Eastern Europe Budget Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Spectacular coastal cycling routes
• Explore the mainland and islands on two wheels
• Discover the Unesco city of Dubrovnik

Highlights

• Explore the remote northern reaches of Albania and take one of the world’s best boat trips with a cruise through the mountainous corridors of Lake Koman
• Experience daily life in the Valbona Valley with a stay at a local guesthouse. Clink glasses with the locals in the village and hike the rugged valley passes.
• Sail across the blue waters of Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest lakes. No wonder North Macedonia and Albania share this beautiful attraction – nobody would want to let it go.
• Kososvo is rich in history and contrasts. Step back in time and learn about the infamous Battle of Kosovo on a day trip to the Field of Blackbirds, before embracing the modern culture thriving in Prishtina, Europe’s youngest capital.
• Lose yourself in Tirana, the Albanian capital full of a revitalised urban energy, and partake in the local's favourite pastime: drinking coffee and people-watching.

Highlights

• Explore the wilds of central Romania, home to brown bears, Saxon villages and the Carpathian Mountains
• Visit the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe and opt to join a bear-watching evening with a forester
• Hike through the spectacular landscape: meadows, forests and mountain trails
• Visit Vlad the Impaler’s Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula
• Enjoy an authentic Carpathian welcome at Villa Hermani in the remote village of Magura

Highlights

• Admire the World Heritage-listed architecture of Dubrovnik and Montenegro’s Kotor, climbing along their ancient city walls.
• Loose yourself in Tirana, Albania's colourful capital, and partake in the local's favourite pastime: drinking coffee and people-watching.
• Sail across the blue waters of Lake Ohrid – one of Europe's oldest lakes. No wonder North Macedonia and Albania share this beautiful attraction; nobody would want to let it go!
• Explore the endemic flora and fauna on an easy hike of Pelister: North Macedonia’s oldest national park.
• Hike the slopes of Mt Olympus, the ancient seat of the 12 Greek gods. According to mythology Zeus unleashed his thunderbolts from one of Olympus' peaks.

Highlights

• Explore Romania by bike, cycling through ancient villages and mountainous landscapes
• Ride through rural Transylvania to the village of Viscri, where King Charles owns a house
• Uncover the history of the nation in Saxon settlements, UNESCO-listed citadels and fortified churches
• Climb the old fort in Brasov to gaze over the town and 14th-century Black Church
• End the adventure in Bucharest, a culture-rich capital with museums and old streets to explore

Highlights

• Take a cruise on stunning Lake Ohrid – which straddles the mountainous border between Macedonia and Albania – and watch shorefront villages stream by.
• Albania's pastel-coloured capital Tirana is on the verge of becoming Europe’s next big thing, so pay it a visit before the rest of the world does.
• Head to a remote village outside Syros for a sunset feast of local specialties, all served up in a small taverna that overlooks the Aegean Sea.
• Spend a half-day exploring the ruins that decorate the island of Delos, a living museum of crumbling palaces, columns and statues.
• Take a hike around the rim of the caldera Santorini is built on, walking through little villages, passing steep cliff faces and taking in breathtaking views.

Highlights

• Sample the famous Hungarian 'Bulls’ Blood' in Eger – the wine that supposedly gave the Hungarian army supernatural strength during their battle against the Ottoman Empire.
• Experience peasant life on a full-day tour through the countryside of Maramures – Romania's most traditional and colourful region. Don't be surprised if you see horse-drawn carts along the road!
• Learn spooky stories in Transylvania – the birthplace of the world's most famous vampire, Dracula. Then visit Bran Castle in Brasov – the inspiration for Dracula’s home.
• Enjoy a homestay with a local family in the Saxon town of Viscri, exposing you to Romanian hospitality and some delicious home-cooked food.
• Delve into the communist past and the thriving, artistic present-day of Bucharest – a city often underrated by travellers but offering heaps of sights, sounds and smells to be explored.

Highlights

• Dubrovnik's charms reach far beyond the famed beautiful city walls. Discover the undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast and maybe cruise to Lokrum Island where a botanical garden, Benedictine monastery and excellent swimming spots await.
• Indulge in specialty foods, local wine and some tranquil swimming spots on the island of Korcula – a quiet escape full of vineyards, olive groves and sleepy villages.
• Spend a full day exploring the green island of Mljet – with its small seaside villages, lush national park trails, shimmering waters and largely untouched environment, you’ll never want to leave!
• Hvar Island seems to have it all - Renaissance architecture, beautiful beaches, vibrant landscapes and excellent Dalmatian cuisine.
• Split is a haven of relaxation and culture. Unwind with a walk along the waterfront promenade and take time to explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace.