Central Balkan Tour Croatia, BiH & Serbia 9days / 8nights
Central Balkan Tour Croatia, BiH & Serbia 9days / 8nights
FROM ONLY3200 €
Overview
The incredible natural beauty of Balkan peninsula provide the backdrop for the innumerable highlights of this Central Balkan tour. The Balkan tour begins with two nights in Zagreb, Croatian capital where you visit also Zagreb’s countryside and birth place of former for life Yugoslav president Tito. The route will later take you to Plitvice Lakes, where our walk along the trails of the splendid Plitvice Lakes National Park will display the wonder of a thousand waterfalls. Afterwards we’ll spend three days in fascinating Sarajevo and meet its the wonderful people and visit also Mostar’s Old bridge on a fascinating day trip. Leaving Sarajevo on the way to Zlatibor a mountain resort area in Serbia, we’ll take the magnificent Šargan Eight train ride, Europe’s most attractive narrow gauge museum railway. The last two days of your tour are reserved for Serbian capital Belgrade, where you visit Citadel or Kalemegdan, St.Sava Orthodox church, Tito´s grave ex-Yugoslavia museum and dine in a lively bohemian quarter of Skadarlija.
PRICE: based on the number of people in your group
- 5400 euro per person when two traveling
- 4300 euro per person when four traveling
- 3600 euro per person when six traveling
- 3200 euro per person when eight traveling
- Single room supplement 900 euro
TOUR DATES: on request
All departures between Nov 1st and March 31st are 10% discounted.
Itinerary
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.
In the afternoon take off for Kumrovec, the birthplace of a former Yugoslav president Tito. See the ethnographical open-air museum of this typical village on the Croatian – Slovenian border, and learn about the countries’ communist past. Enjoy some time for shopping and a stroll around, before returning to Zagreb. You´re free for dinner, this evening.(B)
DAY 3 ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES
Put your hiking shoes on this morning. You´ll travel South to see and explore the Croatian UNESCO site, Plitvice lakes. It is an outstanding natural phenomenon, a series of lakes on the river Korana. You´ll visit Upper and Lower lakes, walking through forests and parks. Your camera is going to be very busy. Overnight in Hotel Degenija 4* or similar. Dinner in hotel. (B,D)
Day 4 PLITVICE LAKES-JAJCE-SARAJEVO
We travel more east today, our final destination being Sarajevo in Bosnia&Hercegovina.
Our first stop today is Jajce a hidden gem of Bosnia. Small picturesque city with a lot to offer. Waterfalls on river Pliva are one of a kind. Almost 30 meters high, situated in city center, walking distance from Old Town with it’s walls and castles.
Later continue through the magnificent Bosnian scenery to reach Sarajevo for for two nights. Your Hotel President 4* or similar is conveniently located next to Sarajevo’s Old Bazzar Baščaršija.
Later in the afternoon an in depth tour of Sarajevo with the our local expert guide will follow. Beside all of the main atractions in town, that will include Catolic Cathedral, Sinagoge, Orthodox church and the Mosque, located practicaly on the same block you can enjoy some fabolous shoping in Old Bazzar. Tonight you’ll dine in a typical Bosnian restuarant to try some local cuisine.(B,D)
Day 5 SARAJEVO-MOSTAR-SARAJEVO
Today enjoy a day trip to Mostar.
Its beautiful bridge over the Neretva river, the fine example of Islamic architecture in the Balkans, built in 16th century was destroyed during the war in the nineties. Rebuild in 2004 now looks exactly as when made; a lot of original stones have been used to rebuild it. The Mostar Old Bridge is now on the UNESCO´s World Heritage Sight list.
After spare time for lunch in Mostar we´ll return back to Sarajevo. Evening on your own.(B)
DAY 6 SARAJEVO-ŠARGANSKA EIGHT TRAIN RIDE-ZLATIBOR
Leisurly morning in Sarajevo.
Later head to Višegrad situated on river Drina. Our guide will walk you to UNESCO site, Mehmed paša Sokolović Bridge the masterpice of Otoman Architecture and Old town core Andrićgrad where the only ex- Yu Nobel price winner for literature Ivo Andrič was born.
Then continue to Srbia and board Šargan Eight train, Europe’s most attractive narrow gauge museum railway and visit DrvenGrad-WoodenVillage a traditional village that the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica built for his film Life Is a Miracle.
Afterwards is a just a short drive to reach Zlatibor a mountain resort area in western Serbia. Tonight Hotel Alibi 4* or similar for one night. Dinner in a local restaurant (B,D)
DAY 7 ZLATIBOR-BELGRADE
Head north this morning and visit first Sirogojno, where there is an open-air museum dedicated to traditions and authentic elements of ordinary life collected from all over the Zlatibor region.
Reach Belgrade in the afternoon. Your Hotel Moskva 5* or similar is centrally located. The rest of the day is off to explore Belgrade on your own. (B)
Day 8 BELGRADE
This morning join an excelent 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.
Round up the short visit to Serbian capital city with a fabulous dinner in lively bohemian quarter of Skadarlija.(B,D)
DAY 9 BELGRADE – BELGRADE AIRPORT
Sad, but true. Your Balkan trip is over, you´ll be transferred to the airport. (B)
Towns and places
- Zagreb
- Kumrovec
- Plitvice Lakes
- Jajce, Mostar
- Sarajevo
- Višegrad
- Šarganska Eight
- Zlatibor
- Belgrade
What's included?
- Transportation in luxury passenger mini-van with extra leg room
- Transfer to Zagreb hotel from Zagreb/Trieste/Ljubljana/Venice airport (other airports available for extra cost) on Day 1
- Belgrade airport transfer out on Day 9
- 8 nights hotel accomodation based on double/twin bed occupancy in a 4 or 5 star hotels
- Full time professional English speaking driver/guide while on the tour
- Local Guides in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo and Belgrade.
- Orientational guided walk of, Plitvice Lakes, Mostar and Zlatibor.
- All breakfasts, 5 dinners with drinks, 1 lunch with drinks,..
- Entrance fees to Diocletian Palace Cellars in Split, Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik, Pula Amphiteater, Dubrovnik walls, Plitvice National park and Ex-Yu museum in Belgrade.
- Organization, basic insurance and VAT.
Highlights
- Visit Zagreb central farmers market
- Visit Kumrovec, former Yugoslav president´s Tito birthplace and enter his birth house
- Hike Plitvice Lakes
- Walk across Mostar Old bridge
- Shop at Sarajevo Old Bazzar Baščaršija
- Take a scenic train ride Šargan Eight
- Zlatibor National Park scenery
- Visit Belgrade Bohemian district Skadarlija and visit Tito's grave
Map
Getting there
Central Balkan tour begins: Zagreb, Croatia
Transfer from Ljubljana, Trieste, Zagreb or Venice airport on Day 1
Other airports on request.
Central Balkan tour ends: Belgrade, Serbia
Transfer to Belgrade airport on Day 9
Other airports on request.
Why travel with us?
Private travel – gives you a highly personalized and unforgettable experience that you won’t find on a large group tour. Traveling on a private tour is extremely suitable in this unprecedented times.
Unique itineraries– Our carefully designed itineraries are a wonderful blend of the major sites and delightful places that we’ve discovered off the beaten paths, where you’ll find fewer tourists.
All included – no optional hidden cost excursions.
Best value – our lower prices and high quality make us a great choice for an escorted private tour.
The best historic hotels, most are 4 star or 5 star, dating from previous centuries, located inside historic districts to maximize your free time on tour.
The best small restaurants where local eat and great wines – all included, as much as you like. No pre-fixed group menu’s, you dine alla cart.
Exceptional native tour guides and local guides – experienced, informative, attentive and fun! Essential to an authentic experience!
Leisurely pace – your average day on tour begins at 9am and there is ample free time for your own explorations daily.
Airport transfer– Choose your arrival airport. Flexibility is one of our motos, so we´ll be glad to pick you up from nearby airports and bring you to/from your hotel.
Driving time-we want you to experience your destinations on foot, not from the highway. On average we spend two-three hours a day or less traveling, along scenic roads wherever possible. Our vehicles are modern luxury passenger mini-vans with extra leg room and extremly comfortabile when traveling even longer distances.
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