Balkan Explorer

Welcome to Athens, the capital city of Greece! Start your day with a meet and greet with your tour leader and group at the hotel. After an overview of the itinerary, embark on an orientation tour of Athens, exploring its top attractions like the Academy, National Library, Greek parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian’s Arch, and the temple of Olympian Zeus. In the evening, savor your first taste of Greek cuisine with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Travel north through the Greek mainland, stopping off in Delphi, once considered the 'navel' of the earth. Admire the Sanctuary of Apollo, see the Treasury of the Athenians, and visit the museum of Delphi. Arrive in Meteora in the afternoon, home to a large complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Explore St. Stephen's Monastery, take in the views of Kalambaka, and catch a glimpse of the Holy Trinity Monastery. Spend the night in the nearby town of Kalambaka.

Travel to North Macedonia and the undiscovered jewel of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Explore the Old Town on a guided tour and see famous sights, including the Church of St. John at Kaneo. Finish off the day with an included dinner.

Depart North Macedonia and journey to its Balkan neighbour Albania, driving into the capital city, Tirana. Enjoy an included lunch before setting off on an introductory walking tour. Discover buildings painted in bright colours and fascinating Ottoman, Italian and Communist architecture. This evening, choose to join the Evening in Tirana optional excursion for an eye-opening museum visit and delicious dinner at a traditional local restaurant.

Travel through Montenegro, stopping at the picturesque coastal town of Budva, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city. Next, make a comfort stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Kotor. Later, continue onwards to Croatia. On arrival in Dubrovnik, your tour leader will take you to the entrance gate to the Old Town. Enjoy a free evening to explore Dubrovnik.

Join a local guide for a walking tour of the Old Town to see the Franciscan Monastery, the City Walls and more. Then, embark on a walking tour from the stunning Amerling Fountain. The rest of the day is free to explore Dubrovnik's incredible history! For the ultimate experience in Dubrovnik, choose to join today’s optional excursion for a must-see discovery of the city’s rich historic and cultural heritage.

Today, journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina and visit the beautiful medieval town of Mostar. This enchanting town has been rejuvenated following the tumultuous years of the Bosnian War. Its most famous site is Stari Most Bridge which is an icon of the city. Enjoy free time to explore Mostar’s numerous religious buildings and see the Roman and Ottoman influences before travelling back to Northern Croatia this evening.

Begin the day with a visit to the picturesque Plitvice Lakes National Park, known for its cascading waterfalls and dynamic landscape. Next, travel to the pint-sized city of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Join a local guide on a walking tour of this fairytale city. Later, choose to join the Slovenian evening optional excursion for a fun night of live music, singing and dancing with a three-course meal.

Travel into Hungary and head for the capital, Budapest. Straddling the historic Danube River, Budapest is well-preserved and boasts numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Arrive and enjoy a driving tour of the city with a local guide to see top sights such as the Castle District and the Hungarian Parliament buildings. Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight and toast to the first night in Budapest!

Enjoy a free day to explore Budapest! Discover the partially exposed 1,800-year-old Roman city, relax in the green spaces, or explore the variety of churches and mosques. Alternatively, choose to soak in the thermal waters of the Budapest Baths. Tonight, why not enjoy a mesmerising view of Budapest during an optional dinner cruise on the Danube? It’s sure to be an unforgettable night!

Say goodbye to Budapest as the tour continues onwards to Belgrade in Serbia. Make a comfort stop in Novi Sad before arriving in Serbia’s capital city and embarking on a walking tour with a local guide. Look forward to seeing the city’s highlights including Republic Square, the Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner with the group.

See more of Serbia this morning. Today’s first destination is Niš. Enjoy a lunch stop in this historic city in south-eastern Serbia that was ruled by the Turks from the 14th to the 19th century. Visit the quaint cobbled streets of Tinkers Alley (Kazandžijsko Sokače). Afterwards, travel onwards to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city. Get to know the main sights on a driving and walking tour of Sofia - this is a perfect introduction to this bustling Bulgarian capital city! Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight.

Enjoy a free day to explore Sofia! A young and vibrant city, the capital of Bulgaria offers a mesmerising east-meets-west atmosphere against a backdrop of contrasting communist and contemporary architecture. There’s a partially exposed 1,800-year-old Roman city to discover, plenty of green spaces to relax in and a variety of churches and mosques to explore. Alternatively, the optional excursion to Rila Monastery is highly recommended today. This ancient Eastern Orthodox monastery features striking architecture, important historical relics and beautiful frescoes and is surrounded by the stunning Rila Monastery Nature Park.

After two weeks spent encountering the magic of the Balkans, today the tour heads back to Greece! In the afternoon, arrive in the northern port city of Thessaloniki and embark on an orientation tour of the historic centre. Its compact size makes it a delightfully walkable city! The orientation tour wraps up at the Thessaloniki waterfront, close to the famous White Tower. Here, there are plenty of restaurants and bars. Make the most of a free evening tonight - why not choose a spot and enjoy an evening of delicious Greek food and lively nightlife?

Head south through the Greek countryside. Today the tour returns to Athens. Along the way, enjoy a stop in Kamena Vourla which is located on the south coast of the Malian Gulf. Here, find a local spot to grab lunch in this scenic destination. Next, it’s time to get back on the road. Arrive in Athens later today. Check into the hotel in Athens before enjoying a farewell group dinner. It’s officially the last night of the tour which means it's the perfect opportunity to reminisce about an incredible time spent exploring the Balkans and make a few more memories before the tour ends tomorrow.

After breakfast, this 16-day Balkan extravaganza concludes. The time has come to say your goodbyes to your fellow travellers. We hope you have enjoyed your tour with Expat Explore!