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Eastern Europe Explorer

Trip Type: Explorer

19 Days
| 1 - 12 People

Starts From:

NZD $7,030.00 /Person
Explore the Baroque churches of Budapest and haunted castles of Transylvania on this 18-day journey across Eastern Europe. Learn about the failed Turkish invasion …
Eastern Europe Explorer

Explore the Baroque churches of Budapest and haunted castles of Transylvania on this 18-day journey across Eastern Europe. Learn about the failed Turkish invasion of Eger and take a guided wine cellar tour in the Valley of the Beautiful Women. Discover the medieval churches of Brasov, dine with a local family on an overnight homestay in Viscri and visit Bucharest's 12-storey Palace of Parliament. Compare age-old places of worship in Sofia, breathe in crisp alpine air on a hike in the Pirin Mountains and meander back in time in the Old Town of Plovdiv.

Itinerary

Day 1: Budapest

Day 2: Eger

Day 3: Maramures

Day 4: Maramures

Day 5: Sighisoara

Day 6: Viscri

Day 7: Brasov

Day 8: Brasov

Day 9: Bucharest

Day 10: Bucharest

Day 11: Veliko Tarnovo

Day 12: Veliko Tarnovo

Day 13: Sofia

Day 14: Sofia

Day 15: Bansko

Day 16: Plovdiv

Day 17: Plovdiv

Day 18: Istanbul

Day 19: Istanbul

Trip Inclusions

Meals

14 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included

Transport

Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Metro, Tram, Taxi, Chairlift

Accomodation

Hotel (14 nights), Pension (2 night), Homestay with shared facilities (1 night)

Included Activities

  • Eger - Wine Sampling
  • Maramures - Day Tour with Local Guide
  • Maramures - Sapanta Merry Cemetery
  • Maramures - Barsana Monastery
  • Viscri - Local Home Cooked Dinner
  • Viscri - Fortified Church
  • Bran Castle - Tour
  • Bucharest - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Veliko Tarnovo- Orientation Walk
  • Veliko Tarnovo- Local Cheese and Wine Workshop
  • Veliko Tarnovo - Tsarevets Fortress
  • Kazanlak Valley - Tracian tombs
  • Kazanlak Valley - Family Rose distillery
  • Kazanlak Valley - Etno Village visit
  • Sofia - Orientation Walk
  • Rila - Monastery Visit
  • Pirin Mountains - Hike (weather dependent)
  • Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway
  • Plovdiv - Walking Tour with Local Guide
Trip Highlights
  • Sample the famous Hungarian 'Bulls’ Blood' in Eger – the wine that supposedly gave the Hungarian army supernatural strength during their battle against the Ottoman Empire.
  • Learn spooky stories in Transylvania – the birthplace of the world's most famous vampire, Dracula. Then visit Bran Castle in Brasov – the inspiration for Dracula’s home.
  • Travel through the scenic Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, mingling with monks at the 10th-century Rila Monastery.
  • Indulge in local Bulgarian cheese and wines with a local chef in Veliko Tarnovo, at their family-owned spot in the Old Town.
  • Breathe the crisp mountain air on a short hike in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria, stopping at a small blue lake surrounded by towering peaks.
Dates & Availability

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Provided by
Intrepid
Reference Code: WMSEC
Trip Location
Trip Starts: Budapest, Hungary
Trip Ends: Istanbul, Turkey
Countries Visited: Bulgaria

Booking Enquiry

Destination Details

Bulgaria
| 19 Days
| 1 - 12 People