Annual Fall Tour Sept. 7 to 19, 2012
a 13+ day glorious tour !
Offered by Heritage Tours Inc. 4219 Thornhill, St. Paul, MN 55127-7822
This extensive - jam packed
tour starts in Prague, Czech Republic. I suggest you fly into Prague
- Sept. 8th the day before the tour officially starts, so
you can rest from your journey, and the bus will pick everyone up
from the same hotel. ( this is a option ) We have reserved rooms in
a hotel in the historic center for this option. We can easily book
you additional nights at the hotels - no problem. Major towns and
locations we visit below on the tour - are in bold.
Sept.7, Friday Tour officially starts at 9 AM - in the lobby
of our Hotel in Central Prague.
AM Depart from our pre-tour hotel towards Moravia, our first
stop is Jihlava, walking tour, then lunch.
PM Next it's off to see the famous Czech artist "Alphonse Mucha" masterpiece The "Slav Epic"
( for much more info look it up on wikipedia.com ) Then travel to Uherske Hradiste, check-in at our hotel, dinner, and optional evening walk. ( maybe some wine tasting ? ) or relax.
Sept. 8, Saturday
AM Whole day at the Moravian wine and harvest festival, over 5000 people in folk costumes, a HUGE parade, lots of music, folk crafts, dancing etc.
PM Evening - dance the night away with a 20 piece Moravian brass band, everything is within a easy few block walk from our hotel.
Sept. 9, Sunday
AM Sleep in or attend church, or enjoy the extensive
festival program ( music and dancing ), and or folk market.
Visit the local area museum filled with kroje ( folk costumes )
PM Next we will tour the medieval Buchlov castle, ( started about 1220 ) dinner in a local stylist restaurant.
Sept. 10, Monday
AM We start with a special Czech breakfast, pivo - beer ! at the Janaeek brewery and visit a doll factory( made in kroje - costumes ) manufacture in Uhersky Brod.
PM Then we cross into Slovakia and stop in Trenein, for a walking tour. Then off to our hotel in the Tatra mountains, check-in, dinner and relax.
Sept. 11, Tuesday
AM Visit a folk museum of the locals in Zdiar, and
where we have been invited to a folk wedding!
PM We slip across the border to Zakopane - Poland. Shop the huge folk market, buy amber jewelry, enjoy the wonderful mountain wooden buildings, churches, etc...
Sept. 12, Wednesday
AM We will visit Gothic Levoea, take a walking tour of
it's square, eat the wonderful walnut pastries !
PM See the church of St. James, started about 1200 something, inside is the tallest Gothic altar in the world. Also a magnificent wooden church built without nails, that can hold thousands of people. Tonight we eat at a traditional Slovak restaurant called a Koliba, with great music - a night to remember !
Sept. 13, Thursday
AM We travel towards Bratislava, stopping to see a huge hand
carved Christmas creche, with moving parts.
PM Also the very unique village of Eiemany. Arriving to Bratislava, charming capital of Slovakia. Check-in, have dinner, and take a optional stroll this evening. ( this will be a very rare one night stay at a hotel )
Sept. 14, Friday
AM Morning walking tour of the historic center of
Bratislava, then we travel back to the Czech Republic,
stopping at wonderful Jindoichuv Hradec, walking tour, then
travel to Eeske Budijovice.
PM Check-in at our charming hotel in the old town. Dinner at a local stylish restaurant, and to taste the real Bud.
Sept. 15, Saturday
AM Walking tour of the old town of Ceske Budejovice, a bit of shopping ( garnets, antiques, and cut crystal ).
PM Then to charming Cesky Krumlov, and a walking tour of the historic center where we will have dinner at a medieval restaurant. Return to hotel in C. Bud. Rest or take a optional stroll.
Sept. 16, Sunday
AM Optional;
attend church, or sleep in, then we will visit the unique Museum of Czech immigration.PM Have a lunch in Trebon, visit the chateau of Straz nad Nezarkou, and see the exhibit dedicated to the famous singer Ema Destinova ( they called her "Lovely Ema" ) and visit a local folk artist.
Sept. 17 Monday
AM On our way toward Prague, we will stop in famous Tabor for a walking tour, next we will go to a small village
to learn some of the many traditions of your ancestors, a song or two, and some folk dances.PM You will make traditional kolac ( a Czech pastry ) eat homemade soup, and bread. Then off to Prague –check-in to our hotel right in the historic center. Dinner in a local restaurant. Optional evening walk through the old town to Charles bridge - when the lights of the city come on - it's just magical !
Sept. 18, Tuesday
AM Walking tour through the Prague Castle complex -
the largest in the world.
PM Lunch and continued sightseeing of
Karluv Most (Charles Bridge), Stare Mesto (Old Town)
until about 3 PM, evening free - for concerts, etc
Sept. 19, Wednesday
AM Today offers you many options - Visit Vysehrad, or
Josefov (Jewish Town) or any of the many other museums.
PM Or explore on your own, visit relatives, shop, etc. Wonderful farewell evening dinner cruise on the Vltava river.
Sept. 20, Thursday
AM *Tour ends* with breakfast this morning, and a
lifetime of good memories !
You are free to keep traveling, visit relatives, or return home.
*The final itinerary will have more detail. I do not publish this in
advanced because
we don't want our out-of-the-way places to be swamped with other visitors.
Our secret places are for you - our valued guests.
PRICE FOR THIS WONDERFUL TRAVEL EXPERENCE
A full 13 day tour is $ 3995.00* per-person sharing a double room.
Single is $ 650.00* extra for a single room during the tour.
This is a longer tour then last year, and explains why the price is higher.
Mail in a check for your tour deposit to : Heritage Tours 4219 Thornhill St. Paul, MN 55127-7822
Please feel free to contact Mark, as he is on almost every tour, with any tour questions you may have by email at :
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4cstours AT
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or
cstours AT visi.com |
or by phone at ( 651) 426-1222
Tour price is based on double room occupancy. ( most times it's two beds in a room ) Single supplement price is for a single room, with a single bed. Triple rooms are available too. Tour price includes : Hotel rooms with private bath, in small select superior class hotels ( 3 stars or above ). Almost all meals, every breakfast, and most all evening meals, ( which are large ). Professional driver, in a nice new 48 passenger modern air-conditioned motor coach - ( with LOTS of room to relax and spread out on all those empty seats, this is a real luxury - as most tours will cram you in, every seat is full ) Or a smaller vehicle in case of a smaller group. This is a fully guided tour, with a full time licensed local Czech guide. You will not be left on your own - with no clue. ( unless you want to ) Your admission to places and events, on the itinerary. Plus lots of entertainment, ( due to our extensive expertise, almost all entertainment we have is exclusive to Heritage Tours ) This is a Land only tour. Program is subject to change, tour price based on currency exchange rates as of October 10th, 2011. No two tours have ever been the same, each is unique and custom designed around the local calendar of events. No one else will offer a tour like ours, period Tour size is limited to around 10 - 20 people - again this is a real luxury, as many of my competitors have 35 to 50 people on one tour. Tour space is held by deposit only. *Listed tour price is by personal or bank check, final payment can be made by credit card, and 5 % will be added to your total for credit card fees. Make your tour deposit by personal or bank check sent by postal mail.
We add many things to our tour program in Europe and are only satisfied when most people say I am too tired to go on ! We don't believe in playing games with tour prices, there will be very few extras while you are on our tour.
Those very few extras are: a. One meal a day, mostly lunches ( with two BIG meals a day, its not missed by most people) Beverages other than breakfast. b. Car, drivers, translators, for family visits and personal reasons, and additional services done by the genealogical service. c. An occasional evening cultural program, or extra stops at places or events we come across. d. Gratuities during the tour. e. Transportation to / from Europe, and in Prague transfers to meet the start of the tour.
For references please feel free to contact :
Lisa Messman from MO email :
Lmessman@hotmail.comKaren Helwig ( 262 ) 473-2187 in Wisc. email, helwigr@cni-usa.com
Kathryn Muckler in WA state - email :
tedwed61@q.comGary Zabokrtsky ( 402 ) 729-2875 in Nebraska. email : garyzabo@gmail.com
Barb Bening ( 507 ) 964-2739 in MN email : barbb@frontiernet.net
Lisa Conrath email; ewm1573@yahoo.com in SC.
Betsey McCalley ( 319 ) 363-9163 in Iowa
Doreen McKenny 952-941-0426 in MN Doreenlouise@aol.com
Stefanie Vocasek email :
stefanievocasek@hotmail.com ( Miss Czech-Slovak US 2010-2011 ) from NEKathy Sigdestad in KY email : kathysig@insightbb.com
Marge Duffy in MN email, Mduffy38@aol.com
Midge Robbeloth 920-426-8890 in Wisc. LFACHE@aol.com
Carol & George Bisek in MN email; cebisek@msn.com
Pat & Dick Kutilek 402-393-7469 in Neb. email, dpkutilek@cox.net
Barbara Douvier in MN 651-738-0268
barbdouvier@comcast.netElaine Jones in Neb email : ekathryn@cox.net
Our exclusive family history assistance: While on a Heritage Tour if you are interested in locating your family's roots, we can make it happen. We take this mission VERY SERIOUSLY. Unlike others we contact and search for your living relatives LONG before you depart for Europe. We check in advance to make sure people know you are coming, that the church will be open, that people will be home etc. All these matters dealing with family history are handled by a professionally licensed genealogical service, run by a Slovak-American married to a Czech based in Prague. They work extensively in Central Europe. They will contact your relatives, and you and they will decide how long your visit will be; a evening, afternoon, a day ? As not everyone will speak English, drive, or even have a car, we can help out with a car, van, driver or translator if you request it, no problem ! ( at a additional fee ) We will basically fill in with whatever you need to make your family visit a roaring success ! Detailed information regarding this service and much more, will be sent out to you - after you have signed up for a tour.
This is a GREAT GENERAL TOUR, each day is plum full of activities, your personal family history and visit is for you, the group is not invited along. We will be very interested to hear about your wonderful visit, but it's your day to be spent with your family. The tour group will continue seeing great sites, if your gone.
Don't let the large paragraph above worry you if your not of Czech or Slovak background. If your interest is just seeing a wonderful part of Europe - enjoying a more in-depth experience, or extensive travelers looking for a better travel experience - all have found our tours a wonderful off the beaten path travel experience !
In the last few years we have had many people of non-Czech or Slovak background join us, as more of the world learns what a wonderful place Central Europe really is. Including American Teachers and librarians doing school projects, and American’s living in Europe full time. On a 2006 tour, we had 6 Australian's and a lady from England - two of the Australians were returning for their 2nd tour with us ! ( none of whom are of Czech or Slovak background, they had all heard wonderful things about our tours - all the way down under ! )
You will meet many friends as we have over the last 20 years, it's less like a tour and more like a family outing visiting friends. Don't miss your chance......... Join us for the trip of a lifetime in 2012 !
For more genealogical information please contact the National Genealogical Society I founded:
CzechoSlovak Genealogical Society Int.
PO Box 16225
St. Paul MN 55116
or visit their web site at: www.cgsi.org or facebook page ( a not-for-profit, volunteer run society )
Copyright © 2001 Heritage Tours. All rights reserved.
Website designed and maintained by C.E. Heritage Tours Inc. Oct. 10th, 2011