Black Sea Discovery (Budapest to Bucharest)

Day 1 (Fri) Budapest. Fly to Budapest where you will be met and transferred to the InterContinental Hotel for two nights.

Day 2 (Sat) Budapest. Budapest spans both banks of the Danube and has seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, that connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex, with Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, is among the many sights your Local Guide will show you. Shop for renowned peasant embroidery, Herend porcelain, and paprika. (B)

Day 3 (Sun) Budapest. Not far from the capital and an integral part of Hungarian rural life is the Puszta, or Great Plain, the vast grasslands where the country’s beloved fiery horses are reared. After a visit and a demonstration of traditional Hungarian equestrian prowess performed by Csikós horsemen dressed in picturesque folk costumes, return to Budapest. Transfer to your cruise ship. (B,L,D)

Day 4 (Mon) Kalocsa. Kalocsa is a charming Hungarian town renowned for its paprika production and strong folklore traditions. Founded as an archbishopric by St Stephen in 1009, the serenity of this old town belies its turbulent past of relentless Ottoman attack. See the Baroque style Archbishop’s Palace and the fine Kalocsa Cathedral and learn how paprika has been grown and prepared through the ages at the Paprika Museum. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Tue) Novi Sad. 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 this region, resplendent with natural beauty and a proud history of struggle, victory and defeat alike. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Wed) Belgrade. The Serbian capital is set at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. A local expert will show you its main sights, which include the city’s principal landmark, Kalemegdan Fortress, St Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox Church, and the tomb of Marshal Tito, the former president of Yugoslavia. The city centre has a lively pedestrian area and quaint outdoor cafés. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Thu) Iron Gates. The Serbian fortresses of Smederevo and Golubac, and the Trajan Tablet, marking the Roman conquest of Dacia, make impressive sights on the right bank of the Danube. The most spectacular scenery is surely 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, which forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. (B,L,D)

Day 8 (Fri) Svistov – Veliko Târnovo – Arbanassi – Rousse. Travel by coach from the river port of Svistov to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo. 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 to the Royal Fortress, palaces and 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. Continue on to Rousse, Bulgaria’s largest inland port. (B,L,D)

Day 9 (Sat) Silistra – Excursion to Varna. Located in north-eastern Bulgaria at the country’s border with Romania, Silistra is a port 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, dating back to pre-historic times. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, home of the Gold of Varna. (B,L,D)

Day 10 (Sun) Oltenita - Bucharest. Disembark and travel to Bucharest, Romania’s lively capital, just a short drive from Oltenita. Its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe have earned it the name ‘Paris of the East’. During the included tour this afternoon, see the colossal, 6,000 room Palace of Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon and the Royal Palace, which now houses the National Art Museum. Overnight at the Athenee Palace Hilton. (B)

Day 11 (Mon) Bucharest. Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)