Compare Croatia and the Balkans by G Adventures vs Balkan´s Route by Europamundo Vacations
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 2,507 | $ 1,489 |
| Price Per Day | $ 167 | $ 165 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | 14 breakfasts |
6 Dinners |
| Description |
The Balkans are just getting noticed as a great European travel destination — we can’t believe it took so long! Situated on the balmy shores of the Adriatic and home to some of the most wondrous landscapes, monuments, and villages you’ll ever see, this part of the world still feels like a well-kept secret. This adventure showcases the region’s compelling history and scenery while allowing time for outdoor pursuits like kayaking and hiking. You may not know much about Croatia and the Balkans now, but once you’ve been, you’ll be hard-pressed to stop talking about them. |
Explore Balkan´s Route Visit the varied landscapes, small picturesque villages en route explore numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin. |
Day 1 Budapest
Arrive at any time. We recommend booking pre-tour accommodation to fully explore this breathtaking city.
There are no planned activities until tonight's welcome meeting.
Day 2 Budapest/Novi Sad
Today we will be traveling by local bus to Novi Sad. Enjoy the first opportunity to try some Serbian cuisine.
Cross into Serbia and enjoy time in the second largest city. Spend an evening wandering this cultural hub.
Day 3 Novi Sad/Belgrade
Spend the morning exploring Novi Sad. Visit the famous Petrovaradin Fortress and, with time, check out the charming old town, or Stari Grad. In the afternoon, enjoy a short bus ride to Belgrade.
Day 4 Belgrade
Visit the Kalemegdan Fortress then spend a free day floating down the Danube or shopping in one of the many bustling markets.
Opt to visit the National Theater or National Museum. The city offers a wealth of churches and cathedrals as well as an interesting Ethnographic Museum. Learn more about Serbian culture, traditions, costumes, and tools used throughout history.
Day 5 Belgrade/Sarajevo
Travel to Sarajevo, one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the region. Walk around the cobblestone streets, visit the famous Latin Bridge, and soak in the bustling atmosphere of this resilient place.
Walk around the cobblestone streets of the Old Town while taking in the architecture of its diverse places of worship.
Day 6 Sarajevo
Take an included tour of the 'Tunnel of Life' to get a better understanding of the tragic recent history of this captivating city. Spend some free time exploring the Stari Grad section and looking for 'Sarajevo Roses'.
Day 7 Sarajevo/Mostar
Travel through beautiful countryside to reach charming Mostar. The city's symbol, a beautiful reconstructed Ottoman-style bridge, is a reminder of the tenacity of Bosnians in recent times. Wander the old city and visit the new, taking in the many reminders of what the people of this region have survived.
After visiting the bridge, wander through the small streets and opt to sit in a café, enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. For a sobering look into the city's recent history, wander through town, passing buildings still riddled with bullet holes. Visit a bank that was completely destroyed during the war and past houses in shambles. While life continues and progress is made, these sights remain as reminders of the evils of war.
Day 8 Mostar/Kotor
Continue on to Montenegro and arrive to the Bay of Kotor, a World Heritage-listed region. There is free time here to relax or explore as desired.
Arrive in time to start exploring this gorgeous area. If relaxing is more your style, the beach of Kotor offers a great escape.
Day 9 Kotor
Enjoy a sea kayaking tour before free time to relax or explore. Wander the streets of the walled city of Kotor or relax on picturesque beaches.
Day 10 Kotor/Dubrovnik
Travel to Croatia and experience the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' in Dubrovnik. Visit the G Adventures-supported Deša project, a non profit dedicated to empowering and employing women in the community. Then, choose to relax in one of the many cafés, explore the old town fortifications, or take a boat trip to one of the nearby islands.
The red roofs of the old city make for spectacular photos and the seaside cafés serve up tasty seafood.
Day 11 Dubrovnik
Enjoy a free day to explore the Dalmatian Coast.
Day 12 Dubrovnik/Hvar
Head to the island of Hvar. Enjoy amazing beaches, nightlife, and water sports.
Filled with sunshine, the beautiful island is known for its lavender fields and vineyards in the interior and detailed Venetian-inspired architecture in the towns.
Day 13 Hvar
Soak in the scenery and relish the calm on a boat ride around the Pakleni Islands.
Day 14 Hvar/Split
Ferry back to the mainland and arrive to Split. Take a guided tour of the UNESCO site at Diocletian's Palace. Enjoy free time to explore this charming seaside town.
Opt to visit the local market and gobble up some Croatian delicacies. For a little more activity, visit Marjan's peak with gorgeous views over the city or hit up some of the hiking and biking trails in the area.
Day 15 Split
Depart at any time.
We recommend staying an extra day or two to fully experience all this lively city has to offer.
Day 1: Bucharest
Today´S Highlights: Transfer to the hotel. Citytour of Bucharest. Dinner included. Welcome to Bucharest. On arrival at the airport, we will be waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel. Towards 13.00 hrs, after lunch, we will take a panoramic tour of the city with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Leisure time followed by dinner.
Day 2: Bucharest - Sinaia - Bran - Sighisoara
Today’s Highlight: Dracula’s Castle. Transylvania region. Special dinner in Sighisoara. Today we have a journey with great scenic beauty, travelling to Transylvania across the Carpathian Mountains and through forests. In Siniaia, we will stroll through the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor Castles before going on to the 14th-century Bran fortress, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle (tickets included). Time for lunch, before continuing to Sighisoara, a very beautiful walled medieval city and Heritage of Mankind. In the evening we will enjoy a very special dinner, in the restaurant of Count Dracula, at the house where Vlad Tepes was born.
Day 3: Sighisoara - Biertan - Sibiu - Hunedoara - Timisoara
Today’s Highlight: varied landscapes, small picturesque villages en route. In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared Heritage of Mankind, and we will see one of them, Biertan (tickets included). After this, we continue to SIBIU, an important economic and cultural centre, previously the capital of Transylvania, with its bustling narrow streets and squares. Time for a stroll and take lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the impressive Castle of Hunedoara, which is considered the prettiest castle in Romania. We continue to Timisoara, with time to explore its elegant central squares.
Day 4: Timisoara - Belgrade
Today’s Highlight: Panoramic tour of Belgrade. We set off for Serbia and the border pass. After a few hours travelling, we will arrive to Belgrade. Here you can enjoy a panoramic tour of this active capital on the shores of the Danube as it flows into the Sava. We get the chance to admire its busy centre, its parliament, and stroll in the Kalemegdan Fortress. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 5: Belgrade - Sarajevo
Today’s Highlight: Panoramic tour of Sarajevo. Tunnel of life. Dinner included. Enjoy the journey of pretty forests and mountain scenery. We arrive to Bosnia, Sarajevo, at lunchtime. With a local guide, we will take a panoramic tour of this city with strong Turkish influence: its Mosques, its Madrasahs, and its busy bazaars. We will also see the Tunnel of Hopethat saved the city during the Serbian siege. Note: Depending on the arrival time, the Tunnel of Hope can also be visited on Friday before leaving for Mostar.
Day 6: Sarajevo - Mostar - Medjugorje - Kravice - Dubrovnik
Today’s Highlight: Beautiful landscapes throughout the stage: mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, picturesque villages en route. Dinner included. Another exciting drive of scenic beauty. Amidst deep valleys, we travel to Mostar, with its very beautiful historic centre and Stonebridge separating the Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities. After lunch, we stop in Medjugorje, a place that attracts thousands of Catholic Pilgrims. We then travel to Kravice, we stop at its magnificent waterfalls before continuing to Croatia. Border procedures (which may be long). We will then arrive into Dubrovnik at the end of the day with accommodation on the coast near the city. Dinner included. Note: From the end of October to the end of March we will not stop at Kravice Falls.
Day 7: Dubrovnik
Today’s Highlight: Panoramic tour of Dubrovnik. Cable car ride. Dinner included. In the morning we enjoy a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide. We are undoubtedly in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, surrounded by walls, bathed by the Adriatic Sea; its intact historic centre is a jewel of world architectural heritage. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Cathedral. We also take the cable car to give us a fantastic view of the city and the Neighboring islands. You can then enjoy free time, returning to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner included.
Day 8: Dubrovnik - Kotor - St. Stephen's (Shkodër Cathedral) - Tirana
Today’s Highlights: Beautiful scenery of the Adriatic coast. Dinner included. We set off early for Montenegro. The coastal scenery and the Bay of Kotor are beautiful. Arrive in Kotor to enjoy some time strolling in this beautiful walled town with its strong Venetian influence. After this we stop in Sveti Stefan, a marvellous walled village surrounded by the sea to enjoy lunch. Then we travel to Albania. We arrive in the capital of the Albania, Tirana, and enjoy some free time. Dinner included.
Day 9: Tirana
Today’s Highlights: Panoramic tour of Tirana. Today we make a panoramic tour of Tirana the capital of Albania, with its mosques, the clock tower and the ministries. End of our services. Check the time of your flight in case you need an additional night.
