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Day
01: (SAT) Arrival Belgrade, SERBIA
Our journey of the bewildering Balkans start at the heart city of Serbia, Belgrade.
We find a beautiful romantic and medieval city competing amongst the most charming
cities in Eastern Europe as we are warmly received and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Majestik, Belgrade (2 nights) (D)
Day 02: (SUN) Belgrade
The capital city of Serbia since 1403, our Belgrade tour starts with the Republic
Square, where we see the architectural wonders in monuments such as the National
Theatre, National Museum, Serbian Academy of Science & Arts in the famous
Knez Mihajlova Street. At the old town we see 19thC quarters, the 'Question
mark sign' Inn, Princess Ljubica's Residence (now housing a permanent exhibition
of original furniture), the Patriarchy and the Orthodox Cathedral. No visit
to Belgrade is complete without the fortress area which includes well-preserved
artillery structures dating from the 18thC, acropolis with original ramparts,
gateways, towers, some Turkish monuments and some older, ancient Roman. Evening
is a welcome dinner at the local Bohemian quarters of Skadarlija with Serbian
cuisine and music. (B, D)
Day
03: (MON) Belgrade / Zlatibor / Sirogojno
Continuing our journey we drive south and ascend Mount Zlatibor National Park
known for its beauty and intact nature. It is a mountain of golden pines, after
which it got its name (Zlatan - golden Bor – pine three). A short drive
through the beautiful countryside gets us into an area where the vegetation
changes into a jungle. Here we find flora and fauna such as the Omorica. This
is also one of the last refuge areas for Bears. Our final destination for today
is the unique and charming ethno village of Sirogojno. It is an open-air museum
of traditional architecture, as well as an exhibition of handicrafts and world
famous hand-knitted clothes. We walk through the village before checking in
at our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Staro Selo, Zlatibor (1 night) (B, D)
Day 04: (TUE) Mokra Gora / Sargan / Studenica
/ Kopaonik
An interesting 15Kms. train ride on the old narrow gauge steam engine “Sarganska
Osmica”. we cross breathtaking scenery through 20 tunnels, 10 bridges
and as many viaducts. The trail cut its path through astonishing landscapes
of Serbia and Bosnia, on its way from Belgrade to Sarajevo and Dubrovnik. This
will be a day for rail and steam buffs, photographers and lovers of nature.
We visit the World Heritage Site of Studenica Monastery considered to be the
crowning achievement of medieval culture and art in Serbia. After visiting
the monastic site including Churches of the Virgin (1183-1196), SS Joachim & Anne
(also known as the King's Church) and St. Nicholas, we continue for the final
destination of the day - Kapaonik Park. Among Serbian mountains, Kopaonik is
unrivalled by its natural beauty and mineral wealth.
Overnight: Hotel Grand /Novi Pazar, Kapaonik (1 night) (B, D)
Day 05: (WED) Kopaonik / Pristina (KOSOVO)
/ Skopje (MACEDONIA)
A scenic drive as we cross into Kosovo. We drive past Kosovska Mitrovica before
reaching the capital city of Pristina where we stroll along its streets and
the main square located right in the heart of the town. We then visit the Monastery
of Gracania from where we drive to the countryside of Pristina to see the famous
Church devoted to Annunciation. The monastery was an endowment of King Milutin
and was built in the early 14th century. Its architectural structure represents
the apex of Serbian building that followed in the spirit of Byzantine tradition.
However, this monastery also stands apart as a work of harmonious proportions
and extraordinary beauty. We then cross from Kosovo to the historical country
of Macedonia and drive to the capital city, Skopje.
Overnight: Hotel BW Tourist, Skopje (B, D)
Day
06: (THU) Skoplje / Sv Jovan Bigorski / Ohrid
Skopje is not only the capital but also the largest city in the Republic of
Macedonia. It is located in a valley, on both sides of River Vardar and traces
back to over 2000 years of history when it was known as Skupi. Our exploration
of this historical city starts with a walking tour the old part of the town “Charshi”,
where lies the Stone Bridge - a symbol of Skopje built by Turks in 15thC. Here
we visit some of the marvels which include the Church St. Spas, (famous for
its marvelous iconostas from 17thC), the Old Bazaar, Fortress Kale (with walls
dating back from the 6thC), Mustapha Pasha Mosque (a marvel of Ottoman architecture
erected in 1492 with the earliest wall paintings), Daut Pasa Bath (a masterpiece
of Islamic civil architecture from the 15thC). Continuing to Ohrid, we cross
the National Park of Mavrovo with its majestic lake, river, gorges and waterfalls
and culminate the day with a visit to the
Monastery of Sv. Jovan Bigorski, famous for its iconostasis carved in wood
and by its particular nice location on the slope of the mountain.
Overnight: Hotel Millennium / Villa Sofija Ohrid (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 07: (FRI) Ohrid
We start the day with a walking tour around the old town-museum of Ohrid, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town was known in ancient times
as Lychnidos, the City of Lights. Slavs gave it the name of Arida in the 10thC,
and it became a major center of culture and art for this area. It is the cradle
of Slavic written language and literature, from where the alphabet called Cyrillic
was created by the two brothers Cyril and Methody. Ohrid is also known as the “City
of 365 churches “ and we visit, not all, but the most important ones.
Visiting Tsar Smuili fortress from the 10thC, St. Kliment from the 13thC, St.
Sophia from the 11th C, and St. Panteleimon from the 9th C., we culminate the
tour of Ohrid with a walk through the local bazaar. Afternoon is free to enjoy
Ohrid at our own leisure. (B, D)
Day 08: (SAT) Ohrid / Berat
(ALBANIA)
Before crossing into Albania, we visit the famous Monastery of Sv. Naum. Continuing
our drive we go around Like Ohrid and enter Albanian before arriving Berat.
Berat is known as a “city of one thousand windows”, and is a declared
as a museum city. The old name of the city was Antipatrea. It is built on the
slopes of mountain Timori, with a castle dominating over the city. Within its
walls there are dwelling houses and the Onufri Museum, where we see paintings
by this outstanding painter from the 16thC, as well as paintings from his son
Nikolla. In the old part of the town we visit several Byzantine churches known
for their interesting architecture.
Overnight: Hotel Timori, Berat (1 night) (B, D)
Day 09: (SUN) Berat / Durres
/ Tirana
We drive from Berat to Durres (formerly Durrazzo) Albania’s second largest
city and one of its oldest town. Legend has it that Durrazzo was founded by
the Illyrian King, Epidamnos, who called it by his own name and named the port
after his grandson, Dyrrah It was for centuries the largest port on the Adriatic
and got back into world highlights when in 1939, the Italian troops met brief
but fierce resistance, and those killed defending it are now regarded as the
first martyrs of the War of National Liberation. Our visit here includes the
Roman amphitheatre and, time permitting, the archaeological museum. We visit
the Roman Baths behind the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre on the central square.
We then drive to the capital city of Tirana relatively a new town, founded
in 1614 located on the site of a Byzantine fortress. Tirana has been the capital
of Albania since 1920 and lies at the foot of Dajti Mountain. Our visit here
includes the Skanderbeg Square in the centre of the town, the 1789 old Mosque
of Et’hem Bey, the 1830 Clock Towerand the Palace of Culture housing
the Opera.
Overnight: Hotel Tirana International/Villa Tafaj (1 night) (B, D)
Day
10: (MON) Tirana / Kruja / Shodra
/ Podgorica (MONTENEGRO) / Budva
Another interesting day as we start at the charming little town of Kruja, perched
high on the face of a hill. Kruja was the centre of the 15th C. Albanian resistance
under Skanderbeg against Ottoman Turks. We visit the museum named after him.
The street leading up to the castle is built in the style of a Turkish bazaar.
From here we continue to Shkoder, in Illyrian times known as Scodra one of
the oldest cities in Europe and the traditional centre of the Gheg cultural.
Shkodra is rich with historical monuments, including the old Illyrian Rozafa
Castle, Mesi Bridge. After crossing the border to Montenegro, we drive to the
capital, Podgorica. We take a scenic drive alongside Lake Skadar to the Montenegrin
coast to Budva. Budva is a medieval town and is definitely the most attractive
tourist place on the Riviera. The old part of the town is fortified with typical
architecture of narrow streets and stone buildings placed around the main cathedral.
This area is a popular tourist hang out with now many shops and taverns. Budva
also has several attractive beaches and hotels.
Overnight: Hotel Avala / Astoria (1 night) (B, D)
Day 11: (TUE) Budva / Cetinje
/ Kotor / Dubrovnik (CROATIA)
A scenic drive up the mountain gets us to Cetinje, capital of Montenegro during
the Njegos era. It doesn’t have a strong fort like many other important
capitals from its time as nature blessed this place with natural stone protections.
The town was founded in 1482, when Ivan Crnojevic, the last ruler of the medieval
country of Zeta, built here a palace and church. Cetinje remained as the heart
and soul of Montenegro up to WW1. We visit the royal palace of King Nikola
II, last King of Montenegro which contains both a beautiful small museum as
well as the Monastery of St. Petar. Next we visit the World Heritage Site of
Kotar - a town museum which was inhabited from the times of the Illyrians and
the Romans. Our walk through the city takes us back to medieval times, as most
of the monuments we observe are from the 14th to 18th C’s. We vist the
Cathedral of St. Tryphon, St. Luka Church, St. Mihail Church, amongst other
sites. Late afternoon we continue on a spectacular drive to Dubrovnik. This
drive will be witnessing beautiful Boka Kotorska Bay and many old fishing villages,
churches, monasteries, marinas and beaches. We cross the border into Croatia
before arriving Dubrovnik.
Overnight: Hotel Argentina, Dubrovnik (2 nights) (B)
Day
12: (WED) Dubrovnik
This morning we start with a walking tour through the old walled heart of Dubrovnik.
All motor vehicles are banned from the center and our transport drops us outside
the Pile Gate where we visit the Franciscan Monastery, housing one of the world's
oldest pharmacies, the old harbor, St Laurence Fortress, the Sponza and Rector's
Palaces and other points of interest in this best preserved European walled
city. Afternoon, we are free to enjoy Dubrovnik’s old city or its popular
Adriatic Sea beach. (B)
Day 13: (THU) Dubrovnik
/ Trebinje / Sarajevo (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)
After a leisurely day at Dubrovnik coast, we drive inland up the mountains
where we cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina. We pass through the
picturesque little town of Trebinje famous for its Old Town and by the church
Mausoleum of the very famous poet Jovan Ducic. We proceed through the bare
mountains of the area, then through the National Park of Sutjeska, crossing
the river Sutjeska and driving through its Canyon before arriving Sarajevo,
capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Garni / Astra Garni (Sarjevo) (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 14: (FRI) Sarajevo
Enchanting Sarajevo, to some it competes with Isfahan in Iran. We start with
a
walking tour of Sarajevo. This magical town with all its charms takes us instantly
back to the Ottoman day as we visit beautiful Ottoman mosques, old quarters
and the authentic Turkish “carsija”, with its oriental sweets shops,
cafes and traditional Bosnian food. Sarajevo is also a town in which for more
then 400 years mosques, orthodox churches, roman-catholic churches and synagogues
have been standing together.
(B, D)
Day 15: (SAT) Sarajevo – Mostar
No visit of Bosnia & Herzegovina is complete without a visit to Mostar.
We start the day with a breathtaking drive along River Neretva and through
the Bosnian Mountains before arriving Mostar. Afternoon, we tour Mostar, a
picturesque town, more then 5 centuries old and made famous by the old Turkish
bridge that once was the only means uniting the city over the emerald waters
of the Neretva River. The bridge always played a central role in lives of its
inhabitants. The original bridge was wooden, built at the beginning of the
15th century, and it was a very important link of the two parts of Herzegovina,
not only strategically but also in respect of trade linking the sea to the
interior. This soon brought the urgent need to replace the old unsafe wooden
chain bridge with a new which could meet the growing requirements. The construction
of the bridge began in 1557 and continued for nine years making it the masterpiece
of Hajrudin, and under the close observation of the Caliph, Suleyman The Magnificent
(builder). We stroll through the narrow medieval style old bazaar with astounding
Ottoman Islamic architecture.
Overnight: Hotel Ero, Mostar (1 night) (B, D)
Day
16: (SUN) Mostar / Mejugorje /
Split (CROATIA)
After a short drive through the bare mountains of the area, we reach the pilgrimage
site of Medjugorje. It is a small village and a target of many pilgrims from
all around the world in the last 24 years. In 1981, several of the local children
received the messages of Virgin Mary, and since then, this has been a place
of “miracles” which draw many believers. We tour the big local
church and the area where the miracle is reputed to have taken place. A picturesque
drive through the mount of Biokovo will take us down to the Dalmatian Coast
where we make a brief stop at the town of Makarska making our for our final
destination of the day to the old town of Split.
Overnight: Hotel President or similar, Split (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 17: (MON) Split
Split is a vibrant city of shouting stall owners, in-transit travelers, and
white-suited sailors who give it a noisy, night-on-the-town feel. At the heart
of all of this, hemmed in by sprawling estates and a modern harbor, lies Diocletians’ Palace,
a crumbling old town, and some of the most outstanding classical architecture
in the world which we will enjoy visiting today. It was in 295-A.D., 1700 years
ago that the Roman emperor Diocletian started to build his palace in the bay
of Aspalathos on the Dalmatian Coast, the land of his birth. After his abdication
in 305, the retired emperor left Nicomedia and settled in the palace, intending
to spend the rest of his life there. The rectangular palace of Diocletian occupies
an area of about 29,000 square meters. The transformation of the palace into
the town began in the 7th C when the inhabitants of nearby Salona took refuge
in the palace during the invasions of the Avars and Slavs. We visit the impressive
cellars of the palace to get an idea of the original structure, Peristyle,
Baptistery of St. John, Cathedral of St. Domnius and many more. Afternoon is
free to enjoy the markets of Split. (B, D)
Day 18: (TUE) Split / Trogir
/ Sibenik / Zadar / Plitvice Lakes
Another interesting day ahead as we start with a visit of the medieval town
of Trogir, which has changed little over the years and even today is one of
the most beautiful towns on this coast. Life here revolves around Narodni Trg,
a creamy-white square flanked by the Cathedral, Communal Palace and Loggia.
We visit the Venetian Cathedral of St. Lovro, built from the 13th to 15th centuries
on the Place of Ivana Pavla, one of the finest architectural works in Croatia.
Our next stop is at Sibenik located in an area of several hundred inlets spread
out to the open blue sea, forming many channels, bays and droves of rare beauty.
Especially lovely are the inlets posted in front to the open sea, with their
rocky cliffs and deep abrasions. Sibenik and its beautiful surroundings occupy
a unique place in the Dalmatian coast. Our last stop of the day will be at
Zadar, the ancient capital of Dalmatia. The town offers a variety of architectures
and styles, where lone Corinthian columns stand alongside Romanesque churches.
Zadar was part of Italy until 1947, and, though fast diminishing, one still
finds Italian influence. We visit the Archaeological Museum, which has a neatly
displayed collection of Roman relics, pre-Christian, Roman and medieval finds
from nearby Nin, as well as fragments of sculpture from most of the local churches.
We also see the Roman Forum from 2ndC. BC, the 9th century pre Romanesque church
of St Donatus and St Elias church.
Overnight: Hotel Jezerao Plitvice Lakes area (1 night) (B, D)
Day
19: (WED) Plitvice
Lakes / Zagreb
Today we walk on one of the
most magnificent sites in Croatia,
the Plitvice Lakes. Here sixteen
lakes, each at a different level
join the other in a series of cascading
waterfalls. Surrounded by dense
woods, the region, UNESCO World
Natural Heritage Site is a natural
phenomenon of rare and unique beauty.
Wooded paths follow the succession
of lakes and waterfalls where streams
burst out of rocks creating a unique
place. The colors of the pools
are reminiscent of Lake Louise
in the Canadian Rockies. Afternoon,
we visit Zagreb, capital of Croatia.
It has 770 000 inhabitants and
it is a political, cultural and
economical center of Croatia. We
experience the past and the present
of Zagreb by passing through the
streets of the Lower and Upper
Towns. We visit the Zagreb Cathedral
followed by the lively atmosphere
of Dolac Market. Our walk will
also take us to St. Mark’s
Church and the Lotrscak Tower,
from where noon time is announced
by cannon firing. We culminate
the day with a tour of Maksimir,
the oldest public cultivated park
in Europe. Evening is our send
off dinner with local delicates.
Overnight: Hotel Palace,
, Zagreb (1 night) (B, D)
Day 20: (THU) Zagreb /
departure or continue to SLOVENIA
After an interesting tour of the Balkans, we are transferred to the airport
for our departure flight or we continue on an optional tour of the last of
Yugoslavian territory – SLOVENIA. (B)
SLOVENIA EXTENSION
Day 20: (THU) Zagreb /
Lipica Stud Farm / Postojna Cave
/ Ljubljana (SLOVENIA)
After breakfast we depart Zagreb for Slovenia. Our first stop is to tour Lipica
Stud Farm. The impact of Lipica has been far greater than its tiny size would
suggest. In 1580, the Austrian Archduke Charles, son of Ferdinand I, established
a stud farm (kobilarna) to breed horses for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
The stud farm remained the property of the court in Vienna until the end of
WWI when the Italians took control of Primorska province and herds were moved
to Hungary and then to Austria, but the change in climate took its toll on
the horses. In 1943, with WWII still raging, the Germans moved more than 200
horses to the Sudetenland in Bohemia (now Czech Republic). When the area was
liberated by American forces in 1945, most of the horses and the stud farms’ archives
were shipped off to Italy. Sadly, only 11 horses returned to Slovenia when
operations resumed in Lipica in 1947. We later visit Postojna. The cave at
this scenic town is one of the largest in the world, and is among Slovenia’s
most popular attractions. The Postojna Cave (Postojnska Jama) system, a series
of caverns, halls and passages some 27 km (17 miles) long and 2,000,000 years
old, was hollowed out by the Pivka River, which enters a subterranean tunnel
near the caves’ entrance. The river continues its deep passage underground,
carving out several more series of caves, and emerges again as the Unica River.
Overnight: Hotel Union, Ljubljana (1 night) (B)
Day
21: (FRI) Ljubljana
/ Bled
We start the day with a tour of "Bela
Ljubjana." This was the nickname given to
this delightful city after it was entirely rebuilt
in the 16th century following the massive earthquake
of 1511. A drive through the streets of this
sunny city reminds us of the buildings of both
Vienna and Prague. The difference, however, is
that the Slovene capital is tiny by comparison,
small enough to be easily visited on foot. We
go up to the city's highest point to visit the
16th century castle, then descend to the lower
city to see Trg Naradnih Herojev, the square
housing one of the worlds newest parliaments.
Here the Slovene flag was raised for the first
time in 1991. We continue on foot to visit the
old town with its large university, philharmonic
hall, and beautiful square of the three bridges.
Across the bridge in the old town we will see
the city cathedral. Perhaps the most interesting
parts of the building are the brand new bronze
doors. Commemorating centuries of struggle towards
independence, these doors recount major events
in the history of Slovenia. Our walking tour
is not complete without time spent wandering
through the open air and indoor city market.
People come here to buy fresh mountain herbs
and flowers, famous forest honey, wild mushrooms,
and fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms.
Fresh cheeses made each morning for the market
are also on display. Our next visit is Lake Bled.
Reflecting the high peaks of the Julian Alps,
the lake has always been considered sacred to
the locals. We start with a visit of the castle
perched on a cliff overlooking the town. Offering
stunning views over the still morning waters,
the castle is also home to a small historical
museum with artifacts dating back to the time
of the Romans. At the shores of Lake Bled we
embark on a boat ride to Slovenia's only island.
Legend has it that this little island was originally
inhabited by fairies. Today the island is home
to a Baroque church dedicated to Our Lady of
the Lake. Near the altar of the church hangs
a rope attached to the bells in the tower. Legend
has it that if you make a wish while ringing
the bells the wish will come true.
Overnight: Hotel Park, Bled (1 night) (B)
Day 22: (SAT) Bled
departure
Completing the historical trail of the Balkans, of Yugoslavia – the country
that has played a major role in the 20th C., we bid farewell to this aspect
of history with our transfer to Ljubljana airport for our onward flight. (B)
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