BALKAN SPIRIT: MACEDONIA – ALBANIA – MONTENGRO – CROATIA – BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
MEMORABLE BALKAN EXPERIENCES !
SKOPJE, MATKA CANYON, MAVROVO NATIONAL PARK, JANČE VILLAGE, OHRID, TIRANA, SHKODER, KOTOR, DUBROVNIK, MOSTAR, KONJIC, SARAJEVO, TRAVNIK, JAJCE, SARAJEVO
Day 1 Skopje arrival
Arrival to Skopje Airport, meeting with our guide and transfer to 4 stars Skopje central hotel for check in. Skopje city tour: the Kale Fortress, Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square with the Alexander the Great statue and the fountain, Clock Tower, Daut Pasha Hammam, Kapan Han, Kurshumli Han, Old Bazaar, Mother Theresa memorial house, the Old train station. Welcome dinner, overnight.
Day 2 Skopje gourmet experience
This day we will spend for an unique gourmet experience in Skopje which includes visit to the local green market for supply of gastro workshop ingredients including original drink – homemade rakija or young non-fermented grape juice followed with a private culinary course under supervision and assistance of hospitable and cheerful hosts. This experience provides visitors lots of delicious food, smells, flavors, fun and inspiration with cordial local hosts! Overnight in Skopje 4 stars hotel.
Day 3 Skopje – Matka Canyon – Janche village
After breakfast drive to the Matka Canyon which is one of Macedonia’s most distinguishable landmarks and lunch in a local restaurant. Visit to the Saint Andrew Monastery and boat ride along the wonderful lake on the Treska River. (Highly recommended easy hike of 1,5hours to the 14th century monastery providing spectacular view of the Canyon and the Matka lake). Continue to the Mavrovo National Park in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in original eco hotel/boarding house in a tiny picturesque Jance village within the national park where you will taste typical traditional dishes spiced with the herbs locally collected in the mountains.
Day 4 Jance village – Rajcica Monastery – Ohrid
On your way to Ohrid stop over for visit to one of the most important shrines in the country – the Rajcica Monastery which keeps the remains of the hand of Saint George from the 4th century embedded in gold-plated silver. Upon arrival in Ohrid the UNESCO museum city, lunch in a local restaurant and Ohrid city tour: Old Bazaar of Ohrid, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Ali Pasha Mosque, Old Chinar Tree, the old town with the Robevi House and the workshop of the handmade paper, the Upper Gate of the historical Tsar Samoil fortress, the Ancient Theatre, Church of Saint Sophia, Saint Jovan Kaneo, Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, the Pearl Shop and the Ohrid Square. Optional boat cruise. Free time. Accommodation in 4 stars Ohrid hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Ohrid – Tirana – Shkoder
Today we will visit the amazing Saint Naum Monastery and the springs from Black Drim River! Later we will cross the border with Albania and head our way to Tirana. Upon arrival in Tirana we will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and proceed to Shkoder with a panoramic tour from bus – Skanderbeg Square, Skanderbeg Statue, Et’hem Bey Mosque and Clock Tower. Continue to Shkoder and the city tour which includes walking tour of the historical core, the Lead mosque, Rozafa castle, the Marubi National Museum of Photography. 4 stars Shkoder hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Shkoder – Kotor – Dubrovnik
After breakfast we will proceed to the gorgeous city of Kotor in the magic Boka Kotor Bay of Montenegro. Enjoy walking city which includes sightseeing of the following sights: Square of Arms, Besckuca Palace, Byzanti Palace, Pima Palace, Saint Tryphon Cathedral, the Maritime Museum, the North Gate and the city walls – all part of the UNESCO World Heritage. In the afternoon we take a boat ride to the Gospa od Skrpjela Island while enjoying the breathtaking Boka Kotor Bay. Continue to Dubrovnik area 4 stars hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.
Day 7 Dubrovnik – Mostar
Today is the day for exploring the amazing Dubrovnik, known as the Pearl of the Adriatic: Dubrovnik historical core with Stradun Promenade, the City Walls, Onofrio fountain and Harbor, the Rectors’s Palace. After lunch in a local restaurant we will head our way to Bosnia and Hercegovina and visit to the Kravice Waterfalls. We will continue to Mostar and explore the city – the Old bridge (UNESCO World Heritage), Bey’s Mosque, Oriental Bazar and Turkish House. Accommodation in 4 stars Mostar hotel, overnight.
Day 8 Mostar – Konjic – Sarajevo
Today we will drive to Sarajevo but first we will visit Konjic for the memorable tour of Ark /Tito’s bunker/ that provides unique experience of the legacy of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav President Tito. Lunch in a local restaurant and drive to Sarajevo capital for the city tour: Bashcarsija, Gazi Husref Bey Mosque, the Latin Bridge, the City Hall – Vjecnica, numerous oriental shops,… Free time /leisure, shopping/. 4 stars Sarajevo hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 9 Sarajevo – Travnik – Jajce – Sarajevo
After breakfast we will head our way to Travnik. Upon arrival in Travnik, lunch in a local restaurant and panoramic city tour of Travnik which includes the Castle of Travnik, Sulejmanija Mosque, Ibrahim Pasha Medresa, Varos Mosque and the Blue water of the Lashva River and the birth house of Ivo Andric. Continue to the amazing Pliva Waterfalls in Jajce for an easy walking tour while admiring the perfect work of nature – the breathtaking Jajce waterfalls. Return to Sarajevo for farewell dinner with folklore performance and overnight.
Day 10 Sarajevo departure
After breakfast free time until transfer to Sarajevo airport for departure flight and journey back home, end of program and services.
Package price per person – double-twin room sharing:
Included: transportation with high-tourist-class AC van/minibus; entrance fees for Skopje sites; 2 BB in 4 stars Skopje hotel; welcome dinner; Skopje private culinary course; entrance fees, lunch and boat ride in the Matka canyon; 1 HB in comfortable eco Hotel in Janche village on Day 3; entrance fee-donation for the Rajcica Monastery; lunch in Ohrid; entrance fees for Ohrid sites; 1 HB in 4 stars Ohrid hotel; lunch in Tirana; entrance fees for Shkoder sites; 1 HB in 4 stars Shkoder hotel; entrance fees for the Kotor sites; boat ride to the Gospa od Skrpjela Island with entrance fee; 1 HB in Dubrovnik area 4 stars hotel; entrance fees for Dubrovnik sites; lunch on Day 7; 1 BB in 4 stars Mostar hotel; entrance fee for the Ark Bunker in Konjic; lunch on Day 8; entrance fees for Sarajevo sites; 1 HB and 1 BB in 4 stars Sarajevo hotel; entrance fees for Travnik and Jajce sites; farewell dinner with folklore; 24 hours support and professional guidance including local guides engaged by Panacomp Wonderland Travel;
APPLICATION DEADLINE 180 DAYS PRIOR DEPARTURE
