Highlights
Lake Bled: Take it easy with your new besties as you walk around the scenic lake, framed by the Julian Alps.
Plitvice Lakes National Park: Turquoise lakes. Sparkling waterfalls. Lush green forests. You’ll never want to leave this little slice of heaven.
Dubrovnik: Stroll through the UNESCO-listed old town with a local guide. And play a game of ‘spot the Game of Thrones film set’ as you go.
Tirana: Take an orientation around the rainbow-coloured Albanian capital with your Contiki gang. Familiarise yourself with the landmarks and best places to grab a coffee.
Tirana: Wanna dive into Albania’s past? Then you need visit Bunk’Art – a massive underground bunker turned museum. It was once built to protect leaders from nuclear attacks. And now it tells the story of Albania’s communist era with art, history (and even a few surprises!). Explore eerie tunnels, snap some pics, and experience a slice of Cold War history you won’t find anywhere else.
Mostar: See this epic piece of Ottoman architecture, which was destroyed by war in 1993 and then rebuilt.
Sarajevo: See the sights of the Bosnian capital and get up to speed on 500 years of history, from the Ottomans to the present day.
Belgrade: Ramble around the Serbian capital. It’s brimming with culture and history for you to soak up.
Mostar: See this epic piece of Ottoman architecture, which was destroyed by war in 1993 and then rebuilt.
Sarajevo: See the sights of the Bosnian capital and get up to speed on 500 years of history, from the Ottomans to the present day.
Belgrade: Ramble around the Serbian capital. It’s brimming with culture and history for you to soak up.
Itinerary
Hit up an incredible 7 countries in just one trip and take in the best sights the Balkans has to offer. Whether it's exploring the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, partying until the early hours in Belgrade or strolling around the historic sights Sarajevo has to offer, this trip has something for everyone.
day 1 - Budapest
Good evening, travellers! Hope youre ready for an exciting ride across the beautiful Balkans. Today, youll exchange hellos with your Trip Manager (and your new crew too!). To celebrate, well feast on a delicious welcome dinner and watch the sun set over this historical city.
day 2 - Budapest > Ljubljana
This morning we'll hop onto the coach for a guided tour to explore to what this city has on offer. You'll see Heroes Square, Fisherman's Bastion, as well as the famed chain bridge & the stunning parliament building, before we depart for our next city. After a morning full of awesome ancient architecture, we'll be ready to arrive in Ljubljana. You've got a free evening on your hands. So roam around the city, grab a bite to eat, and rest up for the all the Alpine scenery that awaits us tomorrow.
day 3 - Ljubljana > Lake Bled > Radovljica > Ljubljana
Ljubljana, you've been lovely. But well be back in a while. Because today, something even more exciting is on the agenda. You've probably seen pictures of Lake Bled, but nothing will prepare you for the real thing. With its fairytale medieval castle reaching out of an islet, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Julian Alps and the turquoise waters of the lake itself, it really is like something out of a Disney movie. Satisfied your soul soaking in all that natural beauty? Now satisfy your hungry tummies with some lunch at this quaint Medieval town. Its been a long but pleasing day. Tonight, you can choose to join atraditional Slovenian evening. We're talking: a traditional dancing show paired with a spread of authentic dishes. A feast foryour mind and tastebuds alike!
day 4 - Ljubljana > Plitvice National Park
Next up is something altogether drop dead gorgeous....A strong introduction to Croatia is on the cards today with cascading teal forest pools at Plitvice Lakes. Why this place is not famous world over as one of the prettiest places in Europe, we have no idea.
day 5 - Plitvice National Park > Zadar > Split
Morning, explorers! Fill up on your included breakfast. Its time to hit the road again Zadar is the perfect mix of history and modern flair. Explore ancient Roman ruins, chill by the Sea Organ where waves make music, and grab a bite at one of the city's cool cafes. Whether you're soaking in the culture or diving into the local scene, there's always something exciting around the corner in this laid-back Croatian gem.Welcome to the sea-side heaven of Split. With the oh-so-inviting aquamarine waters on our side, well check into our stay. Youve got some time to explore this beautiful city. And then, you can choose to join us for some dinner at a traditional Dalmatian tavern.
day 6 - Split > Ston > Dubrovnik
Split it's been fantastic, but we have to leave for other Croatian gems further down the coast.Ston is a charming town on the Dalmatian coast, famous for its impressive medieval walls and ancient salt pans. Its the perfect spot to explore history, sample fresh seafood, and take in the scenic surroundings. A great place to unwind and enjoy the slow pace before heading to your next adventure.The drive along the Dalmatian coastline to Dubrovnik is a sightseeing must do all on its own. On arrival in the city you'll be greeted by limestone walls; an Old Town filled with quintessentially Croatian cafes and plenty of clubs; and a mountain meets sea situation will see you falling in love within seconds.
day 7 - Dubrovnik
The city of Dubrovnik is so much more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Game of Thrones location - not that either of those claims to fame are even mildly mediocre. After you've been guided around the city with intricate detail with our local guide you'll be armed with the knowledge to pick out a waterside rock bar where you can swim and indulge 'til your heart's content. Tonight over an optional dinner with the crew, spirits will no doubt be high!
day 8 - Dubrovnik > Budva > Tirana
Now that we've done all things Dubrovnik, we'll coast our way to Albania via the dramatic Adriatic Coastline. Well stop by Montenegro's seaside beauty of Budva for lunch. So grab a bite, check out the beach and hop back on for our next stop. Welcome to the capital city of Albania. This hidden gem has a lot to offer, and weve got the entirety of tomorrow to see it all. Bet youre tired after all that travelling, so join us for an included dinner before heading back to our hotel to get some sleep for tomorrow.
day 9 - Tirana
Time to wake up! Grab your breakfast and join us for a walking tour of Tirana, guided by a local guide. And the rest of the day is all yours to spend in this beautiful city, and one of the many museums will defo pique your interest!
day 10 - Tirana > Mostar
Tirana, youve been great. But weve got another awe-inspiring destination waiting for us. Hello Mostar! Were officially in Bosnia & Herzegovina, ready to bask in all of its historical glory. Beautiful rivers, iconic bridges, brick-red roofs - its gonna be a treat. Tonight, well stroll around the picturesque streets to grab some authentic dinner. Spend the night chilling with your crew and getting some well-deserved rest.
day 11 - Mostar > Sarajevo
Ready? This morning, were visiting the legendary Mostar Bridge that arches right over the silent blue river. (And it makes for a perfect backdrop for your Insta photo dump!) The historical streets of Sarajevo have a story or two to tell. And well be listening to them all tomorrow. Tonight, you have the option to taste home-made Bosnian cuisine, learn what living like a local is like (plus support their families in turn). A truly wholesome experience!
day 12 - Sarajevo
The only way to uncover the town of Sarajevo is with the wisdom shared on a guided walking tour. We'll help you tap into history & understand the magnitude of our destination. And then to lighten the mood, well head to a local tavern for a delicious dinner and gags with friends.
day 13 - Sarajevo > Belgrade
Rise up, roamers! We're departing for the town of Belgrade to continue our epic frolic through the Balkans.Another border crossing is on the agenda as we wave our way into Serbia en route to Belgrade. Medieval meets modern in this bustling, pure white city. Zen folk can go sit on the Hill of Contemplation or stroll along the Sava river, others can see the fortress of Beogradska Tvrava & enjoy the lively mood of Belgrade by night.
day 14 - Belgrade > Budapest
Leaving Belgrade behind, today we're onto beautiful Budapest. Fast becoming one of the hottest destinations in Europe, Budapest is on our beeline. You'll have the option to take a cruise and make the most of your evening. Later, you'll no doubt want to keep things moving at one of the city's famous ruins bars, that need to be seen to be believed!
day 15 - Budapest
That's a wrap! Our love affair with the Balkans has sadly come to an end! But perhaps we can get the squad back together for a reunion trip?
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Customer Reviews
Read what other travelers have to say about Best of Balkans
It was amazing, meet incredible people and saw beautiful parts of the Balkans. The trip manager *personal info removed by Feefo* especially made the trip memorable.
The Balkans are an incredible experience. In places where tourism is only new this trip is an absolute adventure! So many beautiful sights, and beautiful people to share it with!
The best of the Balkans tour was amazing. In two weeks I got to see and experience a lot of great sights, cuisines and cultures. My tour manager and driver and were amazing, the energy and positive vibes from them was incredible. All the countries we got to visit had their own unique atmosphere and appeal. If there’s a suggestion I could make for future tours. Perhaps an expansion/alteration on the Albania and Montenegro portion of the trip. Overall, I’d recommend this tour highly for anyone interested in exploring the Balkans for the first time. A terrific experience, through and through.
Although there were aspects of this group I would change, such as the time spent in Albania being along the coast rather than Tirana - I still give this trip a 10/10 purely for our incredible Trip Manager. Tom truely made our trip, he was so knowledgeable, engaging and personable - the included activities were super well thought out and I feel like this trip had the most free inclusions such as walking tours out of all the contikis I’ve done. Definitely a great trip to get a taste of the balkans, a great mix of culture and partying. I would however recommend doing the start in Dubrovnik over the start in Budapest, so you can have a bit more of a chill start and finish with fast paced and big nights.
Just came back from nearly 3 weeks on a Contiki trip, and it was an unforgettable experience. The itinerary was well-organized, with daily day sheets that gave us a clear idea of what to expect, from cultural tips to food recommendations. Our trip managers made everything feel seamless and stress-free. I appreciated the balance between structured activities and free time to explore. Definitely recommend doing all the additional paid activities! There were definitely moments of post-trip blues (Contiki withdrawals are real), but that just shows how memorable it was. Already thinking… same time next year?
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