Balkan 16

Serbia – Croatia – Slovenia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro – Kosovo – Macedonia

Day 1

BELGRADE

Arrival at Belgrade airport. Meet & greet followed by a private transfer and begin to city tour. You’ll be taken for a panoramic and walking city tour of Belgrade which includes: Dedinje, residential district full of villas and mansions, considered as a wealthiest part of the city; Topcider Park, one of the oldest parks in Belgrade with marvelous residence of Prince Milos Obrenovic; House of Flowers, which is well known as former Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito`s memorial house; Royal Palace, a white stoned palace built in Byzantine style; St. Sava Temple, the biggest Orthodox temple in the Balkans; Slavija Square; Parliament building; Republic Square; Knez Mihajlova pedestrian zone , a popular street full of shops, cafes, restaurants; and much more. Dinner in a local restaurant in the famous bohemian quarter named Skadarlija. Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day 2

BELGRADE – NOVI SAD

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll go on a full day trip to Novi Sad, the main administrative center 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 – STARA KAPELA – ZAGREB

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Lunch stop in Stara Kapela, ethno village in Croatian region of Slavonia. The village itself dates back to the 13th century, when it developed around a fortress. From the second half of 17th century, it was a part of military frontier towards the Ottoman Empire. Transfer to Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken for an orientation walk through the city center. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 4

ZAGREB

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be taken for a walking tour of the city, which starts with a ride on one of the shortest European funiculars to the Upper Town. Zagreb’s Upper Town is the oldest part of the city, built in the Middle Ages. We’ll visit its beautiful historical palaces, Saint Mark’s Church, Croatian Parliament and continue to the Kaptol hill with the Cathedral. We’ll visit the popular Dolac market, and end the tour in a beautiful main Ban Jelacic square in the Lower town. Lunch in a local restaurant. Free time to explore city on your own. Overnight

Day 5

ZAGREB – LJUBLJANA

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll go on a full day trip to Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. Ljubljana is often called a European jewel or described as a small blend of Prague and Amsterdam. It is a ‘town with a soul’, as visitors often comment. This vibrant old town is concentrated along the Ljubljanica River, and the castle on a hill still looks like it is protecting the romantic city below. On this tour you will stroll along medieval streets, admire an interesting blend of different architectural styles, ‘see’ and ‘be seen’ on several famous promenades along the river, discover some of the Ljubljana’s hidden monuments, relax in the city’s greenery, and hear stories and fairytales that connect the present and the past. The tour is on foot because it is much easier to get around Ljubljana’s pedestrian Old Town. Despite the fact that it is a capital city, it is easily walkable. You will see all the major sights in Ljubljana including the main square with the Prešeren monument, Franciscan Church and Three Bridges, Congress Square (Park of the Star), the National University Library, Križanke Monastery, the New Square, the Cobbler’s Bridge, the Old Square (the oldest street), the romantic river promenade, the Municipality Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the famous Open Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, and Dragon Bridge. Lunch. Transfer back to Zagreb, Overnight.

Day 6

ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – JAJCE- SARAJEVO

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Morning transfer to Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. The Park is situated in central Croatia, in region of Lika. Plitvice Lakes Park is recognized as an astonishing natural monument for the benefit and enjoyment of travelers. The Plitvice lakes continuously provide inspiration for visitors as one of Croatia’s most popular natural attraction. Lunch. Continue to Jajce. Jajce in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jajce was first built in the 14th century, when it served as the capital of the independent Bosnian kingdom during its time. This town’s medieval fortification remind of its rich history. The town features a unique attraction: beautiful waterfall in the city center where the Pliva River meets the river Vrbas. Sightseeing of Jajce. Transfer to Sarajevo. Check in & overnight.

Day 7

SARAJEVO

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll go on a tour of Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Sarajevo is historically famous for its traditional cultural and religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism coexisting there for centuries. This is truly a place where east and west collide and you can see it everywhere you go. Dinner in a traditional Bosnian restaurant with folklore entertainment. Overnight.

Day 8

SARAJEVO –MOSTAR – BLAGAJ – NEUM

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive towards the city of Mostar. Tour of Mostar, situated on the Neretva river. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. In the afternoon we’ll drive to Blagaj, a village town near Mostar situated at the spring of the Buna river. Late lunch in one of the local restaurant overlooking a well of the karstic river Buna. A Dervish Monastery was built around 1520, with elements of Ottoman architecture and Mediterranean style and is considered a national monument.Continue to Neum, town on a very short Bosnian riviera. Dinner & overnight

Day 9

NEUM – DUBROVNIK – KOTOR – BUDVA

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Morning transfer to Dubrovnik. Sightseeing of Dubrovnik. This UNESCO protected city is famous for its Medieval walls and historic streets, as well as for wonderful beaches. A pleasant walk will take you to the Rector’s Palace, the Dominican Monastery housing a rich collection of medieval paintings. Following the central city street – Stradun – you will have a chance to visit the Franciscan Monastery and other intriguing sites. Late lunch in one of local restaurant in Kotor. After lunch sightseeing of Kotor historical town under UNESCO’s protection. Its walls, St.Tryphon cathedral and lovely Venetian palaces are the most popular sights here. Continue to Budva. Check in & overnight.

Day 10

BUDVA – LOVCEN – CETINJE – PODGORICA

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive to Cetinje and Lovcen. Cetinje is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro with the official residence of the President of Montenegro. The city nestles on a small karst plain surrounded by mountains, including Mt. Lovćen, the Black Mountain from which Montenegro gets its name Mausoleum of a great Montenegrin ruler, Petar Petrovic Njegos is situated. Cetinje is a town of immense historical heritage, founded in the 15th century. Lunch in a local restaurant. Drive to Podgorica panoramic tour of Montenegro capital. Check in & overnight.

Day 11

PODGORICA – PEC – PRIŠTINA

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. We drive toward to Pec there we visit The Monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec and Visoki Decani Monastery. The Patriarchate of Peć monastery has been entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List under the common name of Mediaeval Monuments in Kosovo (Serbia) Visoki Dečani Monastery is a major Serbian Orthodox monastery, situated in Metohija, 12 km south from the town of Pec. Its cathedral is the biggest medieval church in the Balkans which contains the largest preserved monument of Byzantine fresco-painting. Continue to Pristina, panoramic tour of capital of Kosovo. Dinner and overnight.

Day 12

PRIŠTINA – PRIZREN – SKOPJE

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. The first stop, just before arriving to Prizren, is the beautiful 14th century Gracanica Monastery. We transfer to the city of Prizren. Prizren is famous for its numerous mosques, monasteries and churches (considered as the most sacred by the Serbs). The Prizren Leagues museum, the Hammam and the Bogoslovija Church, as well as the Bazar are also part of our city tour, we head for the medieval fortress of Tzar Dushan, Serbia’s most famous ruler who managed to expand the borders of his kingdom throughout a wider area in the Balkans. We drive toward to Skopje. Lunch in local restautant. We begin the sightseeing of Skopje from Skopje Fortress which is renewed and from where you have a magnificent view over the town. Then we’ll see the old Church of Holy Saviour with its fantastic iconostasis. them is Sultan Murat Mosque also known as Mustafa Pasha Mosque built by Sultan Murat II, the Ottoman Inns (Hans), and the Old Bazaar which is a genuine Balkan expiriance with many small streets and houses, hand craft shops, restaurants and coffee places. From there we’ll cross the River Vardar over the ancient Stone Bridge new rebuild Macedonia square we’ll see the grandiose statue of Alexandar the Great, the other statues and new interesting buildings around the square. Walking along the main street, to Mother Teresa memorial house. The peace Nobel Prize winner Mother Teresa was born in Skopje tour will end at the Old Railway station ruined by the earthquake in 1963 which is the museum of Skopje. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13

SKOPJE – OHRID – BITOLA – SKOPJE

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Ohrid. You’ll be taken for a walking tour of the city, Ohrid is like a journey through the centuries where you can feel the spirit of every civilization which has been in Ohrid during the 2500 years long history. In three hours walking tour in the old city of Ohrid, you can see a lot of monuments and hear a lot of stories about the Churches museums, fortress, and ancient teatar, Museum of the city, architecture and crafts. Ohrid is the city where is made the cyrilic alphabet by Saint Kliment and the first university on the Balkan in 9th cen. Later in 11th cen., center of the Samuil Empire and respected city during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. Today is under protection of Unesco and together with the Lake Ohrid. Lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we continuing to Bitola. In Bitola we visit the church of Sveti Dimitrija, dating back to the 19th century and renowned for being one of the biggest churches in the Balkans. Then we just have a quick glance at Yeni Mosque which is now an art gallery, then the Yahdar-Kadi Mosque and the Isak Mosque. At the heart of the town is the Clock Tower. The River Dragor runs through the town. Sirok Sokak (a long pedestrian area) is renowned for the beautiful old houses that belong to the 19th-century architecture. Bitola is a town of consulates. Drive to Skopje. Dinner and overnight.

Day 14

SKOPJE departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure flight.

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