Grand Balkan Tour

The Balkans is a land of great diversity and textures that one gets blown up by the colors, cultures, hospitality, food, landscape and above all the ethnicities. Our Balkan Tour has been tailored to offer you a journey throughout three diverse countries and their colorful pageant of art, history and culture.

Overview

Day 01: Arrival Belgrade

Day 02: Belgrade

Day 03: Belgrade - Mokra Gora - Sargan - Visegrad - Zlatibor

Day 04: Ethno Village - Studenica - Sopocani - Novi Pazar

Day 05: Novi Pazar - Monastery Decani - Pristina

Day 06: Pristina - Monastery Gracanica - Skopje - Ohrid

Day 07: Ohrid

Day 08: Ohrid - Berat

Day 09: Berat - Durres  - Kruje - Tirana

Day 10: Tirana-Airport

Country: Serbia-Kosovo-Macedonia-Albania
Duration: 10 Days-9 Nights

Day 01: Arrival Belgrade (SERBIA) 

Our journey of the bewildering Balkans starts at the heart of Belgrade. Belgrade is a beautiful romantic and medieval city renowned as one of the most charming cities in Eastern Europe. We are warmly received and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight:  Belgrade

Day 02: Belgrade

Enjoy today a city tour of Belgrade, capital of Serbia since 1403, when Despot Stefan, son of Prince Lazar, moved his palace here.  We will start our day by driving through the streets of Belgrade. First we will see New Belgrade on the left bank of the River Sava, with both Communist-styles as well as very modern apartment blocks.

Highlights:

• Gardos Tower.
  • Dedinje.
  • Memorial Complex of Josip Broz Tito (the legendary president of Former Yugoslavia).
  • St. Sava Church.
  • Church of St. Marko
  • Royal Palaces of the Serbian dynasties

In the afternoon we will continue our tour by walking from the elegant Republic Square, where we will make a close inspection of its architectonic monuments such as the National Theatre and the National Museum. Our visit to the fort will start with the Upper fortress area. Welcome dinner at the local Bohemian quarters of Skadarlija with Serbian cuisine and music. Overnight Belgrade.

Day 03: Belgrade-Mokra Gora-Sargan-Visegrad-Zlatibor (287 Km, 5 hours driving time)

We start with a memorable nostalgic 15Kms. ride on the old and narrow gauge steam train, “Sarganska Osmica”. Capturing breathtaking scenery through 20 tunnels, 10 bridges and as many viaducts, the trail cut its path through fascinating landscapes of Serbia and Bosnia. Cross River Drina bordering Serbia with Bosnia & Herzegovina. Nestled here at a particularly beautiful viewpoint is Višegrad. Just like the well-known city of Mostar, Višegrad has a famous stone bridge built by the Ottomans in 1571. Ascend Mount Zlatibor National Park known for its beauty and intact nature. Our final destination is a unique and charming ethno village - an open-air museum displaying traditional architecture, handicrafts and world famous hand-knitted clothes. We walk through the village before checking into our hotel.
Overnight: Ethno Village on Mt. Zlatibor

Day 04: Zlatibor-Studenica-Sopocani-Novi Pazar (217 Km, 3.5 hours driving time)

This day we will explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monastery Studenica. The complex consists of the fascinating Churches of the Virgin, (1183 - 1196), SS Joachim & Anne and that of St. Nicholas. A short drive gets us to one of the most treasured sacral buildings of the Nemanjić era, the Monastery Sopoćani), with mural paintings amongst the most magnificent in European medieval art. Evening we take a walking tour of the town with a population of only 60,000.
Overnight:  Novi Pazar

Day 05: Novi Pazar-Monastery Decani (Kosovo)-Pristina (222 Km, 4 hours driving time)

After breakfast we drive to Kosovo – one of the newest countries in the world. The Monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija are world renowned for their beauty. We visit Decani Monastery and Patriarchate of Peć. Dečani Church boasts the richest and most preserved sculpture from the Romanesque-Gothic style. At the Patriarchate of Peć we visit the oldest church built in the 13th Century. Drive to the capital city of Pristina where we stroll along its streets and Main Square.
Overnight:  Pristina

Day 06: Pristina-Monastery Gracanica-Skopje (Macedonia)-Ohrid (267 Km, 4 hours driving time)

After an early breakfast we drive to the 14th Century Monastery of Gracanica. Its architectural structure represents the apex of Serbian buildings that followed the spirit of the Byzantine tradition. Cross Kosovo to the historical country of Macedonia and drive to the capital city, Skopje tracing its origin from over 2000 years. Our exploration starts with a walking tour of the old town “Charshi”, where lies the Stone Bridge - a symbol of Skopje built by the Ottomans in the 15thC. Here we see the marvels including the Church St. Spas, the Old Bazaar, Fortress Kale (with walls dating back from the 6thC), Mustapha Pasha Mosque (a marvel of Ottoman architecture erected in 1492 with the earliest wall paintings), Daut Pasa Bath (a masterpiece of Islamic architecture from the 15thC). Next stop is Ohrid.
Overnight:  Ohrid

Day 07: Ohrid, one of Europe's best kept Secrets

Our day starts with a walking tour around the old town-museum of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town was known in ancient times as Lychnidos, the City of Lights. Slavs gave it the name of Arida in the 10thC, and it became a major center of culture and art for this area. It is the cradle of Slavic written language and literature, from where the alphabet called Cyrillic was created by the two brothers Cyril and Methody. Ohrid is also known as the “City of 365 churches “we visit, not all, but the most important one, culminating with a walk through the local bazaar. Afternoon is free to enjoy Ohrid at our own leisure.

Day 08: Ohrid-Berat (157 Km, 2.5 hours driving time)

After breakfast we drive along Lake Ohrid and enter Albania. Our stop will be Berat, know also as the “city of one thousand windows”, and has been declared as a museum city. The old name of the city was Antipatrea. It is built on the slopes of mountain Timori, with a castle dominating the city. At the Onufri Museum, we see paintings by this outstanding painter from the 16thC, as well as paintings from his son Nikolla. In the old part of the town we visit several Byzantine churches known for their inspiring architecture.
Overnight: Berat

Day 09: Berat-Durres-Kruje-Tirana (163 Km, 3 hours driving time)

Following breakfast we drive to Durres, the Albania’s second largest city and one of its oldest town. Legend has it that Durrazzo was founded by the Illyrian King, Epidamnos who called it by his own name. It was for centuries the largest port on the Adriatic and got back into world highlights when in 1939, the Italian troops met brief but fierce resistance, and those killed defending it are now regarded as the first martyrs of the War of National Liberation. Our visit here includes the Roman amphitheatre. At Tirana our visit includes the Skanderbeg Square in the centre of the town, the 1789 old Mosque of Et’hem Bey, the 1830 Clock Tower and the Palace of Culture housing the Opera. Evening at leisure.
Overnight:  Tirana

Day 10: Tirana-Airport (18 Km, 3 min driving time)

After breakfast in the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport. End of our service.

Km traveled:  1331