Highlights of the Balkans

Welcome to Belgrade! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

A Strong Faith Start your Balkan adventure in cosmopolitan Belgrade, capital of Serbia located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. Follow your Local Guide on a sightseeing tour that features the main highlights; see Tito’s Memorial, Saint Sava Church, Slavija, Parliament House and views of the fascinating Kalemegdan Fortress. Spend free time this afternoon and evening to explore more. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT The Church of Saint Sava is one of the largest churches in the world and the largest church building in the Balkans. The church is built on the site where the Ottomans burned the remains of Saint Sava in 1595, and it represents the resilience and continuity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian culture through centuries of foreign domination. A visit to Belgrade is not complete without a stop here.

Capital Cities Today, cross the border into Romania and reach the town of Timisoara. Join an orientation walk, admire the Romanian Orthodox Church, and enjoy free time to explore more. Continue to Sibiu for an orientation tour that reveals towers, churches, and buildings dating back to the 14th century. (B,D) 267mi / 430km TOUR HIGHLIGHT A CITY OF FIRSTS Situated in Transylvania, Sibiu is a real gem with a local vibe which recorded many premieres in this part of Europe. It was here where the first hospital, the first library, the first school, the first pharmacy, the first Zoo garden, the first open-air cinema in Romania opened.

Fact or Fiction A scenic drive, providing views of the Carpathian Mountains, brings you to Transylvania and the charming city of Brasov. Walk with your Local Guide through the medieval town center, then visit the Schei Old District and Black Church. Later, a special treat has been arranged with a [LOCAL FAVORITE] private after-hours visit of Bran Castle, aka “Dracula’s Castle,” followed by dinner in the castle grounds at the Queen Mary Tea House. (B,D) 93mi / 150km TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDS & LORE Legend has it that King Solomon, while escaping enemies in pursuit, fled into the Brasov forest, exchanged his clothes with a local peasant, and cast his crown on a tree trunk to evade being recognized, resulting in the city of Brasov to be dubbed Brasov, Kronstadt (Crown City). The fortress-castle was built in 1377 by master masons of Brasov, on a cliff, dominating the whole region. The most famous feature of the town is the castle associated with Vlad the Impaler, a true-life prince who stayed at the castle in the 15th century. His cruel habit of impaling his enemies on stakes inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional tale of Dracula.

Romanian Royalty Take a scenic drive to Sinaia in the Prahova Valley and visit Peles Castle, the summer residence of Romania’s royal family, and considered among the most romantic castles in the world. After some free time for lunch continue to beautiful Bucharest with its flower-festooned parks, gardens, and wide boulevards shaded by century-old trees. (B) 118mi / 190km TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM From the very beginning, Peles Castle was one of the most modern in Europe. It was the first castle on the continent fully supplied by electrical power – it had its own electrical unit – and one of the few with a central heating system, an elevator, and the best comfort of the time. The castle was a museum from its first years, and the ticket sales were used to finance Romania’s Queen Elisabeth’s charity works. After the castle was confiscated by the communists, it was used only as a museum from 1953 to 1975, escaping the destructive whims of ruling dictator, Ceausescu.

Parisian Style and Palace Squares Meet your Local Guide and see Bucharest’s highlights during a sightseeing tour. Visit the open-air Village Museum, a unique collection of traditional buildings. Admire views of the Government Victoria Palace, the Royal Palace, the Savings Palace, and the People’s Palace, where former Romanian dictator Ceausescu lived. Free time this afternoon and evening to explore more. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT In the early 20th century, Bucharest was known as "Little Paris" due to its elegant architecture and vibrant cultural scene, reminiscent of the French capital. See the imposing Palace of the Parliament, former home of communist dictator, Ceausescu. Noted as the world's heaviest building and largest administrative building after the Pentagon.

Little Vienna Depart Romania and cross the border into Bulgaria! Your first experience of this historic country is a visit to Ruse, its most important river port. Enjoy an orientation plus free time to admire the beautiful neo-baroque and neo-rococo architecture that give it the nickname “Little Vienna.” Continue to Sofia, the vibrant capital city. (B,D) 242 mi / 390 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT ARTISTRY & ARCHITECTURE Unique to the country of Romania is the architectural jewel of Ruse. Its leafy avenues and squares are reminiscent of Vienna, with a Central European feel found in its baroque and belle epoque architectural style.

A City of Centuries This morning, follow your Local Guide for a city tour that includes views of the Largo Square Roman Ruins, Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia Synagogue, Parliament building, the Rotunda “St. George, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, plus a visit to the Byzantine Holy Sofia Church. Spend an afternoon at leisure discovering more of this impressive city. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is poised as it has been for centuries below Vitosha Mountain, with its landmarks reflecting more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. Medieval Boyana Church has 13th-century frescoes. Built by the Romans in the 4th century, St. George Rotunda Church has medieval and Ottoman decoration dating to the 10th century. Sofia was known as Serdica centuries before Christ and was ruled at one time by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip of Macedonia.

Prophecies, Prayers, and Promises This morning, continue to North Macedonia and stop at the town of Kumanovo to visit the noteworthy Nagorichane Monastery. Continue to Skopje, the capital city, divided by the Vardar River that runs through it. This evening, get acquainted with the regional specialties during a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 155mi / 250km TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDS & LORE Visit the 11th-century church of Staro Nagorichane. Built by Byzantine emperor Roman IV Diogen in gratitude to the hermit and saint Prohor Pcinski. According to legend, the emperor wounded a deer while hunting in the surrounding forests and followed its bloody trail to a cave in which it found refuge with the hermit Pcinski. The old man beseeched the emperor to spare the deer and prophesized he would become the future king upon his return to Constantinople. With the prophecy ultimately fulfilled. Diogen built the church in honor of the beatified Saint Pcinski.

City of Statues and Saint Theresa Skopje is a city rich in culture and history, where the ancient and contemporary meet. Follow your Local Guide on a sightseeing tour that highlights the Old Town. See the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar, the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. and the beautiful quay of the Vardar River. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon and evening. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS HISTORY & MONUMENTS The city of Skopje is located on the Vardar River and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Hear how it is often referred to as the “City of Statues,” with over 190 statues scattered throughout the city, it truly lives up to its nickname. But it is also famous as Mother Theresa was born here.

Wetland Watercolors Reach Ohrid, known for its cultural heritage and nature. This afternoon, take a guided sightseeing tour featuring a visit to the Church of St. Sophia and views of St. Perivlepta, the Old Bazaar and Antique Theatre. Continue with a boat trip on Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO-listed natural and cultural site with protected wetlands. Later, enjoy free time to explore more of the beautiful Old Town. (B) 124mi / 200km TOUR HIGHLIGHTS NATURAL WONDERS Lake Ohrid is the oldest natural lake in Europe and one of the oldest lakes in the whole world and home to a high number of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of the lake’s most enchanting spectacles at sunset as the golden hues reflect upon the tranquil waters for a mesmerizing sight.

Macedonian Marvels Before departing from Ohrid, take a guided visit of the Monastery of Saint Naum, one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia, built on a high rocky cliff over the shore of the most southern point of Lake Ohrid. After some free time for lunch continue to Tirana, Albania’s capital city and allegedly one of the sunniest cities in Europe! Enjoy an evening at leisure to get acquainted with the city. (B) 81mi / 130km TOUR HIGHLIGHTS HISTORIC SPOT The Monastery of St. Naum is represents one of the first monuments of Slavic church architecture and art in the Ohrid region – this is. The founder of the monastery is the medieval writer and teacher Naum, who is one of the founders of the Slavic and Macedonian literacy and education tradition. Take in the heavenly views surrounding this clifftop marvel.

Underground Art This morning, join your Local Guide for a walking tour to discover Tirana’s intriguing culture and history. See many of the main landmarks and visit the Bunk’Art Museum, once a top-secret nuclear bunker, now a historical and art center. Spend an afternoon at leisure exploring more. This evening, enjoy a delicious farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE Discover a vibrant story of history, architecture, and art in Tirana – from the Tirana mosaic (Ancient Roman) to the Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit), a symbol of ottoman architecture, Italian buildings, and the construction style of the dictatorship. Visit the former Cold War bunker-turned-art-museum of Bunk’Art.

Safe Travels Until We Meet Again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)