Follow the path of the Black Sea as it makes its way to the
coast, and soak up the very best of Eastern Europe. Then experience
the magic of the blue Danube, from the twin-cities of Buda and Pest
to the elegance of Vienna. This tour is operated by our
sister company Great Rail Journeys.
Highlights
14-night cruise on board the Amadeus Silver II
Bucharest
Danube Delta
Serbia
Puszta tour
Budapest
Bratislava
Vienna
Salzburg
What’s Included
Standard Class Rail
1 nights' hotel accommodation in Bucharest
14-night cruise on board the Amadeus Silver II 15 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 15 Dinners
Hop aboard a safari boat for a nature cruise through the
UNESCO-listed Danube Delta. On Day 4, visit the
nearby port town of Constanta. Afterwards, begin sailing towards
Ruse, in Bulgaria, docking on Day 5 for an
excursion to Veliko Tarnovo. Pass through the 'Iron Gate' Gorge on
Day 6.
Tour the Serbian capital of Belgrade this morning. Following
lunch on board, set sail for Mohács, close to the Hungarian border,
embarking on puszta tour by coach on Day 8.
Enter the handsome city of Budapest in the most elegant way
possible. You have some free time to go sightseeing and a light
lunch will be available. This evening, stay aboard the Amadeus
Silver II for a Budapest illuminations tour, followed by a
traditional Hungarian folklore show. Day 10
includes a guided coach tour as well as sailing along the Danube
Bend.
After lunch, set out on a guided coach tour of the Slovakian
capital before setting sail for Vienna - arriving in time for a
sightseeing tour on Day 12. Tonight musicians from
the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra give a private recital.
Reach Austria's Wachau Valley, arriving at Dürnstein before
journeying by coach to Melk Abbey. On Day 14
discover the Austrian lakes, or travel by coach to Salzburg.
Regensburg is your port of call on Day 15, which
you explore on foot. Back on board tonight, attend the Captain's
gala dinner. On Day 16 you begin the journey back
to the UK by rail.
Begin today at London St Pancras, where you'll meet your Tour
Manager as well of the rest of your group, to start your journey to
Europe. Board the Eurostar travelling to Brussels, then change for
the service to Nuremberg, via Cologne.
On Day 2 we make the short walk back to
Nuremberg station for the train to Paasau. On arriving in Passau,
we meet the Amadeus Queen or Silver II and are welcomed with a
cocktail in the lounge before dinner.
Regensberg is our port of call this morning, which we
explore on foot. This medieval town contains many buildings that
testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on
the whole region from the 9th century onwards. We enjoy dinner back
on board tonight.
Melk Abbey & Salzburg or the Austrian Lake District
Today we have a choice of excursions. You could head further
into the countryside for a day spent amidst the spectacular scenery
of the Austrian lakes or travel by coach to Salzburg, via Mondsee,
for a sightseeing tour.
On Day 5 we reach Austria's Wachau Valley,
a famous wine-making region. We arrive in the idyllic village of
Dürnstein where you have time at leisure before we begin cruising
along the picturesque Wachau Valley. We then enjoy an excursion to
Melk Abbey.
We arrive into glorious Vienna for a comprehensive sightseeing
tour. This is a chance to relish in Austria's Imperial heritage,
one full of tradition and rich in architectural, artistic and
musical heritage. Tonight a real treat awaits us on board, where
after dinner we are joined by musicians from the Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra for an exclusive, private recital.
Your morning is at leisure aboard before we moor up early this
afternoon. After lunch, we set out on a guided coach tour of
Slovakian capital. Located in the foothills of the Carpathian
Mountains, Bratislava straddles the Danube which neatly divides the
city into two parts; the Baroque Old Town (Stare Mesto) and the new
city. This picture-postcard city destination historic Gothic
buildings, several universities, a wealth of museums and galleries,
and a refreshing cosmopolitan atmosphere. The historic centre
features delightful cobbled stoned roads, pedestrianised plazas,
pastel 18th century rococo buildings and street cafés galore.
Following our excursion, we return to the ship for another
delicious, 5-course dinner.
On Day 8 we arrive at the scenic
Danube Bend. This section of the river has a long and fascinating
history and from the sun deck or panoramic windows in the bar,
you'll be able to see castle ruins, churches, pretty houses hidden
in the hills and dense forests.
After lunch on board, we enjoy a guided coach tour of Budapest,
introducing us to Budapest's main sights. We pass impressive
buildings and monuments on both sides of the Danube, including the
neo-Gothic Parliament building, the magnificent State Opera House
and St Stephen's Basilica, Budapest Castle, Matthias Church and
Fishermen's Bastion. Later take in the illuminated sights as
we sail around the city. We are also treated to a performance from
a local Hungarian folk band in the
lounge. On Day
9 your morning is free to explore Budapest
before we rejoing the ship as we cruise to Kalocsa.
Embark on puszta (an area of Hungary defined by its grassland
ecosystem) tour by coach today, visiting a paprika house,
experiencing traditional folk music and meeting some Hungarian
half-blood horses.
We moor in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on today, heading out
on a guided walking tour. Following lunch on board, you are
free to continue sightseeing, or do a little shopping,
independently. Day 12 is spent at
leisure on board. During the afternoon, pass through the 'Iron
Gate' Gorge.
We begin sailing towards Ruse, in Bulgaria, docking for a guided
excursion to Veliko Tarnovo. After a free morning on Day
14, you're driven by coach to the nearby port town of
Constanta for a guided tour. A short visit to the city's History
and Archaeology Museum is also very enlightening.
Hop aboard a smaller safari boat today for a nature cruise
through the UNESCO-listed Danube Delta. This specialist biosphere
reserve is jam-packed with wildlife, including many rare and
endangered species such as the golden jackal, European hoopoe,
whitetailed eagle and lesser-spotted woodpecker.
We arrive in Burcharest this morning and set out on a guided
city tour, discovering the palaces, remains of medieval homes and
21st century modernist skyscrapers that all mesh together to make
for a remarkable and surprising destination.
You have some free time for lunch and might like to try out one
of the many al fresco restaurants tucked away amongst the tangled
network of streets and verdant parks. We transfer to our hotel for
the night.
Following breakfast on Day 17, we
disembark and make for the airport for your flight back home.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be
found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices
& Availability' button. We will write to you around 10
weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for
your tour group.
