Danube Cruise and Transylvania Three-Night Stay
Start this superb value over-50s Danube River cruise in Budapest, before travelling through stunning scenery, visiting historic towns on the way. End your holiday with a luxurious three-night hotel stay in Transylvania.
This scenic river cruise aboard our new ship Spirit of the Danube combines time to relax on board your ship as she navigates the Danube with days spent exploring riverside towns and cities, plus a three-night hotel stay is included at the locally rated 5-star Aro Palace hotel (4Q), in the heart of Transylvania.
Delve into the history and culture of the historic cities of Budapest and Belgrade during included sightseeing tours; spend a day cruising through the dramatic sheer cliffs that frame the Iron Gates gorge, a passage that was perilous in ancient times; discover the town of Brasov, with it’s unusual Black Church and venture inside the eerie 14th-century Bran Castle which inspired the story of Dracula during a hotel stay in Transylvania. You’ll also visit the traditional town of Mohács, embark on a guided walking tour of Pleven and see the elaborate architecture that led to Rousse gaining the nickname of ‘Little Vienna’.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
8 nights Full Board aboard the ship, 3 nights Half Board in a hotel
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Budapest city tour OR Budapest culinary walking tour
Belgrade and the Kalemegdan Fortress
Pleven panoramic
Brosov city tour
Bran Castle
FOOD & DRINK
30 meals: 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 11 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 Budapest
Fly to Budapest before being transferred to the port where you will embark Spirit of the Danube.
Look forward to your welcome drink reception and dinner as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 2 Budapest
Enjoy a day in this thrilling city.
This morning, uncover Budapest’s culinary and cultural scene on an included culinary walking tour, which visits the First Strudel House and Central Market Hall, or join an included city tour that will reveal the main highlights and help you get your bearings so you can explore independently later this afternoon. This afternoon, perhaps join an excursion to Gödöllo Palace or to the Lazar Equestrian Park Horse Farm before your ship sets sail this evening.
Day 3 Kalocsa - Mohács
Perhaps disembark in Kalocsa early this morning to join an optional full-day excursion through the Hungarian lowlands to Puszta, where you can watch traditional horsemanship, rejoining your ship when she arrives in Mohács this afternoon. You have a few hours here to explore the home of some of Hungary’s most exciting folk traditions.
Spirit of the Danube continues cruising towards Novi Sad late this afternoon.
Day 4 Novi Sad - Belgrade
You can enjoy an optional excursion to Novi Sad this morning returning to Belgrade.
This afternoon, join an included city tour of Serbia's capital, Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe and the meeting point of Eastern and Western Europe. Your tour also features a visit to the historic 18th-century citadel, Kalemegdan Fortress.
Depart before dinner.
Day 5 The Iron Gates
A real highlight of your holiday, spend the day cruising an exciting stretch of the Danube to the ‘Iron Gates’, a gorge framed by sheer cliffs.
The passage was hazardous in ancient times as the water level was much lower, making it treacherous to navigate. Even though water levels have been raised the journey is still exciting. After leaving the ‘Gates’ in your wake, pass through the southern stretch of the dramatic Carpathian mountains and the foothills of the Balkans and cruise on into the night.
Day 6 Nikopol - Svistov - Rousse
Arrive in Nikopol early this morning where you’re sure to enjoy an included excursion to the town of Pleven where you’ll walk through the town with your guide to the Pleven Panorama and afterwards enjoy a glass of Bulgarian wine in a hotel. The ancient city is known for its museums and is famous for the 1877 siege which saw Bulgaria break away from Ottoman rule.
This afternoon an optional excursion visits Veliko Tarnovo. The town sits across three hills beside the dramatic gorge of the Yantra River with a medieval fortress complex that was the centre of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which ruled the region from the 12th to 14th centuries. Excursion participants will rejoin the ship in Svistov before you sail on to Rousse where you moor overnight.
Day 7 Rousse - Silistra
Wake up in Rousse, nicknamed 'Little Vienna', this morning. The city prospered from its location on the Danube and is home to many grand and beautiful buildings, including the Building of the Tax Administration which boasts an elaborate facade.
Perhaps join an optional walking tour of the city this morning before sailing on towards Silistra this afternoon.
Day 8 Silistra - Braila
Spend a relaxing day on board Spirit of the Danube as she cruises to Braila, arriving this evening and mooring here overnight.
Day 9 Braila - Brasov
After breakfast disembark Spirit of the Danube and enjoy a scenic drive through the Carpathian Mountains, with lunch and some free time in the hills included.
Continue to Brasov and the locally rated 5-star Aro Palace hotel (4Q), in the heart of Transylvania, where you will stay for three nights on a half-board basis.
Day 10 Brasov
Head to the centre of Brasov for an included tour of this beautiful town, including entrance to the 14th-century Black Church. The interior of this Gothic church was destroyed by a fire in 1689 which left the outer walls and roof blackened.
Day 11 Brasov
Enjoy an included visit to 14th-century Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, even though the author never visited Transylvania! It is thought that Vlad the Impaler, ruler of this area – Walachia – in the 15th century, may have been imprisoned here.
Day 12 Brasov - Bucharest - UK
Check-out after breakfast and travel to Bucharest Airport for your return flight to the UK.
