Itinerary
Day 1: Day 1: Monday – Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA +MACEDONIA
Pass By: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
Pick-up in the morning at 9 a.m. from your hotel.
Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria
Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) and founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila ) , a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church . The monastery , one of the largest in the Balkans , was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1000 years . Our tour includes a visit to the Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Continue drive south to the Bulgarian – Macedonian border . In the early evening we will arrive in Skopje , the capital of Macedonia . Orientation tour of Skopje before arriving to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Skopje.
Day 2: Day 2: Tuesday – Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA
Stop At: Old Bazaar, Skopje, Skopje Republic of North Macedonia
Enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa ) , with its most important landmarks : quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar”, the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar (is the biggest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today ), the Memorial house of Mother Teresa , the 1500 years old fortress Kale , Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horse
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Lake Ohrid, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Continue the tour and drive to Ohrid ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) situated on the banks of the lake with the same name , perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the old city center are testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. The walking tour of the old city center will include the narrow streets and squares , the Anchient Theater , discover the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church ) , Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress and pedestrian shopping street .
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Ohrid.
Day 3: Day 3: Wednesday – Ohrid – Tirana (180 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA
Stop At: Skanderbeg Square, At the center of Tirana, Tirana Albania
Continue the tour and crossing the Macedonian – Albanian border driving to Tirana, capital of Albania . The walking tour of city center of Tirana will reveal the main tourist attractions : Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg , National History Museum , Palace of Culture, National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg’s statue
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Tirana.
Day 4: Day 4: Thursday – Tirana- Podgorita (140 km) - ALBANIA+MONTENEGRO
Stop At: Podgorica, Podgorica, Podgorica Municipality
After breakfast we will head to the capital of Montenegro and during our walking tour we wil admire: The Clock Tower, Osmanagica and Doganjska Mosque, Skaline (the old stairs), St.George Church, Millenium Bridge, Russian Bridge, Vladimir Vysotsky Monument, Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, Roman Square, King Nicola's Castle.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Podgorica
Day 5: Day 5: Friday – OPTIONAL: Podgorica – Budva – Kotor - Podgorica (180 km) MONTENEGRO
Stop At: Budva, Budva, Budva Municipality
Departure to Budva – Montenegro , crossing the Albanian – Montenegro border and stop to visit the Old Town walls of Budva and see the most important spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s street, marina, Mediternaska Street and Slovenska Plaza
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Kotor Old City, Stari grad, Kotor, Kotor Municipality 85330 Montenegro
In the evening you will arrive in Kotor and discover the fortified old town – Stari Grad ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) .
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Podgorica
Day 6: Day 6: Saturday - Podgorica - Kravice - Medugorje (230 km) MONTENEGRO + BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA
Stop At: Kravice Falls, Neretva valley, Studenci 88300 Bosnia and Herzegovina
After crossing the border in Bosnia&Herzegovina we will visit Kravica Waterfall, between the villages of Studenci and Zvirici, the river Trebizat creates a waterfall 28 meters high and a beautiful natural amphitheater 120 meters wide. Kravica waterfall is a paradisiacal place where we shall have a rest from everything that is ordinary and mundane, and simply enjoy the serene setting of captivating waterfalls embraced by the lush greenery. During the summer it is also possible to swim
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Medugorje, Medugorje, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Next, we will arrive in Medjugorje is one of the most famous Roman Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world. It became known through the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which began as a phenomenon in 1981, In years that where coming Međugorje became the center of religious Tourism of this part of Europe. Although, it is one of Bosnian most visited tourist centers, Medjugorje still retained its original charm, in which pilgrims find peace in faith. Walk to Apparition Hill Križevac or just feel the positive energy of this settlement in St Jacob Church
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Medugorje
Day 7: Day 7: Sunday – OPTIONAL - Medugorje - Dubrovnik - Medugorje (250 km) - CROATIA
Stop At: Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Dalmatia
Enjoy free time in Medugorje or take our OPTIONAL tour in Dubrovnik.
On the walking tour of Dubrovnik, you will explore the beautiful historic architecture and stone-paved streets of the UNESCO-protected Old City of Dubrovnik, and pay a visit to the famous Dubrovnik City Walls. Dubrovnik is most famous for serving as one of the sets for Game of Thrones, so fans of the show are definitely in for a treat, but we are certain everyone will be enthralled by Dubrovnik, regardless of their TV preferences.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Medugorje
Day 8: Day 8: Monday – OPTIONAL - Saturday – Medugorje – Split - Medugorje (280 km) CROATIA
Stop At: Split, Split, Split-Dalmatia County, Dalmatia
OPTIONAL : Today you will have a chance to admire one of the most popular Mediterranean places, a place so special that there will hardly be a single thing you won’t be fascinated with. They say that Split is a place you have to love, it’s not a matter of choice.
The first part of a day we will use for an walking tour and learn about Split in depth. We will take a stroll through the centuries, starting from Roman times and enjoy the treasure trove of endless layers of history, architecture and urban spirit of this amazing city.
Just the fact that the essence of the city’s urban life is the grandiose 4th century Diocletian’s Palace which, along with the historic centre are UNESCO protected and maintained by the United Nation’s agency for education, science and culture is a small hint on all of the possible whirlwinds of emotions you will be experiencing while walking the paths of the ancient civilisations and enjoying the mesmerizing colors of Adriatic sea.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Medugorje
Day 9: Day 9: Tuesday– Medugorje - Mostar - Sarajevo (150 km) BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA
Stop At: Mostar, Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
After breakfast , we will head to Mostar where the focus of our attention will be the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built in 1566 the Mostar bridge has since been the main reason behind Mostar developing into the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately in November of 1993, during the Siege of Mostar, the bridge was destroyed. Reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge, we will thoroughly cover during our walking tour of Mostar.
Since the Bridge, since then there’s been a tradition of bridge diving. Today young and brave Mostar divers compete to earn a few euros by diving off the bridge in front of the tourists from all around the world.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Sarajevo Canton, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
After we leave Mostar, we shall take an amazingly scenic road passing by the Jablanica lake and via the Neretva river canyon, we’ll arrive in Sarajevo.
Walking tour of the old part and city centre of Sarajevo. Our 2.5 hour tour will cover the stories of origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. We shall visit the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, which both with its stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches and synagogues will reveal the true nature of the real European Jerusalem. We’ll make sure to visit the Latin Bridge and learn the story about how WWI was triggered right here, in the heart of Sarajevo. Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo will surely be part of our story today.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Sarajevo.
Day 10: Day 10: Wednesday – Sarajevo – Belgrad (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA
Stop At: Belgrade, Belgrade
After breakfast we will head to Serbia and in the afternoon we will arrive to Belgrad, capital of Serbia. Visit the Republic Square, the National theater and the National museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan park, Belgrade fortress, „Victor“ the most famous symbol of Belgrade and the confluence of the Sava and the Danube rivers.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3* hotel in Belgrade.
Day 11: Day 11 – Thursday – Belgrad – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY
Stop At: Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Vojvodina
After breakfast , departure to Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad where we will visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad and obligatory sight for any tourists, not least for the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. We will see also y – Dunavska, street with its long line of single-storied 19th century houses. The Danube embankment, the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the other bank.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Budapest, Budapest, Central Hungary
In the evening we will arrive to Budapest ,`´ The Queen of Danube “ , capital of Hungary .
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.