Serbia to Montenegro: An Epic Balkan Discovery

After breakfast, drive to a small city of Sremski Karlovci, which was a Serbian spiritual and cultural capital for 200 years. The town has traditionally been known as the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Habsburg Monarchy and the political and cultural capital of Serbian Vojvodina. The old baroque town is surrounded by some of the most important monuments of Serbian cultural history: the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Patriarchy court. Next, we will stop in one of the local wine cellars for wine tasting. Then, you will continue to Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia, visit the Petrovaradin fortress, the most important city landmark, which the Austrians built, to protect the city against the Turks, towering over the Danube on a 40m-high volcanic slab, nicknamed 'Gibraltar on the Danube' and actually built by slaves between 1692 and 1780. Transfer to Belgrade overnight.

Today, head for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here we can still see the dominance of the Ottoman style of mosques, complemented by Catholic cathedrals and Jewish synagogues. Sarajevo became (in)famous in 1914 when a young Serb Gavrilo Princip assassinated archduke Franz Ferdinand. That was the excuse for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to start a war against Serbia, which then grew into the First World War. The city became famous again when it hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Overnight in Sarajevo.

Breakfast and then guided tour of the city: Gazi Husrev Bey's Mosque, Bezistan, Gavrilo Princip Museum, Baščaršija – Turkish Bazaar…. Then, we drive through the mountains and along the gorges to the picturesque town of Mostar, which owes its name to the famous Bridge over the Neretva River. During your visit to this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, you'll see its historic Old Bridge, the colourful Old Bazaar with traditional handicrafts and well-preserved traditional Turkish houses and mosques. In the afternoon, the  tour will lead to Dubrovnik, a world-famous Dalmatian city called the Pearl of Adriatic. Overnight in Dubrovnik or vicinity.

After breakfast, you have a walking tour that shows the highlights of this beautiful city. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's third oldest pharmacy, the Rector's Palace, Dominican Monastery Orlando's Column and Sponza Palace.  The rest of the day, you have time to explore this beautiful city on your own. Overnight.

Travel to the Republic of Montenegro. Drive along the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Next, enjoy a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two islets off the coast of Perast. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest building on the islet, with a museum. We will stop in Perast, an old charming coastal town, upon return to the coast. Then we visit  Kotor, a historic city surrounded by walls, protecting the marbled cobbled streets with churches, shops, bars and restaurants on hidden squares. Return to Dubrovnik. Overnight.

After breakfast, head for Split, where a  guide will take you through the charming Dalmatian city, known for its links to the history of the Roman Empire and famous for the well preserved Palace of Emperor Diocletian, protected by UNESCO and other historical buildings such as the remarkable Cathedral. Then, enjoy some free time for a walk through the narrow cobbled streets, which add to the charm of this Mediterranean city or just relax at the seaside promenade. Overnight in Split.

Breakfast in hotel. After breakfast drive to Plitvice, the world-famous Croatian National Park, protected by UNESCO. Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged because you will need them! The World Heritage-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park comprises 16 terraced lakes interconnected by a series of stunning waterfalls and surrounded by densely-wooded hills. You will walk among the waterfalls, take a boat ride through the crystal water and take some magnificent photos. After the relaxing visit, drive to Zagreb where you arrive in the evening.  We recommend an evening stroll through the lively streets of Zagreb. Overnight in Zagreb.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of the capital of Croatia, which will reveal its most important cultural and architectural attractions: the Cathedral, the main Ban Jelacic square, the fortified Upper Town, the city's historical centre, St. Mark's Church with its multicoloured roof, the Croatian National Theatre. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Zagreb.