Balkan Odyssey 2022/2023

Day 1: Arrival in Tirana
Arrival at Mother Theresa Airport. Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Tirana for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 2: Full day Tirana – Kruja
Full day sightseeing tour of Tirana includes the Skenderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, the National History Museum, the University and park, and the Martyr’s Cemetery with the statue of Mother Albania. In afternoon, drive to Kruja, home of Albania’s national hero, Scanderbeg, who in the 15th century successfully fought off the Turks for over thirty years. Visit the Old Castle, the impressive Scanderbeg Museum, the ethnographic museum and the Turkish-style bazaar. Return to Tirana for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight. (B, D)

Day 3: Tirana – Durres – Berat
After breakfast, drive to Durres. This busy port city has one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in the Balkans. Durres is one of the oldest Roman cities in the Mediterranean and the largest seaport in Albania. After our visits we drive to Berat, the oldest settlement in Albania. Its castles and fort date back more than 2,400 years. Visit the Old Quarter, and the icon museum of Onoufri, Albania’s master iconographer, followed by a visit to a local winery. Dinner and overnight in Berat (B, D)

Day 4: Berat – Elbasan – Pogradec – Ohrid
Morning departure from Berat via Elbasan for a short journey to Pogradec and Drillon Park on the shores of Lake Ohrid. After crossing the border into Macedonia, visit the Monastery of St. Naum and the springs of the lake. Then you drive towards Ohrid town on the opposite shores of this beautiful lake for dinner and overnight (B, D)

Day 5: Full day in Ohrid
Visits to the 11th century castle and other important ancient churches and schools of Ohrid. Orthodox Byzantine monks brought Christianity to Ohrid in the 10th century from Greece through the effort of Sts. Cyril and Methodios who crafted the Cyrilic Alphabet here. Afternoon for leisure and shopping. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Ohrid. (B, D)

Day 6: Ohrid – Bitola – Popova Kula – Stobi – Veles 
After breakfast departure to Bitola to visit the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, founded by Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century and named in honor of Hercules and “Lyncestis,” an ancient tribe. Continue the drive to Popova Kula to tour the winery and taste the locally produced wines. On the wayto Veles we will stop to visit the other important ancient city of Stobi, founded around 1900 BC at the confluence of the Black River and the Vardar River. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Veles. (B, D)

Day 7: Veles – Skopje – Prishtina -Prizren
Morning departure for Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia. Skopje was an important city for the Ottomans from the end of the 14th century. The Skopje of today retains that influence and is a thriving modern city. The largest Turkish bath in the Balkans is located here and is now an art museum. We will also visit the old Turkish Bazaar and the National Museum. At noon, departure for Prishtina, the capital of the new Republic of Kosova as of February 2008. En route visit the site of the Battle of Kosova that sealed the fate of Serbia and the entire Balkan region for 500 years on June 28, 1389. Late afternoon, depart for Prizren, considered the jewel in the crown of Kosovo. Dinner at alocal restaurant and overnightat hotel Theranda (or similar) in Prizren. (B, D)

Day 8: Prizren – Kukes – Shkodra – Podgorica – Budva – Kotor
Leave Prishtina for the capital city of Montenegro, Podgorica formerly known as Titograd. After a short stop, we shall continue our drive to the spectacular Montenegrin coast. Visit the old town of Budva and the St. Stefan Monastery. Continue to Kotorr for dinner and overnight (B, D)

Day 9: Kotor – Dubrovnik
Depart for Dubrovnik via the scenic bay of Kotor. The fjord lies just beyond on the coastal road to Croatia. It is the only fjord in the Mediterranean. Continue to the Montenegrin-Croatian border where you will be met by the Croatian English-speaking guide. Transfer to Dubrovnik for overnight. (B)

Day 10: Dubrovnik
Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik (max 2h) includes the old walled town. Pass through the Pile Gate and enter the Strandun to visit the Franciscan Monastery, Sponza Palace, St. Blaise’s Church and the Rector’s Palace. Meet the guide at the entrance of Pile Gate. After tour, you are free to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Dubrovnik. (B, D)

Day 11: Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo
Morning departure from Dubrovnik to Mostar, situated in the center of Herzegovina. En route to Mostar we will make a visit to the world famous religious site and shrine of Medjugorje. The year 2004 marked the rededication in Mostar of the historic bridge built by the Ottomans in 1566. The original bridge was destroyed in the war in 1993. We continue to the multicultural city of Sarajevo for overnight. (B, D)

Day 12: Full day in Sarajevo
Full-day sightseeing of Sarajevo. Sarajevo was once well regarded as the open-minded and tolerant home to all of the three of the major ethnic persuasions of the Balkans. In 1984, a very cosmopolitan Sarajevo played host to the Winter Olympic Games. Overnight in Sarajevo. (B, D)

Day 13: Sarajevo – Split
Departure from Sarajevo for the journey to historic Split on the Adriatic. The scenery en route is typical of the mountainous Balkan countryside dotted with century old villages, herds of animals important for the populace, and many old churches and mosques. Arrival in Split, the largest Croatian city on the Adriatic and the heart of Dalmatia. Overnight in Split. (B, D)

Day 14: Split – Plitvice
Morning visit to Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most imposing Roman ruins of the ancient world and built as his retirement palace 295-305 AD. Visit the Peristyle, the vestibule, and the Temple of Jupiter. Leave Split for Plitvice. Overnight. (B, D)

Day 15: Plitvice
Full day individual sightseeing in Plitvice National Park, a series of 16 pristine lakes with spectacular cascading waterfalls. Spend time in this magical forest hiking the wooden walkways, enjoy the scenery, and pause to feel and experience the tranquility. (Guide will not accompany you) Overnight in Plitvice. (B, D)

Day 16: Plitvice – Julian Alps – Bled
Morning departure from Plitvice to scenic Slovenia. Continue into the Julian Alps, which Slovenia shares with Italy, to the fashionable resort of Bled situated on a crystal-clear idyllic lake. Time to enjoy the fairy tale setting. Overnight in Bled where we take the boat ride to the island and the church with the belfry and the “bell of wishes.” (B, D)

Day 17: Bled – Ljubljana – Zagreb
Morning departure from Bled to Ljubljana, the vibrant, tiny, capital city of Slovenia once known as the Roman town Emona, where we take a short walking tour visiting the bridges, markets, and colorful buildings downtown. Continue for a short drive to Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, for overnight. (B, D)

Day 18: Zagreb – Novi Sad
Morning sightseeing of Zagreb. Visit the older historic Upper Town with its neo-gothic Assumption Cathedral, the famous St. Mark’s Church, the colorful market, and old Banski Dvori Palace. In the afternoon, travel from the Croatian border to Novi Sad. Novi Sad is the capital of the province of Vojvodina, the autonomous province of Serbia, and an historic city on the Danube. Explore the streets of Novi Sad and visit the Petrovaradin citadel. Dinner and overnight in Novi Sad. (B, D)

Day 19: Novi Sad – Belgrade
After breakfast visit town museum of Sremski Karlovci and nearby monastery of Krusedol, first founded in 1509. Drive to Oplenac to visit the memorial of the Karadjordjevic Dynasty and home of King Petar I. He was the leader of the first Serbian uprising against the Turks in 1804. Wine tasting in the King’s cellar. Lunch in a village household. Dinner and overniight in Belgrade.(B, D)

Day 20: Full day in Belgrade
After breakfast, visit the Kalemegdan fortress, Republic Square, National theatre, National museum, Knez Mihajlova street, Terazije Square, Federal Assembly, Nikola Tesla museum, Belgrade museum, Ivo Andric house, St. Marco’s Church, St. Sava Temple, and Memorial Center Josip Broz Tito. Dinner in Skadarlia, the city’s Bohemian quarter with cobblestone streets and folkloric restaurants that often offer evening open-air performances. Overnight. (B, D)

Day 21: Departure
Breakfast. Transfer to airport for departure. (B)

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