Black Sea Explorer

Day 1 UK - Budapest Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your flight to Budapest. Upon arrival we transfer to embark Scenic Jade (5T), Scenic Amber (5T) or Scenic Crystal (5T) and enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. Day 2 Kalocsa Today we witness a traditional Hungarian horse show. Horses and cowboys have been part of Hungarian culture since the Middle Ages, when tribes arrived here from Central Asia. Watch the relationship between the riders and their horses as they parade and perform centuries-old skills including lying down in tall grass to hide in battle. Day 3 Osijek You have a choice of excursions today in the beautiful country of Croatia. Take a guided tour to explore Osijek. This elegant city has regained much of its beauty after its grand buildings (including fine 19th century Secessionist mansions) were restored and renovated, covering the Serbian scars of the 1990s. It continues to strive once again, with the influence of its booming student numbers. Alternatively, you may opt to take a guided bike ride through Osijek’s blissful countryside. Later, you will be invited into the home of a local family for a traditional home-cooked meal and the chance to discover what everyday life is really like in Croatia. Day 4 Belgrade Join your local guide and discover one of the oldest capital cities in Europe - Belgrade. Brutal Soviet-era buildings may not add to the appearance of the ‘White City’ but they certainly bring its turbulent past to life. More than 40 invasions have shaped Belgrade, but it is flourishing once more, with lively arts and café scenes. Alternatively, choose a guided bicycle ride along the Danube’s charming banks, or a guided walking tour of Sremski Karlovci. Day 5 Iron Gates Relax on board and admire the scenery as you cruise the spectacular Iron Gates - a narrow gorge that the Danube has carved out between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains. Not only is it a spectacular setting for a cruise, it’s also the natural border between Serbia and Romania. Day 6 Shvishtov - Rousse Visit the Byzantine gem of Veliko Tarnovo, with a wealth of historical treasures that continue to regularly be found just under the surface, and the beautiful historical village of Arbanassi, home of noblemen during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Alternatively stay on board and enjoy the trip towards the Bulgarian town of Rousse, where you’ll be treated to a guided sightseeing tour, an important cultural, commercial and industrial centre since its life as an ancient Thracian settlement, long before it became a Roman military camp. The city’s Roman fortress, built on a hill over Thracian ruins, is still being excavated. In more recent centuries, the city’s great connections encouraged Italian, Austrian, German and Bulgarian architects to create a city centre of European grandness. Day 7 Silistra On an active walking tour, discover the Silistra Fort, named for the Sultan Abdul Mejid. It is the best preserved of six Turkish defensive points and played an important role in the Crimean war. Or take an excursion to Varna, a modern city with an abundance of historical sites. Sitting on the Black Sea Coast, its location made this Bulgaria’s maritime capital, with an interesting past - the city’s largest Roman bath complex can be found in the city centre, and 20km of sandy beaches that draw local holidaymakers. Alternatively, visit a local village, and learn about life in Bulgaria. Day 8 Giurgiu - Bucharest Disembark and transfer to Bucharest and our hotel for the night. Enjoy a guided tour of Bucharest to learn of its communist past or a visit to the Village Open Air Museum to discover ethnographic exhibits depicting Romanian heritage and culture, with over 60 original houses, windmills and churches from all of Romania’s historic regions. Day 9 Bucharest - UK Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.