GRAND BALKAN TOUR

Day 1 Tuesday ZAGREB - Arrival

Upon arrival to Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 2 Wednesday ZAGREB - PLITVICE

Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city's historical center, St Mark's Church with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, Croatian National Theatre and University. Afternoon departure for Plitvice. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice.

 

Day 3 Thursday PLITVICE

After breakfast, we tour Plitvice Lakes National Park on UNESCO's List of World Natural Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at the different level, are joined in a series of cascading waterfalls. Surrounded by dense wood Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. Dinner and overnight in Plitvice.

 

Day 4 Friday PLITVICE - TROGIR - SPLIT

Morning departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including Diocletian's Palace on the UNESCO's List of World Cultural Heritage with Peristyle, Jupiter's Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Split.

 

Day 5 Saturday SPLIT - DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik. Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included on the UNESCO's List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit Franciscan Monastery with Europe's third oldest pharmacy, Rector's Palace and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

 

Day 6 Sunday DUBROVNIK

Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight.

 

Day 7 Monday DUBROVNIK - BUDVA / Montenegro - SHKODRA / Albania - TIRANA

Departure for Tirana; we drive inland to Budva known for its Old City encircled by walls from the Venetian period. Continuation to Shkodra, once capital of Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.

 

Day 8 Tuesday TIRANA - OHRID / Macedonia

Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, capital of Albania, including Skenderbey square, Mosque of Ethem Bey, and visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history and housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. Overnight in Ohrid.

 

Day 9 Wednesday OHRID

Full day in lakeside resort Ohrid, classified as UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St Clement and St Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous "Ohrid Literary School", was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the Church of St Sofia (11th century), the most eminent medieval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. Afternoon short drive to St Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

 

Day 10 Thursday OHRID - SKOPJE

Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.

 

Day 11 Friday SKOPJE - KOLAŠIN / Montenegro

Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peæ and Berane and along the impressive Moraèa River Canyon. Afternoon arrival to Kolašin, the town spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area is surrounded by the thick pine forest of Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.

 

Day 12 Saturday KOLAŠIN - CETINJE - KOTOR - DUBROVNIK

Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nicholas Museum, once residence of the Montenegrin King Nicholas I Petroviæ. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St Triphun, the city's patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik driving along the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.

 

Day 13 Sunday DUBROVNIK - Departure

 

Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Dubrovnik Airport.