| PDF file of this trip | Cesky Krumlov Festival 2022 Pictures | PDF Trip Map |
7 - 25 Jun 2025 (19-days) Eastern Europe (Slovakia , Poland, Czech Republic & CESKY KRUMLOV FIVE PETALLED ROSE CELEBRATIONS)
Estimate Ground Trip Costs RM10,100 per pax (for group 13 to 18pax)
Update 7 Aug 2024 Estimate trip costs based on current quotes from ground operators, and subject to changes for significant increases to fuel prices in 2025. Online return flight tickets with Qatar Airways is about RM3615. One highlight is 3 DAYS IN CESKY KRUMLOV to enjoy the annual Five Petalled Rose Celebrations - locals dress in Renaissance clothings, musical concerts and plays, food stalls and medieval markets.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is meant to be a "free and easy" adventure trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humor, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fussy-pots, and other similarly assorted types! We had a couple of those before and it wasn't pleasant for us or them. Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun !
Costumes during Cesky Krumlov festival / Panoramic view of Cesky Krumlov
This will be a backpack experience using a mix of public buses/trains and some chartered minibuses from town to town. We stay in pensions, hostels and budget hotels in rooms with private bath ranging from 2 to 4 pax sharing room. It is quite important participants are able to manage their own luggage and we suggest backpacks or small trolley bags. As usual, you pay for your own meals, cable car rides, entrance fees, within-the-town taxis/trams and other activities, unless stated otherwise.
Note - B indicates where Breakfast included as part of accommodation costs. O/N means Overnight
Day 1 KLIA: Assemble at KLIA late afternoon on 6PM 7 JUNE 2025 SAT for Qatar Airways QR4990 (codeshare with MAS) departing 9:00PM. Fly 7.5hr towards Doha, arriving 11:30PM. Transit 2hr 40min.
Day 2 Bratislava: Reconnect on QR189 leaving 2:10AM, arriving Vienna at 7:00AM. From Vienna Airport, we bus directly to Bratislava about 1hr using regular public bus. Relax or wander about the Old City of Bratislava and the main square. Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia. Stay doubles or triples with private bath in budget hotel, own breakfast. Overnight (O/N) Bratislava
Day 3 Stary Smokovec: We take the morning train to Poprad 344km 4hr 12min 9:27AM, arriving 1:30PM. We reconnect on regular 30 min train shuttle from Poprad to Stary Smokovec. After checking into our pension, rest of afternoon free & easy to explore the small village or bigger Poprad town. Stay doubles/triples/quad with private bath in pension in Stary Smokovec, breakfast not included but cooking facilities available. O/N Stary Smokovec for next 3 nights
Day 4 Dobinska Ice Caves, Spis Castle and Levoca: We hire a minibus for a full day tour starting with Unesco listed Dobinska Ice Cave. Then we visit Unesco listed Spis Castle, one of the biggest castles in Central Europe (currently upper castle is closed for reconstructions). We finish the day in Levoca, a small but impressive town, full of fine Renaissance buildings, completely encircled by original walls and fortifications. Stay 2nd night in Stary Smokovec. Minibus cost is covered for this day. Stay 2nd night in Stary Smokovec
Day 5 Stary Smokovec & Tatry Mountains: After breakfast, we take the train to Tatranska Lomnica 6km and cable car up to Skalnate Pleso 1751m (2024 price = eu24 for 1 way up). Members have the option of taking another cable car to the second highest point in Tatry Mountains called Lomniky Stit 2634m (2024 price = eu51 return). We then walk about 3-4hr down to Hrebienok 1280m and descent using the funicular railway built 1908. Stay doubles/triples/quad with private bath in pension in Stary Smokovec, breakfast not included but cooking facilities available. Note that train ride to Tatranska Lomnica is covered but members pay for funicular and cable car rides. Stay 3rd night Stary Smokovec
Day 6 More Tatry Mountains - Zakopane: Another day in Stary Smokovec to relax and enjoy the mountains. Today Group can visit Strbske Pleso after a 3hr hike return. We take the train 16km 40min to Popradske Pleso station to begin the 1 hour walk up. We have lunch at mountain hut before walking down towards Strbske Pleso or easier route to Popradske Pleso. There are other shorter walks in the area for members to choose from. Afternoon private bus transfer to our pension in Zakopane, Poland. Return train rides to Strbske Pleso is covered. Chartered bus to Zakopane included. Stay doubles/triples with private bath in pension in Zakopane with breakfast for next 3 nights
Trekking and Tatry Mountains SlovakiaDay 7 Zakopane & Kasprowy Wierch Poland (B): Zakopane is the the main town in the Polish Tatry Mountains. We proceed to Kuznice for a cable car ride (2024 return fare PLN129) up to Kasprowy Wierch 1987m, a famous snow peak in Poland. After that, group is free to wander about this beautiful mountain village Zakopane, which is filled with good-value restaurants, pubs and outdoor shops. Minibus transfer covered for Kuznice. Stay 2nd night in Zakopane
Day 8 Dolina Koscieliska (B): After breakfast, a minibus takes group to Dolina Koscieliska for a beautiful walk inside this valley alongside a pretty river. Members advised to bring along packed lunch to enjoy inside park (park fees additional costs). Group return to Zakopane in afternoon - rest of day free & easy. Return trip to Dolina Koscieliska is covered. 3rd night in Zakopane.
Day 9 Krakow & Auschwitz Prison Camp (B): After breakfast we go by hired minibus to Krakow. Along the way, we have early lunch before 3.5hr guided tour of UNESCO listed Auschwitz Prison Camp (Guided tour PLN46/pax included). It is the famous WW2 Prison camp, that was responsible for the extermination of more than 1.5 million Jews and other Nationalities. After the 3hr tour, we continue to Krakow. We have the rest of the day free to relax and walk about this Unesco listed town. Stay doubles/triples with private bath in budget hotel in Krakow. Minibus hire is covered. O/N Krakow
Day 10 Krakow: Members have option to join the many free walking tours of Krakow in the morning or pick up free limited ticket to visit parts of Wawel Castle every Monday. Rest of afternoon free to explore Krakow's Old Town, Wawel castle and Jewish quarter. Many of the impressive structures of Krakow are built from the salt money, which was worth its weight in gold at one time. This town has the largest town square in Europe, measuring a total of 800 meters all round. Stay 2nd night in Krakow in budget hotel, no breakfasts provided. O/N Krakow
Day 11 Wieliczka Salt Mine: We take the frequent local bus to UNESCO listed Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest salt mines in Europe for a 2 hour guided tour (2024 price PLN134 included). We have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy Krakow. At night we take the overnight sleeper train to Prague Czech Republic 500km about 9hr. Public miinibus fare to Salt Mine and sleeper train to Prague is covered. O/N Train
Auschwitz Birkenau Camps / Wawel castle grounds at KrakowDay 12 Prague: We arrive in Prague early morning and take local trams to our nearby hotel. After check-in, we will have a 2 hour walking tour with local guide. Rest of afternoon free & easy to enjoy UNESCO listed Prague with its amazing old architecture, which includes Prague Castle and the famous Charles Bridge. Praque 24hr Public Transport Pass of CZK120 included. Stay budget hotel in doubles/triples private bath with breakfasts provided. O/N Prague
Day 13 Kutna Hora & Prague (B): After breakfast, day trip with train to Kutna Hora to visit the famous Bone Church and Unesco listed Old City. The silver mined here in the 16th century made Kutna Hora rich and the medieval townscape is basically unchanged. We return to Prague for our final 2nd night stay. Train from Prague to Kutna Hora and public bus transfers at Kutna Hora included. Not included is entrance fee to Bone Church CZK180 or Combined ticket for 3 sights at CZK360 (2024 prices). O/N Prague
Day 14 Cesky Krumlov (B): We leave by chartered bus in the morning towards Cesky Krumlov, UNESCO Heritage site and one of the prettiest Medieval town in Europe. Our road trip takes us through scenic Czech countryside. Along the way, we make a stop at Karlstejn Castle for a 1hr tour and lunch break (Karlstejn Castle entrance with tour CZK260 included). We arrive Cesky Krumlov by afternoon for the first day of the Five Petalled Rose starts today. Click for Detailed program 2024 .Stay in twins/triples/quad with private baths in pension, breakfast included. O/N Cesky Krumlov. 2 days festival pass valued at eu13 included.
Day 15 Cesky Krumlov (B): Festivities will include Historic Costume Parade through the town, Historic Market, historic folk dance and songs, juggling acts and many other shows. Cesky Krumlov is a beautiful small town with its labyrinth of lanes and squares. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, medieval Cesky Krumlov has not changed much and now is a haven for neighboring Austria and backpackers and a wonderful place to “lepak”. 2nd night in Cesky Krumlov.
Day 16 Cesky Krumlov (B): Free day on the final day of the Festival. Suggest a river trip by rubber rafts or canoes down the Vltava River that meanders through the middle of the town. Almost every Czech person would have done this at least once in their lifetime. Or hire a bicycle and enjoy the countryside. Members can also take regular 30min bus to nearby Ceske Budejovice to enjoy its old town architecture and more Czech beer & food. 3rd night in Cesky Krumlov.
Day 17 Vienna (B): We take an early shuttle bus from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna Austria 3.5hr. Afternoon, members have option to visit the the Schonnbrunn Palace, the seat of power of the Habsburg Empire (2024 price eu29) or various attractions around Vienna city centre. Stay in Pension in doubles/triples/quad, no breakfast includd. Minibus cost to Vienna and 24hr Vienna travel ticket eu8 included. ON Vienna
Day 18 PLANE (B): Early morning visit to colourful market of Naschmarkt, Vienna's largest local market. We take the regular Airport Shutle 45 minutes for our afternoon flight Qatar Airways QR184 leaving 4:20PM towards Doha, arriving 10:40PM. Flight time 5hr 20min. Transit in Doha for 4hr 10min. Vienna airport shuttle bus fare covered.
Day 19 Home: Reconnect on QR852 departing 2:50AM (flight time 7hr 50min), arriving KLIA afternoon on 25 JUN 2025 WEDNESDAY 3:25PM
Small town Cesky Krumlov / Prague town squareTERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Trip Ground cost cover accommodation, meals, entrance fees and traveling to sites mentioned above.
- Accommodations will be in doubles, triples or quads with private bath as stated above, in pensions, hostels and budget hotels. Breakfast is provided with accommodation in the places mentioned above.
- Not covered are return flight fares & airport taxes, meals (Rm70 x 17 days = Rm1,190), entrance fees, cable-cars and rafting/canoeing (about Eu210 in total). In-town trams metro are not covered unless mentioned above. Transfers to and from train/bus stations to our place of stay are covered. In some places, we have kitchen facilites for self catered meals to save cost.
- Cost is subject to change depending on fluctuations in exchange rates and/or airfares. Costs calculated based on Eur1.00 = MYR4.918 as at 5 Aug 2024 (Maybank rate)
- A Non-Refundable deposit of Rm2,700 will be payable to confirm your place.
- We may quickly call in more deposits should we require to pay for lower fares flights either online or through ticketing agent.
Email wyeyim@gmail.com or yongo123@gmail.com
Phone Wye Yim 012 233 4717
Phone Lee Min 016-220 9033 or 603-4031 6225