Balkan highlights

Balkan highlights

This 13-day adventure explores three captivating countries in the Balkans. You'll discover Croatia's highlights including Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zagreb, and coastal cities. In Serbia, you'll explore Belgrade, stay in the mountain resort of Zlatibor, and take a ride on the scenic Sargan Eight railway. The journey continues to Bosnia, featuring Sarajevo's historic sites and the famous Stari Most bridge in Mostar. You'll enjoy guided walking tours, traditional craft demonstrations, wine tasting, and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites.

What's Included

• Return flights from London
• 12 nights in 4-star hotels
• 17 meals: 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners and welcome drink
• Various excursions
• Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide
• Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

Holiday Highlights:

• Walking tour of Split's Old Town
• Guided tour of Zadar
• Glass-blowing demonstration
• Explore the Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Zagreb walking tour
• Visit the fotress city of Novi Sad
• Walking tour of Belgrade
• Discover the Royal Complex of the Karadordevic family
• Enjoy a ride on the Sargan Eight narrow gauge railway
• Visit the small town of Višegrad
• Guided walking tour of Sarajevo
• Explore Mostar on a walking tour
• Visit the village of Medugorje

Day 1 - UK to Split

Fly from the UK to Split where your Balkan adventure will begin with a night in this picturesque coastal city. You'll be introduced to the main sights on a walking tour of the Old Town before getting to know your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner this evening.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 - Split to Zadar

After breakfast, drive north to Zadar, a city that boasts a stunning blend of history and art. You'll enjoy a guided tour here and make a stop at a glass-blowing workshop for a demonstration of the traditional techniques used in this craft. You'll have time at leisure to grab a bite to eat or find a quiet square and soak up the atmosphere. Later, you'll drive inland to the Plitvice Lakes area where you'll enjoy a stay close to the lakes, giving you the chance to rest before a day of exploring this magnificent landscape in more detail tomorrow.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Zadar to Zagreb

Today, you'll visit one of the most beautiful sights in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park. Walk along wooden boardwalks that almost touch the water and weave around turquoise pools fed by waterfalls creating rainbows in their mist. You'll take a short ferry ride across one of the lakes, before a trail takes you for views of Veliki Slap, the tallest falls in the park. You'll then continue your journey to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, for an overnight stay.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 4 - Zagreb to Belgrade

This morning, you'll start the day with a short walking tour of Zagreb where sights include a funicular ride to the 'Upper Town', St Mark's Church and Tkalciceva Street. It's then time to leave the city and follow the Central European Plain down towards Serbia. En route, you'll stop to enjoy a tasting of local wines and lunch. Later, you'll visit the famous fortress city of Novi Sad for a walking tour where you'll take in the Petrovaradin Fortress, located on the right bank of the Danube, and the equally impressive Freedom Square, which overlooks the city. Your journey continues to Belgrade where you can enjoy some free time this evening.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 5 - Belgrade

You'll see the highlights of Belgrade on a short walking tour this morning. The former capital of Yugoslavia has plenty of sights to offer, starting with the quaint cobbled lanes of the Bohemian Quarter, often compared to Montmartre in Paris. This afternoon is at leisure for you to explore further – perhaps visit the Residence of Princess Ljubica, which is now a museum, or the imposing Captain Miša's Mansion. Alternatively, enjoy the facilities at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Belgrade to Zlatibor

You'll travel into the mountains to the old resort town of Zlatibor, once a popular destination for the rich and famous escaping the heat of Belgrade in the summer. On the way, you will stop at the royal complex of the Karadordevic family where you will visit the church and mausoleum. You will have free time this afternoon where you can explore more of Zlatibor at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Sargan Eight Railway

You have an amazing experience in store today. A hidden gem of Serbia is its Sargan Eight narrow gauge railway, and you will travel on the most picturesque section of this line. The terrain in this area means the railway traverses valleys and mountain passes, and is shaped like an '8' in one section as the line weaves around the valley and through tunnels. This afternoon, head back to Zlatibor for an evening at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Zlatibor to Sarajevo

You will travel from Zlatibor in Serbia across into the third country of the trip, Bosnia. Today's journey is all about spectacular landscapes as you travel into Bosnia and stop at the small town of Višegrad. You will have free time to explore and have lunch, then travel on this afternoon to Sarajevo, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Sarajevo

Enjoy a full-day guided walking tour of Sarajevo where you will visit the historic sites, including the Latin Bridge, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Olympic Museum and then a visit outside the city centre to the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. Enjoy an evening at leisure – perhaps you'll visit the Bašcaršija area for some traditional Bosnian cuisine

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Sarajevo to Mostar

Today you'll embark on another journey of spectacular scenery following the famous Neretva River. On arrival in Mostar, you'll start a guided walking tour where you will cross the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) where the Neretva River flows underneath. You may even see people gathering to watch the divers who launch themselves off the bridge into the cold water below. Following this, you will visit the Old Bazaar, Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque and 'Turkish house'. Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 11 - Mostar to Split

After breakfast, our journey continues to Spilt. Along the way. you'll enjoy a stop in the small village of Medugorje, a centre for Catholic pilgrimage. Here you'll visit Saint James Church and Apparition Hill. After checking into your hotel in Split, you'll enjoy an afternoon at leisure – perhaps take the opportunity to pick up a last-minute souvenir.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12 - at leisure

Today has been left free for you to explore Split. Perhaps you'll return to visit some of the sights you discovered earlier in the tour or relax and reflect on your adventure. If you'd like to explore further, join the optional excursion to the small island of Trogir. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, the historical centre is easily explored on foot. Wander through the narrow winding streets and along the waterfront promenade and enjoy the notable sights including Kamerlengo Fortress and St Lawrence Cathedral. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 13 - Split to UK

Your Balkan adventure comes to an end and it's time to say farewell to your fellow travellers as you travel back to the UK.

Meals included: Breakfast