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Days
10
Price from
R38,450ZAR
Map of Fall of the Berlin Wall: Limited Edition including Czech Republic, Germany and Poland

Experience the turbulent, modern history of Germany and its surrounds, and celebrate hope on the day the Wall fell.

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and this trip is an opportunity to not only discover the context of this turbulent time in European history, but also celebrate hope with those whose lives have been most affected. Begin and end in Berlin, where you'll tour Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall Memorial and take part in official celebrations on the day the wall fell. Travel to Gdansk, where a spirited resistance to communism ushered in the fall of the Soviet Union, and Prague, where a mass exodus of East Germans sought refuge. Along with a fascinating insight into the sobering events of this period, you'll also be immersed in the food and culture of these cities that have become modern metropolises, some, like Dresden, rebuilt from ashes.

Start
Berlin, Germany
Finish
Berlin, Germany
Destinations
Czech Republic, Germany, Poland
Style
Peregrine
Theme
Limited Edition
Code
PEBW
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 4, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Take part in 30th anniversary of Berlin Wall Fall.

  • This trip takes you to places that shaped today’s Central and Eastern Europe.

  • Learn how Germans, but also Poles and Czech people fought their way to freedom from communist terror.

  • Discover Gdansk, the birthplace of Polish solidarity movement, and the city that triggered the fall of communism in Europe.

  • Explore Prague and learn how communism changed the most important industry in Czech Republic (beer, of course).

  • Visit the German Embassy in Prague, the place where the mass exodus from East Germany started.

  • Learn about everyday life in East Germany during your visit to Dresden.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is based around certain part of history of Germany and Central Europe, therefore visited sites and included activities are built around the Communism regime and people’s fight for freedom

  • There are certain inclusions based around the II WW history – it is important to understand the link between these two tragic parts of history

  • On Day 5 we will take a flight from Gdansk to Prague. The luggage you can carry with you will be limited.

  • This trip uses public transport – mainly trains. These are great in Europe. Comfortable, clean and with good facilities. However, you will be responsible to carry your own luggage on and off the train and across the station. Not always you can expect lifts, so pack lightly.

  • The day of 30th anniversary of the fall of Berlin wall will be a great thing to be part of, but remember it will be a busy day, packed with local people, visitor and guests.

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Itinerary
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Willkommen! Berlin, the capital of Germany, is considered one of the hippest cities in Europe and has a storied, somewhat turbulent past. It's well known for its culture, architecture, nightlife, festivals and, of course, its food (pork knuckle, schnitzel and giant pretzel at your service). Speaking of which, this trip begins with a group meeting at 6 pm followed by an included group dinner to get to know your fellow history buffs before exploring this thrumming metropolis. 
Accommodation
  • Hotel Zoe by AMANO (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
ARRIVAL TRANSFER
An arrival transfer from the airport to the start point hotel is included in the price of the trip. Please advise your travel agent of your flights times at least 2 weeks before your departure date. If you are planning to reach the destination by train or bus, please enquire the possibility of re-scheduling the transfer with your travel agent at the time of booking.

Spend the day in Berlin getting to know the most important parts of its relatively recent history. The existence of the Berlin Wall was a direct consequence of a WWII and the group will find out more about this tragic part of German, European and world history on a guided tour including a visit to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, a private museum named after the famous crossing point on the Berlin Wall. Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt founded the museum in 1961, shortly after the construction of the wall, with the belief that 'it is vital in the non-violent struggle for human rights to be as close as possible to the injustice itself, where human greatness fully unfolds.' The museum would end up playing a crucial role in history and the fall of the wall as it increased its space and collection over the years.


Accommodation
  • Hotel Zoe by AMANO (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take a train today to Gdansk, a Polish port city that was home to the Solidarity movement and consequently instrumental in bringing about the fall of Soviet communism. While Gdansk is an obvious hit with history buffs, it's also incredibly popular with travellers thanks to its culture, varied architecture, nightlife and coastal lifestyle. With over a thousand years of history and importance as a key port in the region, Gdansk is often bypassed but rarely surpassed when it comes to Polish cities, and the group will take an orientation walk around town with their leader on arrival followed by a typical Polish dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Krolewski (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

As with Berlin, Gdansk was shaped by the events of WWII as much as it was by communism. Start the day by visiting the recently opened Museum of the Second World War, appropriately built in the city where WWII began with Germany's attack on on Poland at the Westerplatte Peninsula on September 1st, 1939. Continue to the European Solidarity Centre, a museum devoted to the history of Solidarity and the other movements across Eastern Europe opposing communism. Next door are the Gdansk Shipyards, where Solidarity was born after 17,000 workers went on strike and eventually formed the first independent trade union during communist rule. Their actions led to the communist goverment giving people more rights and freedoms, which in turn led to a democratic Poland and the downfall of Eastern Europe communism. Enjoy a free evening to indulge in the city's food scene and nightlife. 
Accommodation
  • Hotel Krolewski (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Depart Gdansk on an early flight to Prague, the Czech capital. Take a short walk through the city before visiting the German Embassy, a building that played a remarkable role in the history of the Berlin Wall. It was here that the mass exodus from East Germany started when, in the summer of 1989, several thousand citizens of communist East Germany sought refuge at the West Germany embassy in Prague. Not only did this signal the collapse of communism in Germany, it was also a sign for then-communist Czechoslovakia that their own goverment could crumble too.Visit the KGB Museum later in the day, which holds a collection of spy cameras, weapons, interrogation equipment and fascinating photographs of KGB members on the city streets.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Clement (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Prague is nicknamed the City of a Thousand Spires and today presents an opportunity to take a little easier and enjoy the stunning city. Start with a tour around sites that were of communist importance during that time in history, then discover communism's effect on the breweing industry and what modern Prague has to offer when it comes to food and beer. Spoilder alert: it's a lot. Prague, and the Czech Republic in general, is known for its love of beer and this tour winds its way through the streets and alleys of the city and includes 13 food/beer tastings. Enjoy Scotch eggs from a Michelin-star chef, traditional Czech dumplings, braised beef and, of course, some of the best beer in the world.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Clement (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Travel to Dresden, a vibrant, modern city that was essentially flattened by Allied bombing in 1945. Though these horrific events remain contentious for obvious reasons and have not been forgotten, modern Dresden continues to make strides and the group will visit the famous sights in the city's old town, including 'Blue Wonder', an iconic bridge built in the 19th century that was just saved from being destroyed during the war. Take a guided tour relating to the fall of the Berlin Wall and visit the Military History Museum to contextualise Dresden's history, and perhaps take an optional Dresden Trabi tour in trabant cars, East German-produced vehicles that are considered symbols of the era of a divided Germany. Enjoy a free evening in Dresden.
Accommodation
  • Comfortable hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel back to Berlin from Dresden (approximately 2.5 hours). Today the group will visit the Berlin Wall Memorial for a guided tour, located in the middle of the Berlin. This is a truly moving experience, a preserved reminder of what humanity is capable of, and it's hard to comprehend that this kind of physical division was ever possible. The tour includes visit to the DDR Museum, which provides an immersive experience of everyday life in former East Germany and covers topics including the Wall, the Stasi and how the division affected civilians just 40 years ago. 




Accommodation
  • Hotel Zoe by AMANO (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. There are plenty of official events and celebrations taking place all over the city and your leader will be able to provide detailed information on what's going on and suggestions of events worth seeing. As it's the final evening of the trip, tonight you'll enjoy a final group dinner to say farewell and reflect on not only this trip, but also the events that have taken place in this city over the past 70 years.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Zoe by AMANO (or similar) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. You're free to depart at any point in the morning, though we do, of course, recommend exploring Berlin and Germany further if you have the time.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

9 breakfasts, 4 dinners

Transport

Train, plain, Taxi

Accommodation

9 nights Comfortable hotel

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Important notes

ARRIVAL TRANSFER
An arrival transfer from the airport to the start point hotel is included in the price of the trip. Please advise your travel agent of your flights times at least 2 weeks before your departure date. If you are planning to reach the destination by train or bus, please enquire the possibility of re-scheduling the transfer with your travel agent at the time of booking.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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