HUNGARIAN PARADISE	price from 590 €
Hungary - Independent walking - 8 days

After arriving to the Hungarian capital, you take a fast train to Eger, a beautiful baroque town in the East of Hungary. You have a full day to take a walk among the vinyards and over the mountains around town before walking on to Szilvásvárad where you can taste the locally-bred trout. Another full day to explore the surroundings, then you continue over the Bükk plateau to Lillafüred where you then have two full days to walk, visit caves, enjoy the prisine air and the beautiful lake or visit the nearby thermal bath. On the last day, transfer to Miskolc, then a fast train takes you back to Budapest for departure or some extra nights in the bustling capital.

Program

Day 1 Budapest Welcome to Budapest ! Depending on flight time you will be able to explore the city in the afternooon. Budapest is the ‘Pearl of the Danube’ with grand buildings and sweeping bridges. It is a city full of history and particularly busy. If you have time, let yourself be tempted by the thermal baths including the famous Gellért, which will not fail to impress you. The fishermen’s stronghold on Buda’s hill will offer you a splendid sight of the Danube, of the impressive Chain Bridge and of the carefully studied architecture of the Parliament. Enjoy the many coffee bars and be entertained by the wonderful Hungarian folk musicians who flourish here.

Day 2 Eger Today you take the train to Eger(appr. 2hrs), where you will spend the night. Eger is one of the oldest Magyar settlements in Hungary and flourished as Renaissance centre. The centre of town is overlooked by a fortified castle that you can visit. You will see its splendid central basilica and, by walking the pedestrianised streets, you will discover many historical buildings. You can also go to the open-air thermal baths and even try a game of chess while soaking in the hot water of the baths. Eger is surrounded by vineyards and if the wine is far from expensive, it is nevertheless excellent.

Day 3 Felsőtárkány Leave the beautiful baroque city of Eger by taking a path leaving eastward. This takes you into the Hungarian countryside and the National Park of Bukk. You will walk in the middle of the vineyards and other local cultures. The area is famous for having the best watermelons of Europe! You will cross several rivers and will shortly arrive at the village of Nosvaj, known for its many wine cellars. The place is harming and encourages a break by the waterside. You will then set out again north-west in an increasingly wooded zone in order to reach Felsötarkany, a lovely village full of vine-laden gardens and parks, which will be your stop for the night. There you will find a superb small lake, Szikla, in the middle of luxuriant vegetation. Approximately 5H30 of walking.

Day 4 Szilvásvárad After a copious Hungarian breakfast, you start your second excursion into the National Park of Bükk. It is a particularly well stocked area with game, where the largest specimens of stags and wild boars in Europe live in freedom. The luckiest will even be able to see shy moufflon. Leave Fesökartany and walk along the river under the cover of the beeches, ornbeams and oaks as you enter the woods. A few kilometres further, after having passed the watershed, you will reach a small lake from which a path enables you to visit an old prehistoric cave (Istallosko) where the remains of a cave bear were found. On the way, a museum of nature is accessible for free. The highlight of this day in the valley of Szalajka which has several lakes and cascades, is the waterfall running out "in a staircase" thus offering a very beautiful spectacle to hikers. Approximately 5H00 of walking.

Day 5 Répashúta Szilvásvárad is best known for its breeding of Lippizans horses which are a splendid white at adulthood. To leave the village you take the small train which crosses the valley. Your route will take you through bicentennial forests of beeches, near tombs, which are sad memories of the past wars and you will also be able to see limestone furnaces, for a long time left in a state of neglect. Some views will offer you splendid panoramas and will allow you to see the eagles and falcons which populate the area. In the south of Répashuta, your stop for the night, a small path enables you to reach the cave of Balla where the bones of a bear, hyena, buffalo and child as well as stone tools were discovered. Approximately 5H50 of walking.

Day 6 Lillafüred You will cross an astonishing specific karstic area and will have a panoramic sight of the calcareous outcrop. Lillafüred (12kms west of Mikolc) is in the heart of a small wooded valley where two torrents meet before flowing into a lake. The sight of the castle overhanging the lake is like a fairy tale. Here you can rent a small boat and relax on the lake. Lillafüred also has several beautiful cascades under the castle (now a grand hotel) as well as three caves of several hundred metres long, containing impressive stalactites that you can explore in optional guided tours. Approximately 6H00 of walking.

Day 7 Miskolc-Tapolca This last part of the excursion will bring you closer to civilisation. You will follow the peaks southward, while passing close to Bükkszentkereszt where you will go eastward and descend progressively until Miskolc Tapolca : a charming residential village centred around the thermal baths. Discover this thermal complex installed in natural caves. You will be able to rest from your week of excursions in an agreeably hot and slightly ‘radioactive’ water with all its beneficial effects. Approximately 4H30 of walking.

Day 8 Back to Budapest Today a transfer is organized to the station where you will go back to Budapest. Do not arrange a flight too early this day. You can book an extra-night in Budapest if you feel like visiting more.