Journey Through the Balkans

Our tour starts today in the quaint coastal town of Dobrota, Montenegro. Backed by mountains and fronted by azure-blue waters, it's the perfect spot to unwind before our adventure begins.



For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and, for those that wish, there'll be the chance to go for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Dobrota at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) in neighbouring Croatia, which is around a two-hour drive away. Should you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to try a popular Montenegrin dish such as pohovani kackavalj - fried cheese or corbast pasulj - a stew made with beans, smoked ribs, salami and sausage. If you want to try the local tipples, you could have it alongside a traditional lager like Niksicko.

This morning, we'll travel the short distance to the medieval city of Kotor, lying beneath the slopes of Mount Lovcen. With its engaging mix of European and Byzantine influences, Kotor was once an independent city republic, until the threat of Ottoman attacks saw it join with the Venetians.



We'll take a wander through the old city, walking its walls to take in the views across the town's rooftops and out over the fjord. Under the Venetians, Kotor became one of the best fortified cities in the region, boasting walls twice the length of Dubrovnik. Today, these walls give us a fascinating glimpse into the city's turbulent past. You have the option to hike up to the Kotor fortress for breathtaking views. The walk involves climbing 1,200 steps, some of which are uneven, loose, or slippery. We recommend wearing suitable footwear and having a reasonable level of fitness if you choose to do this. The hike takes about three hours in total.



After lunch, we'll take to the waters of Kotor Bay, to explore some of the small islands that occupy the turquoise waters. 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 complement its scattering of coastal towns that attest to its former domination by the Venetians and the Ottoman Turks.

This morning we'll make the short journey to Budva Town and take the opportunity to swim on the beautiful Budva Riviera - a 35-kilometre-long strip of the Adriatic boasting some of the coast's best beaches. After a dip in the refreshing waters, we'll continue to the lovely town of Virpazar on the shores of Skadar Lake, where we'll spend the night. The largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, Skadar stretches for 44 kilometres, encroaching into neighbouring Albania.



This afternoon, there'll be the option to explore Skadar Lake and its surrounding national park either by boat or on dry land. This area 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. It doesn't end at wildlife, the national park houses a collection of monasteries, villages and sacred monuments that span over nine centuries of Montenegrin history.

Today we'll drive to Zabljak, on the edge of the Durmitor National Park. Our journey will take us via the monumental 13th-century Orthodox monastery at Moraca, as well as the impressive Djurdjevica Tara Bridge. Spanning the gorge over the Tara River, the bridge towers 135 metres above the river valley. Our destination, Zabljak, lies among the towering peaks, alpine lakes and high pastureland that's sandwiched between the Tara and Piva Canyons.



Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a magnificent setting for an afternoon walk. On arrival, we'll hike up through the thick forest towards the waters of Crno Jezero. Translated as the \ Black Lake\ , it's so named because of the dark pine landscape that surrounds it. Of the 18 glacial lakes that pepper the landscape, the Black Lake is the largest, feeding the river basins of both the Tara and the Komarnica Rivers. Besides its glacial lakes, the park is also home to 27 peaks that exceed 2200 metres; five canyons; lush expanses of ancient forest and a labyrinthine system of caves and sinkholes. After exploring these natural wonders, we'll return to Zabljak for the evening.

Today we'll cross into western Serbia and head for the peaks of the Zlatibor massif. Covering 300 square kilometres, Mount Zlatibor encompasses a range of mountains that stretch for 27 miles and make up part of the Dinaric Alps.



Our route today will take us via treasures such as the 13th-century Mileseva Monastery near Prijepolje. Founded by King Vladislav between 1234 and 1236, the monastery is one of the country's most important spiritual centres. We'll take a guided tour with a local priest who'll show us the monastery's 13th-century fresco paintings, including the famous 'White Angel', which depicts an angel visiting the grave of Christ.



Tonight, we'll stay in the mountain-side village of Sirogojno - home to a remarkable open air museum that was declared a national monument back in 1983. Upon arrival, we'll take a tour of the museum, which covers nearly 15 hectares. It contains a collection of traditional 19th-century wooden buildings that have been taken from across the region - these include a bakery, an inn, and a dairy. All are authentic and provide us with a glimpse into Serbia's rural past.



This evening, we'll be staying in the museum complex in small historical mountain houses. Each house can accommodate two to five people, with rooms being either single or twin-share. Bathroom facilities in each house are shared.

Did you know that Sirogojno is known for its authentic handmade knitted sweaters? In fact, they\ re so sought-after that they've been featured in fashion shows all over the world including London, Paris and New York. This morning before leaving, we'll get an up-close glimpse at how the knits are made, as well as having a go at knitting ourselves.



Later this morning, we'll drive to Mokra Gora, a verdant mountain valley which in English translates to 'wet mountain'. Here, we'll board the historic narrow-gauge railway, Sargan Eight. The line is part of the former track that once ran between Sarajevo and Belgrade. It was closed in 1974 but renovated and reopened in 1999. The renovation tried to recapture the railway's glory days, back in the 1920s, when it was admired as a world-class construction. The train makes a steep climb through the mountains, in a figure of eight, weaving through 22 tunnels and covering just over 15 kilometres (though the actual distance between Mokra Gora and Sargan stations is just 3.5 kilometres).



From here, we'll continue our drive to Kustendorf, a distinctive mountain village that was built by international film director, Emir Kusturica, for his movie 'Life is a Miracle'. Kusturica wanted to create a traditional Serbian village, so all the buildings are constructed from wood - however, the village does have a non-traditional twist in that all of its streets are named after famous actors and directors. Today, the village is Kusturica's home, a hotel and also hosts an annual international film and music festival.



Tonight, we'll stay in this unique location and have the chance to enjoy the mountain scenery. There's also a gym, indoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar and small art gallery exhibiting local Serbian artists.

Crossing into Bosnia Herzegovina this morning, we'll drive to Visegrad on the Drina River. Here, we'll find the inspiration for Nobel Prize-winning author, Ivo Andric's novel, 'Bridge over the Drina'. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's been an iconic symbol of the region for generations and was the scene of some of the worst atrocities of the Bosnian War.



Later, we'll continue our journey to Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina's vibrant capital, located on the Sarajevo plain. The city is famed for its diverse religious heritage and is often referred to as the Jerusalem of Europe. It'll be our base for the next two nights.



This afternoon, we'll take a walking tour of some of its highlights. Although it 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 scene of the catalyst for the start of World War I, when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated here on 28th June 1914.



During the time of the Ottoman occupation, the city was home to Muslims, Catholics, and Jews and Eastern Orthodox and many of its religious monuments have survived the city's turbulent past. Our tour will take in the beautiful old Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Michael and Gabriel and the stunning 16th-century Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque. Considered the most important Islamic building in the country, this is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in the world. We'll also see the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral and its pseudo-Moorish style Town Hall - a particularly grandiose building that dates back to the Austro-Hungarian period.

Today is free for you to relax and explore more of Sarajevo at your own pace. A stroll through the centre of Bascarsija, in the heart of old Sarajevo, will give you the chance to browse 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 among these winding alleys and covered markets you can find bargains galore.



If you\ d prefer, there's the option to join a tour to discover the Sarajevo Tunnel, which was the only way in or out of the city when the longest siege in modern military history took place here during the war of the 1990s. The tunnel took six months to build and covered 800 metres. A small section of this hand-dug tunnel has survived and is now part of the Tunnel Museum.

We'll spend today and tonight in historic Mostar. Set on the banks of the Neretva River, Mostar is the largest and most important city in the Herzegovina region.



Mostar was founded by the Turks during the 15th century and expanded by the Habsburgs 300 years later. The city is divided by the Neretva River and, traditionally, Muslims lived on the east bank and Christians on the west. The UNESCO-listed Old Bridge (Stari Most) provided a crossing between the two and became a symbol of Bosnia's multi-ethnicity and the friendship between the two communities.



Both the town and its historic bridge were badly damaged during the Balkan conflict of the early 1990s. The old Ottoman bridge was rebuilt after the war and much of the old city has also 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 several international festivals, including prominent music and traditional dance events and the annual bridge jumping festival. After a tour of the city, the rest of the day is free to explore more at your own pace.

Heading back towards the Adriatic, this morning, we'll pay a visit to the charming 15th-century Tvrdos Monastery, located on the cliffs above the town. Belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church, the monastery has endured a violent past, having been destroyed by Turks, Venetians and a massive earthquake in the 17th century. The building we see today was reconstructed during the 1920s and is the headquarters of the bishop of Herzegovina, as well as being home to a number of monks who still live behind its monastic walls. It's particularly famous for its wine cellar and we'll have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting during our visit.



The rest of today and tonight will be spent in Trebinje. Lying along the banks of the Trebisnjica River, just across the border from Dubrovnik, this town once commanded the road between Ragusa and Constantinople and its environs are scattered with old mills and bridges. The attractive Ottoman Arsalangic Bridge is particularly noteworthy. Built in the 16th century, it's considered by many to be one of the finest of its kind in the country.

This morning, we'll journey to the final destination of our tour, Dubrovnik. The city is famed as one of the world's finest fortified medieval towns and was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. The old city is a tapestry of monasteries, museums and red-tiled buildings that hark back to the glory days, when it was one of Europe's greatest maritime cities. The Old Town is so enchanting, it's been the backdrop for numerous films and TV shows, from Game of Thrones to James Bond.



We'll get a feel for the town's layout with a guided walking tour. Fully restored to its former grandeur following the Siege of Dubrovnik (1991-92), the medieval Old Town still exudes a unique atmosphere and charm. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, 'those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik'. We'll 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.



This afternoon has been left free to further explore the city at your own pace. You might like to take a walk around the city walls to soak in the views above the twisting alleyways and out across the glittering waters of the Adriatic.

Our trip ends this morning in Dubrovnik.



There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are usually available at the hotel, but please liaise with your tour leader regarding this. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), which is a 30-minute drive away.