Treasures of the Balkans - Small Group
Tour Type: Regional
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Small Group 2026
Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria's Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia's Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Bra?ov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula's haunted abode in Bram Stoker's infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city's iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.
Additional Included Highlights
Brochure Type Europe & Britain Small Group 2026
Explore the former Communist headquarters of Romania in Bucharest, see Bulgaria's Roman ruins in Sofia and marvel at Bosnia's Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo. After exploring the medieval city of Bra?ov, take the mountain roads to the Transylvanian border and join a private visit of Bran Castle after hours - better known as Dracula's haunted abode in Bram Stoker's infamous novel, followed by private dinner. Delve into the myths and legends before adventuring onwards to Mostar, where a Local Expert guides you through the city's iconic sights ahead of a Sarajevo Dine at Home experience. Sit down with a Sarajevan family for a feast of local delicacies, traditional Bosnian coffee and tales of local life before your adventure ends in Belgrade.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Belgrade Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner.
- Bucharest Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for your dinner.
- Dubrovnik You will be offered a varied selection of charming restaurants to choose from for your Dine-Around Evening.
- Sarajevo Experience authentic Bosnian coffee and learn about the traditional ritual of coffee preparation.
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Sarajevo Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just
- Sarajevo Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on Land.
- 15 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 6 Dinner (D)
- Sarajevo Meet an expert of the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's Tunnel of Hope and hear a first-hand account of when the city was under siege for 44 months. Alternatively, take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a picturesque park just
- Bran Learn about the story of the infamous Count Dracula during a private after-hours visit of Bran Castle, followed by dinner.
- Sarajevo Take a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protectedpark just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on Land.
- Sarajevo You are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner and drinks. Savor the warm hospitality and authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories about their culture. This experience advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goa
- Veliko Tarnovo Ascend Tsarevets, the King's Hill, crowned by a ruined medieval citadel. Enjoy the views and imagine yourself back in the days of the Crusades when this was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
- Mostar Learn the history and symbolic significance of Stari Most and explore the old town with your Local Expert.
- Kotor Visit the Stari Grad, also referred to as the Old Town, perfectly positioned on a beautiful bay.
- Ohrid Walk the cobbled, narrow streets of the Old Town.
- Bucharest During sightseeing with your Local Expert see University Square and the former Communist Headquarters.
- Arbanasi At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arbanassi, visit a traditional 17th-century merchants' house and enjoy the acoustics in the Church of the Holy Nativity.
- Skopje Visit the capital of Macedonia with your Local Expert, explore Square Macedonia and see the Stone Bridge before walking through the Old Bazaar.
- Sinaia Witness the opulent and sumptuous decor in Pele? Castle, the fairy-tale Royal summer residence, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.
- Tirana Meet a local resident who will show you Skanderbeg Square and walk you through their home city as they explain what it's like to live in the Albanian capital.
- Dubrovnik Explore the Pearl of the Adriatic with your Local Expert. Walk the stone-paved streets of the Old Town to see Onofrio's Fountain, Rector's Palace and the medieval city walls. Admire the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries.
- Bucharest Walk the cavernous halls of the vast Palace of Parliament, learn about the history and listen to amusing tales from your Local Expert.
- Belgrade A Local Expert will show you St. Sava Church, Terazije Street, the national museum, national theater, Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress.
- Sofia Sightseeing with your Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical d
Call (209) 521-0800 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18949221
- Tour Operator
- Insight Vacations
- Duration
- 16 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Bucharest | Welcome to Bucharest: Welcome to Bucharest! Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodations: Radisson Blu Bucharest |
| Day 2 | Brasov | Bucharest and Castles of Transylvania: Join a Local Expert for sightseeing to view University Square and the former communist headquarters. Visit the immense Parliament Palace, one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Enjoy a delicious private dinner in the recently renovated Queen Mary's Tea House. This evening after the crowds have left enjoy a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Learn about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle, visit the torture rooms and relive the tales of the infamous Count Dracula. Accommodations: Radisson Blu Aurum, Bra?ov |
| Day 3 | Brasov | Brasov and Sinaia: Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Pele? Castle. Admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armor and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Bra?ov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church. Accommodations: Radisson Blu Aurum, Bra?ov |
| Day 4 | Veliko Tarnovo | Veliko Tarnovo: Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Accommodations: Yantra, Veliko Tarnovo |
| Day 5 | Sofia | To Sofia Relaxed Start: Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria's most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th-century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda. Accommodations: Grand Millennium Sofia |
| Day 6 | Sofia | Sofia at Your Pace Relaxed Start: Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery to enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria? Accommodations: Grand Millennium Sofia |
| Day 7 | Skopje | Skopje: Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert. Accommodations: Bushi Resort & Spa, Skopje |
| Day 8 | Tirana | Lake Ohrid and Tirana: Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals. Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider's look at the Albanian capital with a Local Expert. Accommodations: MAK Albania, Tirana |
| Day 9 | Budva | Journey to Montenegro's Budva: Soak up Montenegro's natural beauty as you drive towards Budva where your Travel Director will provide an orientation tour before you have the rest of the day to explore 'Montenegro's Miami' on your own. Head to Stari Grad (the Old Town) surrounded by 15th-century ramparts to explore its labyrinthine lanes and small squares where you could choose to sit back and watch the world go by. Accommodations: TQ Plaza, Budva |
| Day 10 | Dubrovnik | Kotor and Dubrovnik: Journey through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the Old Town of Kotor, known as Stari Grad. Located beside a beautiful bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovcen, its no surprise it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around evening. Accommodations: Kompas Dubrovnik |
| Day 11 | Dubrovnik | Dubrovnik Sightseeing Relaxed Start: Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an optional experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea. Accommodations: Kompas Dubrovnik |
| Day 12 | Sarajevo | Mostar and Sarajevo: Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for dinner. Savor the authentic cuisine as you hear inspirational stories. Accommodations: Europe, Sarajevo |
| Day 13 | Sarajevo | Sarajevo, City of Culture: Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo's astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish. Accommodations: Europe, Sarajevo |
| Day 14 | Belgrade | The Serbian Capital of Belgrade Relaxed Start: Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade. Accommodations: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade |
| Day 15 | Belgrade | The Best of Belgrade Relaxed Start: Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theater in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before joining your fellow travelers for dinner this evening. Accommodations: Radisson Collection, Old Mill Belgrade |
| Day 16 | Belgrade | Farewell Belgrade: Your journey through the Balkans has come to an end. All that's left is to say a fond dovidenja as you bid your new friends farewell. Accommodations: |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Twin prices are per person.
- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
