Itinerary
- Day 1
Bucharest
You're starting in Bucharest, a city with plenty to see on your own terms. Walk around Victory Avenue where you'll find shops, cafes, and museums. There are beautiful homes and churches to check out along the way, so take your time and see what catches your interest.
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Bucharest
- Visit trendy shops and cafés
- Museum visits
- Church visits along Victory Avenue
Landmarks Victory Avenue - Day 2
Bucharest - Sinaia - Brașov
Head out into the Carpathians toward Sinaia. Along the way, you'll stop at Cantacuzino Castle before reaching Peles Castle. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll continue to Brasov where you'll stay for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit Peles Castle
- Visit Cantacuzino Castle
- Local lunch
Landmarks Peles Castle Cantacuzino Castle - Day 3
Brașov
This morning includes a guided tour of Brasov to see the main sights. After that, you'll have free time to wander around on your own. In the evening, you'll visit Bran Castle and have dinner afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brașov
- Tour of Bran Castle
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration during free time
Landmarks Bran Castle - Day 4
Brașov - Bucharest - Oltenita
Take a guided tour around Bucharest to see Royal Palace Square, the location where 1989 riots happened against Nicolae Ceausescu's communist rule. Then you'll head to Oltenita to board your Avalon Suite ship and sail overnight to Rousse, Bulgaria.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Excursion in Bucharest
- Visit Royal Palace Square
Landmarks Royal Palace Square - Day 5
Rousse - Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi - Svistov
In Rousse, Bulgaria's biggest inland port, you get to choose your activity: bike around with your Adventure Host, join a sightseeing tour to see Holy Trinity Church and the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, or take a full-day guided trip to Veliko Tarnovo and the town of Arbanassi. Later you'll sail to Svistov or rejoin the ship there, then cruise overnight to Vidin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Holy Trinity Church (if choosing guided sightseeing option)
Optional Activities
- Bike tour in Rousse with Adventure Host
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rousse
- Visit UNESCO rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo
- Full-day Guided Tour to Veliko Târnovo
- Visit Arbanassi town
Landmarks Holy Trinity Church Rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo Veliko Târnovo Arbanassi - Day 6
Vidin
In Vidin, pick between a bike ride with your Adventure Host or a guided tour to Belogradchik to see unique rock formations created over 200 million years and visit Baba Vida Fortress. This evening there's a Bulgarian folklore show on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bulgarian folklore show (evening entertainment)
Optional Activities
- Bike ride with Adventure Host
- Self-guided exploration of Vidin
- Guided Tour to Belogradchik
- Visit Belogradchik rock formations
- Visit Baba Vida Fortress
Landmarks Belogradchik Baba Vida Fortress - Day 7
Iron Gates Gorge - Golubac, Serbia - Lepenski Vir
Before lunch, you'll sail through the narrow Iron Gates Gorge between Serbia and Romania. Afterward, visit Lepenski Vir, a Mesolithic archaeological site with ancient artifacts and views of the Danube Gorge. You'll also stop at Golubac Fortress, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses, then sail overnight to Belgrade.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sail through Iron Gates Gorge
- Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir
- Visit Fortress of Golubac
Landmarks Iron Gates Gorge Lepenski Vir Fortress of Golubac - Day 8
Belgrade
In Belgrade where the Danube and Sava meet, you can walk the central walkway with your Adventure Host or take a guided tour to see Saint Sava Church and other sights. There's also an optional bike tour or time to explore Knez Mihailova Street where you'll find cafes and shops. An onboard lecture covers Balkan history and culture before your overnight cruise to Novi Sad.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Onboard Lecture about Balkan history and culture
Optional Activities
- Adventure Host-led walk along Belgrade's central walkway
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade
- Visit Saint Sava Orthodox Church
- Optional Guided Biking tour
- Self-guided exploration of Knez Mihailova Street
Landmarks Saint Sava Knez Mihailova Street - Day 9
Novi Sad
Explore Novi Sad and its Austro-Hungarian old town with baroque buildings. Choose between a guided tour, a walking tour up to Petrovaradin Fortress, or visit the Museum of Beekeeping and Zivanovic Wine Cellar in nearby Sremski Karlovci. You'll sail overnight to Ilok.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Tour of Novi Sad
- Walking tour to Petrovaradin Fortress
- Visit Museum of Beekeeping
- Visit Živanović Wine Cellar in Sremski Karlovci
- Wine tasting at Živanović Wine Cellar
Landmarks Petrovaradin Fortress Museum of Beekeeping Živanović Wine Cellar - Day 10
Ilok - Vukovar, Croatia
Walk around Ilok and do a wine tasting at a local cellar to hear stories about Croatian tradition. Then sail to Vukovar during lunch, Croatia's largest river port. You'll get a walking tour of Vukovar and enjoy live entertainment on the ship before sailing overnight to Mohacs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ilok
- Wine tasting in local Ilok cellar
- Walking tour of Vukovar
- Live entertainment on board (evening)
Landmarks Ilok Vukovar - Day 11
Mohács - Pécs, Hungary
In Mohacs, pick between a guided sightseeing tour to see memorial parks, statues, churches, and the medieval St. Nicholas Watermill, or a guided tour to Pecs to see 4th-century Christian underground tombs (a UNESCO site) with murals and an organ concert. You'll sail to Budapest in the afternoon and evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohács (if choosing this option)
- Visit St. Nicholas Watermill (if choosing Mohács option)
Optional Activities
- Guided Tour to Pécs
- Visit 4th-century Christian underground tombs in Pécs
- Organ concert (if Pécs option)
Landmarks St. Nicholas Watermill Pécs Christian underground tombs - Day 12
Budapest
Take a guided tour of Budapest including Heroes' Square and the city's iconic sights. You'll have a free afternoon to see places like Chain Bridge, find local cafes and pubs, or hike through the hills overlooking the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Budapest
- Visit Heroes' Square
Optional Activities
- Visit Chain Bridge
- Explore local cafés and pubs
- Hiking in hills above the Danube
- Self-guided exploration during free afternoon
Landmarks Heroes' Square Chain Bridge - Day 13
Budapest
Your trip ends this morning with breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
