Balkan Essentials - 7 Days

BALKAN ESSENTIALS
7 days / 6 night
Serbia ~  Bosnia & Herzegovina ~  Montenegro ~ Croatia

Day 1: Belgrade – Bohemian quarter

Upon arrival in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, you will be welcomed by your Tour Manager and escorted to your hotel. When you get into your coach, just relax and meet New Belgrade within a short drive from Nikola Tesla Airport to your hotel. You’ll see prominent Belgrade’s blocks, classic example of Socialistic architecture, built after World War II, and modern business centers among which Ušće Center surely predominates. During the drive enjoy the image and stories about Western Gate of Belgrade, famous Belgrade Arena and monumental Palace of Serbia. Check-in at your hotel. Free time.
After some rest in the hotel, prepare yourself for a traditional Serbian dinner in Skadarlija – Bohemian heart of Belgrade. It’s well-known that the best tourist attraction of Serbia is local food accompanied by traditional music. Try out numerous local specialties and take a chance to get to know each other during pleasant dinner in authentic restaurant. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Belgrade Sightseeing

After breakfast, start coach & walking tour around Belgrade, capital that is well known for its various architectural styles, dynamic history and fantastic views of one of the biggest river confluence in the whole Europe. Start the tour visiting Yugoslav History Museum, memorial complex devoted to life and deeds of Josip Broz Tito, political leader of Yugoslavia. Then you will pass by the stadium of FC Red Star, former European and World Cup champion, and proceed to Saint Sava Temple, symbol and patron of Belgrade, impressive building that can be seen from any part of the capital. After a short break at the Temple’s plateau, panoramic tour will go on to Slavija Square, Saint Mark’s Church, Serbian National Parliament and President’s residency, all to the Republic Square, most central point of Belgrade that is surrounded by cultural institutions such as the National Theatre and National Museum. Go on with a walking tour through lively Knez Mihailo Street, main walking and shopping zone, and visit the Congregational Church, just across the building of Serbian Patriarchy. Hear great stories about “Question Mark – ?”, the oldest tavern in the city, and continue to Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, the most important cultural-historic complex of the city, situated on the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube.

Day 3: Belgrade – Zlatibor – Šargan 8 – Wooden-town

Breakfast and check-out. Morning departure from Belgrade and drive toward Western Serbia via picturesque Ovčar-Kablar Canyon that extends above meanders of the Western Morava River. Upon arrival at famous Zlatibor Mountain, first Royal resort in Serbia, enjoy a relaxing walk around the town center of this prominent air spa.
Afterwards you will proceed to Tara National Park and contemplate the beauties from authentic, retro and the most popular Balkan train, Šargan 8 Railway. Expect a drive in a train that travels from the bottom of Šargan mount, on a way that is formed in the shape of number eight. At the beginning of the 20th century it used to be a part of the railway from Belgrade to Sarajevo. Journey on retro-train called “Ćira” will bring you back to past and will let you enjoy mountain sceneries and numerous tunnels and viaducts. Enjoy breathtaking nature and arrive at Ethno-village “Wooden Town” or Drvengrad that was built by prominent movie director Emir Kusturica. All the objects, including Mećavnik Hotel, apartment houses, galleries, shops, cinema and churches are made of natural materials, mostly from wood. Since the traditional film festival “Kustendorf” is held here, Wooden Town had an honor to accommodate biggest movie stars: Johnny Depp, Monica Belucci, Jim Jarmusch and many others. In the inexperienced silence of the mountain Mokra Gora, you will enjoy traditional Serbian food during the dinner and overnight at the local Hotel.

Day 4: Višegrad – Sarajevo

Breakfast and check-out. The tour continues to Bosnia and Herzegovina and a short drive leads you towards Višegrad, where Emir Kusturica used his imagination and creativity to build Andrićgrad or the “Stone Town”. It is a cultural center with numerous buildings and facilities built on the banks of Drina River nearby the famous Bridge (monument under the protection of the UNESCO). Bridge was described in the title of novel by Nobel prized writer Ivo Andrić “The Bridge on the Drina”. In his honor Kusturica’s town was called Andrićgrad. In Andrićgrad you will take a break. During the break you may order a lunch in unusual restaurant called “Zlatna moruna”, the interior of which is decorated with frescoes by a well-known artist Bisenija Tereščenko.
Upon the sightseeing expect a drive to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina, and check-in at the hotel. After a short rest Sarajevo sightseeing tour will start covering all the main sights: Building of Vijećnica or the City Assembly finished during the Austro-Hungarian period, old downtown of the city called Baščaršija, historical and cultural center of Sarajevo with authentic shops and souqs from the Ottoman era, Orthodox Church from the 16th century, Gazi Hüsrev Bey mosque, Sahat Tower from the 17th century and the first public toilette in Europe. Then you go on to Latin Bridge where Gavrilo Princip shot the successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne Franz Ferdinand which caused the beginning of the World War I, and afterword you will get to Bezistan, market complex from the 16th century, and then to the main pedestrian zone Ferdahija with the Synagogue from 1580 and Catholic Cathedral from 1881. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 5: Mostar – Blagaj – Trebinje

Breakfast and check-out. Drive and arrival at one of the most beautiful cities of the Balkan Peninsula, Mostar. During the walking tour around it you will visit the symbol of this city, Balkan TOP 10 and the most photographed sight in the country – Old Bridge (UNESCO protected monument). You will then proceed to Koski Mehmed pasa Mosque, the Crooked Bridge and old tanner’s quarter Tabhana. Free time in Mostar for getting a lunch at the bank of the Neretva River, with amazing view of the bridge that rises above you.
The excursion continues at Blagaj (monument is on the tentative UNESCO list), old town from the 15th century where Kosača noble family ruled. Also Blagaj was the crib of Islam of today’s Bosnia and Herzegovina, when dervish Sari Satluk built a khanqah at the river-head of Buna. During a short tour, enjoy the view of the Monastery located in a fairy-tale environment, beneath the cliffs on the shores of the emerald green river Buna.
The next destination of the day is Trebinje, picturesque town with a wonderful mix of sights that origin from different cultures. Start a tour with a visit to artists’ and photographers’ dream Arslanagica Bridge. This stone bridge and its peaceful atmosphere will bring you 400 years back in time. During leisure walk through narrow streets of the old town you’ll see most important sites of Trebinje, on your way to “Poet’s Market” where you can sit under 115 year old trees which are the symbol of the town. In this beautiful town, Emir Kusturica, world famous movie director, made one of his last movies with Monica Belluci featuring the leading role.

Day 6: Perast – Kotor – Dubrovnik

Breakfast and check-out. This day is devoted to Republic of Montenegro, country that boasts of rich heritage and immense natural beauty. Bay of Kotor with its unique landscape is a must-see location for more than 500 cruisers during a year. On the way to marvelous Kotor you will make a stop at the town of Perast, little settlement in baroque style. From Perast you’ll start a relaxing boat ride along Boka Kotorska Bay to picturesque island of Our Lady of the Rock. This manmade Island hosts a church with valuable paintings of local artists, silver votive tablets and a famous votive tapestry.
After the boat ride you will get to Kotor, old Mediterranean town that dates back to the 12th and 14th century, and have a walking tour around this UNESCO site with prominent sights: St. Nicolas and St. Luke Church, Cathedral of St. Tryphon and other cultural monuments. In Kotor you’ll have free time to wander around the old bricked town, or take a lunch at one of romantic squares of the old town.
Next destination is Dubrovnik, one of the most significant monuments in the world, and one of Europe’s best preserved walled cities known since the 7th century. The old town is surrounded with a 2 km long wall that gives a great opportunity to see old Dubrovnik from above, during one-hour relaxing walk: city churches, fortification and monuments are a real must-see. Dubrovnik enchanted lots of famous persons to devote their pieces of art to the city, so in this city of marble and light colored stone you’ll find numerous art galleries and unique shops. In the historical center of Dubrovnik you will visit the Main Square Stradun, also called Placa, Pile Gate, Rector’s Palace, Sponza palace, Old Town Walls, the church of St. Blaise, the Cathedral, the Jesuit church, Orlando’s Column, Onofrio’s Large Fountain, the city port and other hidden gems. Hotel check-in and overnight.

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast and hotel check-out. Depending of the time of departure, use your free time and explore Dubrovnik on your own. Transfer to the Airport. End of services.

Includes:

- 2 BB in Belgrade in Hotel Life Design 4* / Hotel Prag 4* / Hotel Crowne Plaza 4* or similar,
- 1 HB at Mokra Gora in Hotel Mećavnik 4* or similar***,
- 1 BB in Sarajevo in Hotel Holiday 4* / Hotel Bosnia 4* / Hotel Old Town 4* or similar,
- 1 BB in Trebinje in Hotel Platani 4* / Hotel SL Industry 4* / Hotel Leotar 4* or similar,
- 1 BB in Dubrovnik in Hotel Lapad 4* / Grand Hotel Park 4* / Hotel Uvala 4* or similar
- Airport arrival and departure transfers,
- All sightseeing tours and transfers that are written in this program, except those marked as optional tours,
- Entrance tickets to the Museum of Yugoslav history and Wooden Town,
- Welcome dinner in Bohemian quarter – Skadarlija,
- Ticket for the ride on Museum Train – Šargan eight,
- Boat trip from Perast to the Island Our Lady of the Rock,
- Professional tour guidance throughout the tour,
- VAT, Accommodation taxes and City taxes in every country,
- Tour logistics and organization by licensed incoming agency.

Broj polise 3000005036991 Kompanije Milenium Osiguranje ado koja važi od 25.10.23-25.10.24 godine

pokriće polise do 30.000 eura i  granacija putovanja do 30.000 eura