On arrival in Munich, you will be met by a representative of Vantage Explorations and transferred to Passau. After completing mandatory safety procedures, we throw the lines and depart at approximately 3:00 pm. Please arrange your flight to arrive no later than 11:00 AM to allow 2-3 hours transfer from Munich to Passau. Settle into your cabin, your home for the next fortnight, before meeting the crew and your fellow travelers.Â
The capital of Austria is a city that every traveler should visit once in their life. Few cities in the world offer such an enchanting combination of glorious architecture, world-famous museums and theaters and gorgeous green spaces. It is no surprise that the entire city center of Vienna is recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.Â
Included excursion: Vienna City tour including Belvedere PalaceÂ
Enjoy the highlights of Vienna. The coach takes you through the Ringstrasse with its splendid buildings, including the Opera House, Hofburg (Imperial Palace), Parliament, Town Hall, the Burgtheater (National Theatre) and the magnificent Belvedere Palace. On a short exploratory stroll through the hidden narrow streets, alleyways and picturesque courtyards of the Old Town, you will discover a different face to the city. On the way back to the ship, there is time to stop at a typical Viennese coffee house or enjoy a little shopping in the famous Kärntner Strasse. Â
Included excursion: Puszta TourÂ
From Solt, we take an excursion to Bakopuszta. Upon arrival, all guests are warmly welcomed with brandy, wine and local lard bread. Here you will encounter rare animal species like gray cattle and woolly pigs. Learn about the unique relationship developed between horses and locals in the horse show. Afterwards, continue to the nearby village of Kalocsa, a center of Hungarian folk art, where in the House of Folk Art you can see embroideries featuring Hungarian motifs typical to the area. In the town’s former railway station, check out the colourful murals.Â
Included excursion in Novi Sad: Taste the Balkans Fruska GoraÂ
Your adventure begins in Novi Sad, Serbia's cultural capital, known for its charming Old Town and vibrant atmosphere. From Novi Sad, we embark on an excursion to nearby, picturesque Fruska Gora, a mountainous region dotted with vineyards, monasteries, and lush greenery, to discover its diverse gastronomic heritage. Meet local winemakers, learn about the winemaking process and, of course, sample some local wine. Â
After lunch, head out to explore Serbia’s dynamic capital, Belgrade. Stroll through the historic city center, visit the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress and see where the Sava and Danube rivers converge. While access is limited, we hope to visit Beli Dvor, or White Palace, the former residence of the royal family, you can marvel at the opulent interiors, lush gardens and glimpse into the lives of Serbian royalty.Â
Enjoy a day of sailing on the Danube, soaking up the views while relaxing in one of the many observation areas aboard VIVA TWO. Attend a lecture, exclusively for Vantage Exploration guests, has been arranged for you today. Â
Disembark in Giurgiu for a short drive to Bucharest, Romania’s capital city. Take a guided walking tour through the historic heart of Bucharest in the Old Town. Step inside the opulent Palace of Parliament for an intriguing tour, admire the neoclassical architecture of the Athenaeum and revel in the artistic atmosphere of the surrounding streets. Featuring 1,100 rooms including three museums and an international conference centre, it was commissioned by the former Romanian president, Nicolae CeauÅŸescu and took 13 years to build. It is the city’s undisputed landmark. Â
Settle back and enjoy the passing scenery as we sail towards the Black Sea, where we turn around and head to Rousse. Attend onboard talks and presentations and learn about the incredible places you are passing and visiting.  Â
On a panoramic sightseeing excursion of Rousse, Bulgaria, discover the rich Ottoman and European history, culture and architecture of the town. After exploring Rousse, we continue or excursion by driving to the Hewn Churches and Basarbovo Monastery. The Hewn Churches are a unique phenomenon, where a complex of rock-hewn churches and chambers have been carved into the limestone cliffs. We end our excursion with a visit to Basarbovo Monastery, a peaceful haven, built in the 12th century and perched on a high cliff overlooking the Rusenski Lom River. The monastery is a spiritual retreat featuring beautifully preserved frescoes and tranquil courtyards. Â
Embark on a scenic 60-minute drive through the picturesque Bulgarian countryside, filled with rolling hills and charming villages, to Belogradchik, where the remarkable geological phenomenon, the Belogradchik Rocks, rise dramatically from the earth. Stop for a refreshment break while enjoying magnificent views of the rocks, before continuing to the nearby Belogradchik Fortress, which enjoys a commanding position overlooking the surrounding landscape. This monument, built by the Romans in the 1st century, was created to protect the trade routes from the Danube to the Roman province of Thracia. Some stairs as well as a narrow path lead to the highest point of the fortress. From here you will experience a spectacular view of the fantastic landscape with its majestic reddish rock walls, which have been declared a natural monument of Bulgaria. Wander through the fortress’s ancient chambers, climb its medieval towers while your guide shares tales of the battles fought here. Â
On our return journey to the ship, we stop at the Rousse Regional History Museum, to be treated to an intimate piano concert – a memorable experience to end the day.Â
Docked at Donji Milanovac, our buses will take us to the archaeological site known as ‘Lepenski Vir’, an ancient settlement dating back to about 7,000 BCE but was first inhabited over 12,000 years ago. Archaeologists only just started excavating it between 1965-70, when most of the site was flooded during the building of the first of two dams on the Danube. Afterwards, we continue to Golubac to explore the impressive medieval fortress overlooking the river. Â
As we undergo Schengen revision formalities, meet some locals over cake and coffee. Â
On this sightseeing excursion of Budapest, you will discover the incredible sights of the city in vintage vehicles. Visit Buda Castle, one of the city’s best-known monuments, explore nearby enchanting Fisherman's Bastion, a fortress perched atop Buda Castle Hill, while enjoying panoramic views of Budapest and the Danube River from the terrace. Marvel at the grandeur of the Hungarian Parliament Building, an architectural masterpiece, and take a leisurely stroll along Andrassy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of Budapest's most elegant boulevards. Admire the Neo-Renaissance architecture, fancy boutiques and historic coffee houses. Experience for yourself why Budapest is considered one of Europe’s most delightful capital cities. Â
The small capital of Slovakia is located on the border with Austria and Hungary and is home to about 450,000 people. Due to its location, Bratislava is a melting pot of peoples and cultures. The pedestrian only old town of Bratislava dates back to the 18th century and is a great place for a gentle stroll, thanks to it being a car-free zone. A walk around the old town is followed by a visit to Primate’s Palace, the Jesuit church, Town Hall and Michael's Gate. We might even get to sample some Slovakian treats.
Soak in the stunning surroundings as we sail to Durnstein through the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Wachau World Heritage Site is one of Austria's oldest cultural landscapes and one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe featuring steep wine terraces, wild floodplain forests, charming villages, splendid monasteries and romantic castle ruins. People have settled here for thousands of years without significantly changing the landscape. Numerous prehistoric finds tell of the early settlement in the region including the world-famous 29,000-year-old statuette ‘Venus of Willendorf’, which was discovered in the village of Willendorf at the beginning of the 20th century.
As we approach Durnstein, you have impressive views of Durnstein's two main attractions: the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle and Durnstein Abbey. Explore Durnstein at your own pace, before we continue sailing to Melk, where we enjoy a tour of the famous abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perched high above the river. The impressive Baroque ensemble has been cared for by the monks of the Benedictine order since 1089.     Â
Farewell the crew and fellow passengers and disembark the vessel before transferring to Munich's airport for your onward journey. Please note: the Ship arrives Passau at 8:00 AM. Therefore, flights should be booked approximately at 3:00 PM or later
Note: While we make every effort to offer you the excursions mentioned in the itinerary, please note that changes may occur with little or without notice that are outside of our control, and we thank you in advance for your understanding.Â
