Compare From Sofia to Dubrovnik by Europamundo Vacations vs Balkan Kaleidoscope - 8 Balkan Countries in 14 Days by Penguin Travel

Day 1: Sofia

Today’s Highlight: Transfer to the hotel. City tour of Sofia. Welcome to Sofia!!!. Upon arrival at the airport, we shall be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. After lunch (towards 15.00hrs), we include a tour of the capital of Bulgaria, where we will see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, its squares and avenues of Stalinist architecture. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Sofia - Bachkovo - Plovdiv

Today’s Highlight: Plovdiv. Dinner included. In the morning we will leave for Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria’s second most important monastery, founded in the eleventh century, with its three churches, we feel it as a place full of peace. Continue to Plovdiv, where we will visit the city, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Here we include tickets to the Roman Amphitheatre, the ancient chemist’s and the Armenian House.

Day 3: Plovdiv - Kazanlak - Shipka - Etara - Arbanassi - Veliko Tarnovo

Today’s Highlight: Balkans mountain. Thracian tomb, Church of Nativity in Arbanasi. Lunch included. Today’s journey takes us through beautiful scenery across the Balkans mountain range. In the valley of the Roses, we will see Kazanluk, where tickets are included to the replica of the Thracian Tomb (Heritage of Mankind) and we will learn about the production of products derived from the roses. Amidst the mountains, we stop at the Russian church of Shipka, which commemorates the war between Russia and Turkey. Visit Etarat with its charming village/ethnographic museum. After lunch, we travel to Arbanasi, an ancient trading city with its fortress-houses, where we visit the Church of the Nativity with entrance included. Travel to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s former capital, with a very picturesque medieval centre. Note: In some cases, Arbanasi may be visited on Sunday morning instead of Saturday.

Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo - Basarboski - Bucharest

Today’s Highlight: Panoramic tour of Bucharest. Dinner included. We travel to Romania and on our way we will stop at the Basarbovski Monastery, a place of pilgrimage dug out of the rock. We proceed to cross the border and the river Danube, arriving to Bucharest in the early afternoon. Time for lunch, then we will take a panoramic tour of the city with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Leisure time followed by dinner.

Day 5: 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 Sinaia, 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 neighbouring islands. You can then enjoy free time, returning to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner included.

Day 11: Dubrovnik

After breakfast, end of our services.

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.