Compare The Balkans by The Vacation Project vs Balkan Kaleidoscope - 8 Balkan Countries in 14 Days by Penguin Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 2,475 | $ 990 |
| Price Per Day | $ 248 | $ 71 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
1. YOU'LL BE PART OF THE VACATION PROJECT x Sailing Collective's EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH 2. YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH AN INCREDIBLE NGO... AND DID WE MENTION THERE ARE DOGS?! 3. YOU WILL HAVE AN AMAZING LOCAL GUIDE TO SHOW YOU THE WAY 4. WE'RE TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT |
Once upon a time people said that the Balkans were the “powder-keg of Europe”. Indeed, history is full of sudden burst of the strong Balkan passions. But wars are left in the past. We can now only enjoy the beautiful features of the sunny face of the Balkans – beautiful and preserved nature, old monasteries, cozy towns – a different and slightly old-fashioned Europe. |
Day 1: August 12, 2018
Plan to arrive into Dubrovnik/Cilipi Airport in Croatia either the evening before or morning of to board your home for the next week! You will be spending the next week with The Sailing Collective on a Jeanneau 54 model boat. You will meet your Sailing Collective x TVP crew and sail to Cavtat.
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: D
Day 2: August 13, 2018
Today you will wake up and enjoy you first full day on the Adriatic sea sailing from Cavtat across the border into Herceg Novi, Montenegro! Ask to help on deck and get a feel for what it's like to be working from a Sailing Collective "office."
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: B, L
Day 3: August 14, 2018
Today your Sailing Collective team will take you from Herceg Novi to Budva, the nightlife capital of Montenegro. Spend the day relaxing on deck, stopping in remote coves and jumping off the boat for a swim. This evening take the opportunity to enjoy some nightlife!
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: B, L
Day 4: August 15, 2018
Travel along the coast from Budva to the small city of Kotor, with a population of around 13,000. Kotor is a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, in a bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen.
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: August 16, 2018
Today you will wake up in Kotor and go to sleep in Tivat. In between you will have the opportunity to swim, sunbathe and window shop for a super yacht, many of which make the port of Tivat home.
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: B, L
Day 6: August 17, 2018
Wake up in beautiful Tivat before crossing the border back into Dubrovnik, Croatia. Today will be your final day aboard your Sailing Collective boat so ask the captain to borrow the wheel and show your fellow TVPers the sailing skills you've learned along the way! Arrive into Dubrovnik around 5pm and enjoy a night out on the town while spending the last night aboard the boat.
Accommodations: Jeanneau 54 2016-2018 Model
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: August 18, 2018
Say farewell to your Sailing Collective crew and depart Dubrovnik for Bosnia. You will have a stop in Ston, Croatia along the way to enjoy an oyster sampling, a specialty of this seaside hamlet. Continue on to Blagaj, Bosnia for some brief sightseeing. End the day in Mostar, Bosnia and enjoy sunset cocktails & dinner by the iconic Stari Most bridge.
Accommodations: Hotel-Restaurant Kriva Ćuprija (or similar)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: August 19, 2018
Wake up and depart to Konjic for your service project with MDDC, where you will work on kennel and other infrastructure repairs. In the afternoon you will sit in on a presentation to learn how MDDC conducts De-Mining operations and employs dogs. Leave MDDC in the early evening and head to dinner in Konjic, an undiscovered gem surrounded by mountains and rivers.
Accommodations: Herzegovina Lodges (or similar)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: August 20, 2018
Today will be an early start to finish off the service project with MDDC. Afterwards, there will be a rafting adventure through the breathtaking Nervata river. This won't be an excursion you'll soon forget. Afterwards, the group will head to Sarajevo in the early evening where you will celebrate the last night of the trip. A perfect time to reflect on the experience over dinner.
Accommodations: Harmony (or similar)
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: August 21, 2018
After breakfast participate in a walking tour of Sarajevo or transfers to airport, bus & railway stations. The experience will officially end at 12pm. Say farewell to your fellow TVP'ers and being planning your next THE VACATION PROJECT trip!
Meals: B
1 Sofia
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to your hotel. Free time to explore the Bulgarian capital.
2 Sofia – Kruševac – Studenica (Serbia)
Departure by a company bus to Serbia. Our first stop is in the old capital - the town of Kruševac. Then we will visit Studenica - the most important monastery of medieval Serbia. Overnight in a hotel next to the monastery. (370 km)
3 Studenica – Visegrad – Sarajevo (Serbia/Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Today we head to Bosnia and Herzigovina. After crossing the border we will see the famous bridge of Mehmed Pasha near Visegrad, praised in the novel "The Bridge on the Drina" of the Nobel laureate - Ivo Andrich. Then we will continue to Sarajevo. Overnight in the town of Sarajevo. (340 km)
4 Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
A walking tour through the center of the Bosnian capital - Sarajevo, whose mosques and old Turkish bazaar with shops and cafes still keep the traditional oriental atmosphere of the region. Free time. Overnight.
5 Sarajevo – Mostar – Trebinje – Dubrovnik (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Croatia).
Mostar is famous for its old houses and the old bridge, a symbol of peaceful coexistence of different cultural and religious communities in the Balkans. On our way to the border we will stop at Radimlja to see the unic stecci – grave stones from XV century. Arrive in Dubrovnik in the evening. (280 km)
6 Dubrovnik (Croatia).
A walking tour in the historic part of the town - the Pile Gate and Stradun Street, the Franciscan Monastery, the Dominican church, the Sponza Palace, Rector's Palace, "St. Blaise" cathedral. Free time. Overnight.
7 Dubrovnik – Herzeg Novi – Kotor (Croatia/Montenegro).
Our tour of the Balkan countries continues with Montenegro. After crossing the border we will visit the old town of Herzeg Novi and then head off to the famous Kotor Bay with the old towns of Perast and Kotor. A walking tour in Kotor – fortress walls, St. Luka square, Beskuća Palace, St. Trifon’s cathedral. Overnight. (90 km)
8 Kotor – Pec (Montenegro/Kosovo).
In the morning we will start with driving up the scenic road above the Kotor Bay, admiring some breathtaking views towards the Adriatic Sea. Then continue to the border with Kosovo. Overnight in the vivid town of Pec. (300 km)
9 Pec – Prizren (Kosovo).
In the morning we will visit Visoki Decani Monastery still guarded by KFOR. Then continue to the town of Prizren. Walking tour in the center of the town - Sinan pasha mosque, Our lady of Ljevis, the old stone bridge. Overnight. (80 km)
10 Prizren – Tirana (Kosovo/Albania).
Drive to the capital of Albania. Walking tour in the afternoon - Skanderbeg square, Tanner's bridge, the rezidence of Enver Hoxha. Free time. Overnight. (180 km)
11 Tirana – Ohrid (Albania/Macedonia).
We continue to Macedonia. We will spend the afternoon strolling along the shore of Ohrid lake and roaming the narrow streets of Ohrid, where we will see Samuil’s fortress, the churches St. John Kaneo and St. Pantaleimon. Overnight. (130 km)
12 Ohrid - Skopje (Macedonia).
Admire the natural beauty of Matka Canyon. Afternoon walking tour in the capital of Macedonia. Visit Old Bazaar and explorer the architecture and curious and controversial statues around Macedonia Square. (170 km)
13 Skopje – Sofia (Macedonia/Bulgaria).
Departure to Bulgaria’s capital – Sofia. Free time in the city. (250 km)
14 Departure.
Transfer to the airport for departure.
