(NZD) Topdeck | GAP 2019/20

EPIC TRIPS FOR 18 TO 30 SOMETHINGS

2019

PARIS, FRENCH RIVIERA, VATICAN CITY, VENICE, GREEK SAILING, PRAGUE, BERLIN, AMSTERDAM AND MORE

Prices & itineraries valid until 31 August 2019

BEST TOUR OPERATOR INTERNATIONAL 2017

WINNER 2017 NAT

IO N A

L T R AV E

L I N D U S T RY

AWA

RDS

WE ARE TOPDECK

2

WE ARE TOPDECK.

Why Top deck

A collective of explorers who are devoted to travel, we strive to open minds, shift perspectives, learn new things and make a difference. Our passion is to inspire young people through

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

FREEDOM TO EXPLORE

life-changing travel experiences.

Our one-of-a-kind included

We realise that everyone’s

and optional activities in both

different – which is why

iconic hotspots and off-the-

our trips offer loads of free

beaten-track places mean

time to play, discover and

there’s never a dull moment

channel your inner explorer.

We know what works.

And we’re not afraid to shout about it.

We refuse to sacrifice quality, independence

on your trip of a lifetime.

and freedom, and believe solo adventures should go hand in hand with unforgettable moments with like-minded travellers.

We build the trips. You build the memories.

Are you ready to discover what it means to be a #Topdecker?

DELICIOUS FOOD

PASSION & EXPERTISE

Let’s go.

With visits to local

With over 40 years in the

restaurants and lovingly

travel industry, a team

prepared home-style meals,

of passionate Crew and a

we’ll ensure your tummy is

collection of award-winning

just as full as your passport.

trips under our belt, you can be sure we know our stuff.

LASTING FRIENDSHIPS

VALUE FOR MONEY

Memories fade but Facebook

From loads of inclusions

friends are forever.

to our No Tipping policy,

Hang out with other young

we’ve got all the important

explorers aged 18-39 and

stuff covered – meaning you

create bonds that last longer

have the best trip possible,

than your five-star tan.

completely hassle-free.

Bucket List PICNIC BY THE EIFFEL TOWER

DINNER CRUISE IN AMSTERDAM

GAP YEAR BUCKET LIST

GAP YEAR

3

SKYDIVING IN THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

What’s better than navigating Amsterdam’s maze of streets on foot?

Cruising it, of course! Get up close and personal with the ‘Dam over dinner and drinks on the canals.

Take a giant leap for Topdecker-kind and check out the snow-capped peaks and rolling green landscapes of the Austrian Alps on an optional skydive. Up, up and away!

Where: Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS

Where: Austrian Alps, AUSTRIA ENGLAND

BERLIN

AMSTERDAM

NETHERLANDS

LONDON

GERMANY

DRESDEN PRAGUE

CZECH REPUBLIC

Fulfil those foodie dreams with a scrumptious picnic under the iconic Eiffel Tower. This ‘wow’ moment definitely isn’t just one for the loved-up couples and romantics.

PARIS

FRANCE

MUNICH AUSTRIAN ALPS

SWITZERLAND

AUSTRIA

SWISS ALPS

VERONA

Where: Paris, FRANCE

MONACO

PISA

FRENCH RIVIERA

VENICE

FLORENCE

ITALY ORVIETO

GONDOLA RIDE IN VENICE

WALKING TOUR OF ROME

ROME

VATICAN CITY CORFU

GREECE

SAILING IN GREECE Wave bye-bye to the traffic – it’s time for an optional gondola ride. Hop aboard and let your expert gondolier serenade you as you float peacefully along under Venice’s maze of bridges.

Epic cities deserve epic walking tours, naturally. Cross off some red hot ruins, swing by oodles of obelisks – and be sure to refuel on pizza and espresso shots. Obviously.

Where: Venice, ITALY

Where: Rome, ITALY

Book any of our GAP Year trips that start in London and get a free night's stay in London before your trip. Yep, you read that right.

Spin the compass and experience paradise, the Topdecker way.

Learn the ropes, navigate through the azure waters of the Med, then laze on board like the god or goddess that you are.

*Free night must be booked at the same time as your main trip.

Where: Ionian Coast, GREECE

1 FREE NIGHT IN LONDON BEFORE YOUR TRIP!*

18 D A Y | E U R O P E A N T R E A S U R E S

HOSTEL PLUS

4

LONDON

LONDON

37

MEALS

8

COUNTRIES

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BERLIN, ROME, ROME, AMSTERDAM

DAY 4 SWISS ALPS. Chill out or go big with today's optionals: skydiving or a trip to the top of Jungfrau. Fact: this towering beauty is one of the highest peaks in Europe.

However you choose to spend your day, we recommend capping it off with a serious fondue sesh.

You know the drill. Forks at the ready! (B,L,D)

YOUR ROUTE

Berlin

Amsterdam

NETHERLANDS

GERMANY

2

2

START/FINISH

London

ENGLAND

Dresden

2 Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC

2

Mauthausen

Paris

FRANCE

1 Austrian Alps

Swiss Alps

AUSTRIA

2

SWITZERLAND

Verona

2 Venice

Florence ITALY

Pisa

2

Orvieto Rome

DAY 1 LONDON, ENGLAND TO PARIS, FRANCE (OR JOIN IN PARIS). Pinch yourself and Instagram your first selfie – you’re in Paris!

Your friends will secretly hate you, but you’ll have other things on your mind as we show you the bright lights of the City of Lurrrve. First stop: a gourmet picnic under the Eiffel Tower. (D) DAY 2 PARIS. This is your day, your way. Wanna check out the Louvre and Sacré Cœur? Go for it.

Bar-hopping in the Latin Quarter more your thing?

You do you. Still want more? Well, you could always get involved in some amazing optional activities.

2

VATICAN CITY

We’re talking bike tours around town, cruises along the river and a traditional all-singing, all-dancing cabaret show. Ooh la la! (B)

DAY 3 PARIS TO SWISS ALPS, SWITZERLAND. There’s no rest for the wicked as we wave au revoir to Paris and head across the Swiss border into the Alps.

True story: the tiny village of Lauterbrunnen was the inspiration behind the Elvish realm of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. Prepare for otherworldly charm by the bucketload. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 SWISS ALPS TO FLORENCE, ITALY. Swing by Pisa for a peek at that famous tower, then it’s on to Florence for a round of eat, sleep, repeat.

This city is half artisan food market, half outdoor museum – plus, it’s home to the world’s most famous nude statue (Michelangelo’s David). Eyeball emoji alert. (B,L,D) DAY 6 FLORENCE. Pizza. Pasta. Gelato. They don’t call this place the foodie capital of Europe for nothing! Give in to your cravings, undo that top button and spend your day in true Italian fashion: in a carb-induced coma at a local trattoria. (B) DAY 7 FLORENCE TO ROME. A quick stop at the hilltop city of Orvieto, then it’s time to take on a city like no other – the one, the only, ROME. Put on your history hat and get ready to tick off the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Oh, and the Colosseum, too. Stop it Rome, you’re showing off! (B,L) DAY 8 ROME INCLUDING VATICAN CITY VISIT. Start your day in style with an optional visit to the Vatican, aka the world’s smallest country.

Spoiler alert: the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel will make your jaw drop (and not just because you have to tilt your head back to see it). (B,D) DAY 9 ROME TO VENICE. You know it as the floating city, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Hit the streets for a who’s who of Venice’s usual suspects, including St Mark’s Square and Accademia Bridge. There’s also the world’s most stunning bookshop, Libreria Acqua Alta, to get lost in. (B,L,D)

HOSTEL PLUS

5

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PRAGUE, SWISS ALPS, VENICE, SWISS ALPS

DAY 10 VENICE. No trip to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride – so sit back and let your expert gondolier take you for a spin along the Grand Canal (cheesy photos encouraged). When you’re done, hit up those cobblestone streets and track down one last slice of authentic Italian pizza before it’s too late. We’re off to Austria tomorrow! (B,D) DAY 11 VENICE TO AUSTRIAN ALPS, AUSTRIA. Snow-capped mountains, round two. Trust us, the Austrian Alps have way more to offer than just schnitzel, strudel and The Sound of Music.

Grab your #gopro, it’s time for action! (B,L,D) DAY 12 AUSTRIA ALPS TO PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC. Start off with a few hours of reflection at the former concentration camp, Mauthausen.

Afterwards, hit the cobblestone streets of Prague and check out the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and a castle that allegedly inspired the setting for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. (B,L,D) DAY 13 PRAGUE. Seek out the John Lennon memorial wall, soak up some Czech history at the National or Communist Museum and get a taste of the quirky local culture at a puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). Tip: eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square. Yum. (B) DAY 14 PRAGUE TO BERLIN, GERMANY. A quick stop in Dresden on the way to the art-loving, über-trendy German capital. Start out with Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag building and the Holocaust Memorial. Later we’ll party it up, Berlin style. (B,L,D) DAY 15 BERLIN. Shake off last night with a wander around. There’s an optional Third Reich walking tour if you fancy a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during World War II. Tonight: hit the hotspots on an optional alternative and nightlife tour of Berlin. (B)

ON THE BUCKET LIST (INCLUDED)

TRIP CODE: EEGTLL

++ Driving tour of Paris and gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower ++ Visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower ++ Walking tour of Rome ++ Visit Mauthausen concentration camp ++ Walking tour of Prague ++ Walking tour of Amsterdam

S TA R T

FINISH 2019

11

JUL

28

JUL

18

JUL

4

AUG

2019 TRIP PRICE OF $3849 Price based on NZD Per Person multi-share, usually 2-6 per room

MORE INCLUSIONS ++ 17 breakfasts (B), 9 lunches (L), 11 dinners (D) ++ 8 nights in hostels, 8 nights in bungalows, 1 night in an Austrian Gasthof ++ 1 free night in London before the trip starts (see p.3) ++ English Channel crossings ++ Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi ++ Awesome Trip Leader, Driver and Chef

18 DAYS FROM

3849

$

NZD PER PERSON All items listed within the ‘Bucket List’ and ‘More Inclusions’ are included within the price of your trip. Other activities mentioned are optional (and so may cost extra) but are always highly recommended.

TOP OPTIONALS ++ Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') ++ Tandem paragliding in the Austrian Alps START MEET AT 6AM IN LONDON (OR 5PM IN PARIS) FINISH APPROXIMATELY 9PM IN LONDON

DAY 16 BERLIN TO AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. Damn, today looks good! Welcome to the land of cheese, clogs and tulips. Explore the city by bike, soak up the liberal vibes and discover what Amsterdam is all about. Still thirsty for more? Check out the Heineken Experience for an interactive brewery visit and tasting. #Don’tMindIfIDo (B,L) DAY 17 AMSTERDAM. Culture fiends, delve deeper with a visit to the Anne Frank House (make sure to book this one in advance), Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum.

Tonight is your last night with the Topdeck crew, so make it count. We’d tell you to go hard or go home, but we know you’ll do that anyway... (B,D)

DAY 18 AMSTERDAM TO LONDON, ENGLAND. We leave you here, but that doesn’t mean the adventure’s over! The world is your oyster, after all. (B)

OM FR D Y DA NZ ON R 14 S P E $2 P E R R PE

27 D A Y | E U R O P E A N E X P L O R E R

HOSTEL PLUS

6

LONDON

LONDON

52

MEALS

10

COUNTRIES

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: FRENCH RIVIERA, GREEK SAILING, PARIS, ROME, FLORENCE

DAY 5-6 SWISS ALPS TO FRENCH RIVIERA, FRANCE INCLUDING MONACO VISIT. Assemble the paparazzi crew as we go celebrity spotting on the French Riviera, 007 style.

Prepare for more mingling tonight at the casinos of Monaco. (B,L,D) (B)

YOUR ROUTE Amsterdam

NETHERLANDS

Berlin

2

2

START/FINISH

London

ENGLAND

DAYS 7-8 FRENCH RIVIERA TO FLORENCE, ITALY. First stop: the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Then, it’s onwards to Florence, which is Italian for ‘food coma’. (B,L,D) (B)

Dresden

2 Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC

2

Alps

DAY 9 FLORENCE TO ROME. We’re Romeward bound!

But first, there’s a stop in Orvieto, where you can grab a wild boar sandwich. Afterwards we’ll hightail it to the Eternal City for a rendezvous with ancient architecture’s biggest players. (B,L,D)

overnight ferry

DAY 10 ROME INCLUDING VATICAN CITY VISIT. Create the ultimate Roman Holiday in one day with a whirlwind of espresso, two-cheek kisses and pizza the way it's supposed to taste. Pop in on the pope with an optional tour of the Vatican City, then play ‘I spy’ with two-and-a-half millennia worth of history. (B)

Dachau

Paris

Munich

FRANCE

GERMANY

Swiss Alps

1

2 Austrian AUSTRIA

2

SWITZERLAND

Verona

2 Venice

Florence ITALY

2 2 Monaco Pisa

French Riviera

Orvieto Rome

2

VATICAN CITY

1 1

overnight ferry

DAY 11 ROME TO GREECE VIA OVERNIGHT FERRY. All aboard! Tonight we set sail for Greece on an overnight ferry. (B,L) Sailing

GREECE

DAY 1 LONDON, ENGLAND TO PARIS, FRANCE (OR JOIN IN PARIS). Paris is always a good idea, and you’re about to find out why. Keep your eyes peeled for the Arc de Triomphe, the Palais Garnier and that really famous tower (you know the one).

Tonight, there’s an incredible picnic to feast on. (D) DAY 2 PARIS. Free day for the win! Hit the streets and discover galleries, restaurants and enough shops to keep you going for hours. Before the day is out, join us for an optional cruise or traditional cabaret performance. (B)

DAY 3 PARIS TO SWISS ALPS, SWITZERLAND. Tear yourself away from that baguette – the land of fondue awaits! Driving through the Swiss countryside is pure scenic bliss. Thanks, nature! Get your comfort eating pants on for an included dinner. (B,L,D) DAY 4 SWISS ALPS. Join the optional Jungfrau Experience, which takes you to the highest train station in Europe. Want more adventure? Up the adrenaline by skydiving out of a helicopter, then make time for some snow angels and hot chocolate. #HardLife (B,L,D)

DAYS 12–15 SAILING IN GREECE. Bring on three nights of sailing, swimming and soaking up the sun. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen! This. Is. Paradise. Then, it’s more seafaring with an overnight ferry to Italy. (L,D) (B,L) (B,L) (B) DAY 15-16 GREECE TO VENICE, ITALY VIA OVERNIGHT FERRY. Today, say ciao to vibrant Venice. Hop on a gondola and have an Eat Pray Love-worthy relationship with an irresistible Italian (meal). Make sure to rest up – we’ve got a full day of exploring tomorrow. (D) DAY 17 VENICE. The best way to explore Venice?

Get lost. Get found. Repeat. Just make sure you do find St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. (B,D)

HOSTEL PLUS

7

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GREEK SAILING, AMSTERDAM, ROME, VENICE, VENICE

DAYS 18-19 VENICE TO AUSTRIAN ALPS, AUSTRIA. Hike along the mountain or get involved with an optional bike ride, then scan your eyes across jaw-dropping views. With all that work, calories won’t be a problem at dinner tonight. (B,L,D) (B,L) DAY 20 AUSTRIAN ALPS TO MUNICH, GERMANY. You’re here for the beer, pork knuckle and Bavarian heritage. Prost! (B,L) DAY 21 MUNICH TO PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC. The Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the Old Town Square are a good start. Don’t miss the quirky museums and the chance to live it up in the castle district. (B,L,D) DAY 22 PRAGUE. Free day! Seek out the John Lennon memorial wall or get a taste of the quirky local culture at a puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). (B) DAY 23 PRAGUE TO BERLIN, GERMANY. Get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden – a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt – and ogle the Frauenkirche before we move on to Berlin. (B,L,D) DAY 24 BERLIN. Join the optional Third Reich walking tour for an insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during WWII, go on a museum crawl or head to the zoo. Your call! (B) DAYS 25-26 BERLIN TO AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. Say hello to Europe’s most infamous city.

Get the obvious out of the way (Red Light District, anyone?) then discover the ‘real’ Amsterdam.

Let the Facebook friend requests flow at the farewell dinner tonight – it’s been epic. (B,L) (B,D) DAY 27 AMSTERDAM TO LONDON, ENGLAND. Today we roll out of Amsterdam and back to ol' Blighty. Start planning the next adventure before we end in London Town. (B)

ON THE BUCKET LIST (INCLUDED)

TRIP CODE: EEGSLL

++ 3 nights sailing in Turkey ++ Driving tour of Paris and brunch by the Eiffel Tower ++ Visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower ++ Walking tour of Rome ++ Walking tour of Verona ++ Walking tour of Munich

MORE INCLUSIONS ++ 24 breakfasts (B), 15 lunches (L), 13 dinners (D) ++ 9 nights in hostels, 2 nights in a hotel upgrade, 8 nights in bungalows, 2 nights on an overnight ferry, 3 nights sailing in Greece ++ 1 free night in London before the trip starts (see p.3) ++ English Channel crossings ++ Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi ++ Awesome Trip Leader, Driver and Chef

S TA R T

FINISH 2019

6

JUL

1

AUG

10

JUL

5

AUG

13

JUL

8

AUG

17

JUL

12

AUG

2019 TRIP PRICE OF $6489 Price based on NZD Per Person multi-share, usually 2-6 per room

27 DAYS FROM

6489

$

NZD PER PERSON All items listed within the ‘Bucket List’ and ‘More Inclusions’ are included within the price of your trip. Other activities mentioned are optional (and so may cost extra) but are always highly recommended.

TOP OPTIONALS ++ Traditional cabaret show in Paris ++ Bike tour of Amsterdam START MEET AT 6AM IN LONDON (OR 5PM IN PARIS) FINISH APPROXIMATELY 9PM IN LONDON

OM FR D Y DA NZ ON R 41 S P E $2 P E R R PE

N ZD

Eu rope USA & Canada Asia Australia & NZ Afr ica & Middle East Booking conditions: Please ensure that you take time to read our Terms & Conditions which are available on the Topdeck website: www.topdeck.travel Alternatively ask your Travel Agent for a printed copy of the Topdeck Terms & Conditions before you book your trip.

In the event of cancellation by you, a minimum of your deposit will be lost with greater fees payable closer to the departure date.

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