Art & Culture in the southern Balkans

8 days / Highlights: Budva - Bar - Durres - Ohrid - Meteora - Thessaloniki - Sofia

Travel itinerary

1. Day: Flight to Dubrovnik/Tivat/Podgorica – Petrovac

Flight to Dubrovnik, Tivat or Podgorica. Afterwards visit to the famous coastal town of Budva, where we go for a walk. Then transfer to our hotel in Petrovac. Dinner and overnight.

2. Day: Petrovac – Stari Bar – Shkodra – Tirana – Durres

In the morning drive to the city of Bar. After visiting the old town of Old Bar, we will drive to the Albanian border. Lunch break in the city of Shkodra, then drive to Tirana. During a panoramic tour we see numerous interesting buildings. Hotel in Durres.

3. Day: Durres – Ohrid – Bitola

In the morning drive to the Macedonian border and arrival in city of Ohrid. We visit the UNESCO protected city and start with a short boat trip. Afterwards we continue by foot to explore the most important buildings and churches of the city. In the evening we reach our hotel in Bitola, the second largest city in Macedonia. Dinner and overnight in Bitola.

4. Day: Bitola – Heraklea – Ioannina – Kalampáka

After breakfast visit to the excavations of Heraklea Lincestis, a city of the ancient Macedonians, founded by Filip II. Afterwards we will drive to the Greek border and the famous city of Ioannina. Here we visit the citadel with the Ali Pasha mausoleum and take a walk through the old town. We continue to Kalampáka to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kalampáka.

5. Day: Kalampáka – Meteora – Thessaloniki

Another highlight of the journey awaits us. After breakfast drive to the famous Meteora monasteries. A unique scenery awaits us. The whole area of the monasteries is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Altogether the complex consists of 24 monasteries and hermitages, 6 of which are still inhabited today. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Thessaloniki. Move to our hotel in the Thessaloniki area. Dinner and overnight.

6. Day: Thessaloniki – Pella – Melnik

During our morning city tour, we will see highlights such as the city's landmark, the white tower, buildings from Roman and Byzantine times and some of the city's numerous churches. Afterwards we visit the archaeological excavations of Pella, the birthplace and government city of Alexander the Great. We continue to the Greek-Bulgarian border, then to our hotel in Melnik. Dinner and overnight.

7. Day: Melnik – Rila – Sofia

Visit to the town of Melnik, the smallest Bulgarian town. Here we take a break and experience the historical sides of the town, here at least 96 houses are protected. Visit of the fortress of Melnik, which is a cultural monument of national importance in Bulgaria. Afterwards drive to the world famous Rila Monastery, one of the largest orthodox monasteries and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening we reach our hotel in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Dinner and overnight.

8. Day: Sofia - Departure

Half day panoramic city tour of Sofia with the cathedral Alexandar Nevski, followed by transfer to the airport and return home.

Country information for tour