Arrival in Bucharest (Romania)

Palace of Parliament - Welcome at OTP. Enjoy a panoramic drive featuring the Palace of Parliament, Ateneul Român, and Revolution Square, followed by a brief stroll in Lipscani (Old Town). Dinner suggestions include traditional Carpathian dishes or a modern bistro in the Old Town.

Bucharest → Ruse → Veliko Tarnovo → Arbanassi → Sofia (Bulgaria)

Veliko Tarnovo - Cross the Danube at Giurgiu–Ruse. Enjoy a coffee break by the river. Proceed to Veliko Tarnovo for a guided tour of Tsarevets Fortress with views from the Patriarchal Cathedral; explore Samovodska Charshiya crafts street (woodcarving, icon painting). A short transfer to Arbanassi to visit the fresco-adorned Nativity Church. Arrive in Sofia by evening.
Overnight: Sofia

Sofia → Rila Monastery → Skopje (North Macedonia)

Rila Monastery - Morning walk in Sofia: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sophia, Roman Serdica ruins, Rotunda of St. George. Late morning drive to UNESCO Rila Monastery for a church and museum visit; try the warm mekitsi pastry at the bakery. Enjoy a scenic transfer to Skopje for an evening riverside walk past the Stone Bridge.
Overnight: Skopje

Skopje → Ohrid (North Macedonia)

Skopje - Guided tour of Skopje: Old Bazaar, Kale Fortress view, Mother Teresa Memorial House (brief interior visit). Drive to Ohrid. Afternoon lakeside cruise (weather permitting) and walking tour: St. Sophia, Ancient Theatre, lanes leading to St. John at Kaneo for the iconic sunset view. Dinner suggestion: trout from Lake Ohrid.
Overnight: Ohrid

Ohrid → Berat → Tirana (Albania)

Berat - Cross the border into Albania. Visit UNESCO Berat, known as the “city of a thousand windows”: Mangalem quarter, steep walk to Berat Castle for valley views. Brief tasting stop (local wine/olive products). Continue to Tirana: evening in Blloku for cafés and nightlife.
Overnight: Tirana

Tirana → Shkodër → Budva/Kotor (Montenegro)

Kotor - Highlights of Tirana: Skanderbeg Square, New Bazaar, colorful façades, Pyramid area. Drive north to Shkodër for a photo stop by Rozafa Fortress. Cross into Montenegro and follow the coast to Budva/Kotor. Optional evening gelato stroll on Kotor’s starlit stones.
Overnight: Budva or Kotor

Kotor Bay → Perast → Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Dubrovnik - Morning tour of UNESCO Kotor: St. Tryphon Cathedral, squares & hidden lanes. Short trip to Perast for views of Our Lady of the Rocks (optional boat ride). Coastal drive to Dubrovnik. Guided Old Town walk: Stradun, Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace (one interior visit included). Sunset option: cable car to Srđ or walk the city walls.
Overnight: Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik (free day or islands/winery add-ons)

Dubrovnik - Enjoy free time. Options include a boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands, Cavtat harbor, or exploring the Konavle countryside with a family-run winery & lunch. Beach/cove time for swimmers.
Overnight: Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik → Mostar → Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Mostar - Travel through the Neretva valley to Mostar for the Old Bazaar and the Stari Most bridge viewpoint (bridge diving in season). Continue to Sarajevo; evening at Baščaršija for cevapi and baklava.
Overnight: Sarajevo

Sarajevo in depth

Sarajevo - Guided tour of Sarajevo: Latin Bridge, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque exterior, Sebilj Fountain, Austro-Hungarian quarter. Visit the Tunnel of Hope museum (subject to timed slots). Free afternoon for the Sarajevo War Childhood Museum or a cable car ride to Trebević (views and an easy forest walk).
Overnight: Sarajevo

Sarajevo → Jajce → Rastoke → Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)

Plitvice Lakes National Park - Head northwest via the waterfalls of Jajce (stop at the fortress town). Cross into Croatia; enjoy a coffee and photo stop at the mill village of Rastoke. Arrive at Plitvice Lakes National Park; take an early evening boardwalk stroll if daylight permits (or save it for the morning).
Overnight: Plitvice area

Plitvice Lakes → Zagreb (Croatia)

Zagreb - Morning guided visit in Plitvice (Upper or Lower lakes circuit based on crowd flow and weather). Continue to Zagreb. Orientation walk: Ban Jelačić Square, Dolac Market, Cathedral (exterior), Stone Gate, and the colorful tiles of St. Mark’s.
Overnight: Zagreb

Zagreb (deep dive & free time)

Zagreb - Explore Zagreb in detail: Mirogoj Cemetery arcades (photogenic), Lenuci Horseshoe parks, café culture along Tkalčićeva. Free afternoon for museums (Naïve Art, Broken Relationships) or a Medvednica hill funicular ride. Farewell dinner with contemporary Croatian cuisine.
Overnight: Zagreb

Departure from Zagreb

Zagreb - Private transfer to ZAG airport. End of services.

• Private transportation
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Entrance fees
• Breakfast
• Dinner

• Meals

Start your journey in the lively city of Bucharest and travel south and west through the Balkans: explore Bulgaria’s medieval fortresses, admire frescoed monasteries, enjoy the lakeside beauty of Ohrid, experience the vibrant colors of Tirana, marvel at the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, wander through the walled city of Dubrovnik, cross the iconic bridges of Mostar, delve into the rich history of Sarajevo, discover the stunning Plitvice Lakes, and conclude with a sophisticated stay in Zagreb. Enjoy centrally located 4-star hotels, travel in a comfortable air-conditioned coach or minivan, benefit from knowledgeable local guides, and take advantage of timed entries where beneficial, all at a pace that maximizes sightseeing without causing hotel fatigue.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.