Grand Balkans Tour

About the tour

Tour programme

The daily route follows the programme in the catalogue. A detailed itinerary is shared with the quote.

Places to see

Countries

• Bulgaria
• Serbia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• Albania
• North Macedonia
• Greece

• Sofia

  The capital of Bulgaria. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in the early 20th century, the 16th-century Banya Bashi Mosque attributed to Mimar Sinan, and the Roman-era remains of Serdica stand side by side in the city centre.

• Belgrade

  The capital of Serbia, set where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. Belgrade Fortress, overlooking the rivers, and the surrounding Kalemegdan Park are the city's main historic area; pedestrianised Knez Mihailova Street is the main axis of the centre.

• Sarajevo

  The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Baščaršija, which grew up in the Ottoman period, and the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, completed in 1531, form the heart of the old town. The city was the scene of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 and of the 1984 Winter Olympics.

• Mostar

  The Old Bridge (Stari Most) over the River Neretva was built in 1566 in the Ottoman period, destroyed during the war in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. The area around the Old Bridge was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.

• Blagaj

  Near Mostar, the Blagaj Tekke, an Ottoman-era Sufi lodge, stands beside the spring where the River Buna emerges from the foot of a cliff. The tekke and the area around the spring are protected as a national monument in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Počitelj

  A historic town on a hillside by the River Neretva, about 30 km south of Mostar. Fortified in the 15th century, the town came under Ottoman rule in 1471; it is known for its stone houses, its fortress and its 16th-century Ottoman buildings.

• Dubrovnik

  On the Adriatic coast, the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik was historically the centre of the Republic of Ragusa. The old town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979; a walkway along the top of the walls encircles the city.

• Kotor

  A medieval town at the foot of the mountains in the inner part of the Bay of Kotor. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979; Venetian-era walls climb the slope above the town.

• Budva

  A town on Montenegro's Adriatic coast with a history of about 2,500 years. The walled Old Town stands on a small peninsula; its historic fabric, damaged in the 1979 earthquake, was restored by 1987. With its beaches, it is a summer holiday resort.

• Tirana

  The capital of Albania since 1920. Around Skanderbeg Square in the city centre stand the Et'hem Bey Mosque, begun in the late 18th century and completed in the early 19th century, and the Clock Tower.

• Ohrid

  This town on the shore of Lake Ohrid is known for its churches and its ancient theatre. The natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its natural values in 1979 and its cultural values in 1980.

• Skopje

  The capital of North Macedonia, set on the banks of the River Vardar. The Ottoman-era Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque and the Fortress make up the city's historic fabric; Mother Teresa was also born in Skopje in 1910.

Photos

What's covered and notes

Who is it for?

• History and culture enthusiastsDiscover historic and cultural heritage on site, with a guide's commentary.
• Corporate groupsSuitable for team trips, incentive programmes and company events.
• FamiliesA programme that participants of all ages can enjoy together.

Practical information

Visa and entry requirements may change; check the current situation with the relevant consulate before you travel.

Frequently asked questions