Avalon Passion, Active & Discovery On The Danube From Serbia To The Black Sea ex Belgrade to Bucharest

Begin your Active & Discovery river cruise holiday boarding your Avalon Suite Ship in Belgrade, Serbia. Here, explore the city where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet with a guided bike tour. Visit the fascinating Fortress of Golubač. Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge after visiting the amazing archaeological site of Lepenski Vir or hiking in the Djerdap National park. Sail to Vidin, Bulgaria, explore the city and visit the medieval Baba Vida Fortress. You might prefer to join a panoramic trek in Belogradchik. See the incredible ancient architecture in Veliko Târnovo and Arbanassi, or join your local guide for a hike to Ivanovo Rock Church. Take a guided tour of Constanta on Romania’s Black Sea—with a wealth of Roman history or join a delicious wine tasting.

Disembark your Suite Ship and spend the night in Bucharest—the “Paris of the East.” See the WWI Arc de Triomphe and the Royal Palace Square, and spend free time browsing the shops and cafes of Victory Boulevard. A fascinating Danube River cruise through the beautiful Balkans.

Day 1
Welcome to Serbia! Your Balkan Adventure Begins
Flights into Belgrade must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Explore your Avalon Suite Ship this evening and enjoy a dinner on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BELGRADE (D)

Day 2
Fortresses and Folklore
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
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 cafés, 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 CRUISE TO GOLUBAC (B,L,D)

Day 3
A Formidable Fortress
CLASSIC - Visit the Fortress of Golubač, 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.
Enjoy a brief sailing to Donji Milanovac.
DONJI MILANOVAC
Prehistoric Stones and Iron Gates Gorge
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.
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.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge-a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN (B,L,D)

Day 4
Rocks, Ruins and Beauty in Bulgaria
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
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, visit to Baba Vida Fortress, Bulgaria's only completely preserved medieval castle.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE (B,L,D)

Day 5
Cliff Houses and Revival Architecture
ACTIVE - Join your expert local guide on this spectacular hike to Ivanovo Rock Church. These monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries built inside the mountains will surprise you with their fascinating and unique style, OR:
DISCOVERY - 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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FETESTI (B,L,D)

Day 6
Natural History at Black Sea
Visit the Adventure centre for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
Enjoy a leisurely sailing morning.
ACTIVE - Hike your way through the beautiful Romanian landscapes to visit a local winery, OR:
DISCOVERY - Enjoy the visit at a local winery to learn about traditional Romanian wines with a tasting, OR:
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour to Constanta, the most important commercial centre in Romania, situated on the Black Sea. Visit the Natural History and Archeological Museum to discover the fascinating history of early Romanian cultures.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FETESTI (B,L,D)

Day 7
A Night in Bucharest-the "Paris of the East"
Disembark your ship this morning and travel to Bucharest.
ACTIVE - Take a guided natural walk in the Vacaresti 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.
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. Alternatively, enjoy one of the Optional Excursions on offer. (B)

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