New Europe Tours! Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Iceland, Italy

So many new trips. Span Eastern Europe in 23 days (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova). See the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle on our 14 day Scandinavia program, (Norway , Finland, and Sweden. Or enjoy any of our single country tours, such as Greece or Russia. We also offer Walking Tours or Biking Tours (8 to 15 days) to such regions as Azores, Portugal, Corsica, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Iceland. Below are summaries of our adventurous group tours. On these trips you will join active Dutch and Belgian travelers, of all ages.

NL ALMA 15 Albania & Macedonia  NEW!

Enjoy a complete tour of the little traveled Albania. From the capital Tirana, we travel to Ohrid in Macedonia. We meet interesting mountain towns like Korca, Voskopoja, Gjirokastra and Berat. On the Adriatic River, you can see remnants of ancient civilizations in Butrinti and Apollonia. Albania is a fascinating discovery.

 

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Tirana (3), Ohrid (2), Korca (2), Gjirokastra (2), Saranda (2), Berat (2), Durres (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Art and architecture. Ancient ruins. Skanderberg Square, Palace of Culture, Roman fortresss, Haxhi Et'hem Beg Mosque, Adriatic Riviera, visit Butrinti and Voskopoja, Albanian cuisine, ancient town of Elbasan to the beautiful Lake Ohrid, St. Nicholas Church frescoes, Gramos  Mountains, Saranda at the Ionian Sea, Balkan archaeological site (UNESCO Heritage Site), excavations of Butrinti, Roman ruins,  Apollonia, Adriatic Coast, amphitheater, medieval bazaars

NL ARM 14 Armenia & Georgia  NEW!

During the tour of Armenia and Georgia, our visit includes Yerevan, Vardzia, Gori, Tbilisi, Khor Virap and Haghpat Cloister.  Georgia and Armenia have had centuries of unrest, but this unique culture, nestled in majestic landscapes, can now be admired in peace.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Jerevan (5), Gyumri (1), Bakuriani (1), Kutaisi (1), Gudauri (1), Tbilisi (3), Telavi (1), Sevan Lake (1), Jerevan (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Hanrapetutyan, Matenadaran Museum, Mount Ararat, Armenian culture, Roman temple at Garni, Geghard Monastery where you see the spear that pierced Jesus, Amber Fort, the oldest church in the Christina world in Echmiadzin, Noravank Church, Mount Ararat the mountain where Noah's ark would be grounded, medieval villages, Haghpat Cloister,  beautiful churches, Gergeti Church,  Gelati Monastery built by Kind David, Georgian tribes Meskh and Javakhs. Hkertvisi 10th Century fort linked to Queen Tamar. Opera House in Tbilisi,

NL BALT 15 "Baltics" - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia , Russia

This varied tour of the three Baltic States offers a wide variety of culture and unspoiled nature. The cities are late medieval districts that are reasonably intact considering all of the wars and turbulence they have survived. Lithuania is known for it’s unique style. On the Courland peninsula in Latvia, we visit the idyllic river valley of the Gaujas and the lovely Estonian island of Saaremaa where you can enjoy the silence and the dense forests.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Vilnius (2), Nida (2), Riga (2), Saaremaa (2), Tallinn (3), Saint Petersburg (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture, forests, walking and hiking,  churches, Baroque architecture, wood houses, bird sanctuary, Curonian Lagoon, market of Klaipeda,  Kryziu Kalnas, Vecriga, Saint Peters Church, Latvian architecture and folklore, Gutmana Cave, castles, medieval towns, island of Saaremaa, Russi, Open Air Museum Rocca al Mare, Nevski Prospekt boulevard, Tsar’s Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum.

NL LAP 7 Finland Dogsled Adventure

Finland is a vast and rugged area that is largely above the Arctic Circle. On your own tour pulled by a sled-dog team, explore the beautiful surroundings and discover the fascinating culture of the Sami, the indigenous population.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Amsterdam (2), Inari (4), Dog sledding  (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Winter adventure,  dog sledding, snow shoeing, Northern Lights, go snow mobiling, Sami culture, indigenous population, Siida Museum, Reindeer farm, reindeer sledding,

NL GR 16 Greece Mainland

On this group tour of Greece you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. You will begin and end your tour in Athens, where you will get to know the Greek antiquities and ruins of Delphi, Olympia, Sparta and Nafplion. Other attractions are the Meteora cloisters, Kalambaka and the beach town of Methoni. You stay overnight at small hotels in charming towns and enjoy the delicious Greek cuisine.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Athens (3), Delphi (1), Kalambaka (1), Ioannina (2), Olympia (2), Methoni (2), Sparta (1), Nafplion (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Greek art and architecture. Ancient ruins and archeology.  Cloisters, beaches, walking and hiking, Meteora Cloisters, Kalambaka, climb the Acropolis, Plaka Quarter, visit Delphi, Meteora Monasteries,  Agios Nikolaos frescos,  Greek fishing villages, drink a glass of retsina on the Greek waterfront,  beaches, Byzantine architecture, Lions Gate,  visit Mycenae, , Palamidi Fort, Greek theatre.

NL BREO 15 Greek Islands

On this group tour of Greece you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. This tour takes you by four of the known Cyclades islands (Syros, Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos) and Crete. Relax amid the sun, beaches and temples. At night you can enjoy the delicious Greek cuisine in a picturesque harbor under the sounds of the Sirtaki! We travel between the islands on ferries. On Crete you can walk through the Samaria Gorge.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Athens (3), Syros (2), Mykonos (2), Naxos (2), Santorini (2), Crete (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture. Ancient ruins and archeology. Beaches, island vacation, snorkeling, Island Holiday, Samaria Gorge, temples.

NL IJS 14 Iceland  NEW!

On this group tour of Iceland you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. Discover the special nature of Iceland, with thermal geological areas in Mývatn, the Lakagígar Crater the geothermal field Namaskard, Eldborg and the world's most famous geyser, Geysir.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Nesjav Valley (1), Hrauneyar (2), Skogar (1), Kirkjubaejar Cloister (1), Hofn (1), Bakkagerdi (1), Raufarhofn (1), Myvatn (2), Vatnsnes (1), Grundar Fjord (1), Reykjavik (1)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Geysers, thermal activity, walking and hiking, Kalagigar Crater, geothermal field Namaskard, Geysir.

NL IJWI 8 Iceland Winter Trip  NEW!

On this group tour of Iceland you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. In a short time you will get to know this particular island. A visit in the winter gives you the opportunity to undertake specific activities such as ice golfing. The trip ends with a visit to the world famous Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Reykjavik (4), Myvatn (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  4x4 Super jeep tours, snowmobile tours, visit Blue Lagoon, fjords,  Hafnarfjordur UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gullfoss geyser, geothermal activity, optional glacier walk and ice climbing, Mýrdalsjökull, craters and volcanic mountains, lava waterfalls.

NL IT 15 Italy (Southern)  & Sicily  NEW!

On this group tour of Italy you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium.  This tour runs through the lesser-known regions of Campania, Puglia and Calabria and the largest Italian island of Sicily. Remains of the ancient Greeks and Romans, medieval Norman ruins, a beautiful coastline and active volcanoes provide plenty of variety.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Naples (1), Amalfi Coast (2), Trecchina (1), Roccella Jonica (2), Palermo (3), Marsala (2), Piazza Armerina (1), Taormina (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture. Walking and hiking. Ancient ruins and archeological sites, ruins of Pompeii, Beaches. Island vacation, Greek Ruins, Roman ruins, medieval ruins, active volcanoes, Amalfi Coast, Island of Capri,  Trecchina Rossano, temples of Paestum, medieval villages, Byzantine churches, vineyards, Norman architecture, Pisano and Da Trani gold mosaics, villages of Segesta and Selinunte, salt marshes, windmills, Mount Etna, seaside resort of Taormina, beaches.

NL RU 14 Russia

On this group tour of Russia you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. The Kremlin and Red Square are just two of Moscow's famous sights. We will also travel the countryside, along the towns of the Golden Ring such as Soezdal, Vladimir and Yaroslavl, where you can discover the old Russia. In Sergiev, Posad Trinity Monastery is the center of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monumental St. Petersburg makes up the last days of the journey. A visit to the Hermitage museum should not be missed.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Moscow (4), Suzdal (2), Jaroslavl (1), Tver (1), Novgorod (2), Saint Petersburg (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture. Walking. The Kremlin, churches and palaces,  Red Square, the Golden Ring, Posad Trinity Monastery, Hermitage Museum, Poesjkin Museum, Gorki Park, Pokrowa na Nerli, onion dome structures, Ipatjewski Monastery, Volga River, Muscovites “datsja”, Russia Orthodox Trinity Monastery,  Tsar’s Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral, Marinski Theater, Petrodvorets

NL RUL 20 Russia

On this group tour of Russia you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium.  This trip combines a visit to beautiful cities like St. Petersburg and Moscow, with the historic cities of Kazan, Novgorod and Russian Yekaterinburg.  We also get a chance to see rural environments along the Volga River and the Urals mountains in the less-visited parts of this huge country.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  St. Petersburg (3), Novgorod (1), Tver (1), Moscow (3), Vladimir (1), Nizhny Novgorod (2), Cheboksary (1), Kazan (3), Jekaterinboerg (2) Night trains (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture, Urals mountains. Walking and hiking. Volga River and Urals Mountains, Hermitage Museum, Red Square, The Kremlin.

NL SCAN 14 Scandinavia- Norway Finland, Sweden, Arctic Circle  NEW!

This tour of Finland, Sweden and Norway will start in the Finnish village Inari with it’s lake where you can make a boat trip. Along tundra and fjords, we travel to Repvåg, our base for a visit to the North Cape. The rock drawing in Alta from the World Heritage list is another intriguing sight. Buses and ferries take us along the Norwegian coasts and fjords. In Andenes you learn about the whaling industry and you might even catch a glimpse of these mammals. Abisko National Park is ideal for various walks.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Inari (1), Repvag (1), Alta (2), Tromso (1), Andenes (2), Abisko (2), Kiruna (2), Rovaniemi (1)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Boat trip, culture history, cave drawings on UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE list, fjords, whale watching, National Parks, walking and hiking. Abisko National Park.

NL SP 15 Spain  NEW!

On this group tour of Spain you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium.  Andalusia, the most sparsely populated province of Spain It is  a land of white-washed villages, olive groves and cork trees. The Moors made their mark here, not only in the architecture of cities like Seville, Granada and Cordoba in the province of Andalusia, in the Sierra Nevada we walk through the traditional Alpujarras, a region rich with traditions.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Ronda (3), Arcos de la Frontera (1), Sevilla (3), Cordoba (2), Alpujarras (3), Granada (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture, walking and hiking, Moorish history, white villages, moutain villages, Sierra Nevada, Allpujarras, bodegas, picturesque villages,  gypsy culture in Seville,  mosques and cathedrals,  Moorish architecture and palaces.

NL SPMA 13 Spain (Southern)  and Morocco  NEW!

En route from Madrid to Casablanca, visit the beautiful Spanish cities of Cordoba, Granada and the Moroccan king cities Fes, Marrakech and Meknès. Admire the mosque La Mezquita and the Alhambra in Spain's Andalusia.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Madrid (2), Cordoba (1), Granada (2), Lanjaron (1), Tanger (1), Fez (2), Marrakech (3), Casablanca (1)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture.  Fez, mosques, bazaars, medina .

NL TUR  19 Turkey

On this group tour of Turkey you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium. Complete tour of Turkey, beginning and ending in Istanbul. Visit the lively bazaar, the Aya Sofia and Blue Mosque. On the Bosporus visit the Trojan Horse, excavations in Efes and Bergama and limestone terraces in Pammukale. In the remote Cappadocia you will find houses and churches in the rocks. During a cruise, you discover the rugged Turkish coast and the Mediterranean Sea.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Istanbul (3), Cannakkale (1), Bergama (1), Selcuk (3), Pamukkale (1), Fethiye (1), Kas (2), Antalya (1), Konya (1), Urgup (3), Night train to Istanbul (1)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture, bazaar shopping, Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Bosporus, Trojan Horse, Efes, Bergama,  limestone terraces, Pammukale, river cruise, Mediterranean Sea, churches carved into the rocks. Cruise. Mediterranean Sea.

NL ISCA 27  "Istanbul to Cairo"  Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Egypt NEW!

This trip takes you back to the beginning of history. In Istanbul and Ankara experience the atmosphere of historical as well as modern times. Witness the natural wonders of Cappadocia and the sparsely traveled southeastern part of Turkey. In Syria and Jordan, walk through typical eastern cities such as Aleppo, Damascus and Amman. Have a taste of the Bedouin experience in the desert and afterwards leave for the cities Palmyra and Petra. In Egypt travel from the coast to the Gulf of Aqaba in Cairo and you will still have plenty of time to see the Egyptian culture and visit the pyramids.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Istanbul (3), Night train to Ankara (1), Ankara (1), Urgup (3), Nemrut (1), Mardin (1), Urfa (1), Aleppo (2), Palmyra (1), Damascus (2), Amman (2), Petra (2), Dahab (3), St. Catharina (1), Cairo (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Bedouin experience, desert adventure, pyramids, archeology, ancient ruins, UNESCO WORLD Heritage Sights, PETRA, archeological sights.

 

NL TS 23 "Trans Siberia Express" Russia, Mongolia, China

After your stay in Moscow, travel across Russia through different time zones on the most famous of all railway lines to Irkutsk. Here a trip to Lake Baikal is a possibility. In Mongolia we take a camping trip through the vast Gobi Desert and the Mongolian steppe. In this sparsely populated area, you see examples of the more traditional nomadic way of life. A final train ride takes you to the Chinese capital Beijing, the Forbidden City and to the Great Wall.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Moscow (2), Train ride to Irkoetsk (4), Irkoetsk (2), Train ride to Ulaanbaatar (2), Ulaanbaatar (2), Gobi (2), Bayanzag (1), Khujirt Valley (1), Orkhon Valley (2), Mongol Els (1), Train ride to Beijing (1), Beijing (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Culture and history, architecture, nature.  Red Square, the Kremlin, Poesjkin Museum, Tretjakow Gallery, Gorky Park, Camping in the Gobi desert, the Great Wall, Mongolian Steppe, Forbidden City, Great Wall, train journey, Jekaterinaburg, Barabinskaja steppe,  Laikal Lake, Aukhbaatar Square, Gandantegchinien Chiid Monastery, Buddhist temples, Winter Palace, stay in gers, Dalan-zadgad, Goervansaichan National Park wildlife, camping in Khujirt Valley, Khögnö Khan Oel, stupas, in China visit the Square of Heavenly Peace, Forbidden City, Mao’s Mausoleum, eat Peking Duck.

NL OEK 15 Ukraine  NEW!

On this group tour of Ukraine you will join adventurous travelers from Holland and Belgium.  Kiev, on the Dnieper River, offers the historic Orthodox churches and monasteries, famous underground with a modern center with its lively nightlife. In the west of the country visit the Carpathian Mountains and the atmosphere of Lviv. Odessa, on the Black Sea, offers a Mediterranean atmosphere. The Crimean Peninsula offers the rugged landscape known as Alupka, palaces and Livadia.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Kiev (2), Night train to Kamyanets Podilsky (1), Kamyanets Podilsky (1), Kolomyya (2), Lviv (2), Night train to Odessa (1), Odessa (1), Night train to Simferopol (1), Jalta (3)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Art and architecture, mountains, churches and monasteries, walking and hiking. Carpathian Mountains, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Crimean Peninsula, palaces.

NL OETO 23 Eastern Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova)  NEW!

Travel to Eastern Europe on our guided group tour with active travelers, of all ages, from Holland and Belgium. Visit Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova.  Explore ancient ruins, castles and medieval towns. See Schindler’s factory, glacial valleys, the Danube River, cave monasteries and Baroque churches.

ACCOMMODATED NIGHTS:  Krakow (3), Zakoplane (2), Tatra Mountains (2), Bratislava (2), Budapest (2), Satu Mare (1), Suceava (2), Chisinau (3), Odessa (1), Vilkovo (2), Bucharest (2)

HIGHLIGHTS:  Krakow, Wawel Castle, medieval towns, fomer Jewish district Kazimierz and Schindler's factory from Schindler's list. Auschwitz, Tatra Mountains, Dunajec River, famous ski resort Zakopane, glacial valleys, Slovakia, Vlkolinec on UNESCO list, Danube River,  Gerbeaud Vorosmarty Square,  Baroque churches, Maramures Region of Romania,  Voronet, the Sistine Chapel of the East,  cave monasteries of Orheiul Vechi, open air museum in Tiraspol, stairs from silent film Potemkin, optional boat trip on the Black Sea in Odessa, Nerubaiskoye tunnel network.