Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
- Day 2
Bratislava
Optional Activities
- Communist tour of Bratislava - learn about the communist regime and its impact on daily life
- Walking tour of Bratislava - see Hlavné Námestie (main square) and Old Town Hall with local guide
- Coffee and cake with a Slovakian family - visit a local home for authentic cultural experience
Landmarks Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie Old Town Hall - Day 3
Bratislava to Budapest
Included Activities
- Cruise through Slovakia on the Danube River
Optional Activities
- Massage services (additional cost)
- Classical Music Concert at Gödöllő Royal Palace - exclusive concert in the 18th-century Baroque palace, the world's second largest (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks Gödöllő Royal Palace - Day 4
Budapest
Optional Activities
- Guided hike of Buda - walking tour through Buda district with views of Várkert Bazár, gardens, Danube River and city architecture
- Budapest's past and present - walking and coach tour covering communist past, 1956 Hungarian revolution, and Jewish cultural events
- Beethoven's favourite getaway - visit to Brunszvik Castle with Neo Gothic architecture, grand gardens, and Beethoven Memorial Museum
- Etyek region wineries and vineyards - tour of the 'vineyard of Budapest' with white wine and sparkling wine tastings
- Jewish Heritage Tour - visit Jewish Museum and impressive Synagogue, learn about significant Jewish events that shaped culture
Landmarks Brunszvik Castle - Day 5
Ordas to Mohacs
Optional Activities
- Hungarian Traditions - learn about traditional handicrafts including needlework and embroidery and their origins
- Hungarian Horse Show - travel to Kalocsa on the Great Hungarian Plain to watch traditional horse show, meet horsemen demonstrating equestrian skills, and taste local delicacies
Landmarks Kalocsa - Day 6
Mohacs to Osijek
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs - see Roman ruins, Turkish baths, Baroque buildings, and decorative arts like porcelain
- Villány wine stories - visit charming town in Villány wine region known for red wines, see historic wine cellars, taste local wines, visit an old mill
- Mohács traditions and flavours - explore Busójvár Museum learning about World Heritage-listed Busójárás festival, visit historic sites, taste halászlé traditional fish stew made with Danube River fish and Hungarian paprika
Landmarks Pécs Villány wine region - Day 7
Vukovar
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local Croatian family home with fresh vegetables from host's garden)
Included Activities
- Lunch at a local Croatian family home - authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from host's garden
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek - travel by coach to charming city of Osijek to explore well-preserved Baroque Old Town and fortress
- Baranja wine region - tour family-owned wineries in fertile Baranja region famous for exceptional white wines, taste wines in rustic cellars or outdoor terraces
- Vukovar chronicles - explore 'Hero Town' of Vukovar, learn about courageous defence during Croatian War of Independence in early 1990s, visit museums and monuments preserving legacy
Landmarks Osijek Baranja wine region - Day 8
Novi Sad
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Novi Sad - discover the city from 18th-century Petrovaradin Fortress to charming Dunavska Street lined with colourful buildings
- Hike to Petrovaradin Fortress - learn about fortress history dating to Middle Ages, enjoy magnificent views over Danube River and city
- Vojvodina farmhouse flavours - cooking demonstration at traditional farmstead (Salaš) discovering secrets of authentic regional cuisine and enjoying freshly brewed coffee and homemade buns
- Fruška Gora National Park - explore Serbia's oldest national park with oak and beech forests, 60+ family vineyards, 16 monasteries, visit oldest 16th-century monastery and winery tasting
Landmarks Petrovaradin Fortress Dunavska Street Fruška Gora National Park - Day 9
Belgrade
Optional Activities
- Guided city tour - by coach and foot tour major sites with local guide, see cobbled streets of Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress with panoramic views, includes free time to explore
- Panoramic city tour including Tito's Memorial - tour city highlights including Ottoman Old Town, Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic Square, and memorial to former Yugoslav ruler Tito, includes free time
- Cycling tour along the Danube - trace banks of Danube on two wheels, admire scenery and learn about Belgrade's history from local guide
- Central Belgrade stroll with coffee and cake - leisurely stroll from historic Kalemegdan Fortress down Knez Mihailova Street, pause for expertly brewed coffee and signature cake from beloved bakery
- Choir Performance in St. Sava - exclusive event in largest orthodox temple in Balkans, explore fresco-lined walls of crypt where church choir performs beautiful hymns (Scenic Enrich)
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Knez Mihailova Street Republic Square St. Sava 
- Day 10
Golubac to Donji Milanovac
Included Activities
- Cruise through Iron Gates scenery - spectacular Danube stretch featuring four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs, and rock carving of former Romanian king Decebalus (natural border between Serbia and Romania)
Optional Activities
- Golubac Fortress - guided tour of 14th-century fortress built on steep embankment with nine towers connected by ramparts
- Lepenski Vir archaeological site - tour of significant archaeological site first inhabited 12,000 years ago, see 136 building ruins, central square, fireplaces and stone idols from Europe's early stone age
- Hike through Djerdap National Park - join local park ranger and guide for hike with spectacular sights including Golubac Fortress and incredible Danube River views
Landmarks Golubac Fortress Lepenski Vir Djerdap National Park Iron Gates - Day 11
Vidin
Optional Activities
- Hiking to Belogradchik castle ruins - active hiking tour to Belogradchik Fortress to admire unique rock formations and ancient stronghold ruins from Roman Empire period
- Visit to a local winery - travel to Negovanovtsi village and Dos Alamos Winery (established 2013) for tour and tasting of Bulgarian Rubin grapes (high-quality reds), Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
- Ancestry of the Kitchen – Banitsa cooking demonstration - meet local who shares life stories and family secret recipe of traditional banitsa (cheese-filled pie made with filo pastry)
- Triangle of Tolerance walking tour - walking tour of Vidin learning about history and legacy of tolerance among residents, see Metropolis Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, Orthodox Cathedral of St. Dimitar, Osman Mosque, and Synagogue
Landmarks Belogradchik Fortress Metropolis Orthodox church of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral of St. Dimitar Osman Mosque Synagogue - Day 12
Rousse
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Rousse - guided tour of Belle Epoque architecture and leafy manicured squares
- Traditional Bulgarian handicrafts - learn about local crafts
- Local wine tasting - sample delicious local wine
- Piano recital - short piano recital
Landmarks Rousse - Day 13
Silistra to Constanta
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Silistra Fort - guided walking tour of 19th-century fort, best preserved of six Turkish fortification points, important in Russo-Turkish wars
- Visit Alfatar village - travel to small village outside Silistra, learn how people kept traditions alive in ethnographic museum, see restored Holy Trinity temple symbol of Bulgarian Orthodox religion, visit school to meet local children
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar village Holy Trinity temple - Day 14
Constanta
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Constanta - learn about heritage dating to 600 BC
Landmarks Constanta Ovid Square Orthodox Cathedral Genovese Lighthouse - Day 15
Constanta to Bucharest
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided coach tour of Bucharest - tour from south of city to Primaverii Palace (home of Ceausescus), visit Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square and Charles de Gaulle Square
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square Palace of Parliament - Day 16
Bucharest to Sibiu
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant with fellow travellers)
Landmarks Sibiu - Day 17
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
Optional Activities
- Explore the walled city - guided tour of World Heritage-listed walled city built by Saxons between 12th-17th centuries with highlights shown by local guide
- Hike the hill - hike up covered stairway to 14th-century Church on the Hill, spectacular example of Gothic Transylvanian architecture with superb views over city
Landmarks Sibiu Sighisoara Church on the Hill 
- Day 18
Brasov
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in one of Brasov's finest restaurants)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brasov - sights of charming town with Gothic spires, medieval watchtowers and sprawling squares
- Visit to Bran Castle - explore the white stone fortress built in 14th century perched dramatically on clifftop, maze of narrow passageways, hidden rooms and sunny courtyards
Landmarks Brasov Bran Castle - Day 19
Brasov to Bucharest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Peles Castle - Neo-Classical masterpiece built 1870s by first king of Romania, explore exquisitely decorated rooms with paintings, carved wood and stained glass
- Visit to Sinaia Monastery - oldest monastery in region, home to two churches from 17th and 19th centuries
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery - Day 20
Bucharest
- Meals
- Breakfast
