Balkan Explorer

Welcome to Athens! This morning, meet up with your leader and tour group at the hotel. Then, embark on an orientation tour of Greece’s capital city, witnessing iconic sights such as the Academy, National Library, Greek parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian’s Arch, and the temple of Olympian Zeus. After, enjoy free time to explore on your own or join the delicious Athens Food Tour to get your first taste of Greece’s renowned local produce and street food. Today also offers the incredible opportunity to tour the spectacular Acropolis! Please note that this optional excursion is very popular and must be booked prior to the start of the tour. Tonight, enjoy an included welcome dinner and indulge in traditional Greek cuisine!Explore Athens; Greece’s ancient capital cityEnjoy a welcome dinner in Athens

Travel north through the Greek mainland, stopping off in Delphi along the way. In antiquity, Delphi was considered the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth. Admire the Sanctuary of Apollo, see the Treasury of the Athenians, and visit the museum of Delphi. Arrive in Meteora this afternoon. This dramatic series of rock formations is home to a large complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Explore St. Stephen's Monastery, founded in 1400 by St. Antoninus Cantacuzene, which is now a nunnery. Peruse the 18th-century main cathedral and take in the views of Kalambaka. Catch a glimpse of the Holy Trinity Monastery perched atop a single rock formation before departing. Stay over in the nearby town of Kalambaka this evening.

Explore the ancient ruins of Delphi: Visit the ruins of Delphi and its Archaeological Museum. Delphi is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for having had a major influence in the Ancient world. You get to see why for yourself!

Visit Meteora: See the formation of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Explore Meteora and its formation of Eastern Orthodox monasteries perched dramatically on massive monolithic pillars. The most notable of which is St Stephen's Monastery, founded in 1400 by St. Antoninus Cantacuzene and now a nunnery.

This morning, travel onwards to North Macedonia and the undiscovered jewel of Ohrid. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Ohrid, this city is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe and is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the year. Explore the Old Town on a guided tour and see famous sights, including the Church of St. John at Kaneo, which is situated on a cliff overlooking Lake Ohrid. To finish off the day, enjoy an included dinner this evening.

Guided tour of Ohrid: Enjoy a tour of Ohrid's Old Town, and see sights including Upper Gate, Holy Mary Perybleptos, Antique theatre, Tsar Samoil Fortress, Plaoshnik, Church of St John at Kaneo and Church of St. Sophia.

This morning, depart North Macedonia and journey to its Balkan neighbour Albania, driving into the capital city, Tirana. In a story typical of many cities in this part of Europe, Tirana has undergone a remarkable transformation, shaking off communism to become a vibrant, fun city. Enjoy an introduction to the city on a walking tour. Discover Tirana; from the buildings painted in bright colours to the architecture influenced by the Ottomans, Italians and, of course, communism, this city is a fascinating destination to explore and learn about!

Walking tour of Tirana: Embark on a walking tour of Tirana and see sights like Skanderbeg Square, Clock tower, Et’hem Beu Mosque, National Historical Museum, National Gallery of Arts and Tabak Bridge.

Heading north, bid farewell to Albania and travel through Montenegro. Today’s first stop is the picturesque coastal town of Budva, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city, with free time to explore. Next, it’s time to make a comfort stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Kotor. The old port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period as well as magnificent fjord-like cliffs - it is a picturesque Mediterranean landscape! Later, the tour continues onwards to Croatia. On arrival in Dubrovnik, your tour leader will take you to the entrance gate to the Old Town. Enjoy a free evening to explore Dubrovnik.

Explore Budva and Kotor in Montenegro: This small Balkan country is full of beautiful destinations! Travel to the coast where you will have free time to explore the historic towns of Budva and Kotor.

This morning, join a local guide for a walking tour of the Old Town to see the Franciscan Monastery, the City Walls and more. The rest of the day is free to explore Dubrovnik's incredible history! Want the best views of the ‘old town’ and islands? Catch the cable car to the top of Mount Srd and enjoy! It is highly recommended for a scenic sunset photo or two. Visit one of the city’s many museums; the Maritime Museum is one of the most popular, or maybe just browse the shops, including the traditional jewellery shops where you can find unique handmade silver or gold jewellery. The Game of Thrones walking tour is another popular optional excursion!

Guided walking tour of Dubrovnik: This morning a local guide will take you on a walking tour of Dubrovnik, where you will be acquainted with this stunning medieval walled city. The city is a tapestry of spectacular architecture - including churches, monasteries, fountains and museums all of which you can explore further during your free time. See sites including the Franciscan Monastery, Dominican Monastery, Cathedral, Onofrio Fountain, Orlando’s Column, Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, Stradun and the City Walls.

Today, a true Balkan gem is on the itinerary. Hop aboard the coach and cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina - a Balkan country filled with rich history and culture, which is also home to beautiful towns and scenic landscapes! Arrive in Mostar, a historic Balkan town. This enchanting town has been rejuvenated following the tumultuous years of the Bosnian War. Its most famous site is Stari Most Bridge which is an icon of the city. Enjoy free time to explore Mostar’s numerous religious buildings and see the Roman and Ottoman influences before travelling back to Northern Croatia this evening.

Visit Mostar: Journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina and visit the beautiful medieval town of Mostar. Arrive and enjoy free time to explore this charming medieval Balkan town. Mostar is famous for the historic Stari Most bridge as well as its rich mix of cultures and beautiful buildings.

The tour continues today with a mix of sublime scenery and the stunning Slovenian capital! Begin with a visit to one of the most picturesque natural landscapes in the whole of Europe. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is known internationally for its cascading waterfalls and dynamic landscape. Take a tour of the reserve, stroll along the boardwalks and marvel at the incredible natural scenery of Croatia’s largest national park. Next, travel onwards to the pint-sized city of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Join a local guide on a walking tour of this fairytale city. Later, choose to join the Slovenian evening optional excursion for a fun night of live music, singing and dancing with a three-course meal.

Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park: Explore the world-famous Plitvice Lakes National Park. Filled with waterfalls, lush vegetation and countless lakes, this is one of the most beautiful stops on the tour. It’s home to gorgeous scenery and numerous rare animals, so make sure you have plenty of space in your cameras!

Walking tour of Ljubljana: Meet up with an expert local guide who will lead a walking tour of the city. On foot, encounter the inimitable scenery of the medieval old town, Preseren Square, the City Centre, the Riverfront, Dragon Bridge and Cobblers Bridge. When the formal tour is done, there will still be some time to explore on your own. A visit to the 13th-century St. Nicholas Church is highly recommended - the Baroque architecture is truly spectacular.

Today it’s time to travel into Hungary and head for the capital. Budapest is cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! Straddling the historic Danube River, Budapest is well-preserved and boasts numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites - its incredible architecture and natural geothermal springs are definite highlights of this famous Eastern European city! Arrive and enjoy a driving tour of the city with a local guide to see top sights such as the Castle District and the Hungarian Parliament buildings. Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight and toast to the first night in Budapest!

Driving tour of Budapest: Meet up with a local guide who will accompany us on a driving tour of the city and point out all the best-loved sights. Learn more about Hungarian culture and language and the city's fascinating history. Drink in incredible views from atop Gellert Hill and the Citadel, make a stop at Heroes Square and get an eyeful of other must-see attractions like Budapest Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, the State Opera, the castle district, and more.

With traces of the past evident in the interesting and unusual details found across the city, today is your chance to get up close and personal with Budapest! Look out for remnants of the conflicts of WWII and the uprising of 1956, try Hungarian cuisine (there is so much more to it than just goulash!), sample world-renowned wines or soak your weary rambler’s bones in one of the city’s famous bath-houses. Budapest has been known for its thermal spas since Roman times, with some 123 thermal and 400 mineral springs from 14 different sources located in the city! Tonight, why not enjoy a mesmerising view of Budapest during an optional dinner cruise on the Danube? It’s sure to be an unforgettable night!

Say goodbye to Budapest as the tour continues onwards to Belgrade in Serbia. Make a comfort stop in Novi Sad before arriving in Serbia’s capital city and embarking on a walking tour with a local guide. Look forward to seeing the city’s highlights including Republic Square, the Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress. Serbia is nestled in the heart of the Balkans and Belgrade is the vibrant city at the centre of it all. The city is located where the Sava and Danube rivers meet and it is an exciting mix of history, culture, grit and character! Tonight, enjoy an included dinner with the group.

Visit Novi Sad: Cross the border into Serbia and make a comfort stop in Novi Sad. This Serbian city is the second largest in the country and is well-lived for being a liberal destination full of art, music and culture! 

Guided walking tour of Belgrade: A fascinating place, Belgrade radiates gritty exuberance in its many architectural contrasts with socialist blocks set amongst more grandiose buildings. Belgrade is where the Sava River meets the Danube. Knez Mihailova (Prince Mihailo Street) is a pedestrian street with historical buildings on either side, with many grand coffee houses, and is protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city.

See more of Serbia this morning. Today’s first destination is Niš. Enjoy a lunch stop in this historic city in south-eastern Serbia that was ruled by the Turks from the 14th to the 19th century. Visit the quaint cobbled streets of Tinkers Alley (Kazandžijsko Sokače). This nostalgic alley in Niš is the last preserved portion of the craftsman quarter from the age of the Ottomans. Afterwards, travel onwards to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city. Get to know the main sights on a driving and walking tour of Sofia - this is a perfect introduction to this bustling Bulgarian capital city! Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight.

Visit Tinkers Alley and enjoy a lunch stop in Niš: Visit Niš, a historic Serbian city with Turkish influence. Enjoy time for lunch and then wander through Tinkers Alley which used to be the craftsmen alley of this Niš Bazaar. Even though the old architecture has been preserved, it’s home to a number of fine restaurants, hotels and taverns that add to its authentic charm. It’s also home to one of the famous selfie spots in Niš: the sculpture of writer Stevan Srema, his fictional Kalca and his dog.

Enjoy a guided tour of Sofia: Embark on a guided tour of Bulgaria’s capital city. Follow in the slipstream of a local guide and tick Sofia’s main sights off your “must-see” list. 

Enjoy a free day to explore Sofia! A young and vibrant city, the capital of Bulgaria offers a mesmerising east-meets-west atmosphere against a backdrop of contrasting communist and contemporary architecture. There’s a partially exposed 1,800-year-old Roman city to discover, plenty of green spaces to relax in and a variety of churches and mosques to explore. Alternatively, the optional excursion to Rila Monastery is highly recommended today. This ancient Eastern Orthodox monastery features striking architecture, important historical relics and beautiful frescoes and is surrounded by the stunning Rila Monastery Nature Park. Don’t miss out on one of Bulgaria’s top cultural sights!

After two weeks spent encountering the magic of the Balkans, today the tour heads back to Greece! In the afternoon, arrive in the northern port city of Thessaloniki and embark on an orientation tour of the historic centre. Its compact size makes it a delightfully walkable city! The orientation tour wraps up at the Thessaloniki waterfront, close to the famous White Tower. Here, there are plenty of restaurants and bars. Make the most of a free evening tonight - why not choose a spot and enjoy an evening of delicious Greek food and lively nightlife? 

Discover Thessaloniki: Enjoy an orientation walking tour of Thessaloniki with your tour leader and see historic sights like the Arch of Galerius, the old Byzantine walls, the Rotunda and the White Tower.

Buckle up once again and head south through the Greek countryside. Today the tour returns to Athens. Along the way, enjoy a stop in Kamena Vourla which is located on the south coast of the Malian Gulf. Here, find a local spot to grab lunch in this scenic destination. Next, it’s time to get back on the road. Arrive in Athens later today. Check into the hotel in Athens before enjoying a farewell group dinner. It’s officially the last night of the tour which means it's the perfect opportunity to reminisce about an incredible time spent exploring the Balkans and make a few more memories before the tour ends tomorrow.

Visit Kamena Vourla: Enjoy a comfort stop in Kamena Vourla with time to grab lunch in this scenic coastal Greek destination.

Farewell dinner in Athens: Enjoy your final night on tour with your tour leader and fellow travellers and take this opportunity to share contact details with your new friends!

After breakfast, this 16-day Balkan extravaganza concludes. The time has come to say your goodbyes to your fellow travellers. We hope you have enjoyed your tour with Expat Explore!