Planned travel itinerary:

DAY 1. DEPARTURE CITY – SOFIA

Transfer to the hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of your tour. At around 3:00 pm (time may vary), we will include a visit to the capital of Bulgaria, where we will see Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (entrance included), the Russian Church, the mosque, and its squares and avenues with Stalinist architecture. Free time.

Accommodation.

DAY 2. SOFIA – BACHKOVO – PLOVDIV

In the morning, we depart for BACHKOVO MONASTERY, the second most important monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 11th century, with its three churches and monastic life. It is a place of great peace. Continuation to PLOVDIV, with lunch included before starting the visit to this city, one of the oldest in Europe. We include entrance tickets to the Roman Amphitheatre, the Old Pharmacy, and the Armenian House.

Accommodation.

DAY 3. PLOVDIV – KAZANLAK – SHIPKA – ETAR – ARBANASSI – VELIKO TARNOVO

Today’s stage takes place through beautiful scenery as we cross the Balkan mountain range. In the Valley of Roses, we visit KAZANLAK, where entrance is included to the replica of the Thracian Tomb (a World Heritage Site), and we will learn about the production of rose-derived products. Among the mountains, we stop at the Russian church of SHIPKA, commemorating the Russo-Turkish War. ETAR, arrival at this charming ethnographic village-museum, with lunch included.

Afterwards, we travel to ARBANASSI, an old merchant town with its fortress-like houses, where we visit the Church of the Nativity (entrance included). Arrival in VELIKO TARNOVO, the former capital of Bulgaria, with a very picturesque medieval centre beside its gorge.

Note: in some cases, the visit to Arbanassi may take place on Sunday morning.

Accommodation.

DAY 4. VELIKO TARNOVO – BASARBOVO – BUCHAREST

We travel towards Romania. On our route, we stop at the DIMIȚAR BASARBOVSKI MONASTERY, a pilgrimage site carved into the rock. We cross the border over the Danube River. BUCHAREST, arrival around 1:00 pm and time for lunch before starting the panoramic city tour, including its Old Town and the gigantic Palace of Parliament. Free time. Dinner included.

Accommodation.

DAY 5. BUCHAREST – SINAIA – BRAN – SIGHIȘOARA

Today we enjoy a stage of great scenic beauty as we travel towards Transylvania, crossing the Carpathians among forests and mountains. In SINAIA, we will stroll through the gardens of Peleș and Pelișor Castles. Continuation to the 14th-century fortress of BRAN, known as Dracula’s Castle (entrance included). Time for lunch. We continue to SIGHIȘOARA, a beautiful walled medieval city and World Heritage Site. Tonight, we include a very special dinner at Count Dracula’s restaurant, in the house where Vlad Țepeș was born.

Accommodation.

DAY 6. SIGHIȘOARA – BIERTAN – SIBIU – HUNEDOARA – TIMIȘOARA

In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared World Heritage Sites. We will visit one of them: BIERTAN (entrance included). Afterwards, we continue to SIBIU, an important economic and cultural centre and former capital of Transylvania; its streets, squares and lively lanes invite exploration. Time to stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the impressive HUNEDOARA Castle (entrance included), considered the most beautiful in Romania. Continuation to TIMIȘOARA, with time for a walk through its elegant central squares.

Accommodation.

DAY 7. TIMIȘOARA – BELGRADE

We depart for Serbia and cross the border. After a journey of less than three hours, we arrive in BELGRADE, where we include a panoramic city tour of this lively capital located on the banks of the Danube at its confluence with the Sava. We will admire its active centre, its parliament, and walk through Kalemegdan Fortress. We also include a visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito’s Mausoleum is located. Free afternoon.

Accommodation.

DAY 8. BELGRADE – FRUŠKA GORA – SREMSKI KARLOVCI – NOVI SAD

After breakfast, we depart for FRUŠKA GORA, a natural park known for its landscapes and beautiful Orthodox monasteries founded from the 12th century onwards. Visit to the monasteries of Krušedol and Novo Hopovo, founded by the despotic Branković family. We continue to SREMSKI KARLOVCI, one of the oldest towns in the country, already mentioned in 1308 under the name Karom, whose beautifully preserved historic centre is in neoclassical style. We will visit the Beekeeping Museum and the Ivanović family winery (lunch and wine tasting included).

Continuation to NOVI SAD, the second largest city in Serbia, located on the banks of the Danube and showcasing diverse architecture that reflects its rich history. Highlights include Petrovaradin Fortress, considered one of the largest in Europe and one of the finest achievements of 18th-century European military architecture (“The Gibraltar of the Danube”).

Accommodation.

DAY 9. NOVI SAD – VIMINACIUM – MANASIJA – NIŠ

We travel south through Serbia. We visit the archaeological site of the Roman city of VIMINACIUM (entrance included), which at its height had 40,000 inhabitants. We will admire Roman roads, remains of temples, streets, squares, amphitheatres, palaces, hippodromes and baths. We continue to MANASIJA Monastery, one of the most important monuments of Serbian medieval culture. Its church, surrounded by high walls, still preserves 15th-century frescoes. Continuation to NIŠ, Serbia’s third largest city, important during Roman times; Constantine the Great was born here.

Accommodation.

DAY 10. NIŠ – ŽIČA – STUDENICA – KRALJEVO

We visit the Orthodox monastery of ŽIČA, dating from the early 13th century, also known as the Coronation Monastery, since seven Serbian kings were crowned there. We continue to STUDENICA Monastery, the largest monastery in Serbia, set among mountains, with a magnificent complex of wooden and plaster buildings founded in 1190; its interior walls are decorated with Byzantine frescoes. Lunch included.

Continuation to KRALJEVO, a charming town in central Serbia, surrounded by mountains, rich in history and culture, known for its beautiful main square dominated by a monument to Serbian warriors and its medieval fortress.

Accommodation.

DAY 11. KRALJEVO – RAVANICA – OPLENAC – BELGRADE

Departure for RAVANICA, with its monastery and large five-domed church. Afterwards, we continue with a visit to the town of TOPOLA to hear its wonderful history. In OPLENAC, on its hill, we will see the Church of St. George, founded by King Peter I of Yugoslavia, the mausoleum of the Royal House of Serbia and later of Yugoslavia until 1945. Return to BELGRADE.

Accommodation.

DAY 12. BELGRADE – DEPARTURE CITY

Breakfast and free time in Belgrade until your transfer to the airport.

• Optional excursions can be booked in advance of the trip. Please contact us.
• Add stops of between 1 and 7 nights (depending on the itinerary) in different cities before continuing the route.
• You may share a room with another traveller, which makes the price more advantageous for you. If, in the end, the room is occupied only by you, the price will not be affected and you will have the room to yourself.
• EXTEND YOUR TRIP: complete your journey in THE BALKANS with an extension to other European cities or a stay at a beach destination (Croatia, Albania, Sardinia, etc.).

• Transportation from/to your departure city. Please contact us.
• Transfers on the first and last day of the trip (depending on your arrival/departure arrangements). Please contact us.
• Tips.
• Personal expenses.
• Medical insurance with cancellation coverage.
• Any service not mentioned in the “included” section.

Scheduled departures 2026:

15 January

12 and 26 February

12 and 26 March

09, 16 and 23 April

07, 14, 21 and 28 May

04, 11, 18 and 25 June

02, 09, 16, 23 and 30 July

06, 13, 20 and 27 August

04, 11, 18 and 25 September

02, 09, 16 and 23 October

06 November

25 December