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Day 1:
Dubrovnik
Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia, the jewel of the Dalmatian Coast. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive early, you might like to head out and explore Dubrovnik’s medieval Old Town, which is surrounded entirely by city walls and easily covered on foot. Although Dubrovnik experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the restored Old Town remains one of the most picturesque places, surrounded by ramparts, filming locations (Game of Thrones fan, anyone?) and the sparkling Adriatic Sea. See the 15th-century Rector's Palace, the monasteries with their cloistered gardens and the baroque churches on a self-paced walk around town. After your meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant showcasing Croatia’s traditional cuisine.
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Day 2:
Dubrovnik
After breakfast, drive from your hotel to the Konavle region south of Dubrovnik. The region is known as the Golden Valley of Dubrovnik as it has the most fertile grounds in the area and is filled with vineyards and fruit trees. Visit the small town of Cavtat with its beautiful architecture, ancient history and pebble beaches. After exploring the town, you’ll head further into the Konavle region for a traditional ‘peka’ lunch featuring lamb and other meats cooked under an iron bell. No meal in this region is complete without a glass of Croatian wine, so raise a glass of Grk or Plavac Mali local wine and toast to a new adventure. Return to Dubrovnik, where the rest of the day is free.
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Day 3:
Mostar
Today, you’ll cross the border and travel into Bosnia and Herzegovina, stopping at several scenic destinations along the way. Your first stop is Trebinje, where you’ll join your leader for a walking tour of the compact Old Town and its market square, followed by a stop at an Orthodox monastery to taste the renowned Tvrdos wine. After, head to Mostar, a picturesque old town home to numerous stone millhouses and quaint cobbled streets. But the star attraction is the world famous Stari Most (Old Bridge) which majestically spans the Neretva River connecting the two sides of the city. Find a spot for lunch and then get to know the town in the company of an expert local guide – including why the locals have such a strong connection to coffee.
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Day 4:
Sarajevo
Leave Mostar and travel towards Sarajevo, stopping in Konjic along the way. Here, you’ll discover one of the best-kept secrets in former Yugoslavia – Tito's nuclear bunker. The military bunker was built to protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and hundreds of his top military personnel and has only recently opened to the public. Go back in time on a guided tour of the bunker and learn about Yugoslav history and how life used to be in not-so-distant past. After touring the bunker, continue to Sarajevo and settle into your hotel before heading out to explore the city with an expert local guide. Tonight, you might like to join your group for dinner at a local restaurant.
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Day 5:
Sarajevo
Today is yours to explore your own way. Taste your way through the market stalls of Bascarsija, visit one of the museums dedicated to the Yugoslav war or maybe take a cable car up Trebevic Mountain to enjoy the views over the city. You’ll finish the day with a home-cooked meal shared with your hosts Mustafa and Mersiha who proudly claim their kitchen has the best view over Sarajevo. Your night begins learning how Bosnian pita is made before a hearty meal of sogan dolma (stuffed onions) and dolam (stuffed paprika). Of course, you’ll get to try the freshly made pita too.
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Day 6:
Tara National Park
Today you’ll travel to Serbia with a stop in the small town of Visegrad where a 16th-century bridge dominates the horizon (this bridge also provided the inspiration for the Nobel Prize winning literary work, The Bridge on the Drina). From Visegrad, you’ll cross the border into Serbia and continue your journey to Tara National Park. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular destinations in the country, the park is home to the world’s third largest river canyon and filled with forested slopes and dramatic ravines. This afternoon, you’ll have the chance to soak in the natural beauty with an easy 2-hour hike. Tonight, you’ll bed down near the town of Zlatibor in your Feature Stay accommodation – a group of wooden chalets surrounded by nature complete with individual swimming pools and views of the surrounding countryside. Later, sit down for a traditional dinner to celebrate your first night in Serbia.
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Day 7:
Belgrade
This morning you'll explore Tara National Park further with a scenic steam train ride through the park’s forest and mountains. This section of the railway is part of the famous Ciro trail that connects Belgrade and the Adriatic Sea. Rattle along the tracks as the narrow-gauge engine and historic carriages take you through the incredible scenery, with four stops along the way so you can take photos. After spending a half day exploring Tara National Park on foot and riding the rails, settle in for the drive to Belgrade where you’ll have a free evening.
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Day 8:
Belgrade
Start your day with a guided walking tour and discover all that Belgrade has to offer including Republic Square, Knez Mihailova Street, Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. Immerse yourself in the town’s rich history and ask your local guide for suggestions on where to experience the best night life, as Belgrade is known for its party scene. This afternoon is free, so you might like to visit the city market or the Nikola Tesla Museum. You could also catch a trolleybus to Zemun – a bohemian neighbourhood known for its cafes and fish restaurants along the riverside promenade. Tonight, join your group for a traditional dinner in the bohemian Skadarska quarter to celebrate the penultimate night of your trip.
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Day 9:
Belgrade
The day is yours to enjoy Belgrade and all it has to offer, including incredible Turkish coffee at a kafana – these traditional coffee houses date back to the Ottoman era. As this is a combination trip, a meeting will take place at your hotel at 6pm this evening to meet your new leader welcome any new travellers joining you for the next part of your adventure. Then step out in to Belgrade for dinner at a local restaurant.
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Day 10:
Timisoara
This morning, travel by private vehicle to Timisoara, crossing the Serbia-Romania border. Timisoara is a park-filled city where an uprising of local people sparked the Romanian Revolution in 1989. This saw the fall of the country’s Communist regime – reflecting the broader political change seen across Eastern Europe at the time. On a guided walking tour, you’ll take in some of Timisoara’s most significant sights – including the grand and aptly named Victory, Liberty and Union Squares – and learn more about the city’s history.
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Day 11:
Sibiu
Head to Sibiu after breakfast, stopping on the way to visit Sarmizegetusa Regia – the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Dacia. Romania’s answer to Stonehenge, Sarmizegetusa Regia was a centre of religious, military and political significance until it was invaded by the Romans in 102 AD. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest and most mysterious historical sites in Romania. After touring the site with a local guide, continue to Sibiu, where you’ll get acquainted with the cobbled streets and squares on a guided walking tour. Sibiu is known for its creative, bohemian atmosphere, rich history and architecture. Explore what remains of the city’s medieval walls and towers, cross the legend-shrouded Bridge of Lies and take in the grandeur of Brukenthal National Museum before a free evening.
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Day 12:
Sibiu
This morning head to the outskirts of the city to explore ASTRA Village Museum. Set across 96 acres surrounding a sparkling lake, this open-air living museum seeks to preserve, showcase and celebrate Romanian folk culture and traditional ways of life. Wander the grounds to discover reconstructed old dwellings, windmills and workshops and learn how Romanian people of centuries past grew food, raised families and made a living. The afternoon is free to visit the Orthodox Cathedral or admire the slightly less imposing (but equally magnificent) Gothic Lutheran church. Alternatively, grab a covrigi (a tasty Romanian pretzel), wander the old town and snap photos of the colourful, Wes Anderson-style architecture.
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Day 13:
Coltesti Village
Depart Sibiu and head to Alba Lulia – one of the oldest cities in Romania. It is home to an 18th-century citadel with a history that dates to Roman times. Shaped like a seven-point star, the fortress features a collection of ornate gates and vantage points, as well as numerous museums and cafes. Wander the cobbled streets with an expert guide to hear more about what went on within these ancient walls over the last two millennia. Next, drive to the Trascau Mountains to reach Coltesti and check in to Szekler Mansion – your exclusive Feature Stay. This evening, sit down for a traditional meal which might feature hearty bowls of borsch or goulash, locally made cheese and sarmale (smoky, meat-filled cabbage rolls).
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Day 14:
Sighisoara
On your way to Sighisoara today, stop off at the Turda Salt Mine. This huge subterranean space was renovated and opened to the public in the early 1990s and resembles an alien planet or a Bond villain’s lair. Don’t forget to pack a sweatshirt – it gets chilly 119 m down! When you resurface, head to the nearby town Medias, where you can catch a glimpse of the Trumpeter Tower, a medieval structure with a distinctive tilt. Finish your journey in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sighisoara – your home for the next two nights and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure and inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Explore the colourful streets of Sighisoara’s old town on a guided walk and then enjoy a free evening.
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Day 15:
Sighisoara
Start your day by visiting the UNESCO World Hertiage site Biertan, home to a 15th century fortified church perched high on a hill in the centre of town. Then, drive to Malancrav for lunch in a bucolic setting – the Saxon village was once owned by one family, the Apafis, and populated with German farmers. Maybe see the Apafi Mansion and the 14th-century church that features the oldest wall paintings in Transylvania. Head back to Sighisoara after your sightseeing and spend the rest of the day exploring as you wish.
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Day 16:
Brasov
After breakfast, set off for Brasov, making a pit stop at hilltop Rupea Fortress along the way. The restored citadel’s steep and rocky pathways spiral up to the highest point, offering sweeping views over the surrounding fields. Next, you'll visit Bran Castle – perhaps Romania’s most famous attraction, given its associations with the tale of Count Dracula. Vampire myths aside (it was never actually home to Vlad the Impaler or Bram Stoker), the forested surroundings and lofty location of this 14th-century castle is a great setting. This evening you’ll reach Brasov and have dinner together at a local restaurant.
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Day 17:
Brasov
Your tour of Romanian castles continues with Peles. Built in the late 19th century, the neo-Renaissance creation is even more extravagant on the inside than it is on the outside. Return to Brasov and, in the afternoon, join your leader for a walk, learning about the city’s most notable sights. You’ll see the remnants of the old medieval fortifications, the Black Church – damaged in the 1689 Great Fire but now restored – and the wedge-shaped Council Square, lined with historic buildings. Round the day off with the Romanian sweet treat of chimney cake (or kurtoskolacs as the locals call it).
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Day 18:
Bucharest
Today, you have a free morning in Brasov. Maybe seek out tiny String Street, which is 44 inches at its narrowest point or indulge in some Romanian sweet treats like papanasi (a sweet cream doughnut topped with blueberry jam). Depart the city and head for lunch in the Prahova Valley, where you’ll tour a local winery known for its sparkling rose in the mountain town of Azuga. Hit the road one last time, reaching Bucharest in the late afternoon.
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Day 19:
Bucharest
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to spend some more time in Bucharest, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
