Day 01: Arrive in Budapest
Today we arrive in Budapest, Hungary. Hungary is a land of beautiful monuments and romantic music. Buda and Pest, two of the city’s three regions, both face the mighty Danube, which forms the physical and spiritual centre of the Hungarian capital. It is its centrepiece, its heart, and its pulse. Its relationship with the city is even more intimate than that of the Seine with Paris or the Arno with Florence. Overnight in Budapest.

Day 02: Budapest: City Tour
This morning we depart for a bus tour of Budapest.We start our day at Heroes Square and nearby Vajdahunyad Castle, where we briefly learn a bit about the history of Hungary. Our tour will continue toward Margaret Bridge over which we cross to the Buda side. Our next stop is the Citadel, a great place for panoramic views of the whole city. After a quick picture stop we continue to castle hill where we spend the rest of the day. A visit of St Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastions is by many seen as a highlight of the day.After a lunch break we continue on foot to the Royal Palace, where we visit the National Gallery, dedicated exclusively to Hungarian art.At this point you are free to continue independent exploration or return on our bus back to the hotel. Your Tour Leader can help you to plan the rest of your day. Overnight in Budapest.

Day 03: Budapest: Walking Tour
This morning we embark on a leisurely WALKING tour of city’s urban heart. This is an area is full of stately old buildings, grand avenues, and innumerable tiny streets. We will take local transport to the huge neo-Gothic Parliament (Orszaghaz), the most visible building of Budapest’s left bank. Built by 1,000 workers between 1885 and 1902, this building has now become the symbol of the capital with its slender towers, spacious arcades, high windows and vast central dome. Nearby one can see the magnificent building housing the Museum of Ethnography. Walking southeast we come to the stately and sprawling Liberty Square (Szabadsag ter). In the square’s center remains a gold hammer and sickle atop a white stone obelisk, one of the few monuments to the Russian ‘liberation’ of Budapest in 1945. Passing by Roosevelt Square we soon come to the famous Chain Bridge, the oldest and most beautiful of the seven road bridges that span the Danube in Budapest. Before it was built, the river could be crossed only by ferry or by a pontoon bridge that had to be moved when ice blocks began floating downstream in the winter.We continue along the pedestrian ‘Promenade’ with great views of Gellert Hill and Castle Hill on the opposite bank. We will stroll past the Concert Hall (Vigado), which is a curious mix of Byzantine, Moorish, Romanesque and Hungarian motifs. From here we walk to one of the liveliest places in Budapest, Vorosmarty Ter, a large square that the north end of Budapest’s best known shopping street–Vaci Utca. This is a fantastic pedestrian-only area of the city that has undergone a full transformation over the last 10 years.Eventually we will arrive at the famous 19th century Central Market Hall. This cavernous three-story market teems with people browsing stalls packed with everything from salamis and red-paprika chains to folk embroideries and souvenirs. The balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Budapest.

Day 04: Budapest – Szentendre – Holloko – Eger
This morning we travel by private coach to the riverside town of Szentendre, along the ‘Danube Bend’. Szentendre is known for its museums, galleries and artists. Populated for well over a millennium, under the Romans it was called Ulcisia Castra, meaning Wolf Castle. Today its south European atmosphere with baroque architecture, churches of various faiths, narrow side streets, and cobblestone roads characterizes this town. You tour leader will take you on a walking tour through this gorgeous little town.From Szentendre we continue on towards Eger. We will make a stop in the UNESCO protected village of Holloko, a small town of approximately 650 people. What sets this village apart from others is the ‘Old Village’ where 50 houses have been listed and declared historic monuments. Throughout time Holloko has managed to preserve its unique ethnographic and folk art values. The village itself is picturesque, with its cobbled streets and little white houses. Atop the nearby hill we can view what remains of a 13th century castle that was blown up by the Hapsburgs.From here we continue on to Eger, situated in the Eger Valley between the Bukk and Matra Hills. Eger is famous for Red Bull’s Blood (Egri Bikaver) wine, its medieval library, and for having the northernmost minaret in Europe. There are still many accessible sites and much charm to the narrow streets, arcaded buildings, wrought-iron gates, and Baroque towers and domes of the Old Town. This is the perfect walking city with something interesting at every turn. The nearby peaks of some of Hungary’s highest mountains provide a natural backdrop for this city’s historic monuments. Overnight in Eger.

Day 05: Eger: Town Tour
Eger has been inhabited since the Stone Age. During the early Middle Ages the area was inhabited by German, Avar and Slavonic tribes. Taken over by the Hungarians in the 10th century, Eger reached an age of prosperity during the 14th-16th centuries. Winegrowing, for which the town is still famous, began to be important at that time. During the Turkish occupation of Central Hungary, Eger became an important border fortress, successfully defended by Hungarian forces in the 1552 Siege of Eger, in the face of overwhelming odds.Our walking tour today will include a visit to the famous castle of Eger with its museum and underground casements. We will also see the Archbishop’s Palace, Franciscan Church, and Turkish Minaret. Overnight in Eger.

Day 06: Eger – Paks – Siklos – Pecs
Today we depart early for our journey from Eger to the region of Southern Transdanubia, a region of undulating hills, forest clad ridges and rural ambience. After passing Budapest we start our route south, traveling parallel to the Danube River for much of our journey. After passing by Paks, a town in central Hungary on the banks of the Danube River, we will continue to the city of Pecs. Pecs has been selected to be the European Capital of Culture in 2010, sharing the title together with Essen and Istanbul. This is a city not to be missed; as it is a major art center and university town. Here we will take a walking tour of the Old Town, and will see the historic cathedral, synagogue, mosques and fourth-century Christian necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with burial chambers decorated in murals. Overnight in Pecs.

Day 7: Pecs – Villany – Pecs
This morning we will venture towards the southern border to visit the historic town of Siklos and its well-preserved medieval castle. Wine has been produced in this region since the Romans settled here at a place they called Seres. After our visit to the castle we will break for lunch before an afternoon of sightseeing, starting with the the famous Villany-Siklos Wine Road, 30 km long and covering eight villages. The Romans finds uncovered at the base of the hills prove that people have been growing grapes and making wine here for over 2,000 years. Today the Villany-Siklos wine region covers an area of about 2000 hectares. We return to Pecs for our overnight. Overnight in Pecs.

Day 08: Pecs – Lake Balaton Region – Budapest
Today we proceed north to the Lake Balaton Region. Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and is often affectionately called the “Hungarian Sea”. Our day will be spent exploring this region. We will cross the lake by ferry from Szantod to Tihany. The Tihany Peninsula was declared a national park in 1952, and the peninsula is well known for its historical monuments, beautiful panorama and its Mediterranean climate. Balatonfured is a small town on the northern shore of the lake and is part of a region that was important to social life in the 18th century, even before bathing and swimming took off as a mass pastime 100 years later. This is the place where the first Balaton steamship started its trips, and the first yachtsmen’s association began here. Here were built the villas of 19th-century celebrities, and the town is still the center of festivities. Patients have been treated here for three hundred years with the help of the mineral water sources, as the water is good for diabetes and digestive malfunctions. Veszprem is a quaint and quiet town away from the lakeshore region, and here we will take a walk in the Castle Quarter. At the end of our day we travel back to Budapest for our last night in Hungary. Overnight in Budapest.

Day 09: Departure
Departure from Budapest.

Day 01: Arrival in Budapest
Welcome to Budapest, the ‘Pearl of the Danube’ with its grand buildings and elegant bridges, a vibrant city, full of history and culture. Let yourself be tempted by the thermal baths, including the famous Gellért. The Fishermen’s stronghold on Buda’s hill will offer you a splendid sight of the Danube, the impressive Chain Bridge and the magnificent architecture of the Parliament. Enjoy the cosy cafes or try the famous local wines in the evening.

Day 02: Eger
Today you take the train to Eger (2 hours), where you will spend the night. Eger is one of the oldest Magyar settlements in Hungary and flourished as a Renaissance centre of culture. The downtown is overlooked by a fortified castle. You will also see the splendid central basilica and discover the baroque charm of the city streets. Once in Eger, you must taste the fiery Eger wines and visit the Turkish bath.

Day 03: Eger – Felsőtárkány
The walking starts today, by leaving Eger on a hiking path going eastward. It takes you into the Hungarian countryside and the Bükk National Park. Initially, you will walk amongst vineyards and meadows. The area is famous for having the best watermelons of Europe. You will cross several rivers and an increasingly wooded zone to reach Felsőtárkány, a lovely village full of vine-laden gardens and parks, which will be your stop for the night. Walking for the day: 4-5 hours, 14 km, 505 m elevation gain, 490 m elevation loss

Day 04: Felsőtárkány – Szilvásvárad
After a hearty Hungarian breakfast, you start your second walking day. This area is particularly rich in wild animals, with the largest population of wild boars in Europe living there. The luckiest will even be able to see moufflons. Leave Felsötárkány and walk along the river under the cover of beeches and oaks as you enter the woods. The highlight of today, in the valley of Szalajka creek, which has several lakes and cascades, is the ‘Veil cascade’. Szilvásvárad is best known for its tradition of breeding Lippizan horses which are of splendid white colour. Walking for the day: 6 hours, 18 km, 615 m elevation gain, 505 m elevation loss.

Day 05: Szilvásvárad – Jávorkút
To leave the village, you may choose to take the forest train which crosses the valley or follow the hiking trail. Your route will guide you through bicentennial forests of beeches, near soldiers’ tombs, which are sad memories of the past wars. The walk will offer you splendid panoramas, and you might see the eagles and falcons which populate the area. This is a favourite hiking area during all seasons, located at the intersection of many hiking trails. Walking for the day: 4-5 hours, 15 km, 585 m elevation gain, 225 m elevation loss.

Day 06: Jávorkút – Lillafüred
You will cross a picturesque karst area and reach Lillafüred, which is in the heart of a small wooded valley where two creeks meet before flowing into a lake. Enjoy the fairytale panorama of the old castle overlooking the lake. Here you can rent a small boat and relax on the lake. Lillafüred also has several beautiful cascades under the castle as well as three caves with impressive stalactites that you can explore in optional guided tours (not included, payable on site). Walking for the day: 3 hours, 11 km, 15 m elevation gain, 350 m elevation loss.

Day 07: Lillafüred – Miskolctapolca
On this last walking day, you will follow the peaks southwards, while passing close to Bükkszentkereszt where you turn eastward and descend progressively to Miskolctapolca, a charming village, centred around the thermal baths. Relax in the Cave Bath, a spa complex built in natural caves (unique in Europe). Walking for the day: 5-6 hours, 17 km, 435 m elevation gain, 600 m elevation loss.

Day 08: Departure or Onward Travel
Today a private transfer is organised to Miskolc station to take your train back to Budapest (2 hours). Reach the airport & catch flight back to home.