Best of the Balkans & Greek Islands
Spend 22 days discovering the beauty of the Balkans and getting immersed in Greek island life! See all of the Balkan countries, enjoy free days in must-see cities Dubrovnik and Budapest, and experience the magic of Santorini as you explore 10 bucket-list countries in three weeks! Admire Athens and its coastal cuisine, soak up Plitvice Lakes National Park, ...
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Highlights
- See 10 countries in 22 days
- See all of the Balkan nations in one tour
- Spend 2 nights in Mykonos and 3 nights in Santorini and Athens
- Explore Delphi, Meteora, Rila Monastery and Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Visit Kotor, Budva, Tirana, Ljubljana, Belgrade and Thessaloniki
What's this trip about?
Spend 22 days discovering the beauty of the Balkans and getting immersed in Greek island life! See all of the Balkan countries, enjoy free days in must-see cities Dubrovnik and Budapest, and experience the magic of Santorini as you explore 10 bucket-list countries in three weeks! Admire Athens and its coastal cuisine, soak up Plitvice Lakes National Park, marvel at Mykonos and sit back as an expert guide takes care of it all! For the best Balkan tour package and Greek tour package combined, this is the tour for you!
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- 21 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 21 Breakfasts, 2 Lunch, 8 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Public ferry between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
- Any public transport used as part of the tour days (excludes free days)
- Internal flight from Santorini to Athens
- Explore Athens; Greece’s ancient capital city
- Enjoy a welcome dinner in Athens
- Explore the ancient ruins of Delphi
- Visit Meteora; see the formation of Eastern Orthodox monasteries
- Guided tour of Ohrid
- Walking tour of Tirana
- Explore Budva and Kotor in Montenegro
- Guided walking tour of Dubrovnik
- Visit Mostar; a medieval Balkan town
- Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Guided walking tour of Ljubljana
- See the best-loved sights in Budapest on a driving tour
- Visit Novi Sad in Serbia
- Guided walking tour of Belgrade
- Visit Tinkers Alley and enjoy a lunch stop in Niš
- Enjoy a guided tour of Sofia
- Included visit to Rila Monastery
- Discover Thessaloniki; a Greek port city
- Visit Kamena Vourla; a scenic coastal Greek city
- Embark on an Athens city tour
- Experience the beautiful island of Mykonos with a 2-night stay
- Enjoy 3 days to relax and explore Santorini
- Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
- Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
Itinerary
Welcome to the first day of this best of the Balkans and the Greek Islands tour. Start at the hotel in Athens today and meet up with your tour leader and group for a brief overview of what to expect. Then, the capital city of Greece awaits on an orientation tour. Spot...
Today, pass through mainland Greece before enjoying a stop in Delphi en route. In ancient times, Delphi was considered the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth. Admire some of the top sights, including the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, and th...
Today, continue the journey and travel to the hidden gem of Ohrid in North Macedonia. This UNESCO-listed city is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid and is one of Europe's longest-standing human settlements. Fun fact: this city once had a whopping 365 churches at the ...
It's time to leave North Macedonia behind in exchange for Albania, its Balkan neighbour. Entering the capital city of Tirana, you'll see a similar occurrence found across the Balkans- a notable transformation. Shedding the oppressive Communist regime left behind a fas...
Say goodbye to Albania this morning and journey through Montenegro towards today's first stop. Arrive in the scenic coastal town of Budva, famous for its well-preserved medieval walled city, and explore at leisure. Then, continue on and enjoy a comfort stop in the UNE...
Start another exciting day on tour with a locally-guided walking tour of the Old Town, complete with the City Walls and Franciscan Monastery. Next, depart on a walking tour from the spectacular Amerling Fountain. The rest of the day is yours to explore Dubrovnik's sig...
Get ready for an entirely different experience today! Cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country rich with history and culture and filled with charming towns and picturesque landscapes! Upon arrival in Mostar, one of this Balkan tour’s most historic towns...
After a magical experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, head back to Croatia this morning. After arriving in the seaside city of Split, a coastal paradise, head out on an orientation tour of the scenic Old Town. Behold the Baroque architecture of Fruit Square, discover ...
Today offers the perfect combination of stunning landscapes and the Slovenian capital. Start the adventure with a visit to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the most beautiful natural scenes in Europe, and marvel at the cascading waterfalls and vibrant surround...
Today, cross the border into Hungary but first, stop in Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city, and head out on an orientation tour. Next, enter Hungary and visit Lake Balaton - one of Europe's most breathtaking freshwater lakes that has become a popular vacation spo...
Get a better understanding of Budapest today as you enjoy a full free day to explore its history and unusual details. Take this opportunity to truly get immersed in this must-see city! For the ultimate, in-depth exploration of Budapest's sights and symbols, opt for to...
Bid beautiful Budapest goodbye as the journey continues forth to Belgrade in Serbia. On the way, enjoy a stop in Novi Sad before entering the Serbian capital and embarking on a locally guided walk. See the city's top sights, including Republic Square, the Bohemian Qua...
Serbia has so much more to see! This morning, visit Niš, a historic city in south-eastern Serbia once under Turkish reign from the 14th until the 19th century. Enjoy a lunch stop, visit Tinkers Alley (Kazandžijsko Sokače), walk the cobbled roads, and appreciate one of...
Today, two weeks of exploring the Balkans comes to an end as the tour's Greek leg kicks off. En route, enjoy a stop at Rila Monastery, a Bulgarian highlight. This 10th-century Eastern Orthodox monastery is striking with its ancient relics and fabulous frescoes as well...
Hop aboard and start the journey south, admiring the gorgeous Greek countryside along the way. Athens is today's destination. En route, stop in Kamena Vourla on the south coast of the Malian Gulf. This is the perfect spot to have lunch and enjoy the breathtaking scene...
Athens awaits with a variety of attractions today! As the Greek capital, there is plenty of history and culture to explore. Plus, the lively local energy is infectious. Choose to join a new group of travellers and embark on an even more in-depth city tour and behold t...
Can you hear Mykonos calling? After transferring to the port and catching the ferry, arrive in magical Mykonos today and settle into your hotel room. Next, embark on a tour of the city with your tour leader, learning interesting facts and spotting the top sights! Enjo...
Today is yours to make memories in Mykonos as you wish - whether it be sunbathing on local beaches, exploring the lovely town or enjoying some downtime at the hotel. Alternatively, you could join today's optional South Coast Boat Trip and visit the Aegean Sea on a tra...
After breakfast, it's time for port transfer to catch the ferry heading to Santorini. As you cruise, soak up the spectacular island vistas and picture-perfect ports as well as Santorini's opposing cliffs, breathtaking beaches, blue-and-white buildings, twirling trails...
Savour this free day in Santorini and explore your way today. Our Santorini Highlights optional excursion comes highly recommended as the ultimate way to explore the island! Santorini's black-and-red sands are a must-see and an ancient village's local winery calls for...
Take full advantage of the last one of three days in Santorini! Get ready for an island adventure and join the Caldera Islands optional excursion. Discover the islands dotted around the caldera, visit Thirassia Island and Amoudi Bay, see an active volcano and take a d...
This morning, take an early transfer to Santorini airport for a local flight back to Athens. The tour concludes upon arrival in Athens. Don't forget to swap contact details with your new global travel family before heading your separate ways. Expat Explore wishes you a safe journey ahead and hopes to see you on tour again soon!
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
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.
Expat Explore Reviews & Ratings
Other Expat Explore Reviews
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 ...
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...
Great tour
Great tour. We had the best tour leader Alessandro. Every...
Tour Operator
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
What's excluded
- International flightsTravel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.
- Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
- All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.
- 21 Breakfasts, 2 Lunch, 8 Dinners
*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations