Essence of Balkans

Sunday

Depart to Vienna from Manila Airport

Monday

Welcome to Europamundo! Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Saturday

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Vienna city tour. Gardens of the immense Schön­brunn Palace.

Today we take a scenic visit around this impressive city with a local expert. Here we experience its majestic avenues, its palaces and the vibrant city center. Then we head directly to Schönbrunn Palace, where visitors can stroll around and enjoy its beautiful gardens. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon of leisure in the city center. In the evening we will go to the City Hall Square to enjoy the nightlife in the neighboring streets. Here you will get the opportunity to take dinner.

Wednesday

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: Crossing the mountainous and beautiful Slovenia. Sightseeing of Zagreb. Dinner included.

We leave Vienna on a stage of great scenic beauty, travelling through the mountains to Slovenia. A short stop in MARIBOR, a stroll around the Cathedral and Castle . Then we travel on to Croatia. Arrival in ZAGREB arouind 15.00 hrs. There will be a sightseeing tour with a local guide. We will have a chance to admire its two hills, the upper town and the new neighbourhoods of Croatia´s capital city. Dinner included.

Thursday

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing tour of Sarajevo. Dinner included.

We will leave first thing in the morning to travel to Bosnia. The border area still shows sad memories of the conflict that took place in the 1990s. We cross the Serb-majority Bosnia. First stop, BANIA LUKA, and time to walk through the capital of the autonomous entity of the Srpska Republika, the second largest city in Bosnia after Sarajevo, with its fortress and orthodox cathedral. Then, departure to JAJCE, perhaps the most beautiful town in Bosnia, with its cultural mix, its mosque, its fortress and its impressive waterfall. Time for a walk and lunch. We continue our journey to SARAJEVO, arriving in the mid-afternoon. With a local guide, we will take a panoramic tour of this city with strong Turkish influence: its Mosques, its Madrasahs, and its busy bazaars. Dinner included.

Friday

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. Beautiful landscapes throughout the route: mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes and picturesque villages. Dinner included.

Before leaving Sarajevo we visit the Tunnel of Hope that saved the city during the Serbian siege in the war. Later, we continue to another exciting drive of scenic beauty. Amidst deep valleys, we travel to MOSTAR, with its very beautiful historic center and stone bridge separating the Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic communities. After lunch, we stop in MEDJUGORJE, a place that attracts thousands of Catholic Pilgrims. We then travel to CROATIA. Border procedures (which may take a while). We will then arrive into DUBROVNIK at the end of the day. Dinner included.Note: in some departures, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near the city of Dubrovnik.

Saturday

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Panoramic tour of Dubrovnik. Boat trip to Lokrum. Dinner included. In the morning we enjoy a panoramic tour of DUBROVNIK with a local guide. We are undoubtedly in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, surrounded by walls, bathed by the Adriatic Sea; its intact historic center is a jewel of world architectural heritage. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Cathedral. We also include a boat trip to LOKRUM, a small island 15 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik and home to the ruins of a Benedictine monastery of the eleventh century, popular setting of the series “Game of Thrones”. You can then enjoy free time, returning to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner included. Note: in some departures, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near the city of Dubrovnik.Note: in the winter months, from November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum and therefore we cannot visit the island.

Sunday

We set off in the morning, travelling along the Croatian coastline which displays amazing seascapes and islands. We will arrive in SPLIT at noon. We include a visit with a local guide and entry into the Diocletian’s Palace. We will tour this immense palace from the Roman period, its labyrinth of streets, and its sea vistas. Dinner included.

Monday

We will travel to the interior region of Croatia, going through beautiful landscapes to finally arrive in PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK, which has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. We will enter the park where you can admire the park’s lakes and waterfalls. Take the opportunity to walk along the trails or take a boat and sail through the waters of the lakes. After lunch, we will travel back to the coast towards the north of Croatia. Upon reaching OPATIJA, you can have dinner (included) and stroll in this resort town which offers a charming nightlife.Note: In exceptional circumstances, either due to weather conditions or high numbers of tourists, it may not be possible or advisable to use the train or boat in Plitvice.

Tuesday

Today we will travel to Slovenia. We will visit POSTOJNA Cave, one of the world’s biggest caves which is partially toured by train. After this, we will travel to BLED, a stunning postcard town on the shore of a lake, and in the middle of the lake, there is an island where the bell tower of a monastery stands at the foot of a medieval castle. We take a boat trip around Bled’s lake and a visit the monastery on the island. We continue our trip to Slovenia’s Capital, LJUBLJANA. Here we will take a tour with a local guide and learn about this beautiful Central European city. Dinner included.Note: During the winter, in order to be able to visit Ljubljana during the daylight hours, this may take place before departure to Maribor.

Wednesday

Free time in the morning in LJUBLJANA where we have time to visit the pretty centre of this small capital. In the afternoon we travel on to the Adriatic Sea and cross the border into Italy. VENICE, arrival at the end of the afternoon and accommodation in the Mestre district.

Thursday

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: Vaporetto boat on Venice’s Grand Canal. Admire the technique of crafting Murano Glass. In the morning we include a boat transfer to the area of Saint Mark in Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands connected by bridges. We include a walking tour with a local guide around the city of canals. Afterwards, we shall be able to visit the Murano glass factory city. It is marvelous to see the technique of crystal blowing. Free time. In the afternoon, some might like to take the chance to have a trip on a gondola. At the end of the afternoon, you will have the chance to eat dinner in the Mestre area, where you can choose the type of restaurant that you prefer (Indian, Oriental, Italian, etc.).

Friday

Free time to explore on your own or shop around Venice.

Saturday

Free time till departure to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

Sunday

Arrive safely in Manila.