Best of the Balkans: From Medieval Fortresses to the Majestic Adriatic Sea

17 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Discover the rich cultural and social history of the Balkans, a place of ancient trade routes, architecture, breath-taking scenery and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
26%
$5,399
From$3,999
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Sarajevo, Zagreb and more
    • Enjoy a boat excursion on the captivating Adriatic Sea
    • Discover Lake Bled, a scene right out of a storybook with a tiny island, mountain landscape and romantic hilltop castle

What's this trip about?

    Discover the rich cultural and social history of the Balkans, a place of ancient trade routes, architecture, breath-taking scenery and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Croatia
  • Serbia

Attractions

  • Alps
  • Belgrade
  • Croatia
  • Dubrovnik
  • Ljubljana
  • Sarajevo
  • Split
  • Zagreb

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Itinerary

Day
1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day
2 Arrive, Check-In, Orientation, Welcome Dinner Herceg Novi D Hunguest Hotel Sun Resort Dinner: In the hotel dining room, enjoy a welcome buffet dinner. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are typically a three-course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals. Evening: At leisure.

Day
3 Herceg Novi Herceg Novi B,L,D Hunguest Hotel Sun Resort Activity note: 3 hours on the boat with one stop to get out in the morning. Herceg Novi is known as the ’city of stairs’ – please be prepared! The afternoon walking excursion is about 2 hours, if you feel it...
Day
4 Kotor and Kotor Bay Herceg Novi B,L,D Hunguest Hotel Sun Resort Activity note: Approximately 2-3 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: This morning we have a coach excursion along the Kotor Bay. We will admire th...
Day
5 Dubrovnik Neum B,L,D Grand Hotel Neum Activity note: Transfer time: 2 hours to Dubrovnik, 2 hours to Neum. Approximately 2-3 hours walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: After breakfast, we continue our journey towards Dub...
Day
6 Cetina Valley, Split Split B,L,D Hotel Slavija Activity note: Transfer time: 2 hours from Neum to Omis, 1 more to Split. Approximately 2-3 hours walking and some standing in the gallery during the day. Mestrovic Gallery: ca. 60 stairs lead up to the house from th...
Day
7 Diocletian’s Palace Split B,L Hotel Slavija Activity note: Approximately 3 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: We enjoy an excursion to Diocletian’s Palace in Split (World Heritage Site). The palace and fortres...
Day
8 Mostar Sarajevo B,L,D Hotel Bosnia Activity note: Transfer time: 3 hours to Mostar, then 2 more to Sarajevo. Approximately 3 hours of walking during the day. In Mostar, be careful crossing the Old bridge as the stone work is very smooth and slippery. In Mostar in...
Day
9 Sarajevo Sarajevo B,L,D Hotel Bosnia Activity note: Approximately 3 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: We take an expert-led excursion in Sarajevo by bus and on foot. We will see such sights as the former Aust...
Day
10 Dinaric Alps Belgrade B,L,D Belgrade City Hotel Activity note: Transfer day: approximately 6 hours on the bus. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: We travel to Belgrade. During this journey, we will cross the impressive Dinaric Alps. Lun...
Day
11 Belgrade Belgrade B,L,D Belgrade City Hotel Activity note: Approximately 3 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: Take an exciting bus excursion through Belgrade. See the main pedestrian street, Knez Mihajlova, w...
Day
12 Novi Sad, Fruska Gora Belgrade B,L,D Belgrade City Hotel Activity note: Approximately 3-4 hours of walking during the day. 1.5 hour drive to Novi Sad, and 1.5 hours back to Belgrade Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: Full day excursion to no...
Day
13 Zagreb Zagreb B,L,D Hotel Dubrovnik Activity note: Transfer day: approximately 5 hours on the bus. Approximately 2 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: We travel to Zagreb. Along the way we will cross the north...
Day
14 Plitvice Lake National Park Zagreb B,L,D Hotel Dubrovnik Activity note: Transfer time: 2-3 hours each way on the bus. Approximately 2-3 hours walking in the park. The path to the lakes is a long steep incline with no railings. To access other parts of the lake y...
Day
15 Lake Bled Ljubljana B,L,D City Hotel Ljubljana Activity note: Transfer time: 3 hours to Bled, 1 hour to Ljubljana. Approximately 2 hours of walking during the day. To reach the castle of Bled you will need to walk along a very steep cobblestone walkway for about...
Day
16 Lecture on Slovenia, City excursion in Ljubljana Ljubljana B,L,D City Hotel Ljubljana Activity note: Approximately 2 hours of walking during the day. Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. Morning: At the hotel, we will listen to a lecture on Slovenia an...
Day
17 Departures, Program Concludes In Flight B Activity note: check out 10:00 am Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,999
Price per day$235
Last Updated: 2/4/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar Reviews & Ratings

4.4/5  Great
Excellent
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Terrible
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Other Road Scholar Reviews

M

Michael

Dec 2023

Written on

Not a good bicycle trip

Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, th...

M

Marsha

Nov 2023

Written on

Travel Section Incompetent, Unhelpful, and Won't correct error

I booked a tour to Italy for May 2024. I cancelled in Oct. for a lot of reasons. Before I enrolled, I asked if Road Scholar would book the flights so that on the las...

J

Jane Johnson

Sep 2023

Written on

There is a nonrefundable deposit

Please know that Road Scholar will always keep a nonrefundable $100 deposit. I cannot find that buried in all the paper and fine print but they state it is there???...

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Road Scholar

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 43 Meals
  • 15 Breakfasts
  • 14 Lunches
  • 14 Dinners
  • The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Low Salt, Vegetarian, Low Fat, Gluten Free
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-611

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