Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Belgrade Airport- Serbia

After Arrival at Airport meet with our representative and start a city tour Our journey of the bewildering Balkans starts at the heart of Belgrade. Belgrade is a beautiful romantic and medieval city renowned as one of the most charming cities in Eastern Europe. We are warmly received and transferred to our hotel. Overnight in Belgrade

Day 02: Belgrade

After breakfast we will visit the capital city of Serbia since 1403, our tour of Belgrade starts at the Republic Square, where we see the architectural wonders in monuments such as the National Theatre, National Museum, the famous Knez Mihajlova Street. At the old town, we see 19thC quarters, the ‘Question mark sign’ Inn, Princess Ljubica’s Residence, the Orthodox Cathedral culminating with the fortress. Welcome dinner at the local restaurant with Serbian cuisine and music. Overnight in Belgrade

Day 03: Belgrade-Mokra Gora-Sargan -Visegrad Bosnia & Herzegovina-Zlatibor

This full day tour starts with a transfer to Mokra Gora, where you visit Drvengrad, the ethno-village then ride on the Sargan 8 train - a narrow gauge heritage railway in Serbia, running from the village of Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi station. After lunch, drive to Visegrad in Bosnia for a picture opportunity of the Bridge on the Drina (made famous by the book with the same name by Ivo Andric – Nobel prize winner). You return to Guca via a short drive to one of the popular mountain resort in Serbia, Zlatibor. Our final destination is a unique and charming ethno village - an open-air museum displaying traditional architecture, handicrafts and world famous hand-knitted clothes. We walk through the village before checking into our hotel. Overnight in Ethno Village Zlatibor

Day 04: Ethno Village-Studenica- Sopocani- Novi Pazar (Serbia)

After breakfast we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monastery Studenica. The complex consists of the fascinating Churches of the Virgin, (1183 - 1196), SS Joachim & Anne and that of St. Nicholas. A short drive gets us to one of the most treasured sacral buildings of the Nemanjić era, the Monastery Sopocani with mural paintings amongst the most magnificent in European medieval art. Evening we take a walking tour of the town Overnight Novi Pazar

Day 05: Novi Pazar- Monastery Decani (Kosovo)- Patriarchy in Peja- Prishtina

After breakfast we will drive to Kosovo – one of the most newest countries in the world. The Monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija are world renowned for their beauty. We visit Dečani Monastery and Patriarchate of Peja– both being WHS. Dečani Church boasts the richest and most preserved sculpture from the Romanesque-Gothic style. At the Patriarchate of Peja we visit the oldest church built in the 13th Century. Drive to the capital city of Prishtina where we stroll along its streets and Main Square. Overnight: in Pristina

Day 6: Prishtina- Monastery Gracanica- Skopje Macedonia- Ohrid

We start with a visit of the 14th C Monastery of Gracanica (WHS). Its architectural structure represents the apex of Serbian buildings that followed the spirit of the Byzantine tradition. Cross Kosovo to the historical country of Macedonia and drive to the capital city, Skopje tracing its origin from over 2000 years. Our exploration starts with a walking tour of the old town “Carshia”, where lies the Stone Bridge - a symbol of Skopje built by the Ottomans in the 15thC. Here we see the marvels including the Church St. Spas, the Old Bazaar, Fortress Kale (with walls dating back from the 6thC), Mustapha Pasha Mosque (a marvel of Ottoman architecture erected in 1492 with the earliest wall paintings), Daut Pasa Bath (a masterpiece of Islamic architecture from the 15thC). Next stop is Ohrid. Overnight in Ohrid Hotel Riviera

Day 07: Ohrid

We start the day with a walking tour around the old town-museum of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town was known in ancient times as Lychnidos, the City of Lights. Slavs gave it the name of Arida in the 10thC, and it became a major center of culture and art for this area. It is the cradle of Slavic written language and literature, from where the alphabet called Cyrillic was created by the two brothers Cyril and Methody. Ohrid is also known as the “City of 365 churches “ and we visit, not all, but the most important ones. Visiting Tsar Smuili fortress from the 10thC, St. Kliment from the 13thC, St. Sophia from the 11th C, and St. Panteleimon from the 9th C culminating with a walk through the local bazaar. Afternoon is free to enjoy Ohrid at our own

Day 08: Ohrid-Berat (Albania)

Before crossing into Albania, we visit the famous Monastery of Sv. Naum. Drive around Lake Ohrid and enter Albania. Visit Berat known as a “city of one thousand windows”, and has been declared as a museum city. The old name of the city was Antipatrea. It is built on the slopes of mountain Timori, with a castle dominating the city. At the Onufri Museum, we see paintings by this outstanding painter from the 16thC, as well as paintings from his son Nikolla. In the old part of the town we visit several Byzantine churches known for their inspiring architecture. Evening is free time to enjoy Berat. Overnight: Hotel Magalemi

Day 09: Berat-Durres-Tirana

After breakfast, continues to Durres– Albania’s second largest city and one of its oldest town. Legend has it that Durrazzo was founded by the Illyrian King, Epidamnos who called it by his own name. It was for centuries the largest port on the Adriatic. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre second century AD. Sightseeing of the old town. Continue to Tirana Begin the Tour of Tirana City. It starts with a visit at the National Historical museum followed by a stop at the Mosque of Et`hem Bey built in 1830. The Opera House (National Theater of Opera and Ballet) looks over the Scanderbeg Square. A walk in the main boulevard provides a close sight of the City Hall and a number of Governmental buildings, on both sides. You cannot miss the National Gallery of Arts along this walk to the city in the evening, a visit to the former Communist Residential area, with modern bars, restaurants and pubs where the populated by different age groups, especially Albanian youth. Coffee time in Sky Tower a rotated bar, where you can enjoy a fantastic view of Tirana. Overnight in Hotel Vila Alba or Rogner Europark

Day 10: Tirana-Shkoder-Budva (Montenegro)

Another interesting day as we visit the charming little town of Kruja, perched high on the face of a hill. During the 15th Century, Kruja was the centre. Albanian resistance led by Skanderbeg against the Ottomans started here. We visit the museum named after him. The street leading up to the castle is built in the style of a Turkish bazaar. From here we continue to Shkoder and after crossing the border to Montenegro, we take a scenic drive alongside Lake Skadar to the Montenegrin coast to Budva. Budva is a medieval town and is definitely the most attractive tourist place on the Riviera. The old part of the town is fortified with typical architecture of narrow streets and stone buildings placed around the main cathedral with shops and taverns surrounding the streets. Overnight:Hotel Avala, or Sllovenska Plaza Budva

Day 11: Budva-Cetinje-Kotor

A scenic drive up the mountain gets us to Cetinje, capital of Montenegro during the Njegoš era. It doesn’t have a strong fort like many other important capitals from its time as nature blessed this place with natural stone protections. The town was founded in 1482, when Ivan Crnojević, the last ruler of the medieval country of Zeta, built here a palace and church. Cetinje remained as the heart and soul of Montenegro up to WW1. We visit the royal palace of King Nikola II, last King of Montenegro which contains both a beautiful small museum. Next we visit the World Heritage Site of Kotar - a town museum which was inhabited from the times of the Illyrians and the Romans. Our walk through the city takes us back to medieval times, as most of the monuments we observe are from the 14th to 18th C’s. We vist the Cathedral of St.Tryphon, St. Luka Church, St. Mihail Church, amongst other sites. Overnight: Hotel Marija, Kotor

Day 12: Kotor-Trebinje (Bosnia & Herzegovina- Mostar- Medjugorje-Sarajevo

After breakfast drive through Picturesque Boka Bay drive and then inland up the mountains where we cross the border into Bosnia & Herzegovina. No visit of Bosnia & Herzegovina is complete without a visit to Mostar. We tour this picturesque 500 years old town made famous by the old Ottoman bridge built to unify the communities residing on the Neretva River. The original 15th Century wooden bridge was a very important strategic and trade link between the two parts of Herzegovina. In 1557 a stone bridge was built which was the masterpiece of architect Hajrudin under the close observation of the Caliph Suleyman the Magnificent (builder). A short drive gets us to the village of Medjugorje - a centre for many pilgrims across the world. It is reputed that in 1981, several local children received messages from Virgin Mary. Continue through the mountains following the canyon of river Neretva, before arriving at the majestic Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Overnight in Sarajevo

Day 13: Sarajevo

After Breakfast, we start with a walking tour of Sarajevo. This magical town with all its charms takes us instantly back to the Ottoman days as we visit beautiful Ottoman mosques, old quarters and the authentic Turkish “carshija”, with its oriental sweets shops, cafes and traditional Bosnian food. Sarajevo is also a town where for over 400 years mosques, orthodox churches, roman-catholic churches and synagogues have been standing together. Before ending the day, we visit the site where on June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (then heir to the throne) and his wife Sophie, whilst visiting Sarajevo, were assassinated. This triggered to what became World War 1. Evening is free for an enjoyable stroll of the old town walking along. Overnight in Sarajevo

Day 14: Sarajevo – Mostar- Dubrovnik (Croatia)

After breakfast we will drive to Mostar passing through Konjic and Jablanica and Neretva River valley Arrive in Mostar visit to Old Town of this Herzegovina pearl, seeing the Old Bridge, old Mostar Carshia ( understanding the story and seeing how the Old Bridge now is “New Old Bridge”, even though it dates from 1566. Coffee in one of Mostar cafes along Neretva river in something we never miss. After Lunch we will drive to Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik

Day 15: Dubrovnik

This morning we start with a walking tour through the old walled heart of Dubrovnik. All motor vehicles are banned from the centre and our transport drops us outside the Pile Gate where we visit the Franciscan Monastery, housing one of the world’s oldest pharmacies, the old harbour, St Laurence Fortress, the Sponza and Rector’s Palaces and other points of interest in this best preserved European walled city. Afternoon is free to enjoy Dubrovnik’s old city or its popular Adriatic Sea beach. Overnight in Dubrovnik

Day 16: Transfer to Airport, Dubrovnik, Split or Tirana Albania?

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