18 Day Turkey & Black Sea Explorer

Istanbul to Budapest

Overview

DAY 1: Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, famously the only city in the world crossing two continents and linking east with west. You will be met at Istanbul airport and transferred* to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, before meeting up this evening over a welcome drink with your fellow travellers and Tour Director.
Three Night Special Stay: Istanbul

DAY 2: Istanbul (FB,HD)
SCENIC FREECHOICE Today choose from: (1) a traditional Turkish cooking class where you’ll learn the art of making delicious plates of meze, after which we get to eat them, of course; or (2) an insightful tour of Istanbul’s Byzantine past including a visit to Zeyek Mosque, second only in size to Hagia Sophia as a Byzantium monument; or (3) a visit to an Ottoman Yali, the fashionable summer palaces of the wealthy. We’ll meet the current residents who’ll chat with us about the building’s history whilst we enjoy homemade refreshments. SCENICENRICH Tonight, a special treat awaits you as we enjoy dinner at the stunning Hamdi Restaurant, where outstanding views over the Golden Horn are accompanied by the call to prayer echoing from numerous surrounding mosques.

DAY 3: Istanbul (FB)
Highlights of the day include a visit to the most magnificent example of Byzantium architecture, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. We have time to wander the evocative Grand Bazaar before we enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

DAY 4: Canakkale (FB,D)

We travel along the Northern Aegean Coast today to Cannakkale. This afternoon we explore the historical city of Troy, where we discover the remaining sites, including a giant replica of the Trojan Horse.  
Two Night Stay: Canakkale

DAY 5: Canakkale (FB,L,D)
This morning we depart for the moving sites commemorating the battles of Gallipoli. There are over 31 cemeteries on the peninsula, you will have time to explore at leisure this significant location.

DAY 6: Nessebar (FB,D)
After breakfast we travel along the Black Sea Coast and cross the border into Bulgaria for our overnight stay in Nessebar.
Overnight Stay: Nessebar

DAY 7: Bucharest (FB)
Welcome to Bucharest, Romania’s capital. You will be met and transferred* to your hotel.
Two Night Stay: Bucharest

DAY 8: Bucharest (FB,D)
We journey through the farmland and valleys of The Transylvanian plateau today, passing medieval towns and castles as we venture into the Carpathian Mountains. We’ll visit Bran Castle, originally a stronghold of the Teutonic Knights and of strategic importance as a barrier to invading Ottoman forces. Of course, it is more widely known as the legendary home of Count Dracula.

DAY 9: Bucharest (Embarkation) (FB,D)
This morning we enjoy a city tour of Bucharest before joining our river cruise ship this afternoon.

DAY 10: Cernavoda / Black Sea (FB,L,D)
Cernavoda in Romania, famous for its chardonnay-producing vineyards, is our ship’s base today for an excursion to the seaside town of Constanta, the gateway to the Black Sea coast with the largest harbour in the Black Sea. We also visit Mamaia. This popular resort town stretches 8 kilometres in length with only a 300 metre sliver of land separating the Black Sea shore from the waters of Lake Siutghiol.

DAY 11: Russe / Arbanasi / Veliko Târnovo / Svistov (FB,L,D)
The nearby village of Arbanasi is included in UNESCO’s world heritage list of valuable cultural sites. From here we venture to we venture to Veliko Tarnovo, a town with a rich historical past dating back to 3,000 BC. In the 14th century as the Byzantine Empire weakened the town was the Bulgarian capital and known as the third Rome. We continue to the former Roman fortress town of Svistov in Bulgaria before reboarding our ship.

DAY 12: Iron Gate (FB,L,D)
Keep your camera at the ready as we cruise the spectacular Iron Gate, a narrow gorge carved by the Danube between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains, which forms a natural border between Serbia and Rom

DAY 13: Belgrade (FB,L,D)
Today we explore Serbia’s capital Belgrade, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe and site of the famous siege in 1456 which ‘decided the fate of Christendom’. We’ll visit Tito’s memorial, the Fortress Kalemegdan and St Sava Church.

DAY 14: Novi Sad / Vukovar (FB,L,D)
Our cruise takes us to Novi Sad where our guided tour reveals the multiethnic origins of the city, known as the Serbian Athens for its cultural renown in the 19th century. We journey to Vukovar this afternoon. Vukovar is situated at the confluence of the Vuka River with the Danube, and locals in summer relax on the sandy river beaches.  We see architectural monuments and baroque squares, along with sombre reminders of the Balkan Wars of Independence of the early 1990’s.

DAY 15: Kalocsa (FB,L,D)
The Baroque provincial town of Kalocsa lies at the periphery of the great Hungarian plain and is renowned for its decorative embroidery and paprika production. Today we will visit a Hungarian Puszta horse farm and enjoy a show before tracing the Turkish origins of paprika.

DAY 16: Budapest (Disembarkation) (FB,D)

Today enjoy Budapest at your leisure; perhaps enjoy a trip to the baths, wander the streets of the old town or simply relax onboard.
Two Night Stay: Budapest

DAY 17: Budapest (FB,D)

Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s most ancient cities. Your morning tour will visit all the major sights. Tonight, soak up the spirit of the hungarian culture at a lively folklore show including dinner.

DAY 18: Depart Budapest (FB)

After breakfast you will be transferred* to Budapest International Airport for your onward or homebound flight.

*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.