Wonders of the Danube Delta and Iron Gate Gorge (Budapest-Bucharest) Fly and Cruise

We meet at the airport to fly from London to Budapest. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your ship, the Amadeus Imperial. We are welcomed with a cocktail in the lounge before a 5-course dinner. Later take in the illuminated sights as we sail around the city.

• Dinner

We arrive into the port of Mohács this morning and embark on a puszta tour by coach that takes us to Kalosca with stops along the way. The puszta is an area of Hungary defined by its grassland ecosystem set amongst the Great Hungarian Plains, and which has a 'wild west' feel to it. Our first visit here is to a paprika house. One of Hungary's most famous and important cooking ingredients, paprika was once known as 'red gold' in this region, and we taste it in a variety of dishes while learning about the spice's historic significance and how it shaped the lives of the people who lived here. We continue to the former home of a wealthy 19th century family where we watch a performance of traditional folk music and dancing. We then head out into the great plains to try more of the local delicacies, meet Hungarian half-blood horses and experience a wagon ride hauled by these magnificent creatures.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We moor in the Serbian capital of Belgrade this morning, then head out on a guided walking tour to see the attractions of a city whose history can be documented through its architecture. First we see the Kalemegdan Fortress, the oldest surviving part of the city dating back to the 3rd century BC, which offers wonderful views across the Danube and Sava rivers. Next we see Belgrade's National Museum before seeing the parliament building, Terazije Square and lastly, the Palace of Princess Ljubica. With its Asian influences, this is an unusual building for this part of the world; it was built in the 1800s for the wife of Prince Miloš, the eponymous Princess Ljubica. This afternoon you are at leisure on the cruise ship, to enjoy the passing scenery or maybe to relax in the lounge.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is spent at leisure on board as we sail towards Vidin. During the afternoon we pass through the 'Iron Gate' Gorge. The gorge forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. Enjoy the cruise director's informative commentary as we witness towering mossy cliffs interspersed with ornate and detailed carvings, hewn from the rock face.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin sailing towards Ruse, in Bulgaria. We dock there and take an excursion to Veliko Tarnovo. The city was once the cornerstone of Bulgaria's 14th century empire, and boasts impressive medieval churches and an Old Town of timber-framed buildings which we explore on our guided tour.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have a free morning on board the ship. This afternoon we're driven by coach to the nearby port town of Constanta for a guided tour. Here we discover Constanta's ancient history - its Greek origins, Roman ancestry and Persian influences. Some of the attractions we'll see include the great mosque, art-nouveau casino and Genovese lighthouse. A short visit to the city's History and Archaeology Museum is also very enlightening, and there's time to take a stroll along the pristine beach before we return to our ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We hop aboard smaller safari boats today for a nature cruise through the UNESCO-listed Danube Delta, formed by the river as it splits into hundreds of tributaries on its way to the Black Sea. 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. Back on board we enjoy a relaxing afternoon sailing back to Fetesti.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We arrive in Bucharest this morning and set out on a guided city tour, discovering the palaces, medieval homes and 21st century skyscrapers that make this a remarkable and surprising destination. You have free time for lunch and might like to try out one of the many al fresco restaurants tucked away amongst the tangled network of streets and verdant parks. We transfer to our hotel for the night.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following breakfast, we disembark and are transferred to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

• Breakfast