Explore Europe's Scenic Back Road's

Explore Europe’s Scenic Back Roads • Authentic Local Experiences • Charming Local Accommodation • Culinary Experiences and more...

Experience the best of Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe & more...

To book call free on 0808 163 5880 or email sales@fredholidays.co.uk

6 nights

Berlin to Bohemia Departing 08 June 2016

Berlin has a pivotal place in the heart of Europe.

Most recently it stood at an ideological crossroads in post war culture. Come with us, along roads less travelled by westerners, as we explore beyond the former Iron Curtain. Explore Potsdam, Leipzig and Dresden and see some of Europe’s finest buildings as we travel through Bohemia to Prague - a gem among eastern European cities with magnificent palaces, beautiful spires and atmospheric cobbled streets leading into magical medieval squares.

Highlights: • Stay two nights in Leipzig - explore the city’s classical music heritage and visit the Stasi Museum, where the former secret police spied on citizens and visitors alike • Taste seasonal beer specialities in Berlin • Relax and take in the ‘city of a thousand spires’ on a gentle river cruise through the heart of Prague

Itinerary: Day 1 - Berlin Today, visit the Soviet War Memorial at Treptower Park, the only place in Berlin where you can still see a Swastika, the East Side Gallery to see what remains of the Berlin Wall and Karl Marx Allee. This afternoon we see 'asisi Panorama - The Wall' a cylindrical steel rotunda displaying a panorama of the daily routine on both sides of the Berlin Wall on an autumn day in the 1980s. At a craft brewery we taste their seasonal specialities, then check into your hotel for two nights. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

Alternative dates also available - please call for more details

through the 'Cultural Mile', a strong reminder that 500 years ago the university was an intellectual powerhouse in Europe, attracting inventors, philosophers and many others. After visiting Lutherhaus, the former monastery turned Luther family home, we drive to Leipzig and check in to your hotel for two nights. (B, D) Day 4 - Leipzig Enjoy a morning walking tour of Leipzig, a charming city where Wagner was born, where Bach worked as teacher at St Thomas Church and died before completing his final symphony 'The Art of Fague' and where Mendelssohn-Bartholdy ran a music academy. Later we drive to the Battle of Nations memorial, which was completed in 1913 to mark the 100th anniversary of Napoleon's defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition. Our last stop is the Stasi Museum. Encompassing the original rooms of a Stasi headquarters, it offers a chilling reminder of the dreaded Stasi (SSD), the secret East German police. (B) Day 5 - Leipzig - Dresden - Terezin Memorial Prague In Dresden enjoy a walking tour of the city's Old Town to see many sites including the 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, the Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. We drive to the Terezin Memorial, a tragic symbol of the suffering of the tens of thousands of innocent people who died here during the Nazi occupation. After checking into your hotel, we enjoy dinner in one of Prague's lovely restaurants. (B, D) Day 6 - Prague Day 2 - Berlin - Potsdam - Berlin Explore Potsdam, one of Germany's most beautiful World Heritage sites. We visit the enchanting Sanssouci Palace, built for Frederick the Great's personal use and set among glorious parkland. See the concert hall, quirkily decorated with vines and grapes, the library with a gilded sunburst ceiling and the elegant white and gold Marble Room modelled after the Pantheon in Rome. The rest of the day is yours for independent sightseeing in Berlin. (B)

On a walking tour of Prague we see many iconic sights including Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town square. At Prague Castle, which looms high above the Vltava's left bank, we see the imposing St Vitus's Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George and Lobkowicz Palace. Later embark on a relaxing cruise as we survey the surrounding city before our tour ends. (B)

What’s Included: • 6 nights' accommodation

Day 3 - Berlin - Lutherstadt Wittenberg - Leipzig

• Flights and overseas transfers

Our journey south takes us to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, which, as its name suggests, is strongly linked to Martin Luther (1483-1546), the monk who triggered the German Reformation by publishing his 95 theses against church corruption in 1517. Sometimes called the 'Rome of the Protestants', its many Reformation-related sites are now UNESCO Heritage listed. Here we walk

• Driver/tour leader & mini-coach transport • European breakfast daily & 3 evening meals • Beer tasting in Berlin • Prague's Moldova River cruise • Included Entrances to attractions listed

From £1,419PP

To book call free on 0808 163 5880 or email sales@fredholidays.co.uk

7 nights

The Splendours of Sicily Departing 11 June 2016

Although very much a part of Italy, Sicily is also an island with its own distinct character. Alongside remnants of fine Greek temples, Arab inspired gardens and superb Norman architecture left by former invaders, you will find magnificent scenery and of course delicious food and wine. On this tour you will learn of the island's history with local guides, discover its ancient salt reserves, visit Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, dine on local Sicilian food and gain as insight into the origins of the Sicilian mafia.

Highlights: • Discover Sicily’s ancient salt reserves at Trapani, one of Sicily's hidden gems • Learn of the origins and transformations of the mafia in Sicily and see where important scenes from 'The Godfather' movie were filmed • Dine on authentic local Sicilian cuisine • See the smouldering peak of Europe's largest and one of the world's most active volcanoes, Mount Etna, the latest addition to Italy's UNESCO World Heritage sites • Stay two nights in Ragusa Ibla, a fascinating Baroque town whose jumble of houses are piled on top of each other and clinging to the wall of the Ispica Gorge

Itinerary: Day 1 - Palermo - Corleone - Palermo From Palermo we travel along the back roads to Corleone, known for the Corleonesi mafia clan and the birthplace of several fictional characters in ‘The Godfather’. Here we meet Gino Felicetti, the son of a Corleone couple, who will explain the origins and transformations of the mafia in Sicily. After a typical Sicilian lunch in a local restaurant, we return to Palermo where the rest of the day is at leisure. Stay overnight.. (L) Day 2 - Palermo - Erice - Trapani - Agrigento Our first visit today is to the medieval village of Erice, one of the lesser known pearls of Italy, which dates back to Elymian times (1500-800 BC). We make our way to the Nature Reserve of Trapani and Paceco, which was established to protect one of the last coastal wetlands in western Sicily and is home to over 170 different species of birds, including flamingos. At a winery in the Marsala region, sample the distinctive wine, not dissimilar to Port or Madeira. Tonight we enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at Demetra Resort, located inside the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples. (B, D)

Alternative dates also available - please call for more details

Day 3 - Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Ragusa Ibla

Day 7 - Taormina - Savoca - Taormina

Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is one of the greatest legacies of ancient Greece and is, not surprisingly, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your local guide brings the past to life as we explore this fascinating historical site, which consists of eight temples built between 510 BC and 430 BC. We also visit Piazza Armerina, a charming town where we find the Villa Romana del Casale, one of the largest Roman dwellings of its kind to have survived antiquity. From here we wind our way along the back roads of Ragusa to Antico Convento, our converted monastery accommodation in Ragusa Ibla for the next two nights. (B)

A fitting end to our Sicilian adventure is a visit to Savoca, a beautiful hamlet where important scenes from ‘The Godfather’ were filmed. Here we see the popular Bar Vitelli and the main Church of Savoca, which was the location of the wedding scene. Our tour finishes on return to Taormina. (B)

Day 4 - Ragusa Ibla - Modica - Scicli - Ragusa Ibla Our first visit today is to Modica, the capital of Sicilian Baroque art. After a walk through the Old Town to see the imposing Cathedral of San Giorgio, we continue to Scicli, one of the filming locations of the cult Sicilian Detective Montalbano series. Here we see the Palazzo del Municipio town hall and Palazzo Iacono in Piazza Italia among many other interesting sites. Back in Ragusa Ibla enjoy the rest of the day at leisure so you can further explore this beautiful town at your own pace. (B) Day 5 - Ragusa Ibla - Syracuse - Taormina First we travel to Syracuse, an ancient town by the sea that once rivalled Athens as the most important city of the Greek world. Here we explore the town’s archaeological area and the island of Ortigia with our local guide. The best way to appreciate Ortigia is to just wander around as it is packed with over 2,500 years of history. Highlights on our walking tour include Arethusa’s Spring, the Piazza del Duomo and the 6th century BC Temple of Apollo.

Later, we travel north to Taormina, a delightful town built high on the cliffs. Our next two nights are spent at your Taormina hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore Taormina at your own pace. (B) Day 6 - Taormina - Mount Etna - Taormina Our morning destination is Mount Etna, a slumbering, though certainly not dormant, volcano that dominates the landscape for miles around.

Our drive takes us through several Sicilian towns and we see some old lava flows along the way.

This afternoon we return to Taormina, the capital of Byzantine Sicily in the 9th century, where you may wish to visit the splendid Greek Theatre, or perhaps the 13th century Cathedral of San Nicola.

As this beautiful town is reminiscent of Capri or an Amalfi coastal resort, you may choose to spend the afternoon simply relaxing. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D)

What's included: • 7 nights' accommodation (one night pre-tour) • Flights and overseas transfers • Driver/Tour leader & mini-coach transport • Local guides in Valley of the Temples, Villa del Casale & Syracuse • European breakfast daily, 2 evening meals & lunch • Marsala wine tasting • Included Entrances to attractions listed

From £1,799PP

To book call free on 0808 163 5880 or email sales@fredholidays.co.uk

12 nights

Explore Eastern Europe Departing 06 July 2016

Eastern Europe is a region that encompasses many different cultures, languages, and histories. The region comprises countries that were all behind the Iron Curtain before its fall in 1989. Today the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary are fascinating countries to explore. As well as discovering ever-changing beautiful landscapes and enjoying the cultural differences between each country, we will try our hand at cooking local cuisine.

Highlights: • Take part in a traditional Polish Pierogi making class

Itinerary: Day 1 - Prague Today we see the iconic Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town square. We then visit some legendary beer halls and pubs to learn about the Bohemian lifestyle by listening to stories about beer culture from the Middle Ages, through the Communist period, to the present day. Tonight we dine in a local restaurant. Stay overnight. (D)

• Visit Skull Chapel in Czermna, a fascinating bone chapel

Day 2 - Prague - Errant Rocks - Skull Chapel Kudowa Zdroj

• Travel by traditional, wooden rafts through the Dunajec Gorge or ride a cable car to the Tatra Mountains

Our first stop is at Errant Rocks, a group of unusual rock formations with a fascinating mix of names.

We continue to the Skull Chapel in Czermna, a fascinating bone chapel. Creepily beautiful, shin bones decorate the ceiling and skulls line the walls.

In Kudowa Zdroj, one of the oldest spa towns in Europe, we stay two nights at Hotel Kudowa Prestige Spa, or similar. (B)

• Visit local pubs to discover the traditional Czech beer culture

Alternative dates also available - please call for more details

Day 3 - Kudowa Zdroj - Kletno - Ladek Zdroj Kudowa Zdroj In Kletno village, we visit the longest cave in the Sudetes Mountains. With corridors over 3.5 km long, over three levels, the many stalactites and stalagmites are said to be the most beautiful in Poland. Later we have the opportunity to enjoy a thermal bath at Wojciech Springs, where the 28-32°c waters have therapeutic and relaxing properties. Back in Kudowa Zdroj we enjoy dinner.

(B, D) Day 4 - Kudowa Zdroj - Duszniki Zdroj - Klodzko - Wroclaw At a 17th century paper mill in Duszniki Zdroj, we produce our own sheets of paper to take away.

In Klodzko, visit the 17th century fortress for a guided tour of its extensive network of defensive tunnels. On our Wroclaw walking tour we see the brightly coloured facades of the noble mansions, the Baroque splendour of the market square and learn about a city that has belonged to five different countries through its history. Stay overnight. (B) Day 5 - Wroclaw - Auschwitz - Krakow Today we visit Auschwitz concentration camp, a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazis in WWII. Continue to Krakow, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. Tonight enjoy a traditional Polish dinner, accompanied by local Klezmer music. Stay three nights in Krakow. (B, D) Day 6 - Krakow Visit the Wawel Hill Royal Castle and the Wawel Cathedral, which has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, followed by the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz and the Old Podgorze cemetery. Later take part in a Pierogi making class. During lunch we see these Polish dumplings cooking and we each prepare our own dumpling with a choice of filling. This afternoon is at leisure. (B, L) Day 7 - Krakow - Wieliczka - Krakow We head to the UNESCO World Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mine to discover a labyrinth of tunnels and underground lakes as well as chambers, statues and monuments, all carved out of salt. Later visit the Oscar Schindler Factory, which houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to Krakow under the Nazi Occupation from 1939-1945. (B) Day 8 - Krakow - Szczawnica - Zakopane At the Pieniny National Park in Szczawnica, we travel by traditional, wooden rafts through the

Dunajec Gorge. If rafting isn’t possible due to adverse weather conditions we enjoy a cable car ride to the Tatra Mountains, a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. Tonight we stay at Hotel Grand Nosalowy Dwor in Zakopane, Poland’s fashionable mountain resort. (B, D) Day 9 - Zakopane - Poprad - Eger Crossing the border into Slovakia, we drive to Poprad, a 13th century town that still reflects its historical German and Polish influences. Our second border crossing of the day takes us to Eger, located in Hungary’s northernmost redwine-producing region. We spend this afternoon travelling between cellars in the ‘Valley of Beautiful Women’ to taste its flagship ‘Bulls’ Blood’ blend, as well as other local wines from the cask. Stay overnight. (B) Day 10 - Eger - Budapest Today we drive to Budapest. In the Castle District, we walk through the streets of the historical city centre to Holy Trinity Square and Matthias Church.

We then walk to the Fishermen’s Bastion which offers panoramic views of the city. Later we check in to Boutique Hotel Zara, or similar, and enjoy a delicious dinner together in a local restaurant. (B, D) Day 11 - Budapest Enjoy a panoramic tour of the Pest district followed by some time to explore the city’s oldest indoor market, the Central Market Hall. Here we sample a selection of traditional dishes which Hungarians cook at home, accompanied by quality wines. After a relaxing cruise along the Danube River our tour ends. (B)

What’s Included: • 12 nights’ accommodation (1 pre and 1 post tour) • Driver/tour leader & mini-coach transport • Flights & overseas transfers • European breakfast daily • 5 x evening meals, 1 x lunch • Pierogi making class • Budapest Central Market Hall Food tour • Prague beer tour • Hungarian wine tasting • Rafting through the Dunajec Gorge or cable car ride to the Tatra Mountains • Danube River cruise • Included Entrances to attractions listed.

From £2,399PP

To book call free on 0808 163 5880 or email sales@fredholidays.co.uk

You can also explore: • Spain • Portugal • France • Norway • Special WWI and WWII Battlefield Tours to Western Europe

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Call free on 0808 163 5880 sales@fredholidays.co.uk www.fredholidays.co.uk

Alternative dates also available - please call for more details