Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll arrive in Athens and head to the hotel to settle in. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you'd like, whether that's resting after your journey or wandering around the city to get oriented.
- Day 2
Athens
After breakfast around 10AM, you'll meet your tour leader and group at the hotel for an overview. Then it's an orientation tour of Athens hitting spots like the Academy, National Library, Greek Parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian's Arch, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Later this evening, you'll have your welcome dinner at a local restaurant to try Greek cuisine for the first time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Athens
- Sightseeing of Academy, National Library, Greek Parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian's Arch, and Temple of Olympian Zeus
Landmarks/POIs Academy National Library of Greece Greek Parliament Building Panathinaikos Stadium Hadrian's Arch Temple of Olympian Zeus - Day 3
Athens to Meteora
You'll head north through the Greek mainland toward Delphi, where you'll check out the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the Museum of Delphi. In the afternoon, you'll continue to Meteora to see the dramatic rock formations and Eastern Orthodox monasteries, including St. Stephen's Monastery, the 18th-century main cathedral, and the Holy Trinity Monastery. You'll end the night in Kalambaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi
- Visit Treasury of the Athenians in Delphi
- Visit Museum of Delphi
- Explore St. Stephen's Monastery
- View Holy Trinity Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Sanctuary of Apollo Treasury of the Athenians Delphi Archaeological Museum St. Stephen's Monastery Holy Trinity Monastery - Day 4
Kalambaka to Ohrid
You'll travel north into North Macedonia to reach Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Lake Ohrid's shores. This place is one of Europe's oldest settlements and historically had 365 churches. A guided tour takes you through the Old Town, and you'll see the Church of St. John at Kaneo sitting on a cliff overlooking the water. Dinner's included tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old Town Ohrid
- Visit Church of St. John at Kaneo
Landmarks/POIs Church of St. John at Kaneo Lake Ohrid - Day 5
Ohrid to Tirana
You'll leave North Macedonia and head into Albania, making your way to Tirana, the capital. A walking tour introduces you to the city's colorful buildings and architecture shaped by Ottoman, Italian, and communist influences. You'll have an included dinner tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Tirana
- Day 6
Tirana to Dubrovnik
You'll travel north through Montenegro with a stop in Budva, where you'll have free time to explore the medieval walled city. After that, you'll make a comfort stop in Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage town ringed by Venetian fortifications and dramatic cliffs. Then it's on to Croatia and Dubrovnik, where your tour leader will bring you to the Old Town entrance. The evening is free for exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Budva Old Town
- Visit Kotor Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Budva Old Town Kotor Old Town - Day 7
Dubrovnik
This morning a local guide takes you on a walking tour of the Old Town to see the Franciscan Monastery and City Walls. The rest of the day is yours. You could take the cable car up Mount Srd for views and sunset photos, visit museums like the Maritime Museum, shop for traditional handmade jewelry, or join the optional Game of Thrones walking tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town including Franciscan Monastery and City Walls
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride to Mount Srd
- Visit Maritime Museum
- Browse traditional jewellery shops
- Game of Thrones walking tour
Landmarks/POIs Franciscan Monastery Dubrovnik City Walls Mount Srd Maritime Museum - Day 8
Dubrovnik to Mostar to Croatia
You'll cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach Mostar, a historic Balkan town rebuilt after the Bosnian War. You'll see the famous Stari Most Bridge and have free time to explore the town's religious buildings and Roman and Ottoman influences. Later you'll head back to Northern Croatia for the night with an included dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Stari Most Bridge in Mostar
- Explore Mostar Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Stari Most Bridge - Day 9
Croatia to Ljubljana
You'll start at Plitvice Lakes National Park, where you can walk the boardwalks and see cascading waterfalls in Croatia's largest national park. Then you'll travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. A local guide shows you around this charming city on a walking tour. Later, you have the option to join a Slovenian evening with live music, singing, dancing, and a three-course meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Walking tour of Ljubljana
Optional Activities
- Slovenian evening excursion with live music, singing, dancing and three-course meal
Landmarks/POIs Plitvice Lakes National Park - Day 10
Ljubljana to Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest, Hungary, one of Europe's most beautiful cities straddling the Danube River. A driving tour with a local guide shows you the Castle District, Hungarian Parliament buildings, and other top sights. Tonight you'll have an included dinner with the group to celebrate your first night here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Driving tour of Budapest including Castle District and Hungarian Parliament buildings
Landmarks/POIs Budapest Castle District Hungarian Parliament Building - Day 11
Budapest
You'll explore Budapest more deeply today. You can look for remnants of WWII conflicts and the 1956 uprising scattered around the city. Try authentic Hungarian cuisine beyond goulash, sample local wines, or soak in one of the famous thermal bath-houses, which have been drawing people since Roman times. Later, you can optionally join a dinner cruise on the Danube for views of the city after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional dinner cruise on the Danube
Landmarks/POIs Danube River - Day 12
Budapest to Belgrade
You'll travel to Belgrade, Serbia, where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. The city mixes history, culture, and local character in an exciting way. You'll explore the Skadarlija Quarter, Kalemegdan Park, and Belgrade Fortress. An included dinner with the group wraps up the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Skadarlija Quarter
- Visit Kalemegdan Park
- Visit Belgrade Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Skadarlija Quarter Kalemegdan Park Belgrade Fortress - Day 13
Belgrade to Sofia
You'll head to Nis, a historic city in southeastern Serbia with a long history under Ottoman rule from the 14th to 19th centuries. After a lunch stop, you'll walk the cobbled streets of Tinkers Alley, the last remaining Ottoman craftsman quarter. Then you'll continue to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, where a driving and walking tour shows you the main sights. An included dinner with the group is tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch stop in Niš), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tinkers Alley in Niš
- Driving and walking tour of Sofia
Landmarks/POIs Tinkers Alley - Day 14
Sofia
You'll have a free day to explore Sofia, a young, vibrant city mixing east and west influences with contrasting communist and modern architecture. You can find a partially exposed 1,800-year-old Roman city, relax in green spaces, and visit various churches and mosques. Alternatively, the optional excursion to Rila Monastery is highly recommended, featuring striking architecture, important historical relics, and beautiful frescoes surrounded by nature.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Rila Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Rila Monastery - Day 15
Sofia to Thessaloniki
After two weeks exploring the Balkans, you'll head back to Greece, arriving in Thessaloniki, the northern port city, in the afternoon. An orientation tour shows you the compact walkable historic center, ending at the waterfront near the famous White Tower. You'll have a free evening to find a restaurant for Greek food and nightlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Thessaloniki historic centre
Landmarks/POIs White Tower - Day 16
Thessaloniki to Athens
You'll travel south through the Greek countryside back to Athens. Along the way, you'll stop in Kamena Vourla on the Malian Gulf's south coast for a lunch break. You'll arrive in Athens later today, check into the hotel, and then head to the farewell group dinner. It's the last night of the tour, perfect for reflecting on everything you've seen and making final memories.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell group dinner)
Included Activities
- Lunch stop in Kamena Vourla
Landmarks/POIs Kamena Vourla - Day 17
Athens
After breakfast, your 16-day Balkan tour comes to an end. You'll say goodbye to your fellow travelers and take time to reflect on the incredible journey you've had exploring the Balkans.
- Meals
- Breakfast
