Free Hotel Night Lures Walkers To Europe This Fall

Special offer showcases 12 destinations at their off-season best

La Jolla, CA (July 2011) – As if the prospect of Europe in the fall isn't enticing enough, Classic Journeys is welcoming guests with a free night's stay on a dozen of its most popular trips departing in September and October.

Effective immediately, guests who book one of 12 European walking tours by August 5, 2011, will receive one free night at Classic Journeys' designated hotel in the departure city before their tour begins. (Code FNPR must be mentioned at time of booking. See www.classicjourneys.com/freenight for full details.)

Limited space is still available on the featured itineraries below:

Montenegro - Adriatic Treasure
Departs Sept. 11 & Oct. 2 from Podgorica, 7 days/6 nights

Classic Journeys' newest destination is delightfully off-the-grid, from its palm-lined shores to the black-pine forests that blanket its mountains. In the course of a week, guests experience seaside villages with balmy breezes, coastal inlets reminiscent of fjords, and craggy peaks with soaring canyons...in a country roughly the size of Connecticut!

Croatia's Istrian Peninsula
Departs Sept. 11 & Oct. 9 from Venice, 7 days/6 nights

What better way to approach the ancient fishing port of Rovinj than an incredible coastal footpath?  In the Istrian countryside, guests savor multiple wine and olive oil tastings and visits to walled towns and villages. The clear blue of the Adriatic is on brilliant display on a cruise to the Brijuni Islands and later on the ferry ride to Cres.

Prague to Budapest
Departs Sept. 4 & Oct. 2 from Prague, 8 days/7 nights

Bookended by two imperial capitals, this time-traveling trip boasts castles and cathedral spires along with authentically preserved medieval villages. In the rolling countryside of the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary, guests enjoy farmland walks and winery visits, capped by a quintessential cruise on the Danube.

Normandy & Brittany
Departs Sept. 4 & Oct. 2 from Deauville, 7 days/6 nights

For history buffs, nothing can compare to visiting the WWII landing beaches where the liberation of Europe began.Guests amble through Normandy's lush countryside, dotted with orchards and dairy farms, pausing to take in the stunning Bayeux tapestry on the way to St. Malo and the landmark island fortress of Mont-St.-Michel.

Barcelona & the Costa Brava
Departs Sept.11 & Oct. 9 from Barcelona, 7 days/6 nights

Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia and the bustling avenues of Barcelona provide an urban welcome to modern Spain. From there, guests head to the rolling hills of northern Catalonia for a journey into the rural past. Medieval villages, olive groves, and the seaside trails of the Costa Brava offer a colorful introduction to one of Spain's most stunning regions.

Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
Departs Sept. 4 & 18 and Oct. 2 from Florence, 7 days/6 nights

Golden hilltowns, silvery olive groves, and the deep green of burgeoning grapevines are the heart of rural Chianti. In the five coastal villages (Cinque Terre) clustered at the edge of the Ligurian Sea, guests revel in scenic walks atop rocky cliffs and visit a tiny monastery reachable only by boat or on foot.

Amalfi Coast & Capri
Departs Sept. 4 & Oct. 2 from Naples, 7 days/6 nights

Skimming over the Bay of Naples by hydrofoil to Capri, guests enjoy two full days of coastal walks, ancient Roman villas and modern shopping. Back on the mainland, a rim walk on Mount Vesuvius precedes a private tasting at a limoncello factory in Positano and a personal guided tour of nearby Pompeii.

Italian Lake Retreats
Departs Sept. 4 & Oct. 2 from Bellagio, 7 days/6 nights

A sparkling trio of lakes – Como, Maggiore and Orta – are the focus of a memorable week in the mountains of northern Italy.  On shore, guests ramble country roads and bridle paths, pausing to sample local wines and cheeses along the way. Private motor launches provide access to an island monastery, jewel-like palaces and spectacular gardens. 

Sicily - Island in the Sun
Departs Sept. 11 & Oct. 9 from Palermo, 7 days/6 nights

Two nights in the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento place guests squarely in the center of Greek antiquity, including wildflower walks with views of the sea. A ferry ride to Lipari, largest of the Aeolian Islands, leads to memorable stops at vineyards and olive plantations.  From Taormina, clinging to the cliffs above the Ionian Sea, guests head out for a one-of-a-kind picnic on the slopes of Mt. Etna.   

Cotswolds, Stonehenge & London   
Departs Sept. 4 from London, 7 days/6 nights

Experiencing mystical Stonehenge at dawn is a "must-do" in England's most photogenic countryside. Guests meander through ancient villages of honey-colored stone, across patchwork fields bordered by hand-hewn walls, and back in time to a resurrected Roman villa (with remarkably intact mosaics) and Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill.

England's Cornwall Coast
Departs Sept.11 from St. Ives, 7 days/6 nights

At the very southwestern tip of England, a network of coastal paths reveals the "Cornish Riviera" in all its glory. From towering headlands with magnificent views of the sea to quiet coves that once harbored pirates and smugglers, fanciful Cornwall boasts an offshore medieval castle (St. Michael's Mount), and Tintagel, legendary birthplace of King Arthur.

Taste of Tuscany Culinary Tour
Departs Oct. 9 from Florence, 7 days/6 nights

Lovers of Italian cuisine never had it so good! In professional kitchens and private cucinas, guests pick up countless tips on preparing Tuscan classics. Outdoors, countryside walks, winetastings, and samplings of the region’s iconic olive oil leave plenty of time to soak in the Renaissance splendor of Florence and the streets of Cortona made famous by Francis Mayes.

For full details about this special offer, including pricing and daily agendas, on 12 European walking tours this fall, readers may click on www.classicjourneys.com/freenight, or contact a Guest Services Coordinator directly at (800) 200-3887.



About Classic Journeys:

Classic Journeys offers cultural walking tours, culinary tours and family vacations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. Guests enjoy luxury accommodations and gourmet meals that reflect the best of each region, coupled with soft adventure activities, daily interactions with locals, and native guides who make countries and cultures come alive. Tours are six to 12 days long with two to four hours of easy-going walking per day. Land-only tour prices range from $2595 to $8895 per person (with discounts for small groups and children traveling with parents). Average tour size is 10, limited to a maximum of 18 guests per departure. Full details and links to itineraries are available at www.classicjourneys.com.

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