Balkan 15

Day 1

Belgrade

Arrival to the airport and transfer to hotel in Belgrade. Belgrade is a city that welcomes everybody. A city that nobody leaves indifferent. Situated in Southern Europe, at the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube, between the Pannonia Plain to the north and the hilly central region of Serbia known as Šumadija to the south. We will visit Kalemegdan Fortress, Knez Mihailova Street, St. Sava Temple, Skadarlija-Bohemian Quarter. We will have lunch in one of Belgrade restaurants and enjoy in popular Belgrade atmosphere. After lunch, we will have half-day visit of Kovačica Village. Kovačica Village is situated 50km from Belgrade and it is well-known by its naïve art. Drive back to Belgrade and enjoy in dinner at Scadarlija. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2

BELGRADE – NOVI SAD

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll go on a full day trip to Novi Sad, the main administrative centre of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Situated on the shores of the Danube north of Belgrade, Novi Sad is a picturesque, friendly city in Serbia`s Vojvodina province. Serbia second largest city boasts the impressive 17th century Petrovaradin Fortress, which features beautiful courtyards, walkways and a system of underground tunnels. Lunch in a local restaurant. Return & overnight in Belgrade.Folklore group (optional).

Day 3

Belgrade – Monastiries of Serbia – Nis

After breakfast in hotel, we start our journey heading for the south of Serbia. We follow E-75 highway and our first stop are Monasteries Manasija and Ravanica. Manasija is a Serbian Orthodox monastery, founded by Despot Stefan Lazarevid between 1407 and 1418. It is one of the most significant monuments of medieval Serbian culture and it belongs to the “Morava school”. Ravanica Monastery, like Manasija Monastery, is very important monument of medieval Serbian Culture. After having lunch in a local restaurant, we continue our road to Niš, which is usually called, the gate of the East and the West. We will have a dinner and an overnight at hotel in Niš.

Day 4

NIŠ – SKOPJE

We will start our morning with Niš sightseeing and visit of Mediana, located 5km from the city center, which is now a protected archeological site that occupies 40 hectares and exhibits the remnants of a granary, craft centre, villas, thermae, and the remains of an ancient villa with rich mosaics, most of which depict geometrical or floral motifs. After visiting Chegar Hill, we go back to city where we have a lunch in one of the local restaurant. After Niš we are heading for Skopje. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Skopje, Macedonia.

Day 5

SKOPJE – MAVROVO – OHRID

After breakfast, Walking tour of Skopje: Macedonia Square with the sculptural compositions from the project “Skopje 2014”, among which the monument of Alexander the Great and the Arch of Triumph “Macedonia”, Memorial house of Mother Theresa, dedicated to the world-famous missionary from Skopje, Old Bridge, the old Turkish market (“charshiya”), St. Spas church where you can witness one of the most beautiful wood-carved iconostases on the Balkan peninsula, created by Debar masters in 1824. After sightseeing, we continue to Ohrid. On the way to Ohrid we will stop in National park Mavrovo and see one of the most beautiful Monastery in Macedonia – St. Jovan Bigorsk – St. Jovan Bigorski is a 19th century monastery standing on the slopes of Debar’s Mt. Bistra, above the banks of the River Radika. While relatively new, St. Jovan was constructed over the remains of an older church dating from 1021. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.

Day 6

OHRID – TIRANA

We will spend our morning, sightseeing of Ohrid. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Macedonia. In 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. High above the city, rises Samuilova Fortress. It is located at the top of the hill. After having lunch in a local restaurant, we will proceed our journey to Tirana, the capital of Albania. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Tirana.

Day 7

TIRANA – DURRES

Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. In the morning, we go sightseeing of Tirana and visit the most important attractions like Skanderbeg Square, Skanderbeg Statue, Et’hem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower. This is a great opportunity to meet Albanian culture and everyday life in Albania. After lunch drive towards Durres the country second largest and one of the oldest cities in Albania. Interesting remains of the long communist era in Albania are the numerous concrete bunkers found in and around Durres. Dinner and overnight in Durres.

Day 8

DURRES – SHKODER – BUDVA

After breakfast in hotel, we continue to Shkoder. It is a city located on Lake Skadar in northwestern part Albania. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. After lunch in local restaurant drive towards Montenegro. Overnight in Budva, Montenegro’s top tourist destination.

Day 9

BUDVA – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK – BUDVA

After breakfast, drive to Kotor, the old Mediterranean port, surrounded by an impressive city wall built by Republic of Venice and the Venetian influence remains dominant among the architectural influences. The Bay of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe. Kotor is part the World Heritage Site Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor. The second part of the day is reserved for the most breath-taking Adriatic city, which is included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list – Dubrovnik. We will take a walk in the ancient city, full of architectural and cultural masterpieces and surrounded by a magnificent wall and fortresses. Dinner and overnight in Budva.

Day 10

SBUDVA – ŽABLJAK – MOKRA GORA

In the morning, after breakfast we continue to Žabljak. It is the city on the highest altitude of the Balkans in the Durmitor Mountain, located at the altitude of 1456m. Durmitor National Park, most known of Tara River canyon, is listed on UNESCO World Heritage List.After lunch, we will have time to enjoy in natural beauties of Durmitor. Around the slopes of Durmitor Mountain, you will find over 18 glacial lakes. There are different kinds of lakes but Black Lake is Dumitor’s largest, deepest and best-known lake, and like many mountain lakes formed by receding glaciers. After lunch, we continue to Mokra Gora. Mokra Gora is best known for its spectacular Šargan Eight Railway which is designed as unique in the world due to its lane that, viewed from the sky, looks like number 8. This is a great opportunity to observe beautiful nature of Zlatibor from the perspective that is unique in the whole world. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11

MORA GORA – SARAJEVO

After breakfast Departures from MOkra Gora to Sarajevo and visit village of Drvengrad that was constructed by the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica as a set for his 2004 release Life is a Miracle (Život Je Čudo) – Emir Kusturica won the Palm d’Or twice at the Cannes Film Festival during his career. Stop in Višegrad for lunch and visit the ancient bridge. Arrive in Sarajevo. Dinner and Overnight.

Day 12

SARAJEVO

Breakfast at hotel , walking City tour- old town Bascarsija, Latin bridge, place where the Austro Hungarian Archduke was assassinated, what triggered the 1st World War; Brusa besistan – covered market place; Gazi Husref Bey Mosque- built in 1530 year during the Ottoman era – and Gazi Husrev Bey Madrass; Morica han built in 1551 ; Vijecnica – town hall from the Austro-Hungarian era. ( Optional ) Lunch at the local restaurant. Free at leisure. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Sarajevo.

Day 12

SARAJEVO

After breakfast, transfer to Belgrade Airport for a return flight.

Interested in this tour? Contact us .