Through the natural beauty of Austria’s Wachau Valley, past quaint towns and villages—and stops in charming towns and cities of Slovakia and Austria along the way—you’ll fall in love with this river cruise along the Danube River.Board your ship in Budapest, Hungary, and relax with a glass of wine atop the Sky Deck as you make your way upriver. Glide through the middle of two countries for a 58-mile stretch as the border between Hungary and Slovakia is in the center of the Danube River. You’ll come to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. This dynamic city lies at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Visit the gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, the coronation church for Hungary during the 16th to 19th centuries. If you’d like, you can even visit its underground crypt with the catacombs of significant historical figures.In Dürnstein, a town situated among terraced vineyards, hike up to the ruins of Dürnstein Castle with your Avalon Adventure Host. And in Melk, you will visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, where Benedictine monks still stroll amidst the sacred walls. Sitting high on a bluff, it offers the most breathtaking views of the city, the Danube River, and the Austrian countryside all at once.
Tour Name: A Taste of the Danube – Cruise Only Westbound
Through the natural beauty of Austria’s Wachau Valley, past quaint towns and villages—and stops in charming towns and cities of Slovakia and Austria along the way—you’ll fall in love with this river cruise along the Danube River.Board your ship in Budapest, Hungary, and relax with a glass of wine atop the Sky Deck as you make your way upriver. Glide through the middle of two countries for a 58-mile stretch as the border between Hungary and Slovakia is in the center of the Danube River. You’ll come to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. This dynamic city lies at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Visit the gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, the coronation church for Hungary during the 16th to 19th centuries. If you’d like, you can even visit its underground crypt with the catacombs of significant historical figures.In Dürnstein, a town situated among terraced vineyards, hike up to the ruins of Dürnstein Castle with your Avalon Adventure Host. And in Melk, you will visit Austria’s majestic Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest monasteries, where Benedictine monks still stroll amidst the sacred walls. Sitting high on a bluff, it offers the most breathtaking views of the city, the Danube River, and the Austrian countryside all at once.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (EMBARKATION)Welcome to HungaryFlights into Budapest must arrive by 2 pm
Number of Days : 1
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Spend free time strolling the cobblestone streets, browsing art galleries, sipping coffee, and sampling sweets before boarding your Danube cruise for a welcome dinner this evening.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BRATISLAVA (D)
Day : 2
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Castles, Vineyards, and Cosmopolitan Culture
Number of Days : 1
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Old Town’s cobblestone streets to Town Hall. Visit the gothic halls of St. Martin’s Cathedral—Hungary’s centuries-old coronation church, OR:ACTIVE Grab Nordic walking sticks and follow your Avalon Adventure Host on a Hike to Bratislava Castle.Alternatively, in your free time take a bicycle and a picnic from the ship to explore the local sights along the Danube. Later, enjoy onboard entertainment by local musicians. AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MELK(B,L,D)
Day : 3
MELK, AUSTRIA Ornate Architecture and Scenic Splendors Awaken the Imagination and the SensesCLASSIC Join a morning Guided Sightseeing Tour of Melk’s 11th-century Benedictine Abbey
Number of Days : 1
Explore its frescoes, statues, library, and spectacular pipe organ in the monastery’s lofty perch above the Danube.Take a relaxing break on the Sky Deck as you sail through awe-inspiring views through the Wachau Valley and the wine region surrounding Dürnstein. DÜRNSTEIN Idyllic Vistas and Vineyards Beyond the Blue Stiftskirche ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a hike up the hillside to castle ruins for breathtaking views.Spend free time in Dürnstein at your leisure, biking through the vineyards in the Wachau Valley, or hiking up the hillside to castle ruins and breathtaking viewsOVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIENNA(B,L,D)
Day : 4
VIENNAYour vacation ends with breakfast this morning
Number of Days : 1
Flights should not leave Vienna airport before 8 am.(B)
