16 days tour

Treasures Of The Balkans (Small Groups, 16 Days)

$ 6,620 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $6,620.00

Treasures Of The Balkans (Small Groups, 16 Days)

This tour includes:

Transport

Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Enjoy the comfort of Insightโ€™s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your clientโ€™s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Meals

6 Dinner (D) 15 Breakfast (B) 3 Dinner with Wine (DW) Bucharest: Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for your dinner. Dubrovnik: You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening. Sarajevo: You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savour the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture. Sarajevo: Experience authentic Bosnian coffee and learn about the traditional ritual of coffee preparation. Belgrade: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner. Bran: Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit of Bran Castle, followed by dinner.

Others

Choose between two carefully selected activities Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. Sarajevo: Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevoโ€™s Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city. Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expertโ€™s fascinating commentary. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - youโ€™ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Bucharest: During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters. Bucharest: Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert. Sinaia: Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Peleศ™ Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Veliko Tarnovo: Ascend Tsarevets, the Kingโ€™s Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Arbanasi: At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th-century merchantsโ€™ house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity. Sofia: Sightseeing with your 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. Skopje: Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar. Ohrid: Walk the cobbled, narrow streets of the Old Town. Tirana: Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what itโ€™s like to live in the Albanian capital. Kotor: Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay. Dubrovnik: Explore the Pearl of the Adriatic with your Local Expert. Walk the stone-paved streets of the Old Town to see Onofrioโ€™s Fountain, Rectorโ€™s Palace and the medieval city walls. Admire the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. Mostar: Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert. Belgrade: A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theatre, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Accommodation

15 night accommodation

Guide

From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

Flights are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Treasures Of The Balkans (Small Groups, 16 Days)

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

      Day 1: Welcome To Bucharest

      Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Bucharest And Castles Of Transylvania
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 Maryโ€™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 Stokerโ€™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.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Brasov And Sinaia
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Brasov And Sinaia

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

  • Day 4 Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 countryโ€™s most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

  • Day 5 Day 5: To Sofia Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: To Sofia Relaxed Start

      Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the townโ€™s former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgariaโ€™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 merchantโ€™s house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgariaโ€™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.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Sofia At Your Pace Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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?

  • Day 7 Day 7: Skopje
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Lake Ohrid And Tirana
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 insiderโ€™s look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Journey To Montenegroโ€™S Budva
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Journey To Montenegroโ€™S Budva

      Soak up Montenegroโ€™s natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where your Travel Director will provide an orientation tour before you have the rest of the day to explore โ€™Montenegroโ€™s Miamiโ€™ on your own. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Kotor And Dubrovnik
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: 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. Lovฤ‡en, its no surprise itโ€™s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening.

  • Day 11 Day 11: Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start

      Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th century bastions. See Onofrioโ€™s Fountain and the Rectorโ€™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.

  • Day 12 Day 12: Mostar And Sarajevo
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 dinner. Savour the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories.

  • Day 13 Day 13: Sarajevo, City Of Culture
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Sarajevo, City Of Culture

      Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevoโ€™s astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTERยฎ 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.

  • Day 14 Day 14: The Serbian Capital Of Belgrade Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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.

  • Day 15 Day 15: The Best Of Belgrade Relaxed Start
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      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 dinner this evening.

  • Day 16 Day 16: Farewell Belgrade
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 16: Farewell Belgrade

      Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All thatโ€™s left is to say a fond doviฤ‘enja as you bid your new friends farewell.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™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

Youโ€™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: 5 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required