Budapest to Istanbul

From pastoral countryside to forbidding forests and fairytale villages, this tour from Budapest to Istanbul is definitely the road less travelled, but absolutely a worthy adventure to take. Over 13 days, you’ll explore the weathered architecture of Budapest, grand Ottoman palaces, "Dracula’s Castle" in Transylvania, and much more. With an intriguing combination of cultural colour and exploration, you'll come away with a real feel for this lesser-explored corner of Europe.
Highlights
Discover the rich and varied culture of Eastern Europe, visit 'Dracula's Castle' and charming Slavic villages, explore the spectacular cities of Budapest and Istanbul
Accommodation
Hotels/pensions (11 nts), guest lodge (1 nt).
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12
Meals Included
12 breakfasts, 1 dinner
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Nem Adom Fel Café and Bar, Budapest
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group. Budapest orientation walk. Visit to the Balla Géza Winery. Half-day tour of Sighisoara and surrounding countryside villages. 'Dracula's Castle' (Bran). Bucharest orientation tour. Hike to Arbanasi village. Sofia orientation walk. Istanbul city tour with local guide. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
- Wine

We’ve been the leaders in small group adventure travel for 30+ years. How’d we get here? By listening to our travellers and giving them what they want: flexible itineraries, freedom to explore, smaller groups, safety and peace of mind, and locally based guides who show you your destination in a way you’d miss travelling any other way.
The trip of your dreams doesn’t need a Hollywood-sized budget or years of planning. Simply join a small group of like-minded travellers that, like you, are eager to experience all the things that make our world worth exploring.
Our guides are all CEOs.
At G Adventures, we don’t have tour guides — we have Chief Experience Officers. Our founder, Bruce Poon Tip, gave up his title as CEO because he felt they needed a proper title to reflect how integral they are to giving you an exceptional travel experience. (But don’t worry, they won’t be using any office attire or business jargon.)
Locally based = local experts.
Our CEOs are locally based, meaning they know the area you’re exploring like the back of their well-travelled hand. They plan visits around the best times to visit (or avoid) the most popular spots, can help you choose local restaurants, and generally give you great tips on the best things to experience. And since they usually speak the local language, they are your go-to resource for anything that comes up.
Local support. All. The. Time.
All CEOs are supported by our local operations teams 24/7. If something comes up that your CEO can’t help you with (however unlikely that is), the team nearby is there to support them in keeping you safe and happy.
Your experience is their focus.
We want you to have the time of your life — that’s why we hire the smartest, friendliest, bestest CEOs around. It’s their mission to make sure you return home feeling like your life has truly been changed.
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Itinerary
Day | Destination | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | Budapest | ||
2 | Budapest to Balla Géza Winery | ||
3 | Balla Géza Winery to Sighi?oara | ||
4 | Sighi?oara/Brasov | ||
5 | Brasov | ||
6 | Brasov/Bucharest | ||
7 | Bucharest/Veliko Tarnovo | ||
8 | Veliko Tarnovo | ||
9 | Veliko Tarnovo/Sofia | ||
10 | Sofia/Plovdiv | ||
11 | Plovdiv/Istanbul | ||
12 | Istanbul | ||
13 | Istanbul |