Traveller Tours Balkans

Traveller has great pleasure in inviting our readers to join a one-off event - a luxury cruise through Europe, including the Balkans - with former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce.

This 15-day, Budapest-to-Budapest ‘Voyage Through the Balkans' tour, specially designed by Traveller's editors in partnership with APT, will offer many exclusive experiences, including the chance to view a private royal art collection in Vienna's City Palace and a visit to Croatia's Brzica Winery in the Erdut, one of the world's most ancient wine-growing regions,.

Join your fellow expert guest, Dame Quentin, onboard for cocktails and for an afternoon tea where she will discuss her favourite aspects of travel and share many highlights and experiences during her time as Governor-General.

She will also take part in an informal Q&A with fellow expert guest, Traveller writer Sue Williams, who will later share her own adventures on the road as a travel writer. They will be joined by two other experts in their fields: winemaker Ivo Brzica, of Croatia's Brzica Winery in the Erdut 'Valley of the Wines', one of the world's most ancient wine-growing regions, and Cristian Lupsa, founder and editor of DoR (Decât o Revista), a quarterly magazine devoted to telling the stories of modern-day Romania.

Your journey begins with a twilight cruise through Budapest followed the next day by a walking tour of Bratislava and a cocktail reception with Dame Quentin. Other highlights include sailing through the stunning Iron Gates, where the Danube narrows as it winds through magnificent gorges between Serbia and Romania, and visiting Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria.

Traveller has again partnered with APT, one of the world's leading and most trusted cruise operators, for this Traveller Tour, which offers readers the chance to indulge in the wonders of the Balkans.

Places are strictly limited so book now.

ANTHONY DENNIS
TRAVELLER EDITOR

Vienna City Palace — Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE AND DO

Day 1 July 20
Budapest, Embark Ship

On arrival in Budapest, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your luxurious river ship. After settling in to your suite, enjoy a delicious dinner. Later, be enchanted by the city lights during a twilight cruise through Budapest. Meal D
Board your APT Concerto River Ship

Day 2 July 21
Bratislava

See Bratislava on a guided tour. Later, attend a traditional folklore show in the Old Town. Learn some Slovak dance moves before sampling local specialities. Tonight enjoy a cocktail reception with former Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce and travel writer Sue Williams. Meals BLD

Day 3 July 22
Vienna

Take a walking tour of Vienna. Tonight head to the princely family of Liechtenstein's City Palace in the heart of Vienna for an exclusive experience: the palace will open its galleries for guests to view the family's private art collection. You'll be welcomed and guided by an in-house art expert. Later, attend an exclusive cocktail reception and private concert featuring members of the Mozart Boys' Choir, and pieces by Mozart and Strauss. Meals BLD

Day 4 July 23
Budapest

In the morning, enjoy an informal Q&A with one of Australia's most loved and respected women, former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce. She will chat about her extensive travels around Australia and her love for her country. The talk will be moderated by Traveller writer Sue Williams. Later enjoy a guided tour of Budapest, including a visit to the Hungarian Parliament, a magnificent example of neo-gothic architecture which houses the old House of Lords and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.
Meals BLD

Day 5 July 24
Mohács, Pecs

Arrive in Mohács. Here you can either visit the Buso Courtyard, which offers an insight into the Busojaras of Mohács and the craftwork associated with this event or take an excursion to Pecs to visit the Gyugyi Museum, which houses Laszlo Gyugyi's private collection, including ceramics from the Golden Age of the Zsolnay Factory. Meals BLD

Day 6 July 25
Belgrade

Today, you can explore Serbia's capital by foot on a city tour with visits to Belgrade Fortress and the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St Sava. Or you can explore the city by bike, or visit a brandy distillery for a tasting. Meals BLD

Day 7 July 26
Iron Gates

Cruise through one of Europe's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows as it winds through a series of magnificent gorges between Serbia and Romania. This afternoon, sit back and enjoy a talk and Q&A session with Traveller writer, author and tour guest Sue Williams. She will share her experiences charting the world from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Meals BLD

Day 8 July 27
Giurgiu, Bucharest

Enjoy a talk by our expert journalist and editor Cristian Lupsa, founder and editor of DoR (Decât o Revista), a quarterly magazine devoted to telling the stories of modern-day Romania. Then spend the day in Bucharest, Romania's stunning capital. Take in the wide tree-lined boulevards and Belle Epoque buildings, and then walk through the Old City centre to the Royal Court, Stavropoleos Church and the Lipscani district. After lunch, tour the Palace of the Parliament with a specialist guide. Meals BLD

Day 9 July 28
Rousse, Veliko Târnovo, Svishtov

Docking in Rousse today, you have a choice of activities: either travel to Veliko Târnovo for a guided tour that highlights the city's rich history, or if you are keen for a more active option, enjoy a visit to the World Heritage-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo and walk through the rock monasteries. Meals BLD

Day 10 July 29
Vidin

This morning dock in Vidin, one of Bulgaria's oldest cities. Discover Baba Vida Fortress, the largest preserved medieval castle in Bulgaria overlooking the Danube. Then continue on to Belogradchik, one of Bulgaria's natural wonders, where you can hike around spectacular rock formations. Meals BLD

Day 11 July 30
Scenic Cruising

Spend an entire day on board to unwind as you take in the stunning scenery. Later, enjoy an afternoon tea hosted by Dame Quentin Bryce and moderated by Sue with a Q&A. Here, Dame Quentin will reflect on her time and travels as Governor-General. Meals BLD

Day 12 July 31
Novi Sad, Vukovar

Meet the experts who'll guide you through the Balkans

THE FORMER GOVERNOR GENERAL
DAME QUENTIN BRYCE

The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO was Australia's 25th Governor General and the first woman to take up the office. She's enjoyed a distinguished career as an academic, lawyer, community and human rights advocate and university college principal. Dame Quentin came to know Vienna during meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and later for official visits as Head of State. She knows several of the tour stops in the Balkans well, visiting Slovakia and Slovenia for meetings with the European Australian Business Council.

THE AUTHOR AND TRAVEL WRITER
SUE WILLIAMS

Sue Williams has been travelling in Europe since she was 14, and has spent a lot of time along our Balkans route, in Austria and in the former Yugoslavia before its break-up in the early 1990s. She is one of Traveller's most experienced writers, and has also written travel and other non-fiction books. She travels frequently around the world and has many stories of her time on the road.

THE TRADITIONAL WINEMAKER
IVO BRZICA

Winemaker Ivo Brzica came to Erdut, famed ‘‘Valley of the Wines', from nearby Osikek in the early 2000s. His initial 900 vines quickly expanded to 1.5 hectares. The winery really took off in 2007 and 2008 when 4.5 hectares were planted. Most of these vines were graševina with some chardonnay and about 15,000 vines of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and vranac. From these lines, the first professional vintage wine was produced in 2011, including an award-winning merlot.

THE JOURNALIST AND MAGAZINE FOUNDER
CRISTIAN LUPSA

Cristian Lupsa is founder and editor of DoR (Decât o Revista), a quarterly magazine devoted to telling the stories of modern-day Romania. He also writes, lectures, and trains people on the impact true stories can have on a culture still seeking its identity. In 2009, Cristian and a group of rebellious journalists started DoR, a magazine – though some would call it a movement – predicated on the idea that good non-fiction storytelling can change people and communities. In 2011 they set up The Power of Storytelling, an international storytelling conference.

Exclusive experiences for Traveller Tours guests

These complimentary experiences and services are exclusive to APT and Traveller Tours, and are just some of the unique insights we have planned for your stunning cruise through the Balkans.

View a private art collection
Enter the princely family of Liechtenstein's amazing City Palace in the heart of Vienna for an exclusive viewing of their private art collection. You'll be welcomed and guided by an in-house art expert.

Sample traditional wines
Journey to Erdut, the ‘‘Valley of the Wines', and be welcomed by traditional winemaker Ivo Brzica, the owner of the award-winning Brzica Winery in one of the world's most ancient wine-growing regions. Enjoy a tour of his winery and a tasting.

Enjoy a political insider's guide
Spend the day in Romania's stunning capital and take part in a tour of Bucharest's Palace of the Parliament. You will be guided by a specialist with inside knowledge of the workings of the Senate.

PLUS, there's more...

A private concert at Vienna's City Palace featuring members of the Mozart Boys' Choir
See a traditional folklore show in Bratislava's Old Town
Cruise through the Iron Gates
Visit the historic town of Kalocsa

IMPORTANT NOTE Circumstances beyond Traveller’s control may affect the guest line-up. Any operational or logistical changes or issues arising from the itinerary before, during or after the tour will be addressed by APT. To view further booking conditions visit www.aptouring.com.au

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