Small Group 2021

Targu Mures 056 SGK 450 The Great Balkan Journey from Ljubljana FROM LJUBLJANA TO BUCHAREST (VIA BiH AND BULGARIA) 26 Days including Ljubljana, Bled, Postojna, Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Korčula, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Sremski Karlovci, Novi Sad, Niš, Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi, Baile Govora, Cozia, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Targu Mures, Bucovina painted monasteries, Brasov, Bran, Sinaia and Bucharest Day 1, Friday, arrival to Ljubljana Upon arrival to Venice, Trieste or Ljubljana airport transfer to hotel. Day 2, Saturday, in Ljubljana This morning, we will first head to Bled, beautifully set in the Julian Alps. A sightseeing tour of Bled features the charming town, the lakeshore, and a visit to the imposing Bled Castle , perched on a cliff high above the lake. After the visit of Bled return to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, for a walking tour. See the sights of the old city center, including the picturesque open-air Central Market, Three Bridges, Baroque Town Hall, and Robba's Fountain. Day 3, Sunday, to Postojna and Zagreb After breakfast, we head to Postojna, home to one of the largest caves in Europe – Postojna Cave . Tour this fantastic subterranean world by miniature electric train. Afterward, continue to Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. Day 4, Monday, in Zagreb This morning enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral , Parliament, and the Government Palace. The rest of the day is free to explore the winding streets of the Old Town. Day 5, Tuesday, to Plitvice and Split Travel to spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park . Have your camera ready as you take a walking tour around several of the lower lakes. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this natural wonder of 16 terraced lakes surrounded by thickly wooded mountains and lush vegetation. Then we continue our journey to Split. Day 6, Wednesday, in Split Enjoy a city tour featuring the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace , a UNESCOWorld Cultural Heritage site. Finally, see the remnants of Split's Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter's Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral. Day 7, Thursday, to Korčula Today we head to the island of Korčula. Upon arrival free time to enjoy this beautiful island. Day 8, Friday, to Dubrovnik The beautiful medieval town Korčula has streets arranged in the shape of a fish bone, which ensures the flow of fresh air and protects from strong winds. According to legend, the famous adventurer Marco Polo was born here. After the visit, head to Dubrovnik. Day 9, 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 10, Sunday, to Mostar We continue our trip towards Mostar. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva in the medieval times. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognizable landmarks, and is considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. Day 11, Monday, to Sarajevo Travel to Sarajevo, the capital of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city of Sarajevo has been influenced by several cultures and civilizations over its long history. On your city tour, visit the Turkish Bazaar Bas Carsija , Husref Bay’s Mosque , the Olympic Stadium, and Gavrilo Princip Museum . Day 12, Tuesday, to Belgrade Today, we travel to Belgrade, Serbia. Day 13, Wednesday, 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 14, Thursday, to Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad 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 with a wine degustation included, we continue to Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina. It is the administrative, economic, cultural and university center of the region, which also has the well-preserved Petrovaradin Fortress that faces the city from the other side of the Danube. Return to Belgrade. Day 15, Friday, to Niš and Sofia Today, we travel to Bulgaria. 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 Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Day 16, Saturday, in Sofia Today, we enjoy a complete tour of the city of Sofia. Among others, the most emblematic places are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral that dominates the city, the Church of Saint George, considered the best-preserved Byzantine church, the Russian Church of Saint Nicholas, the Banya Bashi mosque and the ruins of the ancient Serdica. In the afternoon, travel to the Rila Mountains to visit one of the most famous places in Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery . This monastery is a sanctuary of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by San Iván de Rila, it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and the language of the centuries. After visiting the monastery church with its impressive fresco paintings, return to Sofia. Day 17, Sunday, to Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo Leaving Sofia behind, we head toward the second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv. This is a city with an ancient history. During our city tour we will see the Roman Forum and the stadium, as well as the Roman amphitheater. We will walk through the cobbled streets of the small and ancient city surrounded by houses and beautiful churches. After the visit we will cross the Balkan Mountains through the historic Shipka Pass, which played a key role in the Russian-Turkish War for the Liberation of Bulgaria. Arrival in Veliko Tarnovo - the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Day 18, Monday, to Arbanassi and Baile Govora In the morning, panoramic visit of the city of Veliko Tarnovo with a walk to Tsarevets , where the kings of Bulgaria once lived. We will walk along the oldest street in the city called Samovodska Charshia. We will proceed to Arbanassi, a small village in Bulgaria located 4 km