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21-Day Grand Balkan Tour from Athens, Greece

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Highlights

Acropolis in Athens, Meteora Monasteries, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Dubrovnik Old Town

Destinations

Budva, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Ohrid, Sofia, Split, Zadar, Zagreb, Athens, Belgrade, Kalambaka, Ljubljana

Budget

From €3.300,- p.p excl. flight tickets

Tour Highlights

Discover the essence of the Balkans on a captivating 21-day Grand Balkan Tour starting in Athens. This immersive multi-country journey showcases the cultural, historical, and natural wonders of Greece, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Tailored for culturally curious travelers, our Balkans 3-week itinerary offers guided city tours, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, local cuisine, and scenic routes—all while staying in handpicked 4-star hotels. Whether you’re tracing ancient civilizations or savoring Balkan wine in medieval towns, this journey is the ultimate way to explore the Balkans in depth.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Athens, Greece

Welcome at Athens Airport. Transfer to 4* hotel (e.g. Amalia Hotel Athens).
Free time or optional Plaka stroll.
Overnight in Athens.

Day 2: Athens City Tour

Panoramic tour: Parliament, Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Visit Acropolis & Acropolis Museum.
Evening at leisure or Greek dinner show.
Overnight in Athens.

Day 3: Athens – Delphi – Kalambaka

Drive to Delphi, visit the Sanctuary of Apollo & Archaeological Museum.
Continue to Kalambaka.
Overnight at Amalia Hotel Kalambaka or similar.

Day 4: Meteora Monasteries – Ohrid (North Macedonia)

Visit 2 Meteora monasteries.
Scenic drive to Ohrid, via Florina.
Overnight in Hotel Tino Sveti Stefan or similar.

Day 5: Ohrid Walking Tour

UNESCO Ohrid: St. Sophia Church, Tsar Samuel Fortress, Kaneo Church.
Optional lake cruise
Overnight in Ohrid.

Day 6: Ohrid – Tirana (Albania)

Drive to Tirana, explore Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, Blloku.
Overnight in Hotel Mondial 4* or similar.

Day 7: Tirana – Shkodra – Budva (Montenegro)

Stop in Shkodra, visit Rozafa Castle.
Continue to Budva on the Adriatic coast.
Overnight in Hotel Budva or similar.

Day 8: Kotor & Perast Excursion

Explore UNESCO Kotor Bay, Old Town & optional Our Lady of the Rocks islet visit.
Return to Budva.

Day 9: Budva – Trebinje (Bosnia) – Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Cross into Bosnia; explore Trebinje, continue to Mostar.
Visit the Old Bridge (Stari Most) and bazaar.
Overnight in Hotel Eden or similar.

Day 10: Mostar – Kravice Falls – Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Morning stop at Kravice Waterfalls.
Arrive in Dubrovnik, panoramic view + walking tour of Old Town.
Overnight in Hotel Lero 4* or similar.

Day 11: Free Day in Dubrovnik

Optional: Elaphiti Islands cruise or cable car to Mt. Srđ.
Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 12: Dubrovnik – Split via Ston

Visit Ston (famous for salt pans & oysters), then Split.
Diocletian’s Palace walking tour.
Overnight in Hotel Corner 4* or similar.

Day 13: Split – Trogir – Zadar

Explore UNESCO Trogir.
Continue to Zadar, visit Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun.
Overnight in Hotel Kolovare or similar.

Day 14: Zadar – Plitvice Lakes – Zagreb

Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO).
Arrive in Zagreb for overnight at Hotel International or similar.

Day 15: Zagreb City Tour – Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Morning Zagreb walking tour.
Drive to Ljubljana, explore Old Town, Triple Bridge.
Overnight in Hotel B&B Ljubljana Park 4*.

Day 16: Lake Bled & Bohinj Day Trip

Excursion to Lake Bled (castle, optional pletna boat), Lake Bohinj.
Return to Ljubljana.

Day 17: Ljubljana – Belgrade (Serbia)

Scenic drive via Croatian plains into Belgrade.
Short orientation tour.
Overnight in Hotel Moskva or Hotel Majestic.

Day 18: Belgrade City Tour

Visit Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic Square, St. Sava Temple.
Optional: River cruise on Sava & Danube.
Overnight in Belgrade.

Day 19: Belgrade – Nis – Sofia (Bulgaria)

Stop in Nis, visit the Skull Tower.
Arrive in Sofia, check-in at Hotel Central Sofia 4*.

Day 20: Sofia City Tour

Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman ruins, Boyana Church (UNESCO).
Farewell dinner with folklore show (optional).
Overnight in Sofia.

Day 21: Departure from Sofia

Transfer to Sofia Airport.

Services

Included

20 nights accommodation in selected 3★ or 4★ hotels
Daily breakfast
Private guide/driver for 21 days
Rent-a-car for the entire itinerary
Airport arrival & departure transfers
All land transportation across all listed countries
Border assistance
Tour planning and operational coordination

Excluded

Flights
Lunches and dinners (unless explicitly stated)
Entrance fees (Acropolis, Meteora, castles, museums, UNESCO sites)
Optional lake cruises, island excursions, cable cars
Local specialist guides where required
Tips and personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visa fees (if applicable)

Receive a free quote from your local travel agency within 48 hours by e-mail. No obligation to purchase.

What our travellers are saying

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