Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.
Starts
Bucharest, Romania
Ends
Belgrade, Serbia
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Treasures of the Balkans
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Bucharest: During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters.
Bucharest: Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert.
Sinaia: Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Peleș Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
Veliko Tarnovo: Ascend Tsarevets, the King's Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
Arbanasi: At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th-century merchants' house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity.
Sofia: Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Skopje: Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
Tirana: Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
Kotor: Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
Dubrovnik: Walk the limestone Stradun with a Local Expert, stopping at Onofrio’s Fountain and St. Blaise’s Church. You’ll visit the cathedral and Franciscan Monastery and see how the compact, UNESCO-listed Old Town sits within its defensive walls beside the harbour.
Mostar: Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
Belgrade: A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theatre, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
Sofia: Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Skopje: Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
Tirana: Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
Kotor: Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
Dubrovnik: Walk the limestone Stradun with a Local Expert, stopping at Onofrio’s Fountain and St. Blaise’s Church. You’ll visit the cathedral and Franciscan Monastery and see how the compact, UNESCO-listed Old Town sits within its defensive walls beside the harbour.
Mostar: Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
Belgrade: A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theatre, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
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5 days
What's Included
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Bucharest HotelRadisson Blu Aurum, Brașov HotelYantra Grand, Veliko Tarnovo HotelGrand Millennium Sofia HotelSkopje Marriott HotelHilton Garden Inn Tirana HotelTQ Plaza, Budva HotelKompas Dubrovnik HotelSwissotel Sarajevo HotelRadisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade HotelHotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Meals
Dinner (x9)Breakfast (x15)Bucharest: Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for your dinner.Belgrade: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.Bran: Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle, following a traditional dinner.Sarajevo: You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savour the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture. This experience advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Transport
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Guide
Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Others
Choose between two carefully selected activitiesSarajevo: Meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and learn about the 44-month siege of the city.Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.Dubrovnik: You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.Sarajevo: Meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and learn about the 44-month siege of the city.Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
What's Excluded
Itinerary
Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria’s Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia’s Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Brașov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula’s haunted abode in Bram Stoker’s infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city’s iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.
day 1 - Welcome to Bucharest
Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals:Dinner
Location Visited:Bucharest
Accommodation:Radisson Blu Bucharest
day 2 - Bucharest and Castles of Transylvania
Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Maries Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Marie of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Bucharest, Bran Castle, Brasov
Accommodation:Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
day 3 - BRAOV and Sinaia
Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Pele Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armour and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Braov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Brasov, Sinaia, Brasov
Accommodation:Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
day 4 - Veliko Tarnovo
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Brasov, Veliko Tarnovo
Accommodation:Yantra Grand, Veliko Tarnovo
day 5 - To Sofia Relaxed Start
Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgarias most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th-century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Sofia
Accommodation:Grand Millennium Sofia
day 6 - Sofia at Your Pace Relaxed Start
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Sofia
Accommodation:Grand Millennium Sofia
day 7 - Skopje
Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Sofia, Skopje
Accommodation:Skopje Marriott
day 8 - Lake Ohrid and Tirana
Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals. Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insiders look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Skopje, Ohrid, Tirana
Accommodation:Hilton Garden Inn Tirana
day 9 - Journey to Montenegros Budva
Soak up Montenegros natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where you will have the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami'. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Tirana, Budva
Accommodation:TQ Plaza, Budva
day 10 - Kotor and Dubrovnik
Journey to the Old Town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the fortified port of Dubrovnik.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Budva, Kotor, Dubrovnik
Accommodation:Kompas Dubrovnik
day 11 - Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start
Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th-century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls, and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea and visit a local winery. This evening, choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Dubrovnik
Accommodation:Kompas Dubrovnik
day 12 - Mostar and Sarajevo
Journey to Mostar, where your Local Expert will guide you to the famed Stari Most, the Old Bridge, a 16th-century Ottoman landmark painstakingly reconstructed after near destruction in the 1990s conflict. Stroll the cobbled streets of the Old Town, lined with shops offering traditional handicrafts and artisanal treasures. Continue along a scenic route to Sarajevo for your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience: a warm welcome into a Sarajevan family home. Over authentic dishes, hear personal stories that illuminate the citys resilience and cultural heritage, helping preserve its traditions for future generations.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo
Accommodation:Swissotel Sarajevo
day 13 - Sarajevo, City of Culture
Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevos astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Sarajevo
Accommodation:Swissotel Sarajevo
day 14 - The Serbian Capital of Belgrade Relaxed Start
Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.
Meals:Breakfast
Location Visited:Sarajevo, Belgrade
Accommodation:Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
day 15 - The Best of Belgrade Relaxed Start
Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theatre in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travellers for dinner this evening.
Meals:Breakfast, Dinner
Location Visited:Belgrade
Accommodation:Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
day 16 - Farewell Belgrade
Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All thats left is to say a fond dovienja as you bid your new friends farewell.
So much to see! Thanks for organizing the trip like this. The Tour Director and the coach driver(s) made the trip possible and enjoyable.
K
Katy T.Verified Traveler
5.0 out of 5
Saw LOTS--and also had to travel lots, but worth it!
M
Michael U.Verified Traveler
5.0 out of 5
This is an interesting itinerary, visiting so many different nations. They are all similar, yet each has a unique feel. There is a lot of bus travel and the first half of the tour feels a bit rushed, but it slows down during the second half. It is perfect if you want a quick taste of several countries. The trip would be ideal if it were perhaps two days longer adding an extra night in Bulgaria and Albania. The one night stays during the first half of the trip give it that rushed feel.
In the end, we enjoyed this tour of the Balkins. Dubrovnic, Croatia and the Montenegro coast were wonderful. The family dinner in Bosnia and at the Croatia olive farm were unforgetable highlights. So many interesting and beautiful churches and castles seen in contrast to the brutalist communist era buildings. So much history in this region. If you enjoy history and want to see places that are not your typical tourist destinations, this is the trip for you.
