Small Group 2021

026 Bucharest of historic significance but also of outstanding natural beauty, it is the jewel in North Macedonia's crown. Continue to Skopje where we take a walking tour of the North Macedonian capital city upon arrival. Skopje has been occupied by many different peoples since its foundation. However, the group that left the greatest mark was the Ottomans. The Ottomans ruled North Macedonia for hundreds of years and built a large number of mosques and other buildings. The visit of Skopje includes the Mother Teresa Memorial House , dedicated to the humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa. Day 8, Friday, to Niš and Belgrade Today we travel to Serbia. Our first stop is Niš, considered one of the oldest cities in Europe. Niš is a university center but also one of the most important industrial centers in Serbia. Continue to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Day 9, Saturday, in Belgrade With a history dating back more than 7,000 years, Belgrade is a fascinating city to visit. Your morning sightseeing tour includes the city's main attractions: the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress , dramatically situated at the joining of the Sava and Danube Rivers; Republic Square and Mihajlova Street; Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in the city; and Tito's Memorial. The afternoon is free. Day 10, Sunday, to Sremski Karlovci and Timisoara In the morning, departure to Sremski Karlovci, the museum-city that was the center of culture and religion in Serbia during the 18th and 19th centuries. After a short stop we continue to Timisoara. Romania’s third-largest city (after Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca) is also one of the country's most attractive urban areas, built around a series of beautifully restored public squares, and lavish parks and gardens. With western Romania's nicest hotels and finest restaurants, it makes a perfect base for exploring the Banat region. Day 11, Monday, to Hunedoara, Alba Iulia and Sibiu In the morning, we travel to Hunedoara, where iron has been extracted since the Iron Age. One of its most memorable buildings is the Corvin Castle , a fine example of secular Gothic architecture with spiky, spooky fantasy topped with asymmetrical pointed towers and turrets. Continue to the city of Alba Iulia, a symbol of national unity in Romania. Built on 13th century foundations, the imposing Habsburg citadel is star-shaped with seven bastions and successive walls. Head to Sibiu for overnight. SGK 260 The Balkan Dream from Dubrovnik FROM DUBROVNIK TO BUCHAREST (VIA ALBANIA AND SERBIA) 19 days including Dubrovnik, Kotor, Budva, Shkoder, Tirana, Elbasan, Ohrid, Skopje, Niš, Belgrade, Sremski Karlovci, Timisoara, Hunedoara, Alba Iulia, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Targu Mures, Bucovina Painted Monasteries, Brasov, Bran, Sinaia and Bucharest Day 1, Friday, arrival to Dubrovnik Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Day 2, Saturday, in Dubrovnik Start the day with a walking tour of Old Dubrovnik this morning. Visit the Rector's Palace , and see the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column and Sponza Palace. Next, see the Dominican Monastery and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy , one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore on your own, enjoy the picturesque setting, shop or simply relax. Day 3, Sunday, to Kotor and Budva First travel to the Bay of Kotor, the deepest fjord in Southern Europe and stop in the city of Kotor to visit this beautiful town. Stroll the Weapons Square and admire the city bulwarks before continuing the journey to Budva. The Budva riviera is the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its well preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches and diverse nightlife. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. Day 4, Monday, to Shkoder and Tirana Following the Montenegrin coast and its spectacular landscapes we enter Albania and visit Shkoder, a cultural center and one of the oldest cities in Albania. The city tour includes a visit to the Mosque , views of the Rozafa castle, as well as other points of interest in the city. In the afternoon the trip will take us to Tirana, the capital of Albania. Day 5, Tuesday, in Tirana The panoramic city tour of Albania’s capital includes views of 'The Albanians' - the mosaic in front of the Museum of National History, the Statue of Skanderbeg in Skanderbeg Square, the 'Et'hem' Mosque with the Clock tower, the monument to Mother Teresa and other monuments of the city. Rest of the day free at leisure. Day 6, Wednesday, to Elbasan and Ohrid Today we travel along the old ‘Egnatica’ road to Elbasan to visit the Castle . We continue to Struga, famous for being the place where you can see the Black Drin river flowing out of Lake Ohrid. Then we continue to Ohrid, the city that has its place on the UNESCO list for its natural, cultural and historical values. Day 7, Thursday, to Skopje In the morning, we visit Ohrid, also known as "the Jerusalem of the Balkans" with its 365 churches. A town of vast history and heritage was honored as UNESCO heritage site in 1980. Nestled between high mountains up to 2,800 m and Lake Ohrid, it is not only a place