Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
This is quite a challenging trek and the distances were slightly more than the trip notes. Plenty of steep ups and downs and poles definitely needed. Having said that the scenery is stunning and the trip balanced well. The hut accommodation is pretty comfortable and warm and more of a hostel really with outdoor loos. The huts also provide crocs so no real need to carry spare footwear if you want to save weight and space in your day rucksack.
Travel across the border from Belgrade through the heart of Transylvania to Bucharest on this 11-day Premium adventure. From medieval fortresses and fairytale castles to vampiric lore and cobbled Old Towns, this journey will reveal Romania’s top sights and lesser-known charms. Travel through endless mountain scenery, visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, descend into an otherworldly salt mine, tour a winery known for its sparkling rose, wander through Transylvanian Saxon villages and spend a night in the Szekler Mansion.
Journey from Bucharest to Dubrovnik on the 'Balkan Peninsula' tour, an 8-day city sightseeing trip tailored for senior travelers. Discover the rich culture of Romania and Croatia, with comfortable hotels, reliable transport, and meals included. The unique advantage of this tour is its direct route connecting two of Eastern Europe’s most captivating cities, all while maintaining a gentle pace ideal for mature explorers.
Discover the magic of Southeastern Europe on this 9-day adventure tour from Athens to Bucharest. Geared towards seniors, the easy pace allows you to enjoy landmark cities such as Sofia, Kalabaka, and Sandansky, with visits to Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. Accommodations, meals, and transport are all arranged for a seamless experience. The highlight of this trip is the opportunity to traverse three countries in under two weeks, offering a compact yet thorough cultural journey.
This was a tough but thoroughly enjoyable trip in a very beautiful part of the world. The challenging grade is about right; be prepared for a lot of rocky steep ascent and descent including a fair amount of scrambling and using fixed cables/chains. Some parts (particularly the ascent to La Om on Day 4 and the ridge along the top) are pretty exposed. There is a good mix of tougher and somewhat easier days to break things up with some nice forest and meadow sections. The reward is some amazing scenery in a relatively unspoilt part of the world. The whole trip was very well organised and accommodation at Villa Hermani was very clean and comfortable, with friendly hosts and great food. The mountain huts were a good experience but be prepared for very basic toilet and sanitary facilities.
Good introductory tour to the Balkans. Need a bus-seat rotation plan to prevent some passengers from hogging the good seats. Choose buses that provide USB charging ports. Avoid less organised hotels where coffee and food runs out, such as in Hotel Marinela in SOFIA and Hotel Panorama in Veliko Tarnovo. Choose hotels that serve breakfast early, at least at 7:00AM, e.g. Panorama in Veliko Tarnovo serves breakfast only at 7:30AM and tour leaves at 8AM, not enough time. Choose hotels that provide express-laundry services as we do not have time to look for laundromats elsewhere. When arriving too early at a city to check-in at hotel, do not waste time unloading bags first, directly go on city tour then come back at check-in time. Maybe reduce a day from Bulgaria or Croatia and add at least a day more in Serbia, which is rich in history. If possible design a new tour to cover all Balkan states and add Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.
Athens, Zagreb, Timisoara, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Split, Opatija, Ljubljana, Kalabaka, Sandanski, Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Bucharest, Sighisoara
Set off on a 15-day adventure from Athens to Dubrovnik, traveling through Greece, Croatia, and Bosnia Herzegovina. Perfect for senior explorers, this trip features an easy activity level and covers classic destinations such as Sofia and Dubrovnik, alongside hidden gems. With hotel stays, transportation, and meals included, you can focus on the journey’s enriching experiences. The unique selling point is the comprehensive cross-country route, allowing travelers to savor the Balkans’ diversity in comfort and style.
Picture yourself journeying from the cradle of Western civilization to the vibrant heart of Serbia. 'From Athens to Belgrade' is a 12-day adventure specifically designed for seniors seeking a relaxed yet enriching tour. With Athens and Belgrade as key highlights, this easy-paced group trip includes hotel accommodation, convenient transport, and delicious meals. Its unique appeal lies in connecting two historically significant cities, perfect for those who relish both comfort and cultural exploration.
This is going to be long. My TA Alice from Vancouver, Canada is very fast efficient with how she managed the booking and got me answers for most of my questions
Coming back to the hotels : Best part is in every single hotel my room was near the elevator because I am traveling with a child this was thoughtful-love it. Most of the hotels were nice, breakfast was adequate, meals were fine as well where they were included. No issues, no complaints
Regarding the tour bus - the small bus was fine for 20 odd people and drivers were excellent and did a wonderful job, if possible please add free WIFI on the bus
Regarding the tour guides Eng speaking only - Most of them were alright but as a traveller, I expect them to talk more about the countries we were passing thru. Yes, the gap was filled by the local city guides however time is short and we are on the bus driving long distances so info can be filled. They should be provided with matter that the guides can then talk to us about. I find a huge gap in the knowledge level of spanish guides versus english guides on the tour
Europamundo app on my phone : Since my trip in 2022, the app has been upgraded and I see watsap contacts of transfers with 3rd party contractors which is really helpful
Experience the essence of the Balkans on the 'Balkan Dreams' tour, a 13-day sightseeing trip from Zagreb to Bucharest. Designed for mature travelers, this guided group journey includes stays in Zagreb, Bucharest, and beyond, with all logistics handled for you. The USP is the tour’s expansive scope—offering seniors a thorough, easy-paced exploration of the region’s diverse cultures, historic cities, and scenic landscapes.
Unlock the cultural treasure chest of the Balkans on an in-depth Premium adventure from Split to Bucharest. Amazing beaches and sunshine give way to medieval towns and castles as lesser known National Parks provide an incredible mountianous backdrop. Get away from the modern world and in with the locals, soak up ancient riches of Transylvania, and discover Tara National Park’s spectacular scenery on foot and riding the rails on a historic steam train. Bursting with culinary delights and cultural wonders - the Balkans has it all.
Discover the beauty and history of the Balkans on this 18-day tour that travels from Dubrovnik in Croatia through Bosnia and Herzegovina and onto the lively nightlife of Belgrade in Serbia, through the heart of Transylvania and on to Bucharest. Along the way you’ll sample excellent wines, learn about the war years, stop by the famed Old Bridge of Mostar, discover Tara National Park’s spectacular scenery, and traverse medieval fortresses and fairytale castles. This tour combines battle zones, mountain scenery, bunkers and bars and melds the past with the present to create an adventure that ticks all the boxes.
Uncover a region where history and medieval castles meet rocky coastlines and mountainous terrain. Get a glimpse into the generations of culture and tradition throughout the Balkans and Transylvania. Experience the incredible Gothic architecture, legends and castles of Dracula, lush enchanting forests and fairy tale-like villages as you journey through Transylvania. Hit the beautiful Adriatic coastlines of Dubrovnik and Montenegro, the charming old towns and moving stories of Bosnia, the endearing quirkiness and colourful facades of capital cities Tirana and Skopje. With a mix of Greek, Slavic and Ottoman influences, the Balkans and Transylvania is nothing short of character! Discover the hidden gems for yourself as you journey through on this 17-day adventure.