TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Zagreb sightseeing tour. Dinner included.

Welcome to Zagreb! Upon arrival at the airport, we shall be waiting and to transfer you to your hotel. Hotel standard check in time 2pm.

In order to participate in the panoramic tour of the city please be at the hotel reception by 1500PM.

From the hotel, panoramic tour of Zagreb with local guide, we can admire its two hills, the old quarter, the upper city and the new neighborhoods of the Croatian capital. The visit will last about two hours. You will then have free time. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing tour of Sarajevo. Dinner included.

0730AM - We will leave first thing in the morning to travel to Bosnia. The border area still shows sad memories of the conflict that took place in the 1990s. We cross the Serb-majority Bosnia. First stop, BANIA LUKA, and time to walk through the capital of the autonomous entity of the Srpska Republika, the second largest city in Bosnia after Sarajevo, with its fortress and orthodox cathedral. Then, departure to JAJCE, perhaps the most beautiful town in Bosnia, with its cultural mix, its mosque, its fortress and its impressive waterfall. Time for a walk and lunch. We continue our journey to SARAJEVO, arriving in the mid-afternoon. With a local guide, we will take a panoramic tour of this city with strong Turkish influence: its Mosques, its Madrasahs, and its busy bazaars. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. Beautiful landscapes throughout the route: mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes and picturesque villages. Dinner included.

0830AM Sarajevo - We will still have some time to explore Sarajevo, where we will visit the Tunnel of Hope that in 1993 saved the city in the 30 months siege of Sarajevo during the war by connecting the besieged city through a tunnel with free Bosnia.

Later, we continue to another exciting drive of scenic beauty. Amidst deep valleys, we travel to MOSTAR, with its very beautiful historic center and stone bridge separating the Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities. After lunch, we stop in MEDJUGORJE, a place that attracts thousands of Catholic Pilgrims. We then travel to CROATIA. Border procedures (which may take a while). We will then arrive into DUBROVNIK at the end of the day. Dinner included.

NOTE: Depending on the date, accommodation can be provided either in Dubrovnik or in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Panoramic tour of Dubrovnik. Boat trip to Lokrum. Dinner included.

In the morning we enjoy a panoramic tour of DUBROVNIK with a local guide. We are undoubtedly in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, surrounded by walls, bathed by the Adriatic Sea; its intact historic center is a jewel of world architectural heritage. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Cathedral.

We also include a boat trip to LOKRUM, a small island 15 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik and home to the ruins of a Benedictine monastery of the eleventh century, popular setting of the series "Game of Thrones". You can then enjoy free time, returning to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner included.

NOTE: Accommodation in Dubrovnik will be in Kavtat, a coastal town near the city. in the winter months, from November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum and therefore we cannot visit the island.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful scenery of the Adriatic coast. Dinner included.

0730AM We set off early for Montenegro. The coastal scenery and the Bay of Kotor are beautiful. We enjoy a ferry to cross the bay. Arrive in Kotor to enjoy some time strolling in this beautiful walled town with its strong Venetian influence.

After this we stop in Budva, a marvellous walled village surrounded by the sea to enjoy lunch (optional).

Then we travel to Albania. Arrival at the frontier and border procedures (which may sometimes be long). Time at the frontier too to have a coffee and change money. We carry on along small roads. We arrive in the capital of the Albania, Tirana, and enjoy some free time. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Panoramic tour of Tirana. Slow mountains roads through rural areas. Dinner included.

After breakfast, we include a panoramic tour of Tirana: The capital of Albania, with its mosques, the clock tower, the ministries. Our local guide will tell us about this small country. Free time before going on our way. (this visit may also be made in the evening on arrival in Tirana, depending on the sunlight and on the decision of the guide).

Enjoy the beautiful countryside around Lake Ohrid which forms the border with Macedonia. We continue to the Republic of Macedonia, and onto Struga, a picturesque town on the shores of the lake, time for lunch!

We continue to Ohrid, a city with a strong Ottoman influence, you can stroll and see the Plaosnik Monastery, or the ancient university founded in the ninth century. The city is declared World Heritage. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Beautiful Balkan landscapes. Spectacular Meteora's Valley. Dinner included. 

0745AM We travel to the border through regions of pleasant agricultural plains. We pass through Bitola, a historic town that was called the “city of consuls”. Stop at the frontier where we have a chance for a coffee and to change money if we need to. The north of Greece has a strong Slav and Ottoman influence and a very broken geography.

At Kastoria - The city of the 100 churches, with its mediaeval streets and pleasant restaurants beside its pretty lake. Time for a stroll and lunch. 

Continuing to Kalabaka, we will arrive Meteoras. We start our route amidst the fantastic scenery of the Meteoras which houses monasteries literally “hanging” from the rocks. We stop and visit the Mega Meteoras monastery while observing the remaining monasteries “hanging” on the rocks.    

Dinner included and accommodation in Kalabaka, a small town at the centre of the Meteoras region.

NOTE: We enter Greece (Schengen zone). Comfortable footwear to climb up to the Monastery.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Beautiful landscapes of Macedonia. Dinner included.

08ooam Depart Kalabaka - We travel through the North of Greece, amidst pretty mountain scenery, to the Aegean Sea.

Upon arrive in Thessalonica with time for a stroll and lunch in Greece’s second largest city.

After this we continue towards Bulgaria, and the border pass. In Bulgarian Macedonia we stop in Melnik, a picturesque museum village in beautiful scenery amidst a wine producing area.

In the evening arrive Sandanski, at this beautiful small spa city, the birthplace of Spartacus. Dinner and accommodation.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Rila monastery. City tour of Sofia.

0830AM Depart and on our journey to Rila. Upon arrival, we visit the beautiful Rila Monastery, the heritage of mankind, with its appearance of a fortress surrounded by forests.

We continue to Sofia. After time for lunch (optional), we include a tour of the capital of Bulgaria, where we will see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, its squares and avenues of Stalinist architecture. Rest of day at leisure.

After breakfast, end of our services. Hotel standard check out time 11am.

Self arrangement to airport or may add in additional service (optional) for hotel-airport transfer.

Remark/Note: You can take for tour option 2 - Tour continue to Plovdiv on Day 10, overnight and tour end at Bucharest on Day 13. Check with us for the programs itinerary and tour price for Tour Code: 26656_Balkan Dreams.