Grand Balkan Tour

1. Day
Arrival at Skopje airport Transfer to the centre of the town , accommodation on BB base in the hotel 3*Night walking tour with the local guide about 30 minutes Dinner at the national restaurant Makedonska Kuca (Macedonian house ) Menu Macedonian specialties .

2. Day
Panorama trip by bus trough Skopje with the local guide. Visiting the old town of Skopje, later walking tour about one hour visiting famous Skopje market –bazaar ~Bit Pazar~ continuing later along the highway road to town of Tetovo visiting the famous mosque ~Sarena Dzamija~ , later continuing towards the road along the Canyon of the Radika river towards famous monastery complex St. Jovan Bigorski , after visiting the monastery traveling to Ohrid. Late afternoon arrival at Ohrid .Accommodation at the 3* hotel in Ohrid based on HB services.

3. Day
Trip to St. Naum , a village south east from Ohrid visiting famous Monastery St. Naum from 8th century. Traveling along the Ohrid lake enjoying the magnificent views of the lake . Later traveling back to Ohrid , walking tour with the local guide and visiting the old town of Ohrid , St. Sofia church , Roman amphitheatre , St. Kliment church ,St. Jovan Kaneo church and on the return to Ohrid a trip by boat to enjoy the views from the lake to the town .Town of Ohrid is enlisted to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage . On return dinner at the hotel

4.Day
Departure from Ohrid towards Albania direction Elbasan along the river Skumbin towards Berat . Berat is Albania’s most beautiful town; lying in a picturesque setting on the banks of the Osum River, it is ringed by the Tomorr and Shpirag Mountains . Berat is also known as ~The town of a thousand windows~ Town is enlisted at UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage Accommodation in 3* hotel in Berat. Sightseeingof the Berat fortress with the local guide.

5.Day
Trip Beart towards Fier . On the way visit to Apollonia . The ancient site of Apollonia was an important port along the route between Rome and Byzantium. Emperor Octavian Augustus studied philosophy there. The archaeological site of Apollonia is located in central-western part of Albania, about 10 km west of Fier. Apollonia was founded in 558 BC by settlers from Corfu and Corinth. Later continuing to Durres . Accommodation in 4* hotel . Trip from Durres along the highway towards Tirana – Albanian capital.First you will crossing the main Boulevard “ Deshmoret e Kombit“ and you will see the Monument of Skenderbeg, the buildings built by the Italians that nowadays home the Municipality and the Ministries, the Cultural Center called Pyramid because of its shape, ex-museum of Enver Hoxha during communism regime. Continuing to see the Prime Minister Office, the Presidency and to the end of the Boulevard will find the University and Academy of Arts.

6. Day
After breakfast leaving Tirana and traveling towards Kruje –famous medieval Albanian town , visiting well known Skenderberg museum ( Skenderbeg famous Albanian hero known from Albanian –Turkish wars ) later visiting traditional souvenir market close to the old town . Leaving later Kruje and traveling towards Shkoder the town located close to the Skadar lake and rivers Bojana ( Buni ) and Drim ( Drini ) Visiting the famous fortress Rosafa enjoying the views to the lake Skadar and entire region . Stop at the local restaurant, lunch optional. After the brake leaving Albania towards Montenegro. About two hours driving from the border reaching town of Petrovac. Accommodation at the hotel 3* in Petrovac , dinner at the hotel.

7. Day
Day-Trip to Cetinje / former capital of Montenegro / Visit to the former kings palace and the monastery of Cetinje . After the brake at Cetinje continuing towards village of Njegusi were we stop at the oldest inn in Montenegro founded in 1876 , where guest s will try domestic smoked ham , domestic cheese and mead . This typical Montenegrin meal and one drink are included in the price of the tour . After the brake at Njegusi continuing down the serpentine old road to Kotor ( not visiting Kotor and further to Budva. In Budva we planed one hour stop and visiting old town of Budva .*Notice food and drinks mentioned here are included in the price of this tour, as well as entrance ticket and guiding in the former kings palace included in the price.

8.Day
Trip to the village Virpazar . On arrival boarding the boat towards island Grmozur and peninsula Vranjina a boat ride about 1 hour 40 minutes. On the boat domestic brandy , vine, goat cheese and kind of local cakes with honey would be served. Later return to Virpazar village , stop at the local guest house for lunch / at the restaurant some of the local specialties are served / Fish soup fried carp and trout with vegetable are served. After lunch traveling back to Petrovac.

9. Day
Excursion to Kotor bay visit to the old town of Kotor- Cathedral of St Triphun and maritime museum of Montenegro. After visit to the old town of Kotor visit to Perast, than boarding the boat to The island of our Lady of Skrpjela and visiting the baroque church dedicated to our Lady. Return to Perast continuing towards Dubrovnik. At arrival – visit to the old town of Dubrovnik enlisted to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, later leaving Dubrovnik Towards Neum – Bosnia and Hercegovina , accommodation& dinner at the hotel in Neum

10.Day
Trip to Mostar along the river Neretva – Visit to the old town and famous Mostar „Old Bridge“. Sightseeing with the local guide .In the afternoon leaving Mostar and traveling to the capital of Bosnia and Hercegovina – Sarajevo. Accommodation & dinner at the hotel in Sarajevo. Although Sarajevo is a capital city typified by the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it also possesses a unique ambience that seeps into the soul. This city epitomizes a partial centuries-old struggle against outside influences combined with the absorption of these influences into one of the most diverse cultures in Europe. Indeed, few places on earth feature an Orthodox and a Catholic church, a mosque and a synagogue within easy walking distance of each other.

11. Day
After breakfast leaving the hotel for the walking tour in the town of Sarajevo – area near old town bazaar Bascasija. Sightseeing with the local guide.

12. Day
After breakfast departure – excursion Visoko and Travnik. Visoko only a 20- minute drive from Sarajevo. The town is best known for its leather smiths, whose craft has been practiced for over 500 years. Today its main role is that of a small industrial and trading town. This, however is starting to change with a new archaeological discovery in the summer of 2005. A specialist from Houston University in the United States who has studied pyramids around the world for over fifteen years has claimed to have found Europe’s first and only pyramid. Later after visit to Visoko we are continuing towards Travnik. Travnik was the principal city and military centre of the Ottoman Empire.They fortified the medieval fortress and built a mini-city within its high stone walls. Late afternoon return to Sarajevo.

13. Day
Leaving Sarajevo in the morning. Trip towards Visegrad . Stop in Visegrad – visit to the famous Visegrad Bridge over river Drina . Later continuing towards Serbia to Mokra Gora .Accommodation in authentic wooden huts hotel at famous ethno village ~Drvengrad~ founded and made according to the famous film director Emir Kusturica. Accommodation based on half board.

14.Day
After breakfast leaving towards the railway station Mokra Gora. This wouldn’t be an ordinary trip. An old steam powered train takes you on a unforgettable train experience along the famous Sargan Eight railway road. After the train trip continuing by bus towards Belgrade … arrival late afternoon, accommodation on half board basis.

15. Day
In the morning, leaving Belgrade towards Novi Sad, one of the most beautiful Serbian towns, visiting old Petrovaradin fortress above the shore of the Danube river, sightseeing in the centre of the town with the local guide. In the afternoon return to Belgrade. On return dinner at one of the popular Belgrade restaurants. Later return to the hotel.

16. Day
After breakfast leaving hotel and trip to Kalemegdan fortress- sightseeing of the fortress and beautiful views to the rivers Sava and Danube. Later transfer to Belgrade airport and flight back.

This tour is part of the projekt „Gruppenreisemarkt Westbalkan 2009“ and is organised and supportet by

Montenegro Holidays (responsible agency)
Arka (Partner-Agentur in Mazedonien)
Europa Travel & Tours (Partner-Agency in Albania)
Eurojet (Partner-Agency in Serbia)
OTAS (Partner-Agency in Bosnia und Herzegovina)

Balkan – You can explore everything!