Balkan Explorer

16 days
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4.1/5 Great
69 reviews  
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16 Days, 10 Countries. Experience the very best of the Balkans! Explore the sun-soaked Adriatic coast, the rejuvenated cities of Tirana, Mostar and Belgrade, and the historic sights of ancient Greece in one exciting tour!
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Overview

Trip type
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

What's this trip about?

    16 Days, 10 Countries. Experience the very best of the Balkans! Explore the sun-soaked Adriatic coast, the rejuvenated cities of Tirana, Mostar and Belgrade, and the historic sights of ancient Greece in one exciting tour!

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transport
Start City Athens
End City Athens

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • History

Trip includes

    • 15 nights' accommodation in twin rooms with private en-suite facilities
    • Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room
    • Services of your Expat tour leader, who will be on hand with advice and tips to ensure that you get the most from your trip
    • You can also book any of the optional excursions available during your tour with your tour leader – please see the 'Essential Information' tab for more details
    • 15 breakfasts, 8 dinnersAll taxes and feesAny public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) Modern air conditioned coach with reclining seats, TV for showing DVDs, and toilet
    • 18 Experiences (including guided walking tours, orientation walks, driving tours of cities plus other exciting experiences) Free Expat Explore tour souvenir – a memorable gift of your once in a lifetime trip

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Athens
Welcome to Athens! If you arrive early enough, head into the city to see for yourself all the treasures this ancient city has to offer. Meet up with your tour leader at our hotel in the afternoon, and then enjoy an orientation tour of Greece’s capital. Tonight, you’ll me...
Day 2: Delphi - Meteora - Kalabaka
Today we’ll head north through the Greek mainland, stopping off on the way in Delphi. In antiquity, Delphi was considered the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth, and the place where people from around the world would visit in order to receive an “oracle” from “Pythia”. We w...
Day 3: Kalabaka - Ohrid
This morning we'll travel on into Macedonia and the undiscovered jewel of Ohrid. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Ohrid, this city is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe, and is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the...
Day 4: Ohrid - Tirana
This morning we’ll leave Macedonia for its Balkan neighbour Albania, driving onto the capital city, Tirana. In a story typical of many cities in this part of Europe, Tirana has undergone a remarkable transformation, shaking off communism to become a vibrant, fun city. Yo...
Day 5: Budva - Kotor - Dubrovnik
Heading north, we leave Albania behind and travel through Montenegro. Our first stop is at the picturesque coastal town of Budva, known for its well preserved medieval walled city, which you will have some free time to explore. We then make a comfort stop at the UNESCO W...
Day 6: Dubrovnik
This morning a local guide will take you on an orientation tour of the Old Town to see the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery, Cathedral, Onofrio fountain, Orlando’s column, Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, Stradun and the City Walls. You then have the rest of the ...
Day 7: Mostar - Northern Croatia
Today you will travel to another country, Bosnia-Herzegovina and head to the town of Mostar. Mostar is an enchanting and historical town, and you will have some free time to explore the numerous religious buildings, and see the the Roman and Ottoman influences. After you...
Day 8: Plitvice Lakes - Ljubljana
Your European tour continues today with a mix of sublime scenery and a stunning Slovenian capital. Today you will be treated to some of the most picturesque natural landscapes in the whole of Europe. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is known internationally for its casca...
Day 9: Ljubljana - Budapest
Today we’ll cross into Hungary and head for the capital, Budapest a city cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Straddling the historic Danube River, Budapest is well preserved and boasts numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites - its natural geo-thermal spring...
Day 10: Budapest - Free day
With traces of the past evident in the interesting and unusual details, this is your chance to get up close and personal with Budapest. Look out for remnants of the conflicts of WWII and the uprising of 1956, try Hungarian cuisine (so much more to it than just goulash), ...
Day 11: Budapest - Belgrade
Saying goodbye to Budapest, we make our way to the Serbian capital of Belgrade. On arrival in Belgrade we’ll enjoy a tour of Serbia’s capital city with a local guide, who will introduce us to the city's highlights, including Republic Square, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija)...
Day 12: Nis - Sofia
Our first destination today is a lunch stop off in Niš, a historic city in south-eastern Serbia that was ruled by the Turks from the 14th-19th Centuries. During your free time here you can visit the quaint cobbled streets of Tinker's alley, or if you choose to, you can j...
Day 13: Sofia - Free day
Enjoy a free day to explore Sofia. A young and city, the capital combines a pleasing east-meets-west atmosphere against a backdrop of contrasting communist and contemporary architecture. There’s a partially exposed 1,800-year-old Roman city to discover, plenty of relaxin...
Day 14: Sofia - Thessaloniki
Today we head back to Greece, arriving in the northern port city Thessaloniki in the afternoon. Its compact size makes it a delightfully walkable city, which you’ll discover for yourself on an orientation tour of the historic centre. The tour will finish on the waterfron...
Day 15: Thessaloniki - Athens
Today we’ll head south through the Greek countryside back to Athens. On our way we’ll stop off in Kamena Vourla, a small town on the south coast of the Malian Gulf, and a beautiful spot to grab lunch. On arrival in Athens we’ll check into our hotel before enjoying a fare...
Day 16: End of tour
After breakfast, your 16 day Balkan extravaganza concludes - unfortunately it is time to say your goodbyes to your fellow travellers. We hope you have enjoyed your tour with Expat Explore! Experiences Athens, Mykonos & Santorini bolt-on: extend your stay in Greec...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,245
Price per day$140
Last Updated: 9/12/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Expat Explore.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Expat Explore Reviews & Ratings

4.1/5  Great
Excellent
47
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2
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6
Terrible
9
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Other Expat Explore Reviews

C

Carlton Jel

Jan 2025

Written on

Hilariously bad support from outsourced…

Hilariously bad support from outsourced call centers. They flat out bs you making up answers. They did not actually book all the hotels stated in the tour so there ...

K

Kerry Robinson

Jan 2025

Written on

Classic Europe 14 days

My daughter and I did this tour over Christmas/New Year for her 21st birthday. It was a great experience for us, from booking online to a very organised tour. Expa...

J

Jennifer Weeks

Jan 2025

Written on

Great tour

Great tour. We had the best tour leader Alessandro. Every...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
18 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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