ARRIVAL IN SOFIA/ DEPARTURE FROM SOFIA

Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the hotel and accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in Sofia – St. George Rotunda, the Administration of the President, the National Archaeological Museum, St. Nedelya Church, the National Theatre, the former Royal Palace (now housing the National Revival Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum), St. Nikolay Russian Church, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, National Assembly Square, where in the middle of the square sits the impressive Tsar Osvoboditel (King Liberator) monument erected in 1907 by the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi, St. Sophia Church, Alexander Nevski Cathedral – the biggest one in Bulgaria and according to many - the most spectacular building in Sofia. Free time. In the afternoon – visit to Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This site is one of the most perfectly preserved monuments of Balkan medieval art. The frescoes in the church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings. Optional dinner at traditional Bulgarian restaurant with live music and folklore program. Overnight in Sofia.

Departure for Belgrade early in the morning. Breakfast along the way. Arrival in Belgrade and accommodation. In the afternoon – walking tour in the center of Belgrade – Republic Square (Trg Republike) with National Theatre and National Museum, main pedestrian street "Knez Mihailova", Orthodox Cathedral, Monument of France, Kalemegdan Fortress with its magnificent panoramic vistas towards the confluence of the rivers Danube and Sava. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Belgrade.

Breakfast. In the morning – visit to the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia with the House of Flowers – former residence of Josip Broz Tito with wonderful gardens, where the leader of communist Yugoslavia is buried alongside his wife Jovanka Broz. Departure for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Arrival in Sarajevo in the evening. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sarajevo.

Breakfast. Walking tour in the center of Sarajevo – one of the most beautiful cities on the Balkan Peninsula, it is famous for the old neighborhoods, grand mosques, authentic Turkish "charshiya" (market streets) with oriental craftsmen workshops, inns, cafes, where you may taste the fascinating "bosanska kafa" (Bosnian coffee). Highlights of the tour include the old City Hall, Bascharshiya, Husrev Bey Mosque, Latin bridge, Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals, Ferhadiya Street. Free time in Sarajevo. In the afternoon – departure for Mostar. Its old town, famous for the oriental architecture and the Old Bridge (Stari most) is a symbol of peaceful coexistence of the different cultural and religious communities of Herzegovina. Walk to the Old Bridge and free time along the Oriental market street. Departure for Medjugorje. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Medjugorje.

Breakfast. Visit to the center of Medjugorje with the church of St. Jacob - the most important catholic shrine on the Balkan peninsula, famous as the place where Virgin Mary appeared before six local children in the 1980-s. Departure for Dubrovnik. Walking tour in the historic center of this magnificent town: from Porta Pile along the main street Stradun. Highlights of the tour include the Franciscan monastery, Sponza palace, Rector's palace, St. Blaise Church, Assumption of the Virgin Cathedral, old port. Free time. Departure for Montenegro. Accommodation at the hotel along the Montenegrin Riviera (Herceg Novi/Tivat/Budva). Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Montenegro. 

Breakfast. Departure for Kotor. Walking tour in the town, included in the list of world cultural heritage of UNESCO: medieval fortifications, the clock tower, Flour Square, St. Tripun Cathedral, Grgurina Palace. Free time. In the afternoon – speedboat excursion along the Kotor Bay with visits to the town of Perast and the Island of Our Lady of the Rocks. Perast was the site of an important school for mariners during the Venetian Republic times. In the bay close to this town are located two small islets – you will stop at one of them, artificially created on the spot where in 1452 local crew found an icon of Virgin Mary. Today on the islet there is a catholic church dedicated to her with a small museum. Return to the hotel. Overnight along the Montenegrin Riviera (Herceg Novi/Tivat/Budva).

Breakfast. Departure for Albania. In the afternoon – visit to Kruja, birthplace of the Albanian national hero - Scanderbeg. Visit to the medieval fortress, from where Scanderbeg lead the united Albanian Christian rulers in their resistance against the Ottoman empire. Free time along the oriental market street. Departure for Tirana. Accommodation at the hotel in the area of Tirana. Optional visit to Albanian night show with live music and folklore program. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in the area of Tirana.

Breakfast. Panoramic tour of Tirana – Scanderbeg Square with the monument of Albania’s national hero, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, Palace of Culture. Free time in the city center. Departure for North Macedonia. Visit to the monastery of St. Naum, located by the southeastern shore of Ohrid Lake. Sightseeing tour of the monastery complex – visit to the Church of the Archangels and the Chapel of St. Petka. Arrival at Ohrid Riviera in the evening. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Ohrid Riviera.

Breakfast. Walking tour in the old town of Ohrid with local guide – Church of Saint Sophia, Church of Virgin Mary Peribleptos, Tsar Samuel’s Fortress, Church of Saint Panteleymon, Church of Saint John Kaneo, Ancient Theatre, Old Charshiya (trade street). At noon – departure for Skopje. Arrival in the Macedonian capital. Sightseeing tour in Skopje – the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge – symbol of Skopje, the Church of St. Spas (Holy Salvation); Skopje Fortress, Old Varosha quarter, etc. Free time in the city center. Accommodation and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Skopje.

Breakfast. Departure for Bulgaria. Visit to Rila Monastery – the most exquisite example of monastery art and architecture in Bulgaria, included in the list of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO. Guided tour of the monastery: visit to Nativity of the Virgin Church with its miraculous icon of the Virgin and splendid gilded iconostasis. Departure for Sofia. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia Airport and departure.