Western & Central Balkans Discovery

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Dubrovnik and transferred to Kotor. Kotor is located in one of the most beautiful bays in Montenegro. It is a city of traders and sailors dating from 12th Century. Charming squares are criss-crossed by narrow streets packed full of ancient churches including the Cathedral of St Tryphon. The famous city walls extend over 4km and are topped by the fortress of Saint Ivan. Visit the former palace of King Nikola, now Montenegro’s National Museum, whose lovely medieval walled city has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

After breakfast, continue to Budva. Take a guided tour of some of the city’s key sights, including the Sveti Ivan fortress. It is a modern town at the very edge of the Adriatic seashore - has a rich historic past. Ancient history goes back to the 5th century BC Illyrians times. According to numerous legends, Budva was the first town of the Illyrians (Albanians’ predecessors). Today Budva is the metropolis of the Montenegrin tourism, due to the numerous beaches that attract the tourists with their beauty. Apart from the natural beauty of the coves, islands and beaches, Budva is rich in historic monuments as well. The old town lies on a small peninsula and represents a treasure chest of the cultural heritage. Budva is intersected with numerous streets and squares, with important buildings that we are going to visit: Old City, Sveti Trojica Churc, Stanjevici Monastery, Ethnologic Museum. After the tour concludes you will have time for lunch (not included) and then return to Kotor to your hotel.

In the morning, you will continue to Sarajevo via Mostar where you will stop for a visit. Mostar was once one of the most celebrated tourist destinations in former Yugoslavia until the events of the Bosnian War overtook the city. The famous bridge held out during the nine month siege, being seen as a symbol of resistance to not only the inhabitants but also to the whole of the Bosnian Serbs. The sight of its final destruction struck a chord with every onlooker. Now, proudly rebuilt, it has helped the city regain its rightful position as a justifiable attraction – from both inland visitors and also for the cruise ships which stop at Dubrovnik on the nearby Croatian coast. Divers still leap daily into the depths below and the streets leading up to the single arch are packed with intriguing shops and lively cafes. The atmosphere here is relaxed, friendly and vibrant although it is not hard to wander off the main drag and stumble across war-torn buildings and crumbling ruins of once proud mansions. A constant reminder of the country's troubled past. You can walk across the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), recently reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. The cobbled old town stretches on both sides of the bridge and is filled with shops selling Turkish style souvenirs. Enjoy lunch and later drive to Sarajevo to your hotel.

Sarajevo has a reach and fascinating culture, which has been home to muslims, Croatians, Turks, Jews and Serbs. City with many diversities which shows unique link between East-West. We visit National Museum complex Botanical Garden of the National Museum of B&H placed in the central part of the city and makes a component of the National Museum complex. It is the only monument of this kind in Sarajevo. The Emperor's Mosque, the basilica and the Mosque of Gazi Husref-bey's covered market building (Gazi Husrefbegov bezistan). The Town Hall (Gradska vijeænica) It represents the most beautiful and the most representative building from Austro-Hungarian period, built in pseudo-Moorish style. Visit at the War Tunnel Museum (Tunnel of Hope). After the tour concludes return to hotel.

Meet your driver for a private transfer to Belgrade. The journey will take you through amazing scenery. After arrival you will check-in at the hotel.

Tonight you will enjoy a traditional dinner at Teatroteka restaurant, located in historical background of two old houses, now Theater museum and Museum of Vuk and Dositej. After dinner return to hotel.

The tour begins with a visit to the Belgrade Fortress, built on the high ground it is overlooking the confluence of two rivers: the Danub and Sava. The Fortress has a splendid view over New Belgrade, Zemun and Panonian Plain. It is skirted by the old Serbian quarter of Belgrade Kosancic Crescent with its cobbled road and painter's studies. and many elegant old houses worth visiting. They include the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral built in 1837 (dedicated to Archangel Michael) and Patriarchate (the Church's seat of power). Nearby is Princess Ljubica's House, and then a visit at Belgrade's oldest cafe known simply as "Strahinjica Bana". From there the city spans out in all directions: the pedestrian precinct of Prince Mihailo street, central Republic Square dominated by a massive statue of Princ Mihailo on horseback, the National Museum and National Theatre on the same square with many popular cafes and restaurants around. From Prince Mihailova Street where the atmosphere of the old times is combined with the glamour of modern shops, a straight line leads into Terazije square at the very center of the town dominated by hotel Moskva, a fine example of Belle Époque architecture and Terazije Fountain, and then follows the old Palace, now home of the City Assembly, and the New Palace, now the office of the President of Serbia. Nearby is the monument of the Nobel Prize winner - Ivo Andric. The street ends in Vracar Square with the Church of St Sava Temple of St Sava one of the biggest orthodox temples. return to hotel.

Arrive in Skopje and take a short city tour in Macedonia’s capital. This city offers everything, from the ancient monuments with historical and cultural values to the modern life which is a characteristic of the metropolis. Explore the Old Turkish Market, one of the biggest and oldest in Europe, Hamam of Davud Pasha the biggest in the region, the National Museum of Art and the National Theatre reconstructed over the ruins of the old one which was destroyed by the earthquake that dispersed the city in 1963, that Kale’s Fortes built in XVI. Visit Sveti Spas Church of 1867. In the afternoon you will continue to Ohrid.

After breakfast, we visit Ohrid. This city, which lies along the amazing coast of Ohrid Lake, covers the most attractive part of Macedonia and is one of ancient locality in Europe. Concerning the historical and cultural values Ohrid is protected from UNESCO and it is called a museum – city also. After arrival in Ohrid, we have a city tour to explore: Shen Sofia church, Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Amphitheatre long the ancient Egnatia Street, Czar Samuel Castle and the Museum nearby. Afternoon we continue to Sveti Naum. Visit to St. Naum Monastery. Return to hotel.

The tour continues as you travel Berat. Berat and Gjirokastra are inscribed as rare examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. Located in central Albania, Berat bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries. It features a castle, locally known as the Kala, most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back to the 4th century BC. Berat is one of the most important Museum Town of Albania, UNESCO Heritage, and sometimes called 'the city of a thousand windows' for the many windows in its red-roofed houses. The visit of Berat includes the fortress and Chapel of St Marina of Blachemae along the ridge above the gorge. Return to hotel.

Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

After breakfast, the tour continues to Saranda with a short visit to Apollonia. This archeological site was founded in 588 BC and taken by Aristotle as a model in his analysis of oligarchy, because of its distinct and separate Greek and Illyrian communities. It was a vital stronghold in Caesar's civil war with Pompey and also important in early Christian history with its bishop attending the councils of Ephesus and Chlalkis in 431 and 451 AD. You will visit its museum, Shen Meri Monastery and Church. Continue to Saranda by passing through Llogara Pass where can be see a great view of Ionian Sea and Albanian Riviera.

After breakfast, visit to ruins Antic City of Butrint, Albania's most important archaeological site. Butrint dates from the 7th century BC, later becoming a Roman colony, then falling under the sway of the Venetians and Turks. Virgil claimed that the Trojans settled Butrint, but no evidence of this has been found. Within a century of the Greeks arriving, Butrint had become a fortified trading city with its own acropolis, the ruins of which we can still visit. The rediscovered city is a microcosm of almost 3,000 years of Mediterranean history, and its 6th century BC fortification evokes the city's military power and symbolizes the rich culture of the once thriving ancient city. You will explore the amphitheatre, Venetian tower, mosaic, lion gate, etc. This will be followed by lunch in Ksamil with a great view of 3 islands.

Start your day by driving to Gjirokastra where you will visit the pre-Ottoman citadel with a Weapons Museum and former political prison. After a stroll around town, where many of the buildings retain their original architecture and construction on wood and stone work continue to drive to Tirana. Tirana is located on a plain on the site of a Byzantine fortress and has been the capital since 1920. After arrival check-in at your hotel.

Enjoy a full day tour to Kruja, a small charas town perched on a hill and famous for being the center of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks under Albanian National Hero Scanderbeg. You will visit the Castle, Scanderbeg Museum, and a very rich Ethnographic Museum situated in an original house of a feudal family in the 17th century. This was home to an extensive self reliable family of 40 who were able to produce almost everything they needed within its walls. After the visits you will be taken through the Old Bazaar with hand crafted souvenirs and antiques. Enjoy a traditional Lunch in Kruja ( optional) afterwards depart for Durres one of the oldest and most important cities in Albania. The town was established under the name Epidamnus in the year 627 B.C. by Korintha and Korkyra colonists, on the area of an ancient settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Taulant. One of the causes of the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC, it was later to become a very important staging post for the Roman Empire. You will visit the Amphitheatre, and the Archaeological museum, rich in artifacts found in the city and its suburbs. Return to Tirana.

Enjoy  a farewell dinner at local restaurant.

Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.