DAY 1 ZAGREB AIRPORT – ZAGREB

Meet your guide at Zagreb Airport for a transfer to a centrally located Hotel Palace 4* or similar for two nights. Check-in, relax take some time for yourself after a long flight.

In the afternoon join your guide for an orientation walk in the historical center of Croatian capital city followed by a welcome dinner.(D)

DAY 2 ZAGREB – KUMROVEC – ZAGREB

In the morning see more of this interesting town. The walking tour takes you to Zagreb Gradac, the upper town, and castle area, nowadays the political center of the city and the whole of the country. Continue to Dolac, a lesser town with a lively market area. Browse the stalls for some typical products, your guide will have suggestions for your lunch.

You´re free for dinner, this evening.(B)

DAY3    ZAGREB – BELGRADE

Head east this morning, following the first highway built in former Yugoslavia.

Reach Belgrade in early afternoon and join the local guide for the city tour that will include the visit to former Citadel or Kalemegdan, St.Sava Orthodox church,  Tito´s grave ex-Yugoslavia museum and more.

Your Hotel Moskva 5* or similar for one night is centrally located.

Round up the short visit to Serbian capital city with a fabulous dinner in lively bohemian quarter of Skadarlija.(B,D)

DAY 4 BELGRADE – SOFIJA

Capital city to capital city, we could say. Our destination today is Sofia, the Bulgarian capital for two nights. We´ll reach it early afternoon, after a comfortable journey on Serbian and Bulgarian highways. You’re located in Rosllyn Thracia Hotel Sofia 4* or similar.

You´ll join the local guide for a tour that will cover all of the city´s landmarks of past and present. Stroll along the Vitosha boulevard in search for some Bulgarian street food and souvenirs. Your guide/driver will take you for a dinner in a local restaurant.(B,D)

DAY 5 SOFIJA – PLOVDIV

After breakfast head further east to visit Plovdiv, historically the most important Bulgarian town. Known in the west as Philipopolis, after his founder King Philip of Macedonia, who established it in 4th century B.C., played an important role in this part of the world and in the history and formation of Bulgarian nation. Local guide will present its glorious past, showing you ancient Greek and Roman ruins and wonderfully preserved and renovated old town in all its Otoman looks.

Return to Sofija in the afternoon for a free evening.(B)

DAY 6  SOFIJA – RILA MONASTERY – SKOPJE

Our journey continue on Bulgarian soil, but we´re headed south today. Our first destination is Rila Monastery, UNESCO´s World Heritage Site. Rila Monastery from 10th century always was and still is a  cultural, religious and spiritual centre of Bulgarian national consciousness and its Orthodox Church. Visited by almost a million people a year, makes it the top attraction in this part of Europe.

After the visit, we´ll continue west, towards Northern Macedonia and its capital city, Skopje for one night Alexander Square Boutique Hotel 4* or similar. Today´s dinner is in a typical Macedonian restaurant. (B,D)

DAY 7   SKOPJE – MATKA CANYON – OHRID

We´ll visit the Matka canyon this morning. Just a few kilometres out of Skopje you´ll find yourself surrounded by unspoiled nature in the National park of Treska river.

Then well continue towards Ohrid, town and lake of the same name, probably the biggest attraction of Northern Macedonia, referred as a “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. We´ll check in for two nights to a centrally located waterfront Hotel Royal View 4* or similar. Free evening tonight to try local restaurants. (B)

DAY 8 OHRID

Looking forward for a full relaxing day on the lake? This is exactly what we´ve planned for today. A short walking tour with the local guide will cover Ancient teather, Church of St. Sofia, Samuil’s fortress and Church of St.John at Kaneo, a nice boat ride and a lunch in a local restaurant. The rest of the day is yours, to relax by the water or shop around town.(B,L)

DAY 9 OHRID-ELBASAN-TIRANA

We´ll leave N.Macedonia behind today in order to discover a new country on our tour. Albania, mysterious country, that was almost hermetically sealed for many decades of communist oppressions, is now a lively country; its population can not hide how happy they are the regime is just a past. To reach its capital city, Tirana we are going to cross some mountain passes on extremely scenic route.

Upon arrival to Tirana, our local guide will take us for a walking tour of the city and a visit to Archeological Museum.

After check in to our centrally located Hotel International 5* or similar, we´ll enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant, and will be surprised of the quality of Albanian wines.(B,D)

DAY 10 TIRANA-KRUJE-SKADAR-KOTOR

This morning we´ll drive to Kruje, the medieval Albanian capital, the home of the Museum, dedicated to Albanian national hero, Skenderbeg. A picturesque town offers nice scenery and good shopping for some local souvenirs.

After early lunch we´ll continue north, bypassing Skadar, the border town on the border lake of the same name and then towards Adriatic cost. We´ll enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery all the way to Montenegro and further along the coast to town of Kotor for two nights in Hotel Cattaro 4* or similar.(B)

DAY 11 KOTOR – NJEGOŠI – LOVČEN – KOTOR

Montenegro was an independent principality and then a kingdom between 1696 and 1918. The village where its ruling dynasty is coming from, and Mount Lovčen, where the mausoleum of Petar Petrovič Njegoš, the most famous Montenegro prince and poet is buried, is our next adventure. Steep country road will take us to the mountains just above the town to visit these two places so important for the Montenegro´s history and culture.

We´ll return to Kotor in the afternoon to explore and enjoy this unique coastal town. It belonged to Venetian Republic for over 300 years, many fortifications and other buildings are still there; the main reason Kotor is on UNESCO´s World Heritage sight list.

In the evening enjoy the exquisite farewell dinner in a local restaurant.(B,D)

DAY 12 KOTOR- TIVAT/DUBROVNIK AIRPORT

Sad but true, your Balkan tour is over, your guide/driver will take you to Tivat or Dubrovnik airport at your desired time. If you would wish to remain in Dubrovnik for a day or two, we´ll take you to your hotel.(B)