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Through the Carpathian Mountains to the Lands of the Bears Spirit of the Danube
CRUISE AND STAY
12 nightsFULL BOARD on your shipfrom£2749
Includes insurance and cancellation cover§ Price reduction available if not required.
Sail through the heart of Transylvania…
aboard Spirit of the Danube – see pages 144-149 for details
The rooftops of Brasov
Your river cruise
Day 1: UK to Budapest. Fly to Hungary's capital and embark Spirit of the Danube. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here this overnight. Day 2: Budapest Your ship remains moored in Hungary’s capital until lunchtime, and this morning an included tour will reveal some of the city's highlights. Alternatively, perhaps join an included culinary walking tour. Set sail over lunch and cruise through the remainder of the day and night. Day 3: Novi Sad. Arrive late morning. You can enjoy an included walking tour of the old town centre. Proceed through the streets to an old family wine cellar, which is also a producer of local honey. Sample the wines and honey. Set sail again late this afternoon. Day 4: Sailing through the Iron Gate. This morning sail through a particularly scenic stretch of the Danube – the world-famous Iron Gate gorge. You can follow proceedings as Spirit of the Danube manoeuvres through two locks by the Djerdap power stations. Continue sailing overnight. Day 5: Rousse This morning you will arrive in Rousse. Perhaps discover the city on an optional tour this morning. Resume your cruise at lunchtime and sail through the day and night to Romania. Day 6: Danube Delta. Enjoy the scenery as you cruise the wildlife-rich Danube Delta.This afternoon you may like to join an optional small boat cruise further into this UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve. Set sail at lunchtime and cruise overnight.
Your stay
Day 7: Fetesti to Bucharest. Arrive in Fetesti this morning and disembark your ship after breakfast before continuing by coach to Bucharest for an included tour of the city. Tonight you’ll stay in the heart of the capital, at the locally rated 4-star Novotel Bucharest (4Q) with dinner included.
Day 8: Bucharest to Brasov. Check out after breakfast and drive north of Bucharest, stopping to visit Peles Castle en route to Brasov, where you’ll stay at the locally rated 5-star Aro Palace (4Q), in the heart of the city, for three nights with breakfasts included, plus dinner at the hotel tonight. Day 9: Brasov. Take a short drive to the centre of Brasov for an included tour and visit Bran Castle, often referred to as Dracula’s Castle.
Day 10: Brasov. Optional excursions this morning include a visit to the fortified churches of Harman and Prejmer, or you may like to take a guided tour of the Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti. This afternoon another optional excursion takes you to an observatory in the forests of the Carpathian Mountains to watch bears in the wild.
Day 11: Brasov to Bukovina. Check out after breakfast and head to the Red Lake on an included excursion. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your transfer to Bukovina. You’ll spend the next two nights at the locally rated 4-star Best Western Bucovina (3Q), with dinner included at your hotel this evening. Day 12: Bukovina. Today you’ll visit the Painted Monasteries of Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet on an included excursion. Lunch is included at a local restaurant and this evening dinner will be accompanied by folk entertainment at a local restaurant.
Day 13: Bukovina to UK. Check out of your hotel after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight.
The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina The bears of Brasov
Danube
Bukovina
SLOVAKIA Budapest
HUNGARY
Nights in hotel
Novi Sad
ROMANIA Suceava
SERBIA Iron Gate Gorge Brasov
BULGARIA Danube
Rousse Bucharest
Fetesti Danube Delta
EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY
Budapest 2 nights with breakfasts
included. Before your cruise stay at the locally rated 4-star Ensana Grand Margaret Island hotel (4Q) or the locally rated 4-star Hilton Garden Inn Budapest city centre (4Q) and explore Hungary’s capital further at your leisure. Please see page 143 for details.
LOOK WHO’LL BE JOINING YOU ON BOARD
Terry Waite
Humanitarian and author Terry Waite will join the April 18, 2022 departure.
RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
The world-famous Iron Gates
This is a particularly scenic stretch of the Danube, located between Romania and Serbia, and is the largest and longest gorge in Europe. Be sure to find a relaxing spot on deck where you can sit and observe how the ship manoeuvres through two locks by the Djerdap power station.
The brown bears of Brasov
The dense forests and meadows of the Carpathian Mountains are home to around 5000 brown bears, along with numerous other wildlife including lynx, wild boar, wolves, deer and much more. In Brasov you’ll have the opportunity to watch the bears in their natural environment from the safe distance of an observatory during an optional excursion. As with all wildlife spotting, sightings can’t be guaranteed but you’ll be accompanied by a professional ranger and expert bear tracker.
The Painted Monasteries of Bukovina
Look forward to an included excursion to visit the Painted Monasteries of Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet in Bukovina. The exterior walls of these byzantine churches are highly decorated with elaborate 15th- and 16th-century frescoes featuring portraits of saints and prophets. Their purpose was to share stories of the Bible with the onlooker.
SO MUCH INCLUDED…
Included travel insurance
VIP door-to-door travel service – see page 155
6 nights Full Board aboard the ship 4 nights Half Board in a hotel, 2 nights Breakfasts only in a hotel
30 meals: 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship
Cruise Host
Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration
Plus... Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board • All gratuities on board • Return flights and transfers.
INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
• Budapest city tour OR culinary walking tour of Budapest • Walking tour of Novi Sad • Bucharest city tour • Peles Castle • Medieval Brasov and Bran Castle • Red Lake and Bicaz Gorges • Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet.
Prices are £s per person from: Apr 18, 2022 Aug 24 Lower Deck Twin (Forward - E) Sold Out 2949 2849* Lower Deck Twin (D) 2849 2749 3049 2799 Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (Forward - C) Sold Out Sold Out Middle Deck Twin, French Balcony (B) 3299 3499 3249 Upper Deck Twin, French Balcony (A) 3449* 3649* Lower Deck Sole occupancy (D) 4399 4299 4599 4349 Middle Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (B) 4799 4999 Upper Deck, French Balcony Sole occupancy (A) 5049 5249 Cruise code DA237 Through the Carpathian Mountains to the Land of the Bears. 12 nights.*These grades have limited availability. §If you choose to opt out of the included insurance and cancellation cover, a reduction applies of £40 – see page 150 for details. TRAVEL OPTIONS: Prices based on flights from Heathrow to Budapest with the scheduled services of British Airways, returning from Suceava to Luton with the scheduled services of Wizz Air.
Be quick – to be guaranteed the best price, book early as flights can sell out and prices sometimes increase.
