Five Countries Tour 2024

Welcome to Belgrade. Time to relax before meeting your fellow travellers and Tour Director for a welcome dinner. (D)

After breakfast, depart on a full day excursion out of Belgrade. Our first stop is Krusedol monastery, founded in the beginning of the 16th century and considered one of Serbia's most significant monasteries. Continue to Sremski Karlovci, a picturesque town with its baroque and neoclassical houses and buildings. After the orientation tour, we will depart to one of the famous local wineries for lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards, we visit the intriguing Petrovaradin fortress, with its underground trenches and tunnels. The last stop is the city of Novi Sad, where will have a quick orientation tour and some free time before returning to Belgrade and your hotel. Lunch in a local restaurant. (B, L)

Your morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. You’ll also see Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street, Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in the city, and Tito’s Memorial. Continue to Avala. The rest of the day is free. In the afternoon, there is an optional excursion to Topola, where George Petrovic, better known by his sobriquet Karadjordje, was chosen as the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. A very short drive away is the local St George's Church, also known as Oplenac, the burial place of the Ducal and Royal Family of Serbia and Yugoslavia. After a lunch break (on your own), we are going back to Belgrade. Evening at leisure. Dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D)

Leave Belgrade towards Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Dinner, overnight. (B, D)

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St Mark’s Church, St Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. (B)

After breakfast head towards Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. See the most significant sights of the old city centre on a walking tour. Highlights include the picturesque open-air Central Market, the Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. Then continue to Bled. (B, D)

An Alpine Lake surrounded by high peaks, Bled was discovered by travellers in the middle of the 19th century. Since then, a small town of hotels, villas, and restaurants has developed around the lake, turning Bled into a lively, all-seasons resort. A sightseeing tour features the charming town and the lakeshore, and visits the imposing Bled Castle, perched on a cliff high above the lake. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion visiting the small island in the middle of the lake, browse through the shops and boutiques, or simply relax and enjoy the enchanting scenery. (B)

The journey continues to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe. Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterwards continue to the coast, with a stop in Opatija. Enjoy the walking tour of this fashionable resort in the 19th century, dotted with Habsburg era villas. After some free time, continue towards Plitvice Lakes. (B, D)

After breakfast, have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of sixteen terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. After the tour, head to Split. Overnight in Split. (B, D) 

In the morning enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Then see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle, and the Cathedral. The rest of the day at leisure to stroll through the beautiful streets of Split, enjoy the beach or join us on an optional excursion to the jet set spot of the rich and famous, the Island of Hvar. (B)

After breakfast travel to Dubrovnik. Day at leisure. (B, D)

After breakfast, take a walking tour of Old Dubrovnik. Visit the Rector's Palace, see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, the Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is free or join us for optional excursion to Dubelj Olive Mill including dinner. (B)

After breakfast, our journey takes us to Montenegro. On the way you will see Kotor Bay, the only South European fiord, and take a tour of old town Kotor, a UNESCO Heritage Site. On to Tivat for the night. (B, D)

After breakfast we leave Tivat and drive via Budva and Bar towards town of Shkodra, nowadays a major Albanian cultural centre. Shkodra was the centre of the Illyrian tribe Labeat and was taken by the Romans in the year 168 B.C. We will see Rozafa Castle, magnificently situated on a rocky outcrop of limestone high above the city. Continue drive to Tirana. (B, D)

On a Morning sightseeing tour see Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square), the Mosque of Ethem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G K Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance, and the National History Museum with a mosaic on its façade portraying Albanian history. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own, shop, or simply just relax. (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tirana Airport for your departure flight. (B)