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Wonders of the Danube Delta and Iron Gate Gorge

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River Cruise

Experience Eastern Europe's beauty on a luxurious Black Sea cruise. Discover vibrant cities, sail the Danube Delta, and explore the vast Great Hungarian Plains from Bulgaria's coast to Budapest.

You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
10 days From £3,095 per person

2024 Tour code: DBR24

About the tour

Fly to Bucharest and join our luxurious cruise from the Romanian coast to beautiful Budapest, following the course of the Black Sea and soaking up the best of Eastern Europe.

Starting in the city of Bucharest, we discover a remarkable capital where history and innovation blend together. From here, we board our luxurious cruise towards the UNESCO-listed Danube Delta, where we spot rare wildlife.

As we sail further into Eastern Europe, we visit historic cities including Constanța and Belgrade, as well as the striking town of Veliko Târnovo, which sits at the foot of the Balkan mountains. Passing through the mystical Iron Gate Gorge, we immerse ourselves in its legends and mysteries before our cruise ends in the mesmerising city of Budapest.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To bustling Bucharest

After meeting our group at London Heathrow, we board our evening flight to Bucharest, the lively capital of Romania. We spend the night in this dynamic metropolis with a fascinating mix of history, culture, and modernity.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Discovering Bucharest and boarding our luxurious ship

On a guided tour, we discover the palaces, medieval homes, and skyscrapers of Bucharest. The city is renowned for its world-class museums, grandiose Palace of the Parliament, and picturesque Old Town. This afternoon we meet our luxurious ship and are greeted with a refreshing cocktail in the lounge. After settling into your wonderful cabin and familiarising ourselves with our magnificent ship, we indulge in our first dinner on board before beginning our first overnight cruise toward the Black Sea.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Nature spotting on a Danube Delta safari

This morning, we board smaller safari boats for a nature cruise through the UNESCO-listed Danube Delta. This biosphere reserve is packed with wildlife, including many rare and endangered species such as the golden jackal, European hoopoe, white-tailed eagle and lesser-spotted woodpecker.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Delightful Constanța

After a night of relaxed cruising, we drive to the port town of Constanța for a guided tour. We discover this historic city's Greek origins, Roman ancestry, and Persian influences as we wander the streets. Some of the attractions we see include the great mosque, art-nouveau casino, and Genovese lighthouse. A short visit to the city's History and Archaeology Museum is also enlightening, and there's time to take a stroll along the pristine beach before we return to our ship.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Medieval Veliko Târnovo

We dock in the Bulgarian town of Rousse then head to the historic town of Veliko Târnovo, set at the foot of the Balkan mountains. A tour through the Old Town showcases beautiful timber-framed buildings, medieval churches, and the striking Tsarevets Fortress. During lunch on board, we begin cruising, continuing overnight.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - The iconic Iron Gate Gorge

We spend the day at leisure on board our luxurious ship. During the afternoon we pass through the amazing Iron Gate Gorge which is blanketed in legend. As we sail, we're surrounded by towering cliffs covered in lush moss, some adorned with intricate carvings - our cruise director gives us an insightful commentary, adding to the enchantment of the crystal-clear waters and ancient ruins that seem to immerse us.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Historic Belgrade

During breakfast, we arrive in Belgrade, the lively capital of Serbia, eager to explore its rich history and impressive architecture. Our guided tour takes us to Kalemegdan Fortress, the oldest surviving part of the city that dates back to the 3rd century BC. From here, we enjoy breathtaking views of the Danube and Sava rivers, immersing ourselves in the city's ancient past.

We then move on to Belgrade's National Museum, where we can appreciate the artistic and cultural heritage of this vibrant city. Our tour also includes the parliament building, Terazije Square, and the Palace of Princess Ljubica. This unique building, with its distinct Asian influence, was built in the 1800s for the wife of Prince Miloš - Princess Ljubica.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Great Hungarian Plains

This morning, we arrive at the port of Mohács, the gateway to the Great Hungarian Plains. Our 'Puszta' tour by coach takes us to Kalocsa, with stops along the way, offering us a unique insight into the region. Our first stop is at a paprika house, also known as 'red gold', Paprika has been one of Hungary's most famous and important cooking ingredients for centuries. We indulge in a variety of dishes seasoned with this unique spice and learn about its fascinating history.

Our journey then takes us to the former home of a wealthy 19th-century family, where we are treated to a mesmerizing performance of traditional folk music and dancing. Next, we venture into the vast expanse of the great plains, where we have the opportunity to try more local delicacies and meet the magnificent Hungarian half-blood horses. We even get to experience a wagon ride, hauled by these majestic creatures.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Striking Budapest and Vibrant Stuttgart

Sailing into Budapest during breakfast, we pass the impressive buildings that line the banks of the river. After marvelling at this captivating city, it's time to disembark. We journey by rail to Stuttgart, where we spend the night in the capital of southwest Germany's Baden-Württemberg state.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Homeward bound

Bidding farewell to Stuttgart this morning, it's time to head home. We journey by rail to Paris where we board the Eurostar back to London. Here, you'll say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Info - Travel Options

We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for departures on this tour. You can find out which class each departure is by clicking on the information button in the pricing grid. (Look for S - Standard Class and F - First Class)

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Trains

Eurostar
TGV

Ship

MS Amadeus Imperial

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

5.0 stars5.0 / 5 · 2 reviews

  1. 5 stars
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D Allison

5 stars

Submitted 06 Sep 2022

Memorable holiday

Collected by Trustpilot

Pamela Burdett

5 stars

Submitted 02 Sep 2022

Great trip,great service, great company and well organised.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hello Pamela, Thank you for the kind words, and we hope to see you on a future tour with us! Best Wishes, Nathan
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

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