Depart the USA for Bucharest.
Upon arrival in Bucharest, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. If time permits, we will have a panoramic city tour. Overnight in Bucharest.
In the morning we will start the sightseeing tour of the capital of Romania, which includes: the Parliament, the Patriarchal church and the Patriarchal Palace, the Palace of Justice, the National Museum of History and Archaeology, the Stavropoleos Church, the Square of the Revolution, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Royal Palace, the Military Club, the University, the avenues and buildings of the communist period and old Bucharest. We will also visit the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon in Washington, designed before 1989 by the communist authorities, which has housed all the institutions of the state. Currently, the Palace is the headquarters of the National Assembly and the Senate. At the same time is used for important international meetings such as the NATO Summit.
On the same day we will depart to Tulcea, a town situated at the Danube Delta. Overnight in Tulcea.
Today we will have a day trip to Danube Delta. The route, our boat takes is on the Saint George arm of the Danube – Canal Sontea – Nebunu Lake – with a stop for lunch and return to Tulcea. It will be very interesting to see different birds and vegetation as we sail up and down on Danube. Overnight in Tulcea.
After breakfast we will leave for Constanta, visiting the ruins of the Greek fortress in Histria on the way. Histria is Romania's oldest town; founded by the Greeks of Miletus around 657 BC. The ruins of the fortress on the shore of the Sinoe Lake can be seen even today. We will tour the ruins of the Greek temples, the defense wall with towers and bastions, paved streets and workshops, public buildings, thermal baths and one of the biggest Christian church in the area (about 50 m high) dating from the 6th century AD.
Then we will proceed to Constanta, another old city in Romania, where we will have a brief city tour in the old part. Today, it is the third largest city and the most important commercial port on the Black Sea Coast. We will visit the peninsular part of the city with stops in the small touristic port – the Casino, the Genoese Lighthouse (Farul Genovez), the Aquarium and the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
In the afternoon, we will meet the Bulgarian driver and guide and continue to Bulgaria.
Our first stop will be at the picturesque Kaliakra Cape and its fortress. Kaliakra cape stretches 2 km deep into the sea and consists of 60-70m-high limestone rocks, the inaccessibility of which has been the main reason for the construction of the ancient fortress named Tirisis. The fortress was successively used by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians. According to legends, the fortress was guarding the treasuries of Lysimachus, successor of Alexander the Great.
In the evening we will arrive in a small town of Balchik. Overnight in Balchik.
Morning tour of Balchik will combine the romance of its steep streets with the beauty of the sea. For a long time it has been known as the 'White Town' for mainly white colour of its lime rocks.
The main attraction of the place is a wonderful Botanical Garden and a small summer palace, also called Quiet Nest Villa of the Romanian Queen Maria. The gardens are the "residence" of 3000 or so plant species and they are set on a steep hillside, which descends in six terraces to the sea - supposedly one for each of the Queen's children.
Later we will proceed along the Black Sea coast to visit Aladzha Rock Monastery founded in the 13th century and located near Golden Sands resort. In the evening we will reach Varna and have wine tasting. Overnight in Varna.
We will start our morning with the tour of Varna - the pearl of the Bulgarian Black sea coast, which is among Europe's oldest cities. Miletians founded the trading colony of Odessos in 570 BC, at the site of an earlier Thracian settlement. And long before the Thracians populated the area by 1200 BC, several prehistoric settlements had existed.
Here we will visit the Archaeological museum of Varna housing a fascinating, rich collection going back to 4,000 BC and also the oldest gold found and processed by a human, which was discovered at the Varna Necropolis, as well as the Cathedral of the Assumption.
Later we will proceed along the Black Sea coast to Nessebur museum town, which is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Upon arrival we will have a walking-tour of the Old Nessebur. Overnight in Nessebur.
In the morning we will start our journey to Istanbul. En route we will have a panorama of Burgas - the second largest Bulgarian city on the Black Sea coast and Sozopol - the oldest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, as the original inhabitants of Sozopol were Thracians from about 4000 BC.
After meeting the guide and the driver from Turkey and border formalities, we will head to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Before heading to Amasra we will stop in Safranbolu. The name of this city is derived from its former industry of producing saffron from the stigmas of autumnal crocus. The city is an open-air museum of well- preserved Ottoman houses. We will enjoy walking in the narrow, twisting cobblestone lanes and seeing traditional trades and crafts practiced just as they were in Ottoman times. Next we will continue on to Amasra, the ancient Amistra named after the daughter of Darius.
Once we arrive there we start exploring the city with its inviting half-hidden bays. A Genoese colony until 1461, Amasra is a picturesque port standing on a peninsula with two well-protected, natural harbors. A major attraction is a perfect Byzantine-Genoese castle which can be viewed in exquisite panorama and the archaeological museum which has a rich collection from the area. Overnight in Amasra.
We drive east along the picturesque Black Sea coast, passing secluded villages and towns such as Kuracasile, which has been famous throughout the centuries for its boat building, Cide with miles long sandy beaches, Inebolu surrounded with beautiful villages, Abana a modern resort town. The beautiful scenery combined with the remains of ancient Greek-Roman walls and towers will charm and intrigue you. Continuing along the coast on yet another stretch of unspoiled scenery, we pass through small fishing towns inhabited by delightful people who maintain their ancient traditions and culture. Overnight in Sinop.
History of Sinop, ancient Sinope goes back to 4,500 BC. It was a very important harbor city during the Miletus occupation around the 8th century BC. Once the capital of the Pontic Empire, after Amasya. It is probably one of the most charming and friendly Black Sea Coast cities, sitting on the neck of the Sinop peninsula with its intriguing harbor famous for anchovies.
Before we leave for Trabzon we will see mosques, churches, the Temple of Serapis, and the city fortification with the 13th century Byzantine Citadel. The Museum in Sinop has interesting artifacts from Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
We continue along the Black Sea coast passing beautiful little town Gerze, Persembe the capital of Turkish tobacco, big harbor city of Samsun, Ordu the capital of Turkish hazelnuts, Giresun, the cherry capital of Turkey, which is located on a peninsula. Legend claims that Jason and the Argonauts stopped here on their way to Georgia in search of the Golden Fleece. In a short distance from shore, there is the island of Buyuk Ada, the largest in the Black Sea. This could be the Amazon Island where Amazon queens built a temple to Ares. We will also pass by Akcaabat famous for its meatballs and unique architecture. Overnight in Trabzon.
Trabzon, the ancient Trapezos is the largest city along the Black Sea Coast and famous harbor city for ancient Silk Road following the 6,500 feet high Zigana Pass which was used by many travelers, including famous Marco Polo. This is the spot where Xenophon reportedly saw the sea and uttered the infamous words "The sea, the sea!" Trabzon was a very important commercial harbor city throughout Greek-Roman times and the capital of Grand Comneni Empire. We will tour the city before we continue our journey along the coast to the Georgian border.
We drive along Pontic Mountains. Here the Parmak and Kackar Mountains are the sources for the so-called "crazy honey", made from the flower Azalea Pontica which created so many problems for the soldiers of Xenophon. On the way we will stop at lively local markets and the tea institute. The Laz people of this area are famous for their colorful garments and friendly personalities; we'll see many hawks here, which are traditionally kept as pets.
Finally we will cross the border into Georgia and head to Batumi, the pearl and the most attractive of all cities on Georgia's Black Sea coast with its inviting beaches, cafes, restaurants, wide boulevards. It existed as a Greek colony by the start of the 2nd century BC. On the way we will stop at Gonio (Apsaros) Fortress, which is just between the border and Batumi. Originally a Roman fortress, later was taken over by Byzantines and Ottomans. Most importantly it's connected with the myth about the Argonauts, as according to the legend this is where king Ayet buried his son Apsyrtus, who was killed by Jason. The grave of St. Metthias, one of the 12 apostles, is also believed to be inside Gonio fortress. Overnight in Batumi.
In the morning, before we start following the footsteps of famous Jason and the Argonauts. We will visit the Ethnographic Museum in Batumi. Then we will proceed to Poti - the city which Argonauts reached before navigating the River Rioni (then Phazisi) flowing into the Black Sea right here, to get to the capital of the powerful kingdom Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. Poti was re-established as an Ottoman fort, which was the hub of the trade in Circassian slave-girls, the most highly prized in the Ottoman Empire. Nowadays, it is Georgia's largest port. Our next stop will be at the ruins of the ancient city Vani, known to Greeks as Surium, it was the major center from the 8th to 1st centuries BC (at its peak from 600-400 BC), and many of the finest artifacts from ancient Colchis have been found here. In the evening we will arrive in the second largest city of Georgia, Kutaisi. There is a debate that either Kutaisi or Vani was the capital of the ancient kingdom Colchis. Overnight in Kutaisi.
If you haven't yet visited Prague, Budapest or Vienna, Tbilisi is the city you want to see in a more pleasant, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Upon arrival we will begin our exploration of the attractive capital of Georgia, spread along the banks of the Mtkvari River, with Metkhi Church from where we have a superb view of the Narikala Fortress, Kartlis Deda (Mother Georgia), the Old Town, sulphur baths and the Mtkvari River below. There are many interesting churches here, including the 6-7th century Sioni Cathedral (the center of religious life in the capital), Anchiskhati (the oldest church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century), as well as a Synagogue and mosque; We will also tour the stunning treasury of the Georgian National Art Museum with its incredible display of gold artifacts and jewelry. A day without a stroll along the famous Rustaveli Avenue with all kinds of different government and civic buildings, shops, main squares would not be complete. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Today we will transfer you to Tbilisi Airport for you flight to Simferopol, Ukraine. Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to Yalta. Overnight in Yalta.
After breakfast, we will have a panoramic city tour of Yalta and later drive to Massandra – the area where the famous Massandra Winery is situated. Then head to the mountain along the old road which was one of the first ways to Yalta via the old city district to city centre. En route from Massandra we will see the panoramic views of Yalta from the east. View the exterior of the St. Alexander Cathedral, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century.
We will also have an excursion to Livadia Palace - the favourite summer residence of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II and the venue of the Yalta Conference in 1945. We'll see the Great White Hall, where the fate of post-war Europe was decided in 1945.
Then we will tour Vorontsov Palace in Alupka, which belonged to one of the wealthiest persons of Russia in the 19th century. It took 20 years to construct this grandiose building and was designed by Englishman Edward Blore as a blend of styles with Gothic exteriors harmoniously neighbouring Moorish elements. Observe the striking beauty of the southern facade, built in oriental style and resembling the Alhambra. We'll walk along the park and take pictures of the local landscapes.
The day's sightseeing will be ended with a visit to the viewpoint of Swallow's Nest castle. At the observation platform you can take pictures of the symbol of Yalta and the Crimea – the famous Swallow's Nest Castle, hanging over the sea on a 38 meters high rock. This romantic castle was constructed in 1912. Take a time to browse the abundance of souvenirs at souvenir shops.
In the evening we will return to the hotel and you will have some free time on your own. Overnight in Yalta.
This morning we will drive from Yalta to Sevastopol. Once we arrive, we will have a city tour.
The first highlight of the tour is Panorama - a historical museum, which was opened in 1905 on the 50-th anniversary of the defence of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. The museum houses a magnificent (115 meters long, 14 meters high) canvas by the famous Russian battle artist F. Roubaud.
The picture depicts the first main assault of Sevastopol on June 18, 1855. The circular canvas merges into the 900 sq. m. relief model. You will rise on the observation platform in the middle of the hall and find yourself more than 150 years back on top of Malakhov Hill during one of the fiercest and decisive battles of the Crimean war.
Then we'll drive through the city to St. Vladimir Cathedral, built in the 19th century and recently restored, and also explore the city centre by taking a walk along the Prymorsky Boulevard and taking pictures at the Nakhimov Square and Grafskaya Quay, from where the ships of the Russian Navy can be seen.
In the evening we'll drive to Simferopol to take Simferopol – Odessa overnight train.
Upon arrival in Odessa in the morning, we will be transfer to the hotel for morning check in and buffet breakfast.
After that we will start exploring Odessa with panoramic city tour. Our coach will take us to Prymorsky Boulevard to view the new Monument to Catherine the Great, and walk to the statue of the Duc de Richelieu in a Roman Toga, as well as learn about the foundation of Odessa and the history of Potemkin Steps. Built in 1837, Potemkin Steps are the best place to view the busy harbours and the bay. The famous monument to Duke de Richelieu overlooks the steps of 142m length. Looking down from the top, the steps become invisible at the bottom, there is the city's brand new passenger ship terminal and convention centre.
Then we will proceed to Odessa Opera House. After the Potemkin Stairs, it is the most famous edifice in Odessa. The residents of the city boast that the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre is the second best one in the world, after the Vienna State Opera in Vienna. You might take pictures of this impressive building designed by Viennese architects Felner & Gelmer in the 1880s in the Habsburg Baroque of the day, with a number of Italian Renaissance features. We will also drive to Arcadia area and en-route view the city's 19th century architecture, cathedrals, learn about modern development of Odessa.
After visiting Arcadia area, we will drive along the French Boulevard to Shevchenko Park to view the Unknown Sailor Memorial and the eternal flame to those who fell defending Odessa. We'll continue to Cathedral Square where you can take pictures of the biggest Odessa Church – Preobrazhensky Cathedral and browse in the souvenirs shopping area. Overnight in Odessa.
We will take lunch-boxes from hotel (as restaurant opens at 7:00), at 7:00 we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Kiev.
Upon arrival at Boryspil airport, we'll have a guided transfer to the city and Panoramic Kiev tour. The tour includes a visit to Vladimir's Cathedral, the most prominent sacral painting complex of the late 19th century, decorated by world renowned artists. We will see magnificent mosaics and frescoes at the St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest temple in the Eastern Slavonic states. It was built at the beginning of 11th century to glorify the victory of Prince Yaroslav the Wise over Pechenegs' tribes. You will enjoy amazing view of two golden-domed monastery complexes while walking along the Sophiiska and Mykhailivska Squares. The tour continues to St. Andrew's Church, a striking piece of baroque architecture from the 18th century, built according to the design of a well-known architect B.Rastrelli on the top of Vladimir's Hill. We will walk down Andriivskyi Uzviz (Andriyivskyy Descent), which starts from St. Andrew's Church. It is a short street meandering down through the thick vegetation of Vladimir's Hill and toward the picturesque Podil. Numerous art galleries and shops of folk and applied art make this romantic street the cultural centre of Kiev. Overnight in Kiev.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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