The Balkan Adventure

Itineraries

• Day 1 UK/Sarajevo via Munich
• Depart on your scheduled flight to Sarajevo, where we’ll transfer you to your hotel.,this evening you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
• Day 2 Sarajevo
• We’re going to explore the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina today, a city revered for its cultural and religious diversity. You’ll see the Ottoman-style Emperor’s Mosque in the same neighbourhood as the Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Orthodox Church of the Nativity and a Jewish synagogue. During your full-day tour you’ll also be reminded of Torvill and Dean’s 1984 Winter Olympics figure skating success at the quirky Olympic Museum.
• Day 3 Sutjeska National Park & Budva
• Sutjeska National Park is home to the highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maglic Mountain. We’ll see this today before an included lunch and an onward journey across the border into Montenegro. Here the picturesque coastal town of Budva is our new base.
• Day 4 Kotor Bay & Becici
• You’ve the chance to admire more mountain scenery today on a drive to the fjord-like Kotor Bay. We’ll take a stroll around the walled city of Kotor before we cruise to ‘Our Lady of the Rocks’ a man-made islet housing a church and museum. Legend has it that the tiny island was formed by fishermen dropping a rock into the bay each time they returned from a successful voyage. This afternoon we’ll spend some time in the neighbouring towns of Becici and Budva. At Becici, we’ll find a lovely sandy beach, and in Budva a walking tour will reveal a picturesque Old Town enclosed by Venetian walls. Why not head back into the town this evening and find a restaurant in which to enjoy local delicacies.
• Day 5 Kruje & Tirana
• Today’s journey takes you to Albania’s capital, Tirana, with a stop on the way at the hill town of Kruje. Here you’ll see its 5^th century fortress, dramatically located on top of a rocky outcrop. You’ll also visit the Ethnographic Museum, where a preserved farmhouse gives a fascinating insight into traditional life.
• Day 6 Tirana & Lake Ohrid
• There’s time for a walking tour of Tirana this morning before we head to the Macedonian border and on to Lake Ohrid. Your lakeside hotel offers lovely views, so simply relax and enjoy. This evening why not enjoy a walk around the lake’s promenade, where you’ll find a good selection of restaurants and cafs.
• Day 7 Lake Ohrid
• We’re going to spend today discovering the beauty of Lake Ohrid. Our first stop is the Bay of Bones, a reconstruction of a prehistoric settlement that was built on the water between 1200 and 600 BC. After lunch we’ll enjoy the lake from the water during a relaxing cruise, and there’s time to explore the historic town of Ohrid too. Cobbled streets, ancient churches and lakeside cafs are all part of its charm. There’s a great shopping area too if you want to hunt for souvenirs.
• Day 8 Skopje
• Next stop on your adventure is the Macedonian capital, Skopje, which is home to the memorial house of Mother Teresa. Come on a walk through the narrow, winding streets of the Old Bazaar and take in panoramic views from the Upper Town.
• Day 9 Manasija Monastery & Belgrade
• Today we’re going to cross the border into Serbia, where its capital Belgrade will be our home for the next two nights. We reach it via a visit to the imposing Manasija Monastery with its 11 towers and impressive fortified walls. We’re also going to have some free time in nearby Despotovac, a pretty town named after Serbian prince Stefan Lazarevic, who was given the title Despot. There’s lots to discover in Belgrade, and with a free evening you can head into the city for dinner at a restaurant of your choosing.
• Day 10 Belgrade
• You’ll see the highlights of Belgrade on a guided tour today. The former capital of Yugoslavia has plenty of sights to offer, starting with the quaint cobbled lanes of the Bohemian Quarter, often compared to Montmartre in Paris. You’ll see the Residence of Princess Ljubica, now a museum, and the imposing Captain Mia’s Mansion. Your tour also passes the old and new palaces, which now house the Belgrade City Assembly and the office of the President of the Republic of Serbia.
• Day 11 Novi Sad
• Today we’ll travel to Serbia’s second-largest city, Novi Sad, for a tour and an overnight stay. Take in the sight of the imposing Petrovaradin Fortress, located on the right bank of the Danube, and the equally impressive Freedom Square.
• Day 12 Osijek and Zagreb
• Your final destination on the Balkan Peninsula is Croatia, where we’ll base ourselves in its capital Zagreb. En route we’ll pay a visit to Osijek, situated where the Drava and Danube Rivers meet, and home to a fortified centre. A little later we’ll find ourselves in Kutjevo, a town known for its wines, so of course, we’ll head to a winery for a tasting.
• Day 13 Zagreb
• After breakfast, your tour of Zagreb will introduce you to a city reminiscent of Prague, Budapest and Vienna, whose upper town is filled with churches and palaces. With your appetite whetted, it’s time to head off and explore at your own pace. Perhaps you’ll visit the Old Town Gate, now a shrine to the Virgin Mary, or head to the striking twin-spired cathedral, set within a medieval fort. There’s a market here if you want to shop for souvenirs, or perhaps settle in a caf or restaurant and treat yourself to lunch. Tonight, you’re invited to a restaurant for a special farewell dinner with local specialities on the menu.
• Day 14 Zagreb/UK
• After breakfast, you’ll head to the airport for your flight back to the UK.