15-Day Best of the Balkans

Land Tour

15 days

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15-Day Best of the Balkans
  • About
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  • Itinerary
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$AUD 797 per day

Departure: Zagreb, Croatia

Arrival: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Adventure

Private / Tailor made

Stretching from the Balkan Mountains right over to the Black Sea coast, the Balkans is a geographical area home to many countries and centuries of history. Covering seven countries, this 15-day Balkans holiday takes you through the highlights of six ex-Yugoslavian countries and neighbouring Albania. Having witnessed a turbulent recent history, these countries are waiting to be discovered. Soaked in natural beauty including stunning glacial lakes, rolling mountains and wonderful tumbling waterfalls, the Balkans is a wonderful place for nature lovers. For those that adore the cities and towns, this trip encompasses petite seaside towns with quaint cobblestone streets to vibrant cities steeped in architecture dating back to the Roman times. The Balkan Peninsula is a wonderful part of the world and now is the time to explore!
About
1 nights at Hotel Dubrovnik (4-star)
1 nights at Hotel Degenija (4-star)
1 nights at Hotel Luxe Split (4-star)
2 night at Hotel Neptun (4-star)
2 night at Hotel Cubo (4-star)
1 nights at Courtyard by Marriott Sarajevo (4-star)
2 night at Envoy Hotel (4-star)
1 nights at Hotel Solun (4-star)
1 nights at Villa St. Sofija (4-star)
1 nights at Sky Tower Hotel (4-star)
1 nights at Avala Resort & Villas (4-star)
14 nights accommodation
14 breakfasts
38 activities
Dubrovnik City Walls
Dubrovnik Cathedral
Zagreb
Diocletian's Palace
Ban Jelacic Square
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Split
Franciscan Monastery
Rector's Palace
Zagreb Cathedral
Bled Castle
Pletna Boat to Bled Island
Kotor
Bled
Postojna Cave
Lake Bohinj
Museum of Yugoslavia
Temple of Saint Sava
Belgrade Fortress
Novi Sad
Petrovaradin Fortress
Budva
Bay of Kotor
Sarajevo
Bascarsija
Sarajevo Cathedral
Stari Most
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Mostar
Belgrade
Cable Car to Mount Vogel
Jajce
Skopje
Ohrid
Tirana
Tunnel of Hope
Kruja
Saint Naum Monastery
Airport transfer
Entrance fees
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides

Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Zagreb
Upon landing in Zagreb, you'll meet with your local guide at the airport and begin your Balkans holiday with a drive to your hotel in Zagreb. After lunchtime, you'll visit the old town with its market, the beautiful Zagreb Cathedral and many beautiful parks and galleries throughout the city including the Ban Jelacic Square. You'll have the rest of the day to explore Zagreb how you wish to, sampling local delights as you go.
Day 2: Zagreb to Sarajevo via Jajce
After breakfast, you'll continue to Bosnia and Herzegovina, your next destination in the Balkans. En route to Sarajevo, you'll stop in Jajce which used to be capital of medieval Bosnian state. Here you'll visit one of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, the famous Pliva Waterfalls. You'll also visit the Jajce Citadel, the Mithraic Temple, Medvjed Kula, the Tower of St. Luke, the famous Catacombs and the Mosque of Esma Sultanija. In the later afternoon, you'll head to Sarajevo for the night.
Day 3: Sarajevo to Belgrade
In the morning, you'll explore the old streets of Sarajevo. Due to its long and rich history of religious and cultural variety, Sarajevo was sometimes called the "Jerusalem of Europe". Visit of Bascarsija district where East meets West and drive in the suburbs to visit Tunnel of Hope that saved the city during the longest modern-day city siege in the 1990s. In the evening, you'll continue to Belgrade for the night, the journey will take around 5 hours with regular stops to stretch.
Day 4: Discover Belgrade & Novi Sad
You'll start the day with a tour of Belgrade, visiting the old fortress as well as Kalemegdan, Knez Mihajlova Street, the Cathedral and you'll also drive to one of largest churches in the world, Saint Sava. You'll then continue on to Dedinje to visit the tomb of Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito, known as the House of Flowers, in the Museum of Yugoslavia. You'll then visit Novi Sad, a melting pot of ethnic groups and cultures boasting great views of the Danube from the Petrovaradin Fortress.
Day 5: Belgrade to Skopje
From Belgrade, you'll make the journey to Skopje in Macedonia which will take around five hours to reach. After lunch, you'll explore Skopje, visiting the old town with its famous stone bridge, Fort Kale and the Railway Clock. Skopje is still relatively unknown to travellers and those that do visit are drawn in by its quirky architecture and random sculptures which can be discovered as you wander around the town.
Day 6: Skopje to Ohrid
In the morning, you'll continue to Lake Ohrid which is half Albanian, half Macedonian, straddling the borders. Ohrid is a captivating and stunningly natural destination whose old town tumbles down the hill to the shores of the lake. Once home to 365 churches, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites to be declared as both a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Whilst here you'll also stop at St. Naum Monastery, just across the border to admire the beautiful monastery.
Day 7: Ohrid to Tirana
After breakfast, you'll head towards Tirana, the colourful capital city of Albania, well known for its vibrant Ottoman, Fascist and Soviet-era architecture. Upon arrival, you'll explore the town visiting the famous Skanderbeg Square and the National History Museum, whose historical objects date back to prehistoric times through to Communist rule and the anti-Communist uprisings of the 1990s. In the afternoon and evening, you'll have some free time to explore and soak up this vibrant capital.
Day 8: Tirana to Kruje to Budva
Today, you'll leave Tirana behind and continue to Kruja, a small town perched high on a mountain facing the Adriatic Sea known for its national hero, Skanderbeg who prevented the town coming under Ottoman rule during the 15th century. Here, you'll walk through the bazaar and visit the Skanderbeg Fort, today a national museum of Albania. Later, you'll continue to Budva, the most famous coastal site in Montenegro where you'll be staying overnight after exploring the city.
Day 9: Budva to Dubrovnik via Kotor
From Budva, you'll head to Kotor on the way to Dubrovnik. Just a short distance from Budva, Kotor is a stunning bay and medieval town steeped in beautiful natural scenery and bridge with medieval villages and towns. The best way to explore this area is to get out on a boat to admire the towns from the water and to also wander on foot throughout Kotor's old town. In the evening, you'll continue to the Pearl of Adriatic, Dubrovnik, your next destination.
Day 10: Explore Dubrovnik
Today, you'll have a full day to explore the most famous Croatian town of Dubrovnik with its mighty defensive walls along the coast. On the tour, you will walk through the old town on Stradun Street and along Onofrio's Fountain, visiting the Franciscan monastery and continuing towards the old harbour, past St. Blaise Church, the Rectors Palace and the Dubrovnik Cathedral. In the late afternoon, after some free time, you'll walk the perimeter of the city walls taking in one of the best views.
Day 11: Dubrovnik to Mostar to Split
After breakfast, you'll continue to Mostar with its Turkish style old town and famous bridge, known as Stari Most. Here you'll walk along the alleys that form the bazaar full of shops and market stalls and also visit the Old Bridge Museum. A narrow staircase leads to the terrace of Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque's for panoramic city views and where you can see the typical architecture of medieval Bosnia & Herzegovina. In the late afternoon, you'll drive to Split in Croatia, your next destination.
Day 12: Split to Zadar to Plitvice Lakes
In the morning, you'll experience the 'Roman way of life' by visiting the impressive Diocletian's Palace in Split among other great monuments. You'll then continue your tour to Plitvice Lakes National Park making a stop in Zadar en route. In Zadar, you'll have time to explore the fascinating cathedral and the St Donatus Church. You'll then continue your drive towards Plitvice Lakes National Park where you'll stay overnight before exploring the following day.
Day 13: Explore Plitvice Lakes, Postojna Cave & Ljubljana
After breakfast, you'll visit the UNESCO site of Plitvice Lakes, Croatia's most beautiful national park home to sixteen azure blue lakes connected by cascading waterfalls. You'll then continue to Slovenia, visiting Postojna Cave first, a natural 21-kilometre-long marvel and the number one must-see sight in Slovenia. In the late afternoon, you'll drive to Ljubljana where you'll stay for the night before exploring the following day.
Day 14: Discover Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj
In the morning, you'll drive towards Bled, the pearl of Julian Alps and epitome of Slovenian natural beauty. You'll spend a large part of the time here visiting Bled Castle which clings to the cliff overlooking the lake and taking a traditional boat ride to the island in the middle of the lake. You'll also have some free time to relax in the unique beauty of this region. You'll then continue to another Alpine lake, Bohinj, where you'll take a cable car to Mount Vogel to admire the view.
Day 15: Ljubljana Departure
Today is the final day of your Balkans holiday. After a leisurely breakfast and depending on your departure flight time, you may have some free time to explore the city of Ljubljana once more. When you're ready, your driver will transfer to the Ljubljana airport and wish you a safe onward journey.
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