Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria’s Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia’s Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Brașov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula’s haunted abode in Bram Stoker’s infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city’s iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.
Locations Visited
Bucharest, Bran Castle, Brasov, Sinaia, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Sofia, Skopje, Ohrid, Tirana, Budva, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo, Belgrade
Countries Visited
Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia
Travel Style
Regional
Accommodations
15 nights included
Age Requirements
Minimum age 5
Day 1
Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest
Meals
Dinner
Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your dinner.
Day 2
Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Mary’s Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Aurum
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle, following a traditional dinner.
During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters.
Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert.
Day 3
Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Peleș Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armor and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Brașov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Aurum
Meals
Breakfast
Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Peleș Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
Day 4
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation
Yantra Hotel
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5
Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th-century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Accommodation
Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Ascend Tsarevets, the King's Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th-century merchants' house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity.
Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Day 6
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?
Accommodation
Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 7
Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.
Accommodation
Skopje Marriott Hotel
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
Day 8
Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals. Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider’s look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.
Accommodation
Hilton Garden Inn Tirana
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
Day 9
Soak up Montenegro’s natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where you will have the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami'. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by.
Accommodation
Hotel TQ Plaza Budva
Meals
Breakfast
Day 10
Journey to the Old Town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the fortified port of Dubrovnik.
Accommodation
Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals
Breakfast
Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
Day 11
Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th-century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls, and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea and visit a local winery. This evening, choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening.
Accommodation
Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Explore the Pearl of the Adriatic with your Local Expert. Walk the stone-paved streets of the Old Town to see Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace, and the medieval city walls. Admire the Franciscan monastery.
You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.
Day 12
Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for dinner. Savor the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories.
Accommodation
Swissotel Sarajevo
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savor the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture. This experience advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Experience authentic Bosnian coffee and learn about the traditional ritual of coffee preparation.
Day 13
Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo’s astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.
Accommodation
Swissotel Sarajevo
Meals
Breakfast
Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and learn about the 44-month siege of the city.
Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.
Day 14
Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.
Accommodation
Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals
Breakfast
Day 15
Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theater in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travelers for dinner this evening.
Accommodation
Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner with Wine
A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theater, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.
Day 16
Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that’s left is to say a fond doviđenja as you bid your new friends farewell.
Meals
Breakfast
Title
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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