Filled with castles and carriages, gingerbread and hot mulled wine, one-of-a-kind gifts and champagne. It's time to toast yourself for finally getting what you want for the holidays - an experience so rich you'll feel like royalty.
on the 2nd Annual Christmas Market Tour and Holiday Party (oh yeah, this is gonna be the event of the year, every year).
Because one-of-a-kind experiences aren’t enough. Memories are made with people. The right people. You know what I mean.
Top-shelf people who respect your privacy and start stellar conversations. Group dynamics can make or break a trip. That's why we make sure everyone's a good fit for these types of culturally immersive experiences before we finalize the guest list.
You're getting years of expert reconnaissance, relationship-fostering, and lowkey travel spycraft. All rolled into 1 dreamy trip. Your itinerary is designed with enough free time to absorb every nuance, dig deep into a new culture, and enjoy the heck out of it. It's also full enough that you return home with no regrets.
None of this tourist restaurant crap where they're trying to make a buck by getting you in and out. No faded menus with pictures or sad iceberg lettuce lunches. It's all the real deal here baby. Your meals are made with love, very often in the homes of locals. And the restaurants? We'll never let you eat anywhere less than memorable.
When you travel with us, you're a name and a face we remember, not a booking reference. Once you're in, you're IN. You get preferential booking and first dibs on all future trips. There are plenty of perks for being part of the inner circle. If you know, you know.
Remember the whole Travel Fam thing? We mean it. Need more travel info? A packing list? Flight advice? Whether or not you should bring that third suitcase (answer: probably not, unless it's just for wine). We're here for you if you need anything. (3 doors down, room #12. The password's "hotbubblingcheesybread.")
We take you places where your dollars are invested directly into the community, not skimmed into global corporations’ coffers (looking at you, Airbnb experiences). We're always striving to DIRECTLY and positively impact the regions and people we visit.
We also have a policy to work with women-owned businesses first, and then family-owned businesses so that we can contribute to the autonomy of the individuals we visit. This means you feel good about it, locals benefit, and they love sharing the finest of their culture with us even more.
-Madison Balaka
I'm Juliana Dever, Experiential Travel Expert and Professional Tour Curator.
During my travels, I've made close friends with sommeliers and restaurant insiders, winemaking families, artisans who make and sell goods at the markets, locals who love sharing insider gems about their town, and cultural experts dedicated to preserving traditions. I'm lucky to know just so many genuinely fantastic people who've dedicated their lives to welcoming guests to their home country.
Many of whom you'll meet on this insider Christmas Market tour!
Tina, your guide, is a born and bred Slovenian. For the last 24 years she's led thousands of tours across Europe for Rick Steves, and now also with CleverDever Adventures. What was once a hobby has become her life's work and she loves every bit of it.
She guides all of my Slovenia tours and everyone loves her. We spend the entire tour laugh-crying through the Julian Alps. When my previous guests started requesting more tours with Tina, I knew we had to collaborate on something super special and totally go off with a Holiday Party extravaganza.
Tina's deep knowledge of European history, art, culture, architecture, and cuisine, coupled with her adventurous spirit means she brings lots of secret nooks and locals-only gems to our itinerary.
With a master's degree in tourism management, Tina occasionally teaches at the University. She speaks Slovenian, English, Italian, German, and Croatian fluently and can come by with some French, Czech, and Slovak.
She cannot wait to meet you in Vienna.
Because of these relationships, I'm able to create experiences and introduce you to people you wouldn't have access to if you traveled here on your own.
You'll only get that kind of authentic adventure by traveling with locals, not by spending 17 hours reading reviews of the same 10 things on TripAdvisor.
Who's Going
ONLY 20 people max + your host, Juliana Dever!
Any Perks?
Culturally Immersive, Local Experiences, Guided, Fully Curated
And the Pillows?
Mix of 3* and 4* Boutique Hotels
How Active Will it Be?
Moderate - Intermediate: Walking for 1-2 hours at a time, you must be able to carry your own bags on cobblestone and up stairs
Languages Spoken?
Your guide is fluent in English, German, Italian, and Slovenian (among other languages)
Group Vibe
Independent, kind, respectful, curious, absolutely inclusive, and a bit silly.
Do I Get Free Time?
Oh yeah! While we have a plan every day, you'll have plenty of time to stroll Christmas markets at your own pace
Dietary Restrictions
We can accommodate almost any restriction - please enquire.
Your inclusive tour price covers all of this:
Does not include: Air travel, airport transfers, your meals during free time, gratuities for drivers and porters
Meet your fellow holiday frolickers and get ready for 10 days of market merriment. You're starting in the heart of one of Europe's grandest cities: Vienna, Austria.
You'll take a cozy horse and carriage ride at sunset just as the lights begin to illuminate the baroque buildings of the Innere Stadt.
Don't expect a silent night tonight, because afterward, we set the tone with a festive kick-off party at a Heuriger, a lovely, rustic wine tavern in the outskirts of town.
Meals: Snacks and Dinner
Today is your day to visit Christmas markets!
Whether it's shopping for snow globes (DYK snow globes were invented in Austria?), artisan-carved nutcrackers, or hand-blown glass ornaments, you'll have a whole day to browse the many stalls and markets for gifts.
Maybe you're dreaming of strolling, your hand warmed by a cup of Glühwein (hot mulled wine), while you decide between Kartoffelpuffer – (potato pancakes) or the Raclette (bread with warm cheese). But wait - there's Heisse Bauernkrapfen (farmhouse donuts) to be eaten! How will you fit it all in...like, literally?
Meals included: Breakfast
Today we slip away from the city to explore the postcard-perfect villages along the Danube River.
Just west of Vienna is the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of the Wachau Valley. Famous for producing some of Austria's best white wines, these rolling hills filled with vineyards and colorful towns culminate atop a rocky outcropping to serve up the grand Melk Abbey.
The abbey, a baroque masterpiece of the 18th century, is a gorgeous must-see with spiraling golden staircases, soaring frescoed ceilings, and a swoon-worthy Beauty and the Beast library. So of course, you're doing this.
After the abbey, enjoy a scrumptious lunch, try some of those famous wines, and peek in the shops of the garlanded villages of Lower Austria.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Oh yeah, we're gonna talk about Brno!
When you get to Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic, you'll immediately pick up that authentic quirky vibe that it's putting down.
This less-crowded neo-Renaissance city makes for a delightful day of discovery with an underground labyrinth that leads to an historic tavern, cathedrals, an ossuary only smaller than the Paris catacombs, peak nightlife that includes wine bars, whisky bars, rum bars, a circus bar, and a fire foodie scene.
Named one of the UNESCO "Creative Cities of Music" expect lots of live music in bars, restaurants, and especially on the stages of the Christmas markets. Speaking of which...
You'll have plenty of free time to explore the Christmas markets that feature tunnel cakes, smoked cheese with cranberry sauce, hot mead, and crafts like beeswax candles, ceramics, blacksmithing wares, and lavender goods from skincare to wine.
(photo credit: Pavel Gabzdyl / via TIC Brno)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
If visiting a gothic castle in eastern Europe was on your wishlist, today is the day you'll Czech it off!
Lednice Castle is a jaw-dropping example of ornate 19th-century architecture. Awash in jewel-toned walls and intricate woodwork the interior is next-level extra.
Situated in the heart of Czech wine country, today brings an extra special invitation to celebrate the holidays with a feast in the home of a winemaking family!
I first met them years ago on a previous trip and have stayed in touch with these wonderful humans. I reached out to them specifically for this trip and they are excited to spend time with you sharing an afternoon immersed in food, wine, and good cheer.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
On to the Czech's ex-other half, Slovakia. Even though they've broken up we don't have to choose between them.
We'll slide into Bratislava in the morning and immediately cozy up to this under-the-radar city. You'll feast your eyes on art nouveau buildings like the Blue Church, and learn more about the history that makes Slovakia what it is today.
Meals included: Brunch, Dinner
It's Sunday, Slay Belles! Time for a champagne brunch to celebrate the holidays and the best decision you ever made which was to come on this tour 🥂
After we've consumed more waffles than we thought possible, it's time to wander out into the square and visit Bratislava's Christmas market!
Grab some tea, continue the party with Grog (rum and spices) or go bold and try ‘hriato’, a fruit-brandy-based cocktail made with bacon.
If it's mementos you're looking for, shop the stalls for jewelry, lace, Slovakian handicrafts, or buy all those little porcelain buildings so you can reassemble medieval Bratislava on your credenza when you get home.
Meals included: Brunch, Dinner
Today we roll up into the capital city of Budapest.
To get our bearings, we'll first stop at Buda Castle and have an overview of the city. Then we'll cross the Danube and post up on the Pest side, and get ready to rock that Christmas market.
Considered one of the most beautiful markets in Europe there are hundreds of stalls with everything from fragrant dried fruit decorations, hand-made pocket knives, chestnut spread, leather goods, sherpa throws, colorful wreaths that I have no idea how you're going to get home, and creepy marionettes.
This is also the place to graze on Hungarian cuisine like goulash, stuffed cabbage rolls, grilled sausages, roasted chestnuts, and if you're feeling cocky, rooster testicle stew.
Meals included: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch
What started in Austria, ends in Hungary. You've just spent a week and a half laughing, eating, meeting local artisans, and immersing yourself in culture like it was the end of an empire.
Now it's time to soak in the healing waters of the thermal baths of Budapest because if you haven't visited the baths of Hungary, did you really even go to Hungary? Look I care about you too much for you to go home without this experience, so this morning we're doing a self-care bonanza of warm mineral pools, steam, sauna, cold plunges and you can stay and add any spa treatment you need.
All glowed up? Good, because after your free time we're meeting up for a final night together that starts with a sunset cocktail cruise on the Danube, moves to a closing night feast, and continues to the after-party at a legen-wait for it-DARY Ruin Pub (bars set up in previously abandoned building in the old Jewish Quarter).
Can't wait to see you at the First Annual CleverDever Holiday Party, this is going to be unforgettable!
*activities subject to change based on weather and schedule availability
MEMBER OF / IN COMPLIANCE WITH
(and joyous, make-a-foodie-cry-with-happiness, wine-sipping, gut-busting, loud-singing, laugh-crying memories with new friends?)
2024 9-Day Culturally Immersive Christmas Market Tour
and First Annual Holiday Party from Vienna to Budapest
Includes lodging, daily breakfast, meals as indicated, wine and beer tastings, professional guides, all planned activities including, bonuses PLUS travel with Juliana Dever!
(Hi! Yes, I'll be there from our first hello to the final joyfully teary 'goodbye'.)
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“I loved every minute. It was so well organized, planned, and we had such great guides - it made this the best holiday of my life. I would definitely go on another CleverDever Adventure, it is worth every penny.”
–Ruth Wolseley
FOR YOU, MY GORGEOUS FENCE-SITTER
I'm here for you!
Book a free 15-minute call with me and we'll have a no-presh chat about whether this trip's for you.
Because I want you to be so happy (and happy travelers make better friends both off and on the road).
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