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Active & Discovery on the Danube (Westbound) 2024
8 days from Budapest to Vilshofen
Tour Description:
Why dip your toes in the Danube when you can explore and adore its landmarks, legends, customs and cuisine in the most interactive ways? Avalon’s Active & Discovery cruises on the Danube invite dreamers and doers to activate their curiosities. To look closer, dive deeper, and forage further into the hamlets and hills of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Uncover ancient traditions and local flavors in immersive ways. Enjoy leisurely sightseeing or on-your-own discoveries. Whether you walk through winding alleyways, hike to a castle, bike to a palace or row to your own sanctuary of scenery, our diverse offering of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions along the Danube redefines the rules of engagement. Move.Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:•Sink your teeth into Count Dracula’s Visegrád prison tower on a hike to new heights.•Paddle a canoe on an excursion through the picturesque Bend region.•Pedal along the picture-perfect postcard views of the Wachau Valley. And be moved.Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:•See the ancient jousting skills of the St. George Knightly Order at Visegrád Castle.•Savor a merry morning walk, Vienna’s infamous café culture and VIP access to an art museum.•Meet the Count of Clam at Austria’s 12th-century and beautifully preserved Clam Castle. Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Danube.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation)-Danube Bend: | Welcome to Hungary; onboard welcome reception; scenic sailing |
| Day 2 Visegrád: | Choice of medieval knights tournament, or guided hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, or canoe tour |
| Day 3 Vienna: | Choice of bike tour, or Insider’s tour of Vienna, or guided tour, visit to Belvedere Palace |
| Day 4 Vienna: | Choice of early risers walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Italian or Dutch masters works, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Military Museum |
| Day 5 Krems-Grein: | In Krems choice of canoe tour, or bike tour from Krems to Spitz, or Wine World Experience with tasting, or local encounter showcasing regional products; visit Clam castle in Grein and meet the Count |
| Day 6 Grein-Mauthausen-Linz: | Guided walk in Grein, visit the historical theater; in Mauthausen, choice of visit to St. Florian Monastery, or guided tour of Mauthausen Memorial, or guided bike tour |
| Day 7 Engelhartszell-Schlögener Oxbow: | Choice of visit to Engelszell Abbey, or visit Jochenstein Power-Station or guided bike tour; choice of scenic cruising around the Schlögener Oxbow, or guided hike along the Danube trails |
| Day 8 Vilshofen (Disembarkation): | Your cruise ends this morning |
Notes:
- In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
- Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)–DANUBE BEND Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 3:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Eastern Europe’s shining city on the Danube.
Enjoy a Hungarian Dinner on board during a scenic cruise through the Danube Bend.
Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
EVENING CRUISE TO VISEGRÁD
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Day 2
VISEGRÁD Jousting Tournaments and Dracula’s Tower
ACTIVE Visit Count Dracula’s prison tower on a Hiking Tour, OR:
ACTIVE Take part in a Canoe Excursion through the picturesque Bend Region of the Danube for a truly unique perspective of one of the river’s most beautiful stretches, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Visit to the Medieval Knights Tournament at Visegrád’s Lower Castle, featuring targeting and fighting demonstrations by members of the St. George Knightly Order.
Spend free time after your selected activities to explore Palotaház, where stonemasons, smiths, potters, and paper-makers produce their traditional items using age-old techniques.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
VIENNA, AUSTRIA Strauss, Schnitzel, Strudel and Sachertorte Viennese Waltzes on the Blue Danube
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the famed Ringstrasse and pedestrian avenues of Vienna to see the city’s highlights from a unique perspective, OR:
DISCOVERY Take an Insider’s Tour of Vienna to get behind the scenes of her sights and attractions. You will meet locals, have the chance to prepare some food, and enjoy other surprises, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vienna, including a tour of Belvedere Palace to see Gustave Klimt’s renowned “Kiss” painting.
Spend free time this afternoon strolling through the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse then take a break for a piece of Sachertorte. Or enjoy an optional excursion in Schönbrunn.
This evening consider joining an Optional Excursion to attend a Royal Waltz Concert in an elegant hall.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN VIENNA
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
VIENNA Feast for the Soul
DISCOVERY Enjoy a morning Guided Walking Tour to see the city in her best light, along with breakfast at a Viennese café, OR:
CLASSIC Dive into one of the world’s most important museums with a Guided Tour of the Habsburg family’s private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, and enjoy Italian or Dutch master works, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by the Military Museum, commemorating the past of the Habsburg Empire.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KREMS
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
KREMS Take a Canoe or a Bike through Austria’s Wine Country
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Paddle a canoe on a Guided Tour to see the Austrian waterways and shoreline scenery from a unique perspective, OR:
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour from Krems to Spitz, and enjoy a stop in Dürnstein to see the mesmerizing blue Stiftskirche, and to sample local specialties, OR:
DISCOVERY Join an interactive Wine World Experience with wine tasting, OR:
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Guided Visit that showcases production of regional fruits, vegetables, wine, or other products.
Relax on board this afternoon to enjoy the picturesque Wachau Valley scenery as you cruise to Grein.
GREIN
A Modern-Day Castle and the Count
DISCOVERY See Burg Clam on a Guided Visit, and meet the Count of Clam during your tour.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN GREIN
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
GREIN Theater History...Alive and Well in Grein
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walk of Grein, including its historic theater, the oldest in Austria still holding regular performances.
Take a mid-morning cruise to Mauthausen.
MAUTHAUSEN
History Lessons and Monastic Life
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour along the Danube and discover how fertile this area is. Stop at a local farm and learn more about farming life and flood protection, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the 9th-century St. Florian Monastery—the largest monastery in upper Austria and home to Augustine monks, OR:
CLASSIC Join a sobering Guided Tour of Mauthausen Memorial, one of the largest and most brutal Nazi camp of WWII.
This afternoon sail to Linz arriving this evening.
LINZ
Legendary, Lovely Linz
Tonight, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ENGELHARTSZELL
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
ENGELHARTSZELL–SCHLÖGEN OXBOW Memories and Beer in the Making
ACTIVE Bike your way to a local trappist monastery in Engelhartszell, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to a cider cellar where an expert sommelier will reveal the secrets of Upper Austria’s beloved ciders, OR:
CLASSIC Visit the stunning rococo-style Engelszell Abbey, and explore its Sensory Garden—complete with stone labyrinth, herb garden, and vineyard. Sample cheese and beer made by the resident Trappist monks.
ACTIVE This afternoon, enjoy a scenic Guided Hike along the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow, a dramatic bend carved by centuries.
Or, as a relaxing option, enjoy free time on the Sky Deck this afternoon while you sail through the amazing horseshoe bend of the Danube’s Schlögen Oxbow on your way to Vilshofen.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VILSHOFEN
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
VILSHOFEN (DISEMBARKATION) Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Munich airport before 8 am.
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Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
