9 days tour

Balkan Discovery 2024

Balkan Discovery 2024

This tour includes:

Hygieneprotocol

The health and safety of our guests remains our top priority and while we highly recommend that travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19, after 1 March, 2023 , we will no longer require it. Destinations and other transportation operators โ€“ like airlines โ€“ have their own rules and regulations. It will be up to the responsibility of our guests to understand and comply with those policies to move freely across the globe. The Globus family of brands previous policy โ€“ requiring all guests be vaccinated against COVID-19 โ€“ remains in effect until 1 March, 2023 . Anyone travelling before that date on a Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Waterways holiday must be fully vaccinated. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The following requirements are in place traveling Internationally throughout 2021 and domestically beginning Sept. 1, 2021: - Full vaccination against COVID-19 in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Vaccination documentation must include information that identifies the person and vaccination date(s). Proof of full vaccination must show that official vaccination dose(s) were administered at least 14-days prior to the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. Globus accepts vaccines authorized or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travelers may encounter additional requirements if their vaccine is not recognized by the travel destination. - For children who do not qualify for vaccination, one of the two forms of documentation are required to travel: 1) Verifiable negative COVID-19 test result in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Testing must be performed by an entity recognized by your government of residence, using a viral test (NAAT/PCR or antigen). The test result documentation must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A negative test result must show the test was done within 72 hours before the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. 2) If you recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months, and have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of recovery, which includes a positive test result and a letter from your health care provider that states you have been cleared to end isolation (return to work, travel, etc.) The test result documentation and letter must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A positive test result must show test was done within 3 months of the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. WELCOME ABOARD New embarkation procedures to offer guests a safe start to their journey, including: - Social distancing throughout embarkation - Mandatory health screening, including touch-free temperature-check, for all guests and crew - Luggage disinfection prior to onboarding (with crew wearing gloves and masks) FRESH AIR, INSIDE AND OUT In addition to our Open-Air staterooms, the air in our ships is not circulated between staterooms; only within an individual stateroom and mixed with fresh, outside air BLENDING CULTURAL PROXIMITY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCE New social distancing guidelines for guests throughout their Avalon cruise, include: - Reducing ship capacity as required for more space on board per guest - Introducing more dining venues for more dining space per person - Crew wearing masks for the duration of the cruise during any guest interaction - Providing masks for guests to wear during any event where social proximity could become an issue, including disembarkation for excursions and safety drills - Adjusting ratio of guides and coaches for excursions NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS - Electrostatic disinfecting systems - UV disinfecting systems TOUCHING HEARTS, NOT HANDS Reducing risk with hands-free service, including: - More hand-sanitizing stations throughout the ship - Required use of hand-sanitizing stations when leaving the ship, returning to the ship and entering dining venues as well as entering each public/common space - Self-serve stations, including bu ets, drinks, specialty co ees and snacks have been replaced with crew service - All buffets (breakfast and lunch) replaced by a full range of aฬ€ la carte menu choices - Hourly (or more frequent) disinfection of all public areas COMMITMENT TO THE CLEANEST SHIPS Enhanced cleaning procedures throughout each ship, including these additional steps that go above-and-beyond Avalonโ€™s already strict procedures: - Deep disinfection of each stateroom between cruises, including: - Use of disinfectants and cleaning materials that meet the highest standards - Soft goods in each stateroom (mattress, sofa, window coverings, chairs, etc.) disinfected between cruises - Disinfection of all dining areas between meals - Disinfection of all shared items like umbrellas, bicycles and other Adventure Center items - Disinfection of all goods prior to loading on the ship - Ongoing crew training in protective equipment use and hygiene FOCUS ON CREW HEALTH Ensuring a healthy crew, including: - Medical certifcate required prior to start of contract - Daily temperature checks - Social distancing in crew living quarters - Regular health screenings Avalon will continue to review and update Assurance initiatives as we make our return to the worldโ€™s waterways including adhering toโ€”and building uponโ€” the standards set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Balkan Discovery 2024

  • Day 1 Day 1: Budapest, Hungary (Embarkation)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Budapest, Hungary (Embarkation)

      Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Shipยฎ is Ready for Boarding.

      Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm.

      Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

      Overnight:
      OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MOHรCS

      Meals:
      Dinner
  • Day 2 Day 2: Mohรกcs
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Mohรกcs

      Hungarian History in a Harbor Town

      Visit the Adventure Center for todayโ€™s activities with your Adventure Host.

      Activity active:
      Explore Mohacs by foot as you follow the lead of your Adventure Host, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mohรกcsโ€”the quiet Danube harbor town with its historical memorial parks, statues, and distinctive churches. Tour the remarkable medieval St. Nicholas Watermillโ€”one of only a few remaining watermills performing stone-ground grain processing, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Take a Guided Tour of nearby Pรฉcs to see its 4th-century Christian underground tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with fascinating murals. Youโ€™ll also enjoy an organ concert on your tour.

      Overnight:
      EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ILOK

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 3 Day 3: Ilok, Croatia
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Ilok, Croatia

      History and Culture in Croatia

      Activity classic:
      Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage.

      Enjoy a brief cruise to Novi Sad while having lunch onboard.

      Location:
      NOVI SAD, SERBIA

      The Athens of Serbia

      Activity active:
      Get your daily dose of exercise, join your Adventure Host on this walk in and around town, OR:

      Activity 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.

      Overnight:
      OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 4 Day 4: Belgrade
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Belgrade

      Fortresses and Folklore

      Activity active:
      Discover Belgradeโ€™s central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgradeโ€”where the Danube and Sava Rivers convergeโ€”and see the cityโ€™s many fascinating sights, including Saint Savaโ€”one of the worldโ€™s largest Orthodox churches.

      Activity discovery:
      Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.

      Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Streetโ€”Belgradeโ€™s central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafรฉs, shops, and cultural spots.

      This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.

      Overnight:
      OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAฤŒ

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 5 Day 5: Golubaฤโ€“Donji Milanovac. Excursion To Lepenski Virโ€“Iron Gates Gorge
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Golubaฤโ€“Donji Milanovac. Excursion To Lepenski Virโ€“Iron Gates Gorge

      Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates

      Activity classic:
      Visit the Fortress of Golubaฤ, one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. Youโ€™ll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for 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.

      Activity active:
      Stretch your legs, ease your mind and enjoy a walk lead by your Adventure Host, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Join a Guided Tour to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.

      Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorgeโ€”a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

      Overnight:
      AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 6 Day 6: Vidin, Bulgaria
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Vidin, Bulgaria

      Rocks, ruins and Balkan Beauty

      Join your Adventure Host for todayโ€™s special activities.

      Activity active:
      Wander and discover this town, join your Adventure Host for a walk, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Join Guided Sightseeing in Vidin, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements.

      Overnight:
      AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 7 Day 7: Rousse. Veliko Tรขrnovo & Arbanassi Excursion
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Rousse. Veliko Tรขrnovo & Arbanassi Excursion

      Fortresses and Folklore

      Activity active:
      Join a walk in the park in Rousse with your Avalon Adventure Host, OR:

      Activity classic:
      Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tรขrnovoโ€”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:

      Activity classic:
      Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgariaโ€™s largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church.

      Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show.

      Overnight:
      OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA

      Meals:
      Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 8 Day 8: Oltenita, Romania (Disembarkation)โ€“Bucharest
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Oltenita, Romania (Disembarkation)โ€“Bucharest

      The Paris of the East

      Activity classic:
      Take a Guided Tour of the Romanian capital city of Bucharest with its tree-lined boulevards and Arc de Triompheโ€”honoring WWI Romanian soldiers. See the Royal Palace Squareโ€”the scene of the cityโ€™s 1989 riots to overthrow the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

      Spend some free time exploring on your own to visit shops and museums. See the beautiful home and churches along Victory Avenue.

      Meals:
      Breakfast.
  • Day 9 Day 9: Bucharest
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Bucharest

      Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

      Meals:
      Breakfast
+6
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 8 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required