking form, please contact Tauck Australia. Failure to return a completed booking form may cause delay in documentation. It is also crucial that Tauck Australia and Tauck have accurate flight information including arrival and departure times otherwise services including pre- and

post-transfers provided by Tauck may not be able to be accommodated. Electronic booking forms can be downloaded from the Tauck Australia website – tauck.com.au Final Payment – Final payment is due at Tauck Australia 60 days prior to land tour departure or 90 days before departure for Small Ship Cruises. If a booking is made within 60 days of departure, full payment will be required upon confirmation. Payments – Tauck pricing is per person in Australian Dollars. For payment by cheque, please contact Tauck Australia for further details. Tauck Australia & Tauck accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Merchant fees and other conditions may apply; please contact Tauck Australia for more information. For other payment methods, please contact Tauck Australia for details. Cancellations – All cancellation requests must be submitted to Tauck Australia no later than 2 PM AEST / AEDT on a scheduled NSW working business day for the booking to be cancelled that day. Cancellations received after 2 PM will not be processed until the following NSW working business day. Cancellation Fees and charges are calculated from the date the cancellation is processed by Tauck Australia. Cancellation fees apply to the entire booking, including tour fare, non-commissionable fare, air add-ons, ground transfers, pre-tour and post-tour hotel and tour packages. Tauck will charge cancellation fees on all tours as per brochures or website. Cancellation amounts are based on tour, destination and time of cancellation. Below is a guideline to Tauck’s Cancellation Fees; fees are subject to change at anytime. Cancellation Fees Land Tours 60 days or more Deposit Amount

River and Small Ship Cruises 90 days or more Deposit Amount

59–8 days 25% of total fare

89–46 days 50% of total fare

7 days or less 50% of total fare

45 days or less 100% of total fare

Responsibility: Tauck Australia accepts bookings subject to the following conditions: Tauck Australia acts as the coordinator for all persons taking any service*, and in the making of arrangements for the service. Tauck Australia does not own, manage, control or operate any component of the delivery of services and all coupons, receipts and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by the laws of the country where a service is provided. Tauck Australia acts only as an agent for the owners, contractors and suppliers of services and assumes no responsibility for the loss or damage to baggage, property or for injury or illness or death, or for any damages or claims of damage to persons or property, delays, transport failures, strikes, wars & uprisings, or acts of God, etc. over which we have no control. Clients are strongly advised to insure adequately for the full duration of their travel arrangements in respect of illness or injury, death, and loss of baggage and personal effects. While Tauck Australia will use its best endeavours to facilitate services* to be performed as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made without notice where deemed necessary or advisable by Tauck Australia or the operator. Further, whilst Tauck Australia will take all reasonable steps to provide enjoyable services*, Tauck Australia accepts no liability for any loss of enjoyment whatsoever, and howsoever experienced by a passenger. All matters relating to any service* provided by Tauck Australia are governed by the law of the state of New South Wales – Australia. * Services refer to all accommodation & hotels or accommodation, cruises, flights, ground transportation / transfers, meals & beverages, shore excursions and tours.

Privacy Policy Information collected in the booking process will be treated in accordance with Tauck Australia’s Privacy Policy. This policy can be found at: tauck.com.au Tauck Australia and Tauck reserve the right to change deposit, payment and cancellation terms & conditions without prior notice. For further information, please refer to the applicable Tauck brochures or Tauck Website.

Please note – Airfares included on On-Tour Flights required with any of Tauck tours may be subject to different cancellation fees not outlined above. * For services included in your booking that are not provided by Tauck, additional cancellation fees may be incurred. * Travel Professionals may impose their own cancellation fees. Tour Interruption Fees – If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of AUD $50 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses. Partial Room Cancellation – A person who cancels or leaves a tour or cruise while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation. Amendments – For changes made to travel arrangements after final payment an amendment fee may be charged. Amendment fees are not charged for upgrades, unless travel documents need to be reissued. All amendments must be communicated to Tauck Australia via telephone or email correspondence. It is the agent’s / guest’s responsibility to ensure amendments have been made and confirmed. Changes and modification requests to a booking (name amendments, tour amendments, etc.) will not be accepted through a booking form. On-Tour Flights – Some itineraries require on-tour flights as an integral part of the tour. The applicable on-tour airfare is included in the land / cruise price as detailed on tour page. Special Promotional Pricing – Tauck may choose to provide a special savings / promotional price that is only applicable to a specific trip and / or a specific departure date. Different terms and conditions may also apply. Time on Tauck (TOT) Promotional Offer – Tauck’s Time on Tauck offer is a bonus free hotel night at Tauck’s hotel before or after any Tauck land trip, small ship cruise or river cruise (excluding Christmas Markets) subject to availability. Guests must advise their preference for bonus free hotel night pre or post at time of deposit to confirm availability. All pre- & post-tour accommodations include hot breakfast, complimentary internet where available, transfers to / from airport (flight arrival / departure times must be advised) and hotel porterage and gratuities. This is a special promotion and is subject to availability and can be withdrawn at anytime. Documentation – Documents are prepared in the USA and will be sent approximately 14 days prior to the commencement date of the tour. It is most important all reservations be made in the full passport name of guests travelling. If changes are required after documentation has been issued, fees may be charged. The departure date from Australia should be provided for all guests so documents can be requested and received before guests depart. This information is required to be completed on the booking form and should be returned with deposit to avoid any delays with documentation. On occasions where documents are unable to be received before guest’s departure, Electronic Documentation may be issued. Guaranteed Departures – Tauck reserves the right to cancel or offer alternate departures if deemed necessary. Tauck does not “guarantee” any tour departures. Tauck makes every effort to operate all tours with guests booked. Tauck does not have a set / exact number that decides or confirms a tour departure. It is a very rare occurrence that Tauck ever has to cancel a tour departure due to low numbers.

To book contact your preferred agent or call 1300 732 300

ACTIVITY & PACE LEVELS Activity & pace icons on all of our trips give you a better idea of physical activity level – higher numbers mean more active journeys.

Activity Icon

3 4

1. Walking / standing for up to one hour at a time, 1 2 ACTIVITY stairs and level ground 2. Walking / standing for one to three kilometres at a time, uneven steps & cobblestones 3. Active hiking, biking & walking for one to three kilometres, up hills & uneven terrain 4. Active walking, hiking, biking & sea kayaking with distances of 5+ kilometres for up to 3 hours at a time

Pace Icon

3 4

1. Generally easy – with time to rest and relax 1 2 PACE 2. Moderate – with some early morning starts 3. Often robust – long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times 4. Consistently robust – very full and active days, extended travel times, and may include use of different modes of local transport

Special thanks go to our guests, friends, families, travel partners and suppliers for the photography featured in this brochure. To opt out of Tauck mailings, please call 1300-732-300. Tauck® is a registered service mark of Tauck, Inc. Tauck Australia is partnered with Travel the World Lic No. 2TA003774 CST#2016001-20

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PRICED IN AUD FROM

# OF DAYS

Classic Italy Classic Italy, Small Groups A Week In... Tuscany & Umbria Lake Como, Venice, Florence & Rome Bellissima Northern Italy A Week In... Venice, Florence & Rome A Week In... Puglia Uncommon Venice, Florence & Rome Tuscany & Cinque Terre New! Sicilian Odyssey A Week In... The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Rome New! A Week In... Naples, Capri & Amalfi

22 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46

$10,860 $11,990 $4,990 $9,090 $8,090 $5,990 $5,590 $5,990 $5,990 $7,490 $6,860 $8,360

14 14 8 10 11 8 8 8 8 10 8 8

NORTHERN EUROPE, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND

New! Grand European Holiday England, Scotland & Wales A Week In... London and Paris Ireland & Great Britain The Best of Ireland The Best of Ireland, Small Groups A Week In... Ireland A Week In... Scotland Scandinavia Russian Glories, Baltic Treasures A Week In... The Baltics

50 54 58 60 64 68 70 72 74 78 82

$12,090 $8,990 $7,240 $9,090 $8,490 $9,860 $5,360 $5,590 $8,990 $9,490 $5,240

12 14 8 14 14 14 8 8 14 14 8

CENTRAL EUROPE

Adriatic Treasures: Croatia to Venice The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna & Prague A Week In... Imperial Europe Switzerland: Europe’s Crown Jewel Romantic Germany

86 90 94 98 100 102

$9,590 $9,740 $8,490 $6,090 $9,090 $7,990

13 13 14 8 11 14

FRANCE, SPAIN & PORTUGAL

Spain and Portugal New for 2019! A Week In... Portugal A Week In… Spain New for 2019! Paradors of Northern Spain Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley Provence A Week In... Paris and Provence

108 112 114 116 120 124 126

$7,490 $4,860 $5,590 $7,240 $8,740 $5,740 $5,740

14 8 8 14 13 8 8

RIVER CRUISING / SMALL SHIP CRUISING

Cruising the Seine Plus Paris & London Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat The Blue Danube The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel Belgium & Holland in Spring The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam The Rhine and Moselle Norwegian Fjords & Coastal Treasures Treasures of the British / Irish Isles

130 132 134 136 137 138 140 142 144

$8,740 $9,490 $7,490 $5,860 $4,990 $7,240 $7,990 $10,360 $10,740

12 15 12 8 8 10 13 10 12

BRIDGES

The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento New for 2019! Italia Bella: Rome to Venice Alpine Adventure Castles & Kings: London to Paris Grand European Family Holiday Ireland Forever Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure Bon Voyage! France Family River Cruise Family Fun Along the Seine: Paris to Normandy

150 152 154 156 158 160 162 164 166 167

$4,590 $6,460 $6,290 $6,050 $9,610 $5,560 $5,990 $6,240 $6,240 $6,240

7 8 8 8 12 8 8 8 8 8

JOURNEY

ITALY & THE MEDITERRANEAN

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2019 EUROPE JOURNEYS CALENDAR TYPE

DEPARTURE MONTHS

JAN Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Culturious Culturious Land Land Land

FEB

MAR

•

Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Land Culturious Land River Cruise River Cruise River Cruise River Cruise River Cruise River Cruise River Cruise Small Ship Small Ship Family Family Family Family Family Family Family Family Family Family

APR

•

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

MAY

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

JUN

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

JUL

• • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AUG

• • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SEP

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

OCT

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

NOV

DEC

•

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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SMALL SHIP CRUISING

TAUCK BRIDGES FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Cultural journeys & expeditions are all inclusive and carefully choreographed to experience the best of land and sea; Tauck’s uncommon access ashore provides exclusive destination experiences.

Tauck Bridges trips are designed for doing, seeing, and learning as a family. Filled with interactive fun for all ages, trips are led by talented Tauck Directors who connect with both kids and adults.

SMALL GROUPS

WORLD DISCOVERY

Our small group trips, averaging just 24 guests, are designed for travellers looking to share travel experiences with like-minded travellers, a lower Tauck Director to guest ratio, more flexibility, and personalised service.

Travel on fully guided land tours in destinations the world over. Our 90+ years’ experience means you enjoy exclusive travel experiences, premium accommodations, dining featuring local cuisines and more.

RIVER CRUISING

TAUCK EVENTS

All-included shore excursions feature exclusive and authentic cultural experiences thanks to longstanding local relationships; cruise aboard custom-designed riverboats and connect with daily life along Europe’s rivers.

Once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences built around themes linked to one iconic location, sporting event, or cultural phenomenon, featuring multi-night stays at just one premier hotel.

Tauck’s Time on Tauck

Book by 31 December 2019 and enjoy more time to explore with Time on Tauck! Travellers from Australia enjoy more time to explore with “Time on Tauck” giving guests one FREE hotel night at Tauck’s hotel before or after any 2019 Europe journey. Your hotel and trip must be booked by 31 December 2019 (new bookings only, subject to availability) and your deposit must be paid at booking. Certain other restrictions apply; inquire at booking.

Call your preferred travel agent or Tauck on 1300 732 300 or visit tauck.com.au

See your preferred travel agent

Tauck Level 1, 171 Clarence St. Sydney NSW 2000 Fax: 02 9290 2812

Source Code 9996