Pannonian Highlights 2023

Welcome to the Serbian capital Belgrade. Meet with your Tour Director to learn all about your tour details. Free time and overnight in Belgrade.

Discover the Serbian capital with a sightseeing tour in the morning. The tour will guide you through elite city district Dedinje. You will take the road through the famous markets such as the Republic Square with the Parliament, Terazije and Slavija, along the main streets of Belgrade, Kneza Mihaila and finish on the Kalemegdan Fortress, from where you can admire wonderful views of the city and the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. Free time in Belgrade in the afternoon to enjoy numerous shops and bars or get ready for the vivid nightlife. (B)

Drive to Vojvodina region, passing natural reserve of Fruška Gora, also known as holy mountain, since it used to have 35 orthodox monasteries in the medieval time. Almost half, 17 to be exact are still here today. You will stop in a little Baroque town, Sremski Karlovci for a guided stroll and learn about the special local dessert wine Bermet that can’t be found anywhere else in Serbia (nor the world). In the afternoon, arrival to Serbia’s second largest city Novi Sad, famous for its Petrovaradin Fortress on the Danube River. Check into the hotel and go for a guided walk around famous landmarks such as The Name of Mary Church, the architectural beauties of Liberty Square, Zmaj Jovina Street, Orthodox Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace. Rest of the day is at leisure. (B ,T)

Say goodbye to Serbia and travel to Ilok, second Croatian wine capital, where you will hear story about the connection of Traminac wine and Queen Elisabeth II. You will also visit a famous Ilok wine cellar with one of the biggest collections of archive wines in this part of Europe. Lunch on Principovac Estate with the stunning views over the vineyards region. Continue to visit the heroic city of Vukovar. As the city suffered tremendous damage during the Croatian War for Independence, today it stands as a living monument and a symbol of resistance, invincibility, and persistence. In the late afternoon, arrival to Baroque city of Osijek. Check into the hotel and transfer to Tvrđa, historical part of Osijek’s military history where you will learn more about the town’s past and enjoy some free time. (B, L)

Optional: Join your guide for more military history and local experience with this traditional evening where you will be able to try a special fish goulash, very spicy and delicious meal.

After breakfast join a walking tour of Osijek where you will hear about magnificent art nouveau style buildings on Osijek’s European Avenue. After that continue to heart of Danube - Kopački Rit Nature Park. Enjoy an authentic lunch at a local restaurant and embark the vessels to explore this park of nature and biggest swamp in Croatia. After the landscapes full of birds, deer and other wild animals, head to an ethno village Karanac. Complete village has been restored and almost all the houses are now rural households. Return to your hotel for overnight in Osijek. (B, L)

Optional: Authentic dinner at a fairy-tale restaurant from the 19th century is just a perfect way to end this day.

Check out from the hotel and drive towards Zagreb. Your final experience in Slavonia will be in Kutjevo, Croatian wine capital where you will visit one of oldest wine cellars in Europe and have traditional Slavonian lunch with wine tasting. Afternoon tour of Zagreb, composed of the ‘Gornji Grad’ and ‘Kaptol’, will showcase medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings, popular sightseeing spots in the city. Check into the hotel and enjoy free time in the city. (B, L)

Cherry on top of your Croatia experience is definitely the historical Varaždin. The city was built over the centuries and different stylistic influences, varying fashions of certain historical periods and wishes of the investors created an interesting and somewhat unusual harmony of flora and fauna, mythical animals and unusual characters built into the facades of the houses and palaces in the historic old town. In the afternoon, transfer to Slovenia where you will be pampered in one of the best wellness resorts - TERME 3000. Step into the rich blackness of the Moravci springs for an instant feeling of warmth that penetrates to the deepest tissues. With its heat and rich chemical composition, the black thermal mineral water eases a number of health problems, while its beneficial effects can also be experienced in the wellness treatments. The resort is known for the black thermal mineral water, which was declared a natural healing remedy back in 1964, originates from springs that are 967 to 1,467 metres underground in the Mura-Zala basin. (B)

Welcome to the lowlands of Mura River, the Pomurje region. Even though this may not be the most popular part of Slovenia, it still has a lot to offer. Crossing over the Mura region, the road will take you down south, closer to Drava River, arriving in a little town called Jeruzalem. This region is called Podravje and is home to one of the best wineries in Slovenia. Here you will learn all about their wine process and production with a tour of the estate and degustation of wine and local products in a traditional vineyard cottage ‘Zidanice’. It will be difficult, but we recommend leaving some room as you continue to a local pumpkin oil production for some more tastes of Pomurje. Later on, you will head to Lendava for a walking tour of the town and lunch, where you will try traditional ‘Bograč’ meat stew and layered pastry ‘Prekmurska Gibanica’. Return to the hotel in the afternoon with free time for relaxing in Moravske Toplice. (B, T, L)

Check out from the hotel and travel to Budapest, capital city of Hungary, the imperial country that used to be a part of Austro-Hungarian Empire. On your way, stop at Europe’s largest freshwater lake, Balaton. Visit Tihany Peninsula and enjoy some free time by the lake. Arrival to Budapest in the late afternoon. Check into the hotel and time at leisure. (B, L)

Optional: Danube dinner cruise with concert onboard

After breakfast you will taste the spirit of the capital city of Hungary divided on the banks of Danube River. You will admire Andrássy Avenue, Hero’s Square, famous Fisherman’s Bastion, Mathias Church, Parliament House and of course, admire the view over the city from the Citadella Hill. Afternoon is free to enjoy and explore the city on your own. In the evening Csárda Farewell Dinner with traditional Hungarian folklore where you will be able to talk about the new memories you crated with your fellow travellers and plan for the new ones. (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and free time until departure transfer to Budapest Airport. (B)