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Gems of Southeast Europe (Budapest to Giurgiu)
Tour Description:
From Bucharest to Budapest, and countless treasures in between, touch history in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary as you sail along the exotic lower Danube. Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities, along with the natural beauty of pastoral landscapes and the Danube’s famed Iron Gate, showcase the best of eastern Europe. Folklore followers will relish the opportunity go to Transylvania, a place deeply rooted in myth and history to the 14th-century Bran Castle, home of Prince Vlad Tepes who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula; as well as Sighi?oara, birthplace of Dracula; and to Bulgaria’s natural wonder, Belogradchik, a fairytale stone world of fantastic shapes associated with interesting legends. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to taste history from the centuries-old wine-growing hills dating back to the Romans. And the active adventurers will appreciate hiking to the UNESCO-designated Ivanovo Rock Hewn Churches and biking through Belgrade’s Kalemegdan Park and Vidin’s Baba Vida castle. Be treated to the flavors, sights, sounds and cultures of this diverse swath of the continent. Note: Select Christmas Markets will be open during select departures and may vary. For full details and dates, visit the tourism website for each city
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Dates & Pricing
| Monday 08 Jun 26 — Monday 15 Jun 26 | Starting at $4,749 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 14 Jun 26 — Sunday 21 Jun 26 | Starting at $4,849 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 06 Jul 26 — Monday 13 Jul 26 | Starting at $4,449 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 20 Jul 26 — Monday 27 Jul 26 | Starting at $4,449 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 17 Aug 26 — Monday 24 Aug 26 | Starting at $4,549 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 31 Aug 26 — Monday 07 Sep 26 | Starting at $5,849 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 28 Sep 26 — Monday 05 Oct 26 | Starting at $5,649 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 15 Nov 26 — Sunday 22 Nov 26 | Starting at $4,449 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 15 Mar 27 — Monday 22 Mar 27 | Starting at $3,779 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 04 Apr 27 — Sunday 11 Apr 27 | Starting at $4,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 18 Apr 27 — Sunday 25 Apr 27 | Starting at $4,979 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 02 May 27 — Sunday 09 May 27 | Starting at $5,079 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 10 May 27 — Monday 17 May 27 | Starting at $4,679 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 16 May 27 — Sunday 23 May 27 | Starting at $5,079 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 30 May 27 — Sunday 06 Jun 27 | Starting at $5,079 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 07 Jun 27 — Monday 14 Jun 27 | Starting at $4,779 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 13 Jun 27 — Sunday 20 Jun 27 | Starting at $5,079 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 05 Jul 27 — Monday 12 Jul 27 | Starting at $4,679 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 19 Jul 27 — Monday 26 Jul 27 | Starting at $4,679 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 16 Aug 27 — Monday 23 Aug 27 | Starting at $4,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 26 Sep 27 — Sunday 03 Oct 27 | Starting at $5,679 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 27 Sep 27 — Monday 04 Oct 27 | Starting at $5,279 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 25 Oct 27 — Monday 01 Nov 27 | Starting at $4,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
EMBARKATION – GIURGIU, ROMANIA. Embark your ship in Giurgiu. Tonight gather on board and meet your fellow passengers.
Day 2
GIURGIU – ROUSSE, BULGARIA. Experience the best of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, known as the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Then visit Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to explore Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings.
Day 3
VIDIN. Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations. Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle.
Day 4
SCENIC CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES. The Iron Gates are some of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. After your scenic cruise, you will arrive at Golubac Fortress – one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe – for a tour.
Day 5
BELGRADE, SERBIA. Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Alternatively, visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family, and the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery, followed by a panoramic tour of Avala Mountain. Later in the day, choose from a hike to Kalemegdan Fortress, known for its winding walking paths and incredible river views, or join a guided bike tour.
Day 6
VUKOVAR, CROATIA. Enjoy an afternoon in Vukovar on a guided city tour where you will have a chance to visit Eltz Manor House and its collection of historic artifacts, paintings and clothing. Alternatively, you may explore Vukovar on an active bike tour. Wine connoisseurs will want to enjoy a Croatian wine tasting and tour in the Old Cellars, famous for their Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines.
Day 7
MOHÁCS - PÉCS, HUNGARY. Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács. You’ll then visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter’s Basilica, the city’s main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or for wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago.
Day 8
BUDAPEST – DISEMBARKATION. Disembark your cruise in Budapest.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
