radical travel busabout europe 2009 brochure

, AA

Deep Celtic LoveUp close and personal

with sexy Scotland and

wild Ireland

Island HoppingParty your way around

Croatia & Greece

Hop-On Hop-Off31 Destinations, 9 Countries,

1 pass... do it your way

Hungry forAdventure?Feast on Eastern Europe

FORINDEPENDENTTRAVELLERS

plus SCOTLAND, IRELAND,

ENGLAND, WALES & N.AFRICA

Welcome to the 2009 Season -better than ever!

04 DEALSCheck out a full list of our deals

to fi nd out how far you can get

on your buck (we bet it’s further

than you thought).

28 TASTE OF EUROPE‘It tastes just like chicken’.

Not in our destinations. Here

is the choice of the culinary

treats awaiting you on the

traveller’s trail.

42 GOING GREENWe love the world! It gives us

great adventures, beautiful

places & more people than we

could ever hope to meet. Find

out what we give back and how

you can help.

22 WOW MOMENTSSometimes you just have to

stop, stand and look wide-eyed

with mouth agape. These are

our Guides’ WOW moments.

36 FESTIVALSFrom the cool to the quirky.

Europe boasts some incredible

festivals. Find out the best

places to party with the

locals here.

43 T&C’sNot the most exciting section

we’ve got but you know you’ve

got to have a read. So make

yourself a cuppa and cast your

eye over them.

BUSABOUT

EASTERN TREKKER

HAGGiS ADVENTURES

SHAMROCKER ADVENTURES

02

BUSABOUT 05-21

EASTERN TREKKER 23-27

HAGGiS ADVENTURES 29-35

SHAMROCKER ADVENTURES 37-41

CONTENTS

TRIPS & TOURS

FAB FEATURES

Busabout Explorer is all about

fl exible travel. Designed exclusively

for backpackers and independent

travellers it offers a Hop-on Hop-off

style travel network around Europe,

covering 31 destinations in 9

countries. Take your time, create

your own trip and savour each

personal moment.

Busabout Adventures offer

ground-breaking mini adventures

perfect for extending your Explorer

experience or as stand alone trips

in their own right. Including island

hopping, short breaks & overland

truck trips in Europe and North

Africa & ranging from three days to

two weeks, these are fantastic travel

options for anyone after a trip with

a difference.

Our brochure is fi lled with

trips for people who, like us,

want big experiences on little

budgets. Want to experience

Europe, North Africa, the UK

and Ireland and get to know

its diverse countries, people

and traditions for yourself?

Then this is your brochure.

Our collective shares an aim:

to make your cash stretch as

far as possible by arming you

with excellent guides, a choice

of destinations and travel

styles and everything you

need to know to make this

your most exciting trip yet.

Radical Travel is a collective of four leading travel companies offering independent travellers the widest choice of quality and value for money travel experiences across Europe.

Eastern Trekker has pioneered travel

in Eastern Europe for independent

travellers. Adventures with a cool

charming mix of jumping vibrant

cities, and off the beaten track

gems to excite and experience.

From Dracula’s Castle to the coast

of Croatia, Eastern Europe is alive,

undiscovered and waiting.

HAGGiS Adventures have been

running incredible trips around

Scotland, England & Wales for

over 15 years. Explore these sexy

countries in a wee yellow bus with

your local guide, taking in castles,

lochs, valleys, coastlines and even

a hairy Highland coo!

Shamrocker Adventures trips are

drenched in the history and legends

of the Emerald Isle. Experience all the

Irish Craic as you discover the South

and journey over the border to the

North with your local Irish guide -

Wild, Authentic & Irish.

BOOK & GOGUARANTEE

We’ll never ever cancel your

trip and don’t operate a

minimum numbers policy.

When you book any of our

trips you are absolutely

guaranteed to go.

03

4 GREAT WAYS TO DISCOVER EUROPE

BE PART OF IT

As diverse as the trips within

these pages are, they’re all

designed for people with itchy

feet, keen to discover our parts

of the world, meet tons of people

and have an awesome time

along the way. Whether you’re

travelling solo or in a group, for

the fi rst time or with a well used

guidebook, all the travel options

detailed here will help you stretch

your budget and arm you with

local knowledge, giving you the

time and freedom to create your

own European experience.

We live travel. It’s the reason we get up in the morning

and what we talk about in the pub after work. We

believe you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great

experience and that, armed with a bit of local knowledge,

you can stretch your time and dollars further.

We also believe that travel shouldn’t be stressful and that

choice and fl exibility don’t have to mean getting dumped

in a city and having no one to help you out.

Our type of travel, whilst unashamedly great fun, treats

the cultural understanding of the countries in which

we travel with the utmost importance. On some of our

trips we’ll show you around, on others you’ll discover

the destinations for yourselves. Either way we’re here to

make sure you have the best experience possible.

SEE YOU ON THE ROAD!

04

LOOK OUT FOR THIS TAG ON QUALIFYING TRIPS

Our little collective shares a common aim: to make your cash stretch as far as possible by arming you with excellent guides, a choice of destinations and a choice of travel styles. It’s an admirable mission but one which is made slightly easier by our multi-trip, mates’ rates and student discounts.

If you are not covered by any of the discounts below then do not despair: keep your bookmark on the Special Offers section of our websites for current promotions.

BUY TWO OR MORE QUALIFYING TRIPS TOGETHER & RECEIVE 10% OFF THE TOTAL*

TIME RICH,CASH POOR?

STUDENTS, OURISIC / ISE CARD HOLDER DISCOUNT WILL HELP YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET STRETCH THAT LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

PLUS ALL RADICAL MULTI BUY DEALS AND GROUP DISCOUNTS ARE APPLICABLE ON TOP OF THE STUDENT DISCOUNT.

SAVE$$$S

*Radical Deals Multi-trip saving of 10% applies to any of the qualifying products listed above. Two or

more different qualifying trips must be booked simultaneously by a single individual to qualify for the

multi-trip discount. The 10% discount only applies to qualifying products. Discount is valid against

Student prices on qualifying trips. Not valid with any other promotion/discount. Cancellation charges

will be adjusted to incorporate any multi-trip discounts previously given. Radical Deals discount only

applies to base trip price, not to optional upgrades or supplements.

5 DAY CELTIC ROCKER

7 DAY ALL IRELAND ROCKER

9 DAY CLASSIC RHAPSODY TREK

7 DAY RHAPSODY TREK

7 DAY BOHEMIAN TREK

EXPLORER

FLEXITRIP

ALL FLEXIROUTES

GREECE4 ISLAND FLEXI-HOPPER

ITALY3 DAY ITALIAN ADVENTURE

SPAIN & PORTUGAL7 DAY IBERIAN ADVENTURE

EGYPT11 DAY ONE-WAY EGYPT

SCOTLAND5 DAY COMPASS BUSTER

7 DAY ISLAND EXPLORER

ENGLAND & WALES5 DAY WELSH EXPLORER

5 DAY CORNWALL CRUSADER

SEE MORE, SAVE MORE.3 WAYS TO

SAVE

AWESOME FOURSOMEOUR GROUP OF FOUR DISCOUNT MEANS A 5% SAVING PER PERSON WHEN FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE BOOK AT THE SAME TIME ON THE SAME TOUR.

SAVE 10% FOR 10 TRAVEL RADICAL WITH 10 FRIENDS BOOKED ON THE SAME TOUR AT THE SAME TIME AND EVERYONE SAVES 10%

* ‘Radical Deals’ and ‘Mates’ Rates’ discounts cannot be combined. ‘Mates’ Rates’ discounts

valid on all trips in this brochure. ‘Mates’ Rates’ discounts only apply to base tour prices,

not to optional upgrades or supplements. Please see Terms & Conditions.

SAVE10%*

LOOK OUT FOR THIS TAG

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%

SAVE5%*

* Valid ISIC / ISE card must be

presented on fi rst day of travel.

(In Tirol)

NON-COMPULSORYDAY STOP

COMPULSORYOVERNIGHT STOP

PHOTO STOP

05

HASSLE-FREE,

INDEPENDENT

TRAVELNever be dumped on your own

in the middle of a city again –

use our door-to-door service*

instead! Your Busabout Driver

will drop you as close as possible

to our pick-up point hostels so

you just carry your bag inside

rather than having to lug it

across town. Your bag gets

locked up underneath the bus

while you travel, so no need to

stress about your possessions

during the day. * Limited exceptions

TRAVEL BUDDIESBe a part of our Busabout

Explorer Network in 2009. Find

travel buddies, bump into mates

on the road or change your

route to go see that hot guy you

met in Berlin. It’s about who you

make the journey with as much

as where you go. Whether you

start your Busabout trip on your

own, as a couple or in a group,

you’ll meet loads of people

along the way.

CHOOSE HOW TO

SPEND YOUR TIME

AND MONEYIf you want to party in Berlin or

check out the Paris museums,

sunbathe on a Mediterranean

beach or take a hike in the

Alps, we can help you out. Our

On-Board Guides are there to

answer your questions, so use

them as much as you want.

And before you depart you’ll

fi nd heaps of useful details and

suggestions on the Busabout

website, from destination guides

to traveller’s tales.

GETTING STARTEDWhether you’ve already got a

route in mind or just know you

want to travel in Europe, check

out all your options here or

online. We’re all about choice

and fl exibility when you travel

and making the planning of

your trip really easy. If this

sounds like your idea of an

awesome European experience,

read on!



PHOTO STOP

FULLY FLEXIBLE FREEDOMOur Busabout Explorer Network’s unique mix of independence and security lets you travel Europe at your own pace. We’ve got the coaches, the On-Board Guide and Driver but, unlike a tour, you choose where you go and how long you travel for.

Our network covers all the major European destinations, plus some

of our hidden away favourites (see page 11). Choose to make

your own map with a FLEXITRIP pass (page 9) or choose our set

itineraries with the FLEXIROUTES (pages 10-12). Go where you

want and when you want, but above all travel at your own pace and

make up your own mind – it’s your adventure.

06

THE IDEAL TRAVELLING COMPANION! Get a FREE special edition 200 page

guide book to help you get around*. (* with Flexitrips & Flexiroutes - issued on fi rst day of travel).

WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE DO,

FROM OUR BELOVED BIG BLUE

BUSES TO OUR AWESOME CREW.

Check out all our

Lonely Planet

content at

www.busabout.com/explorer

We aim to let you travel when and where

you want, but it’s worth bearing in mind

that our network can get pretty busy.

Therefore so we recommend booking

your seats at least two weeks (earlier

for festivals) in advance if you can’t be

fl exible about your dates. That said, you

can make changes up to 24 hrs before

you travel so if there’s space on the bus,

you’re more than welcome on board.

Plus, check out Chatabout, our online

traveller forum. Post a question or

browse the most recent conversations

to fi nd all the best tips from people

who have travelled and are travelling

on Busabout.

Flexibility is what we look for when we travel and we’ve

built this in to all aspects of Busabout. As soon as you buy

a Busabout trip, you can login to your very own online

planning website: MyBusabout. From

here you can check availability, book

and cancel buses free of charge. You

can also reserve yourself a bed (no

booking fees, just a 10% deposit) and

fi nd out pick-up point times.

Also available online

> Lonely Planet destination guides

> Route planner

> Tips on saving time and money

> The latest news on European festivals and events

> Blogs from the crew

Once you have bought your pass

go to www.mybusabout.com and

download a step-by-step guide to

planning your trip

PERSONALISED

ATTENTION

Travelling on Busabout

means that you do the

discovering while our

awesome On-Board Guides

are there to help you make

the most of your trip. Want to

know about that tiny village

just south of Prague or which

metro line to take for the

Eiffel Tower? Just ask your

On-Board Guide and you’ll

get all the low-down you

need for your own tailor-

made adventure.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Our Guides and Drivers are

all independent travellers

who are fanatical about

Europe and keen to share

their knowledge and

experience with you. It’s

not all historical sites and

culture – our Guides will give

you their own top tips about

where to party, the best little

family-run restaurant in

town and where to go for live

music. They’ve been there

and tried it all so they’ve

got plenty of suggestions,

whatever you’re looking for.

SAVE YOUR TIME

AND MONEY

Whether you want to go

sight-seeing, hire a bike or

fi nd out how to get around

by public transport – a

wealth of information is

just a question away. We

aim to stretch your time

and money as far as it will

go; you don’t need to have

a huge bank balance to get

the most out

of Europe.

GUIDES’ WOW MOMENTSSEE PAGE 22

07

Finding

accommodation to

match your needs

is important when you’re on the road.

Every year we personally pick out the

best value accommodation in each of

our destinations - the hard work’s been

done for you!

Most Busabout-recommended

accommodations are centrally

located and are friendly, clean

hostels with great facilities. Where

a city doesn’t have a great value

backpacker accommodation, we

use awesome camping villages,

boasting pools, great bars,

restaurants and frequent links to

the city centre.

If you fancy a bit more luxury or

privacy, then we also recommend

a range of 2 and 3 star hotels in

most destinations which are usually

just a short walk or bus/tram ride

from the pick-up point.

Booking online through

MyBusabout, you can choose the

type of room to suit your budget,

from larger dorms to private

ensuite rooms. Budget about

¤20-¤30 per night for a dorm bed.

Save ¤¤¤s - book via MyBusabout

with no booking fees.

Use our fantastic door-to-door

service by booking a bed at our

pick-up point recommended

accommodation – we have at least

one in every city. We get the bus as

close to the front door as humanly

possible, meaning a hassle free

arrival into the city for you.

HOSTELSVIENNA A fantastic hostel with friendly, helpful staff and

excellent facilities. They’ve got a self-catering kitchen, WiFi,

a soundproofed bar, cable TV, common areas and clean,

bright, spacious bedrooms. You’ll get a free drink and city

map when you arrive. Their 24hr reception and security

lockers mean that you don’t need to worry about your

gear when you’re out drinking in Bermudadreieck.

CAMPING VILLAGESLAUTERBRUNNEN If being surrounded by mountains and

glaciers isn’t enough for you, then you’ll be blown away

by the welcome. Choose from chalets, caravans or the

hostel with private and dorm rooms both available. Make

the most of the great restaurant, bar, mini-supermarket

and self-catering kitchen before you head out to the

mountains. Indulge in the local adventure sports or

take a 15 minute train ride into Interlaken.

2 and 3★ HOTELSPARIS This 2 star hotel has private and dorm rooms and

good facilities. It’s an iconically Parisian building, perfectly

located in Montmartre and with a free French breakfast to

get you going in the morning, it’s a great base to explore

the city from. The Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge are on

your doorstep and the Eiffel Tower, Seine, Louvre and

more are all just a short metro ride away.

Here is a selection of typical accommodation options.

1st class is standard on Busabout. We have a modern

fl eet of air-conditioned coaches – they’ve got reclining

seats, plenty of leg room and a secure lock-up for your

bags. Watch a fi lm, chat to your mates, listen to some

tunes or watch the world go by through our huge tinted

panoramic windows.

You don’t just get choice and fl exibility off the bus – you

get it on-board too. Each bus has its own entertainment

system, offering on-board movies and documentaries

plus many music channels. Plus for all you fl ashpackers

we have power points to charge all your electronic bits

‘n bobs.

SECURE LUGGAGE HOLD

BIG TINTED WINDOWS

RECLINING SEATS &PLENTY OF LEG ROOM

FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED

CEILING MOUNTEDMOVIE SCREENS

Plus plug your headphones

into our seat back audioentertainment system(available to buy onboard)

BUY LOCAL BRANDS of clothes,

toiletries and accessories to save cash

and weight. You’ll also fi nd big-name

brands in most chemists.

DON’T COMPROMISE ON

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU

– bring your straighteners and hairdryer

if you want to!

GOOD THINGS, SMALL

PACKAGES. Bring travel-size

appliances to save space and don’t

forget European plug-adaptors.

BACKPACK VS. WHEELIE

CASE – YOU DECIDE. If you use

our door-to-door hostel service a

wheelie case is just as practical as a

backpack. Go with what suits your style

of travelling & stick two fi ngers up at

anyone who tells you otherwise.

Don’t sacrifi ce all luxury

when you travel if you

don’t want to - check out

these tips from our female

Busabout crew instead.

NO BOOKING

FEES

08

Flexibility, choice and independence are what we’re all

about. Whether you choose to travel on one of our set

FLEXIROUTES or make your own map with a FLEXITRIP,

this is what we offer:

The ultimate fl exible travel option. Just choose where

you’d like to go, then buy your Flexitrip pass plus any

extra Flexistops to complete the trip. See page 09.

We’ve broken the network down into easy-to-use routes.

Some are ‘loops’ and some ‘one-way’ trips. They are a

great way to explore a particular region or to follow some

of our favourite trips. See page 10.

Surf the internet

(and the Busabout website) for

ideas on places you want to see

and things you want to do.

Decide whether the

Flexitrip or the Flexiroutes fi t best

with your travel plans and book

your trip.

>>> Look at our map and

circle the destinations you’d like to

discover.

After booking, log

into MyBusabout, create your own

password and start planning your trip.

Book your seats and accommodation

online - no booking fee.

Work out how much

time you have and your budget. Do

you want to make this one big trip or

break it into a few smaller ones?

Remember to leave

some time to explore the other

great Busabout Adventures featured

in this brochure.

Our accommodation

works out to be about ¤20-¤30

per person per night for shared

dorms. Allow around ¤20-¤30

per day for everything else.

> Start and fi nish anywhere you like

> Travel at your own pace

> Break up your FLEXITRIP or FLEXIROUTE –

make it into more than one trip

> Door to door pick-ups and drop-offs

> On-Board Guides who are full of local tips

> Awesome big blue luxury coaches

> Move on or stay put? Departures every 2nd day

We’ve got an every other day service running from May to

October, to and from every destination on our Busabout

Explorer network, allowing you all the time and fl exibility

you need to experience Europe at your own pace.

HOW DO I BOOK MY BUSES / ACCOMMODATION?Once you’ve bought your pass you’ll

get a client reference number. Log

onto MyBusabout, click on ‘Bought a

pass and want to sign up’ and create a

password then you can log in with your

client reference and password.

DO I HAVE TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?To guarantee your seat, book through

MyBusabout. If you’re not able to

be fl exible with your dates we’d

recommend you do this a couple of

weeks in advance. You can turn up

without a booking and if there’s space

you’re welcome onboard but we can’t

guarantee the bus won’t be full.

WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?You can change buses up to 24 hours

in advance at no extra cost. If you don’t

cancel a sector or don’t show up, you

can still travel that sector, but only on a

standby basis.

(In Tirol)



PHOTO STOP

Eastern TrekkerSee page 23-27

Croatia SailingSee page 16-17

Greek Island HoppingSee page 14-15

Italian AdventureSee page 19

Iberian AdventureSee page 18



PHOTO STOP

09

This year our London offi ce was full

to the brim with Ex-Busabouters.

Canadian Andrea (who did a FLEXITRIP

in 2007) was one of them.

(Andrea’s way, that is)

DAY 1 PARIS

On the Fat Tire Night Bicycle Tour I

saw the pink ferris wheel, the glass

pyramid entrance to the Louvre, and the

sparkling river Seine… the city of lights

is incredible after dark! Sipping red wine

under the Eiffel Tower with a baguette

and new friends was the perfect start to

my Busabout adventure.

DAY 2-5 AMSTERDAM & BERLIN

One night of Dutch debauchery and

then it was off to Berlin, where the

entire group did the pub crawl and

half of us made the walking tour the

next morning. When I had seen all

the history I could pack into two days,

particularly signifi cant in Berlin because

it’s so recent, I spent quality time with

the city’s surprisingly delicious kebabs.

DAY 6-8 PRAGUE

Prague was the city I most looked

forward to and it didn’t disappoint. After

a day at Prague Castle, our Busabout

Guide took us for a goulash dinner, to

a jazz bar in a 15th century building

and to the largest nightclub in Central

Europe. Leaving the club at dawn, we

had Charles Bridge all to ourselves for

the pink sunrise.

DAY 9-16 CESKY KRUMLOV

That’s right 8 whole days. I fell for this

medieval town where afternoons are

spent fl oating down the Vltava River in

tubes, strolling cobblestone streets with

ice cream, and sipping Pilsner Urquell in

pubs with a castle-view. After eight lazy

days, I decided it was either get on the

bus, or learn Czech and relocate. I left,

but will defi nitely return!

DAY 16-24 VIENNA, SALZBURG

& MUNICH

After two days in Salzburg with cold

ice caves and warm schnitzel, I ended

my tour at Oktoberfest: dancing on

tables to polka tunes, hoisting beer

steins, and thankfully I wore a big pair

of lederhosen so I could eat all the

bratwurst I wanted! I spent one fairytale

afternoon at Neuschwanstein Castle

before heading back into the beerhalls

to Prost! to my heart’s content. I

returned to London via Paris with a

beer belly and many new friends!

The FLEXITRIP pass is

designed to give you the

ultimate in fl exibility - so go

crazy drawing circles around

the destinations you have

always dreamed of visiting,

then join up the dots and

count up the stops.

A Flexistop is one travel day so, for

example, if you want to get from

Paris to Amsterdam that would

be one Flexistop. If instead you

fancy hopping off in Bruges (to

drink local beers and eat Belgian

chocolate) and then carry onto

Amsterdam another day, that’d take

2 Flexistops.

Build up on your base pass of 6

Flexistops by buying additional

stops before you leave or whilst

you’re on the road from your

On-Board Guide.

FLEXITRIP (6 STOPS) $699(STUDENTS $679)

EXTRA FLEXISTOP $79(STUDENTS $79)

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

OUR SERVICE TO YOU:

> Every 2nd day service

from May to October

> Stay as long as you like

in each destination

> Expert Guides on

all departures

> Change your travel days

as often as you like

> Book accommodation through

MyBusabout - no booking fees!

10

Whether you choose 1, 2 or 3 Loops or one of our One-Way

routes you can create your very own tour of Europe. No

matter where you end up travelling, the same great Busabout

service will be there for you.

> Every 2nd day service from May to October

> Stay as long as you like in each destination

> Expert Guides on all departures

> Change your travel days as often as you like

> Book accommodation through MyBusabout - no booking fees!

PICK THE BEST ROUTE FOR YOU...



(In Tirol)







PHOTO STOP



PHOTO STOP



PHOTO STOP

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

On all of the Loop

FLEXIROUTES you can

re-travel your loop as many times

as you like on a standby basis until

the end of the season.ON ALL FLEXIROUTES

Trip Duration Guide Days:

‘Pacing it’ is for those who have

lots of time on their hands and

want to do it all.

‘Racing it’ is for those who

are short of time and want to

see the main sites. (Minimum

recommended travel time)

NORTH LOOPStart & fi nish: Anywhere

11 Destinations

6 Countries

Pacing it: 3 weeks+

Racing it: 15 days

$829(STUDENTS $799)

SOUTH LOOPStart & fi nish: Anywhere

12 Destinations

5 Countries

Pacing it: 3 weeks+

Racing it: 15 days

$829(STUDENTS $799)

WEST LOOPStart & fi nish: Anywhere

12 Destinations

4 Countries

Pacing it: 4 weeks+

Racing it: 15 days

$829(STUDENTS $799)

PLUS If you buy a FLEXITRIP

or FLEXIROUTE pass together

with any of the trips above you

automatically SAVE 10%

and join Eastern Trekker’s 9 day

Classic Rhapsody Trek – see page 24

and join our 7 day Iberian Adventure

– see page 18

and join our 3 day Italian Adventure

– see page 19

and join our Greek Island

Flexi-Hopper. Athens ferry link also

available – see page 14

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

FACT: In 2008, our

travellers completed

2,500 different itineraries

- now that’s fl exible!

Round our way we have a

name for this type of travel:

FREESTYLE. Now we don’t

mean careering down a

mountain with a board strapped

to your feet or squeezing into

your speedo’s for fun – we are

a bit more literal than that:

FREESTYLE (adj) – a choice

of style.

11

Cesky Krumlov is a tiny bohemian

Czech town encircled by the Vltava

river. Spend a day rafting the rapids

or wander through the cobbled

streets and up to the dreamy spires

of castle Hradcany. You can also take

a side trip to Sumava National Park

or just sit back in the main square,

Namesti Svornosti, with a local

Eggenberg beer, brewed in the town.

Lauterbrunnen is an incredible

Alpine hideaway fi lled with Swiss

chalets. Its lush green valley

sweeps up to awe-inspiring snowy

mountains and the whole area is

well worth a few days exploration.

Chuck a snowball at the ‘Top of

Europe’, Junfraujoch, or check out the

Trummelbach glacier falls. This tiny

town is also a great base for rafting,

paragliding and sky-diving.

St Johann in Tirol, in Austria, is

an extreme sports fan’s heaven. If

you want to hike, bungee, toboggan

or throw yourself down a mountain

on a bike, then here’s the place to

do it.

Cinque Terre. Made famous by their

colourful buildings and terraced

mountainsides, these 5 villages are

a perfect break from the bustle of

Italian cities. There are walking trails

giving great views and delicious local

delicacies such as pesto, foccacia and

Sciacchetra wine.

Busabout takes in all the major cities along the way but we’ve also

thrown in a few hidden gems which you might not be so familiar

with. Build in plenty of time to explore these places – your On-Board

Guide and fellow Busabouters will rave about them and you’ll fi nd

unusual and authentic experiences tucked away at each of them.

(In Tirol)





(In Tirol)





PHOTO STOP



PHOTO STOP



PHOTO STOP

NORTH + SOUTH LOOPSStart & fi nish: Anywhere

22 Destinations

8 Countries

Pacing it: 6 weeks+

Racing it: 33 days

$1,399(STUDENTS $1,349)

NORTH + WEST LOOPSStart & fi nish: Anywhere

22 Destinations

9 Countries

Pacing it: 6 weeks+

Racing it: 33 days

$1,399(STUDENTS $1,349)

WEST + SOUTH LOOPSStart & fi nish: Anywhere

22 Destinations

6 Countries

Pacing it: 6 weeks+

Racing it: 33 days

$1,399(STUDENTS $1,349)

MORE GREAT

OPTIONS >>>

(In Tirol)



PHOTO STOP

NORTH + WEST + SOUTH LOOPSStart & fi nish: Anywhere

31 Destinations

9 Countries

Pacing it: 8 weeks+

Racing it: 42 days

$1,699(STUDENTS $1,639)

MORE

12

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

Choosing only 6 routes for our new One-Way Flexiroutes section was an almost impossible task. In 2008 our passengers

travelled 2,500 different itineraries. It was tough but we fi nally came to a consensus. If you think we shoud have a

different Flexiroute instead then feel free to tell us and if we use your route in our 2010 brochure we’ll name it after you.





PHOTO STOP

GO WESTStart: Rome Finish: Paris

12 Destinations

3 Countries

Pacing it: 4 weeks+

Racing it: 18 days

$899(STUDENTS $869)


COMPULSORY



PHOTO STOP

ALPINE PASSStart: Rome Finish: Amsterdam

12 Destinations

6 Countries

Pacing it: 4 weeks+

Racing it: 18 days

$979(STUDENTS $949)

(In Tirol)





PHOTO STOP

GO ROMANStart: Paris Finish: Rome

13 Destinations

7 Countries

Pacing it: 4 weeks+

Racing it: 21 days

$979(STUDENTS $949)

(In Tirol)





PHOTO STOP

LONG WAY ROUNDStart: Paris Finish: Barcelona

19 Destinations

8 Countries

Pacing it: 6 weeks+

Racing it: 30 days

$1,499(STUDENTS $1,449)

(In Tirol)





PHOTO STOP

EPIC ADVENTUREStart: Paris Finish: Madrid

16 Destinations

6 Countries

Pacing it: 5 weeks+

Racing it: 24 days

$1,199(STUDENTS $1,159)

(In Tirol)





PHOTO STOP

SUN SEEKERStart: Prague Finish: Madrid

16 Destinations

6 Countries

Pacing it: 5 weeks+

Racing it: 24 days

$1,279(STUDENTS $1,239)

13

(In Tirol)



PHOTO STOP

Busabout operates an EVERY SECOND DAY service.

To check travel dates, simply match the colour of the

departure city to the calendar day colour. The white departure

cities operate on white calendar days, the shaded departure

cities operate on the shaded calendar days.

MAY

M T W T F S S

JUNE

M T W T F S S

OCTOBER

M T W T F S S

AUGUST

M T W T F S S

SEPTEMBER

M T W T F S S

JULY

M T W T F S S

FROM TO DEPARTS ARRIVES FROM UNTIL

DATE FROM TONO. OF

NIGHTS

PLAN YOUR TRIP LIKE THIS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NORTH Paris Bruges 08:00 13:00 5-May 18-Oct

Bruges Amsterdam 13:00 18:00 5-May 18-Oct

Amsterdam Berlin 08:00 18:00 6-May 19-Oct

Berlin Dresden 08:00 11:30 7-May 20-Oct

Dresden Prague 11:30 16:00 7-May 20-Oct

Prague Cesky Krumlov 08:00 11:45 8-May 21-Oct

Cesky Krumlov Vienna 11:45 16:30 8-May 21-Oct

Vienna Salzburg 08:00 12:30 9-May 22-Oct

Salzburg Munich 12:30 15:30 9-May 22-Oct

Munich Stuttgart 08:00 11:30 10-May 29-Oct

Stuttgart Paris 11:30 21:00 10-May 29-Oct

SOUTH

Munich St Johann 08:00 10:45 16-May 23-Oct

St Johann Venice 10:45 17:30 16-May 23-Oct

Venice Ancona 08:00 13:30 17-May 24-Oct

Ancona Rome 13:30 18:30 17-May 24-Oct

Rome Siena 08:00 13:30 18-May 25-Oct

Siena Florence 13:30 14:30 18-May 25-Oct

Florence La Spezia 08:00 12:15 19-May 26-Oct

La Spezia Nice 12:15 17:45 19-May 26-Oct

Nice Milan 08:00 14:15 20-May 27-Oct

Milan Lauterbrunnen 14:15 18:30 20-May 27-Oct

Lauterbrunnen Lucerne 08:00 09:30 21-May 28-Oct

Lucerne Munich 10:30 17:00 21-May 28-Oct

WEST

Paris Bern 08:00 17:15 26-May 9-Oct

Bern Lauterbrunnen 17:15 18:30 26-May 9-Oct

Lauterbrunnen Lake Como 08:00 13:00 27-May 10-Oct

Lake Como Nice 13:00 18:30 27-May 10-Oct

Nice Avignon 08:00 12:15 28-May 11-Oct

Avignon Barcelona 12:15 18:30 28-May 11-Oct

Barcelona Valencia 08:00 13:30 29-May 12-Oct

Valencia Madrid 13:30 19:00 29-May 12-Oct

Madrid San Sebastian 08:00 16:30 30-May 13-Oct

San Sebastian Bordeaux 08:00 11:30 31-May 14-Oct

Bordeaux Tours 11:30 16:30 31-May 14-Oct

Tours Paris 16:30 21:00 31-May 14-Oct

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR

FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS...

Whether you’re expanding

your Busabout Explorer

trip, planning an extended

city break or heading off

for an African adventure,

these great value trips are

an awesome way to see

the world. Travelling with

experienced guides you’ll

immerse yourself in local

living, take in the sights

and chill out with plenty

of time to explore.

Greek Island 14 Hopping

Croatia Sailing 16

Spain & Portugal 18

Spanish Festivals 18

Italy 19

Oktoberfest 19

Morocco 20

Egypt 21

This tour was fantastic.

Words can’t describe

how much fun I had.

The only bad part is saying goodbye

to all the friends I made. I love

Busabout!

MICHELLE SMITH,

AUSTRALIA. GREEK

ISLAND FLEXI-HOPPER, 2008

To keep the Greek-spirit alive after you have left we have

a Facebook group for all our departures. Welcome to

Busabout Greek Island school of 2008.

TAKE OFF YOUR WATCH AND FORGET

EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT

TIMETABLES – FROM THE MOMENT YOU

ARRIVE YOU’RE ON GREEK TIME.

This trip is what you want it to be: an organized beach BBQ

in Paros, a boat cruise out to Santorini’s volcano, free pub

crawls and walking tours. Swim from black beaches, eat fresh

tzatziki, drink home-made wine and soak up the striking

beauty of Europe’s original party islands. The only choices left

to make will be whether to spend more time in the sea or in

the taverna, and whether or not you really need another shot of

ouzo (of course you do!). 9 days or 5 months - it’s up to you.

14

Our team in Greece are

an exceptional bunch –

they’re always on hand to

help plan your itinerary

so you can have your own

unique Greek adventure.

From organising beds,

ferries, transfers, dinners

out, parties and the

best side-trips to all the

history and culture you

could ever want to know.

Your itinerary will be

unique so expect to get

personalised attention.

Meet 2 of them here.

Andy Soukup

If it’s Greek, Andy

has been there,

danced on it,

and sampled

everything it

has to offer. A native to Iowa, USA, the

Greek islands are a world away from

the cornfi elds of home, but Andy’s

knowledge of the Greek islands, and

ability to shake it with the locals, will

only intensify your Greek experience!

Nicole Dixon

Possibly the

wildest of all

our guides, you

can’t help but

be caught up in

the rush when Nicole “Colesy” Dixon

takes you around the islands. Keep

an eye out for Colesy’s famous dance

moves, entertaining spiels and general

enthusiasm as she fl aunts Greece to

the fullest.

FERRIES Greece has 2

types of ferry

and we use both.

The slow ones

are great to

really soak up the local Greek culture,

sunbathe, write your journal and

generally get into the Greek spirit.

The fast ones or ‘whoosh boats’ are

air-conditioned and are a great way

to jump between islands quickly. Both

are booked for you in advance. If you

want a later ferry tell us two weeks

before your Athens departure and we

will sort it for you.

FOOD & DRINK Lip-smackingly

fantastic.

Proper greek

salads, fantastic

Moussaka, great value Gyros (kebabs)

and all sorts of delicacies you have

never heard of. Top Tip 1: ask your

guide what is best in each island and

each restaurant. They know. Top Tip 2:

try Frappes! iced coffee you’ll see all

the locals drinking. Top Tip 3: try Ouzo

at least once, sipped over ice.

NIGHTS OUT We start in

Mykonos as

we mean to go

on. A fantastic

meal followed

by a comprehensive sampling of

the nightlife of Mykonos town. Just

don’t forget to say hello to Petros the

Pelican. Santorini has many bars to

dance the night away but we also

mellow out to a sunset picnic of local

foods and guide-made cocktails. We

have all seen a nice sunset but this is

pretty special, trust us.

DAYS OUT Paros Cruise

This cruise is

the absolute

highlight of any

Greek Island

experience. Captain Antonio knows all

the best swimming and beauty spots

of Antiparos. Visit his BBQ shack on a

remote beach to savour sea urchins

and squid caught that day en-route,

combined with lovely Souvlaki and

Greek salad and washed down with

wine, Ouzo and plenty of soft drinks.

Santorini Volcano For the active

amongst you. Hike to the top of

Santorini’s volcano then wallow in the

purifying mud baths on the way back.

History & Culture It’s not all lazing

around on the beach and partying till

the wee small hours. Our mission is

to make you fall in love with the

Greek culture and history just as

much as the parties and the sights.

A day trip to Delos the birthplace

of Apollo and a visit to Santorini’s

museum will stand you in great stead

for the Greek questions in the pub

quizzes back home.

GET ACTIVE Get fi dgety lying

on a beach? Well

Ios has plenty of

sports on offer

from motorised

to wind powered sea-based options

to beach volleyball and soccer. Get

your team together and challenge

the locals.

INCLUSIONS

> Guided orientations each island

> Nights out on every island

> All transfers to and from

MyBusabout recommended

accommodation

> Your fantastic Busabout Guide

> All local taxes

ACCOMMODATION¤10-¤35 per night, Busabout

recommended beach clubs and

pensions. Book through MyBusabout


DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEPort of Piraeus. Athens. Gate E6.

Passenger Waiting Area. 6:30am

RETURN TIMEVaries depending on the ferries. We

recommend booking your onward

travel for after 10am the next day.

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONBook through MyBusabout


TRIP DETAILS

Explore the islands on your own, or join

in with one of our optional extras. Full

details from your Busabout guide.

> Mykonos town tour

> Volcano & sunset picnic on Santorini

> Day boat trip with swimming,

BBQ and free wine from Paros

> Antiparos cave & beaches

> Day trip to ancient Delos from Mykonos

> Hire seabiscuits, go canoeing or

kneeboarding on Ios

> Indulge in local Greek feasts

MINIMUM ITINERARY

Day 1: Athens to Mykonos Mykonos

Town, Windmills, Little Venice

Day 2: Mykonos Time to explore

the town, Paradise Beach or go to Delos

Day 3: To Paros Ferry to Parikia

Day 4: Paros Island exploration or

Antiparos Boat Tour

Day 5: To Santorini Ferry to Fira.

Caldera dinner at Greek taverna

Day 6: Santorini Volcano hike, visit

beaches and sunset picnic

Day 7: To Ios Ferry to Ios – the Greek

Islands’ Party Capital! Bar hopping

Day 8: Ios Mylopotas Beach. Chill out or

do watersports

Day 9: To Athens Fast ferry back to the

birthplace of democracy

WANT A LONGER GREEK ISLAND EXPERIENCE?

You can extend your Flexi-Hopper

to suit your schedule until the end

of the season – our trips depart

every 2nd day from May until end

of September.

Plan your itinerary 2 weeks in

advance through MyBusabout

MYKONOS, PAROS,

SANTORINI & IOS

You’ll never have the same experience

twice on this trip - from partying in

one of the hundreds of clubs to chilling

out along the miles of beaches or

discovering ancient ruins and natural

wonders. The islands are full of surprises

and whether it’s decent or decadent

you’re after, our 4 Island Flexi-Hopper

gives you a taste of it all.

HERE’S A BIT OF A SNAPSHOT OF THE SORT OF EXPERIENCE

YOU CAN EXPECT ON OUR UNIQUE AND WORLD-FAMOUS

4 ISLAND FLEXI-HOPPER.

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

HIGHLIGHTS

> Grab a photo with Petros the Pelican

on Mykonos

> Discover the ancient ruins of

uninhabited Delos

> Explore a volcano and kick back on

the black beaches of Santorini

> Party until dawn on Ios

> Watch the sun set behind white

stone buildings and windmills

> Go Greek with plenty of feta,

moussaka and ouzo

On every island we have Preferred Partner accommodation. You can be sure that

this accommodation offers the best mix of value for money, cleanliness, location and

attitude. A range of room types are offered from budget to ‘pamper yourself’.

BOOK YOUR BEDS THROUGH MYBUSABOUT. NO BOOKING FEES!

Mykonos

Situated right on

one of Mykonos’

beaches. Spend

your days sunning

it up, people

watching and dancing to the latest

tunes at the beach front bars.

Santorini

Get a real taste of

Greek hospitality

at this great

value hotel. It’s a

traditional Cycladic

building with A/C. Just 80m from the

town centre with a swimming pool just

around the corner.

Ios

Choose from a

shared bungalow

with bamboo

roof, or one of

the gorgeous

air-conditioned rooms at the Beach Club

next door. Chill out by the pool, party on

site or try out some of the watersports.

Paros

Intimate family

run guesthouse

that has a lovely

local welcome

and relaxed

atmosphere based in Parikia - perfect

to relax after Mykonos’ hedonism.

15

9 DAYS

(min

)

from

$459(STUDENTS from $439)

DATE FULL STUDENT

MAY odd days (21, 23... 31) $459 $439

JUN even days (2, 4... 30) $459 $439

JUL even days (2, 4... 30) $489 $469

AUG odd days (1, 3... 31) $489 $469

SEP even days (2, 4... 26) $459 $439

This trip must be booked two weeks prior to departure

GETTING TO ATHENS

Instead of fl ying into Athens, you can

catch the ferry from Ancona or Venice

with a Busabout Link -

see www.busabout.com/greece

TRIP DETAILSINCLUSIONS

> 7 breakfasts and lunches

> 7 nights accommodation

> English speaking Busabout Guide

> Bedding on the boats (bring a towel)

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDEDSee Cabin Options

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMESplit Harbour 1pm (Check-in 11am)

Dubrovnik Harbour 1pm (Check-in

11am)

LOCAL PAYMENT¤25 to cover all park entry fees

and local taxes (approximately)

TRIP ENDSThe boat arrives into Split/Dubrovnik

Harbour on Friday at approximately

12 noon. Overnight on the boat.

Disembark by 9am on Saturday.



Croatia

Bol

Makarska

Sipan

Explore the islands at your own pace, or

join in with one of our optional extras.

Full details from your Busabout Guide.

> Onboard parties

> Traditional group dinners

> Hire a canoe and paddle across

the Mljet salt lakes to discover its

secluded abbey

> Bike hire in the National Parks

> Sun baking and swimming in

secluded bays – all completely free!

> Snorkeling off the boat - free!

> Beach ball games and lilos – free!

16

FANCY STARTING IN DUBROVNIK? This itinerary is also

available Dubrovnik to Split. It’s the

same but in reverse!

WHY NOT combine your trip

around the Croatian islands with an

Eastern Trekker trip departing from

Split? See pages 23-27.

Prices vary depending on cabin class

and departure date. Go to

www.busabout.com/croatia for full

prices & single supplement rates.

HOP ON BOARD A TRADITIONAL

CROATIAN CRUISER WITH ITS LOCAL

CREW AND BUSABOUT GUIDE FOR

AN ADVENTURE AROUND THE

DALMATIAN COAST

Croatia’s troubled history

means it’s still on the fringes

of the backpacker trail and

there are still lots of concealed

gems to discover. Check out

these two fantastic trips -

both will take you to the most

stunning islands and Croatia’s

hidden hot spots.

ITINERARY (Split departure only)

Day 1: Split to Omis Depart after lunch,

sail to Omis ready for optional rafting

and swimming in afternoon. Explore the

island and then boat party (L)

Day 2: To Makarska Stunning stop. Take

a dip, sunbathe on deck and then party

in a cave (B, L)

Day 3: To Brac (Bol) To Zlatni Rat beach

then docking at Jelsa harbour to enjoy

evening entertainment (B, L)

Day 4: To Hvar Via the Pakleni islands

for swimming and onto Hvar town for

the evening (B, L)

Day 5: To Korcula Time to explore the

walled town and optional local wine

tasting (B, L)

Day 6: To Mljet Best to start the day

with morning swin and time to explore

Mijet National Park (B, L)

Day 7: To Dubrovnik Set sail early for

Dubrovnik and allow maximum time to

explore this picturesque town. Last night

of tour, time to let the hair down and

party your night away (B, L)

Day 8: Dubrovnik Say goodbye to your

new friends, tour ends after breakfast.

Transfer information to Split available (B)

B - BREAKFAST L - LUNCH D - DINNER

For more time on the islands,

including a night in a secluded bay

away from the main tourist spots, try

our One-Way Sail. Choose from ‘Split

to Dubrovnik’ or ‘Dubrovnik to Split’

for maximum exposure to Croatian

life and its people.

BOL, HVAR, MAKARSKA

KORCULA, DUBROVNIK, OMIS

MLJET & SIPAN

(STUDENTS from $729)

8 DAYS $749

FROM SPLIT

MAY 16, 30

JUN 6, 13, 20, 27

JUL 4, 11, 18, 25

AUG 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

SEP 5, 12, 19

ENDS DUBROVNIK

FROM DUBROVNIK

MAY 23

JUN 6, 13, 20, 27

JUL 4, 11, 18, 25

AUG 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

SEP 5, 12, 19, 26

ENDS SPLIT

HIGHLIGHTS

> Swim in crystalline waters off

Golden Cape beach

> Try locally produced Posip wine

> Soak in the unique serenity

of Loviste bay

> Eat the freshest seafood you’ll ever

fi nd on Brac

> Revel under the stars in a secluded bay

Javorak

Made of wood from

the Javor tree, the

Javorak is a delightful

boat catering for 26

passengers in a mixture of above deck

ensuite cabins and below deck with

shared bathroom facilities.

17

HERE’S A SELECTION OF OUR BOATS CRUISING THE ADRIATIC

THIS SUMMER, EACH WITH THEIR OWN LOCAL CAPTAIN AND CREW

Providnost

A Standard class boat

with shared bathrooms

throughout. There’s

space for 28 on the

Providnost, all in twin-share cabins.

There’s also a large aft deck above the

dining room – perfect for sunbathing or

jumping off for a swim.

We’ve got a range of different cabins

available onboard our Croatian sailing

boats, depending on how much you

want to spend. All cabins (rooms) are

twin berths (2 beds per room) usually

with bunk beds.

Standard or Ensuite cabins

You can choose whether to go for an

Ensuite cabin, which will have your own

bathroom, or Standard, which means

you’ll be sharing facilities with two or

more other cabins.

Above or below deck

You can also choose between above

deck cabins (bigger windows, more

fresh air, less engine noise) and below

deck cabins (small portholes, less noise

from other passengers).

$$$

Ensuite above deck berths are the most

expensive and standard below deck are

the cheapest so decide what suits you

best and book yourself on!

Viktorija

32 berths across 16

cabins both Standard

and Ensuite class.

Above and below deck

cabins are available and, in addition

to the dining room, there is sheltered

seating as well as aft and fore decks.

Novi Dan

A classic ensuite class

boat with 28 berths and

a large sun deck with

above and below deck

cabins. All of the Novi Dan cabins come

with ensuite facilities and the captain is

renowned for his great food.

Prices vary depending on cabin class

and departure date. Go to

www.busabout.com/croatia for full

prices & single supplement rates.

There’s no beating Croatia’s Dalmatian

Coast for an 8 day, 7 night chill out.

Think crystal clear seas, tiny walled

cities, eclectic islands and long nights

sampling local food and wine in a

traditional konoba.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Anchor up and jump off the top

of the boat into the Adriatic

> Sip cocktails at the top of a 14th

century tower in Korcula

> Turquoise sea, blue skies and the

luscious green hills

> Scale the city walls of Dubrovnik

– the best way to spy-out the ocean

side bars nestled into the cliffs

> Sit back with a local beer and watch

the yachts come in at Hvar

> Try your hand at fi shing or even

catching a squid off the back of

the boat

> Captain the Pirate Cruiser as it sails

along the Dalmatian Coast

> Learn a few phrases with your local

captain and crew

> Party till dawn in a Croatian castle

Explore the islands at your own pace,

or join in with one of our optional extras.

Full details from your Busabout Guide.

> Captain’s Dinner

> Kick back with a beer onboard

> Traditional group dinners

> Sunbaking and swimming in

secluded bays – all completely free!

> Hire a small boat and sail across the

Mljet salt lakes to discover its

secluded abbey

> Bike hire in the National Parks

> Beach ball games and lilos –

free from your guide!

TRIP DETAILSINCLUSIONS

> 7 breakfasts and lunches


(Saturday to Friday inclusive)

> Island orientation walks plus walking

tour of Split and Dubrovnik

> English speaking Busabout Guide

> Bedding on the boats (bring a towel)

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDEDSee Cabin Options

LOCAL PAYMENT¤25 to cover all park entry fees

and local taxes (approximately)

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMESplit Harbour, 1pm (Check-in 11am)

RETURN TIMEThe boat arrives into Split Harbour

on Friday at approximately 6pm.

Over night on the boat.

Disembark by 9am on Saturday.



ITINERARYDay 1: To Hvar Where the rich and

famous play (L)

Day 2: To Mljet Explore tranquil lakes

and forests (B, L)

Day 3: To Dubrovnik With time

to explore the town and walls (B, L)

Day 4: To Korcula Orientation including

Marco Polo’s birthplace (B, L)

Day 5: To Makarska One of Croatia’s

most beautiful resorts (B, L)

Day 6: To Omis Relaxing day of

swimming or rafting (B, L)

Day 7: To Split Return to Split to

explore the palace (B, L)

Day 8: Split Onward travel after

breakfast (B)

Please note: Routes may vary

depending on weather conditions.

Croatia

Makarska


SPLIT, DUBROVNIK &

DALMATIAN ISLANDS


8 DAYS $699

MAY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

JUN 6, 13, 20, 27

JUL 4, 11, 18, 25

AUG 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

SEP 5, 12, 19, 26

OCT 3

All trips haveBusabout Guides

HIGHLIGHTS

> Lose yourself in the cobbled streets

of UNESCO-listed Toledo

> Journey from the extremes of

La Mancha’s battered plains

to the snow-capped Sierra

Nevada Mountains

> Guided tour through the Alhambra

and the stunning Generalife gardens

> Taste the delights of Jerez - the home

of Sherry

> Take in the awe-inspiring Mezquita

at Cordoba (extra fee)

> Make the most of the incredible night

life in Lagos

ITINERARY

Day 1: Madrid to Granada via

the Imperial city of Toledo and the

picturesque bonus stop of Consuegra

Day 2: Granada Guided tour through

the Alhambra, sample local tapas or

relax in Turkish hot pools with a massage

Day 3: To Tarifa via the Costa Del Sol

to the southernmost point of Spain.

Take a quick ferry across the Straight

of Gibraltar to sample the delights of

Morocco

Day 4: To Lagos Stop to sample local

sherry before arriving at the sun lovers’

heaven of Portugal

Day 5: Lagos Spend time in the old

town or explore this stunning secluded

coastline by kayak

Day 6: To Seville Visit the world’s 3rd

largest cathedral then feast on tapas

and traditional cuisine before party time

with the locals

Day 7: To Madrid En-route visit

Cordoba and wander through the Jewish

quarter and old town

Chill out, explore on your own or take

part in one of our optional extras. Full

details from your Busabout Guide.

> Enjoy Granada Tapas Crawl

> Sacromonte Caves Flamenco show

> Get scrubbed senseless in Moorish

Granada at a traditional Hamman

> Take a surfi ng lesson or hire your

own board in Lagos or go horse riding

on Tarifa beach

> Explore the grottos of the Algarve

coast by sea-kayak or boat

> Hop over to Tangier in Morocco

from Tarifa for the afternoon

Tarifa

Lagos

SpainPortugal

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> 6 nights dorm accommodation

> Orientation walks in each town

> Alhambra - entrance and local Guide

> Bodega sherry tasting in Jerez

> Modern coach with reclining seats

> Busabout Guide and Driver

> All local taxes

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDEDMulti-share accommodation (max 4)

in Spanish hostales (budget hotels)

ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE$189pp twin / double private ensuite

(min. 2 persons)

$329pp single private ensuite

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEEquity Point Hostel, Madrid. 7:45am

RETURN TIMEEquity Point Hostel, Madrid. 6pm

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONEquity Point Hostel or Hotel Luis XV,

Madrid. Book through MyBusabout


18

festivals

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> All breakfasts

> Valencia orientation walk

> Return coach transfer to the

tomato fi ght

> Souvenir t-shirt

> Service of your Busabout Guide

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDEDTwo nights 2 star hotel in central

Valencia. Twin and triple share

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHotel Moratin, Valencia. 2pm

Imagine one small street less

than a quarter mile long in a tiny

Spanish town, packed with over

20,000 people prepared to spend a

solid hour slogging each other with

tomatoes. Sound crazy? Sounds like

La Tomatina!

3 DAYS $419 - DEPARTS 25 AUGUST

HIGHLIGHTS

> Expert Tomatina Guide to make

sure you are in the middle of

the action

> Take on the locals in the world’s

craziest food fi ght – don’t forget

your goggles!

> Busabout’s infamous

post-Tomatina pub crawl

of Valencia’s nightlife

> Optional day out to America’s

Port – recover on the beach and

chill in the marina bars

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> Continental breakfasts

> Busabout shuttles between San

Sebastian - Pamplona

> 2 ‘encierro’s’ (bull runs)

> Services of trained & professional

Busabout Guide

> Welcome drinks

> Pintxos on arrival night

> Souvenir t-shirt

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED4 nights quality accommodation at

Lolo’s Urban House (no dodgy tents

in over-crowded campsites!) in

central San Sebastian

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMELolo’s Urban House, San Sebastian.

5pm

Lying within the rolling green hills of the

Basque countryside in Northern Spain

is Pamplona. The sleepy capital of the

Navarra region explodes from a modest

population of 180,000 to over 500,000

during Spain’s most notorious Festival -

San Fermin, more commonly known as

‘the running of the bulls’

OPENING WEEKEND5 DAYS $629 - DEPARTS 5 JULY

HIGHLIGHTS

> Be part of the Opening Ceremony

– champagne, sangria and egg

throwing!

> Dress up in traditional red and white

and run like a local

> Be part of a 400 year old tradition

GRANADA, JEREZ, SEVILLE,

TARIFA, LAGOS & CORDOBA

Gorge yourself on tapas, witness

emotive Flamenco in its spiritual home

and drink jerez (sherry) at its birthplace.

Venture further into Moorish infl uenced

Tarifa and then over into Lagos with its

great beaches and awesome night life.

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

DATE FULL STUDENT

JUN 21, 28 $999 $969

JUL 5, 12, 19, 26 $1,099 $1,059

AUG 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 $1,099 $1,059

SEP 6, 13 $999 $969


7 DAYS $999

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> 2 nights in Tent Cabins

> Entry to Pompeii with local guide

> Orientation tour of Sorrento

> Limoncello and chocolate tasting

> Return ferry to Capri

> All on-tour coach transport

> Busabout Guide and local driver

> All local taxes

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDEDSanta Fortunata, a cliff-top camping

village. Twin-share basic tent cabin

with shared facilities.

ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE$49pp ensuite multi-share cabins

(twin / triple)

$149pp ensuite hotel twin / double

private room (min. 2 persons)

$229pp ensuite hotel single

private room

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMECamping Roma reception, Rome.

7:45am

RETURN TIMECamping Roma, Rome. 7:30pm

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONCamping Roma, Rome. Book through

MyBusabout with no booking fees.

DON’T WANT TO JUST FLY IN AND OUT OF ROME TO CONNECT WITH THIS TRIP? Combine it with the Busabout

Explorer South Loop taking in

French Riviera, Switzerland,

Germany and Austria as well as

Italy. Check out pages 5-13 for

further details.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Explore Pompeii, petrifi ed after

the eruption in 79AD wiped out

its population

> Check out how the other half lives

on glamorous Capri

> Take a boat trip inside the Blue

Grotto Cave, originally linked to

Roman catacombs (extra fee)

> Eat regional food from Sorrento,

washed down with Limoncello

> Wander the serene streets of

Ravello and Amalfi

> Swim in the Mediterranean Sea

and soak up the sun

ITINERARY

Day 1: Rome to Sorrento Travel south

from Rome past Naples and Mt Vesuvius

to Pompeii to explore this UNESCO

World Heritage site. Then head further

down the coast to Sorrento

Day 2: Capri Whole day on Capri

exploring its beaches, grottoes and

watching paparazzi chase the visiting

celebs

Day 3: Sorrento to Rome Drive along

the stunning Amalfi coast taking in

Ravello before heading north again and

returning to Rome

Chill out, explore on your own or take

part in one of our optional extras. Full

details from your Busabout Guide.

> Capri - chairlift to Monte Solaro / Villa

San Michel tour / Blue Grotto boat trip

> Sorrento – local Italian feast / bars

and night club / Limoncello tasting

19

festivals

The Oktoberfest in Munich (or

Beerfest) has got to be top of the

‘do before you die’ list. It is not just a

European must-do, it ranks up there

as one of the world’s biggest parties.

You have worked hard to travel to

Europe - now party until you want

to wear lederhosen - just don’t let

anyone take photos.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Be part of the world’s biggest

beer festival

> Drink beer in glasses the size

of your head

> Stand on tables and sing along

to the oompah band

> The best beer drinking

atmosphere in the world

> Sit in a beer tent packed

with over 10,000 revellers

POMPEII, CAPRI,

SORRENTO & AMALFI

The Italian Adventure is the trip for you

if you like Roman history, Southern

Italian food, beaches and breath-

taking scenery. With two nights spent

in Sorrento, there’s plenty of time

to explore the Amalfi Coast and the

glamour of Capri, as well as eerie ruins

of Pompeii.

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

DATE FULL STUDENT

MAY 29 $359 $339

JUN 5, 12, 15, 19, $359 $339

22, 26, 29

JUL 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, $379 $359

20, 24, 27, 31

AUG 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, $379 $359

21, 24, 28

SEP 4, 11, 18, 25 $359 $339

Our bed for the night is Camping Santa Fortunata, perched on the cliff-top

town of Sorrento. We have many accommodation options for you to choose:

Twin-share basic tent-cabin

(included in price)

Half way

between a tent

and a cabin.

Its basic, but

it’s a place to

rest your weary

travelling head.

Ensuite multi-share cabins

(available as upgrade)

For a bit more

comfort try our

proper wooden

cabins with own

bathroom -

towels, sheets &

toilet paper supplied. Suitable for 2

to 3 people.

Ensuite hotel twin/dbl private


Looking for

something a bit

more romantic?

We also have

air conditioned

Hotel rooms with

bathroom, for 2 people as double or

twin. Continental breakfast included.

Ensuite hotel single private


If you want your

own space our

Hotel room with

bathroom for

single occupancy

is for you.

Continental breakfast included and

all rooms air conditioned.

THE BLUE GROTTOA boat trip away on the Isle of Capri

this wonder of nature will show you

colours you didn’t think exist.

Availableto bookJanuary2009


3 DAYS $359

20

TAKE THE SHORT HOP OVER TO NORTH AFRICA

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> Overland truck / mini-bus

> Experienced guide & driver

> Free airport pick up.

See your e-ticket for details

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED1 night desert camp and

6 nights 3★ hotel twin/triple share

LOCAL PAYMENTLocal payment ¤220. This covers all

meals & accommodation, local city

guided tours & camel trek

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMERiad Fantasia, Marrakech. 6pm

RETURN TIMERiad Fantasia, Marrakech. After

breakfast

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.busabout.com/morocco

for details.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Trek through the Sahara Desert

on camels

> Haggle for rugs and local produce in

the souks of Marrakech

> Camp Berber-style under the stars

after a dinner cooked on the campfi re

> Check out the semi-deserted kasbah

of Ait-Benhaddou

> Share a shisha pipe with a group of

mates

ITINERARY

Day 1: Marrakech Free airport transfer

and pre-departure meeting (D)

Day 2: To Gorge du Dades

Via Tizi-n-Tichka and Atlas Pass (B L D)

Day 3: To Todra Gorge Rock climb or

explore the spectacular gorge (B L D)

Day 4: To Rissani & Sahara Desert Trek

Camel trek and Berber Camp (B L D)

Day 5: Draa Valley Arrive Ouazazate

(B L D)

Day 6: Atlas Mountains Visit Morocco’s

Hollywood and Ait Benhaddou, before

traversing the Atlas Mountains to

Marrakech (B L D)

Day 7: Marrakech Djemaa el-Fna,

souks, food stalls and snake charmers

(B L D)

Day 8: Marrakech Tour fi nishes after

breakfast (B)

Take time out in Morocco to explore

solo or join in with one of our optional

extras. Full details from your guide.

> Rock climbing, quad biking & hiking

all available through your Guide

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> Overland truck

> Experienced guide & driver

> Free airport / ferry terminal pick up.

See your e-ticket for details

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED9 nights camping (1 night Berber

camp) & 5 nights hotel 2 or 3★ hotel

LOCAL PAYMENTLocal payment ¤240. This covers all

meals & accommodation, local city

guided tours & camel trek

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHotel Tarik, Tangier. 6pm

RETURN TIMEHotel Tarik, Tangier. After breakfast

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONHotel Tarik. Book through

MyBusabout with no booking fees.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Stay in the mountainous

Chefchaouen region

> Chill out at the Meski Oasis

> Devour tagines, couscous and mint

tea with the locals in Fes

> Camel trek across the desert

> Lose yourself in the maze-like

Medina quarters

ITINERARY

Day 1: Tangier Traditional meal and

pre-departure meeting (D)

Day 2: To Chefchaouen Through the

Rif Mountians (B L D)

Day 3: To Fes Via Roman ruins of

Volubilis (B L D)

Day 4: Fes Souks, Old Medina and dye

pits (B L D)

Day 5: To Meski Oasis Through Gorge

du Ziz to local camp (B L D)

Day 6: Sahara Camel Trek

From Merzouga to Berber Camp (B L D)

Day 7 & 8: Todra Gorge Explore this

canyon like abyss (B L D, B L D)

Day 9: To Marrakech Across the Atlas

Mountains (B L D)

Day 10: Marrakech Djemaa el-Fna,

souks, food stalls and snake charmers

(B L D)

Day 11 and 12: Essaouira Fishing

village with great surfi ng (B L D, B L D)

Day 13: Moulay Bousalhem and the

Moroccan coast (B)

Day 14 & 15: Tangier (Cap Spartel)

Hercules’ Caves and the Atlantic coast.

Tour fi nishes after breakfast on Day 15

(B L D, B)

Take time out in Morocco to explore

solo or join in with one of our optional

extras. Full details from your guide.

> Todra Gorge - rock climbing

> Essaouira - surfi ng & windsurfi ng

> Flamingo spotting boat trip

Gorge

du Dades

Ouazazate 1/2

3 Day adventure

M. Bousalhem



Journey to the heart of Morocco and

experience the arid extreme of the

Sahara desert. Rummage through

souks, explore kasbahs & wander the

streets of Marrakech.

Travel Morocco from its northern tip

Tangier through mountains and gorges

to the Saharan region. This is the

ultimate trip for anyone wanting full

exposure to the country.

MARRAKECH, TODRA

& SAHARA

TANGIER, FES,

SAHARA & MARRAKECH

MAR 14, 28

APR 11, 25

MAY 9, 23

JUN 6, 20

JUL 4, 18

MAY 2, 16, 30

JUN 13, 27

JUL 11

AUG 1, 8, 15, 22

SEP 5, 19

OCT 3, 17, 31

NOV 14, 28

AUG 1, 15, 29

SEP 12, 26

15 DAYS $1,049

8 DAYS $869

Blow your mind with an incredible immersion into enigmatic

Morocco. Our overland truck trips take you across deserts,

mountains and plains to traditional Berber camps,

minaret-fi lled skylines and into the most

amazing cities and settlements.

21

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS


> All breakfasts, 4 lunches and

5 local dinners

> Entrance fees included: Egyptian

Museum, Valley of the Kings,

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx,

Karnak and Luxor Temples, Kom

Ombo and Aswan High Dam.

All worth $175

> Certifi ed Egyptologist Guide

> Inbound airport transfer*

> All on-tour transport

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED4 nights 3★ hotel, 1 night overnight

train (1st class sleeper), 2 nights on

a Felucca, 3 nights beachside resort.

All rooms are twin/triple share ensuite.

ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE$359 single room

(4 nights hotel / 3 nights resort)

LOCAL PAYMENTUS$45 local tipping fund

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEThe Victoria Hotel, Cairo. 6pm

*Free airport transfer to The

Victoria Hotel only. Check your

booking confi rmation for details.

TRIP ENDSDahab. After breakfast

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.busabout.com/egypt

for details.

HIGHLIGHTS > See the Giza Pyramids, a wonder of

the ancient world

> Sail up the Nile on a traditional Felucca

> Unearth the wonders of the Luxor and

Karnak Temples & Aswan High Dam

> Be a beach bum in Dahab or try

your hand at diving and water sports

> Explore Sinai Desert by camel

There are no half measures here: trinkets sit proudly next

to ancient tombs and you’ll travel from dusty deserts to rich

coastal resorts. Take in the history of Egypt with our expert

Egyptologist guides but don’t miss out on the contemporary

scene with great bars, diving and quad biking all available.

STEP BACK IN TIME TO THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS

Nubian Village, Giza and Luxor light

and sound show, Bedouin camel rides

and tea, 4x4 quad safari in Dahab

NILE CRUISE UPGRADE

4 DAYS $299 (TWIN/TRIPLE SHARE)

4 DAYS $449 (SINGLE OCCUPANCY)

Treat yourself to 3 nights of luxury

onboard a 5★ Nile Cruise. With onboard

bar, pool, sundeck and air conditioned

cabins. This is the perfect antidote to life

on the road.

DEPARTURE

This upgrade takes place on days 3-6

of the One-Way Egypt itinerary.

See website for full details

PADI - LEARN TO DIVE(SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS)

Spend 4 days learning to dive in the

stunning Red Sea. As well as having the

chance to see some of the 250 different

corals and indigenous white sharks.

You’ll also get a PADI Scuba Diving

qualifi cation.

ABU SIMBEL(SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS)

Head south from Aswan to this

breathtaking monument. Comprising of

two temples cut into the rock, it was built

by Ramses II to honour himself and his

beloved wife Nefetari. Choose our return

fl ight package to discover it for yourself.

See www.busabout.com/egypt for a

full list of optional excursions

SHARM-EL-SHEIKH LINK

If you’re heading to Sharm-el-Sheikh

for your onward travel then check our

website for transfer options

CAIRO, ASWAN, FELUCCA

SAILING, VALLEY OF THE

KINGS & DAHAB

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

MAY 16, 30

JUN 13, 27

JUL 11, 25

AUG 8, 22

SEP 5, 19

OCT 3, 17

11 DAYS $899(STUDENTS $869)

FLY INCAIRO

FLY OUT SHARM-EL-SHEIKH

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cairo Pre-Departure meeting

Day 2: Cairo Pyramids, Sphinx and

Egyptian Museum Browse the markets

of the local bazaar. Enjoy your 1st Class

overnight train to Aswan (B)

Day 3 & 4: Aswan High Dam, Obelisk &

Philae Temples Optional fl ight excursion

to Abu Simbel. Nile Felucca Sailing or

5★ Nile Cruise available (B, B L D)

Day 5 & 6: Felucca Sailing & Luxor

Enjoy the views whilst sailing the Nile.

Disembark for tour of Kom Ombo, Edfu

and the Temple of Horus then travel to

the river city of Luxor (B L D, B)

Day 7: Luxor to Hurgahada Visit the

unforgettable Valley of Kings, including

Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temples.

Relax in the evening in your 3★

Hurghada Hotel (B)

Day 8: Hurghada to Dahab Save time

and enjoy your short ferry crossing

to Sharm-el-Sheik, before the scenic

coastal drive to Dahab to your beach-

side resort (B D)

Day 9 & 10: Dahab Try one of our

optional Padi dive courses or follow in

Moses’ footsteps up Mount Sinai in time

for sunrise (B L D, B L D)

Day 11: Dahab Tour fi nishes after

breakfast (B)

OVER$175worth ofentrance feesincluded

SAN SEBASTIAN Not only are

the beaches beautiful with a

laid back, funky vibe but the

pintxos are amazing! One of

my fave things about travelling

is trying new cuisine. In San

Seb, every second shop on the

cobblestone streets is full of

inviting platters of pintxo.

They are cheap, delicious

and made with such pride

and beauty that it makes my

mouth water just thinking

about it! Monica, Busabout

Adventures Guide

There will be moments that

will defi ne your travelling

experience. The times when

you just don’t ever want to stop

travelling. The places where

you just stand and say... WOW.

These are some of our guides

personal moments.

OUR GUIDES’

MOMENTS

WOW

BLED

This green, serene, little

town, where the magic of

the Southern Alps meets

the pristine clear waters of

the lake, is where I feel I

could stay forever. Charlie,

Eastern Trekker Guide

LAUTERBRUNNEN

When I went to the top of

Jungfrau mountain, 3500m

above Switzerland, being able to

see the black forests of Germany

to one side and the Italian border

to the other, I truly felt on top

of the world! Tim, Busabout

Explorer Guide

DOOLIN As I danced around the fl oor with a local farmer, I

realised you’ll never meet a more welcoming people than us

Irish. The locals will drag you up on the dance fl oor and try

to show you how to Irish dance, you can join the musicians if

you can play an instrument and they’ll even buy you a pint of

Guinness. Heaven! Aidan, Shamrocker Adventures Guide

22

SKYE BRIDGE Hitting the peak of the Skye Bridge.

Imagine taking off from the mainland with nothing but a

grey bridge in sight but, with the music hitting a crescendo,

you suddenly strike the peak and are presented with a jaw-

dropping vista of the Winged Isle towards the spectacular

Cuillin Mountains, as the sunshine (occasionally of the ‘liquid’

variety!) pours upon the peaks - incredible. Ped, HAGGiS

Adventures Guide

FLORENCE Standing in the Piazza Michelangelo at sunset, the

Tuscan light is awesome, the heat of the day has gone and

the warm glow covers Florence. Below is Il Duomo, its earth

coloured tiles a reminder of the countryside. Who else looked

out upon this view? Michaelangelo himself, Raphael, Leonardo

Da Vinci, the Renaissance makers? I bet they all soaked in this

view! Richie, Busabout Explorer Guide

BERLIN The time is 5.30am, the fi rst

streaks of dawn are lighting up the

Berlin morning and pumping techno

music is bringing a smile to the faces

of German locals who come every

week to Club Weekend on the 16th

fl oor of an old communist apartment

block in the middle of Alexanderplatz.

It was at that moment, hands aloft

to the world’s best techno, watching

the sunrise over the coolest city in

the world it hit me: ‘I’m in Berlin!’

Simon, Busabout Explorer Guide

WHAT ARE WE ABOUT?

We love the East! For 4

years now we have been

developing our unique trips

throughout Eastern Europe.

Don’t get us wrong, we love

the West too, it’s just that

the East is where it is really

happening – where you can

genuinely get off the beaten

track, discover amazing cities

and experience genuine

diversity.

OUR BACKYARD

Our trips are all about

unlocking the secrets of

places that you have only

ever heard of – Slovenia,

Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia,

Serbia & Montenegro. We’ll

unravel their histories and

their cultures both past and

present to bring Europe’s

backyard closer to you than

ever before.

23

Mostar

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

What’s more, Eastern Europe

with its amazingly low prices,

offers the budget traveller

exceptional value for money.

This means your money goes

a lot further, so whether it is

castles, mosques, churches...

mountains, lakes or National

Parks… or pubs, clubs, beer

(and a little Vodka) you’re

into, here you’ll get more

bang for your buck.

JOIN US

At the end of the day we

believe in keeping things

simple – just as travelling on

a budget should be. For our

trips we have selected all our

favourite spots, outstanding

places to stay and the coolest

places to eat and drink as the

locals do. All that is missing

are people that think like us –

love to travel, see cool places

and have a great time. So, if

that sounds like your sort of

thing, choose one of our trips

and join us on an Eastern

European adventure you

won’t forget.

GUARANTEED

DEPARTURES

When you book, you travel!

Simple as that.

LINK TO BUSABOUT

Check out Busabout

Explorer and Adventures

for details on how to link

up with our awesome trips.

Check out page 4 for more

on our Radical Deals.

FLIGHT LINKS

If you can’t reach your tour

starting point by either

Busabout, train or ferry then

there are also a range of

budget airlines who’ll be able

to fl y you into the start cities.

FROM PRAGUE TO CROATIA,

TRANSYLVANIA TO SARAJEVO,

EASTERN EUROPE IS ALIVE

Opening UpEastern EuropeFor YouSince 2005

HIGHLIGHTS

> Church of human bones in UNESCO

listed town Kutna Hora

> Olomouc city walk

> Bike tour Krakow

> Infamous Auschwitz and Birkenau

> Budapest! Thermal bath under

the stars

> Stunning Tatra Mountains, Zakopane

> The great value food and drink

> Plitvice National Park, an aqua

wonderland

> Scenic drive to Split, Croatia

INCLUSIONS


> 8 breakfasts

> Bike tour Krakow

> Walking tour Olomouc

> Auschwitz and Birkenau

guided tours

> Orientation walks of

Budapest and Split

> All transport with Guide

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED4 nights hostel multi-share

1 night bungalow twin-share

2 nights hotel multi-share

1 night pension multi-share

ACCOMMODATION UPGRADESee website for details

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHostel Plus, Prague.

7am for pre-departure breakfast.

TRIP ENDSSplit Hostel, Split.

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.easterntrekker.com

TRIP DETAILS

Take time out with one of our Optional

Extras. Full details from your Guide

> Walking tour of Budapest, caving tour

in Budapest, bike hire Budapest

> Adventure activities in Zakopane

(rafting, paragliding, horse riding,

and quad biking)

ITINERARY

Day 1: Prague – Kutna Hora –

Olomouc After a short drive across the

Czech Republic we reach the UNESCO

listed Kutna Hora. Time to explore the

ancient church made from human

bones, before departing for Olomouc.

After a city walk, dinner in a typical

Moravian restaurant (B)

Day 2: Olomouc – Auschwitz - Krakow

After breakfast, it’s off to Poland with

visits to Auschwitz and Birkenau. Then

on to Krakow for a buzzing Saturday

night out (B)

Day 3: Krakow Bike tour of Schindler’s

List’s Krakow with a local Polish guide.

Free afternoon to discover Krakow (B)

Day 4: Krakow - Zakopane A short

drive to Zakopane, mountains galore. Try

out the adventure activities on offer (B)

Day 5: Zakopane – Budapest After

breakfast, it’s on to Budapest, with a

stop in the Tatra Mountains for a picnic

lunch. We will orientate you with a

pre-dinner walk, Goulasch, and then

clubbing (B)

Day 6: Budapest Budapest, the world

metropole lays waiting. Start with

a walking tour, or go caving under

Budapest, visit the best food markets

in Hungary or just chill in the thermal

baths (B)

Day 7: Budapest – Plitvice We head

south toward Croatia with a swim stop

and lunch at Lake Balaton. Visit the

Balkan open air war museum before

arriving into Plitvice National Park at

sunset for a BBQ and a few beers (B)

Day 8: Plitvice – Split Tour the

National Park before heading over lunar

landscapes to Split. Check out our sailing

boats and the old town before the last

supper (B)

Day 9: Split Tour fi nishes 9am

Prague

Krakow

Zakopane

Budapest

Prague

Krakow

ZakopaneOlomouc

Budapest

Plitvice

BOSNIA

CROATIA

SLOVENIA

AUSTRIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA

HUNGARY

POLAND

Split

1

2

1

2

1

1

24

MAY 8, 22

JUN 5, 19

JUL 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

AUG 7, 14, 21, 28

SEP 11, 25

CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND,

SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY & CROATIA

‘I met the love of my life on this tour;

I can’t thank Eastern Trekker enough.

The tour showed us iconic cities,

mountains, national parks and the

Croatian coast, wow!’

Cait Rynne, Bundaberg, Australia

9 DAYS $1,099(STUDENTS $1,059)

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

No one likes to feel like they are part of a pack

being herded around the sights - that’s why we

have maximum group size guaranteed. This will

allow you to socialise with everyone, gain more

from our experienced crew and get top value for

money. On our Classic Rhapsody, Rhapsody

and Bohemian Treks the maximum group size is 39, guaranteed.

On our Balkan and Transylvanian Treks the maximum group size is 15.

These trips are operated by a local tour operator/guide for the ultimate

local experience.

Our guides are extensively trained

in Eastern European lifestyles.

They love the countries, love telling

stories and love to entertain. They

are there to make your trip as easy

as possible so that you have the

best time. In Krakow, Budapest

and Bled we also use local guides

to ensure you get the most from

these fabulous places.

The locally operated Transylvanian

and Balkan Treks are lead by

experienced local guides.

> Great new accommodation in

Krakow, Pag, Kotor and Split

> Auschwitz guided

tour included

(Classic Rhapsody &

Rhapsody Trek)

> Smaller group sizes;

more quality, less quantity!

> More Dracula! An extra day

in Transylvania

> More departure options,

more choice!

> VIP entrance to Krakow’s

top nightclub

> Exclusive deals on

adventure activities in

Bled (Bohemian Trek)

Olomouc

Prague

Krakow

Zakopane

Budapest

1

2

1

2

AUSTRIA

CZECH

REPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA

HUNGARY

POLAND

1

2

2

Split

Pag

Bled

Salzburg

Prague

BOSNIA

CROATIASLOVENIA

AUSTRIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

1

25

INCLUSIONS


> 6 breakfasts

> All transport and Guide

> Wine and cheese tasting on Pag

> Orientation walk of Ljubljana

> Orientation walk Salzburg

> Cesky Krumlov

> Night walk of Prague

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED6 nights multi-share


DEPARTURE POINT & TIMESplit Hostel, Split. 9am

TRIP ENDSHostel Plus, Prague. After breakfast


TRIP DETAILS



> The Emerald River day trip

> Sky diving Bled, Slovenia

> The Sound of Music tour

MAY 16, 30

JUN 13, 27

JUL 11, 18, 25

AUG 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

SEP 5, 19

OCT 3

As Classic Rhapsody Trek

Plus APR 10 (Easter Special) & OCT 9

CROATIA, SLOVENIA,

AUSTRIA & CZECH REPUBLICWhat a fun adventure, we came off a Croatia

sailing trip and just kept going. Beach

parties, followed by the Alps, it was great

value for money! Andre Tasker, Canada


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

HIGHLIGHTS

> Church of human bones in UNESCO

listed town Kutna Hora

> Olomouc city walk

> Clubbing in Krakow

> Infamous Auschwitz and Birkenau

> A top weekend in Krakow

> Stunning Tatra Mountains, Zakopane

> Budapest! Thermal bathing under

the stars



> Walking tour of Budapest, bike

hire Budapest, Caving tours under

Budapest

> Adventure activities in Zakopane

(rafting, hiking, paragliding, horse

riding, quad biking)

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS


> 7 breakfasts

> Bike tour Krakow

> Olomouc city walk

> Auschwitz and Birkenau

guided tours

> Orientation walk Budapest

> All transport with Guide

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED4 nights hostel

2 nights hotel


DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHostel Plus, Prague.

7am for pre-departure breakfast

TRIP ENDSCentral Budapest. After breakfast


ITINERARY

Day 1-6: As per Classic Rhapsody Trek

Day 7: Budapest Tour fi nishes after

breakfast

Lake Bled

CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND,

SLOVAKIA & HUNGARY

Immerse yourself in the culture and

history of the Eastern European

heartlands. Classic Eastern Europe

from Prague to Budapest, great

entertainment and wonderful food.


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

ITINERARY

Day 1: Split - Pag We depart Split for

the short drive to the island paradise of

Pag. After check in it’s off to the beach,

or for a spot of wine and cheese tasting.

The beach parties are huge here on Pag!

Day 2: Pag – Ljubljana - Bled One of

Europe’s most magnifi cent drives, from

the Croatian coast to the Alps. We’ll stop

and enjoy Ljubljana then on to Bled.

Stretch the legs with a row out to the

church perched on a island and ring the

bell for luck (B)

Day 3: Bled Stock up on a hearty

breakfast as this day is full of cool

activities in the magnifi cent Slovenian

Alps. We recommend the Emerald

River day trip where you will swim, raft,

canyon and adventure you way through

the Slovenian Alps (B)

Day 4: Bled – Salzburg An alpine festival!

Sheer touring pleasure with Alps, castles

and great music en route before arriving

in the world heritage city of Salzburg

and a visit to the Monastery of Beer (B)

Day 5: Salzburg Free day in Salzburg.

Why not take the Sound of Music or

the ice caves tour or kick back in this

city famous for its Baroque architecture.

Dinner and schnapps tasting at a local

distillery in the evening (B)

Day 6: Salzburg – Prague The last day

takes us to the Bohemian capital Prague,

and includes a stop in Cesky Krumlov for

lunch (B)

Day 7: Prague Tour fi nishes after

breakfast (B)


HIGHLIGHTS

> Pag’s sunset beach parties

> Exploring Ljubljana

> Adrenalin packed Emerald River day

trip in Bled

> Salzburg’s old city and Monastery

of Beer

> Bohemian Cesky Krumlov

> Slovenia to Austria scenic drive

HIGHLIGHTS

> The spectacular drive along the

Croatian coastline to Bosnia

> The atmosphere in Mostar on

Saturday night when the city and

bridge are illuminated

> Meeting the locals of the Neretva

River Delta and buying home

made handicrafts

> The Sarajevo walking tour with a

Cevapcici lunch in the old town

> The Mosques wailing at sunset

through the Sarajevo night

> The shopping in Sarajevo

> The Montenegro coastline

> Kotor and the old blue stone houses

> The stunning island city Sveti Stefan

> The jewel of the Adriatic – Dubrovnik

with its marble streets

INCLUSIONS


> 7 breakfasts

> All transport & local guide

> All city walking tours

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED7 nights twin/triple


DEPARTURE POINT & TIMESplit Hostel, Split. 9am

TRIP ENDSDubrovnik. After breakfast

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.eastertrekker.com

TRIP DETAILSOperated by a Local Tour Operator

ITINERARY

Day 1: Split – Mostar Leave Split for

the drive along the Croatian coast before

heading into Bosnia and magnifi cent

Mostar. An evening walking tour and our

fi rst Balkan meal

Day 2: Mostar The morning is yours to

enjoy Bosnian breakfast specialties, visit

a mosque and capture Mostar’s Sunday

morning atmosphere. In the afternoon

we head to Blagai, home of old Bosnian

kings (B)

Day 3: Mostar - Sarajevo We travel

toward Sarajevo with a stop at the

magnifi cent Neretva River Delta to

explore the traditional villages along

the emerald green river beds. Arrive

into Sarajevo at sunset as the Mosques

are wailing. Tonight is a great chance to

sample the local nightlife as Sarajevo

grooves to a Balkan rhythm (B)

26

Day 4: Sarajevo After breakfast we will

set off on a memorable half day walking

tour of one of Europe’s most interesting

cities with your local guide. Free time in

the afternoon to explore and shop in the

old city bazaars (B)

Day 5: Sarajevo – Kotor Drive to

Europe’s newest country... Montenegro.

Along the way visit the oldest primeval

forest in Europe at Sutjeska National

Park. Arrive in Kotor and explore the

old blue stone churches and narrow city

streets (B)

Day 6: Kotor A day to chill on the sandy

beaches before a visit to neighbouring

Budva and the island town of Sveti

Stefan. It’s the Montenegrin big day

out (B)

Day 7: Kotor – Dubrovnik Depart Kotor

and drive to the beautiful Croatian

town of Dubrovnik for an orientation

walk. Marvel at the marble city streets

and walls before feasting on delicious

seafood in the evening (B)

Day 8: Dubrovnik Tour fi nishes after

breakfast (B)

CROATIA, BOSNIA

& MONTENEGRO

‘This region is wildly beautiful and

amazingly interesting. It was such a

positive to have a local guide with us

talking us through the history, showing

us the best places to eat and drink.

Well done Eastern Trekker!’

Simon Bradshaw, New Zealand



MAY 16

JUN 13

JUL 11, 25

AUG 8, 22

SEP 5, 19

BOSNIA

CROATIA

SplitMostar

Sarajevo

KotorDubrovnik

2

2

21

MONTENEGRO

Accommodation is included in the price of all our tours. We have chosen

the best value accommodation based on cleanliness, location and character.

You can expect great hostel accommodation with en suite facilities, home

stays in Transylvania, cool bungalows in the Plitvice NP and small hotel

accommodation in the Balkans. All accommodation is based within short

walking distance of city centres and are all locally owned. No sleeping bags

needed, it’s all fresh linen. Breakfast is included. Ask about our private room

upgrades for all treks!

Olomouc

A classic old

communist

style hotel with

a wide foyer,

fabulous twin

rooms with ensuites. The hotel is

located across the city park from the

old town, just a 5 minute walk to all

the action. The breakfast buffet is

awesome.

Budapest

Right in the

heart of the

quirky 7th

district, this

designer hostel

has top ensuite rooms, offering an

oasis in the centre of town. The

location offers easy access to top

local bars and clubs and the Danube

is 10 mins from your door.

Bled

Our apartments

all boast a lounge

area to chill,

ensuite massage

showers and a

view straight to the Alps. Breakfast is

a feast served in your room. There is

an excellent BBQ area out the back

and there is also a bar run by a local

character called Jani nearby.

Mostar

This UNESCO

protected stone

building is in the

old town with a

view of the old

bridge, (stunning at night). The twin

rooms are tastefully decorated with

ensuite bathrooms.

Add that little extra to your experience. These activities

can be booked through your Guide.

EMERALD RIVER DAY TRIP, BLED, SLOVENIA

Jump, swim, canyon, raft, laugh and eat your way

through the gorgeous Emerald river. It is the most

rewarding day tour you’ll ever do!

ALPS SKY DIVE, BLED, SLOVENIA

The best value for money sky dive in Europe, with the

Southern Alps in your face and the lush green valley

below, this will get you hooked!

BUDAPEST CAVING TOUR, BUDAPEST

Crawling beneath one of Eastern Europe’s most famous

metropoles, through thermal holes dating to the last ice

age, a thrilling experience.

MaximumGroup Size15

HIGHLIGHTS

> The drive through the sunset lit

Carpathian Mountains en route to Cluj

> The real medieval atmosphere of

Sighisoara, Count Dracula’s home

> The typical Transylvanian meal and

home stay in Sibiu

> Bran Castle & the stories of

Transylvania’s past history

> Our visit to a typical Gypsy and Saxon

village that will allow you to get close

with the locals

27

HIGHLIGHTS

As per Transylvanian Trek

> The masked Halloween party in a

mountain lodge in the middle of the

Transylvania Mountains

see www.eastertrekker.com/halloween

for further details

‘The atmosphere at the mountain chalet

on Halloween night was magnifi cent.

Everyone was in fancy dress, fake blood

pouring from eye sockets, and we were

in Transylvania.’

Guy Merrit, Auckland, NZ

TRANSYLVANIA

& ROMANIA

HUNGARY & ROMANIA

‘A great local guide, a small group tour

and some amazing places helped exceed

my expectations of this tour. Our group

still keeps in contact today’.

Anthony Hill, Newcastle, Australia

8 DAYS

ITINERARY

Day 1: Cluj – Sighisoara – Brasov Head

to the stunning UNESCO listed town

of Sighisoara - Dracula’s birthplace.

Wander through the magnifi cent old

town and see the medieval fortress,

before visiting one of the best preserved

villages in Transylvania

Day 2: Brasov We will discover Brasov

in the morning before visiting Prejmer,

the most impressive fortifi ed churches in

Romania. Free time in the afternoon to

explore Brasov (B)

Day 3: Brasov Transylvania’s big

day out. Day trip to Peles Palace,

Transylvania’s most famous palatial

landmark, then onto visit the castle of

Count Dracula (B)

Day 4: Brasov - Sibiu Enjoy a late

breakfast and a morning of relaxation

before driving to Sibiu to enjoy a walking

tour and then a Transylvanian home

made dinner and home stay (B, D)

Day 5: Sibiu – Racatau Valley Visit

the glass blowing workshops of Sibiel

before we drive to Racatau Valley where

you’ll meet the locals. Overnight in our

mountain lodge (B, D)

Day 6: Racatau Valley - Cluj Head back

to Cluj, via the Turda gorge, for some

last minute shopping and an evening

meal in the capital (B)

Day 7: Cluj Tour fi nishes after

breakfast (B)

INCLUSIONS


> 6 breakfasts

> 2 traditional evening meals

> All city walking tours

> Day trip to Bran Castle

> Peles Palace

> All transport and local Guide

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED6 nights hostel / hotel multi-share


DEPARTURE POINT & TIMERetro Hostel, Cluj. 8am

RETURN TIMERetro Hostel, Cluj. After breakfast

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.eastertrekker.com

TRIP DETAILSOperated by a Local Tour Operator


MAY 18

JUN 15

JUL 20

AUG 17

SEP 21

ROMANIA

Cluj

Sighisoara

BrasovSibiu

RacatauValley

1

1

1

3

HUNGARY

Budapest

ROMANIA

Budapest

1

HUNGARY

1,1

Cluj

Sighisoara

BrasovSibiu

RacatauValley

1 2

1

HIGHLIGHTS

> The traditional Xmas markets

in Krakow at night

> Skiing on Xmas day enjoying your

own white Xmas

> A traditional Xmas dinner of roast

chicken, pork, potatoes and gravy

with your new found friends

> Soaking in the thermal pools of

Budapest at 32 degrees

see www.eastertrekker.com

for further details

‘It was a great adventure, skied for

the fi rst time on Christmas Day and

thought the thermal spa in Budapest

was delightful. The fact that we saw lots

of destinations and did heaps together

bonded the group so well.’

Leigh Ann Coetzee, Adelaide, Australia

POLAND, SLOVAKIA,

HUNGARY, AUSTRIA

& CZECH REPUBLIC

11 DAYS

Budapest

2

2

2

2

1

1

Prague

Vienna

Cesky Krumlov

Auschwitz Krakow

Zakopane

AUSTRIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA

HUNGARY

POLAND

22 DECEMBER 2009

26 OCTOBER 2009



MaximumGroup Size15


28

GELATO, ITALY

Stop feeling guilty and eat as

much ice cream as you can in

Italy. Once you get back to the

land of vanilla and chocolate,

you’ll wish you’d tried every

delicious fl avour while you

were spoilt for choice.

SEAFOOD PLATTER,

ISLE OF SKYE,

SCOTLAND

Enjoy one of their legendary

seafood platters - fantastic

fresh scallops and prawns

followed by a few drams of

whisky. Then dance the night

away with the local fi shermen.

PINT OF THE BLACK STUFF

& IRISH STEW, DOOLIN,

IRELAND

You’ll not get much more Irish than this, a mountain of home-made Irish stew, traditional music, great craic and one of the best pints of Guinness in the country.

SMOKED KNUCKLE OF PORK,

TRANSYLVANIA

Transylvania is famous for

curing, then smoking pork

knuckle in a kiln. The tender

succulent fl avours ooze through

the crispy crackling providing a

mouth watering feast.

AMBER NECTAR,

EASTERN EUROPE

Soothe the soul and inspire

the mind - the East offers

many top beers, Vodkas and

some fi ne wines at prices to

giggle at.

SHARED COCKTAILS,

LAGOS, PORTUGAL

When you’re in the mood

for a party, nothing says

fun like a drink big enough

to share. Grab a straw and

get involved... it sure makes

buying a round easier.

FOOD STALLS, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

Take a break from bartering to try some of the food in the

Marrakech medinas. With so many sights and smells, you

won’t know where to start! Hey, you’ll be surrounded by snake

charmers, might as well eat something equally bizarre.

TAPAS, SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN

Imagine a city where it’s hard to decide which is more

heavenly: the beaches or the food! Take a tapas crawl through

San Sebastian and for pocket-change you can buy a delicious

little bite to eat at each bar. You’ll never want to eat a regular

meal again.

Maybe not what you’re used to back home, but like your Mum

used to say, ‘how do you know you won’t like it if you don’t try it’.

GRUB’S UPTUCK IN TO EUROPE’S FINEST

THE HAGGiS DIFFERENCEPASSIONATE LOCAL GUIDES All have a great sense of

humour and a superb knowledge of their country.

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES

No minimum numbers; it’s simple - you book, you go!

LEADING THE WAY SINCE 1993 We’ve pioneered the best

routes, offer the best accommodation and use the best

vehicles – our legendary yellow Mercedes midi-coaches.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION GUARANTEEDAccommodation is

guaranteed on all tours,

simply pay as you go! We

only stay in the best hostels,

from small farmhouses

to castles. All have great

facilities, provide free linen

and have top quality self-

catering kitchens, security,

and laundries. Ask us about

private room upgrades!

WHAT’S INCLUDED?An unforgettable adventure

with like-minded travellers,

transport, including all local

ferries, and a legendary

tour guide.

WHAT’S NOT? Accommodation, meals and

entrance fees allowing you to

keep your options open. This

means you can buy your own

food, miss out an attraction

or treat yourself to a private

room, it’s your choice!29

THE VERY BEST

BUDGET ADVENTURES

Our team are passionate

about travel; our award-

winning trips are designed

by travellers for travellers.

We are totally committed

to ensuring you make the

most of your time in the

UK and ensuring your cash

goes further.

YOUR CHOICE!

Don’t follow the herd,

do what you want to do.

How you spend your

hard-earned cash is up

to you. We don’t impose

restrictive kitties - why pay

for a meal you don’t want

or entry to an attraction

that’s not for you?

RESPECTING NATURE

We have a strong

commitment to

sustainable tourism.

We are the fi rst tour

operator in Scotland to

achieve a national Green

Tourism Award. Our

country is stunning,

let’s keep it that way!

OVER 99%

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

RECOMMEND US*

* From a survey of our

passengers 2008

SINCE 1993

Eilean Donan Castle

30

Castle Stalker, Highlands

Our wild & sexy HAGGiS guides are legends - highly trained, entertaining and passionate locals - your historians, comedians, storytellers, drivers & DJs all rolled into one. They’ll give you an amazing insight into our country and an experience to remember!

We’re proud that over the last 15 years they have earned the reputation for being the best in the business. They all have a deep love of their country and want you to love it as much as them! Just don’t ask what’s under the kilt…!

We believe you shouldn’t

just see our country, you

should experience it. Our

handpicked local guides are

totally passionate not only

about our wee country but

that you have the trip of

your life…

Sleep in a haunted Highland

castle; go monster hunting

on mysterious Loch Ness;

visit ancient battlefi elds

and castles and hear

bloody tales of Scotland’s

legends or chill out on the

empty sandy beaches of

the Western Isles; sample

a dram of malt whisky by

a peat fi re; soak up the

atmosphere and watch the

mist swirl around the peaks

of haunting Glencoe.

AWARD-WINNING ADVENTURES FOR

INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS

EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME...

Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital is one of Europe’s most stunning and

vibrant cities. It’s an ideal destination for budget travellers with

hundreds of pubs, a buzzing club scene and some awesome hostels.

From hangings to hangovers…

The city is teeming with pubs and clubs

and every bar is open til 1am and many

til 3am.

Have a few pints in The Grassmarket.

Once the place for public hangings, now

more famous for loads of great pubs

and hangovers.

Explore Edinburgh Castle -Scotland’s

most famous castle and home to big

cannons, royal jewels and loads of

bloody history.

Go and get your picture taken with one

of the bagpipers busking around the

Royal Mile and medieval Old Town.

Climb Arthur’s seat for some stunning

city views.

Edinburgh has loads of free museums

and art galleries. Check out Dolly the

sheep (the world’s fi rst ever clone) in

the Museum of Scotland.

Enter the Surgeon’s Museum where

you’ll fi nd a pocket-book bound in the

skin of William Burke, one half of Burke

& Hare, Edinburgh’s infamous serial-

killing duo.

Underground Edinburgh – more caves

and vaults than the Matrix! Take a tour

and discover Edinburgh’s plague-ridden

medieval past.

31

HIGHLIGHTS

> Stay in a real haunted Highland

castle* – if you dare!

> Discover over 4,000 years of human

history on Orkney including Europe’s

best preserved prehistoric village

> Explore the amazing Tomb of the

Eagles, where you can come face to

face with our 5,000 year old ancestors

> See a traditional Hebridean

Blackhouse and soak up the

atmosphere at the Callanish Standing

Stones, pre-dating Stonehenge!

> Hear traditional music, and enjoy a

wonderful local seafood platter

> Wander along empty sandy beaches

with turquoise waters on Harris, with

views to die for

> Look out for dolphins and whales on

the 5 ferry trips (included in price)

ITINERARY

Day 1: Edinburgh to Highland Castle*

Through Perthshire and the Cairngorms

National Park to Culloden and Loch Ness

Highland castle*

Day 2: To the Orkney Islands via John

O’Groats Ferry to Orkney. Scapa Flow,

Skara Brae Tomb of the Eagles and the

Ring of Brodgar. Kirkwall

Day 3: To Ullapool Ferry to mainland.

To Tongue then west to Ullapool along

the stunning coastline. Ullapool

Day 4: Ullapool Free day to explore

Ullapool at your own pace. Hire a bike,

explore the local hills or just chill out in a

bookshop or beach. Ullapool

Day 5: To Lewis Callanish Standing

Stones, Gaelic settlements and island

exploration. Stornoway

Day 6: To the Isle of Skye Explore

Harris’ beaches, to Skye exploring

the spectacular scenery, history and

legends. Skye

Day 7: To Edinburgh Ferry ‘over the

sea’ from Skye, past Glenfi nnan (Harry

Potter fi lms) Glencoe and The Wallace

Monument.

*blackout dates apply

> Try freshly cooked fi sh & chips by

Ullapool harbour

> Enjoy a few drams of whisky and

meet the locals in the pub

DETAILS FOR ALL SCOTLAND TRIPS

INCLUSIONS

> Legendary Mercedes midi-coach to

explore off the beaten track

> All taxes & ferries

> Your sexy local guide

ACCOMMODATIONHostel accom. £15-£20

Private rooms where available

£20-£40. See website for details.

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHAGGiS Adventures, Edinburgh. 8.30am

RETURN TIME HAGGiS Adventures, Edinburgh.

5pm approximately

BUDGET GUIDEBreakfast - From £2

Lunch - From £3

Dinner - From £6

Entrance fees – allow £4 per day

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.haggisadventures.com

for details.

I would recommend The Island Explorer for anyone who wants to

escape the hordes of tourists and get a taste of the real Scotland... full of facts, friends and crazy adventures.

GENUINE QUOTES

GENUINE EXPERIENCES

Laura Mickelson, USA, June 2008

EDINBURGH

GLENCOE

INVERNESS

CARBISDALECASTLE

KIRKWALL

ULLAPOOL

HARRIS

ISLE OF SKYE

LEWIS

STORNOWAY

ORKNEYISLANDS

JOHN O’GROATS

PITLOCHRY

STIRLING

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

MAY VARY

ORKNEY, WESTERN ISLES,

ISLE OF SKYE & GLENCOE

Go beyond the mainland and discover

the far northern and western fringes of

Scotland, Europe’s last great wilderness.

Our ultimate trip explores an amazingly

diverse range of scenery, history and

cultures. From the Viking infl uenced

Orkney Islands and the mysterious

Callanish Standing Stones on Lewis

to the mountains and legends of the

magical Isle of Skye.


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

MAY – OCT Saturdays

Guaranteed, £15-£20 per night. From cottages to castles,

we only stay in the best hostels, (mostly rated 4 by

VisitScotland) and are not tied to any hostel chain.

Highland Castle*

Real castle

complete with its

own statue gallery

and ghost!

*blackout dates apply

Ullapool

Seafront hostel in

the centre of the

village, close to the

pubs and music.

Fort Augustus

(Loch Ness)

Small en-suite

rooms, bar, live

music & the best

power showers!

Skye

In a small fi shing

village, complete

with ruined castle

and legendary

seafood.

Stornoway

Small family run

hostel in the

centre of town,

complete with

peat fi re.

Oban

With panoramic

seaviews across

the bay and great

facilities.

32

HIGHLIGHTS

> Go monster spotting and spend

the night at Loch Ness

> Discover the magical Isle of Skye

> Explore the haunting beauty of Glencoe,

scene of the infamous massacre

> View Eilean Donan Castle, perched

on the shores of Loch Duich

> Soak up the atmosphere of Culloden

Battlefi eld, scene of Bonnie Prince

Charlie’s bloody defeat

ITINERARY

Day 1: Edinburgh to Loch Ness

Hear tales of William Wallace and head

north past The Trossachs, Glencoe and

The Great Glen. Fort Augustus on

the shores of Loch Ness.

Day 2: To Skye Discover Eilean Donan

Castle and then over the water to

explore the magical Isle of Skye.

Fort Augustus (Loch Ness).

Day 3: To Edinburgh Explore the

length of Loch Ness & Culloden

Battlefi eld before heading south

through the stunning natural beauty

of the Cairngorms National Park. > Take an evening boat cruise on Loch

Ness and hunt for Nessie

> Hear the bloody history of the clans,

try on traditional Highland dress and

see their weapons

> Taste some Haggis in a Highland

pub washed down with a pint of

local ale

HIGHLIGHTS

> Spend the night in a real castle*,

complete with its own art collection

and resident ghost!

> Explore Loch Ness and try to catch

a glimpse of the world’s most

famous monster

> Hear tales of Scotland’s bloody history

in haunting Glencoe

> Explore the Isle of Skye,

awesome mountains, legends

and jaw-dropping scenery

> Taste some malt whisky at one of

Scotland’s oldest distilleries

ITINERARY

Day 1: Edinburgh to Oban From

the Wallace Monument through The

Trossachs National Park, Glencoe to

Oban on the West Coast. Oban

Day 2: To Skye Continue north past

Ben Nevis and through The Great Glen.

Eilean Donan Castle then over to Skye.

Skye

Day 3: To Carbisdale Castle Exploring

the Isle of Skye. Back on the mainland

head for the castle, deep in the

Highlands. Highland Castle*

Day 4: To Loch Ness Culloden

Battlefi eld, mysterious Loch Ness

and The Great Glen. Fort Augustus

(Loch Ness)

Day 5: To Edinburgh Loch Laggan and

Perthshire through Dunkeld.

*blackout dates may apply

So you think you’re brave enough to stay in a haunted castle?

Highlander and James Bond movies were fi lmed at Eilean Donan Castle.

> Enjoy an evening boat cruise on Loch

Ness and search for the monster

> Hire a bike and discover the fantastic

forest trails around Loch Ness

> Watch the sunset over Oban Bay

from McCaig’s Tower

LOCH NESS, ISLE OF SKYE

& THE NORTH WEST

HIGHLANDS

A spectacular and unforgettable

adventure through the Highlands and

magical Isle of Skye. Get out there

amongst some of the world’s most

incredible scenery. Stay in a haunted

Highland castle*, go monster hunting

on Loch Ness, hear tales of Scotland’s

bloody history, enjoy whisky tasting in

a Highland distillery and explore the

magical Isle of Skye.


ISLE OF SKYE,

LOCH NESS & GLENCOE

Our most popular tour – ideal if you’re

short on time but still want to explore

some of Scotland’s most famous

sights. Go Nessie hunting, discover

ruined castles, stunning lochs, dramatic

mountains and hear tales of Celtic

myths and legends.


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

JAN - MAY Mon

JUN - SEP Mon, Wed & Sat

OCT – DEC Mon

JAN - MAR Mon & Fri

APR - SEP Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat

OCT – DEC Mon & Fri

LOCH NESS contains more

water than in all of the lakes and

rivers of England and Wales combined.

Its deepest point is 230 metres deeper

than the height of London’s BT Tower.

The earliest recorded sighting of

‘Nessie’ was by St. Columba in the 6th

century when he saved the life of a

Pict, who was being attacked by the

monster. You can go monster hunting

on our legendary 3 and 5 day trips! Sligachan Burn, Isle of Skye

EDINBURGH

GLENCOE

LOCHNESS

INVERNESS

ISLE OF SKYE

PITLOCHRY

STIRLING

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

MAY VARY

EDINBURGH

GLENCOE

OBAN

LOCH NESS

INVERNESS

ULLAPOOL

ISLE OF SKYE

PITLOCHRY

STIRLING

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

MAY VARY

CARBISDALECASTLE

33

Harlech Castle, North Wales

Explore mysterious

Stonehenge; enjoy lunch

by a historic Welsh castle

or stay in a traditional

Welsh country farmhouse

with local organic meat

for the BBQ; experience

Roman Bath, haunting

Dartmoor and the ruins

of Tintagel Castle where

the Arthurian legend was

born; tantalise your taste

buds with Cornish pasties

and scrumpy cider! Chill

out on the beaches of the

Southwest or party the

night away in the surfer’s

paradise of Newquay.

If you are looking for history, music, theatre, art, fashion, shopping,

clubbing and everything in-between, then London is the place to be.

London has some of oldest and best

boozers in the world! Sample some

real ale in pubs that date back to Tudor

times (like the Lamb & Flag in Covent

Garden).

Take a trip on the London Eye – the

world’s largest ferris wheel. Here you

get a bird’s-eye view of all the greats –

Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and

St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Go see a show in the West End. Or head

for the stalls of the Shakespeare Globe

Theatre – just like it was in the early

1600’s!

Grab some culture! How about the

Museum of London, the British

Museum, the V&A, the Natural

History Museum, Tate Modern or

the National Gallery?

Check out Queen Lizzie’s boys doing

their thing at the Changing of the

Guards. Go on, try making the guy on

the horse smile – bet you can’t!

Get stuck into some proper British grub.

Bangers & mash or jellied eels anyone?

What could be more traditional than a

curry? Some of the world’s best can be

found up Brick Lane in the East End.

Visit the multitude of free museums.

Take a wander around Trafalgar Square

and dodge the pigeons.

Explore one of London’s many markets:

Borough, Portobello, Camden and last

but not least, Spitalfi elds.

Greta & Marie made this fun as well as interesting. Never a dull

moment, fantastic... Will defi nitely recommend.

GENUINE QUOTES NEWQUAY IS ENGLAND’S SURFING CAPITAL. With 11 beaches, surf lessons

and board hire on every corner.

It’s a party town too, with a great

club scene. We spend 2 nights

in Newquay on our legendary

Cornwall Crusader adventure.

GENUINE EXPERIENCES

Tanya, New Zealand July 2008

EXPERIENCE MORE WITH HAGGiS

> Order a pint of Brains beer and get

chatting to the locals in a traditional

Welsh pub

> Learn some Welsh and impress

the locals

> Put on your tight leather trousers

and pretend you’re Tom Jones at

the karaoke

HIGHLIGHTS

> Discover the unspoilt beauty of the

Brecon Beacons

> Wander around the spectacular ruins

of Tintern Abbey, inspiration to

William Wordsworth

> Go underground at The Big Pit –

experience a real coal mine and hear

the fascinating history of mining

in Wales

> Have a night out to remember in the

vibrant capital city of Cardiff

> Explore one of the most impressive

castles in the world in Conwy, built by

Edward I to contain the Welsh

> Trek in the stunning Snowdonia

National Park and hopefully get

a glimpse of Britain’s second tallest

mountain, Mt. Snowdon

> Find some lost treasure in the town

of books (Hay-on-Wye – with over 30

second hand bookshops)

ITINERARY

Day 1: London to South Wales Head

west across the Severn into south Wales

to Tintern Abbey. Venture down a real

Welsh mine at the Big Pit, then enjoy

a hike in the stunning Brecon Beacons.

Tonight we have a big night out in the

vibrant capital city of Cardiff. Cardiff

Day 2: West Coast of Wales Leave the

hustle and bustle of Cardiff behind and

travel through mid-Wales, taking in

some breathtaking sights, including the

beautiful town of Llangollen, the Elan

Valley and the world famous second

hand book capital of Britain, Hay-on-

Wye. We then grab some local produce

to cook up a feast in a rural Welsh

farmhouse. Welsh farmhouse

Day 3: North Wales, Snowdonia

and Anglesey After a hearty cooked

breakfast we head to Conwy and then

across the Menai Straight to Anglesey,

before travelling back to the mainland

to explore Snowdonia National Park and

take in the spectacular scenery north

Wales is famous for. Spend the evening

chilling out on the north coast with fi sh

and chips, staying in the shadow of

Caernarfon Castle! Caernarfon

Day 4: North Wales to South Wales

Drive along the spectacular coastal

routes to North Wales, stopping on the

way to sample some Welsh rarebit and

Welsh cakes! Before spending our fi nal

night in south Wales. Carmarthen

Day 5: South Wales to London

We then take in the ‘Mumbles’ and

breathtaking scenery of the Gower

Peninsula before stopping at Caerphilly,

home to one of Britain’s largest Norman

castles, returning to London arriving in

the early evening.

34

MAY – OCT Mondays

Pembrokeshire Coastline

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

LONDON

ENGLAND

FISHGUARD

CAERNARFONFARMHOUSE

CARDIFF

CARMARTHEN

WALES

BRECONBEACONS

SNOWDONIA

THE WELSH LOVE THEIR FOOD & BEERWhy not sample a pint of Brains

Beer? Their brewery in Cardiff is

the largest in Wales. Traditional

Welsh dishes include laverbread

(made from seaweed!), bara brith

(fruit cake), cawl cennin (leek

stew), Welsh cakes, Welsh Rarebit,

and of course Welsh lamb. A

type of shellfi sh, cockles, is often

served with breakfast. Yum!

The ultimate Welsh adventure! Escape

London and let wild Wales capture your

imagination as you explore this unique

and fascinating country. Discover ancient

castles, fantastic towns and villages,

stunning coastal and mountain scenery

and the legends of King Arthur.

WELSH EXPLORER

CARDIFF, SNOWDONIA,

BRECON BEACONS &

CAERNARFON CASTLE


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

HIGHLIGHTS

> Visit the ancient Roman Baths or do

as the Romans did and pamper

yourself with a spa treatment in

Britain’s original natural thermal spa

> Take a walk across Dartmoor and

try not to get misled by the

mischievous pixies!

> Visit Tintagel, place of magic and

myth where the legend of King Arthur

was born

> Marvel at the mysterious Stonehenge

and Avebury stone circles

> Climb Glastonbury’s magical Tor for

spectacular views across Somerset

> Try your hand at some amateur

dramatics at one of the most

spectacular open air theatres in the

world – The Minack Theatre

ITINERARYDay 1: London to Cheddar Depart

London and travel west to Salisbury

Cathedral then onto Stonehenge, the

UK’s most famous and mysterious stone

circle. We then explore the dramatic

Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar

Day 2: Cheddar to Newquay Spend

the morning exploring the wilds of

Dartmoor National Park before making

our way into Cornwall and the chance

of a trek to Dozemary Pool, made

famous by King Arthur. We then head to

Newquay the UK’s surf capital and our

base for two nights. Newquay

Day 3: Cornwall The whole day is spent

in Cornwall performing ancient rituals

around the mysterious standing stones,

doing scenic coastal walks, attempting

to speak some Cornish, visiting the

amazing Minack Theatre and stopping

at the most westerly tip of England,

Land’s End. After a busy day you’ll be

able to have a night out to remember in

Newquay. Newquay

Day 4: Newquay to Bath Leave the

sand and surf behind to visit Tintagel,

the birthplace of King Arthur. We

then travel east through Devon into

Somerset to Glastonbury where King

Arthur is buried, stopping for the night

in the historic and beautiful city of Bath.

Bath

Day 5: Bath to London Spend the

morning visiting the Roman Baths

and wandering around admiring some

of the fi nest examples of Georgian

architecture in the UK. Feel like you have

travelled back in time in the village of

Lacock and then onward to one of the

most impressive standing stone circles

at Avebury before returning to London.

> Chill out on one of the 11 beaches in

Newquay and watch the sun set

> Hire a surf board and hit the waves in

the UK’s surf capital

> Tempt your taste buds with local

favourites such as Cornish pasties

and scrumpy cider

35

MAY – OCT Mondays

DETAILS FOR

ENGLAND & WALES

TRIPS

INCLUSIONS

> All on-tour transportation from

and returning to London

> Your sexy local guide

ACCOMMODATIONHostel accom. £17-£18

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEHAGGiS Adventures, London. 7.15am

RETURN TIME HAGGiS Adventures, London.

6.30pm approximately

BUDGETBreakfast - From £2

Lunch - From £3

Dinner - From £6

Entrance fees – budget £6 per day

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.haggisadventures.com

for details

LONDON

STONEHENGE

DARTMOOR

LAND’S END

NEWQUAY

ENGLAND

EXMOOR

CHEDDAR

BATH

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

WALES

Discover the mystical West Country,

steeped in Arthurian legends, laylines

and ancient Roman history. Reach the

southwest tip of the UK through tiny

villages, deserted moors and stunning

coastline. Including Newquay, the UK’s

surf capital.


CORNWALL CRUSADER

North Wales

Fantastic working

family-run

farmhouse in

rural Wales

Newquay

Overlooking

Towan Beach

in the centre of

England’s surf

capital

Guaranteed, £17-£18 per night. We only stay in quality

hostels with the best facilities.

Cardiff

This buzzing

hostel was voted

the Number 1

hostel in Wales

by Hostelworld

Cheddar

Victorian villa

packed full of

character and

close to the

famous gorge

Caernarfon

Amazing 200 year

old townhouse in

the heart of this

historic castle

town

Bath

Centrally located

in the heart of

the city near the

Roman Baths

Stonehenge, is one of the most

famous and mysterious prehistoric

sites in the world. Over the centuries

countless myths have sprung up

about its origins and functions. Was

it built by Druids or Romans? Used as

an ancient observatory? A Neolithic

burial ground? Or even a landing pad

for alien spacecraft?

Discover for yourself on our amazing

Cornwall Crusader 5 Day trip or our

popular Day Tour from London.

GO CELTIC IN CORNWALL

The Cornish fl ag is the fl ag of

St. Piran, patron saint of miners.

It’s said to be inspired by the

‘Jolly Roger’ – and the fearsome

reputation of the seagoing Cornish.

Being a Celtic nation the Cornish

have their own tartans and even

wear kilts!

Discover the stunning Cornish

coastline and UK surf capital on

our Cornwall Crusader trip.

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

STONEHENGE,

DARTMOOR,

NEWQUAY & BATH

VENICE CARNEVALE, ITALY

13-24 FEBRUARY

Dating back to the 13th century

and outlawed in the 1930’s

this festival celebrates Venetian

culture with all the locals

dressing in traditional masks

and costumes for a 10 day

street party before Lent. Dance,

music and theatre combine

with street events, eating and

drinking - the carnevale is not

to be missed.

HOGMANAY, SCOTLAND

31 DECEMBER

The world has New Year’s Eve,

only Scotland has Hogmanay!

Edinburgh’s Street Party – the

biggest in Europe. There’s live

acts, amazing fi reworks and

a chance to kiss anyone and

everyone. It’s the place to be

when the clock strikes midnight!

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

CHEESE-ROLLING, 25 MAY

Don’t miss one of the the

UK’s most unusual and

talked about events, the

legendary May Bank Holiday

Cheese Rolling Festival. A

guest roller starts the race

by releasing a 7-8lb round of

cheese down a treacherous

slope. Competitors then

chase down the slope after

the cheese. The fi rst person

to arrive at the foot of the

hill wins the cheese and the

acclaim of the crowds.

BASTILLE DAY, PARIS

13-14 JULY

Starts with a parade and

thousands of people lining

the Champs Elysées. Ends

with fi reworks over the

Champ-de-Mars, and

parties at every bar, club

and café - Bastille Day is

the height of ‘joie-de-vivre’.

Check out the website for details on HAGGiS, Shamrocker,

Eastern Trekker and Busabout Festival Packages.

WE GO TO EUROPE’S BEST PARTIES

UP HELLY AA, SCOTLAND

27 JANUARY

The Viking Fire Festival hosted

on the Shetland Isles. It

features 800 horny-helmeted

locals, the burning of a full-

scale Viking longboat, all night

parties and a chance to see the

Northern Lights.

QUEEN’S DAY,

AMSTERDAM

29-30 APRIL

A celebration in honour of the

current Dutch queen. All the

locals dress in orange and party

at events across the country.

Head to Amsterdam, home

of the palace, for the biggest

celebrations.

EXIT FESTIVAL,

SERBIA

9-12 JULY 2009

The quirkiest best value

for money music festival in

Europe. Vibrant crowds, top

acts and an unbelievable

setting in the Petrovaradin

castle Novi Sad Serbia.

36

LAS FALLAS, VALENCIA

19 MARCH

Pyromaniacs be warned:

you might never be able

to top this celebration in

Valencia. The big moment

comes at midnight,

when all streetlights are

turned off and hundreds

of statues, some several

stories high, burst into

fl ames, with fi reworks and

parties going off all week.

100% IRISH GUIDESOur Guides are local characters with a great sense of humour and a knowledge of Ireland that’s second to none.

GUARANTEED DEPARTURESNo minimum numbers; you book, you go!

THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONWe are not tied exclusively to any hostel chain so are free to select only the best, from converted mills to cosy family run hostels.

IT’S YOUR CHOICE!We don’t package – so don’t waste your cash on attractions and meals you don’t want!

37

EXPERIENCE IRELANDFeel it, live it and love it the

way we do, we’ll ensure you

get a tremendous insight

into our country. Meet real

local characters and enjoy

all the best ‘craic’. Even if we

say so ourselves, we are the

friendliest people on earth!

WE BELIEVE IN CHOICE! Travelling is all about choice.

We know everyone has their

own likes and dislikes. As

choice is at the heart of our

philosophy we don’t package.

Don’t waste your money on

attractions and meals you

don’t want!

OUR UNRIVALLED REPUTATION!We do NOT operate a

minimum numbers policy

so once you’re booked you

will travel - guaranteed! In

over 10 years of running

trips, we’ve never cancelled

a departure. Unlike other

companies we never mix our

trips so if you book a 3 day

trip that’s what you’ll get, not

half of a 6 day trip!

LET THE IRISH SHOW

YOU THE REAL IRELAND!

We know quality accommodation is important

on tour. Dorm accommodation is guaranteed

and pre-booked by us on all our trips, simply

pay as you go! We use only the best hostels

and are not tied to any hostel chain. All have

great facilities, provide free linen and have top

quality self-catering kitchens (ideal for group

cook-ups), security and laundry facilities.

If you want to treat yourself or enjoy more

privacy, private rooms are available in many

locations. Please be sure to let us know when

making your reservation as we cannot always

guarantee availability. The best views in Ireland!

38

Ireland - an island of

inspirational natural beauty,

ancient legends and warm

local spirit. Experience fi rst

hand why Ireland was recently

voted the World’s friendliest

destination by The Lonely

Planet. Once you’ve been you’ll

never forget it, Ireland gets

under your skin – in a good

way of course!

...brave the inspirational Cliffs

of Moher. Kiss the Blarney

Stone. Sample smooth Irish

whiskey from one of the

oldest distilleries in the World!

Take a stroll along the Giant’s

Causeway and cross the

amazing Carrick-a-Rede Rope

Bridge. Discover the real Belfast

on a black cab tour. Soak up

the traditional music with a

pint of the black stuff in Galway,

Ireland’s cultural capital.

A COUNTRY WITHOUT A LANGUAGE IS A COUNTRY WITHOUT A SOUL

‘we are all

born mad.

some remain so.’Samuel Beckett

> Around every corner there are pubs,

from traditional Dublin drinking dens

and microbreweries to new style bars.

Dublin has a vibrant and diverse club

scene too.

> Check out Temple Bar, the city’s

alternative strip, with boutiques,

music shops, cafés, bars, artists

and musicians.

> No visit to Dublin is complete without

a visit to the Guinness Storehouse.

Try your hand at pulling your own

pint, then sit back and watch the

world go by from the Gravity Bar.

> Find out more about the troubled

history of Ireland. A visit to

Kilmainham Gaol is unforgettable.

> Get stuck into a traditional

Irish stew with a pint of

the black stuff to wash

it down.

With Shamrocker Adventures

there is no such thing as

a typical day... every trip is

unique and different from

the last! As long as you’re

fl exible, open-minded

and bring your sense of

Wild walking in Ireland’s emerald

countryside, plenty of sightseeing,

and countless tales and legends.

We’ll take you to some of the best,

and least, known places in Ireland.

The ones you’ve heard of (like

Blarney Castle and the Cliffs of

Moher) but also a few hidden gems

that only we locals know about.

Our tours are fl exible so that we

can change plans as we go.

Have a picnic lunch on the beach,

fi nd a cosy pub with a peat fi re or

you could be let loose in a typical

Irish village to explore. Options for

dinner vary, so you can choose

somewhere to suit your own

budget / tastes. Hostels also have

self-catering facilities so you can

cook up your very own feast.

In the evening, your guide will tell

you where to fi nd the best local

pubs in search of the best ‘craic’,

friendly locals and live music. You

can of course do your own thing:

go for a walk, fi nd a quiet bar, chill

out in the hostel or grab an early

night before another action

packed day.

adventure, we guarantee

you’ll have a

time. Join us for the

experience of a lifetime -

Wild, Authentic & Irish.> Immerse yourself in the history of

Ireland at the National Museum; from

Viking exhibitions to Irish silverware -

it’s got the lot.

> Check out local buskers on Grafton

Street.

> Get your picture taken with the one

and only Molly Malone, the ‘tart with

the cart’!

> Colin Farrell - Ireland’s best bad boy?

> Bram Stoker - Author of Count

Dracula

> Paul David Hewson - otherwise

known as Bono!

Dublin has everything a budget traveller could ask for…

TÍR GAN TEANGA, TÍR GAN ANAM

39

ITINERARY

Day 1: Dublin to Killarney Pass the

River Liffey on the way to Cashel,

explore the amazing Michelstown Caves,

then we head through the Golden Vale

to Blarney in the rebel county of Cork.

Killarney

Day 2: To Ennis Full day exploring the

dramatic Dingle Peninsula, before taking

the ferry over the mighty Shannon to

Co. Clare. Ennis

Day 3: To Galway Marvel at the Cliffs of

Moher, hear legends at the Burren and

then head to Galway. Galway

Day 4: To Inis Mór (Aran Islands)

Cross the Atlantic. Free time to explore

this ancient island made famous by

Father Ted! Inis Mór

Day 5: To Derry Through Connemara to

County Sligo, W.B. Yeats’ grave, over the

border to Northern Ireland. Derry

Day 6: To Belfast We travel along the

stunning Antrim coastline to get to

Dunluce Castle, The Giant’s Causeway

and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

(weather permitting). Belfast

Day 7: To Dublin Explore Belfast. Then

south to Carlingford on the Cooley

Peninsula, Monasterboice and the site of

the Battle of the Boyne.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Get the ‘gift of the gab’ by kissing

the Blarney Stone

> Experience the dramatic Cliffs of Moher

> Hear tales of Celtic legends and marvel

at the mysterious Dolmen

> Meet the locals at a traditional music

session in the pub

> Explore the Gaelic Isle of Inis Mór

(Father Ted)

> Trek to the Giant’s Causeway and

brave the amazing Carrick –a-Rede

Rope Bridge (weather permitting)

> Inis Mór- watch the sun set while

listening to the native Gaelic

speaking locals

> Derry- take an award winning

walking tour of Derry City’s medieval

walls and discover how times really

have changed

> Enjoy pints of the black stuff and

traditional music in Galway, Ireland’s

cultural capital

Our ultimate Irish adventure! Explore

the whole of the island: north and

south plus Inis Mór (Aran Islands)

hidden away off the west coast.

Traditional music, stunning scenery

and all the best craic. This is your

chance to see Ireland through our

eyes. Let us show you the real Ireland,

two countries, one peaceful island!

RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

MAY – OCT Saturdays 14 March 2009

TRIP DETAILS

INCLUSIONS

> All on-tour attractions

> St. Patrick’s Festival Survival Pack

- full of info, maps & tips

> Guinness Storehouse ticket

> Exclusive Shamrocker Adventures

t-shirt

ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED7 nights hostel dorm accommodation

on tour and in Dublin for the festival.

All breakfasts.

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEKinlay House, Dublin. 8.15am

CELTIC COMBO8 DAYS $1,109 - DEPARTS 14 MARCH

The ultimate all-Ireland St Patrick’s

extravaganza! See Ireland at its best

in 8 days - North and South.

We head North fi rst of all and visit the

Giant’s Causeway, Derry and Belfast;

you’ll see murals and mountains and

explore tombs and temples, then

return to Dublin for festival fun and

frolics and of course - The Parade!

Then we head west to visit Dingle and

Doolin, kiss the Blarney Stone and

hang out at the Cliffs of Moher. One

island, one week, once in a lifetime!

There remains only one place on Earth

to properly celebrate the world’s number

one Saint, the country that taught the

rest of the world how to party – Ireland.

JOIN THE PARTY IN DUBLIN17 MARCH (DEPARTS 14 MARCH)

HIGHLIGHTS> Explore the stunning Dingle Peninsula,

Ireland’s most westerly point

> Get the ‘gift of the gab’ when you kiss

the Blarney Stone at the legendary

Blarney Castle

> Stand atop the mysterious Giant’s

Causeway with views of the coast

of Scotland

> Discover Protestant and Catholic

Belfast with your local black cab tour

BLARNEY

DOOLIN

ENNIS

GALWAY DUBLIN

INIS MÓR

CLIFFS OF MOHER

DINGLE

WESTPORT

CONNEMARA

KILLARNEY

DONEGAL

DERRY GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

BELFAST

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

NORTHERN IRELAND

BLARNEY CASTLE,

GALWAY, ARAN ISLANDS,

DERRY & BELFAST

INCLUSIONS

> All on tour transport around

The Emerald Isle

> All ferry charges and local taxes

where applicable

> Your fan-feckin-tastic local Irish

tour guide

ACCOMMODATIONHostel accom. ¤17-¤21 (dorms)

Private rooms where available ¤30-¤50

B & Bs ¤40-¤60

See website for details.

DEPARTURE POINT & TIMEShamrocker Adventures, Dublin. 8.15am

RETURN TIME Shamrocker Adventures, Dublin.

5.30pm approximately

BUDGETBreakfast - From ¤4

Lunch - From ¤8

Dinner - From ¤12

Your choice – all hostels have good

kitchen facilities for self-catering /

group cook-ups.

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATIONSee www.shamrockeradventures.com

for details

DETAILS FOR ALL

IRELAND TRIPS


HIGHLIGHTS

> Walk in the footsteps of the Irish kings

at the Hill of Tara

> Soak up wild mountain & coastal

views in Connemara

> Experience the dizzy heights of the

Cliffs of Moher

> Explore the amazing Mitchelstown

Caves

ITINERARY

Day 1: Dublin to Westport Hill of Tara

and Kilbeggan (Locke’s Distillery) then

continue west to Knock. Westport

Day 2: To Galway Croagh Patrick,

Connemara and Clifden. Galway

Day 3: To Doolin The Burren and Pól-

na-Brone Dolmen, spectacular Atlantic

coastal drive to the Cliffs of Moher.

Doolin

Day 4: To Killarney Ferry over the

mouth of the Shannon to Kerry. Around

the Dingle Peninsula and explore the

amazing beaches. Killarney

Day 5: To Dublin On to Blarney Castle

to kiss the Blarney Stone, Mitchelstown

Caves, the Rock of Cashel and back to

the Fair City.

> Enjoy a pint and all the craic in the

famous Matt Molloy’s pub in Westport

> Taste fresh oysters in Galway, from

one of its many restaurants

> Immerse yourself in traditional Irish

music in Doolin

CASHEL

BLARNEY

DOOLIN

GALWAY DUBLIN

DINGLE

WESTPORT

KILLARNEY TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

NORTHERN IRELAND

40

Thank you for bringing Ireland alive with your stories, history and

personal experiences. Having locals share their Ireland made for an amazing trip.

Karen, Brisbane, Australia, July 2008

GENUINE QUOTES

GENUINE EXPERIENCES

BLARNEY CASTLE,

CONNEMARA, GALWAY

& DOOLIN

Experience fi rst hand what great ‘craic’

the Emerald Isle is, from incredible

landscapes, mountains and castles, to

nights squeezed into the local pub with

traditional live music and a pint of the

black stuff. Go beyond the postcard

images and discover the real Ireland.


RADICAL DEALS

SAVE 10%SEE PAGE 04

JAN – DEC Mondays

Guaranteed, ¤17-¤21.

We only stay in the best

hostels, all approved by

the Independent Holiday

Hostels of Ireland.

Inis Mór

Wake up to the

sound of the

waves, as well as

stunning views of

the Atlantic Ocean

Derry

Great hostel,

stunning location

directly in the

city centre

Doolin

Small friendly

family run hostel

with a cosy lounge

complete with a

turf fi re

Westport

Stay in an old mill,

full of character

with old beams

and authentic

stone walls

Galway

Situated in the

heart of bustling

Galway City with

panoramic views

of Galway Bay

Killarney

Close to the

centre of town

with good facilities

and a warm

welcome

Belfast

Top quality hostel

with great facilities

in the city centre

and all the pubs

and clubs

Ennis

A fab 17th century

Georgian building

complete with a

café, wine bar

& restaurant

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

All our guides are 100% Irish.

Legends in their own right, full

of stories and history, living

proof that kissing the Blarney

Stone really does mean you’ll

have the ‘gift of the gab’ for

the rest of your life!

‘POGUE MAHONE’

The legendary Irish band The

Pogues were originally called

‘Pogue Mahone,’ which translates

into ‘kiss my arse’ in Gaelic.

In 1800, the population of Ireland

was almost twice as large as that

of the United States.

Ireland’s 15 main railway stations

are named after the leaders of the

1916 uprising.

CASHEL

BLARNEY

DOOLIN

DUBLIN

NORTHERN IRELAND

DINGLE

KILLARNEY

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

DUBLIN

DERRY GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

BELFAST

TOUR ROUTES

INDICATIVE ONLY

OVERNIGHTS

VARY REGULARLY

NORTHERN IRELAND

ITINERARY

Day 1: Dublin to Derry Trim Castle and

Lough Crew, then over the border into

Northern Ireland. Derry

Day 2: To Belfast Coastal drive to

Dunluce Castle then it’s on to the Giant’s

Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

and Belfast. Belfast

Day 3: To Dublin Murals of Belfast,

the Mourne Mountains, Carlingford,

Monasterboice and site of the Battle

of the Boyne.

> Enjoy a pint of the black stuff in a

Derry pub near the city walls

> Explore the sights of Belfast

and meet the locals

> An unforgettable night of storytelling,

dancing and shenanigans in the party

town of Killarney

> Walk along the Atlantic coast in the

beautiful village of Doolin

ITINERARY

Day 1: Dublin to Killarney See the

dramatic Rock of Cashel and marvel

at the Michelstown Caves. Blarney

Castle and then onto the party town of

Killarney. Killarney

Day 2: To Doolin Explore the wilds of

the Dingle peninsula. Cross the mighty

Shannon River and then to the Cliffs

of Moher and Doolin, the home of

traditional Irish music. Doolin

Day 3: To Dublin Discover the Burren,

Clonmacnoise and Locke’s Distillery, one

of the oldest in Ireland.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Jam with the locals in the pub

and enjoy impromptu fi ddle, tin

whistling and bodhrán sessions

> Experience the dizzy heights of the

dramatic Cliffs of Moher

> Hear tales of warriors and wenches at

the mysterious Pól-na-Brone Dolmen

> Explore the stunning Dingle Peninsula,

spot the ‘sleeping giant’ and discover

hidden beaches

> Get the ‘gift of the gab’ when you kiss

the Blarney Stone at the legendary

Blarney Castle

HIGHLIGHTS> Explore the medieval walls of Derry

where the past and present are pieced

together in dramatic fashion

> Walk in a Giant’s footsteps at the

world-famous Giant’s Causeway

> Hold your nerve as you cross the

perilous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

(weather permitting)

> Experience the glorious Mourne

Mountains with their ancient

burial sites

> Discover the real Belfast with an

optional local black cab tour

41

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, BELFAST,

DERRY & THE ANTRIM COAST

This awesome trip unveils the real

beauty of Northern Ireland, from

striking scenery to its dramatic history

and unique culture. Lakes and legends,

murals and mountains – immerse

yourself in the culture of the North and

learn about the ‘Troubles’ from a local

perspective.

CLIFFS OF MOHER, BLARNEY,

DOOLIN & SOUTH WEST

Ideal for those short on time, this

adventure checks out some of Ireland’s

most famous sites. If you can brave

sheer cliffs and don’t mind dangling

upside down from the top of a castle on

the promise of a chat, then we will take

you to the limit on an extravaganza of

Ireland’s best bits.



JAN - MAY Fridays

MAY - SEP Mondays & Fridays

OCT – DEC Fridays

APR – SEP Mondays & Fridays

Giant’s Causeway

Dunguaire Castle, Co. Galway

BELFAST BLACK CAB TOURTake a trip around Belfast and get

the inside track on the ‘Troubles’

from the locals.

Travel is about seeking new places, people and

experiences, but it can also be about having a

positive impact where you can along the way.

Giving back is important to us and that is why we

are a founding contributor to The Leading Travel

Companies Conservation Foundation.

Through this foundation US$1 million per year

will go towards projects that help protect the

environment, contribute to indigenous communities

and support sustainable tourism.

• TAKE A STRING BAG

– perfect for carrying food

from the market.

• BYO WATER BOTTLE and

drink the tap water wherever

you can (which is almost

everywhere).

• RECYCLE! Most hostels and

budget hotels have recycling

facilities so make sure you use

them - Northern Europe is

especially fanatical about this!

• BUY A WIND UP PHONE/

LAPTOP CHARGER – you’ll

never have to worry about plug

points again!

• FOR SHORT-HAUL TRAVEL,

CHECK OUT FERRIES, TRAIN

AND COACH OPTIONS BEFORE

YOU BOOK A FLIGHT. Ferries

from the UK to France, Germany

and Spain, or Italy to Greece

are unique experiences and

a fantastic way to travel.

HAGGiS Adventures, the fi rst tour company in Scotland to achieve a Green Tourism Business Award,

supports local community

projects across Scotland and

the UK. Winner of the 2005

Tourism & The Environment

Thistle Award with a strong

commitment to sustainable

tourism, they have ongoing

campaigns to raise money

for local charities: The John

Muir Trust, and Trees for Life,

leading guardians of wild land

and wildlife. HAGGiS guides are

trained to encourage a greater

understanding of the natural

environment and what makes

the country so unique.

Click on

haggisadventures.com/givingback

for more information.

Our travellers can also breathe easy knowing that coach travel

emits less carbon emissions and other harmful greenhouse gases

per passenger than most other forms of transport including cars,

trains and planes. Our coaches are also among the best in Europe

and by continually updating our fl eet we can ensure that our

engines are fuel effi cient and environmentally friendly too.

Click on busabout.com/makeadifference for more info.

42

This year The Leading Travel Companies

Conservation Foundation will help protect

3 million hectares of forest in Brazil, support indigenous

communities through sustainable tourism in Australia, fund

research centres in Botswana and protect some of Europe’s

greatest tourism and archeological monuments in Venice

and Greece.

To get the low down on all our sustainable tourism

projects visit: busabout.com/makeadifference

Kgs of CO2 per passenger mile is calculated:

Total Kgs CO2 / (total passengers x total miles)

Source DEFRA (Dept for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Figures June 2007

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/pdf/conversion-factors.pdf.

You can also calculate the carbon footprint of your travel and accommodation on our website. Choose to travel ‘carbon neutral’ by offsetting the carbon emissions you can’t reduce.

KILOGRAMS OF C0² PER PASSENGER MILE

car

0.1330

air

0.1313

rail

0.0891

coach

0.0227

TLTC Conservation Foundation

President David Hosking was

presented a copy of the Venice

research report by Venice in

Peril’s Nicky Baly following

the Foundation’s $150,000

grant for Venice research

and restoration work which

will help preserve the city for

future generations.

The Leading Travel Companies’

Jeff Element presented a

cheque for $350,000 to

Conservation International’s

Vice President of Development

Sergio Furman to protect the

Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil

from destruction.

ART D

IRECTIO

N &

DESIG

N: H

EARD

CREATIV

E P

HOTO

GRAPH

Y: VIS

ITSCOTLAN

D, V

ISIT

BRIT

AIN

, AN

DY R

UM

BALL, S

IMO

N B

ILLS, M

ICAH

WRIG

HT, T

ESS F

OLLET &

CERI D

AVIE

S

Once the Operators as detailed in Clause 14 below, (hereinafter referred to as

“the Operator”), confi rms your booking, a contract is made between you and the

Operator under the terms and conditions set out below. Your statutory rights are

not affected.

1. BOOKING / ACCEPTANCE

1.1 The Operator accepts a booking on the understanding that a deposit or

full payment has been collected and held either by the Operator directly, or by

an authorised travel agent on the Operator’s behalf. Bookings made via the

Operators’ own websites are considered as made with the operator directly.

1.2 On confi rmation of your booking, subject to availability and at the Operator’s

discretion, the Operator will reserve your place on your selected products (“trips”).

It is your responsibility, as the customer, to check the accuracy of your booking and

travel dates. A contract is only made between you and the Operator upon your

booking being confi rmed and accepted and communication thereof to either you

or your authorised travel agent (hereinafter referred to as “confi rmation”).

1.3 On confi rmation of your booking, an e-ticket will be sent to either you or your

travel agent. 1.4 In order to reserve your trip: 1.4a) Tours costing 400 AUD / 500

NZD or less: full payment must be made at time of booking. 1.4b) Tours costing

more than 400 AUD / 500 NZD: a non refundable deposit of 200 AUD / 250 NZD,

per person per tour, or the full amount payable if booking is made within 45 days

of the nominated departure date, must be made at the time of booking. This

payment is in addition to any deposit required by your travel agent. The deposit

is accepted as a fi rst instalment of the tour price by the Operator only once the

booking has been confi rmed in writing by the Operator or your travel agent.

1.4c) The outstanding balance of the trip/tour price must be paid by no later than

45 days prior to the scheduled, nominated or confi rmed tour departure date, which

shall be by the due date stated on the confi rmation issued to you by the Operator.

Whilst every endeavour will be made to remind you of the payment due dates, it is

your responsibility to make this payment. If payment is not made by the due date,

the Operator may assume that you have cancelled your trip/tour and cancellation

charges in accordance with clause 3 below will be levied by the Operator.

1.4d) E-Tickets (indicating full payment) and other documents will not be issued

until full payment has been received by the Operator or agent. 1.5 In the case

of bookings made within 45 days of tour departure, the full cost of the trip will

be payable immediately at time of booking. 1.6 The Operator reserves the right

to cancel the booking and apply cancellation charges should full payment not be

received within the above specifi ed periods.

2. TRAVELLING

2.1 The Operators’ tickets / e-tickets are not transferable. Your ticket /(e-ticket

indicating that full payment has been made) must be produced at any time at

the Operator’s request. You will also be required to produce your valid passport

each time you travel. (Photo identifi cation is required for all trips). 2.2 Baggage is

restricted to one reasonable sized suitcase or backpack (maximum weight 20KG),

and one small carry-on bag per passenger. 2.3 It is your responsibility to check-in

with the Operator 15 minutes prior to the specifi ed departure time. The Operator

will not be liable for any service that leaves or arrives later than its specifi ed time,

even if as a result you miss a connecting service. The Operator will use its best

efforts to ensure that departure and arrival times are met.

3. CANCELLATION & CHANGES

3.1 Cancellation of your booking must be in writing to either the Operator (direct or

website bookings) or the authorised agent through which the booking was made.

If your booking was made through an authorised agent all amendments and

cancellations must be made through them (they may also levy cancellation charges

in addition to those noted below - please check at time of reservation). When

written notifi cation has been received by the Operator, a fee will be levied to cover

the costs incurred (25% of booking price being the minimum fee). The amount of

the cancellation fee will be dependent on the number of days prior to the departure

date of the trip as below (not including day of departure nor the day of notifi cation).

3.2 Where a deposit has been made on a booking and the booking is cancelled

by you or your booking agent prior to full payment, or in the circumstances of the

balance not being received by the Operator or their authorised agent by the due

date, no refund of the deposit will be applicable, nor can it be credited or transferred

to any other booking. 3.3 Cancellation of individual passengers from a multiple

booking where a group discount applies (‘Mates Rates’ discount) may mean that the

discount applied on booking will be forfeited, due to the qualifying criteria no longer

being met. If the cancellation results in the qualifying criteria no longer being met

then the prices for the remaining passengers on the booking will be adjusted, and

any forfeited discount will be reclaimed through deduction in calculating any refund

due to the cancelling passengers. The following cancellation policies apply:

BUSABOUT EXPLORER – PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 4.13

BUSABOUT ADVENTURES & EASTERN TREKKER:

3.4 Iberian Adventure, Italian Adventure, One-Way Egypt & Moroccan Adventures,

Greece 4 Island Flexi-Hopper and Eastern Trekker Treks: up to 14 full days prior to

departure full refund less 25% of the price paid, within 14 full days no refund applies.

3.5 Greece 4 Island Flexi-Hopper: No itinerary changes are permitted within 14

days of departure date. 3.6 Croatia (Island Hopper & One-Way Sail): up to 22 full

days prior to departure full refund less 25% of price paid, 21-14 full days full refund

less 50% of price paid, within 14 full days no refund applies. 3.7 Festivals & Special

Events: Special conditions may apply to non-standard products (e.g. Pamplona, La

Tomatina, Oktoberfest), Cancellation fees (unless specifi cally stated otherwise): up to

22 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of price paid, within 21 full days

no refund applies.

HAGGIS ADVENTURES & SHAMROCKER ADVENTURES:

3.8 Up to 7 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of the price paid, within

7 days - no refund applies. 3.9 Festivals & Special Events: Special conditions may

apply to non-standard products (e.g. Festive, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day packages).

Cancellation fees (unless specifi cally stated otherwise): up to 22 days prior to

departure 50% refund. Within 21 days - no refund. 3.10 Group / Bespoke Tours

- specifi c cancellation fees apply to each tour. We will inform you of these prior to

payment. A non-refundable deposit may be required to cover all accommodation,

meal and entrance fee costs. 3.11 Where bookings include accommodation, involve

accommodation upgrades or specifi c accommodation requests any cancellation fees

incurred by the Operator will be passed on to you.

GENERAL

3.12 If after your booking has been confi rmed, you wish to change to an alternative

departure date, or wish to change to another tour, you may do so subject to the

tour being available and minimum notice of 15 days prior to departure. Exception:

Croatia Sailing (Island Hopper & One-Way Sail) minimum notice of 30 days. All

departure date changes will incur an administration fee of 35 AUD / 40 NZD per

person per tour. Date changes will only be extended to 3 months from the original

departure date. Accommodation date changes will incur an administration fee of

35 AUD / 40 NZD per person per tour. 3.13 Tour changes to one of a lower value

will result in the loss of any special discounts applied to the originally booked tour

and will be subject to an administration fee equivalent to the cancellation fee on the

original product. 3.14 Tour changes to one of higher value will require the difference

in price to be paid. 3.15 If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your

insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim under that policy.

4. BUSABOUT EXPLORER PASSES – SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

4.1 A ‘sector’ is defi ned as any journey between two destination stops on the

Busabout Explorer network. 4.2 The fi rst travel date of your Busabout Explorer

Pass (FlexiTrip or FlexiRoute) (hereafter referred to as Pass(es)) must be nominated

and confi rmed at the time of purchase. 4.3 Departure dates for the Pass(es) can

be changed at no charge up to 7 days prior to the confi rmed fi rst departure date,

subject to availability. 4.4 Confi rmed seat reservations can be made for any sector

at the time of booking or at any time up until 24 hours prior to each scheduled

departure, subject to availability. Sector bookings may be changed without charge,

subject to availability. 4.5 Individual sectors may only be travelled once, if you wish

to travel a particular sector more than once this can only be done on a standby

basis. 4.6 It is strongly recommended that you book your sectors as far in advance

as possible to ensure availability of your desired travel plan. The Operator cannot be

held responsible if travel sectors are not available because coaches are already full.

4.7 If you do not wish to travel any pre-booked sectors you must cancel them at

least 48 hours in advance. If you fail to do so you will only be allowed to travel that

same sector at a later date on a ‘standby’ basis. 4.8 Travel must take place within

the 2009 operating periods as stated. 4.9 The Busabout e-ticket must be presented

to the Busabout Guide on your departure, to be exchanged for the Pass(es) as

specifi ed on the e-ticket. The Operator will not allow you to travel if you do not have

a valid e-ticket. 4.10 Passes may also be issued by Busabout’s London Service

Centre. Please check you have the correct tickets, as mistakes cannot be rectifi ed

later. If your fi rst journey on Busabout is an Easy Link, you will need to exchange

your e-ticket for the Easy Link vouchers before commencement of travel, at either

the Busabout Service Centres in London or Athens. 4.11 You are responsible for

making all accommodation arrangements. Busabout representatives will assist

where reasonably possible during your travel days. 4.12 If you lose your Pass(es), or

it is stolen, you must inform The Operator immediately. You will not be permitted to

travel without a valid Pass(es). The Operator will replace lost or stolen Pass(es) at a

cost of Euro 50. A replacement Pass will carry the same validity as the original ticket

at the time of loss. 4.13 A cancellation fee of 25% of the total price paid will apply

to any cancellation of a Busabout Explorer Pass, where the cancellation is more

than 7 days prior to a confi rmed departure date. The 25% cancellation fee will also

apply for Busabout Explorer Pass(es) if a departure date has not been nominated.

No refunds will be provided after travel has commenced or has been deemed to

have commenced. Travel will be deemed to have commenced within 7 days of a

nominated travel date or where a passenger fails to travel without prior cancellation.

4.14 All refund claims, in respect of unused open-dated tickets, must be submitted

in writing by October 31, 2009. All refunds will be subject to an administration

fee of 25% of the total price paid. 4.15 Busabout Easy Links are only offered

only in conjunction with a Busabout Explorer Pass(es) and cannot be purchased

independently. Easy Link vouchers are open dated, and must be exchanged at the

offi ce of the designated Ferry Operator. Once you have been issued with ferry tickets,

changes to those tickets can only be made by the Ferry Operator and subject to their

booking conditions. Easy Link vouchers that are lost or stolen cannot be replaced.

Busabout Easy Links are non-refundable. Busabout Easy Links vouchers must be

redeemed by October 31, 2009.

5. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 The trip/tour products offered are forms of transportation. For this reason

the Operators representatives cannot offer constant special attention or

assistance should you have any physical disability requiring such attention.

5.2 The programmes brochured have been designed for travellers aged 18 years

and over with the style and operation specifi cally designed for young independent

travellers. This fact should be recognised when you book. Passengers are primarily

in the 18-35 year age group. 5.3 Passengers must be aged 18 years or over.

The Operator may, at its absolute discretion, and in exceptional circumstances,

give confi rmation of acceptance of a person outside this age restriction, provided

that they are accompanied by a person 18 years or over, there is no upper age

restriction. 5.4 Any medical condition or physical condition requiring attention or

treatment must be advised in writing to the relevant Operator when you make

the booking. 5.5 It is your responsibility to have a valid passport and all necessary

visas, permits and certifi cates on your person for your selected itinerary and to have

all necessary vaccinations and to comply with applicable laws. Schengen visas – it

is your responsibility to have your passport stamped on entry to the European

Union. The Operator will not allow you to travel if you do not have a valid visa for

your destination. 5.6 You agree to comply with the authority of the Operator’s

representative and the laws and regulations of the countries visited, including

customs and foreign exchange restrictions. If you do not do so, you may, at the

discretion of the Operator’s representative, be asked to leave the trip. No refunds will

be issued in such circumstances. 5.7 You agree that the Operators’ representatives

may take photographs and fi lms of you while you are a passenger. These may

be used in our Group brochures and/or advertising and publicity material without

obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or

fi lms. 5.8 You agree that the Operator may use any text written in our comments

books or recorded in our customer surveys, in our group brochures, website and/or

advertising and publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment

in respect of comments. 5.9 There may be times when the Operator’s personnel

have to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of bookings that

you comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed representative of the

Operator. If you do not comply with the said representative and are not compatible

with the general enjoyment and well being of members of the trip, we reserve

the right to refuse to allow you to continue the trip. In such a case we will not be

liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. We

cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your trip nor if any facilities

are curtailed as a result of their actions. 5.10 It is your responsibility to meet the

Operator at the pick-up points. Because of the nature of the services, the Operator

will not be liable if any service leaves or arrives later than its specifi ed time, even if

as a result you miss a connecting service. The Operator will use its best efforts to

ensure that departure and arrival times are met. 5.11 The Operators do not tolerate

any form of abuse, verbal or otherwise, of its personnel. Any passenger abusing or

threatening personnel will automatically forfeit their right to onward travel.

5.12 You are responsible for looking after your personal belongings whilst travelling.

The Operator cannot be held responsible for any personal belongings left behind

on any trip irrespective of the circumstances. 5.13 It is the responsibility of the

passenger to check the accuracy of dates booked upon receipt of their travel

documents. 5.14 If you paid a Student price on booking, you will be required to

prove this entitlement at check-in for each departure by exhibiting an ISIC / ISE (or

equivalent) student card. Should you not be able to do this, you will be charged the

difference between the normal brochure price and the discounted price in addition

to an administration fee of 25 GBP / 35 EURO.

6. LOCAL TOURS & EXCURSIONS

6.1 You will have the opportunity to purchase local tours or excursions from the

Guides / On-Board Guides. These tours and excursions are run by local operators

and you will be subject to their terms and conditions. 6.2 Local tours and excursions

purchased via Guides / On-Board Guides are non-refundable. It is your responsibility

to meet the tour at the designated departure point and time. Travel will only be

permitted on presentation of the offi cial Guides / On-Board Guides issued voucher

to the named operator. 6.3 Local tour and Excursion vouchers that are lost or stolen

cannot be replaced.

7. INSURANCE

7.1 There is no travel insurance cover included in the price of any pass, ticket,

tour, trip or product represented in this brochure. 7.2 The Operators very strongly

recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance that covers all your travels. Travel

Insurance is mandatory for travel on all Moroccan, Croatian & Egyptian products.

7.3 The Operator strongly recommends that you take out comprehensive insurance

cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage,

money and public liability before you travel. You may also wish to indemnify the

Operator against all third-party claims, actions, damages and remedies that may be

brought against the Operator in respect of your travel needs/requirements.

8. CHANGES BY THE OPERATOR

8.1 Prices in this brochure are based on costs and exchange rates at October 1,

2008. The Operators reserve the right to decrease the price of any brochured

product. The fi nal price will be confi rmed to you before you make your booking.

8.2 No surcharge in respect of costs or currency fl uctuations will be applied where a

product has been booked and paid in full. However, a surcharge may be necessary

at other times should there be signifi cant changes in the following circumstances: (a)

Transportation costs including the cost of fuel. (b) Dues, taxes (including road taxes

and tolls) or levies charged by the governments or their agencies. (c) Exchange rates.

The surcharge will only be made where the increase in cost will affect the price of

the Pass by more than 2%. 8.3 The Operator reserves the right to vary, modify or

cancel any itinerary, either part or wholly. If this is necessary, they will substitute

alternative arrangements of comparable value, or at the Operator’s discretion

provide a full or partial refund. 8.4 If access to any country or area is prohibited for

reasons of force majeure (i.e. circumstances such as political unrest, war or threat

of war, riots, civil strife, closure of airports or ports, industrial disputes, terrorist

activity, natural and nuclear disasters, fi re, epidemic or health risk, Acts of God,

adverse weather conditions or other similar events beyond the Operator’s control)

the Operator reserves the right to amend or alter the product, or fully or partially

withdraw the programme. If the Operator cannot offer suitable substitute services,

you will be entitled to a refund less reasonable expenses incurred by us in respect of

your booking. The amount of the refund will be calculated pro-rata based on used

portion of the ticket. No compensation will be paid. 8.5 The Operator reserves the

right to alter the size of vehicle they use at any time.

9. WEATHER CONDITIONS

Under no circumstances can the Operators be held responsible for any delay,

deviation or cancellation due to weather conditions, nor can any trip be cancelled or

amended by you at any time on the basis of weather conditions.

10. NO SMOKING POLICY

The Operators operate a No Smoking Policy on all their vehicles.

11. DISPUTE PROCEDURES

11.1 If you have a complaint in respect of any Operator, you should inform the

Operator’s Representative at the time. Any complaint that cannot be resolved by the

Representative should be submitted in writing within 28 days of the incident to The

Customer Service Manager, Radical Travel Group Limited, 60 High Street, Edinburgh,

EH1 1TB, Scotland, United Kingdom so that your complaint can be passed to and

then investigated by the Operator. The Operators will not consider complaints after

the 28 day period. 11.2 The contract and all matters arising in respect hereof shall

be subject to Scottish Law unless the Operator agrees otherwise in writing.

11.3 If any provision of this contract is held invalid or unenforceable by any court

of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed to be re-written to give

effect to the same purpose within the permitted limits of the law. The validity

and enforceability of the other provisions shall not be affected. 11.4 If you are

unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against the Operator, you agree to pay all

the Operator’s costs, including but not limited to attorney / client costs.

12. CONTRACTING PARTIES

12.1 The booking conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between you

and the Operator. No representation, term, warranty or condition can be expressed

or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation. This

contract may only be varied by a duly authorised offi cer or Director of the Operator

in writing. 12.2 Your contract is with the Operator. At any time, and at the Operator’s

complete discretion, the Operator may nominate to you in writing any other

company or person to have the benefi t of some or all of those provisions of this

contract, which the Operator may then specify, as if you had agreed the provisions

concerned directly with that company or person in the fi rst place as well as agreeing

them with the Operator. The Operator may at its complete discretion assign all or

any rights and liabilities arising under or by virtue of this or any other contract with

you. 12.3 All bookings with carriers and other service providers are subject to their

terms and conditions and limitations of liability. Please note that some of these limit

or exclude liability in respect of death, personal injury, delay and loss or damage to

baggage. Whilst the Operator cannot accept any responsibility for any loss as a result

of such actions or as a result of any act or omission of any such third parties, the

Operator will give reasonable assistance in helping to resolve any reasonable dispute.

12.4 Many accommodation arrangements referred to in this brochure are provided

independently and directly by third party providers (unless stated otherwise). Any

such contracts undertaken are made directly between you and the third party

accommodation provider. They are subject to the terms and conditions, and

limitations of liability, imposed by the provider. All such arrangements are made

independently of the Operator, regardless of any help and assistance, which the

Operator may provide in securing such arrangements.

12.5 Please note that no airline or carrier depicted or recommended in this

brochure by virtue of their endorsement of this brochure represents themselves

either as contracting with any legal relationship with any such purchaser.

12.6 Every effort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to print,

however the Operator cannot be held responsible for printing and typographical

errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.

13. VALIDITY

The programmes advertised in this brochure are valid from the operating season

pertaining to each operator as specifi ed in the brochure, unless stated to the

contrary. These Terms and Conditions supersede all previous Terms and Conditions

issued and are valid for all reservations made on or after 1st November 2008, until

replaced.

14. OPERATING COMPANIES

14.1 The Busabout Explorer, Busabout Adventures & Eastern Trekker services

advertised in this brochure are operated by Busabout Operations Ltd., J.F. Burrows

Building, Chancery Lane, 87 Front Street, Hamilton, HM12 Bermuda. 14.1a) The

local operator of the Moroccan Adventures programme featured in this brochure is

Nomadic Expeditions Ltd. Their terms and conditions apply (available on request).

14.1b) The local operator of the Croatia Sailing (Island Hopper & One-Way Sail)

programme featured in this brochure is Katarina Lines d.o.o., Croatia. Their terms

and conditions apply (available on request). 14.1c) The Athens Link and the Greek

Island ferries are operated by various transport providers within the relevant region.

All travel is subject to their Terms & Conditions. 14.1d) The local operator of the

Egypt Adventures programme featured in this brochure is Spring Tours Egypt.

Their terms and conditions apply (available on request). 14.2 HAGGIS Adventures

are operated by Radical Travel Group Limited, 7/9 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh,

EH1 1NB, Registered in Scotland No. 136334. 14.3 Shamrocker Adventures are

operated by Shamrocker Adventures Limited, Kinlay House, 2/12 Lord Edward

Street, Dublin 2, Registered in Ireland No. 281604. 14.4 The local operator of the

Eastern Trekker Transylvanian Trek is Soft Ride, Romania. The local operator of the

Eastern Trekker Bosnian Trek is Green Visions, Bosnia.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

43

A Proud Member of

MY TRAVEL AGENT IS:

RADICAL TRAVEL

Travel House

35 Grafton Street

Bondi Junction

NSW 2022

Radical Travel is represented in Australia by Contiki Holidays ABN 1800 2 525340. Please note: all prices are quoted in AU Dollars.

Radical Travel is a division of the

family-owned The Leading Travel

Companies, and is renowned

and trusted for its outstanding

quality, service, value, reliability

and fi nancial stability.

All agent reservations: http://agent.radicaltravel.com

LONDON OFFICE

258 Vauxhall Bridge Road

Victoria

London

SW1V 1BS

EDINBURGH OFFICE

60 High Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1TB

DUBLIN OFFICE

Kinlay House

2/12 Lord Edward St

Dublin 2

AGENT RESERVATIONS:

NSW (02) 9657 3355

All others 1300 301 776

AGENT FAX: (02) 9511 2210

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB: www.radicaltravel.com