Treasures of the Balkans
Experience Overview
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 Brașov, 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.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 15 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
- Sarajevo: Meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and learn about the 44-month siege of the city.Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- 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.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- 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, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Bucharest: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your dinner.
- 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.
- Belgrade: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.
Insight Choice
- Sarajevo: Meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and learn about the 44-month siege of the city.Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just beyond the city.
Insight Experiences
- Bran: Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle, following a traditional dinner.
Make Travel Matter
- 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. This experience advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Top Rated Highlights
- 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.
- Sinaia: Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Peleș Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Skopje: Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
- 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.
- Kotor: Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
- 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.
- Mostar: Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
- Belgrade: A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theater, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
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 distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28118
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 172.749B
Starts: Bucharest, Romania
Finishes: Belgrade, Serbia
Duration: 16 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,268 ($392 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Bucharest
Meals: Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Peleș Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armor and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Brașov, 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.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Aurum, Brașov
Meals: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Yantra, Veliko Tarnovo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals: Breakfast
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?
Accommodation: Grand Millennium Sofia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
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.
Accommodation: MAK Albania, Tirana
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: TQ Plaza, Budva
Meals: Breakfast
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. Lovćen, 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.
Accommodation: Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
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. 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 and visit a local winery.
Accommodation: Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast
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 dinner. Savor the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories.
Accommodation: Europe, Sarajevo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Europe, Sarajevo
Meals: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast
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 dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that’s left is to say a fond doviđenja as you bid your new friends farewell.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
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