Integral Sightseeing Tour with the Integral Community

A magical mystery tour in Budapest and Hungary

May 30–June 1

Budapest, a Must-See Gem of Europe

The Hungarian capital deserves to be called a city with a living history. A true gem of a city in the EU, Budapest has it all: from tribal red to medieval blue, from modern orange to postmodern green, it has a rich and thick memetic layer of history and culture. As a spa city, Budapest is more than the sum of its bathing facilities, as it offers a unique blend of Roman, Turkish and European bathing cultures. Budapest is no longer limited to restaurants, outdoor terraces and coffee houses, but features a cuisine consisting of a blend of traditional Hungarian flavours and the latest dining trends. Budapest is also a peaceful meeting point of religions and cultures, a coexistence of the spiritual heritage of East and West. It’s is a melting pot of wide-ranging subcultures, making it worth a visit—a familiar and safe metropolis with a human face that also offers a wealth of novelties, experiences and surprises for open-minded visitors.

REGSITER FOR THE TOUR

MONDAY

Bus pick-up at Marriott Hotel’s reception at 8 am

Andrássy Avenue & Heroes’ Square the Face of 19th Century Europe
9:00–10:00

Andrássy Avenue and its historical environs were added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2002. Belonging to the site are the buildings of the whole length of the avenue, including the Hungarian State Opera, the Millennium Underground, Heroes’ Square, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Gallery and the Millennium Monument. Andrássy Avenue also has the first underground metro of Europe; it all started here.

Visit the Buda Castle
10:00–12:30

Buda’s Castle District is rich in historic sights and attractions like the Royal Palace, the Matthias Church, medieval houses, interesting museums, charming crooked streets following the shape of the hill, as well as some good cafés and restaurants. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Besides the monuments, you get a breathtaking panorama of the Danube with the Chain Bridge and the Pest side of the city on the opposite side of the river.

Lunch at Grandma Nancsi’s Famous Restaurant with Authentic Cuisine
13:00–14:30

The owner of Náncsi Néni named his restaurant in memory of his grandmother and opened it with the aim of creating a space where guests would feel as if they were sitting in their grandmother’s kitchen. This place is the perfect summer destination, located in the tranquil suburbs and surrounded by residential properties, about 20 minutes from the city centre. In the warmer months, its huge terrace is always full of local families and couples. Set in an old farmhouse, Náncsi Néni evokes the atmosphere of 16th-century rural life, with rustic furniture and paintings, and a large garden with chequered tablecloths outside. The standard Magyar menu is spiced up with a few seasonal specials and a variety of Hungarian wines.

Amazing Views of Budapest and the Liberty Statue
15:00–16:00

After lunch we will have a light walk visiting one of the most beautiful views of the city from Gellért Hill’s top. The Citadel of Budapest is located here, which is now under reconstruction, but the viewpont is accessible. Also one of the defining landmarks of the city is the Liberty Statue that can be seen with a pleasant stroll on top of the hill, in the middle of Budapest.

Bathing in “Rudas,” Ancient Thermal Bath of Hungary, a Favourite of Locals
16:00–19:00

Let’s get rejuvenated in the healing waters of the ancient thermal Rudas Bath, which has been in use since the 12th century. An absolute must experience in Budapest! The Rudas Bath is found at the foot of Gellért Hill on the bank of the Danube River at Elisabeth Bridge, and gets its fresh 37-45 degrees Celsius waters from 21 underground hot springs. Rich in minerals, locals use it not only for recreation but also for medical healing. It has been popular with locals and foreign visitors for 600 years, and being so popular now it is often impossible to get in if you just show up, so we will get your tickets in advance. It is also the personal favourite of the Hungarian members of the IEC team. The Turkish baths were built at the time of the Ottoman occupation in the 16th century, while the spa complex was added at the end of the 19th century. While making renovations retaining the original Ottoman 16th century Turkish bath atmosphere, they also added a modern, panoramic new wing with a huge communal jacuzzi pool, where you can soak in bubbling water in the open air while enjoying breathtaking views of the heart of the city.

A Sunset Boat Tour with Community Dinner on the Danube River
20:00–22:30

We will set sail and cruise on the Danube River at sunset on the stylish Rhapsody Boat, exclusively rented to our IEC community! You will have the chance to enjoy a relaxed dinner while admiring the views of the city as its bridges, castles, Parliament Building and houses light up for the evening. It is truly one of the most beautiful ways to enjoy Budapest, as most of its historical sights and natural beauties are situated along the two banks of the wide river. A buffet dinner will include vegetarian options as well.
REGSITER FOR THE TOUR

TUESDAY

Bus pick-up at Marriott Hotel’s reception at 8 am

Bus Ride with Information on Society and Culture
8:00–10:00

During a 2-hour bus ride to southwest Hungary, while enjoying seeing the countryside, you’ll also have a chance to learn about Hungarian and European realities that you usually don’t get through news and guide books. Learn in-person from IEC’s director and Integral Academy’s founder Bence Gánti and his friends, András Pápai and Márk Vágó, about past and current economic, political and societal realities through integral stage lenses. Listen also to local stories with an integral narrative about life and the experience of living in Central Europe in the EU today.

The Hungarian Traditions Experience: Visit a Traditional Village with Live Music, Dance, Food and Handicrafts
10:00–14:00

Karád village is situated in the famous Somogy region, a hilly area of ancient traditions. The village is one of those rare ones that has preserved its traditional lifestyle throughout the centuries. The villagers will demonstrate their customs and traditions to our integral community.

Visit a Traditional Central European Church with Live Organ Music

The 500-year-old church was built in the 1600s, and has one of the most well known ancient organs of Central Europe, on which the local cantor will play for us.

With Horse-drawn Carriages to the Hunting Lodge

A short horse carriage ride will allow us to feel into the scenerey that will take us to the local hunter’s lodge.

Local Artisans, Embroidering Women and Their Ancient Dresses

Local craftsmen will show us their folkcrafts, and women will demonstrate their still-living traditional art of embroidery.

Experience Local Dances with a Live Folk Band—You Can Even Try It

Then we will take part in a traditional Hungarian dance workshop with live music. Here we can learn the basics and experience the power of communal dances that has kept the warmth of community for a thousand years in the heart of Europe.

Hungarian Specialities: Traditional Food and Drinks on the Terrace of the Karad Hunting Lodge

Lunch together with Hungarian specialties—deer goulache or vegetarian bean goulache, strudels, wine and pálinka tasting—on the terrace of the Karád hunting lodge.

Bus ride to Kassai-valley
14:00–15:00

Meet in-person Kassai,
the World’s Leading Hun Archery Master

A Spiritual Journey to Kassai-valley
15:00–17:30

“A world-famous Hungarian horseback archer opens his doors to the integral community, demonstrating the ancient Hun shooting and spiritual training system, followed by a round table conversation. Kassai created the world federation of this unique art, and his ancient tribal bows and arrows are used worldwide, also in Bhutan. His students include Arabic kings, Matt Damon and many sport associations in the EU, US and Asia. Kassai has become a supporter of the integral approach, recognizing the necessity of integrating ancient, modern and postmodern in a unifying frame.

Seeing the famous Lake Balaton
17:30–19:00

Lake Balaton is Hungary’s second most visited destination after Budapest for a good reason; it’s an absolute must-see. It is not only Hungary’s but one of Europe’s main summer vacation destinations, an 80 km long, 600 km2 surface sweetwater lake, the largest in Central Europe. Locals call it “The Hungarian Sea”. Also, normally (at non-Covid times), this is where IECs take place. It is a romantic spot, and also a hideaway for many well known people from both East and West. Besides the many Hungarian poets and artists who visit here, Joe Biden had his honeymoon here, Fidel Castro owned a villa, Pablo Neruda and the band Queen used it as a vacation spot, and Rabindranath Tagore was healed here - just to name a few. During the socialist era between the sixties and the eighties, Balaton was also the place for East and West Germans to meet up, somethig they couldn’t do at home! Many love relationships were formed, not only between East and West Germans, but also between Hungarians, Germans, Czechs, Slovaks and Poles, all of whom used Balaton for their summer vacations. In the Hungarian mind, if you don’t yet have a partner, you dream about summer, when you’ll go to Balaton and finally find the love of your life. We will do a short, mind emptying, presencing nature contact with the lake.

A Cozy Dinnner Above Lake Balaton at the Majthényi Winery
19:30–21:00

The final stop of the day is a pleasant hillside spot at the Majthényi Family Winery and Restaurant. On its terrace we will wind down in good company, and enjoy sweeping vistas of the lake and its natural surroundings.

Bus ride back to hotel
21:00–22:00

REGSITER FOR THE TOUR

WEDNESDAY

Bus pick-up at Marriott Hotel’s reception at 8 am

Bus Journey to the Danube Bend
8:00–9:00

Today we will visit the Danube Bend area of Hungary, a scenic, mountainous terrain where Europe’s largest river (the Danube) has its biggest change of direction on the continent, turning from west to east to south. Besides connecting with the river in this lovely natural setting, we will visit the sacred mountains of Pilis to meditate and sense this power place, followed by a visit to the most famous medieval castle in Hungary.

The Sacred Site of Dobogókő - Mountaintop View, Forest Walk and Quiet Meditation
9:00–11:30

Dobogókő is both a hiking destination and an outstanding spiritual energy center of Hungary situated in the Pilis Mountains. Not only do Hungarian spiritual practitioners come here, but also yogis, lamas, and shamans visit the site regularly from all parts of the world, offering ceremonies and retreats. We will have a refreshing walk in the lush forest, stopping for a meditation where you can immerse yourself in nature, in deep silence, and in the intense bioenergy field.

A Scenic Bus Ride to Esztergom, the Danube and Visegrád
11:30 –13:00

Esztergom Town and the Basilica

Esztergom was the capital of Hungary from the time of Hungary’s birth with King Saint Stephen in the 10th century until the mid-13th century, when the capital was moved to the Buda Castle, later joined by Pest in the 19th century, becoming Budapest. Esztergom sits on the Danube’s bank, right on the border with Slovakia. It is the location of Hungary’s largest church, the Esztergom Bazilika, which is also the main seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary (seat of the Primate).

Connect with the Danube

We will stop at the Danube River and contemplate in silence for a few minutes, feeling the water and its natural surroundings. Here we will connect with the river outside of the built city context, in its original, natural form.

Lunch at the Medieval Renaissance Restaurant with Fun Costumes
13:00–14:30

A warm atmosphere with a medieval style lunch from the region installed in the Renaissance Restaurant, all coming from the era of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490. It is a fun place to be and eat just like being on a film set!

Visiting the Visegrád Castle
15:00–16:30

Visegrád is a small medieval town on the shore of the Danube, in the heart of the Danube Bend region, famous for the remains of the Early Renaissance summer palace of King Matthias Corvinus and the medieval citadel on top of the mountain above Visegrád town, called “Visegrádi Vár”, the Visegrad Castle. The castle is not only the main defining element of the Danube Bend scenery, but also a cultural-historical experience, one of the must-sees of Hungary. It also offers breathtaking views of the whole Danube Bend area.

Bus ride back to Budapest
16:30–18:00

Closing Ceremony in the Garden of Philosophers on Gellért Hill
16:30–18:00

We will conclude our journey in the Garden of Philosophers statue park on Gellért Hill in Budapest, where at the feet of Ghandi, Buddha, Christ and Lao-Tzu, surrounded by greenery and singing birds, we will join in a short closing circle and farewell, ending our crazy and beautiful journey of IEC 2022.
REGSITER FOR THE TOUR
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is empty
    Continue Shopping
      Apply Coupon