Avalon Passion, Active & Discovery On The Lower Danube ex Bucharest to Belgrade

Begin your Active & Discovery river cruise holiday with an overnight stay in Bucharest—the “Paris of the East.” See the Romanian capital’s WWI Arc de Triomphe and the Royal Palace Square, and spend free time browsing the lovely shops and cafes of Victory Boulevard. Embark on your Suite Ship in the town of Oltenita to begin your Danube River cruise through the Balkans, and cruise for Nikopol. See the incredible ancient architecture in Veliko Târnovo and Arbanassi or join your local guide and hike to the Kroushuna Waterfalls.

Sail to Vidin, Bulgaria, explore the city and visit the medieval Baba Vida Fortress. You might prefer to join a panoramic trek in Belogradchik. Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge, explore the amazing archaeological site of Lepenski Vir, and visit the fascinating Fortress of Golubač. Discover ancient architecture in Novi Sad. Walk up the Petrovaradin Fortress or get to know Belgrade through its people. Sail into beautiful Croatia, where a 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition lives on in Ilok. Sail to Belgrade, Serbia, where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. This Danube River cruise through the Balkans reveals the beauty of its people and culture across a land of beauty and inspiration.

Day 1
Welcome to Bucharest-The "Paris of the East"
The day is yours to relax and enjoy Bucharest. Spend some free time exploring this fascinating city on your own to discover its trendy shops, cafes, museums, beautiful homes, and churches along Victory Avenue.

Day 2
Beautiful Boulevards and Bold History
ACTIVE - Take a guided natural walk in the Vacarești Nature Park. Also known as Urban Delta, this wetland is home to more than 150 different species of birds and small mammals. Enjoy this green get away and learn more about this special green area located only 4km away from the centre of Romania's capital, Bucharest, OR:
DISCOVERY - Discover the joie de vivre of Romanian cuisine - a tasty hodge-podge of Balkan, Ottoman, French, and Russian influences. OR:
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triomphe-honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Square-the scene of the city's 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Travel to Oltenita to board your Avalon Suite Ship this afternoon.
OLTENITA (EMBARKATION)
Your Adventure Begins
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship this evening and enjoy a dinner on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SVISTOV (B,D)

Day 3
Cliff Houses and Revival Architecture
ACTIVE - Follow your expert local guide through the beautiful eco-patch up to Kroushuna Waterfalls, 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.
This evening enjoy a movie night on board your Avalon ship.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN (B,L,D)

Day 4
Rocks, Ruins and Beauty in Bulgaria
ACTIVE - Enjoy a panoramic trek on the rocky landscape of Belogradchik, OR:
DISCOVERY - Get to learn everything about the production technologies of the Bulgarian wines and enjoy a tasting of the various labels produced by a local well-known winery. All accompanied by local snacks and symphonic music, OR:
CLASSIC Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a visit to Baba Vida Fortress, Bulgaria's only completely preserved medieval castle.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO DONJI MILANOVAC (B,L,D)

Day 5
Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge-a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
ACTIVE - Enjoy this scenic hike through Djerdap National Park and stop along the way to taste some local specialties before returning to your Avalon ship, OR:
DISCOVERY - Join a Guided Tour to Lepenski Vir-an important Mesolithic archaeological site chronicling prehistoric cultures, settlements, and art. Marvel at the ancient discoveries and artifacts, as well as the unique views the site affords of the Danube Gorge, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a guided tour of Donji Milanovac and learn the basic of the Cyrillic Serbian alphabet inside the local primary school. Meet locals and get to know the art of crocheting while learning about the history of this little Serbian town.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Golubac.
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 defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.
OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NOVI SAD (B,L,D)

Day 6
A Capital of Culture
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 to the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties, OR:
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.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.
ILOK, CROATIA
Croatian Heritage and Hilltop Vintages
ACTIVE - Enjoy a scenic bike ride through the easternmost town in Croatia and be mesmerized by the beauty of Ilok. OR:
DISCOVERY - Explore the town of Vukovar and meet a local beer brewer who will share with you his fascinating story during a beer tasting. OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE (B,L,D)

Day 7
Fortresses and Folklore
ACTIVE - Get a real taste of Serbia on this guided bike tour focusing on the history of Belgrade, from WWII to today, OR:
DISCOVERY - Go way beyond the ordinary, and get to know Belgrade through its remarkable people and innovative minds, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade-where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge-and see the city's many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava, one of the world's largest Orthodox churches.
Spend free time in Belgrade exploring Knez Mihailova Street-Belgrade's central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafes, shops, and cultural spots. You might consider partaking one of the Optional Excursion available.
DISCOVERY - Before dinner, attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BELGRADE (B,L,D)

Day 8
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)