14 days tour

Balkan Experience – Seven Countries In Two Weeks - Small Gro

$ 2,170 .40 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $2,170.40

Balkan Experience – Seven Countries In Two Weeks - Small Gro

This tour includes:

Hygieneprotocol

Face masks are required for travelers in public areas Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized Gear/equipment sanitized between uses Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff Face masks provided for travelers Face masks required for guides in public areas

Others

Entrance fees: Saint Sava Temple, Wine tasting during the Novi Sad trip, The Scull Tower, The Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp, Matka Canyon boat ride, Rozafa Castle, boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, the Wood Town, Sargan Eight train ride. All fuel costs, parking fees, and road tolls City taxes VAT Tour organization and 24/7 assistance from a licensed incoming tour operator

Accommodation

CLASSIC PACKAGE: 4 nights in Belgrade / hotels = Mark 4*, Royal Inn 4*, Holiday Inn Express 4* or similar 1 night in Sofia / hotels = BW Premier 4*, BW Terminus 4*, or similar 1 night in Skopje / hotels = Ibis Skopje 4*, Queens 4*, or similar 1 night in Ohrid / hotels = City Palace 4*, Millenium Palace 4*, or similar 1 night in Tirana / hotels = Art 4*, Senator 4*, or similar 2 nights in Budva / hotels = Vela 4*, or similar 1 night in Trebinje / hotels = Platani 4*, SL Industry 4*, or similar 1 night in Sarajevo / hotels = Hotel Art 4*, Old Town 4*, or similar 1 night in Zlatibor / hotels = Central Inn 4*, Iris 4*, or similar UPGRADED PACKAGE: 4 nights in Belgrade / hotels = Belgrade Art Hotel 4*, Mercure Excelsior 4*, or similar 1 night in Sofia / hotels = hotel Anel 5*, Eurostars Sofia City 4*, or similar 1 night in Skopje / hotels = Park hotel 5*, Arka 5*, or similar 1 night in Ohrid / hotels = hotel Su 4*, Tino Hotel & SPA 4* 1 night in Tirana / hotels = Rogner 5*, Mak Albania 5*, or similar 2 nights in Budva / hotels = Bracera 4*, Tre Canne 4*, or similar 1 night in Trebinje / hotels = Central Park 4*, Nar 4*, or similar 1 night in Sarajevo / hotels = Europe 5*, Courtyard Marriot 4*, or similar 1 night in Zlatibor / hotels = Mona 4*, Palisad 4*, or similar

Transport

Arrival & departure airport transfers Private transportation per given itinerary in a modern air-conditioned vehicle (sedan car, a mini-van, or a mini-bus, depending on the number of guests)

Meals

14 meals: 13 breakfasts and one dinner (Zlatibor).

Guide

Services of English-speaking tour guide throughout

Not included:

Flights

Arrival and departure flights are not included in the tour package

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Food & drinks (except for breakfasts in the hotels and dinner in Zlatibor) Optional expenses entrance fees other than those mentioned

Optional

Bohemian night in Belgrade = 30€ per person (three-course meal, one drink, and transportation included)

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Balkan Experience – Seven Countries In Two Weeks - Small Gro

  • Day 1 Welcome To Serbia
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Welcome To Serbia

      Arrive at “Nikola Tesla” International Airport.

      Our guide will meet you in the arrivals hall with your name on the signboard. He will do the following: help you with your money exchange, give you essential information about Belgrade, help you with your check-in, explain to you the location of your accommodation and advise you how to reach the main sights, and give you an overview of current happenings in the city.

      In case your flight is delayed, there is no reason to worry. We will monitor your flight, and our guide will meet you accordingly. There are no additional charges for flight delays. After a short ride of 20 minutes, you’ll be in the city’s center. Check-in at the hotel, and take the rest of the day to get more familiar with Belgrade, walk around, or follow your guide’s recommendation for dinner. 


      IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are arriving in Belgrade a few days before the tour departure, you can book additional nights with us, at the same hotel, for a surcharge of 55€ (Classic package) or 75€ (Upgraded package. Prices are per person and night in a double or twin room.


      Overnight: Belgrade

  • Day 2 Explore Belgrade
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Explore Belgrade

      Breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll start with our Belgrade sightseeing tour. Today we will show you almost all the most important sights in the city.


      We’ll start at the daunting Belgrade Fortress, dramatically perched above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. We’ll check the Victor Monument, Monument of Gratitude to France, Zindan Gate, The Chapel of Saint Petka, Clock Gate, and The Clock Tower.


      Once we finish with the fortress, we will start our panoramic ride through New Belgrade – Belgrade’s largest municipality, with impressive modern architecture. Here, we will see some remarkable buildings such as the Ex-Central Committee of the Communist Party, Federal Executive Council, also known as the Palace of Federation, Genex Tower or Western Gate of Belgrade, Sava Center, Belgrade Arena, and many more.


      After New Belgrade, we’ll reach Zemun, the northern area of Belgrade, which is characteristic of its Central European appearance, charming quarters, cobblestone streets, and fish restaurants on the Danube River banks. Its curvy cobblestone streets and small houses will give you the impression that Zemun is a melting pot of Mediterranean and Middle European cultures.


      After Zemun, we’ll drive through Dedinje, Belgrade’s most luxurious residential area, before we reach the imposing Saint Sava Temple, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches.


      After the sightseeing tour, spend this afternoon on your own. Maybe check out Nikola Tesla’s Museum or the National Museum, or wander around the central streets.


      In the evening, visit the Old Bohemian Quarter of Skadarlija, frequently compared to Montmartre in Paris, both in appearance and artistic atmosphere. It’s a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with traditional Serbian cuisine and the famous Belgrade nightlife. (Optional = 30€ per person)


      Overnight: Belgrade

  • Day 3 North Serbia: Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      North Serbia: Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci

      After breakfast, we shall make a trip to the City of Novi Sad. On our way to the second-largest city in Serbia, we shall stop at the nearby town of Sremski Karlovci, the center of Serbian culture in the 18th century. Strolling through this picturesque town’s cobbled streets will lead us to the first Serbian High School, which gave Serbian people several great writers and poets. Along the way, we shall visit the Old Patriarch’s Court and theological complex – Assembly Church and Theological Lyceum. 

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      Being in the very heart of the famous wine region, why not visit one of the well-respected wine cellars? We’ll try Bermet wine, the most famous product in the area.

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      Our next stop is the second-largest fortress on the Danube River – Petrovaradin, one of the most important strategic points in the perpetual war between the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. We shall be introduced to the legends of underground passages before we continue to “Serbian Athens”, as the City of Novi Sad is known.

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      As we stroll among great cultural institutions and historic buildings, we shall visit the oldest part of Novi Sad, the Zmaj Jovina pedestrian zone. Here, we shall be introduced to the rich history of Novi Sad as we see the monument to Svetozar Miletic, the famous Novi Sad Cathedral, the Episcopal Church… After sightseeing, enjoy your free afternoon and discover Novi Sad independently. Return to Belgrade. Free time.

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      Overnight: Belgrade

  • Day 4 Goodbye Serbia, Hello Bulgaria
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Goodbye Serbia, Hello Bulgaria

      Breakfast. Today, it’s time to leave Serbia behind us and proceed to neighbouring Bulgaria, but only after visiting the third-largest city in Serbia and the birthplace of the famous Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, the city of Nis.

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      First, we will visit the Niš Fortress, lying on the bank of the Nišava River. It assumed its final shape in 1723, when the Turks built it, facing the end of their reign in this area. We will continue our sightseeing of the most important sights in the city, including the Banovina Building, Niš Liberators Monument at King Milan Square, The Monument of well-known Serbian writer Stevan Sremac, Mediana Archeological Site, and the infamous Skull Tower – the monument unique in the world, erected by the Turks as an example to others of the folly of opposition to their rule.

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      We will conclude our sightseeing with a visit to Red Cross Nazi Concentration Camp, today a museum. The German Gestapo operated the camp and held captured Jews, Serbians, and Romas during the Second World War. We’ll enjoy some of the food that Niš is famous for before we continue our trip to Sofia.

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      After around 2 hours, we will arrive in Sofia. Quick check-in at your hotel, and that’s it for the day. Use this afternoon to walk around Sofia independently or go for dinner following your guide’s recommendation.

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      Overnight: Sofia

  • Day 5 Explore Sofia And Move To North Macedonia
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Explore Sofia And Move To North Macedonia

      Breakfast and check out. After that, we will start with our Sofia walking tour. Bulgaria’s capital and largest city is built on the ruins of the Roman settlement known as Serdica. During our 90-minute walking tour, we will check the city’s most important sights and must-see places, such as the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the National Theatre, St. George Rotunda, the Bulgarian Presidency, St. Sofia Monument,  the Ruins of Serdica, and many others. A quick coffee, and we’ll hit the road again.

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      Two hours later, we will enter one more Balkan state - North Macedonia. This beautiful country represents a unique mix of cultural influences, including Turkish, Slavic, Albanian, and Mediterranean. We’ll quickly reach Skopje, the country’s capital. They say that you will either love this city, rarely in between. 

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      After the check-in and a short break for refreshing, we’ll start with our Skopje walking tour. During the 90-minute walking tour, we will walk around the city’s main squares and streets and cross the Stone Bridge over the Vardar River to reach Skopje Fortress and Čaršija (Ottoman Old Town). Surely, we will not miss the gigantic Macedonia Square and the birthplace of Mother Theresa. 

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      Use the afternoon on your own. North Macedonia is famous for its warm and hospital people, yummy food, and good wines, so this evening is your perfect opportunity to experience all that. You’ll be positively surprised, both by the quality of the food and service and the amount on the check. 

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      Overnight: Skopje

  • Day 6 Matka Canyon Cruise And Unesco World Heritage Site - Ohrid Lake
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Matka Canyon Cruise And Unesco World Heritage Site - Ohrid Lake

      Breakfast and check-out. On our way to Ohird, we’ll stop at Matka Canyon. Only 20 kilometers west of Skopje, this hidden gem of nature is probably one of the most beautiful places to visit in North Macedonia. Here, we will have a one-hour boat ride and a chance to admire the stunning beauty of the scenery, with the high mountains rolling steeply to the deep gorge filled with green water. 

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      After a short refreshment, we’ll continue towards Ohrid. Nicknamed "The Jerusalem of the Balkans," Ohrid was once the center of Slavic culture and religion. The natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, more precisely, one of the few places that are both on the Cultural and Natural list. We’re sure that this place’s beauty and charm will impress you. 

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      After the check-in and a short break for refreshment, we will start with our walking tour. We will walk the Old Town’s cobbled streets and feel this unique place’s atmosphere. We will walk to the hilltop Church of St John at Kaneo to get the most incredible view over the lake, mountains, and Galiĉica National Park. We’ll check out sights such as the Church of St. Sophia, the Roman amphitheater, and the Samuel Fortress.

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      After the walking tour, spend the evening on your own. Walk around the lake and the Old Town, or maybe go on a boat tour. 

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      Overnight: Ohrid

  • Day 7 Welcome To Albania
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Welcome To Albania

      Breakfast and check-out. After a short ride of 30 minutes, it’s time to enter one of the perhaps most mysterious and yet-to-be-discovered countries of The Balkans - Albania. The country’s geographical position, political history, and unique language made Albania one of Europe’s least visited countries, which has rapidly changed in the past 10 years.

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      On our way to Tirana, we’ll make a short stop at Elbasan, the third-largest city in the country, right in the middle of Albania. We’ll check the Castle of Elbasan, the King’s Mosque, St Mary Orthodox Church, and the Clock Tower.

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      After a short refreshment, we’ll continue towards Tirana. Check-in at the hotel, and off we go, to explore this vibrant city, famous for its non-stop energy and motion. During our tour, we’ll see the Mosque of Et’hem Bey and the 35 m high Kulla e Sahatit or the Watch Tower.

      Moreover, we will visit the famous Mosaic uncovered on the floor of an old Roman lodge. Its center configures the walls of the castle of the Roman emperor Justinian (A.D. 520). The monumental Tomb of Kaplan Pasha and the Ura e Tabakëve (a bridge constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, located on Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard) are a few other interesting places we will visit.

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      Enjoy your free afternoon discovering Tirana on your own. Perhaps visit the Bunk’Art 1, a former anti-nuclear bunker now turned into a very interesting historical and art center, or check out the Dajti Cable Car and enjoy the breathtaking city views.

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      Overnight: Tirana

  • Day 8 From Albania To Montenegro: Welcome To The Adriatic
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      From Albania To Montenegro: Welcome To The Adriatic

      Today it’s time to leave Albania behind us and start revealing another not-so-often-visited Balkan country – Montenegro. On our way, we will drive through the National Park and pass by Southern Europe’s largest lake– Skadar.


      Our first stop will be the charming town of Shkoder. Even before we enter the Old Town, we’ll be impressed by the mighty former Venetian fortress – Rozafa, the largest one in Albania. We’ll check Shkoder’s main sights, including Shkodra Cathedral and Ebu Bekr Mosque. After a short refreshment, we’ll hit the road and drive along the beautiful Adriatic coast until we reach Budva – the tourist capital of Montenegro. Check-in at the hotel. Free time. Use this evening to walk by the sea or explore Budva’s Old Town. 


      Overnight: Budva

  • Day 9 Full-Day Montengro Experience
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Full-Day Montengro Experience

      After breakfast, we’ll ride towards the stunning Bay of Kotor, Southern Europe’s longest and deepest fjord. 


      Our first stop will be the charming coastal town of Perast, one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic Sea, with only 300 residents. We will take a walk along the Perast promenade and admire the beautiful baroque palaces of noble families. 

      Following, we will take a short boat ride to the 15th century "Our Lady of the Rocks" Church perched on an islet in the bay. Once there, we will visit the Roman Catholic Church with an interesting interior. 


      Next stop: Kotor, where we will have a guided walking tour. This old Mediterranean town, surrounded by formidable city walls, was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Its medieval architecture and other cultural monuments are why UNESCO included the city on the list of "World Natural and Historical Heritage Sites." We’ll check out the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, Maritime Museum, numerous Palaces, and Old Square and get to feel the atmosphere of this unique medieval town. Here we will have a lunch break.

      Later on, we will return to Budva. Free time.


      Overnight: Budva

  • Day 10 "The Pearl Of The Adriatic" - Let’S Go To Dubrovnik
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      "The Pearl Of The Adriatic" - Let’S Go To Dubrovnik

      After breakfast, it’s time to move to another beautiful Balkan country – Croatia. 

      After around 2,5 hours, we’ll find ourselves inside the medieval walls of Dubrovnik. The magnificent Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a treasure of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, and palaces. We will immediately start with our “Old Dubrovnik tour” on foot. The tour highlights sites like Rector’s Palace, an outstanding blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Also, the monumental Sponza Palace, one of the most beautiful palaces in the city, is preserved in its original form. Under the City Bell Tower on Luza Square, view Orlando’s Tower, which is dedicated to the legendary knight who saved the city in the 9th century. 

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      You’ll have some free time for lunch and to explore independently. Consider strolling along the impressive ramparts overlooking the shimmering Adriatic Sea or visit the Maritime Museum in St. John’s Castle. Or maybe check the parts of Dubrovnik where the famous Game of Thrones was shot, visit Lokrum island and Dubrovnik city walls, or take a ride on a Dubrovnik cable car. 

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      We’ll end the day in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in Trebinje, a charming and picturesque little town with a laid-back atmosphere and an interesting mix of Mediterranean, Central European, and Ottoman influences. Check in at the hotel, and after that, you can use the evening to stroll around small streets or have a nice dinner.

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      Overnight: Trebinje

  • Day 11 Herzegovina Story: Mostar & Blagaj Tekke
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Herzegovina Story: Mostar & Blagaj Tekke

      After breakfast, our trip continues to Blagaj (a site on the UNESCO Tentative List), an old town from the first half of the 16th century and a beautiful representation of Ottoman architecture. Blagaj was the crib of Islam of today’s Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the short tour, enjoy the view of the monastery in a fairy-tale environment beneath the cliffs on the shores of the emerald-green river Buna.


      Our next stop will be Mostar, a medieval town in northern Herzegovina and one of the Balkan’s top ten sights. With cobblestoned streets, old stone buildings, and its beautiful bridge spanning the picturesque Neretva River, it attracts thousands of visitors.


      We will walk through its narrow streets to soak up the atmosphere and learn more about the history of this magnificent place. We will cross the 

      reconstructed Old Bridge, a staunch symbol of freedom on the Neretva River, and a UNESCO-protected landmark. If we are lucky, we may even witness some brave divers jumping from the bridge, following a tradition that lasts for a couple of centuries in Mostar. 


      We will proceed to Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, the Crooked Bridge, and the Old Town, or Čaršija as locals call it.

      You will have some free time in Mostar for lunch on the banks of the Neretva River, with an amazing bridge view. 


      We’ll end the day in Sarajevo, a beautiful city with a complicated history.

      After check-in, enjoy a free afternoon in Sarajevo and visit some of the most famous restaurants in the city, offering the famous "ćevapčići," a traditional Bosnian dish, a small rolled patty of ground beef meat.


      Overnight: Sarajevo

  • Day 12 Explore Sarajevo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Explore Sarajevo

      Breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll start exploring the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina and one of Europe’s most historically rich cities.

      We’ll start from the picturesque Turkish Bazaar (Bascarsija), an old trading place with artisan workshops. We’ll check many examples of splendid Ottoman architecture around the city center. The city is truly a "living history museum" where mosques built by the Ottomans sit alongside buildings created by the Austro-Hungarians and the Orthodox Churches. We’ll see the Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque, the most prominent Islamic structure in the country, one of the world’s finest examples of Ottoman architecture. We’ll drive past the now-neglected stadium from the 1984 Winter Olympic Games and the Gavrilo Princip Museum. On our walk, look for the poignant Sarajevo Roses, flower-shaped memorials in the pavement filled with red cement, one of the few reminders left of the war. 


      After finishing the Sarajevo tour, we will proceed towards a town called Višegrad,  where we will see the famous Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, a UNESCO site and the most beautiful example of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans. Also, we’ll have a lunch stop in Stone Town, another interesting project made by Emir Kusturica. After a lunch break, we’ll proceed toward Zlatibor.


      We will finish our day back in Serbia, in the tourist center of Zlatibor mountain. The region of Zlatibor is famous for its healthy air, folk architecture, native culture and traditions, wealthy and diverse ethnic heritage, widely-renowned culinary specialties, healthy food, and balmy climate. After the check-in and dinner, you’ll have free time to enjoy and relax.


      Overnight: Zlatibor

  • Day 13 West Serbia: The House On Drina River, Šargan Eight Train & The Wooden City
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      West Serbia: The House On Drina River, Šargan Eight Train & The Wooden City

      After breakfast, it’s time to hit the road toward West Serbia, known for its wild and untouched nature, tasty cuisine, and friendly and hospitable people. 

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      Our first stop is the famous Sargan Eight railroad. A unique narrow-gauge railway nowadays serves only for amusement. We will pass and stop at several viewpoints during our ride, from which one can see fabulous views over Mokra Gora. Authentic cars with wooden seats, wood-burning stoves, and characteristic rattling sounds will take us back in time.

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      The next stop is Wooden City. The famous director Emir Kusturica (two times Palme d’Or in Cannes winner) decided to build it during the shooting of his film “Life is a Miracle.” He chose to convey ruined wooden chalets from the mountain’s slopes, restore them, and form a new settlement. Here, we will have a lunch break.

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      The next sight on our way is one of the most famous attractions in Serbia, “The House on Drina River”, an isolated house made of logs on a river stone. After a photo stop and refreshments, we will continue our trip to Belgrade.

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      After check-in, use this afternoon to say farewell to Belgrade, walk around, or go for dinner following your guide’s recommendation.

      Overnight: Belgrade

  • Day 14 Transfer To The Airport
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Transfer To The Airport

      Breakfast. Free time until your flight. Transfer to the airport. End of services.

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      IMPORTANT NOTE: If you depart from Belgrade a few days after the tour ends, you can book additional nights with us, at the same hotel, for a surcharge of 55€ (Classic package) or 75€ (Upgraded package. Prices are per person and night in a double or twin room.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but you’re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

You’ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 1 / Max: 90

Age range allowed for this experience.

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