Balkan Discovery

8 Days Budapest to Oltenita
Balkan Discovery
Balkan Discovery
Balkan Discovery

Overview

Read reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Avalon's 8 Day Balkan Discovery. Experience the extraordinary destinations of Eastern Europe on this Danube River cruise adventure through the Balkans. You’ll cruise through the rich landscapes and cultural locales of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Embark on your Avalon Suite Ship® in Budapest, the lively Hungarian capital, and sail into beautiful Croatia. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in Vukovar and discover Ilok with its 1,000-year-old winemaking tradition.

Take a fascinating guided tour of the Serbian capital of Belgrade, read more one of the oldest cities in Europe, where the Sava River meets the Danube. Cruise through the dramatic views of Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Visit Bulgaria’s Belogradchik, and see the fascinating rock formations sculpted by natural elements for over 200 million years. On an excursion to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo, you’ll visit Arbanassi’s Church of the Nativity, housing an impressive collection of frescoes.
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US$3,467 per person
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Trip Length
Cruise Length

8 Days

Trip Starts
Cruise Starts

Budapest

Trip Ends
Cruise Ends

Oltenita

Trip Departures
Cruise Departures
May 2026 to Oct 2027
Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Countries Visited
Rivers Sailed:
Cruise Line
Cruise Line
Avalon
Cruise Ship
Cruise Ship
Avalon Illumination+1
Trip Reviews
1 Trip Review
Avg. Rating: 4/5
Passengers
Passengers

166

Crew
Crew

47

Ship Launch
Launched

2014

Cruise Code
Cruise Code

WBO

Itinerary

Welcome to Hungary. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Budapest must arrive by 2pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5pm.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VUKOVAR (D)

History and Beer.

Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.

  • Discovery: Join a Guided Walking Tour to discover the heritage, culture, and tradition of Vukovar and enjoy a beer tasting, OR:
  • Classic: Join a Guided City Tour to discover the captivating culture and tradition of Vukovar and learn about its rich history and heritage.
Enjoy a brief cruise to Ilok while having lunch onboard.

ILOK, CROATIA History and Culture in Croatia.

  • Classic: Join a Guided tour of Ilok, with its 1,000-year-old wine making traditions still thriving and its medieval fortress protected for its Croatian cultural heritage. Refresh your spirit with a wine tasting in a local cellar and hear the stories of culture and tradition in the natural beauty of Eastern Croatia, OR:
  • Active: Explore more of Croatia on a Guided Bike Tour along Ilok's city walls, into the central church, and the towns' museum on your way to Principovac Castle and Estate.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NOVI SAD (B/L/D)

The Athens of Serbia.

  • Classic: Join a Guided Tour of Novi Sad, the second largest town in Serbia. Admire its Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, and ancient fortifications.
  • Active: Enjoy a Guided Hike Tour to the Petrovaradin part of the town. Located on the right bank of the Danube, across from the main part of Novi Sad, this area will amaze you for its scenic views, OR:
  • Discovery: Get to learn more about the beekeeper profession on this Guided Tour of Novi Sad by stopping at the Honey Museum and by tasting local honey specialties.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BELGRADE (B/L/D)

Fortresses and Folklore

  • Active: Discover Belgrade's central walkway with your Adventure Host, OR:
  • Classic: Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Belgrade—where the Danube and Sava Rivers converge—and see the city's many fascinating sights, including Saint Sava—one of the world's largest Orthodox churches.
  • Discovery: Attend an onboard Lecture to learn about the rich history, destinations, and culture of the Balkan states.
Spend your free time exploring the city on your own this afternoon on Knez Mihailova Street—Belgrade's central pedestrian thoroughfare with many lively cafés, shops, and cultural spots.

This evening, you might like to join an Optional Excursion for an authentic Bohemian Dinner in the Quarter of Skadarlija.

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO GOLUBAČ (B/L/D)

Ancient Artifacts and the Iron Gates

  • Classic: Visit the Fortress of Golubač, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. You'll hear about its tumultuous history as a border control for defense in the Middle Ages, and a source of conflict between Serbia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Ottoman Empire. Continue to the Mesolithic archaeological site of Lepenski Vir with unique views of the Danube Gorge.
Sail through the spectacular and narrow Iron Gates Gorge—a natural border between Serbia and Romania.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIDIN (B/L/D)

Rocks, Ruins and Balkan Beauty.

  • Active: Join your Adventure Host for a bike tour around the city, OR:
  • Classic: Join Guided Sightseeing to Baba Vida Fortress, followed by a Guided Tour of Belogradchik. Marvel at the remarkable rock formations on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, sculpted by 200 million years of natural elements, OR:
  • Discovery: Discover more than two centuries of a proud family history of Bulgarian winemaking with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Here, you'll enjoy a wine tasting in the cellars.

AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ROUSSE (B/L/D)

Fortresses and Folklore.

  • Active: Explore Rousse's old town by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
  • Classic: Join a full-day Guided Tour to the former Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo—with its ancient stone houses clinging to the cliffs above the Yantra River. Discover one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria (circa 4300 BC), as well as the Bulgarian Revival architecture in the 15th-century town of Arbanassi, OR:
  • Classic: Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bulgaria's largest inland port and visit its impressive Holy Trinity Church. Later, enjoy a short scenic drive to explore the rock - hewn churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage.  Later, enjoy live entertainment on board with a Bulgarian folklore show. 

OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO OLTENITA (B/L/D)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Flights should not leave Bucharest airport before noon. (B)

Life On Board

Avalon
 (494) Reviews
Total No. of River Cruises 173
One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities more that help you tailor your experience.

Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
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Avalon Illumination

Float along Europe's most famous waterways in relaxed luxury aboard one of Avalon's award-winning Suite Ships. Read more

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Our Vision. Your View.

With the only Open-Air Balconies in river cruising, experience Europe with a view like no other in a Panorama Suite. Read more

Exclusive Meets Inclusive
Exclusive Meets Inclusive

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Avalon Choice
Avalon Choice

Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more

Active & Discovery
Active & Discovery

Avalon's Active & Discovery river cruises offer activities for travelers with varying interests & for all energy and fitness levels. Read more

From View to Table
From View to Table

Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more

Trip Reviews (1)

Avalon River Cruises Reviews
Reviews 1 Review
Average Rating 4 out of 5
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1 Star
Cruise Through History 0 , NSW, Australia, Aug 2025
Visiting the previous Eastern bloc countries was something we had wanted to do for a while, and when we found this Avalon cruise through some of those locations, we were keen to go. Apart from being fascinated by how developed some of these cities are now, it was an eye-opener to hear stories of the Soviet-era communist regime and how people lived then. read more There were also relics left in their original condition as reminders of the world then, which was barely 30 years ago. A trip worth doing for us.

A special mention to Hannah, our travel advisor, who just made everything so easy for us to book and organise our cruise. She was extremely responsive and helpful to the questions we had and provided top class support for everything we needed. She's a real asset to Global Journeys.
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Sunday 24 May 2026 24 May 26 Budapest
Sunday 31 May 2026 31 May 26 Oltenita
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Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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