Explore Budapest before joining a seven night cruise through Eastern Europe. Visit Belgrade and sail through the Iron Gates before arriving in Bucharest. From here, travel to Istanbul to see the sights including an overnight stay in Çanakkale and the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Day 1. Arrive Budapest
Arrive Budapest. Be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy time at leisure before tonight’s Welcome Reception.
Day 2. Budapest Sightseeing
This morning after breakfast, join a guided sightseeing tour that includes such places as 500 year-old Matthias Church, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the marvellous Royal Palace and historic Buda Castle, where you have wide-reaching views of Buda and Pest over both banks of the river. Following this insightful tour, the remainder of the day is at your leisure, before a Welcome Dinner tonight amid the arched cellars of the atmospheric Gerbeaud Pub.
Day 3. Budapest, Great Hungarian Plain
Today enjoy an excursion to the Puszta - perhaps the most widely-known region of Hungary throughout the world. Upon arrival, be met by horse-herds and greeted with warm hospitality, brandy and scones. Perhaps sample goulash, the national dish, before returning to Budapest to board your river ship on the Danube River.
Day 4. Mohács, Pécs - Vukovar
Today your ship will arrive in Mohács. Disembark and travel by coach to Pécs for a guided tour. Afterwards, return to your ship and, after lunch on board, enjoy a wine tasting excursion to Villàny.
Day 5. Vukovar - Novi Sad
This morning enjoy a guided tour of the key historic sights and landmarks of the Yugoslavian civil war, or a take a wine tour. During lunch, cruise to Novi Sad in Serbia, where you can take a guided walking tour or a bike tour.
Day 6. Belgrade
Wake up this morning in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The White City dates back more than 2,500 years and is home to medieval tombs, Turkish baths and fortifications from Celtic times. On your sightseeing tour visit the Cathedral of Saint Sava, the largest Orthodox church building
in the world. You’ll also see the old and new towns, Tito’s memorial, the Town Hall, Parliament building, Belgrade Fort plus the mighty and imposing Kalemegdan Fortress.
Day 7. Iron Gates
Relax today as you cruise through one of Europe’s most impressive natural wonders, the Iron Gates.
Day 8. Vidin
Arrive in Vidin today and see the Baba Vida Fortress, standing guard over the Danube at this Bulgarian frontier town. The 14th century castle has thick walls and dark towers, contrasting with the natural surroundings of the park it sits in. Then travel by coach to Belogradchik to see the mighty Kaleto Fortress, on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains.
Day 9. Giurgiu, Bucharest
Today enjoy an excursion to Bucharest, Romania’s capital and its largest city. During a city tour, see the Arch of Triumph, the Athenaeum and Library as well as the Parliament Palace. Following a lunch of local cuisine in a nearby restaurant, choose free time or perhaps visit the open-air museum, dedicated to the traditional architecture and buildings of rural Romania.
Day 10. Rousse, Disembark Ship, Bucharest, Istanbul
This morning disembark your ship in Rousse and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Istanbul. Tonight, take part in a cooking class. Learn some of the traditional methods used to create exotic Turkish dishes, then sample the results of your efforts at dinner.
Day 11. Istanbul Sightseeing
Today’s tour will take you through Istanbul’s old city, with its numerous Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of an historic past. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Blue Mosque. You’ll also visit Hagia Sophia, a museum that is one of Turkey’s best surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. This afternoon, cruise the sparkling Bosphorus Strait, forming the boundary between Europe and Asia.
Day 12. Istanbul, Freedom of Choice Touring
Choose your touring activity in Istanbul today. You may like to embark on a tour of Topkapi Palace, the official and primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. Alternatively, relax with a traditional Turkish bath experience and massage. Or you may like to visit the impressive Rüstem Pasha Mosque then wander around the bustling Spice Bazaar, before indulging in lunch at the well-known Orient Express railway restaurant.
Day 13. Istanbul, Çanakkale
Leave Istanbul early this morning and travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Arrive in Gelibolu and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the Marmara Sea. Then continue to the national park area for a tour of the war memorials, including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Later arrive in Çanakkale.
Day 14. Çanakkale, Troy, Istanbul
Depart Çanakkale and head for the World Heritage-listed ancient city of Troy, referred to in Homer’s Iliad. Stop to have a look around the site, then return to Istanbul, where you’ll enjoy a special Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant and be entertained by belly dancers.
Day 15. Depart Istanbul
Your wonderful journey ends with a transfer to the airport.
