In Transit: Depart from the appropriate USA destination and fly overnight to Vienna.

Note: Private coach transfer of 1.5 hours from Vienna to Hlohovec Relaxing walk in the Lednice Chateau Park - one hour.

Arrive To: Upon arrival at the Vienna Airport, you will be met by the group leader in the area indicated on your “Arrival Day Instructions” sheet (look for the Road Scholar sign). Transfer by private coach to your hotel in the village of Hlohovec (1.5 hours). Depending on time there will be a relaxing walk in the Lednice Chateau Park, one of the nicest castle parks in the country which is also an important bird reserve.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel immediately following the orientation.

Evening: This evening there will be an orientation briefing and welcome drink.

Lodging: Hranicni Zamecek Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Lecture: “Folklore and Wine in Moravia”. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Walk in the beauties of the UNESCO protected area of Lednice-Valtice. Coach to the baroque Rajsna Watchtower to begin today?s walk overlooking the whole area, from Rajsna Hill walk down to Valtice (630 feet), a gorgeous little town which the house of Liechtenstein chose for their residence centuries ago. An excursion to the majestic Liechtenstein Castle dating back to the 17th century and at a lofty Baroque Church of the Assumption.

Lunch: Picnic lunch in the forest area which is protected by UNESCO.

Afternoon: the walk continues along wine yards to the old oak and pine forest, admiring along the walk the Randez Vous, resembling a triumphal arch, and Three Graces or a chapel dedicated to St. Hubert, the patron of hunters. The sights were built continuously in the period of 300 years by the Lichteinstein family and were designed by the most prominent architects of that time.

Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment.

Evening: Dinner, folklore music and wine tasting at a local wine cellar.

Lodging: Hranicni Zamecek Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Podyji National Park (Transfer Day ? 2.5 hours) Altitudes of the part range from 662-1802 feet.

Note: Lectures: ?Iron Curtain at Cizov; Life in the Time of Cummunism? and Castle Novy Hradek?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Begin by coaching to south Moravia for a short excursion of the iron curtain in Cizov with the rest of the communist wire fence in the Podyji National Park established in 1991. The more south one drives along the Dyje River the more fertile the land becomes with orchards and vineyards continuing into Austria. The park is famous because of its biological and geological importance; an area of precious plants and animals, an island of forgotten peace among civilized countryside. Walk from the village of Lukov (1037 feet) for an excursion to the castle ruin, Novy Hradek,originally a hunting castle of 1358 which belonged to the brother of the famous Czech emperor Charles IV.

Lunch: Picnic in the village of Podmoli (1319 feet).

Afternoon: Continuing on through the national park, ending in Havraniky and continue by coach to Telc, a registered in heritage list of UNESCO.

Dinner: Dinner will be served at a local establishment.

Lodging: Hotel U Hrabenky

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Lectures: "Czech Argiculture" with an excursion to a private farm owned by the Krejci family and "The Gothic Town of Slovovice". Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 4 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Coach to the starting point of today's walking field trip, Stalkov village, through forests to the ruins of the 13th century Castle Landstejn. Continue through the woods passing an old Jewish cemetery and Stare Mesto (1765 feet) with their stone bridge established in the 14th century.

Lunch: Picnic lunch on the banks of Lake Dedek.

Afternoon: Continue walking in the area with an excursion to the charming village of Slavonice (1680 feet), with its unique collection of 16th century renaissance houses with figural sgraffitties, return to the hotel by coach.

Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment in Telc.

Lodging: Hotel U Hrabenky

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Lecture: ?The Renaissance Castle of Telc?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning walking excursion to the Renaissance Castle of Telc, owned by the Lords of Hradec, a family with connections to the Cesky Krumlov Castle. Next, coach to the village of Svetla (1398 feet), where we begin the walking field trip, including the Michovska rock, a natural monument reaching 2404 feet high with a beautiful view of Telc and the region.

Lunch: Picnic on the bank of the Velky pond, established in the 16th century.

Afternoon: Walk back to Telc via the ruins of the castle Stamberk and Lhotka village, entering Telc through an alley of lime trees.

Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment.

Lodging: Hotel U Hrabenky

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Trebon Area (Transfer Day ? 2 hours). Altitudes range from 1504-4410 feet.

Note: Lecture: ?UNESCO Bioshere Reserve?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 2.5 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer via coach through the Trebon area with some of the region?s largest lakes and fishponds, acknowledged by its status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A superb landscape, which attained a secondary biological equilibrium centuries ago, resulting in its present beauty. Walk in this beautiful area and view the disintegrating oak trees, giants almost 500 years old. While walking view several old farm villages built in the ?Peasant Baroque? style

Lunch: Picnic lunch during the walk.

Afternoon: Walking excursion to the charming town of Trebon and enjoy a concert of the Pipers of Trebon at the auditorium of Peter Vok in the Castle of Trebon before continuing by coach to Cesky Krumlov (1614 feet).

Dinner: Dinner will be at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Dvorak

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Lecture: "The Cistercian Monastery Vyssi Brod". Mode of transportation: walking. Approximate walking time: 2 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer south by coach to Vyssi Brod (2218 feet) for a walking field-trip on the “Maria Rast am Stein” (Way of the Cross). Continue on the trail for an excursion of the Cistercian Monastery Abbey founded in 1259 by Petr Vok of Rozmberk.

Lunch: Lunch independent.

Afternoon: Return to Cesky Krumlov where lunch and the remainder of the day is independent.

Dinner: Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Dvorak

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Lectures: “The Cesky Krumlov Castle and the Baroque Theater”kov Castle” and the “Orlik Reservior”. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Walk from the hotel to the castle (1810 feet) high above the town for an excursion of the castle and the Baroque Theater, the oldest and most completely preserved building in the world.

Lunch: Lunch will be served at a local establishment brewery/restaurant called Eggenberg.

Afternoon: Transfer by private coach north towards Prague for a stop to board a boat for a one hour sail on the very beautiful reservoir, Orlik.

Dinner: Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Lecture: ?Prague, Past and Present?. Mode of transportation: walking/cable car. Approximate walking time: 4 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Walking field trip of the city viewing the many Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo- Gothic monuments. The field trip includes the Baroc Loretta Basilica, 9th century Prague Castle and the center of the Czech statehood for almost 11 centuries. Within the castle complex the splendour of St. Vitus’ Cathedral and the spires, continue through the imposing Golden Lane lined with tiny little houses.

Lunch: Lunch will be served in a historical restaurant located in the Little Quarter.

Afternoon: Following lunch cross the Vltava River through the famous Charles Bridge, continue walking on the winding narrow streets of the Old Town ending at the Astronomical Clock with it’s twelve apostles showing every hour. Remainder of the afternoon is independent to continuing exploring this unique and historical city.

Dinner: Special farewell dinner high above the city at Nebozizek restaurant.

Lodging: Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the Prague airport for departure - program ends.

Meals Included: Breakfast