Grand Tour of the Balkans
Day 1
-
(Sat. ) Make your way to join the tour in Athens on day
2.
Day 2
- Arrival in Athens, Greece
(Sun.) Time to rest or explore the Hellenic capital. At 6 p.m.
meet your traveling companions at a welcome drink hosted by your
Tour Director.
Day 3
- Athens
(Mon.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Parthenon's
crowning beauty atop the ACROPOLIS, the erechtheum with its Porch
of Maidens, the beautifully preserved Theseum, the Roman Temple of
Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the Agora where Socrates taught.
Vistas of the Royal Palace, government buildings, and elegant homes
in the modern city provide a striking contrast to the remains of a
glorious past. Balance of the day is at leisure. (BB)
Day 4
- Athens-Thessalonika
(Tue.) Along the coastline of the Aegean Sea towards Thermopylae
where heroic Greek resistance under King Leonidas wrote the
worthiest pages of europe's war history in 480 B.C. Blue waters of
the Thermaic Bay and dramatic background of Mount Olympus provide a
breathtaking setting on your way to Macedonia's capital,
Thessalonika, where an orientation drive shows you the sights.
(BB,D)
Day 5
- Thessalonika-Sofia, Bulgaria
(Wed.) Cross the Bulgarian border and head north through the
Struma Valley, Spartacus' mountainous homeland. Reach the village
of Kocerinovo, from where a scenic side trip takes you high up
towards the RILA MONASTERY, a beacon of the Bulgarian nation during
half a millennium of Ottoman rule. Overnight in Sofia. (BB,D)
Day 6
- Sofia
(Thu.) During morning sightseeing with a Local Guide spot
sections of the Roman wall and visit the ancient CHURCH OF ST.
GEORGI, the golden-domed ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL with its
marvelous collection of medieval icons, and the Turkish Bashi
Mosque. Tonight's optional dinner outing includes a specialty meal
and folklore performance. (BB)
Day 7
- Sofia-Bucharest, Romania
(Fri.) Cross the low Stara Planina (Old Mountains) chain on the
way to the wide and fertile Danube Valley. After completing border
formalities cross the Danube at Ruse and reach Bucharest, the
"Paris of the Balkans." (BB,D)
Day 8
- Bucharest
(Sat.) Flower-festooned parks, gardens, and wide boulevards
shaded by century-old trees contribute to Bucharest's beauty. The
highlight of your sightseeing tour with a Local Guide is a visit to
the OPEN-AIR VILLAGE MUSEUM, a unique collection of traditional
farmhouses, cottages, wind- and watermills, and artisans' workshops
from all parts of the country. An afternoon optional visit to the
former Royal Cotroceni Palace and its award-winning museum is
available. Tonight taste typical Romanian fare and excellent local
wine, and enjoy the songs and dances performed by a skilled
ensemble in colorful costumes. (BB,D)
Day 9
- Bucharest-Brasov
(Sun.) Morning drive through the oil-fields of Ploesti before
reaching Romania's most elegant mountain resort of Sinaia. Then on
to BRAN CASTLE, built in the 14th-century and ever since assumed to
be home of the Romanian vampires. Tonight do not miss the optional
Transylvanian dinner at a medieval fortress and the music
performace by members of the Brasov Philarmonic Orchestra. (BB)
Day 10
- Brasov-Sighisoara-Cluj. Transylvanian Tour
(Mon.) Your guided tour features
the BLACK CHURCH, Old Town Hall, Merchants' Hall, and the
15th-century MONASTERY AND SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS. Drive through
the legendary heart of Transylvania to the fortified town of
Sighisoara. Visit the CASTLE CHAPEL, where according to the legends
Dracula was born and baptized. Your Local Guide will explain the
origin of the gory legends. Continue to Cluj and enjoy a pleasant
stroll through the center of this multi-ethnic Transylvanian city.
(BB,D)
Day 11
- Cluj-Budapest, Hungary
(Tue.) From the gentle rolling hills of the Western Carpathians
into the fertile fields of east Hungary. Why not join an optional
Hungarian folklore performance this evening? (BB,D)
Day 12
- Budapest
(Wed.) Your Local Guide takes your through Eastern Europe's most
cosmopolitan city. See the elegant Andrassy Avenue, the Thermal
Baths, and the world's second largest Jewish Synagogue. From the
lacy lookout towers of Fishermen's Bastion enjoy a panoramic view
of the sprawling city. Then visit the 13th-century MATTHIAS
CORONATION CHURCH and Heroes' Square. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight
a delectable optional Hungarian specialty dinner can be arranged.
(BB)
Day 13
- Budapest-Eisenstadt, Austria-Vienna
(Thu.) This morning drive by way of
the Austrian lowlands to Eisenstadt, Burgenland's capital and
hometown of the world-renowned composer Joseph Haydn. Visit
ESTERHAZY PALACE where the talented composer conducted the court
orchestra. Arrive in Vienna, once the center of the mighty Habsburg
Empire. (BB)
Day 14
- Vienna
(Fri.) Meet your Local Guide and start your sightseeing with
vistas of Prater Park with its giant Ferris wheel, and the United
nations City on the banks of the Danube River. Then drive along
Ring Boulevard, pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and
stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian
imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous
Heldenplatz and visit awesome ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL. Afternoon at
leisure. Optional excursions to Schönbrunn Palace and to the
wine village of Grinzing are available. (BB)
Day 15
-
(Sat.) Leave the tour to make your way home.
Other Information -
Every Journey Tells a
Story
A Globus Journey. When you travel with Globus, you get more
than the sights. You get the stories behind them that bring a
destination to life, creating unforgettable journeys.
Let Globus take you to places that expand your horizons and
encourage personal discovery. Experience a destination in a deeper,
more memorable way-the Globus way.
The Globus Difference
Globus vacations are designed to offer you flexibility and choice,
plus a pace that best fits the way you want to travel. Globus
offers MORE included features, MORE quality hotels, and MORE
experience with more than 75 years of taking travellers on
unforgettable journeys. In addition, Globus offers MORE value with
an average price less per day than our nearest competitor. The
safety of our travelers and the richness of our vacations is a
priority, and it is what has made Globus the worldwide leader in
travel and a name you can trust.
With Globus, you visit the key sights, but, more importantly, you
learn the stories behind the sights-from the Sistine Chapel, the
Colosseum and the Forum in Rome, to the Prado Museum in Madrid and
Michelangelo's David in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, your
journey is filled with insider's information unique to your Globus
vacation. You'll also enjoy many inclusions such as cruises,
high-speed trains, and Local Guides. We offer over twice the number
of included features as our nearest competitor, without any
additional cost to you.
Globus not only brings you the experiences that others simply don't
offer, we also ensure that you end up with more free time to enjoy
your destination on your own. Most competitors require you to take
extra optional excursions to see these important sights, costing
you additional time and money. And, if you don't join their
excursion, you'll spend most of your time waiting in line. But with
Globus, these sights are already included, freeing up the remainder
of your time to enjoy independent activities.
Accurate, detailed
tour descriptions -
Read our tour descriptions and you'll understand the true value
of our tours. The agenda for each day is spelled out so that you
know exactly what is included in the price. Inside visits are
spelled out in UPPERCASE. With Globus you don't have to guess.
Compare what we give you in a tour with what other companies
offer-and then compare prices. You'll see why knowledgeable
travellers consider Globus vacations the best value on the market
with even more savings in the off season.
Saving Options -
Various reductions are possible: group reduction, child
reduction, triple room reduction, multiple tour reduction.
Discount for young tour
members
Share the pleasure of a Globus tour with
your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10 percent
discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be
under 18 years old on the departure date, and must be accompanied
by an adult.
On escorted tours we do not accept children under eight years old
because we've found that they are too young to enjoy these
vacations.
On Monograms-Independent Vacations there is no age
restriction.
New! For Monograms-Independent
Vacations the following land only discounts apply:
- Free of charge: infants under 2 years of age sharing adult's
accommodation
- 50% discount: under 12 years of age when sharing accommodation
with two adults
- 10% discount: under 18 years of age
Note: We recommend that children under 12 years of age share
accommodation with an adult.
Triple room reduction
On most Globus tours you receive a reduction when three people
travel together and share the same accommodation. Triple room
reductions are listed on the tour pages. A word of caution: Triple
rooms usually are not larger than twin rooms, and the third bed, if
there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room for the
night.
Avoid the single room
supplement
Single rooms are expensive and often are quite small. We do not
take reservations on a "share" basis because we have found that
strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of a
vacation. Sidestep the single room supplement by traveling with a
friend. It's less expensive and much more fun!
Pay less for your second
tour
We charge you list price for your first vacation in 2006, but
for every additional Globus vacation that you take in the same
year, you pay US$35 under list. It's fun to combine vacations to
make the perfect trip, or ask your travel agent for suggestions.
This discount does not apply if one of the vacations is a single
city stay Monograms vacation.
Consecutive vacations can be booked with or without transatlantic
flights. Any intra-European flights between vacations cannot be
reserved as part of the Globus package. Please ask your travel
agent to reserve and ticket such flights for you.
Save by forming your own
group
If you form your own group, you'll receive the following rebates
on the land arrangement of your tour. On vacations to Mexico and
vacations including a cruise of three or more nights, one person
travels free in a group of 32; while one person travels at half
price in a group of 16. On River Cruise Vacations, one person
travels free in a group of 16.
On all other tours, one person travels free in a group of 16; one
person travels at half price in a group of eight.
These rebates are applicable to land-only prices (not air-inclusive
prices). Free and half-price land arrangements are credited at the
twin rate; single room supplements have to be paid in full.
Tour conditions for group bookings may differ from those for
individual bookings.
Joining late and leaving
early
Many Globus land arrangements start and end in London. If you
have already spent time in the British capital, you may want to
skip one or more of the included London nights or even join at the
first overnight hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Consultant
for any reductions that apply to your vacation for joining late or
leaving early. Vacations with these reductions are sold on a
land-only basis.
It's in your interest to book
early
Plan your vacation in advance, and book your tour as soon as
possible to guard against the disappointment of not finding space.
Many Globus tours sell out months before the departure date.
And remember, the moment we receive your deposit your land price is
guaranteed.
This is valuable protection against currency fluctuations and other
cost increases. So please don't wait. Contact your travel agent now
for a vacation you'll never forget!
Help Along The Way -
Professional Tour Director while touring, Cruise Director on
river cruises, Local Host services on independent vacations, and
hosts to assist you at airports and hotels.
Hotels -
Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes,
service charges, and tips for baggage handling.
Globus
Hotels Set the Standard for First-class Touring
At the end of a busy day of sightseeing, you want to relax in
comfortable, clean, attractive accommodations. At our first-class,
conveniently located hotels, you'll always feel welcome and well
looked after.
We know that excellent accommodations are of paramount
importance to your enjoyment on tour. Our hotels--many of them
through long association with us--have mastered the art of handling
group check-ins and baggage speedily, preparing tasty and wholesome
meals, and balancing the need for efficiency with the desire of
each traveller to receive individual attention.
You won't be surprised with any hidden charges when you check
out of your Globus hotel. All hotel taxes and tips for restaurant
service and baggage handling are included in the price of your
tour.
Hotel locations maximize your
sightseeing time
We take extra care to select downtown locations for our
independent tours and for longer stays on escorted tours, when your
itinerary features days at leisure to explore on your own.
When your itinerary allows time only for a good night's sleep
between two busy sightseeing days, our expert contractors sometimes
sensibly opt for quiet residential areas.
And you'll be delighted with our choice of hotels in scenic
countryside locations. Wake up to the sound of cow bells, take a
morning walk in crisp mountain air, enjoy glorious panoramic views
of the majestic Alps or the Norwegian fjord country.
Superior accommodation
Globus uses chains such as Crowne Plaza, Forte, Hilton, Holiday
Inn, Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Jolly, Queens Moat Houses, Marriott,
Mövenpick, Radisson SAS, Renaissance, Scandic, Sheraton,
Sofitel, Thistle and Westin.
The specific hotels we have selected for you are listed
separately for each tour. The vast majority of our hotels are rated
deluxe (D), superior first-class (SF), or first-class (F). In
overnight places where there is no hotel in these categories or
where our demand exceeds the supply, we choose the best available
superior tourist-class (ST) hotels.
Most hotels have amenities such as satellite TV, mini-bar, a
cocktail lounge, a restaurant, room service and concierge services.
Many also have a swimming pool, health club, shops, and dry
cleaning and laundry services.
Globus hotel ratings follow standards set by the independent
Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by national tourist boards. The
specific rating for each contract hotel is determined by our
quality controllers.
We reserve the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour
pages with hotels of equivalent standard. With your Globus travel
documents you'll receive a list of hotel addresses, telephone
numbers, and fax numbers for your tour.
Transportation -
Including private deluxe motor coach with air-conditioning and
extra leg room.We offer many modes of transportation, from trains
and motor coaches to cruise ships and ferries. Each is selected and
designed with comfort in mind.
Coaches -
Each Globus motor coach has upholstered, reclining seats with
headrests and individual air-conditioning vents. A high-fidelity
sound system broadcasts your Tour Director's commentary to every
seat. Our custom of daily seat rotation gives everyone a variety of
vantage points to see the passing countryside and city scenes.
Limited group size for extra comfort
The length and width of modern motor coaches is standard,
prescribed by law. The difference among tour operators is in the
number of seats installed and actually sold. While it is customary
to install and sell 53 seats, Globus installs fewer seats for extra
leg room, and limits group size to a maximum of 46 tour members.
The extra space contributes enormously to your comfort. For airport
and port transfers in Britain we generally use motor coaches with
53 seats.
Smoke-free coaches
For non-smokers and
moderate smokers an otherwise perfect vacation can be spoiled if
they are forced to inhale other people's smoke on a motor coach. We
therefore do not allow smoking on the coach. There are plenty of
opportunities to smoke during the frequent stops.
Globus drivers are experienced professionals
Globus drivers take pride in driving and in their vehicles, keeping
them in great shape and spotlessly clean. Your driver will help you
on and off the motor coach with a smile and load your bags with
care. Our travellers consistently lavish the highest praise on the
person behind the wheel!
Trains, Ferries, Cruises and
Gondola Rides
Many of our itineraries include cruises, river jet boat and
mountain gondola rides, whale-watching expeditions, and journeys by
train. Experience the ultra-modern Eurostar train from Rome to
Florence and the exciting high-speed AVE train from Madrid to
Seville. In the Canadian Rockies, you might take one of the sleek,
ultra-modern BC Ferries or, if travelling by rail car in Canada or
Alaska, enjoy travel operated by VIA Rail ®. Other fascinating
Globus vacations feature cruises on the Rhine or Venetian Canals to
enhance your travel experience.
Ships and River Cruises
Globus provides the most spacious and newest ships from Avalon
Waterways. Features include unmatched luxury, fine dining, larger
accommodations and impeccable service. Whether you're travelling
Europe, Russia or China-on a Globus river cruise, you'll always
feel well looked after.
