AMSTERDAM TO PRAGUE

Make your way to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport in plenty of time to board your flight to Amsterdam (flight is not included in tour cost).

On your arrival at Amsterdam Airport, it’s a twenty-minute taxi or shuttle ride to the hotel in Haarlem for our three night stay.  A bus also runs from the airport to Haarlem on a dedicated “bus only” road.  Formerly a walled North Sea trading port, Haarlem is recognised today as The Netherlands’ most beautiful town and is the historical centre of the tulip district.  This evening, we’ll enjoy early welcome drinks and canapes at the hotel followed by an equally welcome early night.  Overnight:  Haarlem

“The Lowlands” has been a drawcard for travellers ever since Julius Caesar visited here in 57BC.  Known today as “The Netherlands” it was established as the Dutch Republic after gaining its independence from Spain in 1648.  The Republic’s golden era was in the 1660s when a rich worldwide empire developed around the “Dutch East India Company”. It became the most important of all national mercantile companies of the time, based on invasion, colonialism and extraction of outside resources.  After being subject to a series of rulers, including Napoleon, the country remained neutral in the first World War but was invaded by Nazi Germany in World War II.  The occupation resulted in the extermination of almost the entire Dutch Jewish population.  The country was further adversely impacted upon at the end of the war when its former territory, Indonesia, was granted independence.  We will begin our holiday in a blaze of colour during the annual Tulip Festival at the stunning Keukenhof, the world’s largest bulb-flower garden.  Surrounding the gardens, the hills are alive with the stark beauty of the commercial bulb fields stretching in all directions.  After our visit, we return to 10th century Haarlem for a guided tour.  Sitting on the River Spaarne and known for its museums, art and shopping, it is home to the De Adriaan, the country’s most famous windmill.  The foundation of the mill was part of the city’s old defensive wall, with the mill itself added on top in 1778.  With its medieval cobblestone streets, canals and gabled houses Haarlem is a delight.  Dinner is included this evening, so you won’t have to “go Dutch” yet.  Overnight:  As Above

This morning head into the capital, Amsterdam, which was established when a dam was constructed across the River Amstel around 1275.  Amsterdam is both surrounded and intersected by a system of canals.  The first of our two photo stops is at the infamous Anne Frank House.  On July 6th 1942, both Anne’s family and the Van Pels family went into hiding from the Nazis in an upstairs annex within this house.  Whilst here, Anne compiled her diary which had only been given to her for her thirteenth birthday on June 12th.  When discovered by the Nazis two years later, they were all transferred to the Bergen Belsen concentration camp.  After their arrest, their neighbour - Miep Gies - found the diary and kept if for a possible return to Anne.  Unfortunately, of the original eight within the house, only Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was to survive the incarceration.  He was later given the diary and it was published on June 25th, 1947 as “The Secret Annexe”.  Our other stop is at the De Gooyer which at 26.6 metres high is the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands and a National Monument.  From the capital it’s a thirty-minute run to Volendam sitting on the shores of Lake Markermeer.  This pretty town is known for colourful wooden houses and old fishing boats bobbing in a harbour lined with seafood vendors.  This region is the birthplace of Edam cheese, so we will visit a cheese manufacturer to learn about this famous product.  On our way home, we will stop at the highly recognisable Zaanse Schans, known for its windmills, barns, clog making workshops and Lego-like housing.  Back in Haarlem the rest of the day is free to enjoy our lovely setting.  Overnight:  As Above

Enjoy a walking tour of The Hague, where since 1588 decisions made by governments have reverberated around the globe.  Whilst here see the historic shopping centre – The Passage – which resembles the fashion streets of Paris and Milan.  Just near the Passage, on Buitenhof Square, is Dudok which is famed for its coffee and apple pie and it’s patronage by the politicians from Prime Ministers down.  From The Hague a short drive on to the incredible Maeslantkering. The “Low Countries” have certainly had a long battle to control the sea and this storm surge barrier, constructed between 1991 and 1997 in The Hook of Holland, is their biggest weapon.  It is located at the entrance to Rotterdam Harbour, the world’s busiest port.  Legend has it that in Rotterdam shirts are manufactured with their sleeves rolled up. The 1233 kms long Rhine River which rises in the Swiss Alps also flows into the North Sea at Rotterdam.  The surge barrier is one of the largest moving structures on earth, consisting of two 210 metres long gates supported by 237 metres long trusses weighing 6,800 tons each. It automatically closes in the threat of flooding.  Our other stop today is at the stunningly scenic UNESCO Listed village of Kinderdijk. The water-management network at Kinderjik features nineteen mills and three pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the “polder” (low-lying land).  Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area to the main visitor’s centre and the museums located in preserved working windmills.  From Kinderjik it’s an hour’s run on to our stay in Amersfoort whose settlements date back to 1000BC.  The town’s early defences were built on a network of canals with their most famous gate being the beautiful Koppelpoort, a combined water and road gate built in 1427.  Uncharacteristically between 1941 and 1945 during WWII, lovely Amersfoort housed a Nazi concentration camp. Dinner is included.  Overnight:  Amersfoort

This morning visit the stunning Castle de Haar which is the Netherlands’ largest castle.  Few can equal De Haar for its ideal image of a medieval fortress with towers and ramparts, moats, gates and drawbridges.  Like a fairy-tale castle, it rises majestically in a parkland with impressive trees, old gardens, and ponds.  Our other visit is to the former Roman town of Utrecht where our guided tour literally begins at the beginning!  In the middle of Dom Square we enter Domunder, an underground space where you can view 2,000 years of Dutch history using a special torch.  History literally springs to life as the torch activates stories and animated films.  Back on the surface, we’ll visit the Dom Church’s Pandhof Garden and see the 112 metre high church tower, the tallest in the Netherlands. Take the elevator to the 100 metre level to take in the panoramic views of Utrecht.  Also enjoy a cruise through the canals followed by free time for lunch and a stroll along the Twijnstraat – the oldest shopping street in Utrecht.  For an atmospheric lunch you might like to head to one of the re-purposed canal cellars by the water.  Returning home to Amersfoort the remainder of the day is at leisure.  Overnight:  As Above

Today we will have a guided tour of the town in its very special setting.  See the Koppelpoort and the other wonderful gates together with the stunning 98m high Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren tower.  We will also stroll on the Muurhuizen - a lovely circular street full of history and architecture.  After the tour the remainder of the day is at leisure.  Overnight:  As Above

This morning travel south for a tour of Hertogenbosch, colloquially known as “Den Bosch”.  The city is known for both Dutch renaissance artist, Hieronymus Bosch and for Bossche Bol, their legendary pastry.  Originally a walled city encircled by a river it was expanded to enclose the river within the walls so that it could be built over.  Whilst here we will join the Heaven & Hell Boat Tour beneath the city which will include an impressive Light & Sound Tour where Bosch’s fantastical creatures are featured on the walls.  After lunch continue south to our two night stay in Valkenburg. En route pass through the town of Eindhoven, where on May 15th 1891, Gerard Philips produced his first light bulb.  Founded by Gerard and his brother Frederick, Philips Industries has since grown from a local manufacturer of incandescent lamps to a global leader in domestic appliance and health technology.  In 1924, they developed the Metalix, the first X-ray tube with a metal housing to provide protection against harmful X-ray radiation.  Today the company is at the forefront in the development of innovative healthcare and AI.  Our stay in Valkenburg too is like taking a step back in time.  The centre is filled with beautiful historic architecture, from the remnants of the city walls and gates to the 12th century Gothic Church of Saint Nicholas and Saint Barbara which features beautiful late medieval wood carvings.  The ruins of the 14th century Valkenburg Castle - the country’s only hilltop castle - are set on a rise above the town.  Valkenburg too is notable for what lies beneath its surface: a series of tunnels and caves, some natural and some man-made.  These house the Roman Catacombs Museum and in winter, a magical underground Christmas Market.  Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Valkenburg

A relaxing day today beginning with a tour of nearby Maastricht, one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. Following Julius Caesar’s visit in 57BC, the Romans built a settlement here near a ford in the Maas River.  The city’s name is derived from the Latin “Mosae Trajectum”, the site where the Maas could be crossed.  Built in the 6th century atop the grave of St. Servatius (the first Bishop of Maastricht) is the Basilica of St Servaaskerk, the oldest church in the Netherlands.  Also highly impressive is Maastricht's city hall - the Baroque Stadhuis.  Built in the 1650s as a Cloth Hall, it's notable for its fine neoclassical façade and handsome doorway approached by an imposing double staircase.  The dual matching staircases were designed to enable the two rulers of Maastricht, the Duke of Brabant and the Prince-Bishop of Liège, to enter simultaneously.  The signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 saw the city become the symbol of the European Union, with the first meeting of the original 12 member states held here.  Maastricht is the birthplace of both the Euro and Andre Rieu, and these days the city is best known as the home of his famous outdoor concerts on Market Square.  After our tour and the opportunity for a cuppa on the square, it’s back to Valkenburg with the rest of the day at leisure.  If interested, you can take a tour through the caves and excavated quarries located beneath the city.  The tours can be done either on foot or on the underground sightseeing train.  Overnight:  As Above

Today cross into Belgium and head to Liege where the age-old expression “been in the wars” is certainly appropriate!  Liege was at the centre of the action in both the World Wars.  It was in fact here on August 5th 1914, that World War 1 began with the “Battle of Leige”.  In Ans on the outskirts of Liege, we’ll meet our local guide for a visit to the ruins of Fort de Loncin, a powerful memorial to both Belgian bravery and the destruction of war.  At 5.30am on August 15th, 1914, following three days of siege, a German shell scored a direct hit on Fort de Loncin’s ammunition magazine.  The resulting blast of 12 tons of stored explosives destroyed the heart of the fort and killed 350 out of its 500 men.  It was the only fort around Liege that had not surrendered.  More than a century later, the fort is quiet and nature has returned.  Grass covers the earth and trees have grown up around the fort and birds and animals call it home.  But amidst the green, you notice traces of the past; a steel turret here, a gun protruding there. Then you turn a corner and the devastation almost screams at you.  Afterwards head into Liege which sits on the Meuse River at its confluence with the L’Ourthe River.  Here our guide will show us the Old Town which is filled with medieval landmarks. See the main highlights, old and new, including the Romanesque Church of St. Bartholomew, the Musee de la Ansembourg and the Guillemins train station.  The latter is a visually stunning, free-flowing marvel designed by famous Catalan architect – Santiago Calatrava.  For lunch options Liege is known for both its waffles and its meatballs.  A local menu favourite is the Boulets a la Liegeoise - humungous meatballs with a rich chestnut and tomato sauce.  After lunch, we head to lovely Dinant for our stay on the River Meuse.  The 950 km long Meuse rises in France near Pouilly-En-Bassigny and runs through both Belgium and The Netherlands to its North Sea estuary.  The upper Meuse marked the western border of the Holy Roman Empire.  Overlooked by a stunning citadel and a 13th century Gothic cathedral, Dinant gets the nod as Belgium’s prettiest town. Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Dinant

This morning travel to Hotton and visit the beautiful Commonwealth War Cemetery.  Here lie the remains of 666 allied soldiers and airmen who fell during the terrible Battle of the Ardennes ((better known as the Battle of the Bulge).  This battle ended the German campaign on the Western Front and signalled the end of the war in Europe. The prolonged offensive in frigid weather lasted from 16th December 1944 to 25th January 1945.  Interned with the British are 41 Australians, 10 New Zealanders, 88 Canadians, 1 Polish together with one British War Correspondent.  After our visit we will have our lunch break (own expense) in the lovely village of Durbuy nestled in a rocky valley on the River Ourthe.  With its stunning castle, a maze of cobbled streets and beautiful stone houses, it is ranked as another of Belgium’s prettiest towns.  Durbuy is also known as “the smallest city in the world”.  The title comes courtesy of King John of Bohemia who granted Durbuy city status in 1331 despite it having a population of just 400.  This afternoon return to Dinant with the remainder of the day at leisure.  The inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, was born in Dinant and is commemorated around the town.  The “Charles De Gaulle Bridge” was so named to commemorate the former President who was shot in the leg here during a major battle in 1914.  Other Dinant highlights are Bayard Rock and the magnificent Castle of Freyr and right beneath your feet are the white stalactites and stalagmites of the Grottos de Dinant La Merveilleuse.  These stunning caves were occupied by the locals when the River Meuse became “the front” near the end of WWII. As we are in Belgium - the greatest beer country on earth, not having a convivial would be regarded as negligent behaviour as Dinant is also home to Maison Leffe – “Museum of Beer”.  Overnight:  As Above

Today in our jackets and enclosed shoes, we’ll take a journey to the centre of the earth through one of Europe’s most beautiful underground networks – the stunning UNESCO Listed Caves of Han.  Shaped by the River Lesse as it winds its way through the earth continually perfecting its creation, the cave truly is a work in progress.  Returning to the surface from this miracle of nature, we’ll head briefly into France for lunch (own expense).  Enclosed on three sides by the Belgian border sits the beautiful village of Givet also on the River Meuse.  The town is dominated by the Fortress of Charlemont built by Emperor Charles V in 1555.  Crossing back into Belgium it’s a short run down the Meuse to home where the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight:  As Above

This morning cross the border into Luxembourg, one of the world’s smallest but richest countries. Enjoy a tour of the Old Quarter, a UNESCO Listed World Heritage Site and literally “gorgeous” because of the huge gorge that bisects it.  Housing one of Europe’s largest fortresses, it strategically sits on a rocky outcrop at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers.  It was on this outcrop in 963 that Count Sigfried built his castle.  With centuries-old fortifications, narrow lanes and ancient walls, it was dubbed the “Gibraltar of the North”.  Our tour will include the remains of Wenceslas wall dating back to 1390 and the Casement du Bock (City Casements).  Begun in 1644, the City Casements are a 23 kilometre network of underground tunnels and galleries dug out of solid rock.  Taking some forty years to complete, they were built under direction of famed military engineer and fort builder Vauban.  Their purpose at the time was to shelter soldiers, horses and equipment and to house kitchens, bakeries and even slaughterhouses.  After our tour we will cross into Germany for our stay in Saarburg near the Saar River.  Overlooking the river are the ruins of the once proud Saarburg Castle, also built by Siegfried of Luxembourg in 964.   Saarburg is rather unique in that it has a waterfall which cascades down some twenty metres right in the centre of the old town.  In the Middle Ages a local waterway - the Leukbach - was diverted into the town to allow for the harnessing of its waters.  Today the waters still push the wheels of the former Hackenberg Mill which is now a museum. Our Old Town say is at the historic Am Markt Hotel adjacent to the falls.  Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Saarburg

This morning is at leisure.  Options include a walk up to the ruins of Saarburg Castle, one of the old oldest hilltop castles in southwest Germany.  Also close by are the acclaimed Birds of Prey wildlife park and a museum located within a former bell foundry which too may be of interest.  After lunch we will drive upriver to nearby Mettlach, a lovely little town on a natural loop of the Saar River.  We are here to visit 275 years old ceramics manufacturer Villeroy & Boch located within Mettlach’s former Benedictine abbey.  In the abbey’s rambling park gardens is Mettlach’s medieval Old Tower which is more than a thousand years old.  In the park you will also discover rare and exotic trees and the historic Schinkelbrunnen fountain, which was gifted to Jean-François Boch by the future King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.  In Villeroy & Bosch’s showroom, if your luggage space allows, the lovely offerings will prove most tempting.  At 3.45pm, we’ll join our cruise downriver back to Saarburg where the remainder of the day is at leisure (coach to meet boat at Saarburg pier).  Overnight:  As Above

It’s a day of highlights in neighbouring Trier, birthplace of Karl Marx and officially Germany’s oldest city.  Sitting beside the Moselle River in a region inhabited for 1300 years prior to his arrival, Roman Emperor Augustus founded Trier in 16BC.  Surrounded by a six km city wall with forty-seven round towers and four massive gates, Trier was the western capital of the Roman Empire.  Today, it is home to Germany’s oldest Christian church, a lovely market square and the highest number of Roman monuments in the country. Fittingly, our tour will begin at the UNESCO Listed Porta Nigra (black gate).  This massive structure, built entirely without mortar in the 2^nd century, is regarded as the best-preserved city gate from the ancient world.  Overnight:  As Above

Heading south into France today, visit riverfront Nancy located in the region of Grand Est.  Nancy is known for its baroque and art nouveau landmarks and charming squares, some dating back to its days as the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine.  The city’s focal point is the UNESCO World Heritage Listed 18th-century Place Stanislas.  This grand square, decorated with gilded wrought-iron gates and rococo fountains, rests beside the ornate palaces and churches filling the city’s medieval old town.  Continuing on into the lovely Alsace region, we will have two nights stay in the lovely little walled village of Riquewihr which will highlight more than words the colourful beauty of these little Alsace towns sprinkled across the region.  Our hotel is located within the walls in a traditional 1550s building.  Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Riquewihr

Today, driving the beautiful “Route des Vins d'Alsace”, we will see some of the region’s many highlights.  First is Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle which dominates the Alsace plain at an altitude of 757 metres.  Possessing all the assets of an easily defendable fortress it has an exceptional panorama.  Weather permitting views include the Alsace plain, the Vosges mountains, the Black Forest and sometimes even the Alps.  The castle dates back to 1147 and has witnessed centuries of conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings and emperors.  Crossing a drawbridge you will discover its fully equipped and furnished dwellings and a collection of weapons from the Middle Ages.  You can also climb to the top of its keep and the great bastion.  We will have a lunch break in lovely Colmar where in the historic Old Town you can stroll around the maze of cobbled pedestrian malls admiring the centuries old Alsation styled buildings.  On Rue de Tanners, you can view the former tanner’s houses and the delightful Petite Venice area known as Quartier de la Krutenau.  This afternoon, we return to Riquewihr where the remainder of the day is at leisure.  Overnight:  As Above

Travel into Switzerland following the 1230 km long Rhine River upstream to the incredible Rhine Falls. The falls - the most powerful in Europe - are 150 metres wide and 23 metres high and were formed by erosion-resistant rocks narrowing the riverbed during the last ice age approximately 14,000 to 17,000 years ago.  The highest flow ever measured across the falls was 1,250 cubic metres per second in 1965.  We will have our lunch break in nearby medieval Schaffhausen, known for its Oriel (Bay) Windows and being the only Swiss town to be bombed by the Allied Forces during WWII.  Despite the town’s distinctive landmark - the circular Munot Fortress - Schaffhausen was still mistakenly thought to be in Germany and was bombed (appropriately) on April 1st 1944.  Crossing back into Germany this afternoon we’ll follow the northern shores of Lake Constance, known in German as Bodensee. Europe’s third largest lake, it was formed by the former Rhine Glacier whose ice carved out the lake’s basin.  The subsequent melt down of the ice, combined with local precipitation, filled the basin.  The lake is the border between Switzerland and Germany.  We will stop in Friedrichshafen to visit the museum of Count Ferdinand Von Zepplin who invented this fascinating flying machine.  Our stay on the Bavarian lakeside is at the historic Bad Schachen Hotel near Lindau.  The history of the hotel with its wonderful art nouveaux beach bath goes back to the year 1474. At that time, the sulphur-iron spring found here was developed into a small spa and was then constantly expanded over the following centuries.  Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Lindau

This morning from the pier we will take a boat out to our walking tour of Lindau Island which sits at the junction of three counties, including Austria.  Lindau is known both for its spring gardens and its historic Old Town.  Linked to the mainland and with centuries-old buildings, lively squares and picturesque alleyways, the Lake Constance Island atmosphere here is almost palpable.  Near the restaurant lined Maximilianstrasse is the Gothic Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and the 12th-century Mangturm watchtower.  The harbour entrance with its Bavarian lion and white lighthouse sits in an impressive panorama surrounded by the lake and the Alps.  After the tour enjoy time at leisure to explore the lakeside promenades house numerous cafés that are the ideal place to sit and watch the maritime activity.  Overnight:  As Above

Depart at 8.30 this morning for a day stacked with highlights, beginning in the historic Old Town centre of Weissenburg in Bayern.  Surrounded by iconic walls and towers, this former Roman settlement was established about 90AD.  A lovely Roman bath house was unearthed here by chance in 1977 and has been turned into a museum which we will visit.  In AD793, Emperor Charlemagne also based himself here to construct the Fossa Carolina, a three kilometre canal through a low hill to link the Rhine and Danube river systems.  Despite the efforts of some 8,000 men working on the project it was never completed.  After our lunch break and a stroll around town, it’s an hour’s run on to Nuremburg. At one time the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Nuremburg was the preferred residence of German kings.  During the Nazi era Nuremburg also held great significance and was the site of the huge Nazi Party conventions – “The Nuremberg Rallies”.  After the war, the Allied Powers specifically chose Nuremberg to symbolize the death of Nazi Germany.  The United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union established the International Military Tribunal (IMT).  During 1945 and 1946 Nazi German leaders stood trial here for crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes.  We’ll have a guided tour of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Sinwell Tower and the lovely Old Town and Square. After the tour it’s an hour’s drive through Northern Bavaria to charming Bamberg, laid out over seven hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. Dinner is included this evening  Overnight:  Bamberg

It’s a relaxing day in Bamberg - a Franconian town with medieval charm, cobbled streets and a river cutting through its heart.  A UNESCO Listed World Heritage Site known as “The City That WWII Couldn’t Break”, Bamberg remained miraculously untouched while bombs rained down on most of Germany.  Its old town preserves structures from the 11th to 19th centuries including the muraled Altes Rathaus (town hall) which occupies an island in the Regnitz River reached by arched bridges.  We will have a leisurely tour of the highlights this morning which will show us the Town Hall and the soaring Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral.  Begun in the 11th century it features four towers and numerous stone carvings.  We’ll also see the former Benedictine monastery, Kloster St Michael and Klein Venedig (Little Venice).  After our tour the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy this lovely setting with perhaps an afternoon or sunset cruise on the river.  Overnight:  As Above

Today cross into the Czech Republic to visit Karlovy Vary, a famous spa town known locally as Carlsbad or simply 'Vary'.  Sitting astride the Ohre River, Karlovy was the favourite retreat of Russian Tsar - Peter the Great - who came here for his treatments in the early 18th century.  In the “Hot Spring Colonnade”, the Pramen Vřídlo Geyser spouts its waters up to 12 metres high.  Visitors to Karlovy also come here just to admire the grand 19th century spa architecture and to stroll around its impressive colonnades.  Built in the 1730s, Karlovy's twin-steepled Church of Mary Magdalene is one of its grandest baroque buildings.  The crypt contains an underground altar and an ossuary holding the bones from the church’s 18th-century graveyard.  From Karlovy, it’s about two hours drive to our three night stay in the Czech capital, Prague, nicknamed the “City of a Hundred Spires” based on a count in the 19th century.  Today the figure is in excess of five hundred!  Prague is bisected by the Vltava River which is spanned by 18 bridges.  During its 1100 years history, the city has been a political and economic hub of Central Europe and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.  Prague was also known for its cultural life, and it was here in 1787 that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed his Prague Symphony and Don Giovanni.  Dinner is included this evening.  Overnight:  Prague

Begin today with a tour the Old Town side of the river - a breathtaking mix of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture that is hard to find anywhere else in Europe.  The buildings were left relatively untouched during the 17th and 18th centuries and today Prague is known for its Powder Tower, the 10th century Old Town Square and St Vitas Cathedral.  The square, regarded as the heart of the city, is encircled with colourful baroque buildings, churches and a six hundred year old medieval Astronomical Clock with its animated hourly show.  One side of the square is dominated by the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, a powerful Gothic building which can be seen from all over Prague.  In contrast to the historic buildings, the stunning Frank Gehry designed “Dancing House” sits at the eastern end of the nearby Jiraskuv Bridge.  Also highly recommended is a leisurely stroll across the famous Charles Bridge built in 1402.  Lined with statues of saints, it even hosts its own museum.  At the eastern end you’ll see the “Old Town Bridge Tower” which was part of Prague’s old fortification system and is one of the most beautiful Gothic towers in Europe.  After our tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure.  Overnight:  As Above

A guided tour today will capture the city’s highlights on the Lesser Town (Mala Strana) side of the river.  We will start with a panoramic bird’s eye view of the city from the “Eiffel” like Petrin Tower built in 1891 in the park of the same name.  We will take the cable car up to the tower followed by steps up to the viewing point platform located 55 metres above ground.  A lift option is also available for an additional small charge.  Next is Hrad Castle which dates back to 880 and, at 70,000 square metres, is the world’s largest ancient castle.  Mala Strana sights include the magnificent St Nicholas Church, John Lennon Wall and Wallenstein Gardens.  On completion of our tour the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.  Before our farewell dinner this evening, we will enjoy a cruise on the Vltava.  Overnight:  As Above

After breakfast today make your way to Prague Airport to begin your flight home.

Arrive home today, so ending a wonderful journey from Amsterdam to Prague.