Day 1 – Saturday – Bucharest – Arbanassi – Veliko – Sofia (400 km) ROMANIA + BULGARIA

Guided Europe Tours - Morning pick-up at 9 a.m. from your hotel.

Arbanasi - Depart Bucharest in the morning and travel to Bulgaria. After crossing the Danube River bridge, enter Bulgaria and visit the hidden 16th-century Church of Nativity, adorned with beautiful frescoes.

Tsarevets - Explore Veliko Tarnovo, known as the “City of Tsars,” the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Key attractions include Tsarevets Fortress, Monument of the Asenevtsi kings, and Samovodska charshia.

Sofia - Arrive in Sofia in the early evening. The city center walking tour includes the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint (Sveta) Sofia Church, Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia Synagogue, and the main shopping street, Vitosha.

Day 2 – Sunday – Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA + MACEDONIA

Rila Monastery - Visit Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site, Rila Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila), a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. The monastery, one of the largest in the Balkans, was a cultural and religious center for over 1000 years. The tour includes a visit to the Church, decorated by 19th-century masters from the Samokov, Bansko, and Debar schools.

Skopje - Continue south to the Bulgarian-Macedonian border. Arrive in Skopje, Macedonia’s capital, in the early evening. Enjoy an orientation tour of Skopje before reaching your hotel.

Day 3 – Monday – Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA

Old Bazaar, Skopje - Take a walking tour of Skopje, internationally known as Mother Teresa’s birthplace, featuring landmarks like the quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar,” the narrow streets of the Old Bazaar (the largest preserved bazaar in the Balkans), the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, the 1500-year-old fortress Kale, and Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horseback.

Day 4 – Tuesday – Ohrid – Bay of Bones – St Naum – Tirana – Kruja (210 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA

Bay of the Bones Museum - Depart after breakfast to the Museum on Water, also known as the Bay of Bones, an exceptional archaeological complex and reconstruction of a pile-dwelling settlement dating back to 1200-700 BC, including a Roman military fortification.

Monastery of Saint Naum - Drive to the stunning monastery of St. Naum, built on a rock with a great view of Ohrid Lake, and enjoy a small rowing boat ride to the springs of the Black Drimm river.

Skanderbeg Square - Continue the tour, crossing the Macedonian-Albanian border to Tirana, Albania’s capital. The city center walking tour reveals main attractions: Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg, National History Museum, Palace of Culture, National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and Skanderbeg’s statue.

Kruja Castle - Arrive in Kruja in the evening. The city’s name and significance are attributed to Albania’s national hero, George Castriot Skanderbeg, who made Kruja a fortress of resistance against the Ottoman Empire for over 25 years in the 15th century. Enjoy an orientation tour of Kruja before reaching your hotel.

Day 5 – Wednesday – Kruja – Budva – Kotor (190 km) ALBANIA + MONTENEGRO

Kruja Castle - Visit Kruja Castle, the headquarters of “the Dragon of Albania.” Explore the Kruja Castle Museum for a brief lesson in Albanian history, then discover the local souvenir market in the traditional Old Bazaar.

Budva City Walls - Visit Budva, Montenegro, crossing the Albanian-Montenegro border. Stop to explore the Old Town and its key spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s street, marina, Mediternaska Street, and Slovenska Plaza.

Kotor Old City - Arrive in Kotor in the evening and explore the fortified old town – Stari Grad (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Day 6 – Thursday – Kotor Bay Tour – Dubrovnik (150 km) MONTENEGRO + CROATIA

Bay of Kotor - Kotor Bay Tour includes Perast (boat trip to the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks), Tivat, and Porto Montenegro.
!! Please note that the boat trip to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks depends on the weather. In case of bad weather (e.g., strong wind, storm), the Church may only be viewed from the shore for safety.

Dubrovnik - Continue the tour, crossing the border to Croatia and heading to Dubrovnik, “The Pearl of the Adriatic Sea.”
!! After checking in at Lapad-Dubrovnik, take a 10-minute local bus ride (at your own expense) with the tour manager to reach Dubrovnik’s old town.

Day 7 – Friday – Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik - Enjoy free time to explore Dubrovnik. Choose from various local tours to admire the surroundings, such as a boat trip to the beautiful Elafiti Islands or discovering the natural beauty of the Blue Cave. The tour manager will provide guidance on tours. Alternatively, relax on the Lapad promenade or the beach and enjoy the Adriatic Sea.

Day 8 – Saturday – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Split (300 km) CROATIA + BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

Mostar Old Bridge - After breakfast, head to Bosnia-Herzegovina. After crossing the border, visit the beautiful city of Mostar with its Old Bridge Area and old city, part of UNESCO Heritage.

The Peristyle of Diocletian’s Palace - Cross the border back to Croatia and arrive in Split, one of the Adriatic Sea’s most important cities. Visit the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace and the city’s historical center, also listed as UNESCO heritage.

Day 9 – Sunday – Split - Plitvice Lakes (260 km)

Plitvice Lakes National Park - After breakfast, head to Croatia’s oldest national park, also part of UNESCO heritage. Enjoy a walking tour in nature and discover the park’s amazing colors, ranging from azure to green, grey, or blue, depending on the sunlight. Overnight in a 3* hotel in Korenica, close to Plitvice National Park.
!! Please note that the visit to Plitvice Lakes is weather-dependent. In case of bad weather, the National Park administration may close it. We are not responsible in this case, but will do our best to adjust the itinerary if possible, respecting all visits included. The tour manager will decide the best solution for the group, prioritizing safety.

Day 10 – Monday – Plitvice – Postojna – Ljubljana (290 km) CROATIA + SLOVENIA

Postojna Cave - After breakfast, head to the Slovenian border. Explore the largest show-cave in Europe, the Postojna Cave, with an electric train—a must-see tourist attraction due to its natural beauty. Arrive in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, in the late evening.

Ljubljana Old Town - Enjoy an orientation tour in Ljubljana.

Day 11 – Tuesday – Ljubljana – Zagreb (140 km) SLOVENIA + CROATIA

Ljubljana Old Town - After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour to discover Ljubljana city center’s main attractions: Congress Square, the National University Library, New Square, Cobbler’s Bridge, main square with the Prešeren monument, Franciscan Church, Three Bridges, Old Square, river promenade, Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Open Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, and Dragon Bridge.

Zagreb - Head to Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, to explore this magical city. Discover Zagreb’s Upper Town and Lower Town districts on a walking tour—enjoy fine city views from the Strossmayer Promenade. Discover top attractions including the Lotrščak Tower, St Catherine’s Church, the Stone Gate, and the Croatian Parliament seat. Then, descend via Tkalčićeva Street to the Lower Town and head through Dolac Market to medieval Kaptol. Admire traditional architecture in Ban Jelačić Square.

Day 12 – Wednesday – Zagreb – Belgrade (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA

Belgrade - After breakfast, head to Serbia and arrive in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, in the afternoon. Visit Republic Square, the National Theater and Museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, “Victor,” the most famous symbol of Belgrade, and the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

Day 13 – Thursday – Belgrade – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY

Novi Sad - After breakfast, depart for Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad to visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad, a must-see for tourists, featuring the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. Also see Dunavska Street with its 19th-century single-storied houses, the Danube embankment, and the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the opposite bank.

Budapest - Arrive in Budapest in the evening, “The Queen of the Danube,” Hungary’s capital.

Day 14 – Friday – Budapest HUNGARY

Budapest - Enjoy free time in Budapest to explore this magical city on your own. See iconic statues at Heroes’ Square, Andrássy Avenue (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), St. Stephen’s Basilica, Dohány Street Synagogue, and the beautiful Castle District in Buda.

Day 15 - Saturday - Budapest - Timisoara (320 km) HUNGARY + ROMANIA

Arad - After crossing the Romanian border, enjoy a walking tour of Arad, where you’ll see the impressive Neo-Gothic Palace of Culture, City Hall Palace, and the Red Church in secessionist style, the great Catholic Cathedral, and the State Theater in neoclassical style.

Timisoara Historical Center - Timisoara is a charming city with architectural features influenced by Turkish, Serbian, Austrian, and German elements, set to become the European Capital of Culture in 2021.

Day 16 - Sunday - Timisoara – The Corvini Castle – Alba Iulia – Sibiu (320 km)

Castelul Corvinilor - In the morning, visit the most fascinating Gothic castle in Eastern Europe, the famous Corvin Castle, one of the continent’s most beautiful and grandest.

Cetatea Alba Iulia - Visit Alba Iulia, a historically significant city where the Great United Romania was established on December 1st, 1918, shortly after World War I.

Sibiu - Visit Sibiu, a beautiful medieval city where Romanians and Saxons have lived peacefully for centuries. The various religious monuments (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant) demonstrate this peaceful coexistence. Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture in 2007 and hosts an extraordinary theater festival annually. The city captivates with its three squares (Big Square, Small, and Huet Square) that transport tourists to a medieval atmosphere. Its towers, 15th-century bastions, beautiful museums, and famous “houses with the eyes” offer delightful moments. In Sibiu, you’ll also see one of Transylvania’s largest Gothic evangelical churches.

Day 17 - Monday - Sibiu – Sighisoara – Brasov (210 km)

Centrul Istoric Sighisoara - Visit Sighisoara, with its imposing Clock Tower. This citadel is Europe’s best-preserved and still inhabited. Since 1999, Sighisoara’s historic center is a UNESCO heritage site. Admire the church on the hill, accessible via a wooden staircase called the schoolchildren’s ladder. See the statue of famous Hungarian national poet Petofi Sandor, indicating the past significance of the Magyar community in Sighisoara. Next to the statue is the beautiful Catholic church for the Hungarian community and the shoemakers’ tower. Lunch at Vlad the Impaler’s birthplace is optional (not included).

Brasov Historical Center - Visit Brasov, a wonderful Transylvanian town, once entirely fortified, and an important cultural, tourist, and commercial center. Brasov impresses with its typically German architecture, where Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles intersect, creating a culturally vibrant city. Visit the First Romanian School, located in the city’s oldest district, inhabited exclusively by Romanians, the Schei district, notable for medieval entrances through Caatherine’s and Schei Gate, the latter from the 19th century. In Brasov, visit the impressive Black Church, Eastern Europe’s largest evangelical Gothic church, with a 65-meter-high bell tower and 90-meter length, housing Romania’s most beautiful 19th-century mechanical organ. Admire the recently restored palaces and houses of the historic center, with the Council Square now hosting a beautiful museum, and the pedestrian Avenue of the Republic.

Day 18 - Tuesday - Brasov – Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest (180 km)

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) - Visit Bran to explore the famous Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. In the Middle Ages, Bran was on the border between Wallachia and Transylvania, making it essential for Brasov’s inhabitants to build and maintain a defensive stronghold.

Peles Castle - Visit the fabulous Peles Castle, the summer residence of Romania’s first king, King Charles I of Hohenzollern, of German origin. The castle, beautifully designed by a Czech architect, is renowned for being one of Europe’s most modern castles at the time of its construction between the 19th and 20th centuries. Each room features a unique style, distinct from the others. Admire the Florentine room, exuding a typically Italian and Renaissance atmosphere.

Day 19 - Wednesday - Bucharest

Muzeul National al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” - Visit the Village Museum, founded by a Romanian sociologist and built in 1936 with the collaboration of construction experts, anthropologists, ethnographers, and sociologists from across Romania. This wonderful open-air museum offers insight into the lifestyle of 19th-century Romanian farmers, showcasing their houses, water mills, and wooden churches. Everything here is authentic. Admire a wooden Maramures church, dismantled and relocated to the museum. Many wooden churches of Maramures are UNESCO heritage sites.

Palace of Parliament - Visit the Parliament Building, a majestic monument, second only in size to the Pentagon, built at the dictator’s behest in the 1980s, for which an entire neighborhood was razed.

Biserica Sfantul Anton - Curtea Veche - Enjoy a walking tour of Bucharest’s historical center, a pedestrian area with remains of Vlad the Impaler’s princely fortress, the 16th-century palatine church in Byzantine style, and the Stavropoleos church, an 18th-century architectural jewel in typical Wallachian style, with significant oriental influences in its external decoration.

• 18 nights in 3/4* hotels
• Expert tour leader and driver
• Daily breakfast
• Dedicated local guide in Romania
• Hotel/port pickup and drop-off included
• Air-conditioned minivan transport

• Entrance fees at museums
• Tips for the tour guide / driver
• Meals other than breakfast

Embark on a curated journey through the Balkans and explore over 15 Unesco World Heritage sites across 9 nations: Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Hungary. Benefit from the intimate setting of a small group tour, contemporary transportation in a cooled minivan, and a proficient driver/tour guide who will make this trip memorable.

• A minimum of 4 participants is required to organise the tour. If the tour it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
• • The order can be changed based on multiple factors like weather, traffic conditions and restrictions, national holidays, ecc but all the visits will be done as indicated in the itinerary, changing just the order keeping in mind that all this is done for your safety or to make more enjoyable your tour.
• !! In case you will need a transfer to the airport or any other extra services please ask the tour manager in advance if it is possible to organize it and let you know also the price.
• !! This tour is a easy walking tour (moderate peace) for persons with a good general fit condition. It requires some small effort like: carrying your own bag on just some steps to get into the hotel (mostly of the hotels have also an elevator), and also some average effort like: walking tours from 2 hours to 4/5 hours (from 1 km to 7 km) depending on the sites visited. To have a better idea: Sofia walking tour: 1,5 hours = 4 km, Skopje Walking Tour: 1,5 hours = 3 km ; Plitvice Lakes: 3 hours = 6 km
• • In case that all the members of the tour have a special request to see something else that it is not in the itinerary and it requests also extra miles the tour manager after a discussion with our sales department will let you know the extra cost or if we can make it complimentary.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.