Budapest to Istanbul tour
| country: | Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Turkey |
| departures: | 2010: 18 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 12 Sep, 3 Oct 2011: 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 Jun, 26 Jun |
| price: | From £1590 (22 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Travel across romantic Eastern Europe from Hungary to Turkey and experience the diverse range of cultures and landscapes in between. From beautiful Budapest to the haunted castles of Transylvania, across the stunning Carpathian Mountains to Bulgaria and beyond, be enchanted by medieval monasteries, old-world towns and the warm hospitality of this little-travelled region.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Budapest. Be greeted by elegant palaces and a vibrant nightlife. |
| Day 2: | Eger. Explore the 13th century Eger Castle or sample some excellent local wines. |
| Days 3-4: | Maramures. Enjoy the colourful buildings in Debrecen's Deri Square then experience Romanian peasant culture in rural villages. |
| Day 5: | Sighisoara. Be spooked by the blood-curdling myths that surround the land of Transylvania. |
| Day 6: | Viscri. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family. |
| Days 7-8: | Sibiu. Walk through the impressive main square and up 192 steps for a fantastic view over the red-tiled rooftops. |
| Day 9: | Brasov. Flanked by mountains and city walls, this medieval town boasts a bevy of ornate buildings including the Biserica Neagra, or Black Church. |
| Days 10-11: | Sinaia. Look out from the turrets of Dracula?s Castle or imagine life inside a fortress at Rasnov. |
| Day 12: | Bucharest. Check out the Centru Civic, an embodiment of Communist state power, or visit one of Europe?s largest squares. |
| Days 13-14: | Veliko Tarnovo. Cross the friendship bridge into Bulgaria. |
| Day 15: | Sofia. Walk along tree-lined boulevards and see the gold-domed Aleksander Nevski Church. |
| Day 16: | Gorno Draglishte. Journey into the Rila Mountains and join a family as guests for the night. |
| Days 17-18: | Bansko. Unwind in charming historic stone taverns, known as mehanes, and indulge in the delicious local cuisine. |
| Days 19-20: | Plovdiv. Wander among Byzantine ruins and see the ancient Roman amphitheatre. |
| Days 21-22: | Istanbul. Whether happily lost in the Grand Bazaar or in the awesome Aya Sofya, Istanbul promises adventure. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our focus is on making a positive impact, providing numerous opportunities for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.
Your leader and local guides will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare, at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some local language at the same time). On the many guided town tours we use the services of a local guide, helping to bring money into the local community and giving our travellers the benefit of the experience through the eyes of a local Balkan. For a touch of history we sleep overnight in Oistrog in a very non-commercial 'konak' (simple night quarters) close to the lower monastery, whereas in Transylvania we have the unique opportunity to stay in private apartments run by local families – a very special experience to live as the locals do. In Istanbul, you will have the opportunity to visit the Bakirkoy orphanage. We encourage our travellers to donate any unwanted items and we organise a small shopping trip prior to the visit to buy useful items such as notebooks, pencils and clothing. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |