Focus Travel Club Presents
Gems of Southeast Europe
15 Day Custom Tour
Including 7-night AMA Waterways Cruise June 1-15 2021
From Bucharest to Vienna, and countless treasures in between, touch history in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube.
Begin the tour with a two-night hotel stay in Bucharest followed by two nights in Brasov
7 Night AMA Waterways Cruise
End the tour with a two-night hotel stay in Vienna
Breakfast daily, 7 lunches and 9 dinners
Private guide while in Bucharest, Brasov, & Vienna
$8.999 $8,749 per person DBL occupancy Category D Window
$9,749 $9,499 per person DBL occupancy Category C French Balcony
$10,349 $10,099 per person DBL occupancy Category BB Balcony
$10,549 $10,299 per person DBL occupancy Category BA Balcony
$10,749 $10,499 per person DBL occupancy Category AB Balcony
$10,949 $10,699 per person DBL occupancy Category AA Balcony
$12,349 $12,099 per person DBL occupancy Category SS Balcony
*Special rates valid if deposit received by June 29, 2020
Gems of Southeast Europe
15 Day Custom Tour
Including 7-night AMA Waterways Cruise June 1-15 2021
From Bucharest to Vienna, and countless treasures in between, touch history in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as you sail along the exotic lower Danube.
Begin the tour with a two-night hotel stay in Bucharest followed by two nights in Brasov
7 Night AMA Waterways Cruise
End the tour with a two-night hotel stay in Vienna
Breakfast daily, 7 lunches and 9 dinners
Private guide while in Bucharest, Brasov, & Vienna
$8.999 $8,749 per person DBL occupancy Category D Window
$9,749 $9,499 per person DBL occupancy Category C French Balcony
$10,349 $10,099 per person DBL occupancy Category BB Balcony
$10,549 $10,299 per person DBL occupancy Category BA Balcony
$10,749 $10,499 per person DBL occupancy Category AB Balcony
$10,949 $10,699 per person DBL occupancy Category AA Balcony
$12,349 $12,099 per person DBL occupancy Category SS Balcony
*Special rates valid if deposit received by June 29, 2020
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Highlights include:
2 Nights Bucharest
Little Paris of the East city tour including the city center and the Palace of Parliament
Journey to Bran to explore Bran Castle, known as Dracula’s Castle
2 Nights Brasov
Walking tour of Brasov and a day trip to Sighisoara, Dracula’s Birthplace
Excursion to Sinaia with a Peles Royal castle tour
7 Night AMA Waterways Cruise
from Giurgiu, Romania to Budapest, Hungary
Sail into Rousse and join a Bucharest excursion, a Veliko Tarnovo excursion,
or a Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights tour
Choose to explore Vindin’s Belogradchik & Baba Vida Fortress, attend a Banitsa Pastry & Yogurt Making Class,
or have an adventure with a bike tour of Vidin
Experience Belgrade through a City by Two Rivers tour, the Belgrade Royal Palace & Tito’s Memorial tour,
a Brandy Tasting & Avala Mountain Fortress Hike,
or a Belgrade Bike Tour
Enjoy Novi Sad with the Athens of Serbia walking tour, a Serbian Specialties class, a Petrovaradin Fortress hike,
or a Novi Sad bike tour
Arrive in Ilok and enjoy a Vukovar City tour with Eltz Castle or a Croatian wine tasting
Budapest sightseeing tour including the Castle Hill District, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge
2 Nights Vienna
Travel by coach from Budapest to Vienna
Imperial Vienna tour including the Opera House and the former Imperial Palace
2 Nights Bucharest
Little Paris of the East city tour including the city center and the Palace of Parliament
Journey to Bran to explore Bran Castle, known as Dracula’s Castle
2 Nights Brasov
Walking tour of Brasov and a day trip to Sighisoara, Dracula’s Birthplace
Excursion to Sinaia with a Peles Royal castle tour
7 Night AMA Waterways Cruise
from Giurgiu, Romania to Budapest, Hungary
Sail into Rousse and join a Bucharest excursion, a Veliko Tarnovo excursion,
or a Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches & Rousse Highlights tour
Choose to explore Vindin’s Belogradchik & Baba Vida Fortress, attend a Banitsa Pastry & Yogurt Making Class,
or have an adventure with a bike tour of Vidin
Experience Belgrade through a City by Two Rivers tour, the Belgrade Royal Palace & Tito’s Memorial tour,
a Brandy Tasting & Avala Mountain Fortress Hike,
or a Belgrade Bike Tour
Enjoy Novi Sad with the Athens of Serbia walking tour, a Serbian Specialties class, a Petrovaradin Fortress hike,
or a Novi Sad bike tour
Arrive in Ilok and enjoy a Vukovar City tour with Eltz Castle or a Croatian wine tasting
Budapest sightseeing tour including the Castle Hill District, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge
2 Nights Vienna
Travel by coach from Budapest to Vienna
Imperial Vienna tour including the Opera House and the former Imperial Palace
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Day 1: Overnight Flight from Denver to Bucharest June 1
Day 2: Arrive Bucharest, Romania June 2 D On our arrival in Bucharest, we gather our luggage and meet our Tour Manager before boarding our private coach to transfer to our Bucharest hotel. Tonight, we enjoy a light meal before calling it a night. Overnight in Bucharest
Day 3: Bucharest June 3 B, D After breakfast at our hotel we depart for a tour of Bucharest known as the Little Paris of the East. You’ll see sights as the Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch. We’ll walk through the historic city center and enjoy the city’s sights including the impressive Palace of the Parliament. The second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. A visit inside the Palace of the Parliament is included in order to get a full taste of Ceausescu’s heritage. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight, we enjoy each other’s company as we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bucharest
Day 4: Bucharest - Bran - Brasov June 4 B, D Following breakfast, we’ll board our coach and head to the city of Brasov. En route we will stop in the town of Bran where we will visit the legendary Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle since author Bram Stoker used this castle as the inspiration for the depiction of famous fictional character Count Dracula’s home. After lunch on our own, we will continue on to Brasov where we’ll enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque city before heading to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Brasov.
Day 5: Brasov - Sighisoara June 5 B Today after breakfast, we’ll board our coach and head to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad Ţepeş, the notorious ruler who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional character Count Dracula. Sighisoara is a fairy-tale-like fortified city in the heart of Romania. With cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and a pedestrian-friendly Old Town, it's difficult not to fall in love with Sighisoara. It's no wonder this whole place is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour of the city will be included and free time for lunch on your own to explore. Overnight Brasov.
Day 6: Brasov - Cruise ship Embarkation in Giurgiu June 6 B, D This morning we will leave Brasov behind as we board our coach and travel to Giurgiu. On the way, we’ll make a stop in the town of Sinaia where we will visit Peles Castle. This castle built in the 19th century was the former residence of the Romanian royal family and considered to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Continue on to Giurguiu where you will embark on your ship for your 7 night Gems of Southeast Europe cruise with AMA Waterways. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 7: Cruise June 7 B, L, D ROUSSE, BULGARIA Experience the best of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, known as the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Then visit Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to explore Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 8: Cruise June 8 B, L, D VIDIN, BULGARIA Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations.
Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 9: Cruise June 9 B, L, D SCENIC CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES The Iron Gates are some of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 10: Cruise June 10 B, L, D BELGRADE, SERBIA Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Later, choose from three intriguing excursions. Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family; and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour or hike to Belgrade Fortress. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 11: Cruise June 11 B, L, D NOVI SAD, ILOK CROATIA Discover Novi Sad, the “Serbian Athens,” on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the Old Town center. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking tour or hike to Petrovaradin Fortress, a mighty stronghold no enemy has ever breached. Later in the day, cruise to Vukovar, a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you’ll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovčara Memorial and Eltz Castle. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you’ll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 12: Cruise June 12 B, L, D MOHÁCS - PÉCS, HUNGARY Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács. You’ll then visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter’s Basilica, the city’s main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or for wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. You may also take an exhilarating guided bike tour around Mohács. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 13 Cruise June 13 B BUDAPEST – DISEMBARKATION – VIENNA, AUSTRIA Bid farewell to your ship and take a sightseeing tour of Budapest, beginning our tour with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling various goods which are sure to delight. We’ll travel to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes views from historic Buda Castle, a visit to Fishermen’s Bastion, with spectacular views of the city, and the beautiful Matthias Church. Later in the day, board your coach to continue to Vienna where you will check into your hotel and enjoy some free time. Overnight Vienna.
Day 14: Vienna June 14 B, D Today we will enjoy a guided city tour of Vienna to include the UNESCO historic city center, the majestic Vienna State Opera house, and the Ringstrasse, the beautiful circular boulevard housing several of Vienna’s best-known historical sights. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore this wonderful city on your own. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Vienna.
Day 15: Vienna June 15 - Fly Home B After breakfast, say goodbye to the wonderful city of Vienna and board your coach to transfer back to the airport for your flight home.
Day 2: Arrive Bucharest, Romania June 2 D On our arrival in Bucharest, we gather our luggage and meet our Tour Manager before boarding our private coach to transfer to our Bucharest hotel. Tonight, we enjoy a light meal before calling it a night. Overnight in Bucharest
Day 3: Bucharest June 3 B, D After breakfast at our hotel we depart for a tour of Bucharest known as the Little Paris of the East. You’ll see sights as the Revolution Square and the Triumphal Arch. We’ll walk through the historic city center and enjoy the city’s sights including the impressive Palace of the Parliament. The second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. A visit inside the Palace of the Parliament is included in order to get a full taste of Ceausescu’s heritage. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight, we enjoy each other’s company as we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bucharest
Day 4: Bucharest - Bran - Brasov June 4 B, D Following breakfast, we’ll board our coach and head to the city of Brasov. En route we will stop in the town of Bran where we will visit the legendary Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle since author Bram Stoker used this castle as the inspiration for the depiction of famous fictional character Count Dracula’s home. After lunch on our own, we will continue on to Brasov where we’ll enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque city before heading to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Brasov.
Day 5: Brasov - Sighisoara June 5 B Today after breakfast, we’ll board our coach and head to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad Ţepeş, the notorious ruler who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional character Count Dracula. Sighisoara is a fairy-tale-like fortified city in the heart of Romania. With cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and a pedestrian-friendly Old Town, it's difficult not to fall in love with Sighisoara. It's no wonder this whole place is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour of the city will be included and free time for lunch on your own to explore. Overnight Brasov.
Day 6: Brasov - Cruise ship Embarkation in Giurgiu June 6 B, D This morning we will leave Brasov behind as we board our coach and travel to Giurgiu. On the way, we’ll make a stop in the town of Sinaia where we will visit Peles Castle. This castle built in the 19th century was the former residence of the Romanian royal family and considered to be one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Continue on to Giurguiu where you will embark on your ship for your 7 night Gems of Southeast Europe cruise with AMA Waterways. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 7: Cruise June 7 B, L, D ROUSSE, BULGARIA Experience the best of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, known as the “Little Paris of the East,” with its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe. Then visit Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, with its medieval fortress and multiple orthodox temples. You can opt instead to explore Rousse, known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, and then afterwards visit the UNESCO-designated Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo with frescos revealing exceptional artistry of 14th-century paintings. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 8: Cruise June 8 B, L, D VIDIN, BULGARIA Explore Vidin, one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, and surrounding areas with a choice of excursions. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria. Continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria’s natural wonders, where you can hike around its most spectacular rock formations.
Alternatively, visit a local home for a demonstration of traditional Bulgarian yogurt and Banitsa, a pastry you will also get to make. You also have the choice to bike through Vidin and to the castle. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 9: Cruise June 9 B, L, D SCENIC CRUISING THROUGH THE IRON GATES The Iron Gates are some of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. The Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. The ancient King Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, is proudly carved into the mountainside and always captivates travelers. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 10: Cruise June 10 B, L, D BELGRADE, SERBIA Explore Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, on a city tour, which includes the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava. Later, choose from three intriguing excursions. Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Serbian Royal Family; and then tour the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of Marshal Tito, who became the first President of Yugoslavia. Or enjoy a taste of the region by sampling Serbian plum brandy, Šlivovitz, and delicious local delights at the Quburich Distillery. For those wishing a more active adventure, join a guided bike tour or hike to Belgrade Fortress. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 11: Cruise June 11 B, L, D NOVI SAD, ILOK CROATIA Discover Novi Sad, the “Serbian Athens,” on a walking tour to Dunavski Park and through Stari Grad, the Old Town center. If you prefer a more active exploration, join a guided biking tour or hike to Petrovaradin Fortress, a mighty stronghold no enemy has ever breached. Later in the day, cruise to Vukovar, a Croatian symbol of resistance, which you’ll better understand on your city tour showcasing the Ovčara Memorial and Eltz Castle. Alternatively, choose a wine tasting in Ilok, a center of wine production since Roman times, where you’ll sample its famous Grasevina, Traminac and Frankovka wines. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 12: Cruise June 12 B, L, D MOHÁCS - PÉCS, HUNGARY Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács. You’ll then visit Pécs, founded more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Visit the UNESCO-designated Christian Necropolis; St. Peter’s Basilica, the city’s main Catholic cathedral along with its catacombs; and Széchenyi Square, the heart of Old Town Pécs. You will also see the Mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious, one of the symbols of the city. Or for wine connoisseurs, you’ll want to go to the Szekszárd wine region, one of the oldest red-wine-growing areas in Hungary, established more than 2,000 years ago. You may also take an exhilarating guided bike tour around Mohács. Overnight on cruise ship.
Day 13 Cruise June 13 B BUDAPEST – DISEMBARKATION – VIENNA, AUSTRIA Bid farewell to your ship and take a sightseeing tour of Budapest, beginning our tour with a visit to the vibrant Great Market Hall brimming with vendors selling various goods which are sure to delight. We’ll travel to both the Buda (hilly) and the Pest (flat) sides of the river, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes views from historic Buda Castle, a visit to Fishermen’s Bastion, with spectacular views of the city, and the beautiful Matthias Church. Later in the day, board your coach to continue to Vienna where you will check into your hotel and enjoy some free time. Overnight Vienna.
Day 14: Vienna June 14 B, D Today we will enjoy a guided city tour of Vienna to include the UNESCO historic city center, the majestic Vienna State Opera house, and the Ringstrasse, the beautiful circular boulevard housing several of Vienna’s best-known historical sights. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore this wonderful city on your own. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers for a Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Vienna.
Day 15: Vienna June 15 - Fly Home B After breakfast, say goodbye to the wonderful city of Vienna and board your coach to transfer back to the airport for your flight home.
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