- 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.
Central Balkan tour Croatia, BIH & Serbia – 9 days
9 days/ 8 nights
The price is based on the number of people in your group.
Description
Embark on an incredible journey through the Central Balkans, where natural beauty sets the stage for countless highlights. Your adventure begins with two nights in Zagreb, the vibrant Croatian capital. You’ll also explore the scenic countryside and visit the birthplace of former Yugoslav President Tito. Your route will then lead to the stunning Plitvice Lakes, where you’ll be captivated by the spectacle of a thousand waterfalls.
Next, you’ll spend three captivating days in Sarajevo, where you’ll have the chance to meet the warm and welcoming local people. A day trip will take you to the iconic Old Bridge in Mostar. Departing Sarajevo, your journey continues to Zlatibor, a picturesque mountain resort in Serbia. Here, you’ll embark on the magnificent Šargan Eight train ride, Europe’s most alluring narrow-gauge museum railway. The final two days of your tour are dedicated to the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Your itinerary includes visits to the Citadel (Kalemegdan), the St. Sava Orthodox Church, Tito’s grave, and the fascinating ex-Yugoslavia museum. You’ll also have the opportunity to dine in the lively and bohemian Skadarlija quarter. Get ready for an unforgettable Balkan adventure!
Day 1
ZAGREB AIRPORT – ZAGREB
Meet your guide at Zagreb Airport, and let us take care of the rest. We’ll transfer you to the conveniently located Hotel Palace 4* or a similar option for a comfortable two-night stay. After checking in, take some well-deserved time for yourself to unwind and recover from your long flight.
In the afternoon, join your knowledgeable guide for an orientation walk through the historical center of Croatia’s capital city. This will give you a great first impression of the city’s highlights. After your walk, indulge in a delightful welcome dinner to kickstart your Balkan adventure. (D)
Day 2
ZAGREB – KUMROVEC – ZAGREB
Explore more of this fascinating town in the morning. Your guided walking tour will lead you to Zagreb Gradac, the upper town, and the castle area, which is now the political center of both the city and the entire country. Afterward, head to Dolac, a lively market area in the lesser town. As you wander through the stalls, you’ll have the chance to discover and sample some typical local products. Your guide will be ready with suggestions for a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon, embark on a journey to Kumrovec, the birthplace of the former Yugoslav president, Tito. Here, you’ll visit an ethnographical open-air museum in this typical village situated on the Croatian-Slovenian border. You’ll learn about the communist history of both countries while enjoying some free time for shopping and a leisurely stroll around the village.
For dinner, you have the freedom to choose where you’d like to dine this evening. Enjoy the local cuisine or explore the culinary scene in Zagreb at your own pace. (B)
Day 3
ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES
This morning, prepare to lace up your hiking shoes for an exciting adventure. You’ll head south to visit one of Croatia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the spectacular Plitvice Lakes. These lakes are a remarkable natural wonder, consisting of a series of interconnected lakes along the Korana River.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore both the Upper and Lower Lakes as you walk through lush forests and beautiful park areas. Be sure to have your camera ready because you’ll encounter breathtaking scenery at every turn. After an exhilarating day of exploration, you’ll spend the night at Hotel Degenija, a comfortable 4-star accommodation. Dinner will be served at the hotel, providing a convenient and relaxing way to end your day. (B, D)
Day 4
PLITVICE LAKES - JAJCE - SARAJEVO
Today, we journey further east with our ultimate destination being Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our first stop is Jajce, a hidden gem in Bosnia. This small, picturesque city has a lot to offer. The waterfalls on the Pliva River are truly one of a kind. These waterfalls, almost 30 meters high, are situated in the city center and within walking distance of the Old Town, which boasts impressive walls and castles.
Afterward, we’ll continue our scenic drive through the magnificent Bosnian landscapes to reach Sarajevo, where we will spend two nights. Your accommodation, Hotel President, is a comfortable 4-star option conveniently located near Sarajevo’s Old Bazaar, known as Baščaršija.
Later in the afternoon, you’ll embark on an in-depth tour of Sarajevo with our local expert guide. You’ll have the opportunity to explore all of the city’s main attractions, including the Catholic Cathedral, Synagogue, Orthodox Church, and the Mosque, all conveniently located practically on the same block. In addition to these historical sights, you can enjoy some fabulous shopping in the Old Bazaar.
To conclude your day, we’ve arranged a delightful dinner for you at a typical Bosnian restaurant, where you can savor the flavors of local cuisine. (B, D)
Day 5
SARAJEVO - MOSTAR - SARAJEVO
Today, you’ll embark on an exciting day trip to Mostar, one of the most captivating cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is renowned for its beautiful bridge over the Neretva River, which stands as a fine example of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. This stunning bridge was originally constructed in the 16th century but was tragically destroyed during the conflict in the 1990s. Remarkably, it was meticulously rebuilt in 2004 to look exactly as it did when first constructed, and many original stones were used in its reconstruction. The Mostar Old Bridge has earned a well-deserved place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
You’ll have some free time for lunch in Mostar before we return to Sarajevo. The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. (B)
Day 6
SARAJEVO - ŠARGANSKA EIGHT TRAIN RIDE - ZLATIBOR
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Sarajevo, taking in the city’s unique atmosphere.
Day 7
ZLATIBOR - BELGRADE
Today, we will head north, making our first stop in Sirogojno, where you’ll find an open-air museum dedicated to preserving the traditions and authentic elements of ordinary life from the Zlatibor region. In the afternoon, we’ll reach Belgrade. Your accommodation for the night will be at Hotel Moskva 5* or a similar centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Belgrade at your own pace. (B)
Day 8
BELGRADE
This morning, you’ll join an excellent local guide for a city tour in Belgrade. The tour will include visits to the former Citadel or Kalemegdan, St. Sava Orthodox church, Tito’s grave, the ex-Yugoslavia museum, and more. To conclude your short visit to the Serbian capital, enjoy a fabulous dinner in the lively bohemian quarter of Skadarlija. (B, D)
- 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
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.
testimonials
Central Balkan tour Croatia, BIH & Serbia – 9 days - September 2021
Great 2 week private tour We had a great 2 week private tour that went from Slovenia to Greece. We had specific requirements for dates and and one person had to leave the tour earlier than everyone else so Andrej tailored parts of 2 itineraries to work for us. This required a lot of back-and-forth and he was always very responsive. Add this to the fact that he had to keep up with the Covid policies of 6 countries and make sure we could get our covid tests before coming back home. He did a great job and all went smoothly. Our tour manager Blaz drove the van, filled us in on the background of all the countries in colloquial English, told entertaining stories, made sure we always had a decent bathroom when we needed one and took us to several places not on the itinerary that we would never have found ourselves. He was totally on top of every detail and we always felt totally secure, even in countries where we might have otherwise been uneasy. Our tour included about half our meals and the food was really good for all of them. In one very remote place where the plan had been to eat in the hotel for 2 nights due to lack of other options, the food had gone down hill since the last time they were there. When we mentioned that we were less than happy with the meal, Blaz managed to find us another place for the 2nd night that totally met our expectations. All our hotels were extremely well-located. We could just walk right out the door and be in the heart of the nicest part of town. They were all 4-star, as promised, though it turns out that different countries have their own rating system and there were some that would not have been 4 stars by American standards. Still, even the ones that were not quite as polished were clean and otherwise perfectly adequate. All in all, it was a fabulous trip and I would highly recommend Solvenia 4 Seasons to anyone.
Kate G., USA
Central Balkan tour Croatia, BIH & Serbia – 9 days - September 2023
The best possible tour of the Balkans We have travelled a lot but the 15 day tour of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro that Andrej organised for us was exceptional. Everything from choice of hotels, driver/guide, everything seen, food and wines, local guides and total ambience of the trip was more than anybody could ever expect. We began the trip with minimal knowledge of the countries we visited but, by the end of the comprehensive input from all the guides, we are leaving with some considerable knowledge of this complicated and exciting region. Slovenia4Seasons should be the first choice of anybody intending to visit the Balkans and beyond.
David C., AUS
Trieste discovery private tour – 7 days - May 2023
Trip of Lifetime - Slovenia, Croatia, Italy I highly recommend Slovenia 4 Seasons who planned and carried out a wonderful trip for two couples, traveling in Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy. Andrej, the owner, was always easy to contact and extremely responsive from initial inquiry to finalizing all the details. Andrej had many good suggestions set forth in his different package tours, yet was flexible to accommodate our travel interests. It is truly a customized, personalized travel experience. And, S4S goes to many other countries as well. We traveled in a very comfortable van with our own tour guide, Blaz, during the first 10 days of our trip. Blaz was very personable, knowledgable about all the sites we visited, and always concerned for our wishes and well-being. In each city we visited, Andrej and Blaz arranged for local guides to show us the highlights so that we saw things we surely would have missed otherwise. Each local guide provided an unbelievable amount of information about the people, customs, and history of each town. The hotels along the way were all well situated, well equipped, and with friendly staff. Most of the hotels were luxurious. Our trip typically included breakfast every morning at the hotels and we had several dinners along the way with Blaz. We started in Ljubljana, Slovenia and traveled over the space of ten days all the way to Dubrovnik at the southern end of Croatia. Each day was well planned to include a walking tour and plenty of time to be on your own. After Slovenia and Croatia, we went to Trieste, Italy where we again stayed in a wonderful hotel and enjoyed the local sites. Andrej then took us over to Venice, Italy for a fabulous day trip. We then ended our trip with a few days in Munich, staying at Louis Hotel. We found the city and the hotel to be absolutely fantastic. Andrej arranged our transfers to and from airports, which were all done as professionally as the entire trip. There are too many good things to say about Andrej and Balz along with the amazing places we saw and friendly people we met along the way to put everything into one review. For any who have concerns, English was spoken by nearly everybody we encountered, you felt quite safe everywhere and at all times of the day and night, and you were treated as a welcome guest everywhere. For a trip of a lifetime, you should book with them, right away.
Jim E., Florida, USA
Central Balkan tour Croatia, BIH & Serbia – 9 days - October 2018
I know you know Blaz is a great tour guide but we want you to know that we think he is a top notch. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and time with them. Thanks again. Robinson, USA
Robinson, USA
Croatia delight tour – 13 days - May 2023
Hi Andrej I would like to express my appreciation for the way we were looked after on our trip. Stefan was fantastic and no praise is great enough for him. Although it was unfortunate that we were on our own, it did mean we could deviate from the original tour program in Sarajevo and Dubrovnik and see things we did not see on our first trip. I must add that the walking and climbing of steps did take its toll on our legs, we survived, but I don't think we could keep up with a younger bunch. Once again, thank you for a fantastic trip. Best wishes!
Alastair&Jen, SA
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Explore the world with the utmost comfort and flexibility on a private tour, offering eight compelling reasons to choose this personalized travel experience:
1. Private Travel, Unforgettable Experience: Tailored tours providing a unique blend of major attractions and off-the-beaten-path gems for an unforgettable journey.
2. All-Inclusive Experience: No optional excursions or hidden extras – everything you need is included in the tour package.
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4. Prime Old Town Hotels: Stay in the best hotels strategically located in the heart of old towns, providing convenience and immersion in local culture.
5. Authentic Family-Run Restaurants: Dine in the finest family-run restaurants, enjoying à la carte menus with inclusive drinks such as wine, beer, soft drinks, and water with meals.
6. Exceptional Tour Guides: Knowledgeable and engaging guides enhance your travel experience with insights into local history, culture, and attractions.
7. Leisurely Pace: No need for early wake-up calls; enjoy a relaxed pace, with the average day starting at 9 am.
8. Flexible Airport Transfers: Choose your arrival airport with flexibility in mind, as we provide convenient transfers to and from nearby airports to your hotel. Travel comfortably and confidently with a private tour experience.