Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
$6620
Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
16 Days Starting in Bucharest, Romania and ending in Belgrade, Serbia
Visiting: Bucharest, Brasov, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia, Skopje, Tirana, Budva, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE966ZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the Balkans with the "Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group" tour. This immersive experience takes you through eight captivating countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia. Discover the rich history and culture of the region with highlights such as a private visit to Bran Castle in Romania, exploring the medieval streets of Dubrovnik, and a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River in Sarajevo. Enjoy authentic dining experiences, including a dinner in a Sarajevan family home and a Dine-Around evening in Dubrovnik. With expert local guides, you'll explore iconic sites like the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, the Old Town of Kotor, and the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes, ensuring a memorable adventure through the heart of the Balkans.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
- Sarajevo: Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.
Top Rated Highlights
- Bucharest: During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters.
- Bucharest: Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert.
- Sinaia: Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Pele? Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
- Veliko Tarnovo: Ascend Tsarevets, the King's Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
- Arbanasi: At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th-century merchants' house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity.
- Sofia: Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
- Skopje: Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
- Tirana: Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
- Kotor: Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
- Dubrovnik: Explore the Pearl of the Adriatic with your Local Expert. Walk the stone-paved streets of the Old Town to see Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace and the medieval city walls. Admire the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries.
- Mostar: Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
- Belgrade: A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theater, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
Make Travel Matter
Sarajevo: You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savor the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture. This experience advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Authentic Dining
Bucharest: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your dinner.
Dubrovnik: You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.
Sarajevo: Experience authentic Bosnian coffee and learn about the traditional ritual of coffee preparation.
Belgrade: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.
Insight Choice
Sarajevo: Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Bucharest
Location: Bucharest
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Bucharest
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Bucharest And Castles Of Transylvania
Location: Bucharest
Accommodation: Aro Palace, Brasov.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Mary’s Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.
Day 3: Brasov And Sinaia
Location: Brasov
Accommodation: Aro Palace, Brasov.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Peleș Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armor and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Brașov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church.
Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo
Location: Veliko Tarnovo
Accommodation: Yantra Hotel, Veliko Tarnovo.
Accommodation Name: Yantra, Veliko Tarnovo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Day 5: To Sofia Relaxed Start
Location: Sofia
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia
Accommodation Name: Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th-century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Day 6: Sofia At Your Pace Relaxed Start
Location: Sofia
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia
Accommodation Name: Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?
Day 7: Skopje
Location: Skopje
Accommodation: Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje.
Accommodation Name: Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.
Day 8: Lake Ohrid And Tirana
Location: Tirana
Accommodation: MAK Albania Hotel Tirana.
Accommodation Name: MAK Albania, Tirana
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals. Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider’s look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.
Day 9: Journey To Montenegro’S Budva
Location: Budva
Accommodation Name: TQ Plaza, Budva
Meals Included: Breakfast
Soak up Montenegro’s natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where your Travel Director will provide an orientation tour before you have the rest of the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami' on your own. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by.
Day 10: Kotor And Dubrovnik
Location: Kotor
Accommodation Name: Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the Old Town of Kotor, known as Stari Grad. Located beside a beautiful bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen, its no surprise it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening.
Day 11: Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start
Location: Dubrovnik
Accommodation Name: Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th-century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls, and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea and visit a local winery.
Day 12: Mostar And Sarajevo
Location: Sarajevo
Accommodation: Swissotel Sarajevo.
Accommodation Name: Europe, Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for dinner. Savor the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories.
Day 13: Sarajevo, City Of Culture
Location: Sarajevo
Accommodation: Swissotel Sarajevo.
Accommodation Name: Europe, Sarajevo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo’s astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.
Day 14: The Serbian Capital Of Belgrade Relaxed Start
Location: Belgrade
Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.
Day 15: The Best Of Belgrade Relaxed Start
Location: Belgrade
Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theater in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travelers for dinner this evening.
Day 16: Farewell Belgrade
Location: Belgrade
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that’s left is to say a fond doviđenja as you bid your new friends farewell.
What's Included
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Choice Highlights
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Sarajevo, including a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River or meeting an expert of the Bosnian War.
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Top Rated Highlights
Experience guided sightseeing in various cities including Bucharest, Sinaia, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia, Skopje, Ohrid, Tirana, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Mostar, and Belgrade.
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Make Travel Matter
Participate in experiences that advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as a dinner with a Sarajevan family and a nature walk in Sarajevo.
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Authentic Dining
Enjoy authentic dining experiences including dinner in Bucharest, a Dine-Around Evening in Dubrovnik, and Bosnian coffee in Sarajevo.
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Insight Choice
In Sarajevo, choose between visiting the Tunnel of Hope with a Bosnian War expert or a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River.
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Dining Summary
The tour includes 6 dinners, 15 breakfasts, and 3 dinners with wine.
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Additional Included Highlights
Personal radio headsets, hotel and restaurant tips, taxes, porterage charges, and complimentary Wi-Fi are included.
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Insight Experiences
Enjoy a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle and learn about Count Dracula, followed by dinner.
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Well-being
Travel in comfort with Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned coach, equipped with hand sanitizer and maintained to high standards.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as a visit to Rila Monastery or a trip to Cavtat are not included in the tour package.
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Transfers Outside Scheduled Times
Transfers are only available at scheduled times.
If your flights are outside these times, you may need to purchase transfers or make your own arrangements.
Dining Summary
6 Dinner (D)15 Breakfast (B)3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Additional Included Highlights
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
Bran: Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle, following a traditional dinner.
Well-being
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style and comfort on Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom, ensuring a relaxing journey through the Balkans.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury at the Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest, Radisson Blu Aurum in Bra?ov, Yantra in Veliko Tarnovo, Grand Millennium Sofia, Bushi Resort & Spa in Skopje, MAK Albania in Tirana, TQ Plaza in Budva, Kompas Dubrovnik, and Europe in Sarajevo, with a final stay at Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are offered in Sarajevo during the tour?
In Sarajevo, you have the option to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to the Tunnel of Hope, where you can hear a first-hand account of the city's siege. Alternatively, you can take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, led by a conservation guide, which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
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What is the significance of the visit to Bran Castle in Romania?
The visit to Bran Castle is significant as it includes a private after-hours tour where you can learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula. This experience is followed by a dinner, providing a unique insight into the history and legends associated with the castle.
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How does the tour incorporate local culture and cuisine?
The tour incorporates local culture and cuisine by inviting guests into a Sarajevan family home for dinner, where you can savor authentic Bosnian cuisine and hear inspirational stories about their culture. Additionally, in Dubrovnik, you have the option to choose from a selection of charming restaurants for a Dine-Around evening.
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What are some of the historical sites visited in Bucharest?
In Bucharest, the tour includes sightseeing with a Local Expert to view University Square and the former Communist Headquarters. You will also visit the immense Palace of Parliament, one of the most impressive buildings in the world, and learn about its history.
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What can travelers expect to see in Dubrovnik?
In Dubrovnik, travelers can expect to explore the stone-paved streets within the 16th-century bastions. Highlights include Onofrio's Fountain, the Rector's Palace, the city walls, and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for further exploration or optional experiences.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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