Country(ies): Albania , Bosnia & Herzegovina , Croatia , Greece , Montenegro , Serbia
Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 20
Accommodation: 3 to 4-star hotels
Meals:
Transport: AC minibus/coach
Highlights: Athens Acropolis, Meteora clifftop monasteries, ancient towns of Budva & Kotor, spectacular Bay of Kotor, walled city of Dubrovnik, scenic Adriatic & Dalmatian coast, Diocletian Palace, Stari Most Bridge, Sarajevo bazaar, Belgrade
This 11-day Balkans tour takes you on a historical and cultural journey through the beautiful scenery of six different countries - Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and finishing in Serbia.
Our Balkans tour starts in the ancient city of Athens, where you have free time or can take a guided tour of the city's main historic sites. A visit to the hilltop Acropolis site also can’t be missed to see the amazing Parthenon and enjoy great views down over Athens.
From Athens, we'll head to the beautiful scenery of Meteora, which boasts 24 mountaintop monasteries, 6 of which are still in use, making it one of the most important monastic complexes of the Eastern Orthodox faith.
After spending time in Greece, we'll make our way to Albania, visiting the Ottoman town of Gjirokastra before heading to its capital city of Tirana for some relaxation time, or you can choose to explore the city independently.
From Albania, we head north up the Adriatic coast, stopping to explore the old towns of Budva and Kotor in Montenegro. The ancient cobbled town of Kotor sits on the edge of the Bay of Kotor, a spectacular fjord-like series of inlets and bays beneath towering cliffs and hills. Our next top is the legendary walled city of Dubrovnik, which provides breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and great food and drink. The continues with another scenic drive up the Dalmation Coast to the town of Split, where we'll visit its 4th century-old Diocletian's Palace - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our next highlight is the city of Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina which was very heavily bombed during the war but has since been rebuilt and now features on UNESCO's World Heritage List. During our tour we'll also visit the famous Stari Most Bridge which has a famously large single span crossing the Neretva River and was built originally in the 16th century by the Ottoman rulers. We finish the day in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina, which sits in a beautiful valley in Herzegovina's high mountains.
The tour then ends in Belgrade where we can add extra nights' accommodation if you would like to extend your stay.
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This tour has small-group departures running every 2 weeks from May until early October to take advantage of the year's best weather. We can also run the tour privately for you on any other dates.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Stanley Hotel
Athens
Conveniently located in Athens city centre and just steps from Metaxourgeio Metro Station, Stanley Hotel features a rooftop pool, 2 restaurants and 2 bars, including an open-air bar on the rooftop. It offers air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk.
Antoniadis Hotel
Kalambaka
The Antoniadis Hotel is located in Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. Just 3 miles from the Monastery of Agia Triada and 12 miles from the Theopetra Cave. Just a few steps from the hotel you’ll find a selection of shops, restaurants and cafes.
Tirana International Hotel
Tirana
Located in the very heart of Tirana, overlooking Scanderbeg Square, the Tirana International Hotel has an enviable position with most of Tirana's attractions within walking distance.
Splendido Hotel
Kotor
Located on the banks of the Bay of Kotor in the small town of Prcani, the Hotel Splendido offers guests basic but comfortable rooms many of which feature incredible views of the bay.
Valamar Club Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Located on the beautiful Babin Kuk peninsula, the Valamar Club offers easy access to the beach and the famous walled city of Dubrovnik is just a short 10-minute bus ride away.
Astra Hotel
Sarajevo
Located in the centre of Sarajevo in Bascarsije, an area known for its Ottoman architecture. All major tourist attractions are within walking distance and you'll be spoiled for choice with a multitude of shops and restaurants on your door step.
Prime Hotel
Belgrade
Prime Hotel is found in Belgrade, close to the famous Church of Saint Sava. It features standard rooms and apartments with kitchens. There is WiFi access, a 24-hour front desk, and a breakfast buffet available.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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Taste of the Balkans & Country Reviews
Product Review
Posted 3rd of Jan 2019
We had knowledgeable tour guides who really gave us a the context within which to visit the ancient sites. We were there during the off season, so much less crowded but operating hours for the sites were shorter. Meals and accommodations were all good quality.
Product Review
Posted 13th of Aug 2018
Hotels and amenities were great. Ours was a small tour group which made it much better because we were older and would have slowed down a large group.
Product Review
Posted 6th of Jul 2017
Great tour and a great value