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ESCORTED TOURS EASTERN EUROPE DESTINATIONS


LEFT: Matryoshka dolls, Russia


RIGHT: Uplistsikhe, Georgia


stops in Wroclaw, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw, plus a boat ride along the river Odra. Louise Heatley, head of


product and contracting, says: “Poland is a beautiful country, with a moving history and plenty of Unesco World Heritage Sites. I’m very excited for this tour to begin to showcase this less-travelled country. For me, the highlight has to be the visit to the Unesco-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is the oldest of its type in Europe. The intricately carved underground chambers are simply fascinating, and the Chapel of St Kinga is breathtaking.” Book it: The nine-day tour starts from £1,295, including flights to Warsaw, rail and coach travel, accommodation with breakfast and three dinners, and guided tours. There are departures on June 8, August 31 and September 21. raildiscoveries.com


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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Straddling Asia and eastern Europe, Russia


is prime touring territory, with notoriously long distances and a tricky language barrier making independent travel that bit more challenging. While many


Customers can hear a classical recital in the world’s largest orangery, in Vienna, where Mozart played


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tours focus almost exclusively on Moscow and St Petersburg, G Adventures has a Backroads of Russia tour that goes further into the scenery and modern-day culture of the country. The itinerary starts in St


Petersburg, where a walking tour uncovers the city’s lesser-known neighbourhoods, and carries on to the traditional Karelian village of Kinerma, the only place to find an authentic ‘kalitki’, or open-topped pie. Some of Russia’s most beautiful landscapes come next, with a guided walk through the Kivach Waterfall and Nature Reserve and a boat trip to Kizhi island, followed by an overnight train to Sergiev Posad, and matryoshka painting in Moscow. Book it: The 12-day Classic trip starts at £1,679 per person, excluding flights. gadventures.com


60travelweekly.co.uk21 February 2019


BOHEMIAN BEAUTY From red-roofed medieval castles to


peaceful riverside scenery, Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) and Austria provide an ideal setting for a relaxed tour that mixes big-hitting city sights with laid-back countryside and smaller towns. Riviera Travel’s Prague, Vienna, Bohemia & the Danube Valley tour starts and ends in the Czech capital. In between, there’s a scenic journey past lakes and wildflower-filled scenery to the historic castle at Cesky Krumlov, a stop at brewing town Budweis to sample the ‘real’ Budweiser, a glimpse of the riverside monastery at Melk, and a tour of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Riviera Travel’s head of short-haul product, Joanne Lynn, says: “Customers also have the option to personalise their holiday and enjoy a classical recital by the world-class Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra in the world’s largest orangery, in Vienna, where Mozart himself performed in 1786.” Book it: The eight-day tour starts at £959, including flights, transfers, taxes and seven nights’ four-star accommodation. Departures are available from 10 regional airports, from May to October. rivieratravel.co.uk


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GEORGIA ON MY MIND


Right on the edge of eastern Europe lies


the former Soviet republic of Georgia, which is just starting to open up to tourists. Its landscapes range from vineyard- filled valleys to snow-topped mountains and beachfront towns along the Black Sea coast, though they’re a far cry from those found across the water in Bulgaria. It’s already selling well for solo specialist Just You, which has introduced a new tour to the little-known country. Managing director Alastair Campbell says: “Georgia is a country full of natural wonders, lush vineyards and vast, snow- capped mountains. Highlights of the tour include a drive along the ancient Silk Road, and an exploration of Uplistsikhe, the Unesco-listed cave town that once housed 20,000 people. “Solo travellers are always looking out for new discoveries and Georgia gives our agent partners the perfect destination to sell to them.” Book it: Just You’s eight-day Undiscovered Georgia starts at £2,119 this summer, including flights from Gatwick with Georgian Airways, six nights in four-star hotels, 14 meals and porterage. justyou.co.uk


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