People ask is A&K the same company as Abercrombie and Kent? The answer is yes. Geoffrey Kent founded Abercrombie and Kent in Africa in 1962. The Kent family introduced luxury African Safari travel then over the years then expanded to all seven continents. A&K now offers luxury Expedition Cruising, Private Jet Travel Around the World, outstanding African expeditions to the last Continent of Antarctica. Pavlus Travel is a leader in providing the lowest prices for all A & K travel Worldwide travel be it a Tanzania Safari or any of their luxury European tours.
Day 1 - Budapest, Hungary
Arrive in Budapest, a city occupying both sides of the
Danube River and founded in 1873, when right-bank
Buda and Obuda joined left-bank Pest. Budapest’s broad
avenues and turn-of-the-century architecture have earned
it the name, “the Paris of Eastern Europe.” Like Paris, it is a
cultural mecca for writers, artists and musicians. Transfer to
your hotel, where you join your fellow guests for a welcome
dinner.
Day 2 - Budapest
This morning, cross the Danube River to explore the Buda
side of the city. Visit Matthias Church, the 13th-century
coronation cathedral of Hungarian kings, and Fisherman’s
Bastion, offering spectacular views of the city. Built in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles, the bastion is named
for the guild of fishermen who defended this part of the
city during the Middle Ages. Then, meet a Buda resident
for lunch in the gardens of her villa, an experience specially
planned for A&K guests. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure,
relaxing in your luxurious accommodations or exploring
this romantic city on your own, perhaps dining at one of
Budapest’s fine restaurants.
Day 3 - Budapest
Today, discover Pest, starting with a private visit to the Liszt
Academy of Music. Continue exploring the city as you view
Heroes’ Square and stop to see the Great Synagogue as well
as St. Stephen’s Basilica, whose south tower houses the largest
bell in Hungary. Then, visit the Central Market Hall to view
the vast array of food and crafts on sale throughout its three
floors, including cheeses, sausage and other local specialties,
and enjoy time at leisure for lunch on your own. Later, visit
the Parliament Building before spending the remainder of
your afternoon at leisure. This evening, after dinner, embark
on a private cruise of the romantic Danube to watch the
glittering lights of Budapest drift by in the night, toasting
your journey on a memorable Scenic Sundowner experience.
Day 4 - Bratislava, Slovakia & Vienna, Austria
Journey overland to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, for a
guided walk through its old town, once a jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Stop at a local restaurant for a Chef’s
Table experience, where the esteemed chef greets you and
shares insights into the seasonal dishes you are to enjoy for
lunch. Then, Ride Like a Local, embarking by high-speed catamaran for a quick cruise along the Danube River to
Vienna, Austria.
Day 5 - Vienna
Join your local guide for a walking tour of marvelous
Vienna. At the Hofburg Palace — former seat of emperors
and current residence of the president of Austria — visit
the Imperial Treasury to admire its glittering collection of
imperial regalia. Then, continue to the Gothic St. Stephen’s
Cathedral. Spend your afternoon at leisure. Dine at a local
restaurant before attending a concert at the Mozarthaus Vienna, the historic house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
lived in the 18th century.
Day 6 - Vienna
This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Vienna, viewing
the Prater and its Giant Ferris Wheel. See the Secession
Building and the famous Hundertwasser House, and then
visit the Belvedere Gallery, where you view many works
by the brilliant and controversial symbolist artist Gustav
Klimt, including The Kiss. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant,
and then visit Schönbrunn Palace, the former residence of Habsburg monarchs. Spend your evening at leisure.
Day 7 - Moravia, Czech Republic
Travel to Prague, stopping en route at the Stary Vrch winery
in the Czech countryside for a tasting of its signature
vintages, followed by lunch. Continue to Prague, where
you check in to your hotel, and then enjoy dinner at a local
restaurant.
Day 8 - Prague
Today, explore the city’s Castle District, starting with the
towering, Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, which houses the
tombs of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors,
including that of Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia, legendary
subject of the beloved Christmas carol “Good King
Wenceslas.” Stroll the Golden Lane, the last surviving vestige
of Prague Castle’s 16th-century architecture, where the
castle’s original craftspeople lived and worked. Follow this
with a private visit to the Baroque library halls of the Strahov
Monastery to view its incredible frescoes, which reside amid
detailed stucco ceiling decorations. Stroll in the peaceful
quiet, looking up at the mural devoted to the intellectual
progress of mankind, and let yourself contemplate a bygone
era. Then, admire the religious artifacts at the Loreto Chapel,
a remarkable Baroque monument that remains a place of
pilgrimage. Cross the famous Charles Bridge, an iconic
landmark of Prague completed in 1402, to embark on a
walking tour of Josefov, the city’s Jewish Quarter, which
remained a walled ghetto until 1848. View the birthplace
of Franz Kafka (part of the Jewish Museum complex),
best known for his existentialist novel The Metamorphosis. Proceed to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, site of 12,000
graves, and the Old-New Synagogue, Europe’s oldest active
synagogue, completed in 1270. Afterward, enjoy your
evening at leisure.
Day 9 - Prague
This morning, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
Attend a Traditional Puppetry Workshop,
and then visit the National Gallery Prague in the Schwarzenberg Palace.
Set Out on a Foodie Walking Tour, savoring tastes of
Czech cuisine, from pastries to goulash to beer.
Relax with a Spa Experience at your hotel, in a haven for
the body and spirit, choosing from an array of treatments.
Spend your afternoon at leisure. Tonight, gather for a
celebratory farewell dinner at a nearby local restaurant.
Day 10 - Prague
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.