Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA +MACEDONIA

Sofia - Depart from Sofia in the morning at 9 a.m.

Rila Monastery - Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most renowned tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was established in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila), a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. This monastery, one of the largest in the Balkans, has been a hub of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox faith for over a millennium. Our tour includes a visit to the Church, notable for its artistic value, adorned by the leading 19th-century masters from the Samokov, Bansko, and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving.

Skopje - Continue driving south to the Bulgarian-Macedonian border. We will arrive in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, in the early evening. Enjoy an orientation tour of Skopje before checking into your hotel.

Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA

Old Bazaar, Skopje - Take a walking tour of Skopje, internationally known as the birthplace of Mother Teresa, and see its key landmarks: the quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar,” the narrow streets of the Old Bazaar (the largest preserved bazaar in the Balkans today), the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, the 1500-year-old fortress Kale, and Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horseback.

Lake Ohrid - Continue the tour and drive to Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the shores of the lake of the same name, straddling the border of Macedonia and Albania. The Ohrid area has witnessed thousands of years of human history, and the old city center reflects its rich past. Lake Ohrid is Europe’s oldest lake, formed over three million years ago. The walking tour of the old city center includes its narrow streets and squares, the Ancient Theater, and the famous old churches, monasteries, and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church), Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress, and the pedestrian shopping street.

Ohrid – Tirana – Shkoder (230 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA

Skanderbeg Square - Continue the tour, crossing the Macedonian-Albanian border to Tirana, the capital of Albania. The walking tour of Tirana’s city center will showcase the main tourist attractions: Tirana’s expansive main square – Skanderbeg, the National History Museum, the Palace of Culture, the National Bank, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and Skanderbeg’s statue.

Shkoder – Kotor - Trebinje (190 km) MONTENEGRO

Budva - Depart for Budva, Montenegro, crossing the Albanian-Montenegro border. Stop to visit the Old Town walls of Budva and see the key sites: Ballerina and Mogren Beach, Land Gate, Ancient Necropolis, Square of Churches, Citadel, Njegoš’s Street, marina, Mediternaska Street, and Slovenska Plaza.

Kotor Old City - Arrive in Kotor in the evening and explore the fortified old town – Stari Grad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trebinje – Mostar – Sarajevo (240 km) BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA

Mostar - After breakfast, head to Mostar, focusing on the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built in 1566, the Mostar bridge has been central to Mostar’s development as the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately, the bridge was destroyed in November 1993 during the Siege of Mostar. The reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge will be thoroughly covered during our walking tour of Mostar. Since then, there has been a tradition of bridge diving, with young and brave Mostar divers competing to earn a few euros by diving off the bridge in front of tourists from around the world.

Sarajevo - After leaving Mostar, take a scenic road passing by Jablanica Lake and through the Neretva River canyon to arrive in Sarajevo. Enjoy a walking tour of Sarajevo’s old part and city center. Our 2.5-hour tour will cover the origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. We will visit the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, with its stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues, revealing the true nature of the real European Jerusalem. We’ll also visit the Latin Bridge and learn how WWI was triggered right here in Sarajevo. Stories of Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo will also be part of our tour.

Sarajevo – Belgrad (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA

Belgrade - After breakfast, head to Serbia, arriving in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, in the afternoon. Visit Republic Square, the National Theater and the National Museum, Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, the only mosque in the city, Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, “Victor” the most famous symbol of Belgrade, and the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

Belgrad – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY

Novi Sad - After breakfast, depart for Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad to visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad, and a must-see for tourists, especially for the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. We will also see Dunavska Street with its long line of single-storied 19th-century houses, the Danube embankment, and the exterior of Petrovaradin Fortress on the opposite bank.

Budapest - Arrive in Budapest in the evening, known as “The Queen of the Danube,” the capital of Hungary.

• Professional tour leader and local tour guides in Skopje, Tirana, Sarajevo
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle for the entire tour
• 7 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
• Breakfast

• Tips for the Driver/ Tour Guide (5 euro/day/person)
• Entrance fees at museums/churches