The Balkans Itineraries
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Balkan tours offer an array of diverse experiences, from exploring historic cities and ancient ruins to enjoying breathtaking natural landscapes and vibrant cultural traditions. Whether you are interested in adventure, history, or gastronomy, the Balkans provide a rich tapestry of activities to suit every traveler's interests. Discover the unique charm and hidden gems of this captivating region.
- Touring the wondrous Parthenon atop the Acropolis in Athens
- Exploring Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, and walking its medieval walls
- Sailing past the dramatic Iron Gates gorge on a Danube River cruise through Romania and Serbia
- Uncovering the mysteries of tiny Albania, cut off from most of the world for decades in the mid-to-late 20th century.
- Docking in the breathtakingly scenic port of Kotor, Montenegro, on a small ship cruise offering unparalleled views of the Adriatic Sea
- Being dazzled by the Ottoman treasures in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace
- Visiting Bran Castle, famous as an inspiration for the Count Dracula legend in Romania's Transylvania.
- Admiring painted monasteries in Bulgaria and Romania and domed Orthodox churches in Greece
- Exploring newly vibrant cities such as Belgrade, Serbia, and Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Hiking the picturesque trails of Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
- Discovering the Roman ruins in Split, Croatia, including the Diocletian's Palace
- Enjoying the thermal baths in Budapest, Hungary
- Visiting the historic fortress of Kalemegdan in Belgrade, Serbia
- Sampling local wines in the vineyards of Macedonia
- Discovering the underground secrets of Postojna Cave in Slovenia
- Experiencing the lively bazaars and cafes in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Classic The Balkans Itineraries
There’s so many wonderful things to do and see in the Balkansthat itineraries don’t have to just be based on time. Some are based on food, region or classical wonders. The Balkans has a beautiful combination of nature and cities which creates amazing and unique opportunities for travelers to experience both the wildernesswith its outdoor activities and culturewith its unforgettable people, food and art.
Day 1-3, Dubrovnik: Explore the seaside town, which is also a Game of Thrones filming location. Take a day trip to visit Kotor.
Day 4-5, Sarajevo: Take a walking tour and discover the history of the city and the diverse architecture. Visit the Tunnel Museum in Ilidža.
The Balkanshave a proud food culture. With influences from Turkey, Austria, Venice, and local traditions, a Balkan food tour is one of the best ways to see the development of this unique culture.
Day 1, Dubrovnik: Arrive in Dubrovnik and meet your fellow travelers before enjoying a traditional meal in the old town of charcuterie, a method of preparing different types of meats and sausages.
Day 2, Putnikovic: Head out of Dubrovnik into the countryside to visit the local vineyards before taking in a lunch of traditional fares at a konoba (Croatian tavern).
Day 3, Kotor: Walk around the spansive olive fields and learn about the production of this important Montenegro ingredient and try it at one of the Kotor wine bars.
Day 4, Prizren: Leave Kotor for Kosovo where you can enjoy an optional traditional lunch in the local bazaar of meats, cheese, cucumber salads, and stuffed peppers.
Day 5, Pristina: Take in Kosovo’s capital and a traditional Kosovo-Serb barbecue of smoked sausages and pork.
Day 6, Leunovo: Enjoy your trip into Macedonia taking in a lunch of beans and pork and then a dinner of Macedonian cuisine of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences.
Day 7, Macedonia Countryside: Take a day off from the heavy food and visit the historical sites on your way to the city of Ohrid.
Day 8, Ohrid: Enjoy the “Macedonia Jerusalem” and scenery as you chow down on fish stew and regional delicacies.
Day 9, Bitola: Get ready for a full day of eating as you enjoy traditional breakfast pies and local honey in this historic city.
Day 10, Skopje: Visit the historic wineries in Macedonia that date back to the early Middle Ages before having some free time to explore the quirky city of Skopje.
Day 11, Skopje: Take in a breakfast in the market before collecting a boxed lunch to explore Matka Canyon full of medieval churches, fortresses, and enjoy a lazy boat ride down the Treska River.
Some Balkan tour itineraries focus on particular areas of the region. For example, a Western Balkan tour would include the countries of Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro which are all heavily influenced by the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 1, Zagreb: Begin your journey in Croatia’s capital with its medieval stone streets and vibrant Austrian-inspired architecture.
Day 2, Plitvice Lakes National Park: Head out of Zagreb to enjoy the natural waterfalls and pools of Croatia’s oldest national park.
Day 3, Split: In the morning take a guided tour of Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most important Roman ruins in the Balkans.
Day 4, Split: Take a full day to eat your way through the restaurants and gelatorias in the the old town or hike through the paths in Marjan Park.
Day 5, Mostar: Head into Bosnia and visit the romantic medieval city of Mostar and take in the Stari Most (Old Bridge) and maybe even catch a glimpse of the famous bridge jumpers.
Day 6, Sarajevo: Learn about the Siege of Sarajevo from a local tour guide and visit Mount Trebevic, the home of the Winter Olympics of 1984.
Day 7, Sarajevo: Head out into the old town of Sarajevo taking in the Ottoman architecture and shops and visit the site where World War I began.
Day 8, Kotor: Travel to Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Venetian old town and stunning mountain views.
Day 9, Kotor: Enjoy a day of relaxing, of kayaking in the bay, visiting the local beaches, or relaxing at a nearby mud spa.
Day 10, Dubrovnik: Take a few hour bus ride to the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and climb the famous Walls of Dubrovnik.
Day 11, Dubrovnik: Enjoy a free day to walk around the old town, kayak in the bay, or take a ferry to one of the local islands.
Day 12, Departure: Say goodbye to your fellow travelers before returning home.
Many of the Balkan tours that cover the entire region are at least two weeks in length to travel to every corner of this beautiful and interesting part of Europe.
Day 1, Sofia: Sofia offers everything you could want, open-air cafes, parks, classic architecture, and hiking.
Day 2, Skopje: Enjoy a city with 2,000 years of history with influences from Oriental and Western cultures and cozy cafes on the river.
Day 3-4, Lake Ohrid: On your way to Ohrid, enjoy a lazy river cruise down Matka Lake before strolling through the small streets of Ohrid.
Day 5, Tirana: Walk the streets of this former Communist city and take in the trendy bars and Ottoman architecture of Tirana.
Day 6-7, Kotor: Take two days to hike the fortress walls up the mountains, enjoy a gelato in the old town, or walk around the shops of this former Venetian city.
Day 8-9, Dubrovnik: You’ll need two days to fully enjoy the historic walls, streets, and scenery of this romantic and quaint city. However, don’t forget to head out into the bay or the beaches!
Day 10-11, Sarajevo: On your way to Sarajevo visit the medieval city of Mostar before learning about the interesting cultural and social history of Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo.
Day 12-13, Belgrade: Take in the city that sits at the convergence of two Balkan rivers where you can visit the ruins of the ancient Kalemegdan Cathedral or relax in the many parks of the city.
Day 15, Departure: Depart Sofia.
Follow the winding Danubethrough the beautiful Balkans, taking in the incredible natural attractions and history of the area.
Day 1-2, Romania: Explore Bucharest and Transylvania. See the “Dracula” castle, and learn the historical context for the famous resident.
Day 3-5, Bulgaria: Take a walking tour of Vidin, and visit the town’s historical fortress. Visit the Ethnographical Museum in Arbanassi.
Day 6-7, Serbia: Sail through the Iron Gates, visit famous Kalemegdan Fortress, and Marshal Tito’s tomb
Day 8-10, Hungary: Take an excursion to Pecs, a Roman outpost in the 2nd century. Explore underground tombs and Turkish influenced architecture and cuisine. Continue on to Budapest where you can take in the views from Gellert Hill, enjoy a day trip to Statue Park, and visit the Terror Museum.
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The Balkans Reviews & Ratings
J
Judith
Oct 2024
Balkans Rail Adventure
Well organised with lots of variety. Fast pace but lots to see and learn about. History of all the different countries was extremely complex .Beautiful scenery and g...
Y
YingWah
Oct 2024
Balkans Rail Adventure
Our group Explore Leader, Filip Kolic, is highly professional in ensuring our trip is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. He's quick in problem-solving and for...
D
Damian
Jul 2024
Balkans Rail Adventure
On the whole the trip was great, hotels were of a good standard, the itinerary was described as full on and it certainly was. Our Explore Leader Filip was excellent,...
D
Debra
May 2024
Balkans Rail Adventure
Great adventure to get an insight to the 7 counties and not for the faint hearted as a lot of travelling, about 3000km plus walking we were told, but you get to see ...
T
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Balkans Rail Adventure
This should be called, The Rail and Coach adventure as it was more coach than rail. A very good insight to the Balkans covering just under 3000kms of amazing scener...
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