Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll arrive in Athens and get transferred to your hotel. After checking in and settling your things, the afternoon is yours to relax or walk around the neighborhood. The hotel reception has tour information available if you want to plan ahead for the coming days.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (President)
- Day 2
Athens
A local guide takes you through Athens starting at the Presidential Mansion and the Panathenaic Stadium. You'll see the National Library and check out the newer areas built for the 2004 Olympics. The day builds to the Acropolis, then you head to Plaka for dinner where traditional Greek tavernas serve local food and wine.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (President)
Included Activities
- City tour of Athens with local guide
- Transfer to Plaka neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Acropolis entrance (admission not included)
- Dinner and folk show in Athens - 2 hours (60 EUR, minimum 15 people required)
Landmarks Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library Acropolis 
- Day 3
Thermopylae - Kastraki - Meteora - Kalabaka
You're heading north early through Greece. The day stops at Kamena Vourla on the coast, then moves inland to Thermopylae where that famous ancient battle happened. Kastraki village gives you time for lunch before you reach Meteora, the UNESCO site with monasteries built on rock formations. Dinner's included when you arrive in Kalabaka.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Meteora), Hotel (Amalia Kalambaca), Hotel (Kosta Famissi)
Included Activities
- Visit Kamena Vourla
- Visit Thermopylae Mountain Pass
- Visit Kastraki village
- Meteora UNESCO World Heritage Site - monastery entrance included
Landmarks Kamena Vourla Thermopylae Mountain Pass Kastraki Meteora 
- Day 4
Melnik - Sandanski
You're traveling northeast toward the Aegean, stopping in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, for lunch and time to look around. Then the trip crosses into Bulgaria and continues to Melnik, a small town known for wine production. By evening you're in Sandanski, a spa town and birthplace of Spartacus, where dinner is provided.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Pirin Park Hotel)
Included Activities
- Stop in Thessaloniki
- Visit Melnik
Landmarks Thessaloniki Melnik Sandanski 
- Day 5
Sofia
The morning takes you to Rila Monastery set in forests with its fortress-like appearance and UNESCO recognition. You'll reach Sofia by late morning and have lunch before a guided tour covers St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, a mosque, and squares showing Stalinist architecture. The rest of the day is free for your own exploring.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Grand), Hotel (Ramada Sofia)
Included Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- City tour of Sofia with local guide
Landmarks Rila Monastery St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Russian Church Mosque 
- Day 6
Plovdiv
You visit Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second most significant monastery from the eleventh century with three churches inside. After that you head to Plovdiv for lunch and a city tour seeing the Roman Amphitheatre, an old pharmacy, and the Armenian House. Plovdiv ranks among Europe's oldest cities.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium), Hotel (Radisson Plovdiv)
Included Activities
- Visit Bachkovo Monastery
- City tour of Plovdiv with local guide
- Roman Amphitheatre - admission included
- Old Pharmacy - admission included
- Armenian House - admission included
- Lunch included
Landmarks Bachkovo Monastery Roman Amphitheatre Old Pharmacy Armenian House 
- Day 7
Kazanlak - Shipka - Etar - Arbanasi - Veliko Tarnovo
Traveling through the Balkan Mountains, you enter the Rose Valley and stop in Kazanlak to see a replica of the Thracian Tomb (UNESCO site) and learn about rose products made there. Shipka Memorial Church comes next, then Etar with its ethnographic museum village. After lunch you continue to Arbanasi, an ancient trading city with fortress-like houses, and tour the Nativity Church. The day ends in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's former capital with a medieval center.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bolyarski Meridian), Hotel (Panorama), Hotel (Gurko)
Included Activities
- Visit Kazanlak - Thracian Tomb replica admission included
- Visit Shipka Memorial Church
- Visit Etar ethnographic museum village
- Visit Arbanasi - Nativity Church admission included
- Lunch included
Landmarks Kazanlak Thracian Tomb Shipka Memorial Church Etar Arbanasi Nativity Church Veliko Tarnovo 
- Day 8
Bucharest
You're traveling to Romania, first stopping at Basarbovski Monastery, a pilgrimage site carved into rock cliffs. After crossing the border and the Danube, you reach Bucharest around 1 p.m. A panoramic tour shows the historic center and the Palace of Parliament. Later you have free time to explore on your own, and dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Doubletree By Hilton Bucharest Unirii Square), Hotel (Mercure Bucarest City Center), Hotel (Park Inn By Radisson Bucharest)
Included Activities
- Visit Basarbovski Monastery
- Panoramic tour of Bucharest with local guide
- Palace of Parliament - view included
Landmarks Basarbovski Monastery Palace of Parliament 
- Day 9
Sinaia - Bran Fortress - Sighisoara
The trip heads into Transylvania through the Carpathian Mountains with forests all around. In Sinaia you'll walk through the gardens of Peles and Pelisor Castles. Then comes Bran Fortress, the 14th-century castle associated with Dracula legends (admission included). After lunch you continue to Sighisoara, a walled medieval city and UNESCO site, ending with special dinner at Count Dracula's restaurant in Vlad the Impaler's birthplace.
- Meals
- Dinner (Special dinner at Count Dracula's restaurant in the house where Vlad the Impaler was born)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Doubletree Sighisoara Cavaler), Hotel (Mercure Binderbubi Sighisoara)
Included Activities
- Visit Sinaia - Peles and Pelisor Castles gardens
- Bran Fortress (Dracula's Castle) - admission included
- Visit Sighisoara walled medieval city
- Dinner at Count Dracula's restaurant
Landmarks Peles Castle Pelisor Castle Bran Fortress Sighisoara 
- Day 10
Sibiu - Hunedoara Castle - Timisoara
You start with a fortified church in Biertan, a UNESCO site built by German settlers. Then you're in Sibiu, an important cultural and economic center that was once Transylvania's capital. The narrow streets and squares get explored during lunch. Hunedoara Castle comes in the afternoon with included admission. Finally you reach Timisoara where you have time to see the elegant central squares.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Timisoara)
Included Activities
- Fortified Church of Biertan - admission included
- Visit Sibiu
- Hunedoara Castle - admission included
Landmarks Fortified Church of Biertan Sibiu Hunedoara Castle Timisoara 
- Day 11
Belgrade
Crossing into Serbia takes about 3 hours to reach Belgrade, the capital where the Danube and Sava rivers meet. You'll get a panoramic tour covering the city center, parliament, and Kalemegdan Fortress. The Museum of Yugoslavia includes Tito's Mausoleum inside. Afterwards you have free time to explore the city however you like.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nobel Palace)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Belgrade with local guide
- Kalemegdan Fortress visit
- Museum of Yugoslavia - admission included
Landmarks Kalemegdan Fortress Museum of Yugoslavia 
- Day 12
Zvornik - Sarajevo
You're traveling through the Vojvodina region to Sremska Mitrovica on the Sava River, a historic city and former Roman provincial capital. The Imperial Palace grounds get explored with admission included. Then you continue into Bosnia to Zvornik, one of Bosnia's oldest cities on the Serbian border, with time for lunch and a walk. Later you travel through beautiful landscapes toward Sarajevo, arriving in the evening. You'll see the old Ottoman bazaar and have dinner included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hollywood), Hotel (Ibis Styles Sarajevo), Hotel (Randon Plaza), Hotel (Spa Hotel Terme)
Included Activities
- Visit Sremska Mitrovica - Imperial Palace grounds admission included
- Visit Zvornik
- Explore Sarajevo old bazaar - Ottoman market
Landmarks Sremska Mitrovica Imperial Palace of Sirmium Zvornik Srebrenica 
- Day 13
Mostar - Dubrovnik
A guide takes you through Sarajevo, known for religious diversity with mosques, churches, and synagogues throughout. The old town shows strong Ottoman influence, including a magnificent mosque over 500 years old and a beautiful fountain. You continue to Mostar with its historic center and iconic stone bridge. After lunch and a stroll, the trip crosses into Croatia and reaches Dubrovnik by evening with dinner provided.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Valamar Lacroma), Hotel (Royal Neptun), Hotel (Lero)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Sarajevo with local guide
- Visit Mostar and its historic center
Landmarks Sarajevo Mosque Mostar Stari Most 
- Day 14
Dubrovnik
You're exploring Dubrovnik, perched on cliffs and surrounded by walls with the Adriatic Sea below. A local guide leads the panoramic tour including the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's oldest pharmacy and the Assumption Cathedral. A boat trip takes you 15 minutes to Lokrum island to see eleventh-century Benedictine monastery ruins (a Game of Thrones filming spot). You'll catch scenic viewpoints of the city before having free time to explore. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Valamar Lacroma), Hotel (Royal Neptun), Hotel (Lero)
Included Activities
- Panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with local guide
- Franciscan Monastery - admission included
- Assumption Cathedral - admission included
- Boat trip to Lokrum island
Landmarks Dubrovnik Old Town Franciscan Monastery Assumption Cathedral Lokrum Island 
- Day 15
Pelje\u0161ac Bridge - Split
You're traveling along the Croatian coast with seascapes and islands. Ston is a stop, a picturesque town with one of the world's longest walls. The impressive Pelje\u0161ac Bridge crosses the sea. By midday you're in Split for a guided tour with admission to Diocletian's Palace, a vast Roman structure with labyrinthine streets and sea views. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (President), Hotel (Mondo), Hotel (Amphora), Hotel (Salona Palace)
Included Activities
- Visit Ston
- Cross Pelje\u0161ac Bridge
- City tour of Split with local guide
- Diocletian's Palace - admission included
Landmarks Ston Pelje\u0161ac Bridge Diocletian's Palace 
- Day 16
Opatija
The route goes inland through hilly landscapes to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO site. You'll see lakes and waterfalls, walk scenic trails, or take a boat ride (admission included for either option). After lunch you head back toward the coast going north. Opatija, a charming resort town, is where you arrive for dinner and the night.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Agava), Hotel (Bristol), Hotel (Grand Adriatic), Hotel (Astoria)
Included Activities
- Plitvice Lakes National Park - boat or train ride included
Optional Activities
- Walking scenic trails
Landmarks Plitvice Lakes National Park Opatija 
- Day 17
Bled - Ljubljana
You're traveling to Slovenia and visiting Postojna Cave, one of the world's largest caves toured partly by train. Then Bled comes next, a picturesque town on Lake Bled's shore. A boat trip takes you to the island where a monastery's bell tower stands near the medieval castle. Finally you reach Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, for a guided tour of this charming Central European city. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Park Ljubljana-urban Green), Hotel (Exe Lev), Hotel (Bb Ljubljana Park)
Included Activities
- Postojna Cave - partial tour by train included
- Bled - boat trip to island included
- City tour of Ljubljana with local guide
Landmarks Postojna Cave Lake Bled Bled Island Church Bled Castle 
- Day 18
Zagreb
You head to Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city with strong Austrian influence, seeing the cathedral and historic castle. Crossing into Croatia, you reach Zagreb around lunchtime. A local guide leads a panoramic tour covering both the Upper Town and modern neighborhoods of the Croatian capital. Dinner is included.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Internacional), Hotel (Antunovic), Hotel (Grand Hotel Zagreb), Hotel (Movenpick Zagreb)
Included Activities
- Visit Maribor - cathedral and historic castle
- Panoramic city tour of Zagreb with local guide
Landmarks Maribor Zagreb 
- Day 19
End of Tour
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end, and you're left with wonderful memories from the journey through Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
