BALKAN EXTRAVAGANZA

Day 01 Athens

Welcome. Transfer to the hotel and free time. 

Day   02 Athens

City tour in Athens, finishing at the Acropolis (entrance not included). Evening transfer to the bustling Plaka area. 

Day   03 Athens- Kamena Vourla- KastrakiMeteora- Kalambaka 

We leave for the north of Greece. We will make a stop by the sea at Kamena Vourla before continuing to the Battle of Thermopylae Gorge. We will see the Meteora Valley, a World Heritage Site from Kastraki. The entrance to one of the impressive monasteries of the valley is included. Dinner included in Kalambaka. 

Day   04 Kalambaka- Thessaloniki- MelnikSandanski

We travel to the mountainous regions of northern Greece. We will make a stop in Thessaloniki, a port city on the Aegean Sea. We will pass to Bulgaria and make a stop at Melink, a museum-town among vineyards. Arrival in the beautiful thermal town of Sandanski. Dinner and accommodation. 

Day   05 Sandanski- Rila- Sofia

Among the forests we discover the beautiful Rila Monastery, a symbol of Bulgaria and a World Heritage Site. We continue to Sofia. After lunch we will have a city tour and free time. 

Day   06 Sofia- Bachkovo- Plovdiv 

We leave for another of the emblematic Orthodox monasteries of Bulgarian culture, the 11th century Bachkovo Monastery. We continue to Plovdiv, where after the lunch (included) we visit the Roman amphitheater, the ancient apothecary and the Armenian house.

Day   07 Plovdiv- Kazanluk- Shipka- EtaraArbanassi- Veliko Tarnovo

 In the valley of roses we will visit Kazanlak and the replica of the Thracian tomb, a World Heritage Site. In the Balkan mountains region we will make a stop at the Shipka church. In Etara we will visit the ethnographic museum. Lunch included. We will visit the historic Arbanassi with the Church of the Nativity. Free time in Veliko Tarnovo.  

Day   08 Veliko Tarnovo- Dimitar BasarbovskiBucharest

On our route, we will make a stop at the Dimitar Basarbovski Monastery, a place of pilgrimage. We cross the Danube River to enter Romania. Arrival in Bucharest, the Romanian capital. Lunch included and city tour. 

Day   09 Bucharest- Sinaia- Bran- Sighisoara 

We travel to Transylvania and among the Carpathian mountains we discover Sinaia. We continue to Bran, where we will visit Dracula´s Castle. We will arrive in Sighisoara, a beautiful walled city, a World Heritage Site. The very special dinner included in the house, where Vlad Tepes, Dracula, was born.

Day   10 Sighisoara- Biertan- SibiuHunedoara- Timisoara

We visit in Transylvania the fortified church of Biertan, a World Heritage Site. We continue to the cheerful Sibiu, a city of Germanic origin. In the afternoon we visit Hunedoara Castle, considered the most beautiful in Romania. Time for a walk in the elegant Timisoara. 

Day   11 TimisoaraBelgrade  

In a little less than 3 hours after crossing the border with Serbia we arrive in its capital. City tour of Belgrade. We include a visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito´s mausoleum is located. Free time in the afternoon. 

Day   12 Belgrade - Sremska Mitrovica - Zvornik - Sarajevo  

Spectacular landscapes accompany us on our way. We stop in Stremska Mitrovica with entrance to the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Sirmium. We continue to Zvornik in the Serbian Orthodox population region of Bosnia. After that, we headed to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Dinner included. 

Day   13 Sarajevo- Mostar- Dubrovnik Cavtat

In the morning we will visit the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo, having a city tour. We continue to Mostar, with its symbolic and beautiful historic center. Once in Croatia we travel to Dubrovnik. Dinner included. 

Day   14 Dubrovnik Cavtat 

City tour of Dubrovnik with visit to the Franciscan Monastery and the Cathedral. After that we take a small boat to the island of Lokrum to enjoy the views of the city and its monastery. Dinner included. 

Day   15 Dubrovnik-Ston- Split

 We travel with spectacular landscapes on the Dalmatian Coast. We´ll visit the town of Ston, which has one of the longest walls in the world. In Split, panoramic tour with entrance to Diocletian´s Palace. Dinner included.

Day   16 Split- Plitvice- Opatija

 We travel to the interior of Croatia. Entrance included to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a World Heritage Site, where you can take a boat on the lake. We continue towards the north of the country. Opatija, dinner included in this pleasant spa town. 

Day   17 Opatija- Postjona- Bled- Ljubljana 

We enter Slovenia, a country with landscapes of high peaks, forests and lakes. In Postojna we will take a small train to visit its caves. In Bled, a postcard town, we will take a boat across the lake to the island. In Ljubljana, the capital of the Alpine country, we will have a city tour. Dinner included. 

Day   18 Ljubljana- Venice 

Free time in the morning in this small capital. After lunch we travel to the Italian part of the Adriatic cost. Venice, arrival in the evening. Accommodation in the Mestre area. 

Day   19 Venice

We access Venice by boat, we will take a city tour and admire its famous glass work technique. 

Day   20 Venice 

After breakfast, end of our services.