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Insight Vacations Arrow Europe & Britain Vacations 2025 Arrow Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
Tour Type: Regional
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Premium 2025 v1

Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria's Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia's Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Bra?ov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula's haunted abode in Bram Stoker's infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city's iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.

Additional Included Highlights
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, y
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Authentic Dining
  • Dubrovnik You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.
  • Sarajevo Experience authentic Bosnian coffee and learn about the traditional ritual of coffee preparation.
  • Bucharest Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your Welcome Dinner served with wine.
  • Sarajevo You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savor the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture.
Choice Highlights
  • Sarajevo Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide.
  • Sarajevo Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
Dining Summary
  • 8 Dinner with Wine (DW)
  • 14 Breakfast (B)
Insight Experiences
  • Bran Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit of Bran Castle, followed by dinner.
  • Sarajevo Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just
Make Travel Matter
  • Dubrovnik Visit the workshop of De?a, an organization founded following the Siege of Dubrovnik to help refugees and women who were victims of violence. They have grown to be an important educational center, workshop and an advocate for women's rights. Th
  • Sarajevo Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide.
Top Rated Highlights
  • Arbanasi At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th century merchants' house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity.
  • Sinaia Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Pele? Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
  • Bucharest During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters.
  • Bucharest Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert.
  • Kotor Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
  • Mostar Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
  • Ohrid Walk the cobbled, narrow streets of the Old Town.
  • Skopje Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
  • Sofia Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
  • Tirana Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
  • Veliko Tarnovo Ascend Tsarevets, the King's Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
  • Belgrade A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theater, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
  • Dubrovnik Explore the Pearl of the Adriatic with your Local Expert. Walk the stone-paved streets of the Old Town to see Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace and the medieval city walls. Admire the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries.
Well-being
  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical
  • Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Details
Tour OperatorInsight Vacations
Duration
16 Days
Escorted
Escorted - Yes
Itinerary
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1BucharestWelcome to Bucharest: Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your Welcome Dinner, served with wine at a local restaurant.

Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel Bucharest.
Day 2BrasovBucharest and Castles of Transylvania: Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Mary's Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.

Accommodations: Aro Palace, Brasov.
Day 3BrasovBrasov and Sinaia: Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Pele? Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armor and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Bra?ov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church.

Accommodations: Aro Palace, Brasov.
Day 4Veliko TarnovoVeliko Tarnovo: Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Accommodations: Yantra Hotel, Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 5SofiaTo Sofia Relaxed Start: Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria's most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia
Day 6SofiaSofia at Your Pace Relaxed Start: Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia
Day 7SkopjeSkopje: Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.

Accommodations: Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje.
Day 8TiranaLake Ohrid and Tirana: Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals.  Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider's look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert.

Accommodations: MAK Albania Hotel Tirana.
Day 9BudvaJourney to Montenegro's Budva: Soak up Montenegro's natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where your Travel Director will provide an orientation tour before you have the rest of the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami' on your own. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by.

Accommodations:
Day 10DubrovnikKotor and Dubrovnik: Journey through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the Old Town of Kotor, known as Stari Grad. Located beside a beautiful bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovcen, its no surprise it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.

Accommodations:
Day 11DubrovnikDubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start: Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. Visit the workshop of De??a during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. This important educational center supports vulnerable communities and promotes local cultural heritage. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea.

Accommodations:
Day 12SarajevoMostar and Sarajevo: Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner with drinks. Savor the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories.

Accommodations: Swissotel Sarajevo.
Day 13SarajevoSarajevo, City of Culture: Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.

Accommodations: Swissotel Sarajevo.
Day 14BelgradeThe Serbian Capital of Belgrade Relaxed Start: Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.

Accommodations: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.
Day 15BelgradeThe Best of Belgrade Relaxed Start: Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theater in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travelers for a Celebration Farewell Dinner this evening.

Accommodations: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade.
Day 16BelgradeFarewell Belgrade: Our journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that's left is to say a fond dovidenja as you bid your new friends farewell.

Accommodations:
Dates/Pricing
Click Quote or call (410) 458-1854 to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

DateDescriptionPrice FromQuote
June 30, 2025Land Price$6,450.00 (USD)Quote
Disclaimer
Twin prices are per person.

- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
  
 
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