Itinerary
- Day 1
Belgrade
You'll arrive in Belgrade this morning and get oriented to Serbia's capital where the Danube and Sava rivers converge. After settling in, a guided city tour takes you to Belgrade Fortress for views across the city, then down through Republic Square and along Knez Mihailova street where you can check out the cafés and shops. The rest of the evening is yours to either take it easy at the hotel or wander around Belgrade's streets on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Belgrade
- Visit Belgrade Fortress
- Walk through Republic Square
- Stroll along Knez Mihailova street
Landmarks Belgrade Fortress Republic Square Knez Mihailova Street National Theatre National Museum - Day 2
Belgrade to Sarajevo
You'll head west this morning across Serbia and into Bosnia and Herzegovina through rolling landscapes and river valleys. By afternoon you reach Sarajevo, known as the 'Jerusalem of Europe' because of its cultural mix. A guided tour explores the Ottoman-era Bašćaršija bazaar with its cafés and craft shops, visits the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and Latin Bridge where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, then covers Sarajevo's recent history during the 1990s siege. Later the evening is free to wander the Old Town or sit at riverside cafés.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Sarajevo
- Explore Bašćaršija Bazaar
- Visit Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- Visit Latin Bridge
Landmarks Bašćaršija Bazaar Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque Latin Bridge - Day 3
Sarajevo
You have the full day to explore Sarajevo on your own pace or join optional guided excursions. Take the cable car up Trebević Mountain to see the abandoned 1984 Winter Olympics bobsleigh track and visit the Sarajevo Tunnel of Life museum, the underground passage that kept the city alive during the 1990s siege. If interested, an optional excursion to Srebrenica memorial is available. By evening you're free to check out cafés and the cultural scene or spend time reflecting on the city's powerful history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Cable car up Trebević Mountain
- Walk along abandoned bobsleigh track
- Visit Sarajevo Tunnel of Life museum
- Optional excursion to Srebrenica memorial
Landmarks Trebević Mountain Sarajevo Tunnel of Life Museum Srebrenica memorial - Day 4
Sarajevo to Trebinje
You'll leave Sarajevo heading south into Herzegovina through dramatic landscapes and layered history. First stop is Mostar with its elegant UNESCO-listed Ottoman bridge, the Stari Most, and lively Old Town bazaars. After that you continue to Blagaj where a 16th-century Dervish tekke sits beside the emerald Buna River spring, then visit Stolac and its remarkable Radimlja necropolis with UNESCO-recognized medieval stećci tombstones. You arrive in Trebinje by evening, a pleasant town near Montenegro known for its stone bridges, monasteries, and relaxed feel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Mostar's Stari Most bridge and Old Town
- Visit Blagaj Tekke
- Visit Radimlja Necropolis in Stolac
Landmarks Stari Most Mostar Old Town Blagaj Tekke Radimlja Necropolis - Day 5
Trebinje to Budva
Starting this morning you'll cross from Trebinje into Croatia to visit Dubrovnik, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic,' where you have free time to walk its marble streets and explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town or stroll along the mighty city walls overlooking the sea. Later you continue along the Adriatic coast into Montenegro, stopping in the charming town of Perast for a short boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks, a tiny island church with interesting legend. You arrive in Kotor for a guided tour of its medieval walls, winding alleys, and Romanesque cathedral, then finish the day in Budva, a vibrant coastal town blending ancient stone streets with modern seaside energy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Dubrovnik Old Town
- Boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks
- Guided city tour of Kotor
Landmarks Dubrovnik Old Town Dubrovnik City Walls Our Lady of the Rocks Perast Kotor Old Town Kotor Romanesque Cathedral - Day 6
Budva to Shkodër
You'll leave Budva this morning heading toward the Montenegrin-Albanian border with a stop at Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans and a protected national park. A scenic boat trip takes you across its shimmering waters, an area known for its diverse ecosystems including wetlands, water lilies, and over 260 bird species. After crossing into Albania, you explore Rozafa Fortress dramatically set on a hilltop where three rivers meet, offering panoramic views of the plains and city. Then you walk through Shkodër itself, one of Albania's oldest and most colorful cities, checking out its Venetian-style facades and elegant townhouses alongside Ottoman-era mosques and Catholic cathedrals. The evening is free to enjoy Shkodër's relaxed atmosphere and vibrant cafés.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Lake Skadar
- Visit Rozafa Fortress
Landmarks Lake Skadar Rozafa Fortress Shkodër Old Town - Day 7
Shkodër to Tirana
You'll head south this morning from Shkodër to Tirana, Albania's dynamic capital. Upon arrival, a guided city tour introduces the contrasting layers of Tirana's history and modern life. You'll visit Skanderbeg Square at the city's heart, framed by Ottoman, Italian, and communist-era landmarks, then see the Et'hem Bey Mosque with its delicate frescoes that survived Albania's atheist period. The tour continues to the National History Museum chronicling the nation's complex past, then explores the Blloku district, once an exclusive political area now transformed into a vibrant neighborhood filled with cafés, boutiques, and striking street art. The evening is free to explore Tirana at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Tirana
- Visit Skanderbeg Square
- Visit Et'hem Bey Mosque
- Visit National History Museum
- Explore Blloku district
Landmarks Skanderbeg Square Et'hem Bey Mosque National History Museum Blloku District - Day 8
Tirana to Prizren
You'll depart Tirana this morning and travel northeast toward Kosovo, crossing scenic mountain landscapes before reaching the historic town of Prizren, located at the foot of the Sharr Mountains. It's one of the Balkans' most culturally diverse cities. A guided walking tour takes you through its charming old town where cobblestone streets wind between Ottoman-era mosques, Orthodox churches, and elegant stone bridges spanning the Bistrica River. You'll visit landmarks like the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the League of Prizren building, and the iconic Stone Bridge, each reflecting the city's role as a crossroads of civilizations. For panoramic views, you can ascend to Prizren Fortress overlooking the red-tiled rooftops. The afternoon is free to enjoy Prizren's lively cafés and riverside atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Prizren Old Town
- Visit Sinan Pasha Mosque
- Visit League of Prizren building
- Visit Stone Bridge
- Ascend to Prizren Fortress
Landmarks Prizren Old Town Sinan Pasha Mosque League of Prizren building Stone Bridge Prizren Fortress - Day 9
Prizren - Gjakova - Peja
You'll depart Prizren this morning and drive to Gjakova, a lively town best known for its Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest in Kosovo, with bustling lanes filled with shops and workshops. You'll see the traditional Turkish Bathhouse and visit the 16th-century Hadum Aga Mosque anchoring the old town. From there you continue to the Monastery of Visoki Dečani in a peaceful valley at the foot of the mountains, the largest of its kind in the Balkans, known for its serene setting and beautifully painted interiors recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A short drive takes you to Peja where the Patriarchate of Peć awaits, a significant monastery complex nestled among trees at the entrance to Rugova Gorge with several small churches decorated in colorful frescoes. You return to Prizren in the late afternoon with free time to enjoy the town's vibrant cafés and charming riverside.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Gjakova Grand Bazaar
- Visit Hadum Aga Mosque
- Visit Monastery of Visoki Dečani
- Visit Patriarchate of Peć
Landmarks Gjakova Grand Bazaar Hadum Aga Mosque Monastery of Visoki Dečani Patriarchate of Peć Rugova Gorge - Day 10
Prizren to Skopje
You'll leave Prizren this morning and cross the border into North Macedonia heading to the spectacular Matka Canyon, a narrow gorge carved by the Treska River just outside Skopje. A boat ride takes you along the emerald waters passing dramatic cliffs and hidden monasteries. If interested, an optional visit to Vrelo Cave is available, one of Europe's deepest underwater caves filled with striking stalactites and underground chambers. In the afternoon, you continue to Skopje, the vibrant capital of North Macedonia. A guided city tour introduces the blend of ancient heritage and modern ambition, walking through the Old Bazaar alive with Ottoman-era mosques, caravanserais, and artisan shops, then crossing the famous Stone Bridge into the neoclassical city center. You'll see landmarks like the Mother Teresa Memorial House and Macedonia Square with their monuments and fountains. The evening is free to explore Skopje's lively cafés and riverside promenades.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat ride in Matka Canyon
- Guided city tour of Skopje
- Walk through Old Bazaar
- Cross Stone Bridge
- Visit Mother Teresa Memorial House
- See Macedonia Square
Optional Activities
- Visit Vrelo Cave
Landmarks Matka Canyon Vrelo Cave Skopje Old Bazaar Stone Bridge Mother Teresa Memorial House Macedonia Square - Day 11
Skopje to Sofia
You'll depart Skopje this morning and cross into Bulgaria, traveling through scenic mountain landscapes of the Balkans toward the magnificent Rila Monastery, the spiritual heart of Bulgaria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in the 10th century, the monastery sits high in the Rila Mountains surrounded by forests and peaks. Inside its stone walls you'll discover richly painted frescoes, finely carved wooden details, and striking architecture that has made it a symbol of Bulgarian culture and faith. In the afternoon, you continue toward Sofia, Bulgaria's vibrant capital, arriving in the evening to settle into the hotel with free time to relax or enjoy a first stroll through the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Rila Monastery
Landmarks Rila Monastery - Day 12
Sofia
Your final day starts with a walking tour of Sofia, where the past and present intertwine at every corner. You'll admire the golden domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, and step back in time at the Rotunda of St. George, a red-brick Roman church standing for more than sixteen centuries. You'll wander through the Serdica archaeological complex where ancient Roman streets and early Christian ruins reveal Sofia's deep roots, and take in the mix of Ottoman mosques, Orthodox churches, and elegant 19th-century boulevards defining the city's unique character. After that you'll have time for a leisurely lunch or final stroll along Vitosha Boulevard as the tour concludes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Sofia
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Visit Rotunda of St. George
- Explore Serdica archaeological complex
- View Ottoman mosques and Orthodox churches
Landmarks Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Rotunda of St. George Serdica Archaeological Complex Vitosha Boulevard
