Europe's largest freshwater lake, known as 'The Sea of the Hungarians', covers nearly 600sq m and is a tourist paradise. The hills on the northern shore are cultivated with vineyards, while the southern shore has excellent beaches and shallow water. The plentiful resorts focus on a range of watersports and cycling, and offer interesting sights, shopping and particularly good restaurants and cafés.

The coach travels along the M7 and route 71 to Balatonfüred.

This stop is the lake's oldest resort and spa, with a sanatorium known as the 'Mecca of those with heart diseases'. An elegant town, it has an easy going atmosphere and is relatively uncommercialised.

After a walk round Balatonfüred you board the coach and travel on to the peninsula town of Tihany.

Tihany's nature reserve is the first of its kind in Hungary and is home to a huge variety of wildlife. A visit to the Benedictine monastery is next. This fascinating abbey, built in 1055, houses the famous Latin Charter, the first written relic of the Hungarian language.

After lunch you board a ferry for a ride across the lake. On your return there is wine tasting at one of the hotels.