Balkans Explored

Welcome to Zagreb! At the airport, keep an eye out for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel. Meet in the lobby around 7:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards, join us for an optional group dinner to get to know your new travel mates.

This morning, set out on a guided tour of Zagreb. Discover the city’s highlights, including Ban Jelačić Square, the colourful St. Mark’s Church and the lively Dolac Market.

In the afternoon, we continue to Ljubljana, one of Europe’s greenest and most liveable capitals. Highlights include the National University Library, Congress Square, Cobbler’s Bridge, the New Square, Prešeren Monument, the Triple Bridge, the riverside promenade, the Open-Air Market, Butcher’s Bridge, St. Nicholas Cathedral and the iconic Dragon Bridge.

Later, you can join the optional Postojna Cave visit.

After breakfast, we drive to the fairytale-like Lake Bled. On arrival, join a guided visit of Bled Castle, Slovenia’s oldest castle perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the lake.

Then we continue to Plitvice Lakes National Park to experience Croatia’s oldest national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its turquoise lakes and cascading waterfalls. Enjoy a nature walk through this breathtaking landscape. After your visit, you will get transferred to your hotel.

We depart early in the morning for a scenic drive along the Dalmatian coastline towards Split.

Your first stop is Zadar, a delightful mix of Roman heritage, Habsburg architecture and a beautiful seaside promenade. Enjoy a guided tour followed by free time.

Continue to Split, Croatia’s second-largest city and a UNESCO-listed gem. Upon arrival, join a walking tour through the Old Town, including the impressive Diocletian’s Palace, the largest and best-preserved Roman palace in the world. See the Roman Peristyle, St. Domnius Cathedral (entry fees apply), and the Temple of Jupiter guarded by its ancient sphinx.

Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Today, we drive for the amazing Adriatic shore, but first a stop at Mostar! As you arrive in this dreamland, walk through the Old Town of this Herzegovina pearl, see the iconic highlights Old Bridge – Stari Most, and the old čaršija (market). Enjoy your lunch with an amazing view at one of the local venues, discover the old town and make sure to try the delicious Turkish coffee. In the afternoon, we ride to Trebinje for our overnight stay.

Get ready for a long day at Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic”! With its well-preserved majestic walls encircling the whole town and its sea of terra-cotta roof tiles, giving life to the “King’s Landing”, the whole town is an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the drive down to town from the mountain-side is a breakth-taking highlight in itself! We start off with a guided walking tour of the Old Town and marvel at the millennial history of this fairy-like town. Walk atop the mighty walls, discover cute narrow streets, taste delicious seafood or jump off into the crystal-blue waters. In the evening, we return to Trebinje for a good night’s rest.

Next stop Montenegro! Arrive in Kotor after a scenic drive an meet its calming natural beauty and characteristic architecture, a less-crowded version of Dubrovnik with its impressive medieval citadel. Following a walking tour of the old town with your expert local guide and some free time. Departure to Albania, which is our final destination for the day. Shkoder is one of the most authentic cities in Albania. Walking tour through the centre. Overnight in Shkoder.

Hit the road after breakfast! A panoramic city tour of Tirana will introduce the best preserved and most beautiful samples of Albanian architecture, and drop us off at the town centre for some free time to discover the bustling Skenderbeg square. In the afternoon, continue towards Ohrid, Macedonia and check-in to your comfy hotel. You can rest up after a long day, or join the optional Balkan night with dinner.

Start off the day with a guided city tour of Old Ohrid hosting hundreds of chapels and churches scattered all around. In the afternoon travel to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, for the night.

Prepare to discover the beautiful Skopje with a guided sightseeing tour filled with stunning architecture, grand monuments and unique history. Pose with the famous statue of Alexander the Great or walk through the Macedonian Arc de Triumph. The city has countless landmarks and a vibrant street life with many cafes and bars around. In the afternoon cross the border heading towards the second largest Greek city, Thessaloniki. In the evening, join the panoramic bus tour to discover the hidden gems of the city.

After breakfast, we depart for Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. Meteora is famous for its breath-taking scenery and ageless monasteries, almost suspended between the earth and sky. The town hosts one of the largest and steepest complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, literally named as “middle of the sky”. The World Heritage-listed site is out-of-this-world with its unique landscape of immense monolithic pillars and huge rounded boulders hosting monasteries on top, and one of the most visited locations in Greece. Each monastery has a central courtyard surrounded by chapels and living cells of monks, who have inhabited the region since the 11th century – for far less than the first inhabitants from 50,000 years ago. Later in the afternoon, hop on the bus for Delphi.

Eat up at breakfast, you will be discovering Delphi and all its wonders. Built high atop the cliffs with spectacular scenery, the town made its name in ancient Greek mythology. Chosen as the centre of the earth, here is where the famous powerful Oracles of Delphi resided. UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi had a tremendous influence in the ancient world, uniting many city-states under the Hellenic spirit as displayed in rich monuments and ancient stories. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic drive to Athens. As you get your bearings and all the information you need about the capital from your guide, arrive at the hotel to freshen up. Prepare to cap off the amazing tour Greek-style; bring in the mezes, it’s time to do some Sirtaki!

Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!