Balkan Discovery 2021
9 Day River Cruise Budapest to Bucharest
Starting at $3,228
Destinations & Sightseeing
Itinerary and Meals
Accomodations
800.528.9300
Experience the extraordinary destinations of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans. You’ll cruise through the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® in Budapest, the lively Hungarian capital, and cruise to Pécs, where you’ll visit underground burial chambers with fascinating murals, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a fascinating guided tour of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Visit Bulgaria’s Belogradchik, and see the fascinating rock formations sculpted by natural elements for over 200 million years. On an excursion to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, you’ll visit Arbanassi’s Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes. To round out this timeless Eastern European river cruise, you’ll stay in Romania’s vibrant capital of Bucharest, known as the “Paris of the East.” A local expert will show you many of its historical treasures, such as the Arc de Triomphe, built in honor of WWI soldiers.
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Destination & Sightseeing
| Day 1 Budapest (Embarkation): | onboard welcome reception |
| Day 2 Mohács. Excursion to Pécs: | choice of guided tour in Pécs, visit the underground tombs, or sightseeing in Mohács, visit St. Nicolas watermill |
| Day 3 Ilok–Novi Sad: | guided tours |
| Day 4 Belgrade: | guided tour; lecture on board |
| Day 5 Golubač–Donji Milanovac–Iron Gates: | visit to Golubač fortress; visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site; scenic cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge |
| Day 6 Vidin. Excursion to Belogradchik: | guided tour in Vidin, excursion to Belogradchik, see the rock formations |
| Day 7 Rousse–Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo 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 a guided sightseeing in Rousse, or a walk in the park with your Adventure Host |
| Day 8 Oltenita (Disembarkation)–Bucharest: | guided sightseeing in Bucharest |
| Day 9 Bucharest: | 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
ACTIVE Join a walk through the park with your Avalon Adventure Host
Day 2
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour
Day 3
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
Day 4
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
Day 5
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge
Day 6
CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements
Day 7
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:
Day 8
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
Day 9
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Spend some free time exploring on your own to visit shops and museums. See the beautiful home and churches along Victory Avenue
Day 18
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
Day 19
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)
Day 20
MOHÁCS
Day 21
NOVI SAD
Day 22
BELGRADE, SERBIA
Day 23
GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE
Day 24
VIDIN, BULGARIA
Day 25
ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION
Day 26
OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST
Day 27
BUCHAREST
Day 28
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS
Day 29
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK
Day 30
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
Day 31
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ
Day 32
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
Day 33
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
Day 34
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA
Day 35
Dinner
Day 36
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 37
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 38
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 39
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 40
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 41
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 42
Breakfast
Day 43
Breakfast
Day 44 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHÁCS
Dinner
DinnerDay 45 MOHÁCS
Hungarian History in a Harbor Town
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
CLASSIC Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács—the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues, and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermill—one of only a few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of nearby Pécs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. You’ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 46 ILOK, CROATIA
History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Novi Sad while having lunch onboard.
NOVI SAD
The Athens of Serbia
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.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 47 BELGRADE, SERBIA
Fortresses and Folklore
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.
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 48 GOLUBAČ–DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR–IRON GATES GORGE
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
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 for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Donji Milanovac.
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 49 VIDIN, BULGARIA
Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 50 ROUSSE. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION
Fortresses and Folklore
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, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria’s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church, OR:
ACTIVE Join a walk through the park with your Avalon Adventure Host.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 51 OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)–BUCHAREST
The Paris of the East
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.
Spend some free time exploring on your own to visit shops and museums. See the beautiful home and churches along Victory Avenue
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 52 BUCHAREST
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Accommodations
| Bucharest |
Athenee Palace Hilton
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
1-3 Episcopiei Bucharest Romania
Explore Bucharest from the glorious Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel, one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and enjoys views of Revolution Square and is close to Bucharest's many local attractions.
Superior First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
1-3 Episcopiei Bucharest Romania
Explore Bucharest from the glorious Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel, one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city and enjoys views of Revolution Square and is close to Bucharest's many local attractions.
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