Croatia & Balkans

On the way to Croatia, we stop off at the Kravice waterfalls, located on the Trebiat river in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A popular swimming area, you will have time to enjoy the water before heading to Hvar Island. Boasting more sunshine hours than any of the other sun-soaked Dalmatian islands, Hvar Island offers fairytale Venetian architecture, a waterfront promenade fringed by palm trees and centuries old walls. With all of this and an historic fortress overlooking it all, it's no wonder picturesque Hvar Town is considered a chic destination for the rich and famous, and you may be lucky enough to see one or two familiar faces here.

Built by the Venetian Doges in the 13th century, Hvar Town is a maze of cobblestone streets and sunny squares bordered by al fresco cafes and restaurants. The most important sights such as St Stephen's Cathedral, Clock Tower and the Arsenal flank the main square, while a picturesque expanse of terracotta-roofed houses and tiny streets cover the hill behind. One of the simplest pleasures on the island is to take part in the evening stroll around the town and take in the views - don't forget to buy an ice cream from a local slasticarna, the Croatian equivalent of the Italian gelateria. You may also enjoy a stroll around the harbour, which is often filled with multi-million dollar yachts, a reflection of the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy visitors to the island. You will have time to explore smaller villages of Stari Grad, Jelsa, taking in lavender fields, Vrboska and Brusje, wineries, eco villages and experiencing the local culture.

Please note: Breakfast is not included in Hvar.

Optional Excursions

Half Day Boat Tour to Pakleni Islands - 250 HRK • Full Day Boat Tour to Green Cave, Blue Cave and Vis Island - 430 HRK • 4x4 Hvar Island Tour - 600 HRK • Hike to Španjola Fortress - 30 HRK • Franciscan Monastery Museum - 25 HRK • Municipal Theatre and Art Gallery - 20 HRK • Old Town guided tour - from 400 HRK per guide • Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Kayaking - from 100 HRK

Accommodation

2 night(s) in a guesthouse at Pelegrini Rooms or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

We then take the ferry and arrive late morning at the coastal city of Split, built around the remains of the Diocletian Palace which dates back to the Roman era. Wander inside and take in Peristil Square where you can see an original Egyptian sphinx which was brought from Egypt by Roman emperor Diocletian. Another sphinx can be found near St John's Church, which was originally a Roman temple. We take an included tour of the Diocletian Palace or climb the campanile bell tower next to the palace's mausoleum for spectacular views from the top.

If you want to relax there are plenty of al fresco bars and restaurants to choose from along the seafront, as well as gelati bars and cheaper pizzerias off the main roads. There is plenty of delicious Italian-influenced local cuisine to choose from, often at very reasonable prices. If you want to hang out with the locals, head for the beach at Bacvice. There are many cafes and places to eat icecream and it's a great place to get a feeling of 'real' Croatia as the vast majority of people who go there are from Split.

Included Excursions

Guided Tour of Diocletian's Palace

Optional Excursions

The City Museum of Split - 20 HRK • St. Domnius Cathedral - 35 HRK • National Art Gallery - 20 HRK • Meštrović Gallery - 40 HRK • Hike around Marjan Hill - Free

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Dujam or similar

Continuing our diverse journey through Croatia, our next stop is to explore Plitvice National Park, a beautiful reserve featuring 16 spectacular blue lakes surrounded by forest.

The lakes are linked by natural dams which create beautiful low level waterfalls joining one lake to another. Due to the varying mixtures of minerals in the water, each lake has a distinctive colour ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The surrounding forest features a mix of beech, spruce, and fir trees and is home to 126 species of birds and a number of rare animals including European brown bears, wolves, eagles, wild cats and eagles. Due to its natural beauty and significance, the park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979. The entire park can be seen in about 4 hours and you can get beautiful views from almost any vantage point. Don't miss the Veliki Slap, 50 metre wide waterfall surrounded by boulders - a great place for photos.

Included Excursions

Entrance to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Bellevue or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

After our time exploring the national park we continue to the Croatian capital of Zagreb, a vibrant cultural centre with a long history, located on the crossroads of important routes between the Adriatic coast and Central Europe. Originally established as two fortresses on two neighbouring hills in medieval times, the city has withstood numerous invasions, earthquakes and political upheaval to grow into a prosperous centre of industry. In your free time you can explore Ban Jela?i? Square surrounded by grand buildings or visit the Zagreb Cathedral with its fountain of Madonna surrounded by golden angels. You can visit colourful open-air markets such as Dolac Market and discover the historic Upper Town with its palaces, monasteries and churches from the 17th and 18th centuries. There are also dozens of museums, theatres, galleries and art collections to visit, or take a tram to the medieval fortress of Medvedgrad on the southern side of nearby Mount Medvednica for beautiful views over the city including Museum Mimara. Another interesting museum to see is the City of Zagreb Museum covering every facet of its long history. You could take a picnic to Maksimir Park about 3 kilometres from the city centre.

Optional Excursions

City of Zagreb Museum - 30 HRK • Ethnographical Museum - 15 HRK • Archaeological Museum - 30 HRK • Walking Tour - Free • St Marks Church - Free • Museum of Broken Relationships - 30 HRK • Zagreb Cathedral – Free

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Central or similar

Meals

1 Basic Breakfast(s)

Crossing into Slovenia, we stay in Bled, a magical little town about an hour and a half from Ljubljana, set near an emerald green lake. Perched on a cliff high above the lake is the Bled Castle, dramatically framed by the snowcapped peaks of the Julian Alps. Dating back to the 11th century, Bled Castle is the epitome of a medieval fortress and has a fairytale appeal, with towers, ramparts, moats and a terrace offering magnificent views. Part of the castle houses a museum with an interesting collection of armour and weapons, carvings, jewellery, tapestries and paintings which trace the history of the castle from the Bronze Age to the 19th century. A walk around Lake Bled (about 6 kilometres) shouldn't take more than an hour or two, including a short climb to a viewing point. The most romantic way to enjoy it is to hire a boat and row over to the island in the middle of the lake or for the non-rowers of the group you can take a Pletna boat and be taken across. On the island you can visit a small 17th century Baroque church called Church of the Assumption, complete with a'wishing bell' which you can ring to ask a favour. If time permits you can also visit Vintgar Gorge, a raised timber walkway that tracks the gorges river for 1.6 kilometres to a beautiful waterfall.

Optional Excursions

Bled Castle - 11 EUR • Church of the Assumption - 6 EUR • Bike Hire - 20 EUR • Tourist Train - 5 EUR • Vintgar Gorge - From 7 EUR • Emerald River Adventure - 79 EUR • Soca River Experience ? 59 EUR • Stand up Paddle Boarding ? 29 EUR

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Jadran or similar

Meals

2 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Next we visit the capital Ljubljana and enjoy a city tour of the main sights. In your free time you may enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens, Dragon bridge, Tivoli park, Ljubljana city museum, Ljubljana castle (Ljubljanski Grad) on Castle Hill and the viewing tower in the castle courtyard for views across the Old Town. When you need to relax, sit down at one of the many outdoor riverside cafes in the Old Town, check out the Habsburg and Baroque architecture and enjoy the young fun vibe of Ljubljana's large student population.

Included Excursions

Guided walking tour of Ljubljana

Optional Excursions

Postojna Cave - From 27 EUR • Slovenian Ethnographic Museum - 6 EUR • Ljubljana Castle and Funicular - 15 EUR • Metelkova Neighbourhood - Free • City Museum - 6 EUR • Museum of Illusions - 9.50 EUR • City Art Gallery - Free • Museum of Contemporary History ? 4.50 EUR

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Emonec or similar

Meals

2 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Budapest, Hungary's stylish capital is known as the 'City of Spas' for its abundance of natural thermal springs.

Straddling the Danube River, the city is comprised of two very different historic cities, Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east bank. Highlights here include Castle Hill, Matthius Church, Fisherman's Bastion, the Liberation Monument, the fabulous St Stephen's Basilica and the much photographed Parliament Building.

Sample some Hungarian cuisine in a local restaurant. Goulash is the most popular Hungarian meat dish. It is a delicious stew made from meat and vegetables with Hungarian paprika powder as the main spice.

Optional Excursions

Budapest Parliament Tour – 5200 HUF • Szechenyi Thermal Baths – 6000 HUF • House of Terror – 3000 HUF • Great Synagogue – 4000 HUF • Danube Cruise – 4200 HUF • Hungarian National Museum – 1600 HUF • Memento Park – 1500 HUF • Buda Castle – Free • Fisherman's Bastion – 1000 HUF • Walking Tour – Free • Hop on Hop off Bus – from 6000 HUF

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Flamenco or similar

Meals

2 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Serbia's cultural centre, Novi Sad, is overlooked by the magnificent Petrovaradin Fortress. Built during the 18th century, the fortress was repeatedly attacked but never taken by an enemy. Although it has long since lost its strategic military value, since 1951 it has been an important cultural centre and one of the largest art colonies in the world with over 88 art studios. Visitors can buy art, talk with the artists and feel the atmosphere of studios while works of art are created. There are also three interesting restaurants, a museum, catacombs, great views of the Danube. Novi Sad is also known for its international music festivals, underground military galleries and above ground, such as the International Street Musicians' Festival in September offering diverse music genres, funny instruments, jugglers, street shows and acrobatics.

Optional Excursions

Museum of Vojvodina – 200 RSD • City of Novi Sad Museum – 300 RSD • Foreign Art Gallery – 100 RSD • The Name of Mary Church – Free

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Restoran Fontana or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Located at the crossing point of the Sava and Danube rivers is Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, where you will have plenty of time to explore. In the course of its long history, Belgrade has been captured 60 times, burned down around 40 times, and has risen like a phoenix from the ashes every time.

We have the opportunity to explore the military museum inside the fortress. The view of the city from the fortress is fantastic and not to be missed. If time allows it is definitely worth a visit to St Sava Church, one of the largest Orthodox churches in world. The city itself offers excellent shopping opportunities, from luxurious upscale boutiques through to unique locations such as Titos House of Flowers, a memorial centre for the former Yugoslav leader.

When you're ready for a break, you can relax on the beach at 'Belgrade Hawaii', Ada Ciganlija, an island in the middle of the Sava River. During the summer the island attracts hundreds of thousands of people looking for a place to cool down, so it can be crowded on hot days. Belgrade is very well known for its nightlife and is a major draw card for Europeans looking for a party. There are countless nightclubs, bars, and cafes that stay lively into the wee hours of the night, many of which are located on river barges.

Included Excursions

Petrovaradin Fortress guided tunnel tour

Optional Excursions

National Museum – 300 RSD • Kalemegdan Citadel – Free • Military Museum – 200 RSD • Ethnographic Museum – 200 RSD • Tito's Mausoleum (House of Flowers) – 400 RSD • Walking Tour – Free • Church of Saint Sava – Free • Nikola Tesla Museum – 300 RSD • Underground Secrets of Belgrade Tour – 10 EUR

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Villa Forever or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s), 1 Basic Breakfast(s)

Today we are travelling to Pristina, Kosovo but first we visit Devil's Town in Serbia. The natural phenomenon, whose real name is Djavolja varos, got it's unique name to the strange formation of soil pyramids. Wander amongst the stone-capped pillars, whose appearance is due to a rare from of erosion.

We then continue our journey to Pristina. Europe's youngest capital, it has a buzzing energy and a small but fascinating number of attractions to see. Visit the Ethnographic Museum for exhibits on life in Kosovo between the 15th and 20th century and marvel at the iconic design of the National Library. Wander down Bill Clinton Boulevard and wave back at the 3m-tall bronze statue of the former president, before stopping for one of Pristina's famous coffees in any one of the number of cafes found here.

Included Excursions

Visit Devil's Town

Optional Excursions

Day trip to Prizren - 8 EUR return bus • Ethnographic Museum - Donation • Germia Park - Free • Tomb of Sultan Murad I - Donation • National Library of Kosovo – Free

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Begoli or similar

Meals

2 Basic Breakfast(s)

Before heading to Skopje we can enjoy a visit to the Matka Canyon. Cruise down the river admiring the large rock walls towering beside the water. Keep an eye out for the fascinating caves that are found within the canyon. In Skopje, Macedonia's capital, you can enjoy 2,000 years of history spanning Oriental and Western cultures, neatly divided by the Vardar River through the centre of the city. Skopje has many historical monuments including the Kale Fortress dating back to the 6th century and the Daud Pasha Amam, a 15th century bathhouse now converted into the city art gallery. You can also see the Mustafa-pasha's mosque, the 16th century Clock Tower and the Kamen Most (Stone Bridge) over the Vardar River.

Included Excursions

Matka Canyon boat ride

Optional Excursions

Kale Fortress - Free • Local Winery Tour and Tasting - 13 EUR • Museum of Macedonian Struggle - 300 MKD • Mount Vodno Cable Car to Millennium Cross - 120 MKD • City Museum - Free • Walking Tour - Free • Mother Teresa Memorial Room - Free

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Ambasador or similar

Meals

1 Basic Breakfast(s), 1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Today we travel on to the gorgeous lake side town of Ohrid, perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. This unassuming, picturesque settlement has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the ancient churches, fortress walls, bazaars and old quarters are testimony to its past.

Lake Ohrid itself is Europe's oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. Wander the streets and squares of its compact centre before hiking up to the ancient walled fortress that overlooks the day to day life of the city and explore the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas.

Optional Excursions

Lake Ohrid Boat Ride - from 300MKD • Tsar Samuil's Fortress - 30 MKD • St. Jovan Kaneo Church - Free • St. Naum Monastery Boat Ride - from 600MKD • National Museum of Ohrid - 100 MKD • St. Pantelejmon Church - Free • Bay of Bones Museum - 5 EUR • Bike Hire - From 5 EUR

Accommodation

2 night(s) in apartments at Luccia Apartments or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s), 1 Basic Breakfast(s)

Today we head to Tirana, the trendy capital and largest city of Albania, which has transformed from a grey, dismal ex-communist city, isolated by the regime until the 1990s, to a colourful capital buzzing with life. While the city has a long history, you can enjoy its modern outlook, with fashionable bars, clubs and boutiques. Wander boulevards lined with relics of the city's Ottoman, Italian and communist past. Tirana's massive main square, Skanderbeg Square, is bordered by the National History Museum, the Palace of Culture, the National Bank, the Et'hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg's statue. A short bus ride from the centre city, the Martyr's Cemetery offers marvellous panoramic views over the city.

Optional Excursions

Walking Tour - Free • National Art Gallery - 200 ALL • National History Museum - 200 ALL • Dajti Mountain Cable Car - 800 ALL • Sky Bar Tower - Free • Bunk'Art - 700 ALL

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Idea or similar

Meals

1 Basic Breakfast(s)

On the way to Kotor we stop off at the small town of Kruja. Built on a mountainside, you can discover the old town and explore Kruja Castle where we include entry to the Skanderbeg Museum located inside. Skanderbeg was a war hero of Albania, helping defeat the Ottomans, and this museum focuses on his bravery and importance to Albania.

After spending the morning exploring Kruja, our group will move onward to our next destination - the picturesque town of Kotor in Montenegro. It is a walled city nestled at the bottom of Europe’s deepest fjord. Experience Stari Grad, the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with it’s tricky labyrinth of cobbled alleys, squares and ancient churches, including St Tryphon's Cathedral built in 1166.

The steep mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to this beautiful town and you can admire them from the waterfront. You could spend the day drinking espresso in the shade of the medieval walls watching people go by, or if you are feeling more adventurous try climbing the walls of the ancient fort of Sveti Ivan which spans some 4.5 kilometres above the city on almost vertical cliffs. Your efforts will be rewarded by an excellent view of Kotor and the bay.

Included Excursions

Visit to Kruja (Entry to City Walls and Skanderbeg Museum),Guided tour of Kotor Old Town

Optional Excursions

Hike to Kotor Fortress - 8 EUR • Maritime Museum - 4 EUR • St Tryphon's Cathedral 2.50 EUR • Day Trip to Budva - 6 EUR Return • Hop on Hop Off Bus - 20 EUR

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Marija II or similar

Meals

1 Basic Breakfast(s), 1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

We arrive back in Dubrovnik for the conclusion of our tour and the final chance to take in the sites and atmosphere of this Adriatic gem.

Included Excursions

Stop at Trebinje for wine tour and tasting,24 hour Dubrovnik city card including City Walls and transport pass

Optional Excursions

Dominican Monastery - 30 HRK • Cable Car to view point - 150 HRK • Lokrum Island Boat Trip - From 80 HRK • Rector’s Palace - 130 HRK • Synagogue and Jewish Museum ? 50 HRK • Kayaking Half Day - From 250 HRK

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Dubrovnik or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)