Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) Bulgaria + Macedonia

Sofia – Departure in the morning at 9 a.m. from Sofia.

Rila Monastery – Rila Monastery is Bulgaria’s most famous tourist site (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila), a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. The monastery, one of the largest in the Balkans, was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1,000 years. The tour includes a visit to the Church, which holds particular artistic value, as it was adorned by the foremost 19th-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko, and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving.

Skopje – Continue driving south to the Bulgarian–Macedonian border. In the early evening, the tour arrives in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. An orientation tour of Skopje is offered before arriving at the hotel.

Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) Macedonia

Old Bazaar, Skopje – Enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous as the birthplace of Mother Teresa), featuring its most important landmarks: the quay of the Macedonian river Vardar, the narrow streets of the Old Bazaar (the largest preserved bazaar in the Balkans today), the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, the 1,500-year-old Kale Fortress, and Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander the Great on horseback.

Lake Ohrid – Continue the tour and drive to Ohrid (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), situated on the banks of the lake of the same name, perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. The Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history, and the old city center is testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake, having formed over three million years ago. The walking tour of the old city center includes the narrow streets and squares, the Ancient Theater, the famous old churches, monasteries, and basilicas (such as Sveti Sofia Church), Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress, and the pedestrian shopping street.

Ohrid – Tirana – Shkoder (230 km) Macedonia + Albania

Skanderbeg Square – Continue the tour, crossing the Macedonian–Albanian border and driving to Tirana, the capital of Albania. The walking tour of Tirana’s city center reveals the main tourist attractions: Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg, the National History Museum, the Palace of Culture, the National Bank, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, and Skanderbeg’s statue.

Shkoder – Kotor – Trebinje (190 km) Montenegro

Budva – Departure to Budva, Montenegro, crossing the Albanian–Montenegrin border, with a stop to visit the Old Town walls of Budva and see the most important spots: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s Street, the marina, Mediteranska Street, and Slovenska Plaza.

Kotor Old City – In the evening, the tour arrives in Kotor to discover the fortified old town – Stari Grad (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Trebinje – Mostar – Sarajevo (240 km) Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar – After breakfast, the tour heads to Mostar, where the focus is on the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built in 1566, the Mostar Bridge has since been the main reason behind Mostar developing into the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately, in November 1993, during the Siege of Mostar, the bridge was destroyed. The reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge are thoroughly covered during the walking tour of Mostar. Since then, there has been a tradition of bridge diving. Today, young and brave Mostar divers compete to earn a few euros by diving off the bridge in front of tourists from around the world.

Sarajevo – After leaving Mostar, the tour takes an amazingly scenic road passing by Jablanica Lake and through the Neretva River canyon, arriving in Sarajevo. A walking tour of the old part and city center of Sarajevo is offered. The 2.5-hour tour covers the stories of the origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. The tour visits the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, which, with their stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues, reveal the true nature of the real European Jerusalem. The tour ensures a visit to the Latin Bridge and shares the story of how WWI was triggered right here, in the heart of Sarajevo. Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo are also part of the story.

Sarajevo – Belgrade (400 km) Croatia + Serbia

Belgrade – After breakfast, the tour heads to Serbia, arriving in the afternoon in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Visit Republic Square, the National Theater, and the National Museum, the Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, the “Victor” monument – the most famous symbol of Belgrade – and the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

Belgrade – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) Serbia + Hungary

Novi Sad – After breakfast, departure to Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad, where the tour visits Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad, and an obligatory sight for any tourist, not least the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. Also visited is Dunavska Street, with its long line of single-storied 19th-century houses, the Danube embankment, and the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the other bank.

Budapest – In the evening, the tour arrives in Budapest, “The Queen of the Danube,” the capital of Hungary.

• Professional tour leader and local tour guides in Skopje, Tirana, Sarajevo
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle for the entire tour
• 7 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
• Breakfast

• Tips for the Driver/ Tour Guide (5 euro/day/person)
• Entrance fees at museums/churches

• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.