Active & Discovery on The Lower Danube with 2 Nights in Transylvania 2024 - 10 Day River Cruise Bucharest to Belgrade

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Active & Discovery on The Lower Danube with 2 Nights in Transylvania 2024

10 Day River Cruise Bucharest to Belgrade



Tour Description:

Looking for countless ways to experience four of the most fascinating European countries along the Lower Danube? Avalon’s Active & Discovery cruises present a diverse range of hands-on adventures that also engage your heart and mind throughout Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia.

Our exciting menu of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions along the Lower Danube leads you off the beaten path and onto the winding bike paths, scenic hiking trails, and cultural and culinary avenues of the beautiful Balkans. Prepare to uncover the past and dive into the present in the most interactive ways. No other river cruise offers more elevating experiences on the Lower Danube than an Active & Discovery cruise.

Move.
Enjoy a little get-up-and-go on your cruising vacation when you:

•Get ready to gush on a guided walk through the beautiful eco-patch up to Kroushuna Waterfalls.
•Hike through the famous Belogradchik rock formations resembling people and animals in the Balkan mountain range.
•Pedal from WWII to today on a historic bicycling tour through the waterfront capital of Belgrade.

And be moved.
Get off the beaten path and relish the world when you:

•Feast on a foodie tour of Romanian cuisine – a perfect mix of Balkan, Ottoman, French and Russian influences.
•Celebrate the comeback of Bulgarian wines post-communism with a music-accompanied winery tour and tasting.
•Taste local honey specialties at the Museum of Beekeeping while learning about Serbia’s sweet beekeeping profession.

Plus, Classic sightseeing is always available in every port along the way.

Start sooner with a two-night hotel stay in Brasov to discover the beautiful and mysterious Transylvania! Avalon Choice sightseeing is the perfect highlight of your stay.

Activate your senses and discover a world of wonder in all-new, entirely “you” ways on your personal, passion-packed cruise along the Lower Danube.

Map for Active & Discovery on The Lower Danube with 2 Nights in Transylvania 2024 - 10 Day River Cruise Bucharest to Belgrade
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Dates & Pricing

Monday 10 Jun 24 — Thursday 20 Jun 24Starting at $4,198Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Tuesday 27 Aug 24 — Friday 06 Sep 24Starting at $5,440Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon 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.


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Bucharest: Welcome to Bucharest
Day 2 Bucharest–Sinaia–Brasov: Visit Peles Castle
Day 3 Brasov: Guided tour of Brasov; guided visit of Dracula’s Bran Castle
Day 4 Bucharest–Oltenita (Embarkation): Choice of guided sightseeing in Bucharest or walk the Urban Delta or food tour; onboard welcome reception
Day 5 Nikopol. Excursion to Veliko Târnovo and Arbanassi: Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet’s Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi or hike the Kroushuna Waterfalls
Day 6 Vidin. Excursion to Belogradchik: Choice of guided tour in Vidin, visit Baba Vida Fortress or wine tasting or hiking in Belogradchik
Day 7 Iron Gates–Donji Milanovac–Golubač: Scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge; choice of visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site or Donji Milanovac off the beaten path tour or Djerdap National park hike; visit to Golubač fortress
Day 8 Novi Sad–Ilok: Choice of Novi Sad guided tour or walk up to the Petrovaradin Fortress or wine tour; choice of Ilok guided tour or biking tour or beer tour
Day 9 Belgrade: Choice of guided tour or bike tour or meet the locals
Day 10 Belgrade (Disembarkation): Your vacation 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

Day 1
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East” The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue. BUCHAREST-PARLIAMENT.jpg

Day 2
BUCHAREST–SINAIA–BRASOV Drive into the Carpathians to Sinaia to visit Peles castle. On the way, enjoy a local lunch. This afternoon continue to Brasov for the night. SINAIA.jpg
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Day 3
BRASOV Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brasov followed by free time. In the evening enjoy a tour of Bran Castle of Dracula lore followed by dinner. BRASOV-BRAN-CASTLE.jpg
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Day 4
BUCHAREST Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History ACTIVE Take a guided natural walk in the Văcărești Nature Park. Also known as Urban Delta, this wetland is home to more than 150 different species of birds and small mammals. Enjoy this green get away and learn more about this special green area located only 4km away from the centre of Romania’s capital, Bucharest. OR: DISCOVERY Discover the joie de vivre of Romanian cuisine -- a tasty hodge-podge of Balkan, Ottoman, French, and Russian influences. OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Travel to Oltenita to board your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon. OLTENITA (EMBARKATION) Your Adventure Begins Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner on board. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SVISTOV BUCHAREST-NATURE-PARK.jpg

Day 5
NIKOPOL. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION Cliff Houses and Revival Architecture ACTIVE Follow your expert local guide through the beautiful eco-patch up to Kroushuna Waterfalls. OR: CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN VELIKO-TARNOVO.jpg
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Day 6
VIDIN, BULGARIA Rocks, Ruins and Beauty in Bulgaria ACTIVE Enjoy a panoramic trek on the rocky landscape of Belogradchik. OR: DISCOVERY Get to learn everything about the production technologies of the Bulgarian wines and enjoy a tasting of the various labels produced by a local well-known winery. All accompanied by local snacks and symphonic music. OR: CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a visit to Baba Vida Fortress, Bulgaria’s only completely preserved medieval castle. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC VIDIN-BABA-VIDA-FORTRESS.jpg
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Day 7
IRON GATES GORGE—DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR—GOLUBAČ Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. ACTIVE Enjoy this scenic hike through Djerdap National Park and stop along the way to taste some local specialties before returning to your Avalon ship. OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge. OR: CLASSIC Join a guided tour of Donji Milanovac and learn the basic of the Cyrillic Serbian alphabet inside the local primary school. Meet locals and get to know the art of crocheting while learning about the history of this little Serbian town. Enjoy a brief sailing to Golubač. CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD IRON-GATES-GORGE.jpg
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Day 8
NOVI SAD A Capital of Culture ACTIVE Enjoy a guided hike tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR: DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this guided tour of Novi Sad by stopping to the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties. OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications. Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard. ILOK, CROATIA Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages ACTIVE Enjoy a scenic bike ride through the easternmost town in Croatia and be mesmerized by the beauty of Ilok. OR; DISCOVERY Explore the town of Vukovar and meet a local beer brewer who will share with you his fascinating story during a beer tasting. OR; CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE NOVI-SAD.jpg
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Day 9
BELGRADE, SERBIA Fortresses and Folklore ACTIVE Get a real taste of Serbia on this guided bike tour focusing on the history of Belgrade, from WWII to today, OR: DISCOVERY Go way beyond the ordinary, and get to know Belgrade through its remarkable people and innovative minds.. OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches. Spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots. You might consider partaking one of the Optional Excursion available. DISCOVERY Before dinner, attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states. This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BELGRADE BELGRADE-CAFE.jpg
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Day 10
BELGRADE (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. BELGRADE-SCENIC.jpg

Accommodations

BucharestBrasovBelgrade
Radisson Blu
Deluxe

Hotel as shown or similar

Calea Victoriei 63 - 81 Sector 1 Bucharest Romania

Overlooking the former Royal Palace and near the Romanian Athenaeum Concert Hall and Cismigiu Park, the Radisson Blu provides modern accommodation in the heart of Romania's capital. Guests can choose from the exclusive selection of five on site restaurants and three bars. The hotel also hosts the World Class Health Academy including indoor 22-meter swimming, outdoor Jacuzzi and pool, gym and fitness facilities. When you feel like relaxing, visit our Bali Spa, offering a nice menu of massages and body treatments (against a fee). Within the same complex as the Radisson Blu Hotel you can enjoy Romania's biggest casino.
Check Mark 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.

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