Balkans Explored | Balkans Tours | Ciconia Travel

Meet the colourful cultures and people of the marvellous Balkans. Adventure through the ‘Powder Keg’ of Europe in exquisite style over 12 days and 7 countries. Soak in the incredible natural beauty and unparalleled cultural diversity of the stunning Balkans. From the vibrant streets of Sofia and Belgrade to the serenity of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, while witnessing the gorgeous shift of the landscape. Connect with the authentic culture while discovering medieval ramparts, quaint villages and unforgettable highlights on the Best of Balkans.

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Balkans Explored

Meet the colourful cultures and people of the marvellous Balkans. Adventure through the ‘Powder Keg’ of Europe in exquisite style over 12 days and 7 countries. Soak in the incredible natural beauty and unparalleled cultural diversity of the stunning Balkans. From the vibrant streets of Sofia and...

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Welcome to Sofia! At the airport, keep an eye out for the Ciconia sign for your transfer to the hotel. At the hotel around 7pm, have an informal welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. After you get all the critical information about the tour, head out for our optional group dinner around 8:15pm and walk the streets of Sofia.
  • Included Activities: Welcome Meeting
  • Optional Activities: Group Dinner

After a substantial breakfast, hop on the bus and make your way to the Serbian capital, Belgrade. With stunning views over the Danube and Sava rivers by the mighty medieval Belgrade Fortress, head to the heart of the capitol. Starting off at the vibrant pretty shopping street, Knez Mihailova, filled with cafes, shops and charming sites, kick off the walking tour to discover the incredible landmarks Belgrade has in store and their marvellous histories.
  • Included Activities: Guided Belgrade City Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Next stop Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, the city that has been through it all! It is where the Western and Eastern Roman Empire split and where people of many nations and religions met, lived and warred. You can still see many reminders of the Yugoslav War in bullet holes and cannon marks all around town. Though, still an oriental beauty with a unique twist, and a delight to discover on your walking tour in the old town. The city offers endless delicacies to taste, but the specialty is lamb.
  • Included Activities: Sarajevo City Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Today, we drive for the amazing Adriatic shore, but first a stop at Mostar! As you arrive in this dreamland, walk through the Old Town of this Herzegovina pearl, see the iconic highlights Old Bridge – Stari Most, and the old čaršija (market). Enjoy your lunch with an amazing view at one of the local venues, discover the old town and make sure to try the delicious Turkish coffee. In the afternoon, we ride to Trebinje for our overnight stay.
  • Included Activities: Mostar Walking Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Optional Activities: Kravice Waterfalls

Get ready for a long day at Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic"! With its well-preserved majestic walls encircling the whole town and its sea of terra-cotta roof tiles, giving life to the "King’s Landing", the whole town is an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the drive down to town from the mountain-side is a breakth-taking highlight in itself! We start off with a guided walking tour of the Old Town and marvel at the millennial history of this fairy-like town. Walk atop the mighty walls, discover cute narrow streets, taste delicious seafood or jump off into the crystal-blue waters. In the evening, we return to Trebinje for a good night's rest.
  • Included Activities: Guided Dubrovnik City Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Next stop Montenegro! Arrive in Kotor after a scenic drive an meet its calming natural beauty and characteristic architecture, a less-crowded version of Dubrovnik with its impressive medieval citadel. Following a walking tour of the old town with your expert local guide and some free time, make your way to the popular touristic hub of the region, Budva. Your guide will take you on a brief walking tour of the vibrant summer town with great food, impressive views and lively nightlife.
  • Included Activities: Guided Kotor City Tour, Budva Walking Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Hit the road after breakfast, next stop Albania! A panoramic city tour of Tirana will introduce the best preserved and most beautiful samples of Albanian architecture, and drop us off at the town centre for some free time to discover the bustling Skenderbeg square. In the afternoon, continue towards Ohrid, Macedonia and check-in to your comfy hotel. You can rest up after a long day, or join the optional Balkan night with dinner.
  • Included Activities: Panoramic City Tour of Tirana, Ohrid Walking Tour
  • Optional Activities: Balkan Night with Dinner
  • Meals: Breakfast

Start off the day with a guided city tour of Old Ohrid hosting hundreds of chapels and churches scattered all around. In the afternoon travel to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, for the night.
  • Included Activities: Guided Ohrid City Tour
  • Optional Activities: St. Naum Tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Prepare to discover the beautiful Skopje with a guided sightseeing tour filled with stunning architecture, grand monuments and unique history. Pose with the famous statue of Alexander the Great or walk through the Macedonian Arc de Triumph. The city has countless landmarks and a vibrant street life with many cafes and bars around. In the afternoon cross the border heading towards the second largest Greek city, Thessaloniki, for the night.
  • Included Activities: Skopje Guided City tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Starting off the day with a panoramic Thessaloniki tour on the bus, depart for Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. Meteora is famous for its breath-taking scenery and ageless monasteries, almost suspended between the earth and sky. The town hosts one of the largest and steepest complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, literally named as “middle of the sky”. The World Heritage-listed site is out-of-this-world with its unique landscape of immense monolithic pillars and huge rounded boulders hosting monasteries on top, and one of the most visited locations in Greece. Each monastery has a central courtyard surrounded by chapels and living cells of monks, who have inhabited the region since the 11th century – for far less than the first inhabitants from 50,000 years ago. Later in the afternoon, hop on the bus for Delphi.
  • Included Activities: Meteora tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Eat up at breakfast, you will be discovering Delphi and all its wonders. Built high atop the cliffs with spectacular scenery, the town made its name in ancient Greek mythology. Chosen as the centre of the earth, here is where the famous powerful Oracles of Delphi resided. UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi had a tremendous influence in the ancient world, uniting many city-states under the Hellenic spirit as displayed in rich monuments and ancient stories. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic drive to Athens. As you get your bearings and all the information you need about the capital from your guide, arrive at the hotel to freshen up. Prepare to cap off the amazing tour Greek-style; bring in the mezes, it’s time to do some Sirtaki!
  • Included Activities: Delphi tour
  • Meals: Breakfast

Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!
  • Meals; Breakfast

SERVICES

Accommodation

3 & 4 star hotels

Transportation

Air-conditioned non-smoking coach or mini-bus

Meals

11 breakfasts

Guide

Services of experienced Ciconia local guides licenced by the Ministry of Tourism

Airport Transfer

From Sofia Airport (on day 1)

HOTELS

HOTEL VEGA - SOFIA

ABBA HOTEL - BELGRADE

IBIS STYLE HOTEL - SARAJEVO

Hotel Central Park

Trebinje

Hotel Central Park is located in the heart of charming Trebinje and has a terrace with a nice and cozy restaurant. The hotel was built in 1894, shortly after the arrival of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in the area, in the architectural style that dominated the second half of the 19th century.

HOTEL PARK- BUDVA

HOTEL AURA - OHRID

SILEKS HOTEL - OHRID

HOTEL PANORAMIKA DESIGN - SKOPJE ( or similar )

ABC HOTEL - THESSALONIKI

HERMES HOTEL - DELPHI

ARION HOTEL - ATHENS

This contemporary, centrally located hotel is situated 2 minute walk-away from Monastiraki Metro Station. The rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with minibar, satellite TV and hairdryer.

DATES AND RATES

DEPARTURE
RETURN
STATUS
TWIN ROOM
SOLO ROOM

HIGHLIGHTS

Athens
Athens

You will fall in love with the perfect combination of culture, history and the dynamic contemporary life in one of the oldest cities in the world.

Belgrade
Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of the southeast European country of Serbia.

Budva
Budva

Budva is a town in Montenegro and known for best nightlife on the Adriatic Sea.

Delphi
Delphi

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik

This complex is one of the most beautiful and strongest fortified systems in Europe, but the lively streets show that there is more! Party in a 13th Century fortress anyone?

Kalambaka
Kalambaka

Kalambaka is a small town in Greece, built on the feet of the Meteora.

Kotor
Kotor

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro and well-known for its World heritage medieval structures.

Mostar
Mostar

Mostar is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and known for the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge).

Ohrid
Ohrid

Ohrid is a large town in Macedonia on the shore of Lake Ohrid and a UNESCO heritage site since 1980.

Sarajevo
Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its main cultural, economic centre.

Skopje
Skopje

Skopje is the capital and largest city of Macedonia and it lies in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula.

Sofia
Sofia

Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria.ıt has rich history from Roman and Ottoman Empires.

Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece. This coastal town is attracting people around with it's highlights such as The White Tower, Kamara, Roman Agora.

Tirana
Tirana

Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania.It is also culturel and economical center of the country.

Trebinje
Trebinje

Trebinje is the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 28 km far from Dubrovnik.