Style : Group tour
Treasures of the Balkans (Summer, Classic) tour
Cultural Culture Treasures of the Balkans (Summer, Classic) package

Treasures of the Balkans (Summer, Classic)

Insight Vacations Premier
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
4.6 . Excellent
97%
Travel Style: Array Mixed
Physical Level: All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level: 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards. Comfort (4*)
17 days
From: $ 5,325 $ 313 / day
Checking price

Overview

Short Description

Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria’s Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia’s Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Brașov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula’s haunted abode in Bram Stoker’s infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city’s iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.

Style Group tour
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Lodging Level Comfort (4*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions N/A
Start City Bucharest
End City Belgrade

Attractions & Cities Visited

N/A

Activities & Interests

Culture Historic sightseeing

N/A
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Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Bucharest

Your Bucharest hotel is one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for your Welcome Dinner, served with wine at a local restaurant.

Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest.

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: Bucharest and Castles of Transylvania

Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Mary’s Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.

Aro Palace, Brasov.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 3: Brasov and Sinaia

With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church. Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Pele�� Castle. Led by a local historian, admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armour and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Brașov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights.

Aro Palace, Brasov.

Breakfast

Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo

Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Yantra Hotel, Veliko Tarnovo.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 5: To Sofia Relaxed Start

Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.

Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 6: Sofia at Your Pace Relaxed Start

Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?

Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia

Breakfast

Day 7: Skopje

Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.

Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 8: Lake Ohrid and Tirana

Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals.  Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider’s look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.

MAK Albania Hotel Tirana.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 9: Kotor and Dubrovnik

Journey through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the Old Town of Kotor, known as Stari Grad. Located beside a beautiful bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen, its no surprise it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10: Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea. Visit the workshop of Deša during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This important educational centre supports vulnerable communities and promotes local cultural heritage.

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik.

Breakfast

Day 11: Dubrovnik, Paradise on Earth Relaxed Start

Spend a day at leisure in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Sunbathe by the pool or stroll with friends along the ancient city walls. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to learn about olive oil traditions at an ancient mill, followed by a delightful home-cooked meal.

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik.

Breakfast

Day 12: Mostar and Sarajevo

Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner with drinks. Savour the authentic cuisine and traditional Bosnian coffee as you hear inspirational stories.

Swissotel Sarajevo.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 13: Sarajevo, City of Culture

Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo’s astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.

Swissotel Sarajevo.

Breakfast

Day 14: The Serbian Capital of Belgrade Relaxed Start

Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 15: The Best of Belgrade Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theatre in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travellers for a Celebration Farewell Dinner this evening.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 16: Farewell Belgrade

Our journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that’s left is to say a fond doviđenja as you bid your new friends farewell.

Breakfast

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 5,325
Price Per Day: $ 313 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateDoubleSingleAvailability 
Apr-22-2024May-07-2024$ 5,350$ 8,550available Reserve
May-06-2024May-21-2024$ 5,350$ 8,550available Reserve
May-13-2024May-28-2024$ 5,350$ 8,550available Reserve
May-20-2024Jun-04-2024$ 5,350$ 8,550available Reserve
Jun-03-2024Jun-18-2024$ 5,375$ 8,618available Reserve
Jun-10-2024Jun-25-2024$ 5,325$ 8,543available Reserve
Jul-01-2024Jul-16-2024$ 5,425$ 8,738available Reserve
Jul-15-2024Jul-30-2024$ 5,425$ 8,738available Reserve
Aug-12-2024Aug-27-2024$ 5,425$ 8,738available Reserve
Aug-19-2024Sep-03-2024$ 5,475$ 8,843available Reserve
Sep-02-2024Sep-17-2024$ 5,495$ 8,873available Reserve
Sep-09-2024Sep-24-2024$ 5,495$ 8,873available Reserve
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Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Insight Vacations.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

5,414 Insight Vacations Travel Reviews & Ratings

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4.6 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
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Great 909
Average 275
Disappointing 72
Terrible 64
Value
4.6
Guide
4.6
Activities
4.6
Lodging
4.6
Transportation
4.6
Meals
4.6

Treasures of the Balkans (Summer, Classic)

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Company Reviews

Our tour director David was simply Amazing! Very organized, well informed.

5.0
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Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
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Meals5.0
Our tour guide was amazing! Well organized, well versed in our locations their history and locations for us to individually explore with the information/requests we provided him. He handled everything and seemed to be well liked and respected at each location we visited.
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Glorious Switzerland Tour

5.0
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Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Emmo Laing (our travel director) for the wonderful tour he gave us. His knowledge and passion truly made "Glorious Switzerland" tour a memorable experience.
I will definitely be recommending Emmo and Insight Vacation to our friends and family.
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Anonymous

4.0
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Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
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Meals4.0
Insight provided good quality hotels throughout the tour and their service personnel (tour director and coach driver) were helpful and courteous. The driver should be commended for his skills in maneuvering narrow and steep mountain roads.
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Anonymous

5.0
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Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
very good -, responsive and thorough
our tour director ( Derek Allen )was very friendly and helpful and our driver ( Salah ) did a great job!
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Worth the trip

4.0
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Organized, great itinerary

Country Roads of Portugal with Helder Almeida

5.0
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Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We were on the Country Roads of Portugal tour led by Helder Almeida. The hotels were first class. The included meals were outstanding. The tours and guides were amazing. The driver and coach were great. Our tour director Helder was the best. He was organized, fun, informative, attentive and caring. This is one of the best worry free, beautiful vacations we have ever had.
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Details

Group Size

Standard Group - 25 + people

Maximum Number of People in Group: 40

Accommodations

  • Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest.
  • Aro Palace, Brasov.
  • Yantra Hotel, Veliko Tarnovo.
  • Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia
  • Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje.
  • MAK Albania Hotel Tirana.
  • Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik.
  • Swissotel Sarajevo.
  • Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.

Trip ID#:

insightvacations-E966AZN19

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