Between the Danube and the Adriatic Sea

Day 1: ZAGREB

Arrival in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Transfer to the hotel. After check-in, a sightseeing tour of Zagreb, including the Upper Town, the historical center of the city, the Church of St. Mark with the famed multi-colored tiled roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre, and the University.   

Day 2: ZAGREB - PLITVICE NATIONAL PARK - ZADAR

After breakfast, depart for the Adriatic Coast. On the way to Zadar, a stop at and sightseeing tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park, the most famous Croatian national park, which was inscribed on UNESCO's list of World Natural Heritage sites in 1979. Sixteen lakes interconnected with waterfalls created by deposits of travertine, a special kind of limestone, constitute the main attraction of this unique park. The park includes the spring of the Korana River in an area surrounded by dense forests of beech, fir, and spruce, partly in the form of a primeval virgin forest. Apart from the lakes and forests, the Park includes caves, springs, and meadows, inhabited by brown bears, along with other animal species. Proceed to Zadar for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3: ZADAR - ŠIBENIK - SPLIT

Morning sightseeing tour of Zadar, which includes the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, considered to be the most impressive basilica in Dalmatia, the church of Saint Donatus, and the ruins of Roman Forum. Proceed south towards Šibenik with the famous Cathedral of St. James. Continue to Split, the "capital city" of Dalmatia. This city is most famous for Diocletian’s Palace, which is the most important and best-preserved Roman building in Croatia, built between AD 295 and 305. The sightseeing tour of the city includes Diocletian’s Palace (also registered on UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage sites) with Peristil, the Cellars, the Temple of Jupiter, and the Cathedral of St. Domnius. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Split.

Day 4: SPLIT - MOSTAR

After breakfast, travel through the picturesque Croatian and Bosnian landscape to Mostar. Situated between Sarajevo and Dubrovnik, Mostar, which was founded by the Turks in the 15th century, is the main urban center of Herzegovina. During the sightseeing tour, explore the UNESCO-protected Old Town, once the center of the city’s Islamic culture, and visit Mostar’s famous 14th-century bridge, which was destroyed in 1566 and painstakingly rebuilt. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Mostar.   

Day 5: MOSTAR - SARAJEVO

Drive through the beautiful Neretva Valley to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. After arrival, proceed with an afternoon city tour of Sarajevo – a town that has a rich and fascinating culture, which has been home to Muslims, Croats, Turks, Jews, and Serbs. A city of diversity that shows the unique link between the East and the West. Visit Baščaršija, oriental Svrzo's house, and Princip Bridge. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.     

Day 6: SARAJEVO - NOVI SAD

After breakfast, continue through Eastern Bosnia and the Drina River valley to cross the border with Serbia. Entering Serbia, we enter the Pannonian lowland on the way to Novi Sad. Late afternoon arrival to Novi Sad, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Day 7: NOVI SAD - BELGRADE

Morning sightseeing of Novi Sad – the second largest city in Serbia, with many famous buildings. Among the most famous are the University and the National Theatre – and Petrovaradin fortress, which dominates over the town. Proceed towards Belgrade. The capital of Serbia is situated on the confluence of the Sava River and the Danube. Sightseeing with a visit to Terazije Square, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the Parliament. On the way to Belgrade, a visit to the Honey Museum with the possibility of buying honey-wine and honey. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Belgrade.           

Day 8: BELGRADE - KRUŠEVAC - VRNJAČKA BANJA

After breakfast, travel to Kruševac. Kruševac was founded in the late 14th century as the capital city of Prince Lazar’s Serbia, and soon became its military, cultural, and economic center. Visit Ljubostina Monastery before arriving in Vrnjačka Banja. Dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in Vrnjačka Banja, the most famous spa in Serbia.           

Day 9: VRNJAČKA BANJA - SKOPJE

Breakfast, and departure for Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. On the way to Skopje, stop to visit Žica Monastery (founded by the Serbian King Stefan “the First-Crowned“, at the beginning of the 13th century), and Studenica (founded by Stefan Nemanja, who took monastic orders there choosing the name Simeon), which is considered to be the crowning achievement of medieval culture and art in Serbia. Our journey takes us further through the Ibar River valley and famous Kosovo Polje to Skopje. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Skopje.

Day 10: SKOPJE - OHRID

Sightseeing of Skopje. The Vardar River divides this city into two parts: Slavic and Ottoman. Both parts are rich with monuments to be visited: the Stone Bridge, Daut-Pashin amam (Turkish bath), Feudal tower, Isa-Bey’s Mosque, Mustafa-Pasha Mosque, Old Skopje bazaar (marketplace), Skopsko Kale fortress, St. Nikita Monastery, St. Spas church. Proceed to Tetovo and further on to Ohrid Lake. Rightfully referred to as “The Jerusalem of the Balkans“, Ohrid has an abundance of churches, the walls of which are decorated with wonderful frescoes dating back to the 11th, 13th, 14th, and 19th centuries. Lying on the shore of the lake with the same name is the oldest center of not only Macedonian culture but for all Slavic nations as well. Settlements around Ohrid, churches along the banks of Ohrid Lake, and springs of the Crn Drim River complement the magical beauty and attractiveness of Ohrid. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Ohrid.

Day 11: OHRID - TIRANA

After breakfast, sightseeing of Ohrid – the impressive Samoil’s Fortress, the Amphitheater, and the Gallery of Icons. Due to its characteristic architecture, the town is under the protection of UNESCO. After sightseeing, we continue towards the Albanian border and continue for Tirana following the steps of Kara Ben Nemsis. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Tirana.          

Day 12: TIRANA - CETINJE

Morning sightseeing of Tirana – visiting the important institutions and different buildings with historical value and two major archaeological collections at the National History Museum and Archaeological Museum, and the Bazaar. We leave Albania in the afternoon and cross the border to enter Montenegro. Drive through the picturesque landscape to Cetinje – dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 13: CETINJE - BUDVA - DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, sightseeing of Cetinje, including two of the most representative buildings: the Monasteries of Cetinje and Biljarda. Continue on to Budva and St. Stefan. Apart from being famous for nearby St. Stefan’s island, the Old town of Budva, which lies on a small peninsula, is known as a treasure trove of cultural heritage with its narrow streets and squares, famous buildings, and churches. Head on to Dubrovnik for dinner and an overnight stay.   

Day 14: DUBROVNIK - CAVTAT – DUBROVNIK

Morning sightseeing of Dubrovnik. The walls of Dubrovnik encompass a perfectly-preserved complex of public, private, sacral, and secular buildings representing all periods of the city’s history, beginning with its founding in the 7th century. Particular mention should be made of the city’s main street, Stradun, the Rector’s Palace, the church of St. Blaise, the Cathedral, three pristine monasteries, and City Hall. The Republic of Dubrovnik was the center of a separate political and territorial entity, proud of its culture, its achievements in commerce, and especially of its freedom, preserved through so many tempestuous centuries. In the afternoon, visit Cavtat and (optionally visit) the birth house of Vlaho Bukovac, the great Croatian painter. Dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Dubrovnik.          

Day 15: DUBROVNIK - DUBROVNIK AIRPORT

After breakfast, transfer to the Dubrovnik airport.