Jewels of The East (Land)

DURATION: 17 DAYS/16 NIGHTS
• Moscow • Novgorod • St. Petersburg • Tallinn
• Riga • Vilnius • Warsaw • Krakow • Prague

Saturday Day 1 MOSCOW
Arrival in the sprawling capital of Moscow. Meeting service and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is free. Dinner at the hotel. MARRIOTT GRAND HOTEL 2 nights. (D)

Sunday Day 2 MOSCOW
Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world is the symbolic heart and soul of the country. Your morning sightseeing tour begins at Red Square, world famous for its military parades that take place and dominated by the colorful onion-shaped domes of St. Basils Cathedral erected on the orders of Ivan the Terrible and by the massive red walls of the Kremlin which became the symbol of power in Russia. Next is the Armory Museum, the oldest and richest museum in the Kremlin where regalia of the czars and ambassadorial gifts were once kept.

See the Moscow University and the popular Arbat shopping district before driving along the wide boulevards and enjoying a stroll through GUM, Russia’s largest department store today housing luxury boutiques. The balance of the day is free. Perhaps to take an optional Moscow by night tour. (B)

Monday Day 3 MOSCOW/TVER/NOVGOROD
Early this morning we head for the ancient trading port of Tver nestled on the banks of the Volga River. The city offers fascinating treasures including the Putyevo Dvorets built for Catherine II as a resting place on her journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg. A short sightseeing tour of this remarkable city before traveling to Novgorod founded 1150 years ago near Lake Snezhkoje. HOTEL BERESTA 1 night. (B/D)

Tuesday Day 4 NOVGOROD/ST. PETERSBURG
A morning sightseeing tour of Novgorod begins at the Kremlin with a visit to St. Sophia Cathedral. Then cross the river via a pedestrian bridge to visit Yaroslav Court. In the afternoon we travel north to St. Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad being the former capital of the Romanov Czars and the passion of its founder, Peter the Great. On arrival see Peter and Paul Fortress with its cathedral which houses the crypt of the Russian emperors. Next is St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the world’s third largest domed structure which took over 40 years to build. While the interior is lavishly decorated, the gilded dome required over 100 kilos of gold. HOTEL PARK INN PULKOVSKAYA 2 nights. (B/D)

Wednesday Day 5 ST. PETERSBURG There are not many cities in the world that can match the beauty and grace of St. Petersburg. When Peter the Great founded the city in 1703, he hired Europe’s best architects, craftsmen and artists to build and decorate the city. Spread over more than 100 islands linked by over 600 bridges, it is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”. This morning sightseeing tour will feature the world famous Hermitage located in the elaborate Winter Place where you will find one of the richest depositories of art built to house the treasures from the Czarist era. The balance of the day is free. (B)

Thursday Day 6 ST. PETERSBURG/TALLINN
Traveling along the St. Petersburg/Tallinn road we cross the border into Estonia stopping for lunch (cost not included) in the easternmost town of Narva. Almost completely destroyed in 1944, only a few of its fine buildings survived. Continue on to the lively capital of Tallinn, the capital of the Republic of Estonia situated on the southern coast of the Finnish Bay. This old town has typically narrow mediaeval streets, towers, town walls, Gothic churches as well as trading and residential houses dating from the 13th to 17th centuries. MERITON GRAND HOTEL TALLINN 1 night. (B/D)

Friday Day 7 TALLINN/RIGA
This morning a walking tour of the Old Town (Vanalin) a UNESCO World Heritage Site starts in the Upper Town (Toompea) where we visit the Toompea Castle, the present seat of Parliament. Next is the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In the Lower Town you will see the 14th century Gothic Town Hall (Raekoda Gooti-style) and the main shopping streets. In the afternoon we leave Tallinn and travel south crossing the border into Latvia and continue to the capital city of Riga located at the mouth of the Daugava River. REVAL HOTEL LATVJA/AVALON HOTEL 2 nights. (B/D)

Saturday Day 08 RIGA
Riga, another major Baltic port dating back to the age of the Hanseatic League. The city’s narrow mediaeval streets display a wide variety of architectural styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical. During your guided sightseeing tour you will stop at Riga Castle built in the 13th century for German knights and now housing the Pioneer Palace and 3 separate museums. Next is the magnificent Dome Cathedral, St. Jacobs Cathedral, St. Peters’s Church, the Parliament Building, the Liberty Monument and the district of Art Nouveau houses. The afternoon is free for further optional visits. (B)

Sunday Day 09 RIGA/VILNIUS
Travelling south we come to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania located in the valley of the Neris River surrounded by picturesque hills. According to legend, the city was founded in the 1320’s by Grand Duke Gediminias who camped here on a hunting trip. On arrival transfer to the HOTEL NOVOTEL VILNIUS for your 2 nights. Balance of the day at leisure. (B/D)

Monday Day 10 VILNIUS
The city of Vilnius is located at the confluence of the Neris and Velnele Rivers and has been inhabited since the 9th century. Your morning sightseeing tour of Old Vilnius will take you to see the Peter and Paul Church and St. Anna’s Church. View Vilnius University which dates back to 1570, Gediminias Tower in the Upper Town and Vilnius Castle. The afternoon is free perhaps to take an optional excursion to Trakai. (B)

Tuesday Day 11 VILNIUS/WARSAW
An early start this morning as we leave Vilnius crossing the border into Poland and at the end of the day arriving in historic Warsaw known as the city of determination. HOLIDAY INN WARSAW 2 nights. (B/L/D

Wednesday Day 12 WARSAW
This 700 year old capital of Poland is a symbol of nationhood and the will to survive against great odds. Your sightseeing tour begins with a drive along the famous Royal Route from the magnificent Castle Square to Lazienki Park and Palace, the summer residence of the last king of Poland. Continue past the Palace of Science and Culture known as the “wedding cake”, the Saxon Gardens, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Barbican. Continue on a walking tour of the Old Town, Old Market Square and St. John’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours for relaxing, shopping, a stroll through the city or an optional late afternoon Chopin Concert. (B)

Thursday Day 13 WARSAW/KRAKOW
Our journey this morning will take us to Czestochowa, where a stop will be made to see the famous blackened picture of St. Mary popularly known as “The Black Madonna” in the Yasa Gora Monastery. In the afternoon there is time for an optional trip to Auschwitz, one of the most somber memorials of the past, where many of the original buildings stand to this day as a bleak reminder of this tragedy. We end our day in Krakow. HOTEL NOVOTEL CENTRUM 2 nights. (B/D)

Friday Day 14 KRAKOW
Your tour this morning begins at Wawel Hill overlooking the city where the Royal Castle proudly stands housing an exhibit of countless objects of art and an exhibit of rare Flemish tapestries collected by King Zygmunt August. The Wawel Cathedral has witnessed most of the royal coronations and funerals and is the last resting place for most of the Polish monarchs. Enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town where you will visit the Main market Square, the largest mediaeval square in Poland. In the very center is the Renaissance Cloth Hall with its colonnaded arcades established in the 14th century for merchants to display their wares. Overlooking the square is St. Mary’s Church, where the Cracovian “hejna”, an hourly bugle call is played from the tower. The Gothic Church rather austere from the outside has a very richly ornamented interior with a famous high altar masterpiece carved in wood by Wit Stwosz which depicts the life of the Holy Family. The afternoon is free for further visits perhaps for an optional visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, 15 kms. southeast of the city where you will find one of the oldest salt mines in Europe (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or perhaps an optional visit to the Czartoryski Museum to admire the famous “Lady with the Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci. (B)

Saturday Day 15 KRAKOW/PRAGUE
After driving through the Polish countryside, we cross the borders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic as we make our way to Prague, one of the most attractive cities in central Europe. DIPLOMAT HOTEL 2 nights. (B/D)

Sunday Day 16 PRAGUE
Your morning tour of the golden city of Prague built on seven hills more than 1000 years ago. Your city sightseeing begins with a panoramic drive to the famous Wenceslas Square, the Strahov Stadium and the Castle Square. Continue on a walking tour visiting the Royal Castle of Hradcany, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace and the Loretto Church. Cross the Charles Bridge and walk through the old quarter of Prague to view the Jewish Ghetto, Town Hall and the world famous Astronomical Clock known as “Orloj”. The balance of the day is free to do some more sightseeing or to attend an optional cultural performance. (B)

Monday Day 17 PRAGUE
After breakfast transfer to the airport for departure. (B)

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Jewels of the East K905M (Land)
Depart	Return	Price (CDN)*
August 01, 2009	August 17, 2009	$4,799.00
August 22, 2009	September 07, 2009	$4,799.00
September 12, 2009	September 28, 2009	$4,799.00
October 03, 2009	October 19, 2009	$4,799.00

* Price in Cdn per person & double occupancy.
Single Supplement $1,789.00 Cdn.

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Booking Information and Conditions

YOUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• Arrival and departure transfers
• Services of a professional English speaking tour director throughout
• Touring by modern air conditioned motorcoach
• Luggage handling (one normal sized piece of luggage per person)
• 16 nights accommodation in first class hotels based on double occupancy with private facilities based on 2 nights Moscow, 1 night Novgorod, 2 nights St. Petersburg, 1 night Tallinn, 2 nights Riga, 2 nights Vilnius, 2 nights Warsaw, 2 nights Krakow and 2 nights Prague
• 16 breakfasts (mainly buffet), 1 lunch and 9 dinners
• Sightseeing tours of Moscow, Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Krakow and Prague
• Service charges and hotel taxes

YOUR TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Airfare to Moscow and back from Prague
• Departure taxes
• Documentation including passport fees and travel insurance
• Russian Visa Charge $95.00 Cdn. per person subject to change *Meals and beverages not mentioned
• Optional tours
• Gratuities for individual services
• Tips to tour director, driver and local guides
  E. & O.E.

DEPOSIT & PAYMENT
A deposit in the amount of $600.00 Cdn. per person together with the single supplement and insurance premium (if needed) is required at the time of booking. Written confirmation will be issued only after the deposit has been received. Should this deposit not reach us within 10 days of the booking, we will assume that you no longer wish to travel and will release any arrangements being held. The balance of payment is due 9 weeks prior to departure. Reservation received within 9 weeks prior to departure must be accompanied by full payment. Failure to comply with these provisions could result in cancellation of the reservation by Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. without notice.

CANCELLATION CONDITIONS
All cancellations, changes or refund requests must be received in writing at the offices of Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. and shall be considered in effect as of the date received. Cancellation or changes made up to 90 days prior to departure will be subject to a penalty of $300.00 Cdn. per person. Those made between 89 and 60 days prior to departure will be subject to a penalty of $425.00 Cdn. per person. Between 59 and 30 days prior to departure, a penalty of 50% per person. Between 29 days and departure day, no refunds will be granted thereafter. Should a participant be unable to join the tour on the day of departure or leave the tour prior to its completion, no refunds will be granted for unused services. For those participants making their own connecting flights to coincide with the program, we suggest that ample time be allowed between flights. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. does not accept any responsibility for additional charges or expenses that result from a change of flight times or misconnections and no refunds will be issued for services not provided. No claim or refund will be considered unless submitted in writing and received by CTA within 30 days of the termination of the tour. Any substitution of a passenger(s) will be considered a cancellation of the original reservation and the applicable cancellation charges will apply. If you cancel your trip after receiving final documents, please note that the complete set of final documents must be returned to Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. before we can process your request.

CANCELLATION BY CANADIAN TRAVEL ABROAD LTD.
We reserve the right to cancel a departure and offer an alternative departure should there be an insufficient number of participants to make the tour viable. Should the participant(s) elect not to travel on an alternative date, a full refund will be made. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. is not to be held responsible for any other individual arrangements affected by our tour cancellation.

ACCOMMODATION
Rooms with private facilities in selected hotels as indicated in the itinerary are assigned by local agencies. Should it become necessary, accommodation in similar categories may be substituted.

CHANGES
Once a booking has been confirmed, should a participant wish to change to an alternative departure or make changes to the reservation, a handling fee of $125.00 Cdn. per person would apply.

NOTE: Changes or adjustments to a reservation will not be accepted within 28 days prior to departure. Should cancellation by one or more passengers change the room requirements of the remaining participant, the passenger must pay the applicable rate for the accommodation to be required.

INSURANCE
Comprehensive trip cancellation insurance (to protect against loss of monies incurred through cancellation due to illness, etc.) as well as personal travel insurance for baggage and accident coverage is available through Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. and must be taken out at the time of booking with the premium and remitted with the deposit. Once paid, the premium is non refundable. A signed waiver will be required if insurance is declined.

BAGGAGE INSURANCE
Care will be taken to protect your baggage, however, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. cannot be held responsible for damage to the baggage. It is recommended that each participant purchase baggage insurance to protect their belongings. NOTE – Porterage at the hotels and on transfers is limited to one piece per person.

INSURANCE WAIVER
Insurance affords protection against penalties caused by cancellation of your trip due to injury, illness or death of a tour participant or a member of a participant’s immediate family. This insurance is underwritten by RBC.

COSTS
All costs quoted herein in Canadian dollars are per person and are based on tariffs, exchange rates and airfares in effect as of December 08, 2008 and are subject to change without prior notice.

INDIVIDUAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A TOUR
For individual arrangements in conjunction with a tour, a non refundable booking fee of $50.00 Cdn. per person will apply.

GRATUITIES
While gratuities for services provided are customary including the end of tour gratuity for the tour escort and driver, the gratuities are not included in the cost of the tour and are based upon your satisfaction of the arrangements provided.

HOLIDAYS CHANGES
During national or local holidays abroad, certain facilities such as museums and sightseeing tours may be limited. Where possible, slight itinerary adjustments may be made.

ITINERARY CHANGES
Your itinerary has been planned with the utmost care to ensure a pleasant trip. However, circumstances may arise whereby a slight change in the itinerary may be required due to business hours at a certain site. There will be no refund granted for any changes to the program.

MEALS
As specified in the itinerary. B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner. Meals are provided from a group menu with beverages being included when part of the group meals. Any additional beverages or refills may be purchased at additional cost.

BEVERAGES
Not included with specified dinners.

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
Any physical disability requiring special attention or treatment must be reported when reservations are made. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd./and or their agents reserve the right to accept or retain any participant who may, in their sole judgement, require care and attention beyond that which can be provided. Please bring any health or mobility issues to our attention at the time of booking.

PORTERAGE
Each participant will be responsible for carrying their own luggage through customs. Since porters and/or luggage carts are not always readily available, you should be comfortable carrying your own luggage.

PRE OR POST TOUR ARRANGEMENTS
Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd would be happy to assist should you wish to add additional arrangements to your tour program.

REFUNDS
There will not be any refunds granted on any unused portion of the tour not taken.

SIGHTSEEING
As indicated, including entrance fees to places of interest as well as the services of fully qualified local English speaking guides. The sequence of tours and the cities visited is subject to change where necessary.

SINGLE ROOMS
A limited number of single rooms may be available for an additional charge. In Europe, single rooms are generally much smaller than a double room. Single rooms are never guaranteed and are subject to availability.

SPECIAL REQUESTS
Must be placed in sufficient time and although Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. will do their utmost to accommodate these special requests, we cannot be held responsible if such requests are not fulfilled.

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
As indicated.

TAXES
All local taxes and standard service charges on accommodation and meals included in you’re your price.

TOUR DOCUMENT DELIVERY
Travel documents are usually issued within 21 days prior to departure provided that full payment has been received. In the event that late payment results in the late delivery of documents, Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. will not accept any responsibility for the consequences thereof and reserves the right to charge for courier expenses. Documents will be sent first class mail, however, should you prefer to have your documents sent by overnight courier, you will be advised of the additional charges which must be included with your final payment.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION
All participants must be in possession of a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months after the duration of the tour and should have sufficient blank pages for visas and immigration stamps. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. cannot be held responsible should you be denied entry to any country due to non compliance of these arrangements. Instructions regarding the securing of visas (where required) will be provided once the tour has been booked and the deposit paid. A copy of your valid passport is required to confirm any air reservations (if required). Due to increased security measures, passport information and emergency contact information is required for all passengers prior to the release of final documents.

VISAS
For participants holding passports other than Canadian, please check with your local travel agent regarding entry requirements for the country visited. Updated Visa Fees: Russia $75.00 Cdn., Turkish $60.00 U.S. payable in cash on arrival in Turkey.

The above visa fees as charged by the respective consulates and are subject to change without prior notice. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. will be happy to secure visas for Canadian passport holders for a fee of CA $20.00 per person, per visa to cover handling and courier charges. Prices shown are per person, per visa and are valid at the time of printing and all visa fees are non-refundable.

TRAVELLING ALONE BUT WISHING TO SHARE
Tour participants traveling alone but wishing to share accommodation with a suitable roommate must pay the single supplement until such time as a roommate is found. The single supplement would then be refunded with the final documentation. Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. cannot assume any responsibility should such an arrangement not be available or suitable.

AIRFARES
Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. would be happy to assist with securing airfares in conjunction with the above tour(s).

SPECIAL NOTE: The right is reserved to change or cancel the pre-arranged itineraries including designated hotels if reasons beyond our control arise. Pursuant to the Travel Industry Act Regulations if price changes cause an increase over 7% of the confirmed price (except for government taxes) or there is a change in the standard of accommodation or a delay of over 24 hours in transport arrangements of which we become aware prior to departure, you will be notified and given 48 hours to advise us of your desire to cancel the tour with a full refund. Otherwise, you will be considered to have accepted the change(s).

OPERATORS RESPONSIBILITY
All arrangements for land accommodation, transportation and sightseeing are made by Canadian Travel Abroad Ltd. and/or their appointed representatives, who act only as agents in obtaining transportation, accommodation and other services for the tour members. They shall not be liable or held responsible directly or indirectly for any delay, injury, (including death) loss of damage to any person, company or association providing accommodation, transportation or other services in connection with the tour. The right is reserved to withdraw all or part of the tour should conditions warrant and to make such alterations in the itinerary as may be found desirable for the convenience of the tour members and proper execution of the tour. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person(s) as member(s) of the tour in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the operators.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS CURRENT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION, HOWEVER, THE CONTENTS \ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

E. & O.E.

VALIDITY: March 20, 2009 – November 18, 2009.

In accordance with the Ontario Travel Act, CTA is registered
(1040985 & 1039982).

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