Does the tour run in reverse?

This cruise does run in the reverse itinerary, and there are a few different versions available.

From

US $5,718 per person

Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest & 2 Nights in Transylvania

11 days

•

From Budapest to Bucharest

4.6 (236 reviews)

View all

From

US $5,718 per person

+ $252 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only $250 today. The rest is due 95 days before departure. Learn more

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Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Avalon Waterways
River Cruise: Cruise scenic waterways for effortless exploration
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 160
Ages 8+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Budapest
Budapest
Meals
Dinner
Day 2
Vukovar - Ilok
Vukovar - Ilok
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Vukovar with beer tasting
- Guided City Tour of Vukovar
- Lunch onboard during cruise to Ilok
- Guided Tour of Ilok with wine tasting in local cellar
- Guided Bike Tour in Ilok along city walls, central church, museum, and to Principovac Castle and Estate
Landmarks
Principovac Castle and Estate
Day 3
Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Petrovaradin
- Guided Tour of Novi Sad including Honey Museum and local honey tasting
- Guided Tour of Novi Sad highlighting Austro-Hungarian old town, baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications
- Live entertainment on board
Landmarks
Honey Museum
Petrovaradin
Day 4
Belgrade
Belgrade
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour along the Danube exploring Belgrade
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade including Saint Sava Orthodox Church
- Onboard Lecture about Balkan history, destinations, and culture
Optional Activities
- Optional Excursion for authentic Bohemian Dinner in Skadarlija Quarter
Landmarks
Saint Sava
Knez Mihailova Street
Skadarlija Quarter
Day 5
Golubac - Donji Milanovac - Iron Gates Gorge
Golubac - Donji Milanovac - Iron Gates Gorge
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Fortress of Golubac
- Visit Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir
- Sail through Iron Gates Gorge
Landmarks
Fortress of Golubac
Lepenski Vir
Iron Gates Gorge
Day 6
Vidin
Vidin
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Baba Vida Fortress
- Guided Sightseeing Tour to Belogradchik and rock formations
- Tour and tasting at local Bulgarian winery
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Vidin
Landmarks
Baba Vida Fortress
Belogradchik Rock Formations
Day 7
Rousse - Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi
Rousse - Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rousse's old town
- Full-day Guided Tour to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Rousse with Holy Trinity Church
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo
- Bulgarian folklore show on board
Landmarks
Veliko Tarnovo
Arbanassi
Holy Trinity Church
Ivanovo rock-hewn churches
Day 8
Oltenita - Bucharest - Brasov
Oltenita - Bucharest - Brasov
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Bucharest including Arc de Triomphe and Royal Palace Square
Landmarks
Arc de Triomphe
Royal Palace Square
Day 9
Brasov
Brasov
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Bran Castle)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Brasov
- Guided Tour of Bran Castle with dinner
Landmarks
Bran Castle
Day 10
Brasov - Sinaia - Bucharest
Brasov - Sinaia - Bucharest
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Peles Castle
- Local lunch during drive to Bucharest
Landmarks
Peles Castle
Victory Avenue
Day 11
Bucharest
Bucharest
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Principovac Castle and Estate

Landmarks
Honey Museum
Petrovaradin

Landmarks
Saint Sava
Knez Mihailova Street
Skadarlija Quarter

Landmarks
Fortress of Golubac
Lepenski Vir
Iron Gates Gorge

Landmarks
Baba Vida Fortress
Belogradchik Rock Formations

Landmarks
Veliko Tarnovo
Arbanassi
Holy Trinity Church
Ivanovo rock-hewn churches

Landmarks
Arc de Triomphe
Royal Palace Square

Landmarks
Bran Castle

Landmarks
Peles Castle
Victory Avenue

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.6 (236 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 73%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Avalon Waterways Ship

Avalon Passion
Offering splendid river views, the Avalon Passion offers an exciting array of state-of-the-art amenities. Each Panorama Suite is fitted w… Read more
Built
2016
Guests
84 - 166
Crew
47
Length
135 m / 443 ft
Suites
67
Staterooms
16
Gross Tonnage
2775 gt
Beam
12 m / 39 ft
Cruising Speed
12 kn / 22 kph / 14 mph
Staterooms / Suites Deck Plans Dining

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

Tour Operator
4.6

Pierre-Paul4.8•October 2026
This was a very enjoyable trip despite the change that had to be done due to low water levels in the river. The...
Show more
Charles5.0•September 2025
We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and...
We would like to thank our Statesman Attendee that took care of all our needs in our room 107. He was friendly and did an amazing job, Marisio our waiter served us with the highest respect and friendliness. Over all Avalon have very good staff and always a smile- nothing too much trouble. The ship was so clean, food was spectacular. We had a surprise group of singers Gwen and Charles who brought great entertainment. The other entertainer was amazing. Loved the top deck BBQ. We met lots of new friends aboard. Thank you Avalon for a trip well executed.Show more

Dates & Prices

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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Ends on 4 Nov, 2026

From Tuesday
20 Apr, 2027
To Friday
30 Apr, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Illumination
From:
US$7,917 per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Wednesday
5 May, 2027
To Saturday
15 May, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Illumination
From:
US$7,917 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Thursday
20 May, 2027
To Sunday
30 May, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Friday
4 Jun, 2027
To Monday
14 Jun, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Saturday
19 Jun, 2027
To Tuesday
29 Jun, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Sunday
4 Jul, 2027
To Wednesday
14 Jul, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Monday
19 Jul, 2027
To Thursday
29 Jul, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Tuesday
3 Aug, 2027
To Friday
13 Aug, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$7,917 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Wednesday
18 Aug, 2027
To Saturday
28 Aug, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$5,818 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252
From Thursday
2 Sep, 2027
To Sunday
12 Sep, 2027
English
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
Avalon Passion
From:
US$6,218 per person
Sign up to unlock savings
Price based on Private Double Room
Taxes
$252

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What our customers ask about this tour

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B
Brandon
Asked on August 17th, 2026
Does the tour run in reverse?
Tour Details
- Avalon WaterwaysOperator•Written August 2026
  This cruise does run in the reverse itinerary, and there are a few different versions available.

Good to know

Tour ID: 338275

The practical details for your trip across Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

Pay in installments
Spread the cost in interest-free biweekly installments of $334.
Deposit only
Book now with just a $250 deposit. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure.
3 local currencies
You’ll encounter Bulgarian Lev in Bulgaria, Euro in Croatia, Forint in Hungary.
Plug types C, F, E
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.

Currencies
лв.
Bulgarian Lev
Bulgaria
€
Euro
Croatia
Ft
Forint
Hungary
Plugs & adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, F, E.
- Type C
  Used in all 5 countries
- Type F
  Used in all 5 countries
- Type E
  Only used in Hungary and Serbia
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Pay now
A $250 deposit
Balance due
95 days before departure
Installments
Interest-free, every two weeks
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a $250 deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 95 days before departure, charged automatically to your card, or you can split it into interest-free biweekly installments of $334 at checkout. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before January 31st, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
Accepted for Avalon Waterways tours
Visa
Maestro
Mastercard
American Express
PayPal
TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.
Checking the cancellation terms for this tour…
Your money is protected. TourRadar is an authorized agent of Avalon Waterways, and we handle payments so you don’t have to. Payment is securely transferred to the operator based on your departure date.
Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
Checking which travel protection options are available for you…
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Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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From

US $5,718 per person

+ $252 Taxes

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Pay only $250 today. The rest is due 95 days before departure. Learn more

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Balkan Discovery with 1 Night in Bucharest & 2 Nights in Transylvania

Explore our featured adventures

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Avalon Waterways Ship

Reviews from other tours by Avalon Waterways

Dates & Prices

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Pay in installments

Deposit only

3 local currencies

Plug types C, F, E

Currencies

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for Avalon Waterways tours

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Accessibility

People also viewed

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