Historic Danube Cruise

Day 1 London to Budapest
Depart London for Budapest where you embark on your cruise with AmaWaterways. Alternatively, you may opt to arrive a few days prior to enjoy extra night in the Hungarian capital. This evening you’ll meet your follow passengers for welcome dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Pecs to Vilany
You’ll arrive in Mohacs during breakfast and depart for your excursion to Pecs, EU Cultural Capital 2010. Founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans, Pecs became an important early Christian bishopric and Turkish cultural base during the many centuries of Ottoman rule. You’ll visit the Mosque Church as well as the underground burial chambers dating back to the 4th century. You’ll also see St. Peter’s Basilica and the restored Synagogue, before returning to the ship in Mohacs. After lunch, enjoy a wine-tasting excursion, where you’ll sample aromatic, spicy wines from the vineyards of Vilany, or if that’s not to your liking, you can choose instead a guided bicycle tour to Mohacs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Vukovar, Croatia to Novi Sad, Serbia
This morning, you can choose between a tour of Vukovar or wine tasting in the town of Ilok. Your city tour of Vukovar includes the Ovcara Memorial, the monumental cross that is a memorial to those who lost their lives during Croatia’s struggle for independence. If you travel to the town of Ilok, you’ll visit a local winery and sample their vintages before exploring the town. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise to Novi Sad, Serbia, and then enjoy a walking tour of Novi Sad in the afternoon, beginning at the Danube Park and then stroll through the old town centre.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Belgrave
You’ll wake up in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and explore its myriad of streets, plazas and squares. Belgrade has over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. On your panoramic tour, you will see the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. As an alternative, you can choose to take the Tito’s Memorial tour which includes a visit to the House of Flowers, where the tomb of Josip Tito is located. You will also see some of the many gifts Tito received during his presidency. You will have free time in the city centre after your tour to stroll along Prince Michael Street, the main pedestrian and shopping centre of the city. A guided bicycle tour is available in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Cruising Through The Iron Gates to Vidin, Bulgaria
Today, you’ll enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows, as it winds through a range of magnificent gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming the natural border between Serbia and Romania, today’s passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your Black Sea adventure. Late this evening, the ship sails to Vidin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Vidin
The “Baba Vida” Fortress sits guard over the Danube at the Bulgarian frontier town of Vidin. The 14th century castle has massive walls and dark towers, in contrast to the natural park that surrounds the castle. From here, take an excursion to Belogradchik, a beautifully restored 6th century castle, located in a stunning landscape of unusual rock formations.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Giurgiu to Bucjarest, Romania to Rousse, Bulgaria
Enjoy a full day excursion to Bucharest, the “Paris of the East.” Begin your day with a visit to the Palace of the Parliament or opt for a city tour with a visit to the Open Air Museum, which was dedicated to the traditional architecture of rural Romania. After lunch take a tour of the newly renovated Lipscani district, the historical city center of Bucharest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Rousse to London
Disembark the ship in Rousse, where you’ll be transferred for your return flight. Alternatively, extra nights of extensions can be arranged in order for you to further explore this fascinating region of Europe.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour includes:

All flights specified
Private transfers
Local expert guides in resort
Inspirational shore excursions
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Wine tastings
Explore five different countries
Boutique river cruise ship

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”