11 Days 10 Nights Balkans Bonanza

Day 1 – Bucharest
Meet adn greet upon arrival at Bucharest Airport, Check in Hotel (1400hrs), The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight at Hotel

Day 2 – Bucharest – Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast at Hotel. Today morning we will proceed on a Guided Panoramic City Tour of Bucharest. A booming city with many large infrastructure projects changing the old face of the city. Once known as “The Little Paris,” Bucharest has changed a lot lately, and today it has become a very interesting mix of old and new that has little to do with its initial reputation. Finding a 300 year old church, a steel-and-glass office building and Communist-era apartment blocks next to one another is a common sighting. This city offers some excellent attractions, and has, in recent years, cultivated a sophisticated, trendy, and modern sensibility that many have come to expect from a European capital. Later we head over to Veliko Tarnovo, the once temporary capital of the country. A place filled with rich historical background. It hosted two major events namely the First Constituent Assembly in 1879, where the Tarnovo Constitution was then adopted and The First Grant National Assembly, electing Prince Alexander I of Batenberg (1857-1893) for the Bulgarian ruler. In architectural terms, the appearance of the old part of the town takes the visitors in the past. Walking along Gurko street or Samovodskata Charshia (the crafts streets), the town guests have the possibility to see houses built over 200 years ago, as well as to sense a completely different atmosphere. The market street is a kind of an ethnographic complex with crafts workshops, souvenir shops and galleries. Spring near the the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest . Overnight at Hotel

Day 3 – Veliko Tarnovo – Kazanlak – Plovdiv – Sofia
Breakfast at Hotel. Today we will visit to Tyulbeto Park and spot the sighting of an original Thracian tomb from the 4th – 3rd century BC. Known as the Kazanlak Tomb, it is one of the most significant monuments of the Thracian culture in the Bulgarian lands, included in the list of the global cultural inheritance of UNESCO in 1979. Its duplicate, constructed in scale 1:1, which presents the architecture, the archaeological materials and the wall-paintings of the Kazanlak Tomb, is situated next to it. Then we will travel to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, situated on the Maritsa River. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated strong cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. It boasts wide offerings for you with many parks and gardens, museums, archaeological monuments and the most remarkable sight of the town, the Ancient Theater which often hosts open air performances. Visit its old part, called the Old Town, where sighting of houses from the National Revival period (18-19th century) are common, offering an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. Later we will proceed to Sofia. Arrive and check in hotel. Overnight at Hotel

Day 4 – Sofia – Skopje
Breakfast at Hotel. We will go on a Guided City Tour of Sofia. In this tour you will see the highlights of the capital. Among the most impressive sites are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral that dominates the city, the round church of St. George, which is the best preserved Byzantine building, the church St Russian. Nikolas, the Banya Bashi Mosque, the ruins of ancient Serdica and some more. After our city tour we will head over to Rila and and visit Vibrant Rila monastery. Stop to explore the monastery. Later proceed to Skopje. Arrive and check in hotel. Overnight at Hotel

Day 5 Skopje – Kosovo – Pristina
Breakfast at Hotel. We proceed for a Guided City Panoramic Tour of Skopje, capital of Macedonia and make visits to multiple locations such as the old stone bridge (symbol of Skopje), Clock tower (Saat kula), famous and oldest market in Skopje Bitpazar, Skopje Bazaar. Later we will proceed to Pizren, a historic city located in Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district. The city has a population of around 178,000 making it the second largest city in Kosovo. The residents of Prizren are mostly ethnic Albanians. Prizren is located on the slopes of the Šar Mountains in the southern part of Republic of Kosovo. The municipality has a border with Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. It was a historic capital of the Serbian Empire. Later we will proceed to Priština. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 6 Pristine- Tetovo – Ohrid
Breakfast at Hotel. This morning we will do a short Guided Panoramic Tour of Pristina. We start in from of the three-storey portrait of Bill Clinton, and stroll past the university to the Grand Hotel and UNMIK. Follow Nena Tereze street towards the Skenderbeg monument and the new Government Building, then point yourself toward the historic mosques and meander through the tight lanes of the old quarter. You will see street market stalls, kids hawking cigarettes and phone cards, qebabtores and cafes, and the vibrant community life of Kosovo’s biggest city. Later we proceed to Tetovo. Although there may have been inhabitants in Tetovo’s area as early as the Bronze Age, Tetovo was officially mentioned for a first time in the beginning of 13th century as a small medieval Orthodox settlement around the Sveta Bogorodica church in the upper part of town. The many faces of Tetovo, once under the ruling of multiple countries, get ready to immerse within the rich historical background of the city with sightings of different architectures. Today, Tetovo is prosperous city with many private companies, stores, two universities and lots of things to see. Then on to Ohrid. Overnight at Hotel

Day 7 Ohrid – Berat – Tirana
Breakfast at Hotel. Morning Guided City Tour of Ohrid . Discover Ohrid the history of Macedonia in miniature. Ohrid was the centre of the Slavonic literacy, the capital of the feudal Macedonian state, where 365 churches used to exist, very often called the Balkan Jerusalem. Visit of old town Ohrid, views of houses made in old traditional architecture, narrow streets, Church of St. Sophia, St. Clement (protector of Ohrid) Monastery can be seen. Visit The Gallery of Ohrid Icons, located within the complex of the church of St. Clement, with impressive collection of icons; masterworks created in a longer period that lasted from 11th to 19th century. Later we head to Berat, a city in southern Albania that lies along the Osum River, just west of Tomorr Peak.The town is situated among steep hills cut through by the Osum. The terraced houses and several mosques and churches are surmounted by the ruins of a citadel. The town is still renowned for its historic architecture and scenic beauty and is known as the “Town of a Thousand Windows”, due to the many large windows of the old decorated houses overlooking the town. We then head on to Tirana. Overnight at Hotel

Day 8 Tirana – Shokoder – Budva
Breakfast at Hotel. Morning Guided City Tour of Tirana. Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. It is the administrative, cultural, economic, and industrial center of the Republic of Albania. Tirana has been the capital of Albania since 1920. It is a relatively new city established in 1614 from Suleiman Bargjini, feudal of the area at the time. Today Tirana is not only the most populated city in Albania, but also the biggest political and economic center in the country. End your tour with a visit to the Ethem Beg Mosque. Head over to Shkoder for a photo stop at the Shokoder Castle. We later proceed to Sveti Stefan, Montenegro. View with fantastic small island and resort on the Adriatic Sea coast in Budva Region. Overnight at Hotel

Day 9 Budva – Kotor – Dubrovnik
Breakfast at Hotel. Explore Budva this morning. Then we will proceed to one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays is Kotor, a city of traders and famous sailors, with many stories to tell. The Old City of Kotor is a well preserved urbanisation typical of the Middle Ages, built between the 12th and 14th century. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor an UNESCO listed “World Natural and Historical Heritage Site”. Through the entire city the buildings are criss-crossed with narrow streets and squares mid way to Dubrovnik, drive through the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the deepest fjord in the Mediterranean sea. The Montenegro Littoral provides incomparable natural beauties and an abundance of historical cities. Our drive takes us to the mouth of the Bay of Kotor and along the curving roadway through the towns of Risan and Perast to Kotor. Here we will stop to capture forever on film one of the most beautiful parts of the bay, and learn some of the compelling history of this area. Then on to Dubrovnik. We will proceed for a Guided Panoramic City Tour of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is known for its history and architecture, Forget the guidebook and learn from a local on a tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, exploring landmarks including the Franciscan Monastery, Stradun monument, Cathedral of the Assumption, and more. Enjoy the intimate perspective of a walking tour as you gain insight into the city’s far-reaching heritage and culture. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 10 Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo
Breakfast at Hotel. Today we head to a photostop at Pocitelj and down to Mostar. One of the most important cities of Ottoman Empire, enjoy visits to the famous “stone bridge” on the river Neretva, a bazaar, Turkish house, Museum of the city and Mosque. Around midday we head to Sarajevo and stop over at Jablanica to see the famous destroyed bridge on the Neretva River. Upon arrival in Sarajevo, we will proceed on a Guided City Panoramic Tour of Sarajevo. The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city of Olympic games in 1984, city on the river Miljacka. You will see famous Bascarsija, with souvenir and shops, Gazi Huserbegova Mosque, Old Orthodox Church, Catholic Cathedrale, Latin Cuprija (bridge) so called Princip’s bridge, where Prince Ferdinand and his wife were killed. Overnight at Hotel

Day 11 – Sarajevo – Belgrade
Breakfast at Hotel. Today morning we will proceed on a Guided City Tour of Belgrade. Visit Kalemegdan – Belgrade fortress where you will see the most important monuments of the city which was transformed in a park by the end of 19th century. Kalemegdan is the most popular park among Belgraders and for many tourists a must visit because of the park’s numerous winding walking paths, shady benches, picturesque fountains, random statues, mammoth historical architecture and incredible river views – (Sahat kula – The clock tower, Zindan kapija – Zindan gate, etc). Kalemegdan is known for its kilometers long lignums, underground corridors and catacombs, which are still largely unexplored. In the true sense, Kalemegdan is today the green oasis in the Belgrade’s urban area. Free to explore Belgrade in the afternoon or for some shopping. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12 Belgrade
Breakfast at Hotel. Day free at leisure until departure transfer for Belgrade Airport.