WORLD HIGHLIGHTS II
Edinburgh • Prague • Tallinn • St. Petersburg • Cappadocia • Jerusalem • Fez • London
Days 1 & 2: Edinburgh, Scotland
Days 3 & 4: Prague, Czech Republic
Explore Prague Castle, the Republic’s seat of power for over a millennium, and walk among Gothic steeples and spires of great St. Vitus Cathedral. Stroll through Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, and the Jewish Quarter with its historical cemetery.
For those who have already visited Prague, we have arranged optional sightseeing tours to less-visited sites – the infamous Nazi transit camp in Terézin; an exploration of royal artifacts at Karlstein Castle; a visit to the stately Konopiste Chateau; Pilsner Urquell Brewery.
Enter the 14th century in Old Town’s winding streets, slender church spires, cobbled squares, and turrets. Explore the beautiful icons of St. Nicholas Church and the remains of Toompea Castle, where Estonia’s Parliament began to meet in the 13th century.
Enjoy cocktails at a medieval concert before choosing your dine-around option in this enchanting historic city.
Days 7 & 8: St. Petersburg, Russia
We’ll highlight our visit with a gala dinner and optional evening ballet, opera, or symphony performance, and conclude our visit with a morning canal cruise.
Days 9 & 10: Cappadocia, Turkey
Enjoy a private group dinner and a sublime whirling dervishes ceremony amid soaring rock formations at the Göreme Open Air Monastic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll also explore Göreme Valley’s spectacular collection of painted cave-churches.
Alternately, explore Kaymakli – an underground refuge – or discover cave churches, tunnels, and houses on a spectacular hike through the region’s rich fertile valleys, or shop the marketplace for pottery and carpets.
Days 11 & 12: Jerusalem, Israel
Alternately, take an overnight excursion to Petra, Jordan – the mysterious desert city lost to history for centuries. From Aqaba, reach the ancient hidden city of Petra through Al-Siq, a narrow gorge that opens onto breathtaking red sandstone monuments. Explore the Nabatean city, visiting the marketplace, the outdoor theater, and the monolithic tombs of these little known people. Overnight at the Mövenpick Hotel, and meet our private jet early the next morning to rejoin the group in Tel Aviv.
If you have visited Fez before, enjoy an excursion to Volubilis to explore the architectural ruins of this ancient Roman settlement. Or travel to the village of Bhalill for a taste of local Berber culture, or visit Moroccan artisans.
Day 15: London and Home
Itinerary and prices are subject to change.
After overnight flights, meet fellow travelers, lecturers, and expedition staff at a festive welcome dinner at our deluxe hotel.
The Balmoral, Edinburgh
Prague’s entire historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Spared the ravages of war, this 1,100-year-old “mother of cities” boasts more than six hundred years of architecture, integrating vast architectural styles from Medieval to Art Nouveau.
The Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Day 5: Tallinn, Estonia
Tiny Estonia, dominated for centuries by larger nations, gained independence in 1991. Its capital, the fortress city of Tallinn, is steeped in medieval history.
Hotel Telegraaf, Tallinn
Amid unparalleled cultural heritage in the city of the tsars, enjoy privileged access to the State Hermitage Museum and Catherine’s Palace, where you’ll discover the renowned Amber Room. Explore the beautiful grounds and historic Baroque cathedral of Peter & Paul Fortress – the city’s oldest structure – or massive St. Isaac’s Cathedral, gilded and intricately detailed. Or relish the beautiful interiors of Yusupov Palace.
Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg
Cappadocia is a surrealistic landscape of eerie rock formations – “fairy chimneys” –carved by the wind, rain, and volcanic eruption. The remnants of dwellings, churches, and chapels remain hollowed into the soft rock, and grottoes are magnificently decorated with colorful frescoes of biblical scenes.
Anatolian Houses Hotel or Museum Hotel, Cappadocia
Throughout its tumultuous history, the myriad monuments of Jerusalem have held rich spiritual meaning across several faiths – for instance the Western Wall for Jews, Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, and the Dome of the Rock for Muslims.
King David Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 13 & 14: Fez, Morocco
One of the largest living medieval cities in the world, the vast medina of Old Fez is enclosed within magnificent gates and walls. Labyrinthine streets reveal a rich visual fabric of mosques, medrasas (Islamic seminaries), palaces, and fountains. Depending on your interests, your guided walk through the medina might include the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University; fascinating traditional tanneries; the shrine of Fez’s founder, Sultan Moulay Idriss II; a traditional pottery co-op; or the Borj-Nord weapons museum near the ramparts of the 15th-entury fort. Celebrate our journey with a farewell dinner.
Sofitel Palais Jamail, Fez
We arrive at our hotel in the afternoon, then transfer to regularly scheduled commercial flights homeward.
| Date | Priced from |
| April 17 – 30, 2009 | $38,950 |
| Single Occupancy: | $41,850 |
Please note that the following items are NOT included:
 |
To check availability or receive additional information on TCS Expeditions drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739 |
Content provided by Online Travel Content, Inc.