Itinerary
- Day 1
Amsterdam
- Day 2
Amsterdam
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Canal cruise: one hour cruise along historic waterways to see Golden Age mansions, grand warehouses and narrow bridges
- Walking tour of Amsterdam: explore the maze of canals and bridges, learn about history, modern lifestyle and Dutch culture, taste herring
- Dutch countryside e-bike tour: small ferry to outskirts of town for biking tour with local guide sharing information about Dutch everyday life
- Excursion to Schermerhorn & Alkmaar: visit village with authentic 16th century windmills, then travel to charming town of Alkmaar with historic buildings and picturesque canals
- Day 3
Cologne to Bonn
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Lavish dinner accompanied by classical music at La Redoute recital hall)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Cologne Old Town: see historic buildings, beautiful squares and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cologne Cathedral
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral 
- Day 4
Rhine Gorge to Rüdesheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Rhine Gorge viewing approximately 40 hilltop castles and fortresses
Optional Activities
- Siegfried's Musikkabinett Museum: local guide introduction to mechanical musical instruments, then explore on your own or take cable car up to Niederwald Monument
- Hike & cable car: guided hike through rolling vineyards of Rüdesheim with spectacular views of countryside and Rhine River, cable car up to Niederwald Monument, return to town on foot
Landmarks Lorelei Niederwald Monument - Day 5
Miltenberg to Wertheim
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Wertheim tour and winery: orientation tour in Miltenberg with free time, then visit local winery in Wertheim to meet winemaker and learn about production process
- Gamburg Castle tour: visit Gamburg Castle with guided tour, meet Baron and Baroness von Mallinckrodt for private reception over sparkling wine
- Miltenberg hike: guided hike through Franconian landscape hills and forests with panoramic views of Main River, ancient vineyard terraces and medieval villages
- Tastes & treasures of Miltenberg: explore local producers from artisanal butchers and bakers to Schnapps producers, discovering Franconian craftsmanship on cobblestone lanes
- Schnapps tasting: orientation tour in Miltenberg with free time, visit local schnapps distillery to understand production and taste multiple flavours, transfer to Wertheim to meet ship
- Massage in spa (additional cost)
- Relax in exclusive Salt Therapy Lounge
Landmarks Gamburg Castle - Day 6
Würzburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour and Würzburg Residence: visit Baroque palace with guided tour of valuable paintings, tapestries and period furniture, then short stroll into city for free time
- Romantic Road to Rothenburg: coach journey to Rothenburg along famed Romantic Road (important trading route during Middle Ages), guided tour of well-preserved medieval old town, free time to explore
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Old Main Bridge - Day 7
Bamberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Bamberg Old Town: explore UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, one of Europe's largest intact medieval centres, learn about fascinating history through medieval and Baroque buildings
- Excursion to Coburg: journey by coach to Coburg (seat of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert), visit impressive castle overlooking city, explore museum with large collection of carriages, weapons, armoury and paintings
Landmarks Bamberg Cathedral Bamberg Town Hall Coburg Castle - Day 8
Nuremberg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Nuremberg Old Town: drive to city centre passing ancient city walls, walking tour with local guide to see Imperial Castle, St. Egidien's Church and market square
- World War II tour: local guide highlights main events during Nazi regime, learn about dark period in German history, visit important sites
- Nuremberg's Castle and City Walls: active walking tour following cobblestone streets surrounding Imperial Castle, admire impressive medieval city walls
Landmarks Imperial Castle St. Egidien's Church - Day 9
Regensburg
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Regensburg: guided walking tour with local guide to see old stone bridge, Church of St James, and Porta Praetoria
- Weltenburg Abbey: ferry through Danube Gorge to oldest monastery in Bavaria (founded approximately 600AD), explore Abbey and Cloister Church, sample award-winning beer produced on site since 1050
- Thurn und Taxis active walking tour: active walking tour from ship to Thurn und Taxis Castle, guided tour followed by free time, castle home to German noble family tracing history back to 12th century
- Cycle to Walhalla Memorial: cycle through Danube Valley scenery along river and countryside to Walhalla Memorial commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, honouring notable Germans from past centuries
Landmarks Stone Bridge Church of St James Porta Praetoria Weltenburg Abbey Thurn und Taxis Castle Walhalla Memorial - Day 10
Passau
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salzburg: cross border into Salzburg, Austria, storybook city surrounded by alpine peaks home to Mozart and The Sound of Music, guided tour learning about art and music scene, visit Mozart's birthplace, see Hohensalzburg Fortress, lunch at local restaurant, free time
- Full day excursion to Český Krumlov: journey to World Heritage-listed Czech town, explore with local guide, admire well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, lunch in local restaurant
- Highlights of Passau: walking tour with local guide admiring brightly coloured buildings lining waterways, visit St Stephens Cathedral (originally built 450 AD, destroyed by fire 1662, rebuilt in Baroque style)
Landmarks St Stephens Cathedral Hohensalzburg Fortress Mozart's Birthplace - Day 11
Durnstein to Krems
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Göttweig Abbey: visit abbey founded in sixth century (burned and rebuilt in 18th century), local guide shows magnificent frescoes and Austria's largest Baroque staircase
- Wachau Valley wine tasting: visit local winemaker, learn about age-old winemaking traditions in one of Austria's prominent wine regions, sample delicious wines produced on site
- UNESCO Wachau Valley e-bike experience: bicycle tour along Danube to quaint village of Krems, pass charming villages and vineyard landscapes, stops to enjoy breathtaking Danube views
Landmarks Göttweig Abbey - Day 12
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Private classical concert at Palais Liechtenstein with glass of fine Austrian Sekt, music of Strauss and Mozart performed by renowned orchestra with ballet dancers and vocalists)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Vienna city centre
- Walking tour of Vienna: see highlights including Opera House, St Stephen's Cathedral and Belvedere Palace
Landmarks Opera House St Stephen's Cathedral Belvedere Palace Palais Liechtenstein 
- Day 13
Vienna
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Cycle to Danube Island: guided e-bike tour to Danube Island, recreational playground where locals come for bathing, boating, cycling and relaxing on beaches and open spaces
- Excursion to Bratislava: travel to Slovakia's capital (independent since 1993), modern multicultural metropolis with intriguing history, local guide shows Bratislava Castle, Hlavné Námestie main square and Old Town with blend of glorious Old Town and brutalist socialist architecture
- Klosterneuburg Abbey guided tour and wine tasting: visit Austria's oldest wine estate producing wine for 900 years, explore serene halls and magnificent Imperial Apartments, guided tasting in historic winery
Landmarks Danube Island Bratislava Castle Hlavné Námestie Klosterneuburg Abbey - Day 14
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Budapest in depth coach tour - explore Várkert Bazár, cross Margaret Bridge to see Széchenyi Square and Elizabeth Square, attend piano recital at the Institute for the Blind
- Budapest's past and present walking and coach tour - learn about the 1956 Hungarian revolution, communist past, and Jewish cultural heritage
- Hospital in the Rock underground exploration - tour the secret WWII hospital and former nuclear bunker beneath the Castle District
- Guided hike of Buda - walk through Buda district viewing Várkert Bazár, landscaped gardens, Danube River views and city architecture
- Hungarian culinary market tour - visit Grand Central Market and other locations tasting local delicacies and learning about food traditions
Landmarks Várkert Bazár Margaret Bridge Széchenyi Square Elizabeth Square Institute for the Blind Hospital in the Rock Castle District Danube River Grand Central Market - Day 15
Budapest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 16
Mohács
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs including the first telephone exchange (opened 1885) and Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi
- Villány wine stories - learn about everyday life in Hungary and sample local red wines at a historic wine cellar
- Mohács traditions and flavours - visit Busóudvar Museum to learn about the World Heritage-listed Busójárás festival and taste authentic halászlé fish stew made with fresh Danube River fish and Hungarian paprika
Landmarks Battle of Mohács Site Busóudvar Museum Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány Wine Region - Day 17
Vukovar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic meal at local Croatian family home prepared with fresh vegetables from host's garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch at local Croatian family home: authentic meal featuring fresh vegetables from host's garden
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek: guided walking tour of small city with turbulent history, grand Baroque buildings in Old Town bearing scars of war, opportunity to hear traditional and classical music popular in region
- Baranja wine region: explore picturesque region straddling Croatia and Hungary, experience rich wine-making tradition and picturesque vineyards, enjoy tasting blending bold notes, local culture and breathtaking landscapes
- Vukovar chronicles - A river town's tale of resilience: discover Vukovar's medieval roots and vibrant trade and industrial centre history, tour rebuilt city to understand spirit of resilience and stories of bravery, visit museums and monuments preserving legacy of sacrifice and hope
- Day 18
Belgrade
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Concert in the crypt of St. Sava Church (largest orthodox temple in the Balkans) featuring church choir performing beautiful hymns with remarkable acoustics, white marble adorning ceilings)
Optional Activities
- Tour of Belgrade: explore iconic sites with local guide including cobbled streets of Bohemian Quarter and Kalemegdan Fortress, afterwards enjoy free time to explore Belgrade on your own
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial: panoramic tour with local guide seeing major city sites including Ottoman heritage of Old Town, visit memorial dedicated to Tito (former Yugoslavia ruler)
- Cycling tour along the Danube: guided cycling tour tracing Danube banks for 16 kilometres, learn about history of Yugoslavia and Belgrade, see Belgrade waterfront, Staro Sajmiste (former concentration camp) and Ada Island
- Central Belgrade stroll with coffee and cake: starting from historic Kalemegdan Fortress, wander down Knez Mihailova Street (bustling pedestrian boulevard with charming shops and cafes), pause to enjoy expertly brewed coffee paired with signature cake from beloved bakery
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Tito's Memorial Knez Mihailova Street Skardalija Street St. Sava Church - Day 19
Cruising Day - Djerdap Gorge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) viewing four narrow gorges, soaring cliffs and rock carving of Decebalus
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge (Iron Gates) - Day 20
Svishtov to Rousse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi: full day excursion from Svishtov to one of Bulgaria's oldest towns, enjoy panoramic views of old town and see Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, venture to nearby leafy village of Arbanassi
- Walking tour of Rousse: sightseeing tour with local guide in opulent town, learn about traditional Bulgarian handicrafts, sample delicious local wine, enjoy short piano recital
Landmarks Asenevtsi Brothers Monument - Day 21
Silistra
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Silistra Fort: active guided walking tour of 19th century fort, learn about its history as best-preserved of six Turkish fortification system points
- Visit Alfatar village: exclusive excursion to small village outside Silistra, visit ethnographic museum with typical country house and customary attire, visit Alfatar school to meet local children, charming choir performance, learn about daily life for young Bulgarians
- Sveshtari Thracian secrets and local delights: guided tour discovering Bulgaria's rich heritage and flavours, explore ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (World Heritage site), visit local producers of exquisite brandy and artisanal cheese for tasting
Landmarks Silistra Fort Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari - Day 22
Giurgiu to Bucharest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with fellow guests at luxury hotel)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Giurgiu to Bucharest
- Orientation tour of Bucharest: coach tour from south Bucharest to Primaverii Palace with stops at Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square and Charles de Gaulle Square
Optional Activities
- Ceausescu's Spring Palace: visit 1960s residence in one of Bucharest's wealthiest districts with 80 distinctive elegant rooms decorated with silk wallpaper, wood panels, paintings by famous Romanian painters, mosaics, marble, chandeliers and Murano glass mirrors
- Village Open Air Museum: explore ethnography exhibits depicting Romanian heritage and culture, see authentic houses, barns, churches and more rebuilt by craftsmen using traditional techniques
Landmarks Primaverii Palace Union Square University Square 
- Day 23
Bucharest
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Bucharest
