We're a family business and in our family, people come first. For this reason, we invest a lot of time in training and development and sending our people away to experience our destinations first-hand. Our staff always return with many photos and many stories... 
 

“A unique mix of cultures and architectural gems”
by Sacha Bunnik
Operations Director, Bunnik Tours

Dennis and I arrived into Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, early in November to explore this amazing city. We have heard so many interesting stories about Tallinn and had to see it for ourselves.

Estonia has a long, rich history and dates back many thousands of years. Unfortunately for the Estonians, they have been occupied many times throughout their history by aggressive neighbours, each leaving behind a unique mix of cultures and architectural gems to make modern day Tallinn a real treat to the senses. 

Estonia gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR and joined the European Union in 2004. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city, is quite small compared to other European cities, with a population of approx 400,000 people, making it a perfect place to explore on foot.

Medieval Magic
We started our exploration of Tallinn by walking through the old medieval city centre amazed with its high protective walls, cobblestone streets and quaint narrow lanes filled with interesting shops and restaurants covering traditional Estonian food to modern and affordable fusion with a hint of ethnicity. The old town has a really nice atmosphere about it with lots of tourists absorbing the European culture at cafés, the lingering smell of roasting chestnuts in the air and historic sites and buildings all around.
 
We walked both the Pikk Jalg and Luhike Jalg - long leg and short leg, it’s what the locals call the 2 main streets in Tallinn. These streets connect the upper and lower parts of the old town and meet in the middle of a square with a picturesque water well. We also ventured down St. Catherine’s Passage - a narrow lane known by locals as one of the most romantic streets in the world. Luckily I was with my brother Dennis and not my wife or things would have got out of hand!

St Olaf’s Church dates back to 1267 and is a must see site in Tallinn. When the steeple was added in the 1500’s it became the tallest building in the world, standing at 159 metres. During the cold war, the KGB used the steeple as a surveillance point and radio tower. The view from the top is amazing as it gives you a wonderful bird’s eye view of the old town.

Dinner in Tallinn was a wonderful experience as we chose a local restaurant full of Estonians being merry. The food was very hearty, from thick pea soup to blood sausage, sauerkraut and pork, all with lots of garlic. Let’s just say Dennis and I did not go hungry. 

Local Estonians are very friendly and really open up to tourists, especially after a few beers. Estonia has a really friendly and safe feel about it and seems to be coming to age within the European Union as a dynamic country with a lot to offer.

You can visit Estonia as part of Bunnik Tours Moscow to Prague tour. This amazing tour captures the main sights, history and feel of Eastern Europe.

Moscow to Prague - click here for details

 

Turkey – the crossroads of Europe and Asia
by Jackie Carypidis
National Brand Manager, Bunnik Tours

Our journey started in the vibrant Istanbul where we explored the amazing Grand Bazaar housing over 1,200 stalls of leather, jewellery, spices, carpet, pottery and mouth watering Turkish delights. This was a perfect place for us to use our bartering skills and bag a few bargains. We spent the next 2 days exploring the rich and colourful culture of the city visiting the beautiful gardens at Sultanahmet, museums, churches, mosques and palaces including the famous Blue Mosque, famed for its 6 minarets, the neighbouring Hagia Sophia which was once the world’s largest cathedrals turned mosque and now a museum, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern.

ANZAC – lest we forget
We continued travelling to battle-scarred Gallipoli where we visited the main ANZAC territory covering the old battlefield’s original trenches and tunnels, North Beach, Brighton Beach (the intended landing place), Anzac Cove through to the Turkish memorial. We then travelled to the ancient city of Troy where we visited the symbolic wooden horse and had a chance to explore the legendary site of the Trojan War. 

Ancient Wonders
Our next stop was Ephesus, the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean exemplifying the urban life of the Romans. We were amazed at the carefully restored elements of this ancient city, mainly the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Artemis, the amazing Corinthian inspired architecture at the Odeon, and the Gate of Augustus.

The next morning, we travelled to Pamukale, a natural site south-west of Turkey containing amazing hot springs and calcium terraces nearby the ancient city of Hieropolis, home of the thermal baths. People have been bathing in these pools for thousands of years and the area is now recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Continuing with the World Heritage Sites, we then visited the Goreme Valley in Cappadocia, an astounding landscape of eroded volcanic rock and home of the fairy chimneys, magnificent houses, churches and monasteries carved by Christians over 2000 years ago. This is where we saw many examples of Byzantine art and unique frescoes still showing amazing colours.

Not for the claustrophobic!!!
Further out of Goreme, we explored the underground city of Derinkuyu – one of many cities built by the Christians who were trying to escape during the persecution of the Roman empire. Derinkuyu is 85m deep and has 8 floors of tunnels opened to tourists to give them an idea of labyrinth living.

The well preserved archaeological sites and fascinating museums in Turkey bring its history to life and the warm welcome and traditional hospitality made this holiday very satisfying. Turkey is a destination for everyone!
 
Click here for more information on the Bunnik Tours packages to Turkey

Barcelona - a fun vibrant city full of vitality!
by Jennifer Robertson
Reservations Supervisor, Bunnik Tours

From the extremely touristy street of La Rambla to the bizarre Gaudi architecture evident throughout the city, Barcelona certainly caters for all tastes. Relaxing by the marina of Port Vell whilst tasting the true Spanish cuisine of seafood Paella and Sangria, is an extremely popular way to spend a sunny afternoon and a great place to meet the locals.

We found the best way to see Barcelona is by foot or by metro. Our city tour gave us the main sights (of which there were many) but it was also great fun to go out exploring by ourselves.

I never quite understood the fascination of Gaudi’s architecture until I saw it for myself. We found ourselves standing in complete awe of Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. His unique use of colours and ways of collaborating nature into his works is just fascinating. More of Gaudi’s bizarre architecture, including Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, can be found in the heart of the city centre near Plaza Catalunya.

Of course the magnificent La Sagrada Familia is one of many main attractions in Barcelona; however it is the friendliness of the locals and their relaxed lifestyle that really captivates you. The Spanish are passionate about their football and the success of the local Barcelona Football Club is showcased everywhere. As you walk past hundreds of souvenir shops that line the streets, temptation sets in as you find yourself purchasing bargain souvenirs for family and friends.

It is easy to lose your way in the narrow cobble-stoned streets within the Gothic Quarter, but this is all part of the fun! Surrounding the Gothic Cathedral, off the beaten track, are many quaint little shops & traditional tapas bars which are sometimes just the hidden gems you are looking for.

With its mix of the old and the new, Barcelona is definitely one of my favourite places I have visited through my recent European adventure. I just can’t wait to explore more when I go back!

Click here for more information on the Bunnik Tours packages to Spain
 
 

Prague – one of the most beautiful cities in Europe
by Catherine Kelly
National Campaign Manager, Bunnik Tours

Mention Prague and immediately thoughts of fantastical architecture on cobblestone streets springs to mind. My imaginings of Prague were realised and exceeded when I finally got to experience this beautiful city for myself.

Visiting in October, I was blessed with near perfect weather and a less crowded city. Prague is a very popular tourist destination but travelling just outside of peak season allowed me to sightsee without hordes of people at my side.

The historic centre of Prague is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites as it is over 1100 years old and has fine examples of medieval, gothic, baroque, cubist and modern architecture. It was easy to see why Prague has been such an epicentre of creativity.

It is an amazing mix of the old and the new. I was fascinated by the history of this city and how tangible it still was. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and, until as recently as 1989, was a communist-ruled state. Western ‘pop’ music was banned during some of this time but youthful idealism saw an ordinary wall in the city transformed. This wall became a celebration of the spirit of love and peace with lyrics from Beatles songs written on it. It is now a tourist attraction and is known as the Lennon Wall. It is continually changing as people continue to add paint, poems and thoughts.

Wandering along the Vltava River, the longest river in the Czech Republic, is a wonderful experience. The Charles Bridge, which spans this river, is another breathtaking must-see in Prague. Built in the 14th century, it is a beautiful old bridge with 16 arches and 3 bridge towers and is a well-trodden thoroughfare for both tourists and locals connecting the Old Town and Prague Castle.

Prague Castle is one of the biggest ancient castles in the world and is made up of palaces, cathedrals and gardens. St Vitus Cathedral is part of this complex and is a testament to gothic architecture. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are also kept here and the legend goes that if a usurper placed the crown upon their head they would die within a year.

Other must-see sights in Prague include the Astronomical Clock (Prague Orloj) in Old Town Square. It is comprised of 3 components: the astronomical dial showing the Sun and the Moon; the Walk of the Apostles which has hourly shows in daylight of figures and sculptures and the Calendar dial with medallions representing the months. The square gets very busy on the hour to view the clock ‘chime’ so I would suggest getting there a little early.

On our final day in Prague, we headed up to New Town for a lager at the famous U Fleků brewery and restaurant. This brewery is one of the oldest in Central Europe and has been brewing beer for over 500 years straight. I’m no beer connoisseur but still enjoyed it! For beer fans it is made from four kinds of barley malt and is made entirely from Czech products.

I would love to return to Prague one day to further explore and appreciate its magnificent blend of architectural and cultural influences. It is a magical city - vibrant, historic and beautiful.

Moscow to Prague - click here for details

METEORA - WORLD HERITAGE BEAUTY
By Stephanie Lianos
Product Manager, Bunnik Tours

One of the most amazing places in Greece is Meteora, a set of 6 monasteries built high on natural rock pillars at the edge of the Plain of Thessaly in central Greece. It’s certainly an impressive sight and it leaves you wondering how on earth they got there! Even the producers of the James Bond Movie, For Your Eyes Only, found these rocks impressive… Roger Moore (actually, his stunt double) once climbed the stone face!  

The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone rocks, which were originally settled by monks who lived in caves within the rocks. During the Turkish occupation, the monks climbed higher and higher to the highest peak where they were able to build their first monastery. Apparently, it was the monks who kept the Hellenic culture alive during the Ottoman Empire… without these monks, modern day Greece might not be what it is today!

The monasteries require a challenging uphill climb, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes. The amazing views and the colourful, well-preserved frescoes are worth the strenuous walk up the rocks.

The largest monastery of the six is the Holy Monastery of Meteoron which was built in the 14th century on the highest rock. This now serves as a main tourist museum housing some of the most beautiful wall paintings and post Byzantine Mural art.

In terms of accommodation, we stayed at Kalambaka, a small modern town featuring the steps and rocks of Meteora as a backdrop. Kalambaka is a lovely town adorned with lavish fountains and quiet cobbled streets, and delicious Greek tavernas serving some of the best feta cheese, Greek salads and baklava!

A visit to Meteora is truly an unforgettable experience and a must-see when in Greece.

Bunnik Tours visit Meteora on the following tours:

Turkey & Greece - click here
Greece and the Adriatic - click here
The Ancient Road - click here
 

I Love Dubai

by Juvena Salvemini
International Travel Consultant, Bunnik Tours

After completing a tour to Egypt with Bunnik Tours, we were on our way to Dubai as it seemed a good way to end our holiday in the Middle East. To be honest, I was neither here nor there about stopping over in Dubai, but in the end we decided to see what all the fuss is about.

Similar to Egypt, it can really only be described as two things:

1. You need to see it to believe it!

2. Overwhelming

Dubai is home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. It is an amazing piece of architecture standing at over 823 metres high! Coming from Adelaide where the Westpac building is the tallest building in the city, to a building that reaches over 160 storeys above the city skyline, is truly amazing. The views are incredible and if you are lucky enough you can see the Burj Al Arab, another huge piece of architecture out in the desert. It is probably a good idea to pre book the tickets for the observation level as sessions book out very quickly.

A real experience was the shopping mall, which is located at the base of the Burj Khalifa covering over 9 million square feet! This is a shopaholic's dream... not only is there a cinema, ice rink and water features, there is an amazing aquarium and a Sega world for the children. You could easily spend a whole day at this mall and I assure you, you won’t pass the same place twice! If you need to relieve yourself from the Arabian heat, then the Mall of the Emirates is the place to be. Here you can ski, snowboard or just wander through the snow park which we found a little weird at first, considering the outside temperature was 45 degrees!

If you like heights and like the idea of enjoying overpriced fancy cocktails, then you should book yourself in to the stylish Skyview cocktail bar at the Burj Al Arab. OK, so we wouldn’t normally spend $40 on one drink, but when in Dubai…

The view from this symbolic hotel is mind blowing – you’ll get to see the extent of construction surrounding this desert-city. The service was also something I’ve never experienced before, and again, be sure to book in advance so you don’t miss out.

The highlight from our time in Dubai would have to be the Sundowner dune safari. It is not exactly for the weak stomach but it really is a great experience. It is a good mix of culture and adventure whilst taking in the natural desert surroundings outside of the city centre. Great photo opportunities too!

On our last day, we visited the Dubai Museum, previously the Al Fahidi Fort, which was built around 1787 to defend the city against invasion. The museum now houses a diverse collection of exhibits offering a fascinating insight into the rich history and cultural heritage of Dubai.

Dubai is a great place to stopover – if only I had more time to cover the rest of the Emirates!

You can visit Dubai with a Bunnik Tours stopover package with one of our Middle Eastern tours - click here for more information or click here to see all of our small group tours to the Middle East