Balkan´s Route
Duration
9 Days
Physical rate
Moderate
Starting city
Bucharest
Available
April 2024 / March 2025
Cities to visit: Bucharest; Sinaia; Bran; Sighisoara; Biertan, Judeţul Sibiu; Sibiu; Hunedoara; Timisoara; Belgrade; Sremska Mitrovica; Zvornik; Sarajevo; Mostar; Kravice; Dubrovnik; Kotor; Budva; Tirana
Detailed day by day description
Introduction
This tour is part of our flexible coach touring range, guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people. Once the tour is booked, it is guaranteed so it will definitely go ahead, and will never cancel.
This tour is guided in English only. Please note if English speaking attendance numbers are low, the tour can become bilingual either accompanied by two tour leaders, one for each language, or a single tour leader providing explanations in both languages.
The tour offers flexibility, allowing you to customize it to your preferences. By clicking 'Quote or Book,' you will have the choice to select your desired start and end dates and destinations within the tour's defined parameters. Given this flexibility, it's important to note that the same people, tour guides or drivers may not be on your entire journey.
Day
Welcome to Bucharest . Transfer to the hotel and free time. You will get the information about the beginning of your tour.
Around 13.00 hrs. (variable schedules) - lunch included .
15.00 hrs. - city tour of Bucharest with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Free time afterwards.
IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.
NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.
Around 13.00 hrs. (variable schedules) - lunch included .
15.00 hrs. - city tour of Bucharest with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Free time afterwards.
IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.
NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.
Total distance covered: 325 km.
Scenery: beautiful landscapes with the Carpathian mountains, remote areas and forests. Small picturesque villages en route.
Note: Wear suitable clothing. The Sinaia area is located on the mountain, we recommend warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
08.00hrs.- Bucharest. Departure. Today we have a stage of great scenic beauty, travelling to Transylvania across the Carpathian mountains and through forests.
10.30hrs.- SINAIA, Arrival. We will stroll in the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor castles (visit of the gardens, the interior of the castle is closed on Mondays).
12.00hrs.- Sinaia- Departure. High mountains.
13.00hrs.- BRAN. arrival to the 14th-century fortress, known as “ Dracula’s Castle” (tickets included). Time for lunch and stroll on the beautiful center.
15.30hrs.- Bran - Departure. The architecture of some of the villages shows that these regions were inhabited by people of German origin.
17.45hrs.- SIGHISOARA, arrival to this very beautiful walled mediaeval city and Heritage of Mankind. Tonight we include a very special dinner, in the restaurant of Count Dracula, in the house, where Vlad Tepes was born.
Note: The hotel capacity of Sighisoara is limited. On some date the accommodation can be given in SIBIU (departure from Sighisoara after dinner). In these cases the stop in Biertan is removed and the city of Alba Lulia is visited instead.
Scenery: beautiful landscapes with the Carpathian mountains, remote areas and forests. Small picturesque villages en route.
Note: Wear suitable clothing. The Sinaia area is located on the mountain, we recommend warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
08.00hrs.- Bucharest. Departure. Today we have a stage of great scenic beauty, travelling to Transylvania across the Carpathian mountains and through forests.
10.30hrs.- SINAIA, Arrival. We will stroll in the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor castles (visit of the gardens, the interior of the castle is closed on Mondays).
12.00hrs.- Sinaia- Departure. High mountains.
13.00hrs.- BRAN. arrival to the 14th-century fortress, known as “ Dracula’s Castle” (tickets included). Time for lunch and stroll on the beautiful center.
15.30hrs.- Bran - Departure. The architecture of some of the villages shows that these regions were inhabited by people of German origin.
17.45hrs.- SIGHISOARA, arrival to this very beautiful walled mediaeval city and Heritage of Mankind. Tonight we include a very special dinner, in the restaurant of Count Dracula, in the house, where Vlad Tepes was born.
Note: The hotel capacity of Sighisoara is limited. On some date the accommodation can be given in SIBIU (departure from Sighisoara after dinner). In these cases the stop in Biertan is removed and the city of Alba Lulia is visited instead.
Total distance covered: 395 km.
Scenery: beautiful landscapes and towns.
Note: Due to the length of the days in winter and the opening hours of the monuments, from November to March we will not be able to visit the interior of the church of Biertan, although a brief stop will be made to see it from the outside.
08.30 hrs.- Sighisoara- Departure. In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared Heritage of Mankind, and we will see one of them:
09.00 hrs.- BIERTAN. Arrival to visit the fortified church (tickets included) .
10.30 hrs.- Biertan, Departure.
11.45 hrs.- SIBIU, arrival to this important economic and cultural center that was the capital of Transylvania, with its bustling narrow streets and squares. Time for a walk and lunch.
14.30 hrs. - Sibiu - Departure.
16.15 hrs. - Hunedoara . We will visit the impressive castle of HUNEDOARA (tickets included), which is considered the prettiest castle in Romania.
17.15 hrs. - Hunedoara - Departure.
19.45 hrs.- TIMISOARA, Arrival. City of Roman origin, different communities live there, its restored classical and pedestrian center is very beautiful. Would you like to explore it?
Scenery: beautiful landscapes and towns.
Note: Due to the length of the days in winter and the opening hours of the monuments, from November to March we will not be able to visit the interior of the church of Biertan, although a brief stop will be made to see it from the outside.
08.30 hrs.- Sighisoara- Departure. In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared Heritage of Mankind, and we will see one of them:
09.00 hrs.- BIERTAN. Arrival to visit the fortified church (tickets included) .
10.30 hrs.- Biertan, Departure.
11.45 hrs.- SIBIU, arrival to this important economic and cultural center that was the capital of Transylvania, with its bustling narrow streets and squares. Time for a walk and lunch.
14.30 hrs. - Sibiu - Departure.
16.15 hrs. - Hunedoara . We will visit the impressive castle of HUNEDOARA (tickets included), which is considered the prettiest castle in Romania.
17.15 hrs. - Hunedoara - Departure.
19.45 hrs.- TIMISOARA, Arrival. City of Roman origin, different communities live there, its restored classical and pedestrian center is very beautiful. Would you like to explore it?
Total distance covered: 170 km .
Note: Please keep your passport in hand, as it will be required on the border with Serbia.
08.30hrs.- Timisoara- Departure. Among pleasant landscapes we set off for Serbia and the border pass (border procedures sometimes can delay the schedule).
11.30 hrs.- BELGRADE, arrival. We include a city tour of this active capital on the shores of the Danube as it flows into the Sava, where we can admire its busy centre, its parliament, and stroll in the Kalemegdan fortress. A visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito´s Mausoleum is located, will also be included. Free time in the afternoon.
Note: Please keep your passport in hand, as it will be required on the border with Serbia.
08.30hrs.- Timisoara- Departure. Among pleasant landscapes we set off for Serbia and the border pass (border procedures sometimes can delay the schedule).
11.30 hrs.- BELGRADE, arrival. We include a city tour of this active capital on the shores of the Danube as it flows into the Sava, where we can admire its busy centre, its parliament, and stroll in the Kalemegdan fortress. A visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito´s Mausoleum is located, will also be included. Free time in the afternoon.
Total distance: 299 km.
Scenery: Forests, mountains, rivers, small towns. Great contrasts in our trip through Bosnia.
Note : Please remember to have your passport ready, you will need it to enter Bosnia.
08.00 hrs.- Belgrade-. Departure. We start our wonderful day towards Bosnia among beautiful landscapes following the Drina River. Border crossing.
09.15 hrs. - Stremska Mitrovica , arrival in this city with a pleasant historic center on the banks of the Sava River that was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, the capital of the province of Pannonia. We include the admission to the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Sirmium , which illustrates us that period.
10.30 hrs. - Stremska Mitrovica, departure. We continue towards Bosnia among beautiful landscapes following the Drina River. Border crossing, which may take a while.
13.15 hrs. (approx., depending on the time crossing the border) - Zvornik, arrival and brief stop in one of the oldest cities in Bosnia, crossed by the river that marks the border with Serbia and will make us remember with sadness the war in Bosnia. Its population has changed a lot as most of it, Muslims, were expelled, while Serb refugees from other regions settled. We are near the village of Srebrenica, known for the massacre.
14.15 hrs. - Zvornik. Departure. Our way follows an area of small villages, forests, and hills.
17.45 hrs. - Sarajevo. Arrival in the evening and time in the historic center, during which you can stroll through the charming bazaar, an old Ottoman market famous for its architecture, oriental atmosphere and traditional shops. Dinner included .
Scenery: Forests, mountains, rivers, small towns. Great contrasts in our trip through Bosnia.
Note : Please remember to have your passport ready, you will need it to enter Bosnia.
08.00 hrs.- Belgrade-. Departure. We start our wonderful day towards Bosnia among beautiful landscapes following the Drina River. Border crossing.
09.15 hrs. - Stremska Mitrovica , arrival in this city with a pleasant historic center on the banks of the Sava River that was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, the capital of the province of Pannonia. We include the admission to the grounds of the Imperial Palace of Sirmium , which illustrates us that period.
10.30 hrs. - Stremska Mitrovica, departure. We continue towards Bosnia among beautiful landscapes following the Drina River. Border crossing, which may take a while.
13.15 hrs. (approx., depending on the time crossing the border) - Zvornik, arrival and brief stop in one of the oldest cities in Bosnia, crossed by the river that marks the border with Serbia and will make us remember with sadness the war in Bosnia. Its population has changed a lot as most of it, Muslims, were expelled, while Serb refugees from other regions settled. We are near the village of Srebrenica, known for the massacre.
14.15 hrs. - Zvornik. Departure. Our way follows an area of small villages, forests, and hills.
17.45 hrs. - Sarajevo. Arrival in the evening and time in the historic center, during which you can stroll through the charming bazaar, an old Ottoman market famous for its architecture, oriental atmosphere and traditional shops. Dinner included .
Total distance: 280 km.
Scenery: spectacular landscapes featuring mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and picturesque villages. Arrival in Dubrovnik includes stunning seascapes.
Note: Please bring your passport, as we will be crossing into Croatia.
In the morning, we’ll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in Sarajevo, a captivating city known as the "Jerusalem of Europe" due to its coexistence of several religions. Mosques, churches, and synagogues showcase its rich religious diversity. We’ll explore the old town´s strong Ottoman influence, highlighted by a magnificent mosque over 500 years old and a beautiful fountain.
11:30 a.m. - Departure from Sarajevo. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of mountains and valleys along the way.
02:00 p.m. - Mostar. Free time to stroll and have lunch in this charming city, with its enchanting historic center and iconic stone bridge that separates the Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic communities.
05:00 p.m. - Departure from Mostar. We’ll continue our journey to Croatia.
08:00 p.m. - Dubrovnik/Cavtat. Dinner included.
Note: Depending on the dates, accommodation may be in Dubrovnik or Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik.
Scenery: spectacular landscapes featuring mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and picturesque villages. Arrival in Dubrovnik includes stunning seascapes.
Note: Please bring your passport, as we will be crossing into Croatia.
In the morning, we’ll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in Sarajevo, a captivating city known as the "Jerusalem of Europe" due to its coexistence of several religions. Mosques, churches, and synagogues showcase its rich religious diversity. We’ll explore the old town´s strong Ottoman influence, highlighted by a magnificent mosque over 500 years old and a beautiful fountain.
11:30 a.m. - Departure from Sarajevo. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of mountains and valleys along the way.
02:00 p.m. - Mostar. Free time to stroll and have lunch in this charming city, with its enchanting historic center and iconic stone bridge that separates the Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic communities.
05:00 p.m. - Departure from Mostar. We’ll continue our journey to Croatia.
08:00 p.m. - Dubrovnik/Cavtat. Dinner included.
Note: Depending on the dates, accommodation may be in Dubrovnik or Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik.
09:00 a.m. - We’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide in the morning. We will undoubtedly be in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, perched on a cliff, surrounded by walls and kissed by the Adriatic Sea. Its intact historic center is a jewel of world architectural heritage. We’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a stunning view of the city from a scenic viewpoint along the road. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery, home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Assumption Cathedral. We’ll also take a boat trip to Lokrum, a small island just 15 minutes away that is home to the ruins of an eleventh-century Benedictine monastery, a popular setting for the series Game of Thrones . Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner will be included.
Note: On some occasions, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik. From November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum, so we will not visit the island during these months.
Note: On some occasions, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik. From November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum, so we will not visit the island during these months.
Total distance covered: 295 km
Scenery: stunning landscapes along the Adriatic coast. The Bay of Kotor features some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, with picturesque villages along the way. Albania offers a glimpse of a more rural and unique country.
Note: Have your passports ready. We will cross the borders into Montenegro and Albania.
07:30 a.m. - Departure from Dubrovnik. We’ll set off early for Montenegro and go through border procedures (which can sometimes take a while). After, we’ll take a ferry to cross the beautiful Bay of Kotor. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the way.
09:30 a.m. – Kotor (time of arrival may vary). Take time to stroll through this beautiful walled town with a strong Venetian influence, set against a magnificent scenic backdrop.
11:00 a.m. - Departure from Kotor. We’ll continue along stunning coastal landscapes.
11:45 a.m. - Budva, a picturesque walled enclave. Enjoy time for a stroll, take photos, and have lunch.
01:45 p.m. - Departure from Budva. We’ll travel along the coast towards Albania. Arrival at the border for procedures, which can sometimes be lengthy. There will be time at the border to have a coffee and exchange money. We’ll continue along small roads until we reach the capital of Albania.
05:30 p.m. – Arrival in Tirana for accommodation. Dinner will be included.
Scenery: stunning landscapes along the Adriatic coast. The Bay of Kotor features some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, with picturesque villages along the way. Albania offers a glimpse of a more rural and unique country.
Note: Have your passports ready. We will cross the borders into Montenegro and Albania.
07:30 a.m. - Departure from Dubrovnik. We’ll set off early for Montenegro and go through border procedures (which can sometimes take a while). After, we’ll take a ferry to cross the beautiful Bay of Kotor. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the way.
09:30 a.m. – Kotor (time of arrival may vary). Take time to stroll through this beautiful walled town with a strong Venetian influence, set against a magnificent scenic backdrop.
11:00 a.m. - Departure from Kotor. We’ll continue along stunning coastal landscapes.
11:45 a.m. - Budva, a picturesque walled enclave. Enjoy time for a stroll, take photos, and have lunch.
01:45 p.m. - Departure from Budva. We’ll travel along the coast towards Albania. Arrival at the border for procedures, which can sometimes be lengthy. There will be time at the border to have a coffee and exchange money. We’ll continue along small roads until we reach the capital of Albania.
05:30 p.m. – Arrival in Tirana for accommodation. Dinner will be included.
After breakfast we include the city tour of Tirana , the capital of Albania, with its mosques, the clock tower, the ministries. Our local guide will tell us about this small country.
Our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful and lasting memories.
Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night. Our guide will advise you on the best public transportation for your transfers.
If you need to book an external service (like a plane or train) on the last day of your tour, which includes activities, please note that the detailed itineraries are based on "planned" schedules and could be affected by various factors such as traffic, customer delays, mechanical issues, etc. It´s advisable not to book a flight or train with a tight schedule without considering these factors. Always allocate extra time in your schedule for unexpected events.
Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night. Our guide will advise you on the best public transportation for your transfers.
If you need to book an external service (like a plane or train) on the last day of your tour, which includes activities, please note that the detailed itineraries are based on "planned" schedules and could be affected by various factors such as traffic, customer delays, mechanical issues, etc. It´s advisable not to book a flight or train with a tight schedule without considering these factors. Always allocate extra time in your schedule for unexpected events.
From
AUD 2,061