311 Main Street, P.O. Box 1990
Exeter, ON, Canada N0M 1S7
Tel: 519-235-2000 Fax: 519-235-2061
TICO #2392471
Suite #303 - 267 West Esplanade
North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7M 1A5
Tel: 604-983-2470 Fax: 604-983-2471
BPCPA Registration #37951
www.ettravel.com
OKANAGAN MISSION SECONDARY SCHOOL
12 DAY PERFORMING TOUR TO BUDAPEST, CROATIA AND
ITALY
March 13 – 24, 2014
Preliminary Itinerary – May 1, 2013
Note: It is the responsibility of all participants to be in possession of the correct documentation to travel out of the
country. Failure to do so will result in participants being denied entry/boarding and returned home at the expense
of the individual. Canadian Citizens require a valid passport (authorities at your destination require that
passports are valid for period of intended stay). Ellison Travel & Tours recommends passports are valid for 6
months beyond your return date. Groups are advised to obtain notarized letters of consent for persons under 18
years of age. Non-Canadians must check entry and transit requirements. Please notify the group leader at time of
booking if you will be traveling with a passport from another country so we can check requirements and advise
you accordingly.
Day 1 – Thursday, March 13 - DEPARTURE TO BUDAPEST
- group to meet at Okanagan Mission Secondary School
- load 2 x 56 passenger coaches with luggage and equipment
- board coaches and depart for Vancouver International Airport (406 km)
- arrival at Vancouver International Airport
- meet your Ellison Tours tour manager who will be with you throughout the tour
- check in at the airline counter
- Note: groups are requested to check in 3 hours prior to scheduled departure time
- scheduled departure time of your flight from Vancouver to Budapest (connections)
- meals served at the discretion of the airline
- remember to turn your watches ahead to local time
M
Day 2 – Friday, March 14 - ARRIVAL BUDAPEST
M/D
- scheduled arrival at Budapest International Airport
- meet your local tour manager who will be with you throughout the tour
- load your 2 locally chartered coaches which will be with you for the remainder of the tour
- meet your local tour guides for a panoramic sightseeing tour of Budapest en route to your
hotel
- your visit will begin in Pest with its much flatter landscape and scatter of official
buildings including the impressive Parliament Buildings lining the river bank
- cross the Danube River to hilly Buda where you will explore Castle Hill from Buda
Castle
- see outside views of Matthias Church and Fishermen’s Bastion
- arrive at your hotel and check in for 1 night accommodation
- dinner at the hotel
- retire for the evening getting a good night’s sleep to recover from jet lag
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Day 3 – Saturday, March 15 - DEPARTURE TO ZAGREB
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- load coaches and depart to Zagreb, the Capital City of Croatia. (343 kms)
- an old Central European City, today’s Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that
for centuries developed on neighboring hills. Both the settlements were surrounded by high
walls and towers and the remains of the walls and towers are still preserved today.
- arrive Zagreb with time to visit the famous Tkalciceva Street, a pedestrian zone with plenty
of cafes, restaurants, gourmet shops and galleries where you will have a chance to purchase
lunch and pick up a few souvenirs
- after lunch, meet your local guides for afternoon sightseeing of Zagreb
- walk past the Cathedral of St. Stephens and Archbishops Towers and halls
- you will walk along Opatovina to Kaptol or via the stone pebbled Radiceva Street to
the Stone Gate (part of the 13th century city walls) and on to St. Marks Square. In the
centre of the square stands the eponymous church with its famous colored roof. The
Ban’s Palace is on one side of the square and the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) is on
the other.
- performance opportunity by Okanagan Mission Secondary School Band – good luck!
- transfer to your hotel and check in for 1 night accommodation
- dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant
- attend an evening concert at the Croatian National Theatre, a neo-Baroque building dating
from 1895, designed by the architects Fellner and Helmer
- return to your hotel and retire for the evening
Day 4 – Sunday, March 16 – ZAGREB TO ZADAR (VIA PLITVICE)
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- load coaches and depart to Plitvice National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (144
kms)
- on arrival, time to purchase lunch on your own
- “Plitvice is one of Europe’s most spectacular natural wonders. Imagine Niagara Falls diced
and sprinkled over a heavily forested Grand Canyon. There’s nothing like this lush valley of
16 terraced lakes, laced together by waterfalls and miles of pleasant plank walks”
- meet your guides for an exploration of this geographic phenomenon. It is divided into
two sections, the Upper Lakes and the Lower Lakes, with a series of wooden bridges and
walking paths throughout.
- board coaches and continue onto Zadar (93 kms) well known for its attractive Romanesque
churches. The town is fortified with medieval walls distinguished for their impressive ports –
entries in the city all date back to the sixteenth century
- arrive at the hotel and check in for 2 nights accommodation
- dinner
- after dinner, retire to your rooms for the evening
Day 5 – Monday, March 17 - ZADAR
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel
- board coaches and meet your local guides for morning sightseeing of Zadar
- Zadar is located on the tip of a narrow peninsula. Most of the town is surrounded by city
walls, with towers and the two city gates being of interest. It is a stunning place to visit! The
Mainland Gate (Kopnena vrata), to the east of the Old Town, was built in 1543 and has the
city coat of arms engraved on it. Close to this is the Captain's Tower (Kapetanova kula),
dating from the 13th century, part of the city's defences. A more recent terrace has been built,
and you can climb up the tower to see the great view. In the same square are five wells that
were built in 1574 and used to function as the water supply for the city.
- the tour will end in the Old Town with time to purchase lunch on your own and explore in
chaperoned groups
- transfer to your performance location
- performance opportunity by Okanagan Mission Secondary School Band – good luck!
- after the performance, transfer to the restaurant
- dinner
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Day 5 – continued…
- this evening enjoy a musical performance by a local group
- return to your hotel after the performance
Day 6 – Tuesday, March 18 - ZADAR TO SPLIT
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- load coaches and depart to Split
- Split is the second largest city in Croatia, with just over 200,000 inhabitants, and is the largest
city on the Adriatic coast. Coupled with its strong history - it emerged from a settlement
around a palace built by Roman emperor Diocletian, and the city was also important within
Yugoslavia
- meet your local guides for sightseeing of Split including a visit of the Diocletian Palace
- facing onto the harbour, Diocletian's Palace is one of the most imposing Roman ruins in
existence. Although the original structure was modified in the Middle Ages, the alterations
have only served to increase the allure of this fascinating site. Far from being a museum, the
220 buildings within the palace boundaries are home to about 3000 people. The cellars are a
market for crafted jewellery, reproductions of Roman busts, silver cigarette cases, candlestick
holders, wooden sailing ships, leather goods and other odds and ends.
- after lunch transfer to your performance venue
- performance opportunity by Okanagan Mission Secondary School Band – good luck!
- dinner
- check in to your hotel for 2 nights accommodation
Day 7 – Wednesday, March 19 –DAY TRIP TO BRAC
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel
- morning ferry to Island Brač
- sightseeing of Supetar, a true island town and the largest settlement on the island with rich
historical heritage. Its history goes back to the times of the Roman emperors. This is
confirmed by the remains of a 6th Century Early Christian mosaics near the parish church and
the Villa Rustica in cape St. Nicholas with a city beach. Walk up to the town cemetery and
see the family mausoleum Petrinović, Rosandic work of Thomas, above Supetar, with
stunning views over the channel and visit one of the 19 well-preserved early Romanesque
srkvi on the island, the church of St. Luke.
- dinner
- evening ferry back to Split for overnight
Day 8 – Thursday, March 20 –FERRY TO ANCONA
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- free day at leisure in Split; weather permitting enjoy soaking up some sun on the famous
beaches, visit the daily market or hike up Marjan Hill (123 metres)
- time to purchase lunch
- transfer to the ferry dock
- board your overnight ferry from Split to Ancona, Italy
- dinner on board
Day 9 – Friday, March 21 – ANCONA TO FLORENCE
B/D
- morning arrival in Ancona
- breakfast
- board your coaches and depart to Florence
- time to purchase lunch
- meet your local guides for afternoon sightseeing of Florence; see the Church of Santa Maria
del Fiore, Battisero, Galleria dell’Accademia and the Ponte Vecchio
- transfer to your hotel
- arrive and check in for 1 night accommodation
- group dinner
- after dinner enjoy a stroll with your tour managers; perhaps sample some gelato!
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Day 10 – Saturday, March 22 – FLORENCE TO ROME
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- transfer to your performance location near Florence
- performance by Okanagan Mission Secondary School
- continue to Rome
- on arrival meet your local guides for sightseeing of the city including a visit to the
Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
- enjoy a group dinner
- transfer to your hotel and check in for 2 nights accommodation
- retire to your rooms for the evening
B/D
Day 11 – Sunday, March 23 - ROME
B/D
- continental breakfast at the hotel
- this morning travel to Vatican City and meet your local guides for a tour of the Vatican
Museums and Sistine Chapel (note: the sightseeing today may need to be switched)
- time to purchase lunch
- enjoy an afternoon exploring in chaperoned groups
The Pantheon – Truly an amazing structure. This well-preserved temple to the gods dates
back to the second Century CE and must be seen to be believed. The structure boasts six
metre thick walls of concrete and features an opening nine metres in diameter in the roof.
Buried inside are united Italy’s first king Victor Emmanuel II and famous renaissance artist
Raphael. Free
Piazza Navona – This famous baroque square was once the site of Domitian’s stadium. The
outline of the chariot course may still be seen in the oval shape of the Piazza. The Piazza
includes many outdoor cafes and a famous fountain designed by Bernini along with the
church of Sant Agnese with a façade by famous baroque architect Borromini. Free
- farewell dinner
- return to your hotel and pack for tomorrow’s departure
Day 12 –Monday, March 24 – DEPARTURE DAY
- continental breakfast at the hotel and check out
- load coaches with luggage and equipment
- depart for Rome Airport
- arrive and check in at the airline counter
- groups are requested to check in 3 hours prior to scheduled departure
- say goodbye to your local tour manager and drivers
- scheduled departure from Rome to Vancouver (connections)
- meals served at the discretion of the airline
- remember to turn your watches back to local time
- arrival at Vancouver International Airport
- proceed through Passport Control, collect luggage and clear Customs
- load 2 x 56 passenger coaches with luggage and equipment
- say goodbye to your Ellison Tours tour manager
- depart Vancouver International Airport for Kelowna
- estimated arrival at Okanagan Mission Secondary School
- transportation from the school is the responsibility of the group
- WELCOME HOME!
B/M
B - Breakfast / L - Lunch / D - Dinner - denote meals included in tour cost
M – denotes airline meals
*Itinerary is tentative and subject to final confirmation*
Ellison Travel & Tours is giving away four $500 SCHOLARSHIPS. Are you a secondary school student who has
travelled on an Ellison Travel & Tours school trip and are graduating from secondary school in the current year?
See our website http://ettravel.com/scholarships-sponsorships for more details.
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