14 DAY Balkans & Ski ELBSHH-8

Transcription

1 14 DAY Balkans & Ski ELBSHH-8 This tour visits: Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia Starting in Budapest you ll tick off some of the greats that the Balkans has to offer. Starting in Budapest, you ll travel through Timisoara, Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Plitvice Lakes National Park before finishing up back on Budapest. Did we mention you ll also get the chance to ski? Yup you heard, beginner or pro, opt in and hit the powder. See you there. The Bucket List More Inclusions Visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park Visit the Srebrenica Memorial 13 breakfasts, 6 dinners 13 nights in hotel accommodation (twin-share or double) Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Budapest, Hungary You're in Budapest baby! Meet your travel mates at dinner tonight and gear up for an epic adventure. Day 2 - Budapest to Timisoara, Romania Off to Timisoara today: Romania's third-largest city. Some call it Little Vienna. Get oriented on a walking tour before getting lost in the Old Town neighbourhood. Don't miss the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral. It's more than just a photo op and especially beautiful at night. -Walking tour of Timisoara Day 3 - Timisoara to Bucharest We're off to Bucharest today. To get your bearings, we've got a driving and walking tour on the cards today. Later tonight, enjoy a group dinner and share travel stories. Get stoked, you've got a free day in buzzing Bucharest tomorrow. -Bucharest driving & walking tour Day 4 - Bucharest Free day = yay! Wander the streets today and get a feel for the largest city in Romania. Why not tick off the Palace of Parliament (it's pretty big, you can't miss it), the fairytale-like Cismigiu Gardens (if the lake is frozen over, get your skates on!) and take a peek at the Bucharest Arc de Triomphe. Day 5 - Bucharest to Sofia, Bulgaria The charming and historical Sofia is up next on our Balkan bucket list. But to break the day up, we're stopping at Veliko Târnovo for some pics. It's one of Bulgaria's oldest towns and houses the impressive Tsarevets Fortress. Once in Sofia, become best friends with the city on a walking tour. Work up an appetite for dinner this evening. -Visit Veliko Târnovo -Walking tour of Sofia

3 Day 6 - Sofia Free day to explore this gem of a capital city. Hot tip: get on down to the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral and make sure you go inside too. You can thank us later. But for the main event, let's go skiing (optional). We'll make our way to Borovets ski resort where you can hit the slopes whatever your ability. Ready to shred? Breakfast Optional activities: -Skiing in Bulgaria Day 7 - Sofia Survived the après-ski and want a second day skiing? We've got you covered (optional). For non-skiers, take a scenic open air lift ride and hike to the Seven Rila Lakes in Rila Mountain (optional). It'll be a view to remember. There's also an excursion to the beautiful Rila Monastery as another option. Talk about spoilt for choice! Optional activities: -Skiing in Bulgaria -Excursion to Rila Monastery -Open air lift ride & hike to the Seven Rila Lakes, Rila Mountain Day 8 - Sofia to Belgrade, Serbia Serbia here we come! Curl up on the coach as we cruise into Belgrade. Once we arrive, we'll show you how to explore this city like a local. Later, why not hit the town? YOLO is the motto after all. -Walking tour of Belgrade Day 9 - Belgrade

4 Why not take a trip along the banks of the mighty Danube and into Belgrade's Old Town district to investigate the local hot spots down Prince Michael Street. Belgrade Fortress, the bohemian hub Skadarlija and Republic Square are also waiting to be explored. Day 10 - Belgrade to Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina First off, a sobering visit to the Srebrenica Memorial before a guided tour of Sarajevo. Follow your Trip Leader and learn all about this fascinating city's war-torn past. -Walking tour of Sarajevo -Visit the Srebrenica Memorial Day 11 - Sarajevo to Plitvice Lakes, Croatia On our way to one of the most beautiful parts of Eastern Europe today. Get ready for 300km squared of awesomeness at Plitvice Lakes National Park. Day 12 - Plitvice Lakes In winter, Plitvice Lakes National Park becomes all sorts of amazing. In the right conditions, the waterfalls freeze over and trees are covered in a blanket of snow. Chasing waterfalls has never been so awesome. Get exploring around the 16 lakes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park Day 13 - Plitvice Lakes to Budapest, Hungary Tear your heart away from the beautiful Plitvice Lakes as we make tracks to Budapest. See the sites on an included driving tour before tucking in to one last dinner with your travel pals. -Driving tour of Budapest

5 Day 14 - Budapest So long Budapest, it's been real. Until next time! No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any. However, we recommend a 10 tip for each Katerina Lines crew member. The five-month summer season is the only time of the year that the crew can take to the water and make money so please give what you can. Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.