Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bucharest
Transfers from Henri Coandă International Airport run at 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00 to get you to your hotel. This evening you'll meet your Travel Director and the rest of the group for a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner served with wine at a local restaurant)
- Day 2
Bucharest - Bran
A Local Expert takes you through University Square and past the former communist headquarters before heading to Parliament Palace. Dinner tonight is private at the recently renovated Queen Mary's Tea House. After the crowds clear out, you'll have a private evening visit to Bran Castle with its rooms, torture chambers, and connections to Queen Maria and Dracula legends.
- Meals
- Dinner (Private dinner at Queen Mary's Tea House)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing with Local Expert to view University Square and former communist headquarters
- Visit Parliament Palace
- Private evening visit to Bran Castle with guided tour of rooms, torture chambers, and castle history
Landmarks/POIs University Square Parliament Palace Bran Castle - Day 3
Bran - Sinaia - Brașov
Your Local Expert walks you around Town Hall Square to see the red-roofed houses and Black Church. Then you'll travel through Prahova Valley to Sinaia, where a local historian shows you Peleș Castle's lavish rooms with art, armor, and tapestries. From there, drive back through the Carpathian Mountains to Brașov, a medieval city founded in 1211.
Included Activities
- Walking tour around Town Hall Square with Local Expert
- Visit to Peleș Castle with local historian-led tour of rooms and collections
Landmarks/POIs Town Hall Square Black Church Peleș Castle - Day 4
Brașov to Veliko Tarnovo
You'll cross the Danube into Bulgaria and head to Veliko Tarnovo, where houses line the cliffs above the River Yantra. Check into your hotel and have dinner there this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at your hotel)
Landmarks/POIs Veliko Tarnovo - Day 5
Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi - Sofia
Climb up to Tsarevets Fortress with your Local Expert for views of the old Bulgarian capital and Yantra Valley. Visit Arbanasi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 17th-century frescoed churches and fortified dwellings. Later, cross the Balkan Mountains to Sofia and see St. Sofia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and St. George Rotonda.
Included Activities
- Climb to Tsarevets Fortress with Local Expert and views over Veliko Tarnovo
- Visit traditional 17th century merchant's house in Arbanasi
- Visit Church of the Holy Nativity in Arbanasi
- Sightseeing with Local Expert in Sofia including St. Sofia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and St. George Rotonda
Landmarks/POIs Tsarevets Fortress Arbanasi Church of the Holy Nativity St. Sofia Church St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral St. George Rotonda - Day 6
Sofia
You have the full day free in Sofia. Consider taking a trip to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest Eastern Orthodox monastery, or simply explore the city on your own at whatever pace suits you.
Optional Activities
- Visit to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery
Landmarks/POIs Rila Monastery - Day 7
Sofia to Skopje
Cross into North Macedonia and continue to Skopje, an ultra-modern capital with an old Turkish bazaar showing traces of its past. Your Local Expert will help you understand this mix of ancient and contemporary as you explore the city.
Included Activities
- Sightseeing with Local Expert in Skopje including Square Macedonia, Stone Bridge, and Old Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Square Macedonia Stone Bridge Old Bazaar - Day 8
Skopje - Lake Ohrid - Tirana
Head toward the border and stop at scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. After crossing into Albania, you'll reach Tirana. A local resident meets you at Skanderbeg Square with your Local Expert to share an insider's perspective on the capital and walk through their neighborhood.
Included Activities
- Visit to Skanderbeg Square with local resident and Local Expert
Landmarks/POIs Lake Ohrid Skanderbeg Square - Day 9
Tirana to Kotor
Travel through Montenegro's scenery to Kotor's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site beside a beautiful bay with dramatic limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen nearby. This evening you'll choose from several restaurants for a Dine-Around Evening.
Optional Activities
- Dine-Around Evening with a selection of restaurants to choose from
Landmarks/POIs Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad) Mt. Lovćen - Day 10
Kotor
Your Local Expert guides you through the stone-paved streets inside the 16th-century bastions, showing you Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace, city walls, and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is yours. You could visit Cavtat on the Adriatic coast or check out the Deša workshop, which supports vulnerable communities and promotes local heritage.
Included Activities
- Morning exploration of Old Town with Local Expert including stone-paved streets, Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace, city walls, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Cavtat on the Adriatic coast
- Visit to De\u0161a workshop - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience supporting vulnerable communities and promoting local cultural heritage
Landmarks/POIs Onofrio's Fountain Rector's Palace Franciscan Monastery Dominican Monastery Cavtat - Day 11
Dubrovnik
You have the day free in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Relax by the pool at your hotel or explore on your own. Options include learning about olive oil traditions at an ancient mill followed by a home-cooked meal, or taking a sunset cruise to see the city from the water.
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience learning about olive oil traditions at an ancient mill with home-cooked meal
- Relaxing sunset cruise to admire the city
- Day 12
Dubrovnik - Mostar - Sarajevo
Head to Mostar and explore Stari Most with your Local Expert, learning how it was rebuilt after near-total destruction during the war. Wander through the Old Town's cobbled streets with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue to Sarajevo where you'll have dinner at a Sarajevan family home with drinks, traditional Bosnian coffee, and personal stories.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with family in a Sarajevan home with drinks and traditional Bosnian coffee)
Included Activities
- Visit to Stari Most (Old Bridge) with Local Expert and guided tour of history
- Exploration of Old Town Mostar with cobbled streets and traditional handicraft shops
- Dinner with family in a Sarajevan home with drinks and traditional Bosnian coffee
Landmarks/POIs Stari Most Mostar Old Town - Day 13
Sarajevo
Choose your own Insight experience today in Sarajevo. Meet a Bosnian War expert to visit the Tunnel of Hope, or join a nature walk to the Bosna River spring in a protected park with a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore however you'd like.
Included Activities
- Insight Choice: Meet expert on Bosnian War for visit to Tunnel of Hope OR nature walk to spring of Bosna River with conservation guide
Landmarks/POIs Tunnel of Hope Bosna River Spring - Day 14
Sarajevo to Belgrade
Travel along the Drina River, which forms the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. You'll see lush green mountains and forest canyons as you drive through deep valleys on your way to Belgrade.
Landmarks/POIs Drina River - Day 15
Belgrade
A Local Expert shows you Belgrade's highlights including Terazije Street, Republic Square with its national museum and theater, and St. Sava Church. Your sightseeing ends at Kalemegdan Fortress where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. You'll have a free afternoon to rest or continue exploring on your own.
Included Activities
- Sightseeing with Local Expert including Terazije Street, National Museum, National Theater in Republic Square, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Terazije Street National Museum National Theater St. Sava Church Kalemegdan Fortress - Day 16
Belgrade to Palić to Budapest
Travel north through Vojvodina Province to Palić on the Hungarian border, where you'll see the picturesque lake with art nouveau buildings. Continue through the Puszta wilderness to Budapest on the Danube.
Included Activities
- Visit to Palić to see the water tower and art nouveau buildings by the lake
Landmarks/POIs Palić - Day 17
Budapest
Your Local Expert takes you through Buda's varied architectural styles. You'll cross the Danube to Pest to visit Heroes' Square and walk down elegant Andrássy Boulevard. Then explore the Central Market Hall, a three-level food lover's paradise with salamis, spicy paprika, Tokaji wines, and traditional Pálinka. Tonight is your Celebration Dinner at Gundel with hearty Hungarian food and specially selected Hungarian wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner at Gundel with hearty Hungarian delicacies and specially-selected Hungarian wine)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Buda with Local Expert viewing architectural styles
- Visit to Heroes' Square
- Walk down Andrássy Boulevard
- Visit to Central Market Hall with Local Expert to explore three levels of food stalls
Landmarks/POIs Heroes' Square Andrássy Boulevard Central Market Hall - Day 18
Departure from Budapest
Departure transfers to Ferenc Liszt International Airport run at 07:00 and 11:00. Say goodbye to your Travel Director and fellow travelers as you head home.
