Balkans Adventure

Our journey begins in the beautiful coastal town of Cavtat, a picturesque fishing village that once found favour amongst the wealthy families of Europe and whose old town still retains a little of the charm that so endeared it to the elite of a bygone age.

Overnight Simple Guest House

Driving to the beautiful city of Dubrovnik this morning we have a chance to explore one of the finest examples of a fortified medieval town anywhere in the world. Granted World Heritage status in 1979, the old city is a wonderful mix of monasteries, museums and red-tiled buildings that hark back to the glory days, when it was one of Europe’s greatest maritime cities. This morning we will take a guided walking tour of this wonderful city, the best way to get a feel of the layout of the town and its wealth of architectural masterpieces. Fully restored to its former grandeur following the Siege of Dubrovnik (1991-92), the old medieval town still exudes a unique atmosphere and charm. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, ‘Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik’. So, in the company of a local guide, we will discover the majesty of its Pile Gate, the city’s Dominican church and the great Franciscan monastery, as well as the old port and the Rector’s Palace. The afternoon is then free to continue exploring at your own leisure, perhaps taking a tour around the city walls, to take in the views out across the twisting alleyways and the glittering waters of the Adriatic. Later we will transfer by bus across the border into neighbouring Montenegro and the charming village of Prcanj on the shores of Kotor Bay.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we visit the old medieval city of Kotor, lying beneath the slopes of Mount Lovčen. An engaging mix of European and Byzantine influences, Kotor was once an independent city republic, until the threat of Ottoman attacks saw it throw its lot in with the Venetians. We’ll take a wander through the old city, walking its city walls to enjoy the views across the medieval rooftops and out across the fjord from the Ivan Tower. Under the Venetians, Kotor became one of the best fortified cities in the region, boasting walls twice the length of Dubrovnik; walls which today provide us with a fascinating glimpse into its turbulent past. After lunch we then take to the waters of Kotor Bay, to take in some of the small islands that occupy the turquoise waters of what is essentially the southernmost fjord in Europe. An inspiration for artists and poets, the bay is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, its breathtaking mix of rugged mountains and azure waters blessed with a rich scattering of charming coastal towns that attest to its former domination by the Venetians and the Ottoman Turks. After our excursion we return to Prcanj for a second night.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A short journey to the resort of Sveti Stefan this morning offers a chance to enjoy a swim on the beautiful Budva Riviera, a 35km long strip of the Adriatic that boasts some of the best beaches along the coast. After our swim we will then continue to the lovely town of Virpazar on the shores of Skadar Lake. The largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, Skadar Lake stretches for some 44km, encroaching into neighbouring Albania and representing the largest national park in Montenegro. There is an option to take a boat trip out onto the lake today, to enjoy its landscapes and learn a little of its rich diversity of flora and fauna. The lake is home to some 270 species of birds including egrets, spoonbills and one of the largest cormorant colonies on the planet. The park is also a haven for rare plants and a collection of monasteries, villages and sacred monuments that span over 9 centuries of Montenegrin history.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to Zabljak, on the edge of the Durmitor National Park. We’ll travel via the monumental 13th century Orthodox monastery at Morača and the impressive Djurdjevica Tara Bridge that spans the gorge over the Tara River and towers some 135 metres above the river valley below. Our final destination today lies amongst the towering peaks, alpine lakes and high pastureland that lie sandwiched between the Tara and Piva canyons. Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that presents us with a magnificent setting for an afternoon walk, and on arrival we will hike up through the thick pine forests towards the waters of Crno Jezero (Black Lake). Of the 18 glacial lakes that pepper this spectacular karst landscape, Crno Jezero is probably the most famous and is certainly the largest, feeding the river basins of both the Tara and the Komarnica Rivers. Besides its glacial lakes, the park also features 27 peaks that exceed over 2200m, along with five canyons, lush expanses of ancient forest and a labyrinthine system of caves and sinkholes that number in the hundreds. We’ll take a walk around the Black Lake, named after the dark pine landscapes that surround it, before returning to Zabljak for the evening.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we cross into western Serbia and head for the peaks of the Zlatibor massif. Covering some 300 square kilometres, Mount Zlatibor encompasses a range of mountains that stretch for some 27 miles and make up part of the Dinaric Alps. We head for the village of Sirogojno, located on the mountain itself, and home to a remarkable open air museum that was declared a national monument back in 1983. Covering nearly 15 hectares, the museum contains a collection of traditional 19th century wooden buildings that have been assembled here from across the region, including a bakery, an inn and a dairy. All are authentic and provide a fascinating glimpse into Serbia’s rural past. We’ll take a guided tour of the site with a guide, before going on to visit the 13th century Mileševa Monastery near Prijepolje. Founded by King Vladislav between 1234 and 1236, the monastery is one of the country’s most important spiritual centres and contains some superb examples of 13th century fresco painting, including the famous ‘White Angel’, which depicts an angel visiting the grave of Christ. After our visit we will return to Sirogojno for the evening.

Overnight Simple Pension Included meals: Breakfast

Heading for Zlatibor’s northern slopes, this morning we drive to the village of Mokra Gora, where there is the option to ride the historic narrow gauge railway, Šargan Eight. Running from Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi, the line is part of the former track that once ran between Sarajevo and Belgrade, until it was closed in 1974. The section over the Šargan Pass has been renovated by the Serbian government to recapture something of its 1920s heyday and today represents the longest and one of the most beautiful sections of the old narrow gauge tracks that once crossed Europe. The name comes from the unusual figure of eight loop by which the train completes the 300 metre incline between the Mokra Gora Valley and the Šargan, a distance of some 3.5 kilometres. We’ll also visit the beautiful mountain setting of Kustendorff, a traditional village that was built by the international director Emir Kusturica for his film ‘Life is a Miracle’ and which today is home to an international film and music festival. Later we return to Mokra Gora for the evening.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Crossing over into Bosnia Herzegovina this morning we drive to Višegrad on the Drina River, site of the famous ‘Bridge over the Drina’ from the novel by Nobel prize winning author Ivo Andrić. The bridge itself dates back to the time of the Ottoman Turks and has spanned the Drina since the latter years of the 16th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, that was the scene of some of the worst atrocities of the Bosnian War, the bridge has long been an iconic symbol of the region. Indeed, in Andrić’s book, the bridge itself is the novel’s main protagonist and carries the hope for change for all who encounter it. The book spans some four centuries of Bosnian history, from 1516 until the beginning of the First World War - from the bridge’s construction, until its partial destruction by the Austrians in 1914. From here we continue to Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina’s vibrant capital, a city famed for centuries of religious diversity and often called the ‘Jerusalem of Europe’.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Located on the Sarajevo plain and surrounded by mountains, the city is the cultural and administrative heart of the country and this morning we will take a tour of some of its glittering highlights. Although the city was a major settlement during the Middle Ages, it was the Ottoman Empire that founded much of the Sarajevo we know today, transforming a collection of villages into the largest city in the region. Annexed by the Habsburgs, Sarajevo became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1908, going on to become the catalyst for the start of WWI, when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated here on June 28th 1914. During the time of the Ottoman occupation the city was home to Muslims, Catholics, Jews and Eastern Orthodox and many of its religious monuments have survived the city’s turbulent past. Our tour today will take in the beautiful old Serbian Orthodox Church of St Michael and Gabriel and the stunning 16th century Gazi Hursev Bey Mosque, considered the most important Islamic building in the country and one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture anywhere in the world. We’ll also see the city’s magnificent Gothic cathedral and its pseudo-Moorish styled Town Hall, a particularly grandiose building that dates back to the Austro-Hungarian period. A stroll through the centre of Baščaršija, in the heart of old Sarajevo, then offers a chance to explore something of the city’s markets. The alleys that radiate out from the market square reflect the Ottoman tradition of naming streets after the traders who practised there and amongst these winding alleys and covered markets you can find bargains galore.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Set on the banks of the Neretva River, historic Mostar is the largest and most important city in the Herzegovina region. One of the most beautiful towns in the entire country, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is divided by the Neretva, with Croats on one side and Muslims on the other, reflecting its rich cultural heritage. Founded by the Turks during the 15th century and expanded by the Habsburgs 300 years later, the town and its historic old bridge (the Stari Most) were badly damaged during the Balkan conflict of the early 1990s. The old Ottoman bridge was rebuilt after the war, as was much of the old city and today it has been restored to its former glory. The five year long programme of reconstruction went a long way to restoring peace to this shattered region, with international and ethnic co-operation helping to rebuild cultural as well as historic bridges. Today the city is host to a number of international festivals, with music, traditional dance and the annual bridge jumping festival being just some of the festivities on offer. After a tour of the city the rest of the day is free to explore this lovely old town at your leisure.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading back towards the Adriatic, our final stop on this fascinating journey is the town of Trebinje, in the south-eastern corner of Herzegovina. Lying along the banks of the Trebišnjica River, just across the border from Dubrovnik, the town once commanded the road between Ragusa and Constantinople and its environs are scattered with old mills and bridges, including the attractive Ottoman Arsalangic Bridge that was built in the 16th century and is considered by many to be one of the finest of its kind in the country. On arrival we will take a tour of the old city and pay a visit to the charming 15th century Tvrdos Monastery, located on the cliffs above Tvrdos. Belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church, the monastery has endured a somewhat violent past, having been destroyed by Turks, Venetians and God over the centuries (the latter the result of a massive earthquake in the 17th century). The building we see today was reconstructed during the 1920s and is headquarters of the bishop of Herzegovina, as well as being home to a number of monks who still live behind its monastic walls. We will then continue across the border into Croatia to Cavtat for our final night stop on the tour.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

The tour ends this morning in Cavtat.