Holiday | Charlotte's VVeb

This Winter Sample Bavarian & Bohemian Christmas Markets

26/10/201006/03/2017 by Charlotte J

German Christmas markets have become almost a cliché, especially seeing the crowds at Munich, Nuernberg and Cologne. However, Bavarian Forest Holidays has come up with a different angle: a long weekend on any of the four advent weekends before Christmas, with accommodation in a five star village apartment, giving visitors the opportunity to see Christmas Markets in the big cities of Passau and Regensburg, as well as the smaller towns and villages of Bavaria and Bohemia.

Each weekend can be tailored to suit the preferences of a family or group and most of the markets can be visited by great value German public transport – so there are no restrictions on testing the Gluehwein! Accommodation is in the pretty Bavarian Forest village of Bayerisch Eisenstein, directly on the border with Czech Republic. Prices for three nights in five star accommodation (excluding travel and meals) range from €200 for a couple in a one bedroom apartment, up to €425 for 6 people in a 3 bedroom, all ensuite apartment. A welcoming glass of Gluehwein will help to get you in the mood. And, of course, award-winning Bavarian Forest Holidays can advise on travel by rail to and from the UK as well as to and from the Christmas Markets.

For more information visit www.bavarian-forest-holidays.com

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Let the Train Take the Strain to Tirol this Winter

19/10/201006/03/2017 by Charlotte J

If you think flying is the only option for your ski trip to Austria, think again. Train travel may not be the first thing that springs to mind but with improved services and connections, Austria is closer than you think.

Train v Plane

We all know the benefit of train travel in terms of sustainability, but there are some key advantages to skiers in letting the train take the strain.

Increasing charges for skis and luggage v No charges for skis or luggage

1.5-2 hour check-in v 30-minute check-in time

Long transfers from the airport v Railway stations in resort or a 15-30 minute taxi or bus ride away

Instead of moving from airport queue to airport queue you can sit back, relax and enjoy the journey by train as the scenery glides by. By going overnight you can ski on the day you arrive and depart, giving you two extra days on the slopes.

City Night Line – Relatively undiscovered by the UK ski market, the City Night Line train is Austria’s answer to the Snow Train.

The resorts of Alpbach, Söll and Hopfgarten are easily accessible using the City Night Line. The journey times are as follows, with adult returns starting from £195. Outbound Depart London St. Pancras 16.02 Eurostar Arrive Paris-Nord 19.17 (change stations) Depart Paris-Est 20.20 City Night Line Arrive Wörgl 09.40

Inbound Depart Wörgl 20.31 City Night Line Arrive Paris-Est 09.23 Depart Paris-Nord 10.13 Eurostar Arrive London St. Pancras* 11.28

Then take a taxi: Worgl to Alpbach (30 mins; €40) Worgl to Soll (15 mins: €22) Worgl to Hopfgarten (15 mins: €22)

Söll Part of the Ski Welt circus, Austria’s largest connected ski area, the resort of Söll has access to over 270km of varied and interesting slopes. Located between the majestic Wilder Kaiser mountains and the Kitzbüheler Alps, the pretty resort offers great value for money, is a popular choice for Brits, with a lively après-ski scene and has top winter wonderland activities for all to enjoy.

How much? A “White Weeks” package at the 3* Hotel Tulpe in January* starts from €570 per person for 7 nights on half board, including a 6 day ski pass Wilder Kaiser – Brixental. (* 8 – 21 Jan 2011). More packages and offers are available at www.wilderkaiser.info

Hopfgarten-Kelchsau-Itter Situated at the foot of the Hohe Salve, the resort of Hopfgarten is located in the heart of the Ski Welt, which has recently been awarded the TOP resort award by the Skiresort Service International. Hopfgarten is Söll’s quieter neighbour, boasting a a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and traditional Tirolean charm.

How much? 7 nights in 3* accommodation starts from € 544,50 per person on half board, including a 6 day ski pass. To book email hopfgarten@hohe-salve.com or call 0043 5335 2322

Alpbach Highly regarded as one of Austria’s most picturesque villages, the charming village of Alpbach is a true winter wonderland and a top choice for families, beginners and intermediates. A wide range of non-ski activities are on offer too, from snowshoeing to sleigh rides and tobogganing. How much? 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Böglerhof in Alpbach starts from €790 per person on half board, including a 6 day Alpbachtal ski pass and weekly activity programme. For more information visit www.boeglerhof.at.

St Anton Extensive and varied slopes, breathtaking scenery, reliable snow, a bustling village atmosphere and some of the best après-ski in the Alps – what more do you want from a resort that has it all! Located in the western part of the Tirol region, St Anton is regarded as one of the top European resorts and it just keeps getting better.

The full daytime journey details to St Anton are as follows: Outbound Depart London St. Pancras 06.22 Eurostar Arrive Paris-Nord 09.47 (change stations) Depart Paris-Est 10.24 TGV Arrive Zurich 15.00 Have a meal at Zurich station Depart Zurich 16.40 Railjet Arrive St Anton am Arlberg 18.57

Inbound Depart St Anton am Arlberg 09.01 EuroCity Arrive Zurich 11.20 Depart Zurich 13.02 TGV Arrive Paris-Est 17.34 Depart Paris-Nord 19.13 Eurostar Arrive London St. Pancras* 20.34 How much? Adult returns start from £195, child returns start from £153. Stay at the centrally located 3* Hotel Ehrenreich in St Anton for 7 nights on half board, with prices starting from €665 per person. To book call 0043 5446 2353.

For more information about train travel to the Alps visit www.snowcarbon.co.uk For more information on the Tirol region – www.visittirol.co.uk

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Bavarian Forest National Park Celebrates 40th Birthday

30/09/201006/03/2017 by Charlotte J

The Bavarian Forest National Park, the oldest National Park in Germany, will celebrate its 40th birthday this year with a range of events and the active support of its National Park Partners. The 76 Partners – hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and self catering accommodation providers – work with the Bavarian Forest National Park to provide holidays in harmony with nature right through the year. One of these is ‘Bavarian Forest Holidays’ in Bayerisch Eisenstein, whose English owners came to the Bavarian Forest from England in 2004.

More and more English speaking international visitors are making their way to the Bavarian Forest – thanks to the marketing activities of Margaret Leach and Martin Holborow who have also designed their 9 holiday apartments
(8 with 5 stars and 1 with 4 stars, awarded by the German Tourism Association) to specifically meet the needs of international guests.

The National Park, which includes the largest area of forested wilderness between the Atlantic and the Urals, offers opportunities for peaceful walking and cycling as well as seeing rare indigenous wildlife such as lynx, wolves, brown bears and capercaillie in vast enclosures in the forest. The National Park visitor centres also provide education and
entertainment related to the National Park. The Bavarian Forest National Park also directly borders the Sumava National Park in Czech Republic, providing access to nearly 100,000 hectares of protected nature.

The National Park Partners offer quality accommodation and comprehensive information on the area to their visitors. They make an important contribution to sustainable tourism and exceed the usual criteria for eco-friendliness and quality. All are passionate supporters of the motto of the National Park ‘Let nature be nature’. Once they have qualified to become
Partners they are obliged to attend regular briefing sessions and hikes in the National Park in order to keep their knowledge up to date.

This year the Bavarian Forest National park celebrates its 40th birthday with many events during the year and a major celebration on 9th-10th October in the Lusen National Park Centre.

For more information on Bavarian Forest Holidays visit Forest Holidays.

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Spa & Shroom? A Unique Holiday Package at Latvia’s Amber Spa

01/09/201006/03/2017 by Charlotte J

I recently wrote about the use of amber in both Lithuania and Latvia, so I was excited to hear the latest news from Latvia’s Amber Spa in Riga… Spa and shroom? An unlikely combination unless you are a guest at this Amber Spa Boutique Hotel! Mushroom picking is a favourite Latvian pastime so the boutique hotel has organised a special spa and shroom package for the autumnal mushroom season, making use of the gorgeous pine woods surrounding the spa in Jurmala.

The special two night package for £395 per person includes two nights accommodation in a double room with breakfast, dinner in the hotel’s My Life restaurant, which serves a selection of traditional and homemade dishes alongside contemporary international cuisine, a mushroom picking tour and a traditional Russian Banya experience.

Take in the natural beauty Jurmala has to offer, with a guided mushroom picking tour through the local forests. Then, indulge yourself in one of Latvia’s other favourite pastimes with a traditional Russian Banya experience in Amber Spa’s deluxe Russian Banya. You will also be treated to a Banya besom massage ritual and Banya Detox De-Stress Treatment.

When not alternating between the sauna and plunge pool in the Banya, enjoy the fruits (or rather fungi) of your labour with a specially prepared meal that will include your hand picked mushrooms to be served in the Banya. No need to dress up for dinner, your bathrobe will be just fine! This really is my kind of place!

If you can tear yourself away from the spa (I’m not convinced you’ll be able to!) you can also enjoy the delights of the capital with a day trip to Riga. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, home to one of the world’s largest and best preserved assemblages of Art Nouveau buildings. Then spend some time indulging in cafes, shops and markets and get the latest European fashions at Berga Bazars, built at the turn of the century.

The Spa and Mushroom Picking Package includes:

2 Nights in a Studio Suite Room (inc. breakfast)
Dinner in My Life Restaurant (ex. drinks)
Mushroom picking
Banya Detox De-Stress Treatment
Banya besom massage ritual
Dinner in banya (ex. alcohol)
Swimming pool and Gym facilities
Aqua aerobic, personal training studio, group class studio
10% discount in “Amber SPA & Beauty”
(Package valid until 12 September 2010)

To book contact Amber Spa on email: info@amberspahotel.lv
For further information about Amber SPA Boutique Hotel and special packages visit www.amberspahotel.lv

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Nights in Ljubljana Old Town

03/08/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Nights in Ljubljana Old Town is a mini festival closing the summer in Ljubljana Old Town festival and symbolically concluding Ljubljana’s summer event season. Taking place between 24th and 28th August, it traditionally features outdoor concerts accompanied by a diverse mixture of other cultural and entertainment events taking place in the streets and squares of the old part of the city centre. Entrance is free so if you find yourself in Ljubljana at the end of August, make sure you take full advantage of the festivities.

For more information about Ljubljana and the city’s events go to www.visitljubljana.si

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Why Cupid Would Choose Croatia

26/07/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Croatia has a lot to offer tourists seeking all manner of escapes, but being one of the most picturesque countries in the world, it is an ideal place for a romantic holiday. Here’s a few reasons why…

Oysters
We all know oysters are believed to have aphrodisiac properties. Ston on the Pelješac Peninsula has hosted oyster farms since Roman times and has a solid reputation for the best oysters in Croatia. It is also the only place where the Ostrea Edulis variety is found. Smaller than its Atlantic counterpart, it is served open on its flat side, and the meat is firmer and more richly flavoured. Ston is also on the revered Pelješac wine trail so order a bottle of the local Postup and Dingač as well, and then walk it off along the secluded sandy Divna beach to the north of the town.

Scenic
Take a scenic boat ride across the harbour from a jetty outside the former Maraska (cherry) liqueur building to Zadar’s Old Town with the Barkarjoli (boatmen) of Zadar who have rowed passengers across this stretch of water since the 12th century. Stroll along the waterfront listening to the rhythms of the sea play out on Zadar’s mesmerising Sea Organ, eerily like that of mating whales. Take in the city’s famous sunsets – Hitchcock declared these most beautiful he’d seen – and enjoy the unique ‘Greeting to the Sun’ installation that projects UV light (stored during the day) into the evening sky.

007 Style
Woo her by taking a water taxi from the airport to the sumptuous, sunken champagne bar of Le Meridien Lav, Split; a luxury hotel with island views. Alternatively check into one of several romantic city centre hotels, such as the Hotel Vestibul Palace and Hotel Peristil, both built within the walls of the famous Diocletian’s Palace. Stroll the city’s Riva (waterfront), stopping off at one of the many cafés for a spot of people watching.

Sweetheart’s Token
Give the traditional sweetheart’s token: Zagreb’s licitar (gingerbread heart) is a cookie made from honeyed pastry dyed red and colourfully decorated which is traditionally presented to one’s beloved. Croatia’s little known, yet stylish capital of Zagreb is only a 2 hour flight from London. This central European city break will take your breath away with its dazzling architecture and city parks, plus a softer, more bohemian side of coffeehouses, cake shops and street performers. Its oldest parts Gradec and Kaptol are some of the most beautiful and best preserved quarters in Europe. The quirky, cobbled Upper Town is connected to the buzzing Lower Town by funicular. The exciting new ‘MSU’ or Museum of Contemporary Art which opened in late 2009 is a sure way to an art-lover’s heart. www.msu.hr

Eternal Warmth
Warm the cockles of her heart on the elegant Opatija Riviera which is known for its micro-climate (Austrian ladies used to visit to enjoy the milder temperatures). It is now one of Croatia’s foremost spa centres with many wellness spas offering treatments costing 30% less than in neighbouring countries such as Italy. The lungomare (seafront promenade) stretches for 12km from nearby Lovran to the old fishing village of Volosko. Book a table at Plavi Podrum seafood restaurant and ask the country’s most famous sommelier about Croatia’s award-winning wines.

Pop The Question
Spend a weekend in Dubrovnik, one of the world’s most romantic medieval cities and do as my brother-in-law did and ask your sweetheart to marry you. Walk the city ramparts (approx 1 hr) in an anti clockwise direction and take in the coastline or watch life unfold in the 15th century, honey coloured houses within the city walls. The cityscape is breathtaking with bell towers and terracotta rooftops set against the shimmering Adriatic to one side and mountains on the other. In July 2010 a new cable car launches that will ascend Mount Srd (which towers behind the city) in around 3 minutes to 405 metres above sea level. At the top is a viewing platform plus bar and restaurant with visibility of up to 60 kilometres on clear days. www.tzdubrovnik.hr

Discover the Heart-shaped Island
Galesnjak is an uninhabited island in the Zadarski Kanal between Zadar and the Island of Pasman is the ultimate lovers’ hideaway.

Take the Plunge
The Kempinski Hotel Adriatic in Savudrija, Istria (the appropriately heart-shaped peninsula in Croatia’s north-west) is a five-star luxury coastal resort beside beautiful Adriatic Sea complete with its own Wedding Chapel! What more do you need?

For more information about Croatia telephone the Croatian National Tourist Office, 020 8563 7979 or visit the website www.croatia.hr

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Upland Escapes to Slovenia & Austria

23/07/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Award-winning Upland Escapes offers over 40 years of combined experience in seeking out the very best and most rewarding walking in a range of landscapes. Whichever Upland Escape you choose, you can rely on finding wild, untouched uplands, wild flowers and animals and rural, rustic landscapes, allowing you and your family to really get away from it all. All Upland Escapes walking holidays are single-centre based in delightful B&B’s, local village houses, and even cave houses, allowing you to become fully immersed into local life.

You are free to walk as much or as little as you wish and there are no set itineraries, which means that our holidays are truly unique and flexible, making them ideal for families. What’s more, each Upland destination receives full support from an English-speaking Upland Manager, available 24 hours a day, on hand to provide guided walks or advice and tips to allow you to discover the area for yourself. Combining fresh mountain air with an array of activities to seek and discover, presents the perfect holiday option to revitalise the body and mind.

Upland Escapes offer walking holidays in a number of stunning European upland destinations that include the Julian Alps in Slovenia, and the Carinthian Alps in Austria.

The Julian Alps, Slovenia
In the little known corner of the European Alps of Slovenia, sits the astonishingly picturesque Julian Alps. These alps are a stunning limestone mountain range, home to Slovenia’s only National Park. This area provides spectacular scenery with evocative evidence of the fierce struggles between Austrian and Italian troops in World War One. The Julian Alps is a protected region that is home to deer, boar, wolves, and even brown bears. Wooded slopes lead down to deep gorges and ravines, where turquoise rivers, such as the pristine Soca, have carved out beautiful waterfalls and caves.

Culture
For culture, the small market town of Kobarid is home to an award-winning museum focusing on the battles of the Isonzo/Soca front between the Italians and the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. The Soca river is superb for organised activities such as white-water rafting, canoeing and canyoning. It is also possible to fish for marbled trout or spend a day exploring the area by mountain bike. With a hire car, take the car-train from Most na Soci to Bohinjska Bistrica, to visit the beautiful lakes of Bled and Bohinj for the day. A drive to the Soca valley takes your breath away. Venture over the border and you could spend the day in the lovely Italian town of Cividales, with its medieval centre, Celtic hypogeum and 15th Century cathedral.

Food
In the pretty town of Kobarid, next to the Soca River sits the town-based escape which takes the form of an attractive apartment in the centre of the town. The town itself has a quiet charm and several shops to buy locally-made produce such as honey, cheeses and excellent ice-cream. Some of the restaurants in and around Kobarid are rated among the best in Slovenia. For more rustic cuisine, there is great gnocchi to sample at Dreznicas Inn, and in Kosec, your host can offer delicious home-grown dishes including lamb, local cheeses and seasonal vegetables fresh from her garden. Regional cuisine includes Soca trout, venison, mountain curd cheese and cured hams. The beer is excellent and there are good red wines from the nearby Brda Hills.

When to go: July/August summer holiday
Average high: 26 degrees
Prices: Start from £290.00 pp for 3 nights including accommodation, hire car, self-guided walks and local Manager support. From £425 pp for 3 nights with additional organised walks and lavish packed lunches.
Discounts: Under 2s go free / Groups of 6 or more – one person in the party gets a free holiday (conditions apply).
No price hikes during school holiday time

The Carinthian Alps, Austria
This region is Austria’s most southernmost and sunniest spot as the river Gail carves its way down the Lesachtal, before joining the Danube. The valley is bounded by limestone summits which form the Italian borders and to the north sit the Lienz Dolomites where traditional ways of life, particularly farming, still survive to this day. In this area, the hay surrounding hillside villages are still cut by hand in August. You can explore the area by taking a walk through your village of St Jakob, with its traditional wooden barns and tall gothic church, before setting out to see working water-mills and the pilgrim church at Maria Luggau. The locals cherish their village and at it’s heart, you stay with the Ainetter family who have been looking after wearing travellers for generations. Less than 15 minutes from St Jakob, there are shops, restaurants and two swimming pools at the nearby town of Kotschach-Mauthen. Cycle-hire is available from here too, as are water sports including kayaking and rafting for the more adventurous.

Culture
Kotschach-Mauthen has two fine gothic churches and a museum dedicated to World War I fighting that took place nearby. Bicycles can be hired, which is an excellent way to explore the area and with a hire car, you can visit charming Lienz, with its town museum and 15th Century fresco cycle. Excavations are still taking place in Roman Lienz, presenting opportunity to explore and step back in time.

Food & Drink
At the Gasthof, Monika serves venison and boar as well as Carinthian kasnudeln; pasta parcels enclosing a variety of fillings. The Austrian approach to food tends to the hearty, but there are always varied salads available alongside mixed grills and sausages. Carinthias fruit trees provide fillings for all kinds of tarts and strudels. Pleasant wines are produced in the east of the region.

When to go: July/August summer holiday
Average high: 27 degrees
Prices: Start from £290.00 pp for 3 nights including B&B accommodation, hire car, self-guided walks and local Manager support. From £425 pp for 3 nights with additional organised walks and lavish packed lunches.
Discounts: Under 2s go free / Groups of 6 or more – one person in the party gets a free holiday (conditions apply).
No price hikes during school holiday time

For more information visit www.uplandescapes.com

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The Island – The Floating Dining Room at Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg

15/07/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

For those seeking rest as well as those who are romantics, a private refuge of a very special kind is awaiting them this summer in form of a green island at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg. Floating in the inner harbor of the Mittelland canal, The Island can be booked as a one-of-a-kind destination for an outing for two to four persons from June to September. Delicately arranged food and champagne put a perfect finish to the excursion. The island arrangements cost from 120 euros to 395 Euros for each person.

The crossing to the floating island itself is an adventure. On board a nostalgic mahogany motorboat made by the traditional Swiss boat builder Pedrazzini, hailing from the 1940s, island guests are greeted by their personal skipper with a glass of champagne. The boat casts off from the hotel’s own pier at the floating outside pool of The Ritz-Carlton. From there, an expedition trip commences that opens up completely new vistas on the buildings along the inner harbor for the passengers. The skipper, meanwhile, explains a few of the intriguing factual details on both the park landscape of the Autostadt and the impressive backdrop of the landmarked VW power station.

After a round tour of the Autostadt, the skipper pilots the boat toward the actual goal in the inner harbor: the largest of the four artificial islands, measuring 13 x 13 meters. On the green float with a surface of more than 160 square meters, three willows arch over a wooden terrace at ground level, furnishing ample shade even on sunny days. Being solidly fixed in the inner harbor, the island hardly moves and is eminently suited for safely stepping on it and spending some time there. Upon the boat’s arrival at the island, a butler receives the guests and places them at a stylishly set teakwood table. There is a choice of four different arrangements for the individual menu depending on the time of day. Two champagne breakfasts are offered for a relaxing morning break—one can pick breakfast either with or without caviar. The Island Tea arrangement is perfect for a private afternoon tea, letting no wish go unfulfilled, with premium loose leaf teas and champagne, freshly baked scones, savory delicacies and the finest patisserie.

The Riviera Dinner rounds off the island experience to perfection. With a vista on the brightly illuminated Autostadt and The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, in the evening, the sunset can be thoroughly enjoyed while being served an exclusive three-course dinner of select seafood such as lobster, mussels and oysters, as well as a pitcher of premium champagne.

With the floating island group, a new staging evolved as part of the Autostadt’s Four Season concept, connecting nature in the park with technology and culture in an artistic fashion. Each island is planted with one of four tree species each: alder, willow, water chestnut and pine; this way, the greenery of the park continues and is extended to the water. Connected to the foundation at the bottom of the inner harbor, the three smaller island plateaus, measuring 7 x 7 meters each, are allowed to drift freely and move with the rhythm of the wind within a radius of around twenty meters. In conjunction with the larger island, a picture of living movement emerges, which integrates the cuisine of The Ritz-Carlton by means of the green dining room.

Reservations for all island arrangements are accepted by telephone or email: Tel +49 5361 607091 ; email ccr.wolfsburg@ritzcarlton.com

About The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg

The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg has 174 rooms and suites and is located in the centre of Autostadt, the world’s first custom-designed celebration of automotive innovation encompassing architectural originality, scientific advancement, artistic inspiration and lifestyle aspiration. With its impressive open circle architecture, The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg has won numerous awards. It offers nine conference rooms, the restaurants Aqua – honored with three Michelin Stars – The Grill, Hafenterrasse and the Newman’s Bar as well as the Kraftwerk spa with its floating open air pool. More than six hundred works of art, with a focus on photography, shape the ambience of the hotel, as do the modern-classic furnishings by renowned French interior designer Andrée Putman. The hotel is just an hour from Berlin or Hamburg by ICE high-speed train. Additional information and reservations may be obtained by calling +49-5361-607000, toll-free within the USA or Canada at (800) 241 3333, toll-free from the UK on 0800 234 000, or at www.ritzcarlton.com/wolfsburg.

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Highlights from Austria’s Idyllic Ischgl

13/07/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

Idyllic Ischgl, located in the Austrian Tyrol, is renowned for its ski slopes and apres-ski nightlife. However, it also makes an ideal destination for a luxury summer holiday. The picturesque mountain backdrop, with valleys and waterfalls, is the perfect place for adrenaline junkies, whether you love mountain biking, hiking, rafting or canyoning. The best bit? There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a little pampering at the numerous spas and luxury hotels. Check out the highlights below…

Traditional Music in the Mountains

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For more information about Ischgl visit www.paznaun-ischgl.com

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Travel with Unknown Tours to Serbia

09/07/201022/10/2016 by Charlotte J

In a few weeks I am off to make my first visit to Serbia, so I was excited to hear that this is now easier than ever before because this year Travel the Unknown launched tours to Serbia.

Once in the news for the wrong reasons, Serbia is looking forward to a new era, but the country still sees little in the way of tourists. Situated in the heart of the Balkans, Serbia stretches across two geographic and cultural regions of Europe. As a result the Serbian lands formed the crossroads for various past civilisations (Roman, Medieval, Hungarian, Austrian and Ottoman) so it has vast architectural, religious and artistic heritage. No less than 26 nationalities still live in Serbia, each of them preserving their customs and folklore.

Visitors will discover an unbelievable wealth of historical monuments, churches and Orthodox monasteries in Serbia. The north of the country is characterised by Central-European lowlands with fields and meadows, while the south and central parts are mostly mountainous. While cutting a swathe through the middle is the mighty Danube River.

Travel the Unknown’s seven-night Devils Town & The Danube tour starts in Belgrade and takes in southern Serbia. Explore the bizarre landscape of red steep peaks in Devil’s Town, drink with locals in the rustic wine cellars of Rajac, discover the café culture of Belgrade, take a dip in the Danube, stay overnight in a Studenica monastery and experience a homestay in Tekija. The tour costs £1,400 including return flights to Belgrade, accommodation, ground transport, some meals, entrance fees to sites and a contribution to Climate Care to offset emissions.

Alternatively the operator’s four-day Serbia’s Secret North tour journeys through Serbia’s semi-autonomous northern province of Vojvodina which is vastly different from the south. Explore wide flatlands and plains, visit picturesque villages, discover the fairytale city Novi Stad and admire the architectural and cultural influences of the Austro-Hungarian Empire throughout this region. Price is £900 including return flights to Belgrade, accommodation, ground transport, some meals, entrance fees to sites and a contribution to Climate Care to offset emissions

For further information visit www.traveltheunknown.com or telephone 0845 053 0352