9 days Balkans Tour from Bucharest to Sofia and Budapest

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Bucharest - Devetashka - Lovech (230 km) ROMANIA + BULGARIA
4 stops
1
Departure at 08.00 from BUS STOP University Square in front of the statues.
Admission ticket free
2
Devetashka Cave
The Devetàshka cave is a picturesque karst cave near the waterfalls. Unlike other caves Devetàshka is very well lit and its floor is covered by lush greenery, especially in spring and summer, so sometimes it is hard to believe that one is actually underground.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
3
Krushunskiye Waterfalls
The Krushùna Falls are the biggest travertine cascade in Bulgaria, unique with its picturesque scenery, lush vegetation, numerous round-shaped terraces and small natural pools with mineral water. The main waterfall is about 20 m high and it splits into several smaller ones along its way down the soft limestone rocks.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Lovech
Overnight in a 4* hotel in Lovech.
9 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Day 2: Sunday – Lovech - Sofia (150 km) ROMANIA + BULGARIA
2 stops
5
Lovech
Visit Lovech with the Covered Bridge over the Osam River is another must-see attraction in Lovech. The bridge unites the two halves of the town and it’s a distinctive piece of construction and a significant representation of Lovech.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
6
Sofia
In the evening we will arrive in Sofia . The walking tour of city center will include the gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint (Sveta) Sofia Church , Banya Bashi Mosque, the Sofia Synagogue and the main shopping street Vitosha .
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Sofia – Rila – Skopje (350 km) BULGARIA +MACEDONIA
2 stops
7
Rila Monastery
After breakfast departure to Rila Monastery , Bulgaria's most famous tourist site ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) and founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan Rilsky (St John of Rila ) , a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church . The monastery , one of the largest in the Balkans , was the center of Bulgarian culture and Orthodox belief for more than 1000 years . Our tour includes a visit to the Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Skopje
In the early evening we will arrive in Skopje , the capital of Macedonia . Orientation tour of Skopje before arriving to your centrally located hotel.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Skopje – Ohrid (190 km) MACEDONIA
2 stops
9
Skopje
After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of Skopje (internationally famous for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa ) , with its most important landmarks : quay of the Macedonian river “Vardar”, the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar (is the biggest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today ), the Memorial house of Mother Teresa , the 1500 years old fortress Kale , Macedonia Square with the statue of Alexander The Great on horse .
2 hours • Admission ticket free
10
Ohrid
Ohrid ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) situated on the banks of the lake with the same name , perched on the border of Macedonia and Albania. Ohrid area has been the setting of thousands of years of human history and the old city center are testimony to its past. Lake Ohrid itself is Europe's oldest lake having formed over three millions years ago. The walking tour of the old city center will include the narrow streets and squares , the Anchient Theater , discover the famous old churches, monasteries and basilicas (Sveti Sofia Church ) , Tsar Samuil’s (Samuel’s) Fortress and pedestrian shopping street .
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Ohrid – Tirana – Shkoder (230 km) MACEDONIA + ALBANIA
1 stop
11
Tirana
Continue the tour crossing the Macedonian – Albanian border heading to Tirana, capital of Albania . The walking tour of city center of Tirana will reveal the main tourist attractions : Tirana’s massive main square – Skanderbeg , National History Museum, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Skanderbeg’s statue .
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Shkoder – Kotor - Trebinje (190 km) MONTENEGRO
1 stop
12
Kotor Old Town
In the evening you will arrive in Kotor and discover the fortified old town – Stari Grad ( Unesco World Heritage Site ) .
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Trebinje – Mostar – Sarajevo (240 km) BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA
2 stops
13
Mostar
After breakfast , we will head to Mostar where the focus of our attention will be the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built in 1566 the Mostar bridge has since been the main reason behind Mostar developing into the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately in November of 1993, during the Siege of Mostar, the bridge was destroyed. Reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge, we will thoroughly cover during our walking tour of Mostar. Since the Bridge, since then there’s been a tradition of bridge diving. Today young and brave Mostar divers compete to earn a few euros by diving off the bridge in front of the tourists from all around the world.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
14
Sarajevo
After we leave Mostar, we shall take an amazingly scenic road passing by the Jablanica lake and via the Neretva river canyon, we’ll arrive in Sarajevo. Walking tour of the old part and city centre of Sarajevo. Our 2.5 hour tour will cover the stories of origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. We shall visit the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, which both with its stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches and synagogues will reveal the true nature of the real European Jerusalem. We’ll make sure to visit the Latin Bridge and learn the story about how WWI was triggered right here, in the heart of Sarajevo. Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo will surely be part of our story today.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Sarajevo – Belgrad (400 km) CROATIA + SERBIA
1 stop
15
Belgrade
After breakfast we will head to Serbia and in the afternoon we will arrive to Belgrad, capital of Serbia. Visit the 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 the Danube rivers.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Belgrad – Novi Sad – Budapest (400 km) SERBIA + HUNGARY
2 stops
16
Novi Sad
After breakfast , departure to Budapest with a stop in Novi Sad where we will visit Zmaj Jovina Street, the promenade of Novi Sad and obligatory sight for any tourists, not least for the ornamental Palace of the Orthodox Bishop. We will see also y – Dunavska, street with its long line of single-storied 19th century houses. The Danube embankment, the outside of Petrovaradin Fortress on the other bank.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
17
Budapest
In the evening we will arrive to Budapest ,`´ The Queen of Danube “ , capital of Hungary .
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel

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