Active & Discovery on The Lower Danube with 2 Nights in Transylvania

Day 1: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Welcome to Bucharest—The “Paris of the East”

The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafés, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

Day 2: BUCHAREST–SINAIA–BRASOV

Drive into the Carpathians to Sinaia to visit Peles castle. On the way, enjoy a local lunch. This afternoon continue to Brasov for the night.

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 3: BRASOV

Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Brasov followed by free time. In the evening enjoy a tour of Bran Castle of Dracula lore followed by dinner.

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 4: BUCHAREST

Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History

ACTIVE Take a guided natural walk in the Văcărești Nature Park. Also known as Urban Delta, this wetland is home to more than 150 different species of birds and small mammals. Enjoy this green get away and learn more about this special green area located only 4km away from the centre of Romania’s capital, Bucharest. OR:

DISCOVERY Discover the joie de vivre of Romanian cuisine -- a tasty hodge-podge of Balkan, Ottoman, French, and Russian influences. OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe—honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square—the scene of the city’s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Travel to Oltenita to board your Avalon Suite Ship® this afternoon.

OLTENITA (EMBARKATION)

Your Adventure Begins

Explore your Avalon Suite Ship® this evening and enjoy a dinner on board.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SVISTOV

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 5: NIKOPOL. VELIKO TÂRNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION

Cliff Houses and Revival Architecture

ACTIVE Follow your expert local guide through the beautiful eco-patch up to Kroushuna Waterfalls. OR:

CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi.

This evening enjoy a movie night on board your Avalon ship.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: VIDIN, BULGARIA

Rocks, Ruins and Beauty in Bulgaria

ACTIVE Enjoy a panoramic trek on the rocky landscape of Belogradchik. OR:

DISCOVERY Get to learn everything about the production technologies of the Bulgarian wines and enjoy a tasting of the various labels produced by a local well-known winery. All accompanied by local snacks and symphonic music. OR:

CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a visit to Baba Vida Fortress, Bulgaria’s only completely preserved medieval castle.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: IRON GATES GORGE—DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR—GOLUBAČ

Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

ACTIVE Enjoy this scenic hike through Djerdap National Park and stop along the way to taste some local specialties before returning to your Avalon ship. OR:

DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir—an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge. OR:

CLASSIC Join a guided tour of Donji Milanovac and learn the basic of the Cyrillic Serbian alphabet inside the local primary school. Meet locals and get to know the art of crocheting while learning about the history of this little Serbian town.

Enjoy a brief sailing to Golubač.

CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You’ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 8: NOVI SAD

A Capital of Culture

ACTIVE Enjoy a guided hike tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR:

DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this guided tour of Novi Sad by stopping to the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties. OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.

Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.

ILOK, CROATIA

Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages

ACTIVE Enjoy a scenic bike ride through the easternmost town in Croatia and be mesmerized by the beauty of Ilok. OR;

DISCOVERY Explore the town of Vukovar and meet a local beer brewer who will share with you his fascinating story during a beer tasting. OR;

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 9: BELGRADE, SERBIA

Fortresses and Folklore

ACTIVE Get a real taste of Serbia on this guided bike tour focusing on the history of Belgrade, from WWII to today, OR:

DISCOVERY Go way beyond the ordinary, and get to know Belgrade through its remarkable people and innovative minds.. OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—and see the city’s many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.

Spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade’s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots. You might consider partaking one of the Optional Excursion available.

DISCOVERY Before dinner, attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.

This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BELGRADE

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 10: BELGRADE (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)