16-Day Treasures of the Balkans 2027
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US$5085 ￥34309 €4399 C$7094 Rs.483776
US$5650 ￥38122 €4888 C$7883 Rs.537529
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Child age: 0-12
Highlights
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.
- 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.
- Belgrade: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.
- Bran: Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit to Bran Castle, following a traditional dinner.
- 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: Walk the limestone Stradun with a Local Expert, stopping at Onofrio’s Fountain and St. Blaise’s Church. You’ll visit the cathedral and Franciscan Monastery and see how the compact, UNESCO-listed Old Town sits within its defensive walls beside the harbor.
- 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.
- 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 Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
- Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. Your visit directly supports 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.
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Sarajevo: Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. Your visit directly supports 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.
Dates & Prices
Price in USD (per person, based on double occupancy)
Limited Offer
3% Group Discount: 1. Receive 3% off when you purchase 3+ rooms on the same tour (single order only). 2. Receive 3% off when you book 3+ multi-day tours with minimum order total of $500 at once. Not valid in conjunction with any other discounts or pricing offers.
Itinerary
Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest is the capital of Romania, as well as its cultural and economical center. Visitors to this country in the Balkans can see landmarks such as the Palace of the Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
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 Marie’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 Marie of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula.
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest is the capital of Romania, as well as its cultural and economical center. Visitors to this country in the Balkans can see landmarks such as the Palace of the Parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle, a majestic medieval fortress at the entrance to the Carpathians, is internationally renowned for its association with the Dracula legend.
Brasov, Romania
With its central location, Brasov is a suitable location from which to explore Romania, and the distances to several tourist destinations (including the Black Sea resorts, the monasteries in northern Moldavia, and the wooden churches of Maramures) are similar. It is also the largest city in a mountain resorts area.
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.
Brasov, Romania
With its central location, Brasov is a suitable location from which to explore Romania, and the distances to several tourist destinations (including the Black Sea resorts, the monasteries in northern Moldavia, and the wooden churches of Maramures) are similar. It is also the largest city in a mountain resorts area.
Sinaia, Romania
Brasov, Romania
With its central location, Brasov is a suitable location from which to explore Romania, and the distances to several tourist destinations (including the Black Sea resorts, the monasteries in northern Moldavia, and the wooden churches of Maramures) are similar. It is also the largest city in a mountain resorts area.
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.
Brasov, Romania
With its central location, Brasov is a suitable location from which to explore Romania, and the distances to several tourist destinations (including the Black Sea resorts, the monasteries in northern Moldavia, and the wooden churches of Maramures) are similar. It is also the largest city in a mountain resorts area.
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. During the Middle Ages, the city was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School, and to literature.
Meet your Local Expert to climb to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town’s former imperial status. Take in sweeping views over Bulgaria’s old capital and the Yantra Valley. Continue to Arbanasi, one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages, where frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer insight into the settlement’s former wealth and deep spiritual heritage. Visit a traditional 17th-century merchant’s house and the Church of the Holy Nativity before crossing the Balkan Mountains to modern-day Sofia. On arrival, join your Local Expert for sightseeing to see St. Sofia Church, the golden-domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the Church of St. George Rotunda. This evening, perhaps choose an Optional Experience featuring dinner accompanied by a folklore dancing display.
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. During the Middle Ages, the city was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School, and to literature.
Arbanasi, Bulgaria
Arbanasi is a historic village in Bulgaria, renowned for its well-preserved Renaissance architecture, traditional houses, and ancient churches, often described as an open-air museum near Veliko Tarnovo.
Sofia, Bulgaria
The capital and largest city of Bulgaria. Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC.
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?
Sofia, Bulgaria
The capital and largest city of Bulgaria. Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC.
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.
Sofia, Bulgaria
The capital and largest city of Bulgaria. Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC.
Skopje, North Macedonia, Republic of
The capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic center.
Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Mavrovo. Then, 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.
Skopje, North Macedonia, Republic of
The capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic center.
Mavrovo Lake, North Macedonia, Republic of
Tirana, Albania
Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, located in the center of the country. It serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub, featuring a mix of Ottoman, Italian, and communist-era architecture with colorful buildings and vibrant street life.
Soak up Montenegro’s natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where you will have the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami'. 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.
Tirana, Albania
Tirana is the capital and largest city of Albania, located in the center of the country. It serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub, featuring a mix of Ottoman, Italian, and communist-era architecture with colorful buildings and vibrant street life.
Budva, Montenegro
A Montenegrin town on the Adriatic Sea.The coastal area around Budva, called the Budva riviera, is the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches and diverse nightlife. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.
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.
Budva, Montenegro
A Montenegrin town on the Adriatic Sea.The coastal area around Budva, called the Budva riviera, is the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches and diverse nightlife. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.
Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor has dropped an anchor between the gray mountains and the sea, and veiled its life behind the high and wide ramparts. Its bulwarks seem to have been eternally growing rock tendrils along the hill, up to the old fortress that overlooks the town. It is a dramatic town where the present lives in the maze of medieval churches, cathedrals, Venetian palaces and pillars. Kotor is made up of contrasts - the old squares with modern cafes, the sounds of serenade and live music, the echo of the footsteps down the narrow cobblestone alleys and the lazy purr of cats lying under the balconies with wrought iron railings, decorated with petunias.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
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. This evening, choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
Journey to Mostar, where your Local Expert will guide you to the famed Stari Most, the Old Bridge, a 16th-century Ottoman landmark painstakingly reconstructed after near destruction in the 1990s conflict. Stroll the cobbled streets of the Old Town, lined with shops offering traditional handicrafts and artisanal treasures. Continue along a scenic route to Sarajevo for your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience: a warm welcome into a Sarajevan family home. Over authentic dishes, hear personal stories that illuminate the city’s resilience and cultural heritage, helping preserve its traditions for future generations.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar it is the most important city in the Herzegovina region, serving as its cultural and economic capital. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the country.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its long and rich history of religious and cultural diversity, Sarajevo is sometimes called the "Jerusalem of Europe".
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.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its long and rich history of religious and cultural diversity, Sarajevo is sometimes called the "Jerusalem of Europe".
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.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to its long and rich history of religious and cultural diversity, Sarajevo is sometimes called the "Jerusalem of Europe".
Belgrade, Serbia
The capital and largest city of Serbia.
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.
Belgrade, Serbia
The capital and largest city of Serbia.
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.
Belgrade, Serbia
The capital and largest city of Serbia.
Includes & Excludes
Price Includes
Additional Notes
- DAY 1: Complimentary arrival transfers depart Bucharest Henri Coand- International Airport (OTP) at 13:30 and 16:00 on the first day of the tour. Guests should arrive at least 2 hours before the last transfer time. Please be aware when booking your flights.
- DAY 16: Complimentary departure transfers arrive at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) on the last day of the tour at 09:00 and 12:00.
- CHARGEABLE TRANSFERS: Chargeable transfers available in Bucharest and Belgrade. Guests who have booked their extra hotel nights with Insight Vacations, or whose flight times do not coincide with the shuttle coach timings may purchase a chargeable transfer. However, guests booking independent hotel nights should make their own transfer arrangements.
Policies
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Complete operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, is included on your e-ticket. You must print the e-tickets and take them along on your trip; they are your proof of purchase.
Travel Documents
Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
Cancellation penalties per person (request day and departure day are not counted)
30 days or more prior to departure - $175/person penalty.
2-29 days or more prior to departure - $280/person penalty.
Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
If the tour include airtickets, additional $75+airline surcharge will be charged as penalty.
Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
30 days or more prior to departure - $175/person penalty.
2-29 days or more prior to departure - $280/person penalty.
Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
If the tour include airtickets, additional $75+airline surcharge will be charged as penalty.
Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
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