EUROPERUSSIA  LITHUANIA  POLAND  CZECH REPUBLIC  SLOVAKIA  HUNGARY  ROMANIA  TURKEY 158 " The route was well- planned and maximised time in places - the overnight trains helped this." Alice Webster europe Moscow to Istanbul Imaginative Facts Tour code: UAMI • Activities: Extensive walking in towns, optional hiking in the High Tatras Mountains and around Brasov. Trek grade - Easy • Accommodation: 15 nights simple hotels, 6 overnight trains • Transport: Bus and train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Moscow and St Petersburg • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Istanbul Heart of the City Tour' page 77. DAY 1: MOSCOW- Arrival day. DAY 2: MOSCOW - ST PETERSBURG- A morning guided orientation tour of the city. In the evening we board an overnight train to St Petersburg. ( B) DAY 3: ST PETERSBURG- A guided tour of St Petersburg. Free afternoon. DAY 4: ST PETERSBURG - VILNIUS- Free day. In the evening we board an overnight train to Vilnius in Lithuania. ( B) DAYS 5 & 6: VILNIUS- Free days to explore the beautiful Lithuanian capital. ( Day 6 - B) DAYS 7 & 8: VILNIUS - WARSAW- We spend the day travelling by train to Warsaw. We then have a free day to relax in the Polish capital. ( B) DAY 9: KRAKOW- Morning train ride to Krakow, Poland's most celebrated city. ( B) DAY 10: KRAKOW- A free day. Perhaps take a trip out to the Wieliczka salt mine or alternatively make a poignant visit to Auschwitz. Overnight train to Prague. ( B) DAY 11: PRAGUE- Morning walking tour of this wonderful city, one of the most beautiful and romantic in Europe. DAY 12: PRAGUE- A free day. In the evening we board an overnight train to Stary Smokovec in the High Tatras Mountains of Slovakia, Eastern Europe's highest mountain range. ( B) DAY 13: HIGH TATRAS MOUNTAINS-Today we have a full day trek amidst this stunning and very dramatic mountain range - often in the company of locals for whom taking a ' stroll' amidst the peaks is a daily routine. DAY 14: HIGH TATRAS MOUNTAINS - BUDAPEST- A free morning. You can visit nearby Levoca, Slovakia's most beautiful walled town, and Spissky Hrad, one of the largest castles in Europe. Afternoon train to Budapest. ( B) DAYS 15 & 16: BUDAPEST- Budapest is known as the Paris of the East and is a wonderful place to wander - lose yourself in the romantic mediaeval city or take a boat cruise on the Danube. In the evening of day 16 we take an overnight train to Brasov in Romania. ( B) DAY 17: BRASOV- Full day to explore the atmospheric mediaeval city of Brasov. Alternatively take a day trip to the stunning resort of Sinaia and spend the day walking through spectacular alpine pastures and forests. DAY 18: DRACULA'S CASTLE - BUCHAREST- Morning option to visit Rasnov Castle and Dracula's Castle. In the afternoon, take the train to Bucharest. ( B) DAYS 19 & 20: BUCHAREST- Free time to explore Bucharest with its contrast of exquisite old streets and the splendour of the civic centre. In the evening of Day 19 we take an overnight train to Istanbul. ( B) DAY 21: ISTANBUL- Arrive in the morning. The day is free to explore this exotic and lively city. DAY 22: ISTANBUL- Tour ends. ( B) Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Romania Bulgaria Turkey • Explore Transylvania with options to visit Dracula's Castle • Hikein the imposing High Tatras Mountainsof Slovakia • Enjoy the charming Polish city of Krakowand Romania's mediaeval Brasov • Travel to the Baltic to tour Lithuania's beautiful capital, Vilnius • Time in all the major cities - Prague, Budapest, Bucharest and St Petersburg Russia Lithuania Poland Russia Lithuania Poland Czech Rep. HungaryRomania Turkey Istanbul Bucharest Brasov Budapest High Tatras Mountains Prague Warsaw Vilnius Moscow St Petersburg Moscow to Istanbul Moscow to Prague Prague to Istanbul Krakow Slovakia Bulgaria Romania Discover Romania Cluj Napoca Suceava Brasov Sighisoara Sinaia Bucharest Tulcea Single Supplement £ 535 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 4.52 * Price includes tour price of £ 1835and local payment of € 450All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 2180pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 22 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SatEnds Sat MoscowIstanbul 2009 16- May- 0906- Jun- 09 06- Jun- 0927- Jun- 09 11- Jul- 0901- Aug- 09 01- Aug- 0922- Aug- 09 05- Sep- 0926- Sep- 09 Starts SatEnds Sat MoscowIstanbul 2010 15- May- 1005- Jun- 10 05- Jun- 1026- Jun- 10 10- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 31- Jul- 1021- Aug- 10 04- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Trek grade - Easy Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

RUSSIA  LITHUANIA  POLAND  CZECH REPUBLIC  SLOVAKIA  HUNGARY  ROMANIA  TURKEY 159 EUROPE Moscow to Prague Imaginative Facts Tour code: UAMP • Activities: Extensive walking • Accommodation: 9 nights simple hotels, 3 overnight trains • Transport: Train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Moscow and St Petersburg DAYS 1- 12: Follow ' Moscow to Istanbul' DAY 13: PRAGUE- Tour ends. ( B) The first half of our ' Moscow to Istanbul' trip • Time in Moscow and St Petersburg • Travel to Lithuania in the Baltic • Free time in Warsaw • Enjoy the charms of Krakow • Two full days in Prague Russia Lithuania Poland Czech Republic Prague to Istanbul Imaginative Facts Tour code: UAPI • Activities: Extensive walking , optional hiking in the High Tatras Mountains and around Brasov. Trek grade - Easy • Accommodation: 9 nights simple hotels, 3 overnight trains • Transport: Train and bus • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Istanbul City Starter Tour' DAY 1: PRAGUE- Arrive and transfer to your hotel. DAYS 2- 12: Follow ' Moscow to Istanbul' itinerary days 11- 21. DAY 13: ISTANBUL- Tour ends after breakfast. ( B) The last half of our ' Moscow to Istanbul' trip • Explore Transylvania with options to visit delightful Sinaia and Dracula's Castle • Hikein the imposing High Tatras Mountainsof Slovakia • Enjoy Romania's atmospheric mediaeval city of Brasov • Time in all the major cities - Budapest, Bucharest and Istanbul • Two full days to explore the wonderful sights of Prague Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Romania Bulgaria Turkey Discover Romania Imaginative Facts Tour code: UTDR • Activities: Extensive walking at sites and hiking at Brasov • Accommodation: 8 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night sleeper train • Transport: Public bus, train • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader days 1- 9, services of representative day 10 DAY 1: BUCHAREST- Arrive and transfer to your hotel. DAY 2: BUCHAREST - TULCEA- This morning we explore Bucharest on foot. Here we have the opportunity to stroll tree- lined boulevards and discover the fantastic architecture on offer, such as the extravagant Palace of Parliament and the city's many monasteries and orthodox churches. This afternoon we take the train to Tulcea, gateway to the Danube Delta. ( B) DAY 3: DANUBE DELTA- Today we take a cruise on the Danube Delta, a World Heritage Site and renowned for its fantastic scenery and superb wildlife. Later we drive back to Bucharest and take the overnight train to Suceava. ( B) DAY 4: SUCEAVA- We have a full day excursion to visit the various monasteries and painted churches that are found in this region. Later we take the train to Cluj Napoca. DAY 5: CLUJ NAPOCA- This one time capital of Transylvania is now a major university town, which gives the town a laid back ambience in which to admire its fantastic Baroque architecture. We have time to explore the various sites such as St Michael's church, dating back to the 14th century, and the National History Museum of Transylvania. In the evening we take the train to Sighisoara. ( B) DAY 6: SIGHISOARA- We wander the cobbled streets of this perfectly preserved mediaeval town, one of the most important towns in Transylvania during the Roman Empire, before moving on to Brasov. ( B) DAY 7: BRASOV- A full day in Brasov, a very popular destination with a magnificent central square, which is awash with cosmopolitan outdoor cafes and baroque facades. ( B) DAY 8: BRAN CASTLE- We hike through picturesque scenery and villages to Bran Castle and visit this well preserved building, also known as Dracula's Castle. Later we travel to Sinaia. ( B) DAY 9: SINAIA- Spend time discovering this picturesque town, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in Romania. We then return to Bucharest. ( B) DAY 10: BUCHAREST- Tour ends after breakfast. ( B) Visit one of the least developed yet most impressive areas of Europe • Take a walk through elegant Bucharest and the mountain resort of Sinaia • Cruise the Danube from Tulcea, gateway to the Delta's World Heritage Site • Discover the amazing painted churches and monasteriesof Suceava • Visit ' Dracula's Castle', the most infamous site in Transylvania • Enjoy the baroque and mediaeval architectureof Cluj Napoca and Sighisoara Single Supplement £ 380 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 3.29 * Price includes tour price of £ 1199and local payment of € 350All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1470pp Land Only * Single Supplement £ 245 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 3.29 * Price includes tour price of £ 999and local payment of € 250All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1190pp Land Only * Single Supplement £ 230 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 3.78 * Price includes tour price of £ 799and local payment of € 200All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 949pp Land Only * adventurer adventurer traveller Tour duration 13 days Tour duration 13 days Tour duration 10 days Starts SatEnds Thu MoscowPrague 2009 16- May- 0928- May- 09 06- Jun- 0918- Jun- 09 11- Jul- 0923- Jul- 09 01- Aug- 0913- Aug- 09 05- Sep- 0917- Sep- 09 Starts SatEnds Thu MoscowPrague 2010 15- May- 1027- May- 10 05- Jun- 1017- Jun- 10 10- Jul- 1022- Jul- 10 31- Jul- 1012- Aug- 10 04- Sep- 1016- Sep- 10 Starts MonEnds Sat PragueIstanbul 2009 25- May- 0906- Jun- 09 15- Jun- 0927- Jun- 09 20- Jul- 0901- Aug- 09 10- Aug- 0922- Aug- 09 14- Sep- 0926- Sep- 09 Starts MonEnds Sat PragueIstanbul 2010 24- May- 1005- Jun- 10 14- Jun- 1026- Jun- 10 19- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 09- Aug- 1021- Aug- 10 13- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 Starts MonEnds Wed BucharestBucharest 2009 04- May- 0913- May- 09 08- Jun- 0917- Jun- 09 29- Jun- 0908- Jul- 09 03- Aug- 0912- Aug- 09 24- Aug- 0902- Sep- 09 Starts MonEnds Wed BucharestBucharest 2010 03- May- 1012- May- 10 07- Jun- 1016- Jun- 10 28- Jun- 1007- Jul- 10 02- Aug- 1011- Aug- 10 23- Aug- 1001- Sep- 10 Trek grade - Easy Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243