Grand Balkan Tour – Dubrovnik to Sofia

In the morning you meet with your tour guide and continue driving to Bosnia & Hercegovina. Our first destination is Blagaj Tekke. This popular religious landmark stands by the source of the Buna River and has beautiful surroundings. After learning more about the Bektashi religion, we transfer to Mostar. The old town has a unique eastern vibe in culture and construction. The famous Stari Most stands high above the Neretva River and gathers tourists from around the globe. Accommodation in Mostar.

Today we transfer to Montenegro to discover the splendid Adriatic coast. Kotor Old Town is listed under UNESCO World Heritage and is beautifully located in the Bay of Kotor. It is shaped with irregular streets and small squares which were built to make invaders feel lost in the past and nowadays do the same to tourists. Next, we transfer to another old town built by the Venetian Empire during the Middle Ages. Budva is the capital of Montenegro tourism with long beaches, a nice marina, hundreds of cafes, and a summer vibe. Accommodation in Budva.

In the morning we cross the border to Albania and visit the symbol of Shkoder, Rozafa castle. It was built by the Illyrian tribe of Labeat in the 4th century B.C. and it offers great panoramic views of Lake Skadar, Buna, and Drin River. Later we head to the center city to visit St. Stephen's cathedral, walk along the promenade, and visit the Great Mosque. In the afternoon, we transfer to the capital of Albania. During the evening you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife in the Bllok area. Accommodation in Tirana.

After breakfast, we start exploring the city at a calm pace. Tirana is quite a new city developed in the last 200 years. The city has famous landmarks from the Ottoman area such as Et’hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower. While walking with your local guide, you will visit the Pyramid of Tirana, Mother Theresa Square, Martyr’s Boulevard, and more. After a traditional lunch, we transfer to Mount Dajt to visit the largest bunker in Albania. BunkArt was built during the 70s as a protection for the communist leaders against a possible attack during the Cold War. In the afternoon free time.

The experience continues to North Macedonia. Ohrid is known for its historic buildings in the old town situated by the lake shores. During the Roman Empire, the famous trading route Via Egnatia passed here and many merchants brought with them not only goods but also their culture. The walking tour strolls around hundreds of churches, the ancient amphitheater, and the medieval Samuel’s fortress on the top of the hill. Accommodation in Ohrid.

After a refreshing morning that the calm city of Ohrid creates, we drive to the capital of North Macedonia. On the way, we take a detour to Matka Canyon to visit the emerald lake and perhaps join a kayaking experience. Skopje is divided into two parts by the Varda river, where Albanians and Macedonians co-live together. The city tour takes you to fortress Kale, which offers great panoramic views of the capital. Then we continue walking through the Old Bazaar to visit the Mustafa Pasha mosque and feel the Ottoman influence. After we visited sites like the Stone Bridge, the center square, Gate Macedonia, and the Memorial House of Mother Theresa. Accommodation in Skopje.

The trip continues to the youngest country in Europe. Kosovo is an interesting destination with much history to discover. Prishtina is quite new and renovated after the war at the end of the 90s. The guided tour strolls across Mother Theresa Cathedral, the National Library, the Newborn Monument, and Skanderbeg Square. Later we transfer to Kosovo Polje, the area where the famous war between the Ottoman Empire and the Serbian Empire took place in the 14th century. In the afternoon we return to Skopje.

After breakfast, we drive towards Bulgaria. Crossing through high mountains, we reach a hidden medieval monastery. Rila Monastery was built in the 10th century by protector Saint John of Rila and serves as a pillar of the Bulgarian spirit even today. The complex has been renovated, and now it offers spectacular churches with frescos and icons. After a delicious lunch in the mountains, we continue to the capital Sofia. Afternoon free time to enjoy a drink in Vitosha street. Accommodation in Sofia.

In the morning, you will meet with our local guide and continue the city tour. Sofia was an important city in antiquity and nowadays you can visit the ruins of old Serdika. The guided tour will take you to the great Alexander Nevski which stands as the symbol of the city. Then you will visit the National Art Gallery, the Parlament building, Church St. George Rotunda, and Banya Bashi Mosque, and drink at the local springs as the locals do. In the afternoon free time to explore at your own pace. Accommodation in Sofia.

Transfer to Sofia International Airport as per your schedule.