Tour Details - BLACK SEA DISCOVERY WITH TRANSYLVANIA EXTENSION - CATEGORY E
BLACK SEA DISCOVERY WITH TRANSYLVANIA EXTENSION - CATEGORY E
DISCOUNTS ON EVERY TOUR, UP TO 10% !!!
Tour Duration: 13 days Tour Code: WBOE-E2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$4103 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Welcome to Budapest, Hungary's lively capital. The remainder of the day is free to start exploring Eastern Europe's most cosmopolitan metropolis.
2
BUDAPEST Budapest straddles both banks of the Danube, with seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connecting ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with FISHERMEN'S BASTION and the Matthias Church is among the many sights your Local Guide will show you. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (B)
3
BUDAPEST (EMBARKATION) The morning is free for you to explore on your own. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception. (B,D)
4
KALOCSA-PECS Kalocsa was founded by St. Stephen in 1009 as an archbishopric and has a most turbulent history. This quiet town that is best known for paprika and folklore art is dominated by the Archbishop's Palace and Kalocsa Cathedral. Here, enjoy an ORGAN CONCERT before continuing to Pecs, Hungary's fifth-largest city and the richest in terms of Turkish architecture. (B,L,D)
5
NOVI SAD, SERBIA Overlooking the city of Novi Sad, with a spectacular view of the Danube and surroundings, is Marshal Vauban's unconquerable Petrovaradin Fortress. Dramatic events in the recent past have shaped both the present and the future of this region, resplendent with natural beauty and a proud history of struggle, victory and defeat alike. (B,L,D)
6
BELGRADE The capital of Serbia is situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. A local expert will be proud to show you its main sights, which include the city's principal landmark, KALEMEGDAN FORTRESS; St. Sava, the world's largest Orthodox Church; and Marshal Tito's tomb and monument. The city center has a lively pedestrian area and charming outdoor cafes. (B,L,D)
7
IRON GATES The Serbian fortresses of Smederevo and Golubac and the Trajan Table marking the Roman conquest of Dacia are impressive sights on the right bank of the Danube. The most spectacular scenery must surely be the dramatic gorge of the IRON GATES, a narrow and formerly very dangerous passage dividing Europe's Alps in the northwest from the Carpathians in the southeast and forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. (B,L,D)
8
SVISTOV, BULGARIA-EXCURSION TO VELIKO TARNOVO & ARBANASSI-ROUSSE A comfortable ride from the river port of Svistov is the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo. Situated on three hills surrounding the Yantra River, the city was a natural fortress with ancient stone houses clinging to the steep slopes. The oldest part is Tsarevets Hill, home of the Royal Fortress, palaces, and the PATRIARCH'S CHURCH. The historic village of Arbanassi is best known for its ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM and the outstanding collection of frescoes in the CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY. Rousse today is Bulgaria's largest inland port. (B,L,D)
9
SILISTRA, BULGARIA-EXCURSION TO VARNA, BLACK SEA Located in northeastern Bulgaria at the country's border with Romania, Silistra is a port city and the capital of an important agricultural region. After breakfast, travel by road to Varna. This city on the Black Sea is not only an important naval base and sea resort, but also has a long history. Roman baths are among the younger artifacts. During your sightseeing you will visit the NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, home of the Gold of Varna, as featured in National Geographic some years ago. (B,L,D)
10
OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)-BUCHAREST Bucharest, Romania's lively capital, is only a short drive from Oltenita. Its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe have gained it the name "Paris of the East." Much recent history has taken place in the city. During the included tour this afternoon, see the impressive Parliament Building, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. The Royal Palace Square was the scene of riots in 1989, which led to the collapse of the communist dictatorship. The former Royal Palace now houses the NATIONAL ART MUSEUM. (B)
11
BUCHAREST. EXCURSION TO TRANSYLVANIA Head out of the city to your first stop, BRAN CASTLE of Dracula fame, built in 1377 and assumed to be the home of Romanian vampires. Then, into the Carpathians to SINAIA to visit the monastery of the same name, built in memory of Mihail Cantacuzino's visit to Mount Sinai. This afternoon, head slowly back to Bucharest. (B,L)
12
BUCHAREST A day to rest and explore Romania's capital city. Your Cruise Director will have suggestions for things to do. (B)
13
BUCHAREST Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
CRUISE: Deluxe 7-night cruise from Budapest to Oltenita in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds (Category E) BUDAPEST: Guided sightseeing, visit Fishermen's Bastion KALOCSA: Orientation; organ concert PECS: Orientation NOVI SAD: Guided sightseeing, see Petrovaradin Fortress BELGRADE: Guided sightseeing, visit Kalemegdan Fortress IRON GATES: Cruise through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge; see the Trajan Table VELIKO TARNOVO: Guided sightseeing, visit the Patriarch's Church ARBANASSI: Guided visit of the Ethnographical Museum and the Church of the Nativity VARNA: Guided sightseeing, visit the National Archaeological Museum BUCHAREST: Guided sightseeing, see the Parliament Building and visit the National Art Museum BUCHAREST EXTENSION: Guided full-day excursion to Transylvania, vist Dracula's Bran Castle and Sinaia Monastery MEALS: Full buffet breakfast (B) in Budapest and Bucharest; superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain's reception and farewell dinner; quality wines from Europe's most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements. Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the cruise description
Meals Breakfast - 12 Lunch - 6 Dinner - 8
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
19
EUR
Name:BUDAPEST'S NIGHT LIGHTS Location:BUDAPEST Details:Buda and Pest two cities of the same capital divided by the river Danube and connected by beautiful bridges like the "Chain Bridge" or the "Elisabeth Bridge". Join your local expert on a drive up to the hills of Buda for a breathtaking view overlooking the roofs of Budapest, and the latest gossip in town.
34
EUR
Name:COMMUNIST BUDAPEST Location:BUDAPEST Details:From 1947 to 1989, the Hungarian Communist Party held sway. Although the regime was not as deferential to the Soviet Union, the collective economy and fear of the secret police shaped the lives of Hungarian citizens. Today the former headquarters of the AVH, the dreaded secret police, are a museum. Budapest was clearly tied to the East in the bipolar Cold War world. Still, there are vestiges of Lenin's legacy. Our local experts will explain why on the lawn beyond the Hungarian Parliament flies a flag with a hole in the centre.
29
EUR
Name:EXCURSION TO SREMSKI KARLOVCI Location:NOVI SAD Details:Fruska Gora is a long ridge of low hills running east-west to the south of Novi Sad. Although it reaches heights of only 500 m / 1640 ft, the hills add a welcome variety to the flat relief of Vojvodina. These southern valleys also shelter more than a dozen monasteries, which often blend in style of the byzantine and Baroque of which the best known is Krusedol. But the Srem region is also one of the oldest viticulture areas in Europe. The grapevine has sprouted on Mt. Fruska Gora's fertile hills for over 1,700 years, ever since it was first planted by Roman Emperor Probus of the ancient Sirmium. And finally where the wooded slopes of the Fruska Gora meet the Danube there is Sremski Karlovci, once an important town, that history seems to have passed by for the last hundred years.
42
EUR
Name:DINNER AT BELGRADE'S SKADARLIJA DISTRICT Location:BELGRADE Details:Once the home of many Serbian poets, writers, artists, and actors, the cobble-stoned Skadarlija (or Skadarska) street today hosts some of the best restaurants in town, all of which strive to preserve bohemian traditions from the early 19th century. Definitely the place to go if you want to get a feel of the atmosphere of Belgrade's old times, cruise art galleries, shop for antiques or souvenirs, or taste the best of local food.
31
EUR
Name:THE ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT - THE SECOND LARGEST BUILDING ON EARTH Location:BUCHAREST Details:The ultimate dream of former Communist Leader of Romania Ceaucescu, this Palace of Superlatives is a breath-taking example of communist dictatorship's omnipotence rarely seen anywhere else. Admire countless halls, hundreds of crystal chandeliers, amazing carpets and learn on the spot about human's latest effort to create something that would last for more than a thousand years. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the modern world and this inside visit remains an absolute must for every Bucharest visitor.
Optional Excursions
