Balkan Adventures

Arrival in Tirana. On the airport you will meet our local representative who will transfer you to your hotel. Accommodation and overnight.

After breakfast you will meet your local guide who will stay with you while you are in Albania. Start the discovery of Albania with a visit of the capital! Tirana is the country's main cultural hub. You will be able to discover a city famous for the colorful facades of its buildings, and the harmony between the country's various religions. The visit of the National Museum located on Skanderbeg Square will be a nice introduction to the rich Albanian history. Close to the square is the mosque "Et'hem Bey" which has a great historical value. Continue to the opera, the clock tower, and the palace of culture. In the afternoon you will have some free time for shopping. Overnight in Tirana.

Breakfast and departure towards Vlora. The first stop of the day will be the Ardenica monastery. It is the only Orthodox monastery that is still operating in Albania. Famous for its beautiful frescos it attracts many tourists every year. Continue to Fier to visit the archaeological site of Apollonia. You will see some relics of the city such as the Bouleterion, the Odeon or the library where the emperor Octavius studied. In the afternoon arrival in Vlora where the Independence of Albania was declared in 1912. Enjoy a nice afternoon stroll near the beach. Overnight in Vlora.

Today you will discover the wonderful city of Berat (UNESCO), known as “the city of thousand windows” for its characteristic architecture. You will be charmed by its white houses and steep streets that offer you a special promenade. During a walk, you will see the Castle, many mosques in the citadel, the National Museum and the Ethnographic museum. After some free time for lunch you will continue towards Macedonia. Accommodation and overnight in Ohrid (UNESCO).

After breakfast you will enjoy a comprehensive tour of Ohrid with its atmospheric old quarter with beautiful churches along a graceful hill, topped by a medieval castle overlooking serene. The local guide will take you to all the main sights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only a handful inscribed both for their culture and natural landscape. Walk through the Lower Gate to the Archeological Museum in the Robev Family House, and tour an exhibition of ancient artifacts, including a statue of the Goddess Isis. Continue to the 11th-century cathedral church of St. Sofia, the Ancient Theater from the 2nd century BC, and the beautiful icons at the church of St. Mary Perivleptos. Get fantastic views of Ohrid Lake from the medieval walls of Samuil Fortress. Descend to Plaosnik at the crossroads of civilizations on Ohrid Hill. Visit the burial place of St. Kliment, and the newly reconstructed church of St. Pantelejmon. End at the church of St. Jovan Kaneo, one of Ohrid’s landmarks, before visiting the fisherman’s settlement of Kaneo for a boat trip on the lake. Overnight in Ohrid.

After breakfast departure for Skopje. You will start your city tour with a local guide on the Fortress Kale from the 6th century AD. After that continue with a visit of Mustapha Pasha Mosque, the church of the Holy Savior and the small museum of Goce Delchev. Stroll around the Old Bazaar, where 2 more caravanserais can be seen as well as 2 Turkish baths: Chifte Hammam and Daut Pasha Hammam. On your way towards the modern part of the city you will cross the Stone Bridge, one of the oldest landmarks of Skopje and see the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia. On the other bank of the river is the main square, with a lot of new statues and monuments. You will walk along the main Macedonia Street, which connects the square to the old railway station. You will stay for a short visit to the Memorial House of Mother Teresa and end the tour in front of the Museum of the City of Skopje, situated in the building of the old railway station. Accommodation and overnight in Skopje.

Early departure towards Bulgaria. In Kyustendil meet your local guide who will accompany the group during your stay in Bulgaria. Today you will visit one of Bulgaria’s most famous tourist sites – Rila monastery. This monastery is a sanctuary of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by St. Ivan of Rila it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. It is included in the UNESCO world heritage list. We shall see the monastery church with its amazing frescos painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists from 19th c. Accommodation and overnight in Sofia.

After breakfast departure to Sofia. Enjoy a comprehensive city tour and get to know the highlights of the capital. Among the most impressive sites are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral dominating the city, the round church of St. George, which is the best preserved Byzantine building, the Russian church St. Nikolas, St. Petka church, Banya Bashi Mosque, the ruins of ancient Serdica and some more. Visit also the Boyana church – listed in UNESCO World Heritage List. Free time for shopping. Оvernight.

Today we invite you to explore Bulgaria’s second largest city – Plovdiv. This is a city with millennium old history. It has preserved ruins from Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian Revival period. During our city tour you will see the Roman Forum and Stadium as well as the Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd AD; the house of Hindliyan –national monument of culture, impressive with its artistic decoration, with many well preserved original murals. Walk along the tiny cobbled streets of the old town surrounded by beautiful Revival houses and churches. Continue to Kazanluk – the center of The Valley of Roses and The Valley of The Thracian Kings. Visit one of the many Thracian Tombs discovered in the area. In the afternoon arrive in the medieval capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Turnovo. Overnight.

After breakfast have a sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo with a walk to Tsarevets fortress where the Bulgarian kings once lived. Walk along the oldest merchant street in the town called Samovodska Charshia. There guests can see masters who pursue their crafts according to old traditions. Continue to Arbanassi and visit the Nativity church whose murals from the 17th and 18th centuries are considered real masterpiece and Konstancalieva museum house. Proceed to Ivanovo to see the UNESCO listed rock hewn churches of Ivanovo. Continue to the border town of Russe where we change guide and coach. Proceed to Bucharest, The Romanian capital once nicknamed “The Little Paris of The East”. Overnight.

In the morning, enjoy a city tour of Bucharest. During the tour you will see the Arch of Triumph, the Revolution Square, the Romanian Athenaeum, the National Art Museum and the Revolution Square. Inside visit to the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon. After the tour, depart for Brasov, fairy tale town founded in the 12th century by the Saxon settlers. Enjoy a city tour including visit to St Nicholas Church and First Romanian School, which hosts an impressive collection of rare books, many of them hand copied right there. Overnight in Brasov.

After breakfast, depart for Biertan to visit the famous fortified church that is also part of UNESCO World Heritage List. Drive on to Sighisoara, one of the best preserved medieval citadel in this part of Europe and also part of UNESCO. Enjoy a walking tour of the citadel including visit to the famous Clock Tower Museum. On your way back to Brasov you will stop en route to visit Rupea Fortress, one of the most interesting medieval castles in Romania. Overnight in Brasov.

After breakfast, depart for Bran to visit the castle made famous by Bram Stoker's novel as the residence of the vampire count, Dracula. After the visit, continue to Azuga for sparkling wine tasting in one of the most famous wine cellars in the country. Drive on to Sinaia, one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in Romania, also known as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”, for visit to Peles Castle, an exquisite piece of architecture which served as the summer residence of the former Romanian Royal family. In the afternoon, proceed to Bucharest for overnight.

After breakfast departure to Bucharest airport for your flight back home.