Eastern Europe Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1 Budapest

Be greeted by elegant palaces, beautiful bridges and a vibrant nightlife in Hungary's capital, which straddles a gentle curve in the Danube River.

Day 2 Eger

Check out the 13th century Eger Castle or sample excellent local wines in this pretty Baroque town. Be sure to try the famed 'bull's blood' wine.

Days 3-4 Maramures

Explore Deri Square in Debrecent, with its fountains and colourful buildings. Then experience the wooden churches and ancient traditions of Romanian peasant culture in the villages of Maramures.

Days 5-6 Sighisoara

Be spooked by the blood-curdling myths that surround the land of Transylvania - and keep an eye out for Count Dracula.

Day 7 Transylvania Village Homestay

Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family - they're far friendlier than the Wallachian prince that once terrorized these lands. Pop into the Sock Project to learn about the odd initiative that supports this Roma community.

Days 8-9 Sibiu

Take a walk through the impressive main square and up 192 steps for a fantastic view of the red-tiled rooftops below.

Day 10 Brasov

An array of ornate churches dot Brasov, including the Gothic Black Church, and there are plenty of funky restaurants.

Days 11-12 Sinaia

Wander the turrets of Dracula's Castle or imagine life inside a fortress at Rasnov. Enjoy alpine life in Sinaia and take an optional visit to the country's most magnificent buliding, the Peles Castle.

Day 13 Bucharest

Check out the Centru Civic, an embodiment of Communist state power, or one of Europe's largest squares, the huge Piata Unirii.

Days 14-15 Veliko Tarnovo

Cross the friendship bridge into Bulgaria and wander through the romantic Renaissance streets of Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 16 Sofia

Take a walk along the tree-lined boulevards of cosmopolitan Sofia, taking in sights such as the impressive gold-domed Alexander Nevski Church.

Days 17-18 Bansko

Unwind in historic 'mehanes', charming stone taverns, and indulge in the delicious local cuisine.

Days 19-20 Plovdiv

Wander among the Byzantine ruins of picturesque Plovdiv, before checking out the magnificent Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century BC.

Days 21-22 Istanbul

Whether you get lost in the Grand Bazaar or in awesome Aya Sofya, Istanbul promises adventure.