Balkan Odyssey Discover Hidden Gems - 10 Days

Arrive in Zagreb, where we’ll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Our guide joins us – along with the group arriving from Slovenia – around lunchtime. In the afternoon, at around 16:00 – time may vary – we set off on an included panoramic tour with a local guide to take in Croatia’s capital, from its two historic hills and the Upper Town to its newer neighbourhoods. Dinner is included. 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 Zagreb early for Bosnia – border formalities may take some time – travelling through areas that still bear reminders of the 1990s conflict. Our first stop is Banja Luka, capital of the autonomous entity of Republika Srpska and the second–largest city in Bosnia, known for its fortress and Orthodox cathedral. You’ll have free time to explore and time for lunch.

We then continue to Jajce, often cited as one of Bosnia’s most beautiful towns for its cultural mix, mosque and fortress, and its impressive waterfall – admission included. After time to look around, we continue to Sarajevo, arriving in the evening. You can stroll through the historic centre and visit the old Ottoman bazaar, known for its architecture, atmosphere and traditional shops. Dinner included.

This morning we take a guided tour of Sarajevo, often called the Jerusalem of Europe for its coexistence of different faiths, where mosques, churches and synagogues reflect this diversity. In the Ottoman‑influenced old town we’ll see a mosque dating back more than 500 years and a beautiful fountain. After the visit, we continue through an area of natural beauty to Mostar, known for its historic centre and iconic stone bridge linking Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities. You’ll have free time here for lunch and to explore at your own pace. In the afternoon we head on to Croatia – border formalities may be lengthy – arriving in Dubrovnik towards the end of the day. Dinner is included.

This morning we join a local guide for a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik, a clifftop city encircled by walls on the Adriatic. We pause at a scenic viewpoint along the road for sweeping views before heading into the remarkably preserved historic centre. Entrance is included to the Franciscan Monastery – home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe – and the Assumption Cathedral. We then take a short boat ride – about 15 minutes – to Lokrum, a small island with the ruins of an eleventh‑century Benedictine monastery and a well‑known Game of Thrones filming location. After the visits, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace before we return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is included.

Note: On some departures 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 set off early from Dubrovnik for Montenegro, completing border formalities en route. We follow the Adriatic coast and the Bay of Kotor’s dramatic scenery, then take the ferry across the bay to reach Kotor. You’ll have free time to explore this beautiful walled town with its strong Venetian influence. We continue to Budva – a charming walled village surrounded by the sea – where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we travel on to Albania. After customs procedures, we head to Tirana, the capital, where dinner is included.

This morning we take a panoramic tour of Tirana, Albania’s capital – we visit its mosques, the Clock Tower and the government ministries. Around midday we head inland, driving through mountain landscapes and small villages towards Lake Ohrid, which forms the border with Macedonia. We continue into the Republic of Macedonia – border procedures – and stop for lunch in Struga, a picturesque town on the lakeshore. We then proceed to Ohrid, a city with strong Ottoman influence and a designated World Heritage Site. You’ll have free time to explore the Plaosnik Monastery or the site of the ancient university founded in the ninth century. Dinner is included.

We travel from Ohrid through Macedonia into Greece, with a stop in Bitola – a historic city known for its Ottoman and neoclassical architecture. You’ll have time to stroll along Širok Sokak, the lively pedestrian street lined with cafés, restaurants and shops. After completing border formalities, we continue into northern Greece, a region shaped by Slavic and Ottoman influences and rugged landscapes, and make our way to the Meteora area. Just before Kalambaka, we pause in Kastraki – a picturesque village with wide valley views – where you’ll have time for lunch. We then drive the length of the Meteora Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and include admission to one of its celebrated cliffside monasteries. Arrival in Kalambaka follows, with dinner included.

Travelling south from Kalambaka through the landscapes of Thessaly, we reach Delphi and explore its archaeological site overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. You’ll have time for lunch. We then continue to the Monastery of Hosios Loukas – renowned as one of Greece’s most beautiful Byzantine monasteries and a World Heritage Site – to see its mosaics from the 11th century. We carry on to Athens, arriving in the evening.

We explore Athens with a local guide, taking in the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held, the National Library and the lively squares of the city centre. We also see the newer neighbourhoods developed after the 2004 Olympic Games. The tour ends at the Acropolis – admission not included. In the evening, we provide a transfer to Plaka, the historic quarter known for its Greek tavernas, where you can dine and enjoy the city’s folklore.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Athens – our services end here. We hope you leave with wonderful lasting memories.