Do you want to explore the Balkans? Every day waking up in another country? Explore the corners of the Ex-Yugoslavia? Visit UNESCO protected places? This escorted Grand Balkan tour offers you all this and more!
Day 1 (Tuesday): ARRIVAL – ZAGREB
Upon arrival at Zagreb airport, transfer to the hotel and meeting your guide for the upcoming grand Balkan tour. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 2 (Wednesday): ZAGREB – BLED
Breakfast. In the morning a guided tour of the city of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. You will stroll its historic city center and among other things see the Church of Saint Mark with its multi-coloured roof, the two-towered cathedral, the Croatian National Theater and the University. Free time before departure to the neighbouring country of Slovenia. There we will explore Lake Bled and its mountainous surroundings. Dinner and accommodation in Bled.
Day 3 (Thursday): BLED – LJUBLJANA – PLITVICE LAKES
After breakfast a local guide will show you around Ljubljana, home to one of the oldest Philharmonics in the world. Explore the baroque buildings of the town and stroll along the lovely Ljubljanica River. After the tour we will departure towards Plitvice Lakes National Park which is included in the UNESCO List. Dinner and accommodation near Plitvice.
Day 4 (Friday): PLITVICE – TROGIR – SPLIT
We will start the day by vising the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a natural phenomenon of rare and unique beauty. Take a walk among the sixteen lakes located on different levels and connected with a series of waterfalls. Later departure to picturesque sea-side town of Trogir, where we will visit the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence. Afterwards we continue to Split, the second largest city of Croatia. The main focus of the guided tour in Split will be the Diocletian’s Palace, a retirement residence of the Roman Emperor. Palace is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List and includes the Peristyle, the Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral. Dinner and accommodation in Split.
Day 5 (Saturday): SPLIT – MOSTAR – DUBROVNIK
After breakfast, departure to Dubrovnik. On the way, we’ll make a brief stop in Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina) famous for its elegant bridge over the green river Neretva connecting two ethnic groups living on the opposite banks. In the afternoon transfer to Dubrovnik. Along the way you will have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views of the Adriatic coast. Dinner and accommodation in Dubrovnik.
Explore six countries on our escorted Grand Balkan Tour
Day 6 (Sunday): DUBROVNIK
After breakfast enjoy a free day in Dubrovnik. You can spend the day on a small town beach, explore the nearby islands or make a daily excursion to the peninsula of Pelješac. For more recommendations see our Dubrovnik City Break. Dinner and accommodation in Dubrovnik.
Day 7 (Monday): DUBROVNIK – BUDVA – SHKODRA – TIRANA
Breakfast. The grand Balkan tour continues with a guided tour of Dubrovnik. Local guide will show you around its walled old town also featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among other notable sights you will pass are the Franciscan Monastery with the third oldest pharmacy in Europe, the Rector’s Palace and Dubrovnik’s cathedral. Later departure towards Montenegro where you will make a stop in Budva, known not just for beach tourism but also for its beautiful fortified old town from the Venetian period. Continuing to Shkodra on the Albanian side of the Skadar Lake. Its history dates back to the 3rd century BC, when Shkodra was the capital of the Kingdom of Illyria. By the end of the day you will reach Tirana, the capital of Albania. Dinner and accommodation in Tirana.
Day 8 (Tuesday): TIRANA – OHRID
Breakfast. In the morning, join a guided tour of Tirana and stroll through the Skanderbeg Square, the imposing Ethem Bey Mosque and visit to the National Museum, representing the flow of Albanian history and also home to the findings of archaeological sites from all over the country. In the afternoon departure to Ohrid, driving through Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Kafasan. Dinner and accommodation in Ohrid.
Day 9 (Wednesday): OHRID
Breakfast. Full day at Ohrid – arguably the prettiest town in the whole North Macedonia, whose old town has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage. The guided tour includes the Church of Saint Sofia (11th century), the most eminent medieval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and the Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon. In the afternoon, we will departure to the nearby St. Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Lake Ohrid in 900 AD and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Dinner at a local restaurant. Return to the hotel to spend the night in Ohrid.
Day 10 (Thursday): OHRID – SKOPJE
Breakfast. Morning departure to Skopje, the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. The guide will show you around the new city centre full of gigantic statutes and later take you across the historically significant Stone Bridge to old Turkish bazaar know as Čaršija. Later we’ll head to the slopes of Vodno Mountain, where we will visit the Monastery of Saint Panteleimom with its famous 12th century frescoes, which are among the highest achievements of Byzantine art. Dinner and accommodation in Skopje.
Day 11 (Friday): SKOPJE – KOLASIN
After breakfast departure to Kolašin, driving through Peć and Berane and through the impressive Morača River Canyon. In the afternoon arrival in Kolašin, the city that lies on the left bank of the Tara River, located at an altitude of 954 meters. The entire area is surrounded by the pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular ski and air-spa complex. Dinner and accommodation in Kolašin.
Day 12 (Saturday): KOLASIN – CETINJE – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK
Breakfast and departure in the Cetinje, where we will visit the Museum of King Nikola, the residence of the last king of Montenegro. Afterwards you will continue to Kotor, another historic town classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of the city. Later continue to Dubrovnik, driving along the picturesque Kotor Bay. Arrival in Dubrovnik, with dinner and accommodation.
Day 13 (Sunday): DUBROVNIK – DEPARTURE
After breakfast your grand Balkan tour comes to an end. Departure transfer to Dubrovnik airport for your return flight.
Send inquiry from 2.218,00 € per person
