CENTRAL EUROPE and OBERAMMERGAU (56702010)

Transportation
Scheduled transatlantic flights and airport transfers in Frankfurt if Cosmos issues the air tickets. Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach.

Guides
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Auschwitz. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring.

Hotels


Frankfurt
Area Holiday Inn City (F),

Berlin
Ramada Globus (ST),

Warsaw
MDM (ST),

Krakow
Holiday Inn Express (ST),

Budapest
Mercure Buda (ST),

Vienna
Pyramida (F) at Voesendorf,

Prague
La Villa (F),

Munich
Rivoli (ST) or Tryp (F)

Meals
Buffet breakfasts (B); 5 dinners (D); 1 lunch (L)

Day 1:
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
ARRIVE IN FRANKFURT AREA, GERMANY. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 3:
FRANKFURT–WEIMAR–BERLIN. Northeast today using the Autobahn for a stop in Weimar, one-time intellectual heart of Germany and host to such luminaries as Luther, Cranach, Bach, Liszt, Schiller, and, of course, Goethe himself. It was at one time rightly known as the “Athens of Germany.” Journey past Jena, home to the world-famous Zeiss Optics Factory. Over the River Elbe for a few more miles into Germany’s capital city, Berlin. (B)

Day 4:
BERLIN. No longer divided but every bit as fascinating. Once the city of contrasts with its West and East side separating two different worlds, since the wall came down, Berlin has developed into a harmonious blend of old and new. It has preserved the old buildings, such as the State Opera House and the Brandenburg Gate, its neoclassic-style boulevards such as the Kurfürstendamm and “Unter den Linden,” as well as created brand new buildings in the most daring up-to-date architectural styles. It is once again Germany’s capital and one of Europe most lively and interesting cities, from a cultural point of view. In the afternoon, there's an optional excursion to historic Potsdam. (B)

Day 5:
BERLIN–WARSAW, POLAND. Drive east to Poznan, one of Poland’s oldest trading centers and now an international marketplace during its industrial fairs. See more of the Polish countryside on the way to Warsaw. (B,D)

Day 6:
WARSAW. The included sightseeing tour is an excellent introduction to Warsaw, magnificently reconstructed after wartime destruction. Today its wide avenues contrast strikingly with the narrow lanes of the old section. (B)

Day 7:
WARSAW–AUSCHWITZ–KRAKOW. Two encounters with history on your southbound journey today. First, Jasna Góra near Czestochowa, the monastery that withstood the repeated onslaught of overwhelming Swedish forces during the religious wars of the 17th century. Since then, its Black Madonna is venerated as the “Queen of Poland” and has become the country’s national symbol. In the afternoon, visit what is left of the Auschwitz concentration camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. Evening arrival in Krakow. (B,D)

Day 8:
KRAKOW. This is, they say, Poland’s most beautiful city. For almost 500 years it was the country’s capital, and today it is without a doubt its cultural capital. Optional morning sightseeing in ancient Krakow, for centuries the residence of Polish kings. See the Market Square, the 14th-century Jagiellonian University, St. Mary’s Church, and Wawel Royal Castle. Free time later to explore this interesting town at your own pace and mingle with the locals. Tonight’s optional folklore dinner might be the way to round off your stay in this city. (B)

Day 9:
KRAKOW–BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. A comfortable drive through three countries. First, south to the Tatra Mountains of Poland, then through a scenic part of Slovakia, and finally into Hungary. Your destination is Budapest, the most lively of Eastern European capitals. (B,D)

Day 10:
BUDAPEST. Included sightseeing features Buda Castle, which dominates the twin cities of Buda and Pest, separated by the broad ribbon of the Danube. Also see Heroes’ Square, which typifies the modern capital, as well as the old inns and wine cellars along the riverbank, Parliament, Margaret Island, Fishermen’s Bastion, the Royal Castle, and Matthias Coronation Church. (B)

Day 11:
BUDAPEST–VIENNA, AUSTRIA. Head for the Austrian border by way of Györ. You’ll be in Vienna in time to enjoy your first afternoon and evening in this lively capital. Enjoy the included sightseeing tour with a Local Guide: the State Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’ Square to view the Hofburg and an inside visit of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. (B)

Day 12:
VIENNA–PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC. Morning optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace. This afternoon, cross the Czech border into Moravia, then through the rich farmlands of Bohemia to Prague. (B,D)

Day 13:
PRAGUE. The wealth of gothic and baroque architecture perhaps inspired Dvorak and Smetana, both Prague composers. The included guided sightseeing features landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock. Your Tour Director may suggest an evening optional excursion with traditional Czech music and spectacular entertainment. (B)

Day 14:
PRAGUE–ROMANTIC ROAD–MUNICH, GERMANY. Into the landscape of the Bohemian Forest before reaching the Czech-German border. The highlight today is undoubtedly the Romantic Road, which runs north to south as far as the Alps. First to lovely medieval Nördlingen, then Rothenburg with its ramparts and towers, cobbled streets, and 16th-century houses before heading towards the Munich area. (B)

Day 15:
MUNICH–OBERAMMERGAU. Travel to Oberammergau, the Passion Play village in the Bavarian Alps. The afternoon and evening are devoted to the Passion Play. (B,L,D)

Day 16:
OBERAMMERGAU–MUNICH. Drive back to Munich this morning. In the afternoon, time at leisure. (B)

Day 17:
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM MUNICH ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

YOU CAN BOOK THIS TOUR ONLINE. Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/6/2010 - 8/22/2010	$2,969
8/13/2010 - 8/29/2010	$2,969
8/20/2010 - 9/5/2010	$2,969
8/27/2010 - 9/12/2010	$2,969
9/10/2010 - 9/26/2010	$2,969
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights
Visits to Weimar, Poznan, Jasna Góra, Nördlingen, Rothenburg, Munich

Scenic Highlights
Tatra Mountains, Romantic Road

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $700Triples not available.Note: This vacation includes travel in the Czech Republic, which requires a minimum of at least €30,000 ($45,000 USD) in medical and repatriation insurance coverage. The basic Cosmos Travel Protection has a $25,000 limit however this will be increased to $50,000 while you are traveling in the Czech Republic at no additional cost. If other coverage is obtained, it is the travelers’ responsibility to verify their coverage meets requirements as they may be required by immigration to produce proof of coverage while traveling in the Czech Republic.

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