17days Balkans Tour from Sofia to Bucharest

Enjoy a guided tour of the Balkans and discover more than 15 Unesco World heritage sites in 9 contries: Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Hungary. You will have the comfort of a small group , modern transportation with a air-conditioned minivan and a professional driver/tourleader that will make this experience unforgettable.

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1 – Sunday – Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA + MACEDONIA

Pass By: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
Pick-up in the morning at 9 a.m. from your hotel.

Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria
Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) and founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila ) , a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church . The monastery , one of the largest in the Balkans , was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1000 years . Our tour includes a visit to the Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Continue to south to the Bulgarian – Macedonian border . In the early evening we will arrive in Skopje , the capital of Macedonia . Orientation tour of Skopje before arriving to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Skopje.


Day 2: Day 2 – Monday – Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA

Stop At: Old Bazaar, Skopje, Skopje Republic of North Macedonia
Enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa ) , with its most important landmarks : quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar”, the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar (is the biggest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today ), the Memorial house of Mother Teresa , the 1500 years old fortress Kale , Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horse
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Lake Ohrid, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Continue to Ohrid ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) situated on the banks of the lake with the same name , perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the old city center are testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. The walking tour of the old city center will include the narrow streets and squares , the Anchient Theater , discover the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church ) , Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress and pedestrian shopping street .
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Ohrid.


Day 3: Day 3 – Tuesday – Ohrid – Bay of Bones – St Naum – Tirana – Kruja (210 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA

Stop At: Bay of the Bones Museum, Gradiste, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
After breakfast departure to the Museum on Water called also the Bay of Bones, an exceptional archeological complex and a reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 BC.A Roman military fortification
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Monastery of Saint Naum, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Next will head to the amazing monastery of St.Naum, built on a rock that offers a great view of the Ohrid Lake and experience a small rowing boat ride to the springs of Black Drimm river.
!! Please keep in mind that the boat ride can be done only from April to September and is conditioned by the weather. It is still possible to see the lake from the shore but you won’t get a deeper view of it.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Skanderbeg Square, Sheshi Skënderbej, Tiranë, Albania
Continue the tour and crossing the Macedonian – Albanian border driving to Tirana, capital of Albania . The walking tour of city center of Tirana will reveal the main tourist attractions : Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg , National History Museum , Palace of Culture, National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg’s statue
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
In the evening we will arrive in Kruja . The name and the importance of the city are attributed to the national hero of Albania, George Castriot Skanderbeg, who made Kruja a fortress of resistance against the Turkish Ottoman empire for more than 25 years in the 15th century . Orientation tour of Kruja before arriving to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Kruja.


Day 4: Day 4 – Wednesday – Kruja – Budva – Kotor (190 km) ALBANIA+MONTENEGRO

Stop At: Kruja Castle, Near Tirana, Kruje 1501 Albania
Visit the Kruja Castle, the headquarter of “the Dragon of Albania” . Enjoy a visit of the Kruja Castle Museum for a short lesson of Albanian history than discover the local souvenir market of the local traditional Old Bazaar
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Budva City Walls, Old Town, Budva, Budva Municipality 85310 Montenegro
Visit Budva – Montenegro , crossing the Albanian – Montenegro border and stop to visit the Old Town and show you the most important spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s street, marina, Mediternaska Street and Slovenska Plaza
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Kotor Old City, Stari grad, Kotor, Kotor Municipality 85330 Montenegro
In the evening we will arrive in Kotor and discover the fortified old town – Stari Grad ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) .
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Kotor.


Day 5: Day 5 – Thursday – Kotor Bay Tour – Dubrovnik (150 km) MONTENEGRO + CROATIA

Stop At: Bay of Kotor, Kotor, Kotor Municipality Montenegro
Kotor Bay Tour : Perast (boat trip to Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks), Tivat & Porto Montenegro
!! Please keep in mind that the boat trip to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks depends on the
weather and in case of bad weather (for ex: strong wind, storm, ecc) it is possible that we will see the Church only from the shore as a caution for your safety.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Continue the tour and cross the border to Croatia and head to Dubrovnik. “The Pearl of the Adriatic:”, Explore the Old Town also part of Unesco Heritage, via Onofrio’s Fountain and up Prijeko Street to the Old Port – the key to Dubrovnik’s trading and maritime success.
!! After check-in in Lapad-Dubrovnik you will take a 10 minutes ride with a local bus (own expenses) together with the tour manager to reach the old town of Dubrovnik
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Lapad - Dubrovnik


Day 6: Day 6 – Friday – Dubrovnik

Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Free time for yourself in wich you can choose through many possibilities offered by local operators to admire better the surroundings like: Boat Trip to the beautiful Elafiti Islands or discover the natural beauty of the Blue Cave and the options don’t stop here. The tour manager will help you with indications regarding the tours. If you prefer to relax you can stroll on the promenade from Lapad or just lay down on the beach and enjoy the Adriatic sea.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Lapad - Dubrovnik


Day 7: Day 7 – Saturday – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Split (300 km) CROATIA + BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA

Stop At: Old Bridge (Stari Most), Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
After breakfast we will head to Bosnia – Herzegovina and after we will cross the border we will visit the beautiful city of Mostar with its Old Bridge Area and the old city, part of Unesco Heritage
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: The Peristyle of Diocletian's Palace, Dioklecijanova Ulica, Split 21000 Croatia
Next, we will cross the border back to Croatia and arrive in one of the most important cities at the Adriatic Seat: Split. Visit the 4th century Diocletian’s Palace and city’s historical center also listed on Unesco’s heritage.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Split.


Day 8: Day 8 – Sunday – Split - Plitvice Lakes (260 km)

Stop At: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Central Croatia
After breakfast , we will head to the Oldest National Park from Croatia that is also part of Unesco heritage. We will enjoy a walking tour in the nature and discover the amazing colours of the Natural Park that are ranging from azure to green, grey or blue depending on the sunlight.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Korenica close to Plitvice National Park.
!! Please keep in mind that the visit of Plitvice Lakes is conditioned by the weather and in case of bad weather the National Park administration can take the decision to close it. We aren’t responsible in this case but we will do our best if possible to make some slight changes to the itinerary if the next day the weather will get better, respecting all the visits included in the itinerary. The tour manager will decide and choose the best solution for the group keeping in mind also your safety.
!! Please keep in mind that the visit of Plitvice Lakes is conditioned by the weather and in case of
bad weather the National Park administration can take the decision to close it. We aren’t
responsible in this case but we will do our best if possible to make some slight changes to the
itinerary if the next day the weather will get better, respecting all the visits included in the itinerary.
The tour manager will decide and choose the best solution for the group keeping in mind also your
safety.

Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Korenica close to Plitvice National Park.


Day 9: Day 9 – Monday – Plitvice – Postojna – Ljubljana (290 km) CROATIA + SLOVENIA

Stop At: Postojna Cave, Jamska cesta 30, Postojna 6230 Slovenia
After breakfast we will head to the border of Slovenia. Explore the largest show-cave in Europe, the Postojna Cave with an electrical train, a touristic attraction that you can’t miss it , thanks to its natural beauty. In the late evening we will arrive in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ljubljana Old Town, Ljubljana Slovenia
Orientation tour in Ljubljana.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Ljubljana.


Day 10: Day 10 – Tuesday – Ljubljana – Zagreb (140 km) SLOVENIA + CROATIA

Stop At: Ljubljana Old Town, Ljubljana Slovenia
After breakfast , enjoy walking tour in wich you will discover the main tourist attractions of Ljubljana city center : Congress Square, the National University Library, the New Square, and Cobbler’s Bridge, main square with the Prešeren monument, Franciscan Church, and Three Bridges , Old Square, the river promenade, the Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Open Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, and Dragon Bridge.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Zagreb, Zagreb, Central Croatia
Next, we will head to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb where we will discover this magical city. Explore Zagreb’s Upper Town and Lower Town districts on this walking tour—enjoy fine city views from the Strossmayer Promenade. Discover top attractions including the Lotrščak Tower, St Catherine’s Church, the Stone Gate and the seat of the Croatian Parliament. Then, descend via Tkalčićeva Street to the Lower Town and head through Dolac Market to medieval Kaptol. Admire traditional architecture in Ban Jelačić Square.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Zagreb.


Day 11: Day 11 – Wednesday – Zagreb – Belgrad (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA

Stop At: Belgrade, Belgrade
After breakfast we will head to Serbia and in the afternoon we will arrive to Belgrad, capital of Serbia. Visit the Republic Square, the National theater and the National museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan park, Belgrade fortress, „Victor“ the most famous symbol of Belgrade and the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Belgrad.


Day 12: Day 12 – Thursday – Belgrad – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY

Stop At: Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Vojvodina
After breakfast , departure to Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad where we will visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad and obligatory sight for any tourists, not least for the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. We will see also y – Dunavska, street with its long line of single-storied 19th century houses. The Danube embankment, the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the other bank.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
In the evening we will arrive to Budapest ,`´ The Queen of Danube “ , capital of Hungary .
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Budapest.


Day 13: Day 13 – Saturday – Budapest HUNGARY

Stop At: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
Free time in Budapest in wich you can discover by yourself this magical city and see the iconic statues of Heroes’ Square, the Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover also St. Stephen’s Basilica, Dohány Street Synagogue and the beautiful Castle District in Buda.

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Budapest.


Day 14: Day 14 - Saturday - Budapest - Timisoara (320km) HUNGARY+ROMANIA

Stop At: Timisoara Historical Center, Timisoara 300003 Romania
Timisoara, a very charming city for its architectural features for many Turkish, Serbian, Austrian and German elements, which will become the European Capital of Culture in 2021
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4* hotel in Timisoara.


Day 15: Day 15 - Sunday - Timisoara – The Corvini Castle – Alba Iulia – Sibiu (320 km)

Stop At: Castelul Corvinilor, Strada Castelului 1-3, Hunedoara 331141 Romania
In the morning we will visit the most fascinating gothic castle in Eastern Europe and one of the most beautiful and greatest of our continent, the famous Corvin Castle
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Cetatea Alba Iulia, Calea Motilor, nr. 5A, Alba Iulia 510134 Romania
Visit Alba Iulia, an important city from a historical point of view, because the Great United Romania was made here on December 1st, 1918, so immediately after the First World War
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sibiu, Sibiu, Sibiu County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit Sibiu, a beautiful medieval city where Romanians and Saxons have been living peacefully for centuries and where the various religious monuments (Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants) demonstrate this peaceful coexistence. Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture in 2007 and hosts an extraordinary theater festival every year. The city fascinates thanks to its three squares (Big Square, Small and Huet Square ) that transport tourists in a real medieval atmosphere. Its towers and its 15th century bastions, but also its beautiful museums and the famous “houses with the eyes” give the visitor lovely moments. Also in Sibiu you will see one of the largest gothic evangelical churches in Transylvania.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Sibiu.


Day 16: Day 16 - Monday - Sibiu – Sighisoara – Brasov (210km)

Stop At: Centrul Istoric Sighisoara, Piata Cetatii Nr.1 Center of Sighisoara, Sighisoara 545400 Romania
Visit Sighisoara, with its imposing Clock Tower. This citadel is the best preserved in Europe and, extraordinary, it is still inhabited. Since 1999 the historic center of Sighisoara is a UNESCO heritage site. Here we will admire the church on the hill, reachable after a wooden staircase called the schoolchildren’s ladder. We will also see the statue of the famous Hungarian national poet Petofi Sandor, testifying to the fact that in Sighisoara the Magyar community was in the past numerically important. Next to the statue is the beautiful Catholic church, reserved for the Hungarian community, and the tower of the shoemakers. You can have lunch at the house where Vlad the Impaler was born (not included)
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Brasov, Brasov, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Visit Brasov, a wonderful Transylvanian town, once entirely fortified, an important cultural, tourist and commercial center. Brasov impresses with its typically German architecture, where the Gothic, the Baroque and the Renaissance intersect to give life to an interesting and culturally very lively city. Visit of the First Romanian School, which is located in the oldest district of the city, and which was inhabited exclusively by Romanians, the Schei district, interesting for the entrances into the city that were carried out in medieval times through the Caatherine’s and Schei Gate, quest last of the nineteenth century. In Brasov we will also visit the impressive Black Church, the largest evangelical Gothic church in Eastern Europe, with a 65 meter high bell tower and a length of 90 meters, the church houses the most beautiful nineteenth-century mechanical organ of Romania. We will then admire the palaces and houses of the historic center, recently restored, with the Council Square which now houses a beautiful museum, and the pedestrian Avenue of the Republic.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Brasov.


Day 17: Day 17 - Tuesday - Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest (180 km)

Stop At: Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle), Str. General Traian Mosoiu nr. 24, Bran 507025 Romania
Visit Bran where we will visit the famous Bran Castle, better known as Dracula’s Castle. In the Middle Ages, Bran was exactly on the border between Wallachia and Transylvania, so it was essential for the inhabitants of Brasov to build and preserve a defensive stronghold
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Peles Castle, Str. Pelesului 2, Sinaia 106100 Romania
Visit to the fabulous Peles Castle, the summer residence of the first king of Romania, the King Charles 1 of Hohenzollern, of German origins. The castle was beautifully designed by a Czech architect, and is famous for being one of the most modern castles in Europe at the time of its construction, between the 19th and 20th centuries. Each room is characterized by a unique style, different from the styles of the other rooms. We will also admire the Florentine room, where we will breathe a typically Italian and Renaissance atmosphere.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.

Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"A minimum of 4 participants is required to organise the tour. If the tour it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund"
"A current valid passport is required on the day of travel"
"Near public transportation"
"No heart problems or other serious medical conditions"
"!! In case you will need a transfer to the airport or any other extra services please ask the tour manager in advance if it is possible to organize it and let you know also the price."
" The order can be changed based on multiple factors like weather, traffic conditions and restrictions, national holidays, ecc but all the visits will be done as indicated in the itinerary, changing just the order keeping in mind that all this is done for your safety or to make more enjoyable your tour."
" In case that all the members of the tour have a special request to see something else that it is not in the itinerary and it requests also extra miles the tour manager after a discussion with our sales department will let you know the extra cost or if we can make it complimentary."
"!! This tour is a easy walking tour (moderate peace) for persons with a good general fit condition. It requires some small effort like: carrying your own bag on just some steps to get into the hotel (mostly of the hotels have also an elevator), and also some average effort like: walking tours from 2 hours to 4/5 hours (from 1 km to 7 km) depending on the sites visited. To have a better idea: Sofia walking tour: 1,5 hours = 4 km, Skopje Walking Tour: 1,5 hours = 3 km ; Plitvice Lakes: 3 hours = 6 km"
"Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level"
"Face masks provided for travelers"
"Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff"
"Social distancing enforced throughout experience"
"Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas"
"Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized"
"Guides required to regularly wash hands"
"Regular temperature checks for staff"
"Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival"
"Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms"
"Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons"
"A current valid passport is required on the day of travel"
"This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund"
"This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"



Start Time: 08:30 AM
Duration: 17 Days
Start location: Traveler pickup is offered
Departure at 09.00 a.m. from your hotel or indicated address

Cancellations and refunds: If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

Included

• 16 nights accommodation in 3/4* hotels
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan for the entire tour
• Professional tour leader that will be also the driver
• Local tour guide for the entire tour in Romania
• Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
• 16x Breakfast
• Accommodation included: 16 nights

Not Included

• Tips for driver/ tour guide
• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Entrance fees at museums/churches

Facilities