BELGRADEA

Strong Faith Follow a guided sightseeing featuring main sights like the Santa Sava Church and views of the fascinating Kalemegdan Fortress. Free afternoon and evening.

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

PICTURE PERFECT

The Church of Saint Sava is one of the largest churches in the world and the largest church building in the Balkans. The church is built on the site where the Ottomans burned the remains of Saint Sava in 1595 and it represents the resilience and continuity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian culture through centuries of foreign domination. A visit to Belgrade is not complete without a stop here.

BELGRADE  TIMISOARA, ROMANIA  SIBIU

Capital Cities

TIMISOARA

Admire the Romanian Orthodox Church, seat of the archbishop.

SIBIU

An orientation tour reveals Sibiu’s towers, churches, and buildings dating back to the 14th century

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

A CITY OF FIRSTS

Situated in Transylvania, Sibiu is a real gem with a 267mi / 430km local vibe which recorded many premieres in this part of Europe. It was here where the first hospital, the first library, the first school, the first pharmacy, the first Zoo garden, the first open-air cinema in Romania opened.

SIBIU  BRASOV

Fact or Fiction

BRASOV

Follow your guide for a tour of the city and visit the Black Church. Later visit Bran Castle and enjoy dinner on the castle grounds at Queen Mary Tea House.

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

LEGENDS & LORE

Legend has it that King Solomon, while escaping enemies in pursuit, fled into the Brasov forest, exchanged his clothes with a local peasant, and cast his crown on a tree trunk to evade being recognized. So the city of Brasov was dubbed Brasov, Kronstadt (Crown City). The fortress-castle was built in 1377 by master masons of Brasov, on a cliff, dominating the whole region 93mi / 150km. The most famous feature of the town is the castle associated with Vlad the Impaler, a true-life prince who stayed at the castle in the 15th century. His cruel habit of impaling his enemies on stakes inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional tale of Dracula.

BRASOV  SINAIA  BUCHAREST

Romanian Royalty SINAIA

Visit Peles castle

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

CULTURAL GEM

From the very beginning, Peles Castle was one of the most modern in Europe. It was the first castle on the continent 118mi / 190km fully supplied by electrical power – it had its own electrical unit – and one of the few with a central heating system, an elevator, and the best comfort of the time. The castle was a museum from its first years, and the ticket sales were used to finance Romania’s Queen Elisabeth’s charity works. After the castle was confiscatedby the communists, it was used only as a museum from 1953 to 1975, escaping the destructive whims of ruling dictator, Ceausescu.

BUCHAREST

Parisian Style and Palace Squares

BUCHAREST

Follow your guide for a sightseeing that includes views of the palace where former Romanian dictator Ceausescu lived.

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HISTORIC SPOT

In the early 20th century, Bucharest was known as “Little Paris” due to its elegant architecture and vibrant cultural scene, reminiscent of the French capital. See the imposing Palace of the Parliament, former home of communist dictator, Ceausescu. Noted as the world’s heaviest building and largest administrative building after the Pentagon.

BUCHAREST  RUSE  SOFIA, BULGARIA

Little Vienna RUSE Stop in Bulgaria’s most important river port nicknamed “Little Vienna” due to its beautiful neo-baroque and neorococo architecture.

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

ARTISTRY & ARCHITECTURE

Unique to the country of Romania is the architectural jewel of Ruse. Its leafy avenues and squares are reminiscent of Vienna, with a 242 mi / 390 km Central European feel found in its baroque and belle epoque architectural style.

SOFIAA

City of Centuries

SOFIA

Hear the history of this fascinating capital city during your guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Byzantine Holy Sofia Church.

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

CULTURAL GEM

The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is poised as it has been for centuries below Vitosha Mountain, with its landmarks reflecting more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. Medieval Boyana Church has 13th-century frescoes. Built by the Romans in the 4th century, St. George Rotunda Church has medieval and Ottoman decoration dating to the 10th century. Sofia was known as Serdica centuries before Christ and was ruled at one time by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip of Macedonia

SOFIA  KUMANOVO, NORTH MACEDONIA  SKOPJE

Prophecies, Prayers, and Promises

KUMANOVO

Visit the Staro Nagorichane Monastery.

SKOPJE

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

LEGENDS & LORE

Visit the 11th-century church of Staro Nagorichane. Built by Byzantine emperor Roman IV Diogen in gratitude to the hermit and saint Prohor Pcinski. According to the legend, the emperor wounded a deer while hunting in the surrounding forests and followed its bloody trail to a cave in which it found refuge with the 155mi / 250km hermit Pcinski. The old man beseeched the emperor to spare the deer and prophesized he would become the 6/12 future king upon his return to Constantinople. With the prophecy ultimately fulfilled. Diogen built the church in honor of the beatified Saint Pcinski.

SKOPJE

City of Statues and Saint Theresa

SKOPJE

Guided sightseeing includes views of the city’s landmarks.

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HISTORY & MONUMENTS

The city of Skopje is located on the Vardar River and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Hear how it is often referred to as the “City of Statues,” with over 190 statues scattered throughout the city, it truly lives up to its nickname. But it is also famous as Mother Theresa was born here.

SKOPJE OHRID

Water Colors

OHRID

Guided sightseeing includes a boat cruise.

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

NATURAL WONDERS

Lake Ohrid is the oldest natural lake in Europe and one of the oldest 112mi / 180km lakes in the whole world and home to a high number of endemic species, found nowhere else in the world. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of the lake’s most enchanting spectacle at sunset when the golden hues reflect upon the tranquil waters for a mesmerizing sight.

OHRID  TIRANA, ALBANIA

Macedonian Marvels

OHRID

Visit the monastery of Saint Naum

Breakfast

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HISTORIC SPOT

The Monastery of St. Naum is built on a high rocky cliff over the shore of the most southern point of Ohrid Lake and is one of the 81mi / 130km most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia, which also represents one of the first monuments of Slavic church architecture and art in the Ohrid region – this is. The founder of the monastery is the medieval writer and teacher Naum, who is one of the founders of the Slavic and Macedonian literacy and education tradition. Take in the heavenly views surrounding this clifftop marvel.

TIRANA

Underground Art

TIRANA

Guided walking tour of the city features a visit to the Bunk’Art and the main square. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Dinner

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

ART & ARCHITECTURE

Discover a vibrant story of history, architecture, and art in Tirana – from the Tirana mosaic (Ancient Roman) to the Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit), a symbol of ottoman architecture, Italian buildings, and the construction style of the dictatorship. Visit the former Cold War bunker-turned-art-museum of Bunk’Art.

TIRANA

Safe Travels Until We Meet Again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

• Accommodation at a 4* hotel as specified in the itinerary (or similar).
• Daily breakfast.
• Meals included as/if specified in the itinerary.
• Sightseeing and entrance fees as/if mentioned in the itinerary.
• Services of a tour manager.
• Local tour guide for tours mentioned in the brochure.

• International and domestic air tickets, including airport taxes.
• Airport transfers.
• Mandatory tips for drivers and guides.
• Visa charges.
• Travel insurance.
• Optional Tours – Mentioned in the Itinerary.
• Meals not specified in the itinerary.
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, optional excursions, and other incidentals.
• City taxes or hotel fees (payable directly at the hotel).
• Any items or services not mentioned under “Inclusions.”

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