You arrive today in the capital of Romania and be met by a representative of Walking Adventures as you exit customs at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport.

We rendezvous this evening at our hotel in the heart of Bucharest for a Welcome Orientation, followed by a fun cultural dinner in a venerable, old, Romanian beer hall!

Walk #1: Bucharest, Romania Walk ––– 8km, rated 1A

This morning’s walk connects many points of interest of Bucharest, including the Senate, where despised dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu made his famous last speech, the lovely 19th century Romanian Atheneum music hall, the National Opera, and the massive Ceauşescu inspiration known as the Palace of the Parliament.

Following the walk, and free time for lunch, we depart by coach through bucolic Romanian landscapes to Turnu Magurele. Here we embark the M/S River Sapphire, our home for the next 10 nights on our voyage up the Danube River.

Walk #2: Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria Walk ––– 5 km, rated 2B

As we sail upriver this morning, a presentation from the Captain and his crew precedes lunch.

From the riverside port of Vidin, we drive by coach to Belogradchik Rocks, a group of bizarre formations hailed as one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders. Following an afternoon walk here, we return to Vidin for a short visit to 13th century Baba Vida fortress before taking dinner back aboard the M/S River Sapphire.

We cruise through a moving postcard this morning, with an invitation to participate in a free-style history/cultural discussion with our cruise director.

Today’s route transits the highest natural gorge on the Danube. Over 100 kilometers long, “The Iron Gates” posed a major navigational obstacle until the Djerdap Hydroelectric and Navigation System was completed in 1972. On both sides of the dam, two locks were built which enable safe passage for passenger and cargo ships all the way to the Black Sea.

Walk #3: Belgrade, Serbia Walk ––– 8 km, rated 2A

We start our day with an enlightening walk through the vibrant city of Belgrade passing the extensive grounds of Kalemegdan Fortress, massive St. Sava’s Orthodox Cathedral, the Parliament Building, and Princess Ljubica’s Manor. It’s difficult to believe this bustling, upbeat city was the target of NATO bombing raids a little more than 20 years ago.

Lunch today is in a unique restaurant off the ship, just outside Belgrade. Authentic, home-made Serbian food with live music and a solid dose of Serbian hospitality in a rural restaurant on the banks of the Sava River could make this the trip’s most memorable meal.

After dinner back aboard ship, a professional dance troupe from Belgrade provides a high energy performance of Serbian folk music and dance.

Walk #4: Novi Sad, Serbia Walk ––– 5 km, rated 1A

Pedestrian-friendly Novi Sad is the venue for our second walk in Serbia. Along the way we visit hulking, 17th century Petrovaradin Fortress, a strategic post during ongoing wars between Serbs, Austrians, and invading Turks.

Later, the route winds between traditional Old World architecture and past inviting sidewalk cafes in the appealing historic district.

Optional excursion ~ Deuric Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: This afternoon is free to explore Novi Sad on your own. Or consider a 45-minute drive through Serbian countryside to a small, but well-known winery in the midst of Serbia’s oldest national park, Fruška Gora.

The national park is an 80 kilometer stretch of rolling rural farmland known as a longstanding haven for Orthodox monasteries which preserved Serbian culture from occupying Turks between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Romans were the first to introduce vineyards during their tenure in the Danube region in the centuries after Christ. The winery we visit is set in a traditional part of Serbia but uses modern technologies and wine-producing methods. A possible exception is the strict use of barrels made from French oak. Three different premium wines will be sampled. Included: roundtrip transportation by bus; guided tour and wine tasting of approximately 2 hours. Price: $75 per person

During dinner this evening, we weigh anchor for Croatia.

Walk #5: Vukovar, Croatia Walk ––– 5 km, rated 1A

Following breakfast, we enjoy a morning stroll along the waterfront promenade and through the center of Vukovar, Croatia’s largest port along the Danube and a town known for its baroque architecture. We visit the Franciscan Monastery and Museum with an opportunity to sample a few local wines.

After lunch, we continue sailing upstream towards Budapest, Hungary’s magnificent capital. Enjoy the views from the Sun Deck.

Dinner is served as we cruise, with live music to follow in the lounge.

On board lectures and the relaxing pace of river cruising fill our morning.

Following lunch on board, we enjoy a guided coach motorcoach tour of this historic “Queen of the Danube” with highlights such as the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Opera House, Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellert Hill, and town park with Vajdahundyad Castle.

The Magyars of Hungary have a distinct ethnic, linguistic, and historical background.  With Buda on the right bank of the Danube and Pest on the left, Hungary’s capital has an mystique completely unique from its Slav and Germanic neighbors, amplified by the occupation of the Ottoman Turks for a couple of centuries.

Walk #6: Budapest, Hungary Walk ––– 10 km, rated 1A

The Hungarian walking club meets us today for a guided walk from the ship featuring Budapest panoramas along both banks of the Danube and out to Margaret Island. We finish by the Budapest Market on Vaci Utca, Pest’s famous pedestrian zone.

After lunch back aboard ship, the afternoon is free to explore Budapest, arguably the most interesting and beautiful town along the Danube.

A special concert by a local gypsy duet is offered this evening. Then, following dinner, join us tonight on the Sun Deck when the ship weighs anchor and sails between the illuminated bridges and monuments of Budapest! It’s one of the WOW moments of the tour!

Walk #7: Bratislava, Slovakia Walk ––– 5 km, rated 2A

We glide through picturesque Hungarian countryside this morning, enjoying a final lecture by our cruise directors. This stretch of the river takes us through Gabcikovo lock, the only lock on the Danube River located between Vienna and Budapest. The adjoining hydroelectric power plant is the country’s largest and most productive.

Charming Bratislava is one of the Danube’s best kept secrets. Following lunch, a guided walk takes us past highlights like St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Castle and Primate’s Palace, Michael’s Gate, Michael’s Tower, Main Square, Old Town Hall, and Slovak National Theatre.

Back aboard ship, this evening’s highlight is the Captain’s Gala Dinner!

Vienna is the historic capital of the Hapsburg Dynasty, the most powerful and enduring in European history.

The morning coach/walking tour highlights renowned architectural gems such as the State Opera, the Parliament, the Burgtheatre, and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, as well as the bustling pedestrian zone.

Vienna offers more than a curious traveler could explore in several weeks. Enjoy a free afternoon to sample your choice of Vienna’s many attractions! WAI will share ideas for those feeling overwhelmed by this cornucopia of history, culture, and architecture.

Following dinner back aboard ship, an optional evening classical concert is the preferred way to spend the night in Vienna.

Optional evening excursion ~ Classical Vienna Concert: The “Viennese Residence Orchestra”, a Vienna chamber orchestra, shares a program consisting of compositions by Johann Strauss, the “King of Waltz”, and musical genius W.A. Mozart. The concert takes place within the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) of the Hapsburg dynasty. Price: $99

Following breakfast, we say farewell to the crew of the River Sapphire. Travelers are on their own to get to the airport; WAI guides will help to batch into taxis those with similar departure times.

We leave Vienna, the City of Music, enriched forever by our connection with the history, culture, and scenery of the Danube River region.

You arrive today in the capital of Romania. You’ll be met by a representative of Walking Adventures as you exit customs at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport.

This is a day of travel and no group activities are scheduled for this evening; dinner is on your own. Your guide team will meet you as you arrive with orientation tips and suggestions for those who wish to have dinner.

Peles Castle Walk – 2.5 km, rated 2B
Braşov, Romania Walk – 5 km, rated 1B

Following breakfast at our hotel, we leave Bucharest by coach for the Carpathian Mountain resort town of Sinaia, and a tour of Peles Castle, residence of the last Romanian monarch. The castle is accessed by a cobblestone road ascending through bucolic countryside offering lovely views of the castle between the trees on the hillside.

Our final destination is medieval Braşov, where a walk through this old Germanic town takes us into the intriguing First Romanian School, past imposing Black Cathedral, and down winding cobblestone lanes back to our hotel.

Transylvanian Alps Walk – 6 km, rated 3B

Today’s walk offers eye-popping panoramas of the Transylvanian Alps and traditional farms, with picturesque haystacks plopped on sloping hillsides like giant mushrooms.

After time for lunch in the village of Bran, we visit the “Dracula Castle”, 14th century testimony to the story of Transylvania and Count Vlad, “the Impaler.” Count Vlad inspired the fictional Count Dracula, popularized by Irish novelist Bram Stoker.

Later tonight back in Braşov, we enjoy a memorable cultural dinner accompanied by folk music and dance.

A morning drive takes us back across the Carpathian Mountains to Bucharest.

After hotel check-in, the afternoon is free to explore Bucharest with several options available from our hotel.

This evening, we rendezvous with travelers arriving for the cruise only main tour for a Welcome Orientation to the Danube River Cruise, followed by a fun dinner together at a traditional Romanian beer hall.

To register, a non-refundable $500 deposit per person is required to hold your spot. A second non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required by February 15, 2024.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us 2 to 3 weeks in advance.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

Please follow this link to read our full General Tour Conditions.

We generally walk at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour. Several walks on this trip are oriented more towards education, and therefore take longer due to stops for guide commentary. Nature walks, on the other hand, generally continue at a steadier pace because we’re stopping less to talk.

In most cases, we are not “strolling.” We are walking at a relaxed but steady pace. Your experience will be significantly affected by your level of physical fitness. If not walking regularly at home, we strongly recommend that you make a priority of “training” beforehand in order to both enjoy the trip and avoid medical issues due to overexertion. If you have questions about your ability to participate, please call our office at 1.360.260.9393.

We have adopted a walk difficulty rating system which contains a numeric indicator for trail incline and an alpha indicator for trail terrain. The explanation for this system is presented on the table below:

INCLINE

1. Minimal hills or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: <200 feet.
2. Some moderate hills and stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 200-1000 feet.
3. Some significant hill or stair climbing. Cumulative elevation gain: 1000-2000 feet.

TERRAIN

A. Almost entirely on pavement.
B. A significant part of the route is on well-groomed trails with very few obstacles.
C. A significant part of the route is on somewhat difficult terrain (rocky / rooted paths or soft sand).

The official start point for both the Transylvania Pre-tour and the Danube River Cruise (the main tour) is the Bucharest, Romania Henri Coandă International Airport (formerly Otopeni Airport), airport code OTP.

The official finish point is our ship docked in Vienna, Austria, best served by Vienna International Airport (airport code VIE).

More details about flight arrangements and travel agent contact information will be provided in an Adventure Advice PDF by email after you register for the Adventure.  Please do not book your airfare prior to receiving these flight details from us!

We recommend that you contact Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements. In this age of airfare complications and airport uncertainty, using a travel agent is a good investment!

• Laura Pfahler: 503.434.6401 or [email protected]

Be aware that some travel insurance policies contain time-sensitive provisions (i.e. some benefits, such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, are available only if the policy is purchased within a certain number of days of the purchase of the travel package). In addition, remember that airfare is not covered by any travel insurance policy you may have purchased for the tour.

• Focus on health before the tour so you start healthy.
• Pace yourself while on tour; travel is inherently stimulating and can produce adrenalin boosts that mask energy drain. Guard your energy reserves and consider the length of the trip and whether to opt out of some activities and/or walks.
• Be self-aware. If you feel yourself tiring or feel a bug coming on, take precautions to block it (e.g. extra rest, extra doses of vitamin C, etc).
• If you feel a bug coming on or if you take ill, distance yourself from others when possible.
• If you feel ill, isolate yourself towards the back of the bus and away from others

Click WAI Wellness on Tour Policy to view the WAI policy on Wellness on Tour.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure (June 5, 2024) and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us a week or two in advance. Please see our General Tour Conditions for the full terms and conditions for participation in this Adventure.

About 2 weeks before departure, you will receive a final email packet with details of the program, including hotel names and contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule.

We look forward to enjoying this fascinating region of Europe with you as we set sail on the Danube River Cruise!