Balkan Discovery
8 Days
Tour Description
Experience the extraordinary destinations of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans. You’ll cruise through the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® in Budapest, the lively Hungarian capital, and sail into beautiful Croatia. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in Vukovar and discover Ilok with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition. Take a fascinating guided tour of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Visit Bulgaria’s Belogradchik, and see the fascinating rock formations sculpted by natural elements for over 200 million years. On an excursion to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, you’ll visit Arbanassi’s Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2025, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2025.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2025, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2025.
Priced From:
$ 7220pp *
Start Location: Budapest, Hungary
End Location: Oltenita, Romania
Major Destinations: Budapest ,Pecs,Iron Gates,Belogradchik,Nikopol. Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi
Breakfast Meals Included:
7
Lunch Meals Included:
6
Dinner Meals Included:
7
Itinerary
Day
1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VUKOVAR (D)
Day
2
VUKOVAR
History and Beer
Visit the Adventure Centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided City Tour to discover the captivating culture and tradition of Vukovar and learn about its rich history and heritage.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.
ILOK, CROATIA
History and Culture in Croatia
CLASSIC Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. Refresh your spirit with a wine tasting in a local cellar and hear the stories of culture and tradition in the natural beauty of Eastern Croatia, OR:
ACTIVE Explore more of Croatia on a Guided Bike Tour along Ilok's city walls, into the central church, and the towns' museum on your way to Principovac Castle and Estate.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NOVI SAD (B,L,D)
Day
3
NOVI SAD, SERBIA
The Athens of Serbia
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.
ACTIVE Enjoy a Guided Hike Tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR:
DISCOVERY Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this Guided Tour of Novi Sad by stopping at the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties.
ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise, join your Adventure Host on this walk in and around town.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE (B,L,D)
Day
4
BELGRADE
Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade-where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge-Dnd see the city's many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava-one of the world's largest Orthodox churches.
DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street-Belgrade's central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafes, shops, and cultural spots.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAC (B,L,D)
Day
5
GOLUBAC-DONJI MILANOVAC. EXCURSION TO LEPENSKI VIR-IRON GATES GORGE
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
CLASSIC Visit the Fortress of Golubac, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You'll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Ottoman Empire, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge-D natural border between Serbia and Romania.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN (B,L,D)
Day
6
VIDIN, BULGARIA
Rocks, Ruins and Balkan Beauty
ACTIVE Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour around the city, OR:
CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements, OR:
DISCOVERY Discover more than two centuries of a proud family history of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Here, you'll enjoy a wine tasting in the cellars.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE (B,L,D)
Day
7
ROUSSE. VELIKO TARNOVO & ARBANASSI EXCURSION
Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo-with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria's largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA (B,L,D)
Day
8
OLTENITA, ROMANIA (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Bucharest airport before noon. (B)
Dates & prices
Dates
Prices
Status
Departure Date :
2026-10-21
Return Date :
2026-10-28
Single :
11599 NZD
Twin :
7703 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-10-06
Return Date :
2026-10-13
Single :
11849 NZD
Twin :
7864 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-09-21
Return Date :
2026-09-28
Single :
12098 NZD
Twin :
8025 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-09-06
Return Date :
2026-09-13
Single :
11849 NZD
Twin :
7864 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-08-22
Return Date :
2026-08-29
Single :
11599 NZD
Twin :
7703 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-08-07
Return Date :
2026-08-14
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-07-23
Return Date :
2026-07-30
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-07-08
Return Date :
2026-07-15
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-06-23
Return Date :
2026-06-30
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-06-08
Return Date :
2026-06-15
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-05-24
Return Date :
2026-05-31
Single :
11350 NZD
Twin :
7542 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2026-05-01
Return Date :
2026-05-08
Single :
10850 NZD
Twin :
7220 NZD
Open