Balkan Odyssey Capitals, Castles, and Coastlines - 16 Days

Welcome to Sofia. On arrival at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, where you’ll receive details about the start of your tour. At around 3 pm we set off on a guided tour of Bulgaria’s capital, taking in major landmarks including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, and the city’s squares and avenues noted for their Stalinist architecture. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace – you can wander, relax and get your first feel for the city. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We depart Sofia in the morning for Bachkovo Monastery – founded in the 11th century and regarded as Bulgaria’s second most significant, with three churches in a tranquil setting. We then continue to Plovdiv, where lunch is included, before setting out on a guided tour of one of Europe’s oldest cities. Admission is included to the Roman Amphitheatre, the Old Pharmacy and the Armenian House.

We depart Plovdiv and travel through the Balkan Mountains and the Rose Valley to Kazanlak, where we include admission to the replica of the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and learn about the area’s rose‑based products. We continue to the Shipka Memorial Church, dedicated to the Russo–Turkish War, before exploring Etar, a traditional village and ethnographic museum. After lunch – included – we head to Arbanasi, an old trading town known for its fortress‑like houses, and visit the Nativity Church with admission included. The day ends in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s former capital, noted for its medieval centre set beside a canyon. Note: the visit to Arbanasi may occasionally take place on Sunday morning.

We leave Veliko Tarnovo for Romania, stopping en route to visit Basarbovo Monastery – a rock‑hewn pilgrimage site. We then cross the border and the Danube, arriving in Bucharest at around 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, we take a panoramic tour of the city, including the historic centre and the impressive Palace of Parliament. Afterwards, you have free time to explore as you wish. Dinner is included.

We leave Bucharest for Transylvania, crossing the Carpathian Mountains through scenic forested landscapes. In Sinaia, we stroll through the gardens of Peleș and Pelișor Castles before continuing to the 14th‑century Bran Fortress – Dracula’s Castle – with admission included. You’ll have time for lunch en route. We then continue to Sighișoara, a beautifully preserved walled medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, we enjoy an included dinner at Count Dracula’s restaurant, set in the house where Vlad the Impaler was born.

Morning departure from Sighisoara to Biertan to visit one of Transylvania’s fortified churches – admission included. We then continue to Sibiu, an important economic and cultural centre that once served as the capital of Transylvania, with free time to wander its narrow streets and lively squares and to have lunch. In the afternoon we visit Hunedoara Castle – tickets included – considered the most beautiful castle in Romania. We finish the day in Timisoara, where you’ll have time this evening to explore the city’s elegant central squares.

Leaving Timisoara, we cross into Serbia and travel for around three hours to reach Belgrade – a lively capital at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava. On arrival, we take a panoramic tour, exploring the city centre, viewing the Parliament building, and strolling through Kalemegdan Fortress. We also visit the Museum of Yugoslavia – home to Tito’s Mausoleum. The afternoon is free for you to continue discovering the city at your own pace.

We leave Belgrade for the Vojvodina region, stopping in Sremska Mitrovica – a riverside city on the Sava with a charming historic centre that was once one of the Roman Empire’s most important cities and the capital of Pannonia. Admission to the Imperial Palace of Sirmium is included. We then continue towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, pausing en route for lunch, and travel through the Republic of Srpska amid beautiful landscapes to Sarajevo. We arrive in the late afternoon, with time for you to explore the historic centre – stroll the bazaar and the old Ottoman market with its traditional shops and distinctive architecture – before dinner, which is included.

This morning we join a guided tour of Sarajevo – often called the Jerusalem of Europe for its coexistence of different faiths. Mosques, churches and synagogues reflect this diversity, and in the Ottoman‑influenced old town we see a mosque dating back more than 500 years and a beautiful fountain. After the visit, we travel through striking mountain scenery to Mostar in Herzegovina, known for its historic centre and the iconic stone bridge that links Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities.

You’ll have free time for lunch and to explore at your own pace. We then continue into Croatia – border formalities may be lengthy – arriving in Dubrovnik towards the end of the day. Dinner is included.

We start with a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide, exploring its remarkable walled old town beside the Adriatic. We stop at a viewpoint for sweeping views of the city. Entrance is included to the Franciscan Monastery – home to Europe’s oldest pharmacy – and the Assumption Cathedral. We then take a 15‑minute boat ride to Lokrum to see the ruins of an eleventh century Benedictine monastery – a filming location for the series Game of Thrones. Afterwards, you have free time to explore before we return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is 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.

We leave Dubrovnik in the morning and follow the spectacular Croatian coastline, with sweeping views of the sea and nearby islands. Our first pause is in Ston, a picturesque town known for having one of the longest walls in the world. We continue through striking landscapes and cross the impressive Pelješac Bridge before reaching Split around midday. Here we meet a local guide for a tour that includes admission to Diocletian’s Palace – a vast Roman complex whose maze of lanes opens onto fine views of the waterfront. Dinner is included.

Leaving Split, we travel inland through hilly landscapes to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit its lakes and waterfalls, with tickets included for either a boat ride on the lakes or a train ride within the park. You can also walk the scenic trails at your own pace. After lunch, we continue north back to the coast and arrive in Opatija, where dinner is included and we settle into our accommodation in this charming resort town. Note – depending on weather conditions or visitor numbers, the boat or train in Plitvice may not operate or be advisable to use.

We leave Opatija and cross into Slovenia, heading first to Postojna Cave – one of the world’s largest – where part of our visit is by train through its vast chambers. We then continue to Bled, a picturesque lakeside town, and take a boat across to the island, marked by its church bell tower at the foot of the medieval castle. Our day ends in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, where we take a guided tour to get to know the city. Dinner is included.

Morning at leisure in Ljubljana – you can explore the charming centre of this small capital at your own pace. In the afternoon, we travel towards the Adriatic and cross the border into Italy, arriving in Venice in the evening, where we stay in the Mestre district.

In the morning, we take a boat transfer into Venice – a city spread across more than 100 islands and linked by over 400 bridges – disembarking in the St Mark’s area. We continue with a walking tour led by a local guide through this city of canals. After the tour, you have free time to explore at your own pace. In the afternoon, you can choose an optional gondola ride along the canals.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Venice. The tour ends here and you are free to make your onward travel arrangements. We hope you leave with wonderful memories.