Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul, a sprawling city of over 15 million people where Europe and Asia meet. The energy here comes from mixing cultures, food, architecture, and history all in one place. This is your introduction to a city that's been a major hub for centuries.
- Day 2
Istanbul
Today you're heading to Sultanahmet Park where the big historical sites are clustered together. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque sit across from each other, and you'll walk through both to see the different styles and periods. Then you'll check out Topkapi Palace, which is massive and gives you a real sense of Ottoman rule. You're basically walking through layers of time from the Constantinople era to what Istanbul is now.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Landmarks Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace Sultanahmet Park - Day 3
Istanbul to Çanakkale
You'll leave Istanbul and head to Çanakkale, a town positioned right on the Dardanelle Strait. This location has been strategically important for a very long time. By evening, you're down by the waterfront where locals hang out, and you'll get a feel for how Turkish people spend their time when they're relaxing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Evening waterfront promenade walk
Landmarks Dardanelle Strait 
- Day 4
Gallipoli
This day is dedicated to Gallipoli, which holds deep significance for Australians and New Zealanders. You'll walk the WWI battlefield with your guide through what's now a national park. You'll stand at ANZAC Cove where soldiers landed on 25 April 1915, visit Lone Pine and the Nek, then move through 31 cemeteries spread across the peninsula. It's a sobering and moving experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli Peninsula
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit Lone Pine
- Visit the Nek
- Visit Gallipoli cemeteries
Landmarks ANZAC Cove Lone Pine The Nek Gallipoli Peninsula - Day 5
Troy to Istanbul
You're heading to Troy, the ancient city from Homer's stories that turned out to be real. The ruins here go back 4,000 years and were buried and lost for centuries before getting rediscovered in the late 1800s. You'll see the famous Trojan Horse replica and learn what actually happened versus the legend. After exploring, you'll head back to Istanbul.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy ruins
- View replica Trojan Horse
Landmarks Troy - Day 6
Istanbul
Pick your morning activity: either take a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Turkish dishes, or head to the Grand Bazaar with thousands of shops and grab traditional Turkish coffee with a local guide. Tonight you're cruising the Bosphorus Strait, passing between ferries and fishing boats with historic monuments and minarets all around. Dinner is at Hamdi Restaurant with views over the Golden Horn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant with exceptional Turkish cuisine and views over the Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Bosphorus Strait cruise
- Farewell dinner at Hamdi Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Turkish cooking class
- Grand Bazaar visit with traditional Turkish coffee
Landmarks Grand Bazaar Bosphorus Strait Golden Horn - Day 7
Istanbul to Bucharest
Early morning, you'll hear the traditional Muslim call to prayer before sunrise, a sound that happens five times daily across Istanbul. After breakfast, you're transferring to the airport and flying to Bucharest on an included flight. Once you land, check in to a luxury hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Bucharest
- Day 8
Bucharest to Giurgiu
You'll pick your Scenic Freechoice experience in Bucharest, then take a panoramic coach tour from the southern part of the city. You'll stop at Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Victory Square, and Charles de Gaulle Square, plus see Primaverii Palace. Later in the day, you're heading to Giurgiu where you'll board your river cruise ship to start the next portion of your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Bucharest by coach
Optional Activities
- Visit Ceausescu's Spring Palace
- Visit Village Open Air Museum
Landmarks Ceausescu's Spring Palace Village Open Air Museum Union Square University Square Primaverii Palace - Day 9
Silistra
Early this morning you arrive in Silistra, a Bulgarian town with a long history of changing hands over the centuries. You've got options for the day: join a guided tour of Silistra Fort, head to Alfatar Village to meet locals and catch a choir performance, or see the ancient Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari. Each option lets you into a different part of Bulgarian heritage and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Silistra Fort
- Visit Alfatar Village
- Sveshtari Thracian Secrets tour
Landmarks Silistra Fort Alfatar Village Sveshtari Thracian Tomb - Day 10
Rousse
You're docking in Rousse, called 'Little Vienna' because of its elegant architecture from that era. Choose between a full day trip to Veliko Tarnovo and the leafy village of Arbanassi with the Asenevtsi Brothers Monument, or stay in Rousse for a walking tour of the Belle Epoque buildings and neat squares. There's also an exclusive piano recital if you pick the Rousse option.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi
- Walking tour of Rousse with piano recital
Landmarks Veliko Tarnovo Asenevtsi Brothers Monument Arbanassi - Day 11
Djerdap Gorge
Today your ship navigates through the Djerdap Gorge, also called the Iron Gates, which separates Serbia and Romania. You'll see four narrow gorges, tall cliffs, and a massive rock carving of Decebalus, a former Romanian king. Spend your time relaxing in your suite with views from the Sun Lounge, or hang out on the Sun Deck and mingle with other passengers in the Panorama Lounge and Bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Djerdap Gorge
Landmarks Djerdap Gorge Iron Gates Rock carving of Decebalus - Day 12
Belgrade
You're exploring Belgrade, called the 'Door to Central Europe,' where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. This capital has been rebuilt roughly 40 times and mixes history with Brutalist and Art Nouveau buildings and a bohemian feel. Pick from a guided tour of Kalemegdan Fortress and the Bohemian Quarter, a panoramic tour including Tito's Memorial, or a cycling tour along the Danube. Tonight there's a special Scenic Enrich event at St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox temple in the Balkans, with a choir performance in the crypt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit St. Sava Temple with choir performance
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Belgrade
- Panoramic tour of Belgrade with Tito's Memorial
- Cycling tour along the Danube
- Explore Skardalija Street
Landmarks St. Sava Temple Kalemegdan Fortress Bohemian Quarter Tito's Memorial Skardalija Street 
- Day 13
Osijek
You're arriving in Osijek, a small Croatian city with a rough history. The Baroque buildings are still standing but show marks from conflict. Food here centers on paprika, local sausages, and river fish. Choose between a guided walking tour of the Baroque Old Town and fortress with traditional and classical music, or explore the Baranja wine region between Croatia and Hungary. After, you'll visit a local Croatian family's home and eat lunch prepared with vegetables from their garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local Croatian family - authentic meal prepared with fresh vegetables from the host's garden), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch with local Croatian family
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Osijek
- Baranja wine region tour and tasting
Landmarks Osijek Old Town Osijek Fortress Baranja wine region 
- Day 14
Mohács
You arrive in Mohács, a small Hungarian town on the Danube. This is where the 16th century Battle of Mohács happened, which basically changed Hungarian history and led to Ottoman and Habsburg control. You've got three choices: a guided tour of Pécs with its historic phone exchange and Turkish Bath, the Villány wine village known for bold red wines and old cellars, or the Zsolnay Ceramics Museum with hand-painted ceramics from a company started in 1853.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Pécs
- Villány wine village visit
- Zsolnay Ceramics Museum visit
Landmarks Pécs Turkish Bath of Pasha Memi Villány wine village Zsolnay Ceramics Museum 
- Day 15
Budapest
After breakfast, you're heading to Budapest airport for your flight home. You're leaving with memories of traveling through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary.
- Meals
- Breakfast
