Grande Exploring Balkan Tour

Get acquainted with the Romanian capital known as Little Paris, on a sightseeing tour. Visit the Parliament Palace, one of the largest buildings in the world and a National Treasure. Learn how the Romanian people finally succeeded in toppling the last communist dictator in Eastern Europe at the Revolution Square. The tour will also bring you to the Romanian Athenaeum, the Opera House, the National Military Club, the Military Academy, the Triumphal Arch, and the Village Museum. The rest of the day is free. (B)

Depart Bucharest towards the beautiful 17th-century Sinaia Monastery and visit Peles Castle, built as the summer residence of King Carol I. Head to Bran for a visit to Bran Castle, made famous by Bram Stoker’s novel as the residence of the sinister vampire, Count Dracula. Continue toward Brasov for the night. (B, D)

Start the morning in Brasov with a walking tour including the  First  Romanian  School  Museum, which houses an impressive collection of rare books, documents, and art. Continue to Sighisoara, the best-preserved medieval city in southeastern Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Clock Tower Museum on a city tour. End the day in Sibiu – once the richest town in Transylvania. See the Huet Square, the Great Square, the Evangelical Cathedral, Liar’s Bridge, and more. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a local farmhouse in the Village of Sibiel. Return to Sibiu for the night. (B, D)

Continue your journey through Hunedoara, where you will visit one of the largest castles in Europe – the Corvinesti Castle. Then, travel to Drobeta Turnu- Severin for an orientation tour before check-in. Get settled for dinner and an overnight stay. (B, D)

Drive towards the Djerdap, and cross the border of Serbia. Take a cruise through the gorge and view the most beautiful sections of the Danube River. Continue to Golubac Fortress to see visit the fortified ten-tower town located on the hill slope, overlooking the river. End the day in Belgrade, Serbia. (B, D)

After breakfast, embark on a full-day excursion from Belgrade. Our first stop is Krusedol Monastery, founded in the early 16th century and considered one of Serbia’s most significant monasteries. Continue to the picturesque town of Sremski Karlovci – known for its baroque and neoclassical architecture. After an orientation tour, we will visit one of the famous local wineries for lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards, explore the intriguing Petrovaradin Fortress, with its underground trenches and tunnels. Our last stop is the city of Novi Sad, where you’ll have a quick orientation tour and some free time before returning to your hotel in Belgrade. (B, L)

Start your morning with a city sightseeing tour including a  visit to the imposing  Kalemegdan Fortress, strategically located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. Discover Republic Square, Knez Mihailova Street, Saint Sava Temple (the largest Orthodox Church in the city), and Tito’s Memorial. Continue to Avala. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. In the afternoon, you have the option to join an excursion to Topola, where George Petrovic, also known as Karadjordje, was chosen as the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. A short drive away is St. George’s Church, also known as Oplenac, the burial place of the Ducal and Royal Family of Serbia and Yugoslavia. After a lunch break (not included), we will return to Belgrade. The evening is yours to enjoy. (B, D)

After breakfast, travel towards Zagreb, Croatia. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay. (B, D)

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and the Government Palace. The rest of the day is yours to explore the winding streets of the old town or join us for an optional excursion to see the countryside. (B)

After breakfast, head towards Ljubljana – the capital of Slovenia. Take a walking tour to see the most significant sights of the old city center. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba’s Fountain. Then, continue to Bled. (B, D)

Bled, an Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, was “discovered” by travelers in the middle of the 19th century. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the lakeshore and charming town, and visit the imposing Bled Castle – perched on a cliff high above the lake. The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring. Browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply relax in the enchanting scenery. Join us for an optional excursion to the small island in the middle of the lake. (B)

Continue to Postojna – home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward, continue to the coast and have a stop in Opatija. Enjoy a walking tour of this fashionable resort from the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg-era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes. (B, D)

After breakfast, have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. The breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder includes sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split. (B, D)

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then see the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy the beach, or join us on an Optional Excursion to the Jet Set spot of the rich and famous – the island of Hvar. (B)

After breakfast, travel to Dubrovnik. The rest of the day is yours to explore. (B, D)

After breakfast, take a walking tour of Old Dubrovnik. Visit Rector’s Palace and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando’s Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and the Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy – one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free to continue exploring Dubrovnik. Otherwise, join an Optional Excursion to a home-hosted dinner in Dubelj. (B)

After breakfast, our journey takes us to Montenegro, with a view of Kotor Bay – the only South European fiord. Take a tour of the old town of Kotor, a UNESCO heritage Site. Continue to Tivat, Montenegro for the night. (B, D)

After breakfast, drive through Budva and Bar towards the town of Shkodra – a major Albanian cultural center. Shkodra was the center of the Illyrian tribe Labeat and was taken by the Romans in 168 B.C. View the Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city. Continue the drive to Tirana, Albania. (B, D)

On a morning sightseeing tour, see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square), the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg – Albania’s national hero. Visit the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its facade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring. Visit local shops, and restaurants, or simply relax. (B)

On a morning sightseeing tour, see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square), the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg – Albania’s national hero. Visit the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its facade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring. Visit local shops, and restaurants, or simply relax. (B)

After breakfast, admire the fantastic landscapes of Meteora – known as the rocks that fell from the sky, where monks built their rock-top monasteries far away from civilization. Out of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are now active. We will visit either Roussanou or the Great Meteoro*. Continue to Kalambaka, Greece for dinner and an overnight stay. (B, D)

Your first stop is Delphi – where the famous Oracle once foretold the destiny of men. Visit the temple of Apollo which was built in the 6th century. Visit the Sacred Way, the Stadium, and the Castalian Fountain – where pilgrims cleansed themselves in preparation for consulting the Oracle. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which contains an impressive collection of finds from the site, including the beautiful Bronze Charioteer. Continue our journey to Athens. (B)

Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of the highlights of Athens, Greece. Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon – said to be the most perfectly proportioned building of all time. Next, visit the Erectheion with the Porch of the Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Wingless Victory. Below the Acropolis lies the Ancient Agora and the Theaters of Dionysus and Herodus Atticus. The rest of the day is free to continue exploring on your own. In the evening, join us for a Farewell Taverna Dinner in the Plaka – located beside the Acropolis. (B, D)

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and transfer to Athens airport for your departure. (B)

Note: Because of the narrow and cobbled streets, walking is the primary way of getting around. Please make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes.