12-Day Best of the Balkans: Serbia, Croatia & Slovenia Tour

DAY 1 | Sunday – Depart for Serbia

Start your Balkan adventure with a flight to Belgrade, Serbia’s vibrant capital, a city rich in history, culture, and charm.

DAY 2 | Monday – Arrive in Belgrade

Arrive in Belgrade and transfer to your hotel. Your day begins at leisure, giving you time to relax after your journey. In the evening, join an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager followed by a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Belgrade | Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 | Tuesday – Belgrade City Tour

Explore the historic highlights of Belgrade:

• Kalemegdan Fortress, perched at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers

• Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street, bustling with shops and cafes

• Saint Sava Temple, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world

• Memorial to Marshal Tito, encircled by a tranquil flower garden

Afternoon at leisure to enjoy Belgrade independently.

Overnight: Belgrade | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 | Wednesday – Wine Tasting & Arrival in Zagreb

Depart Belgrade and travel to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital. Stop at Kutjevo, Croatia’s wine capital, and enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Continue to Zagreb for hotel check-in and dinner at your leisure.

Overnight: Zagreb | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5 | Thursday – Zagreb City Tour & Optional Croatian Countryside

Discover Zagreb’s vibrant cityscape:

• Upper Town walking tour: Kaptol Square, Zagreb Cathedral, St. Mark’s Square, and Parliament

• Explore Kravi Most and the 17th-century Jesuit Church of St. Catherine

• Stroll through Ban Jelacic Square, the city’s central hub

Optional: Croatian Countryside tour with dinner. Visit Kumrovec, Tito’s birthplace, and enjoy a traditional farm-style dinner with wine.

Overnight: Zagreb | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6 | Friday – Ljubljana Walking Tour & Travel to Bled

Cross into Slovenia and explore the charming capital Ljubljana:

• Open-air market, Baroque Venetian-inspired City Hall, and Robba Fountain

• Triple Bridge connecting old and new city districts

• Parliament and scenic downtown promenade

Continue to Bled, nestled in the Julian Alps, a lakeside resort famous for its beauty and thermal springs. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Bled | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7 | Saturday – Bled Castle & Optional Lake Bled & Radovljica Tour

Visit the majestic Bled Castle, perched on a cliff above Lake Bled, and explore its museum.

Optional:

• Lake Bled & Lake Bohinj tour – row to the island on Lake Bled, then explore Bohinj and Slovenian villages

• Radovljica & Gingerbread Museum with dinner – learn the traditional art of Lectarstvo and enjoy a Slovenian dinner with live entertainment

Overnight: Bled | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8 | Sunday – Scenic Drive to Plitvice Lakes

Travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 16 cascading lakes, waterfalls, and primeval forests. Explore the park’s walking trails and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty. Continue to nearby Plitvice town for dinner.

Overnight: Plitvice Lakes | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9 | Monday – Split City Tour

Drive south to Split, a UNESCO protected seaside town. Walking tour includes:

• Diocletian’s Palace, dating to the 4th century

• Cathedral of St. Domnius

• Temple of Jupiter with its headless black sphinx

Evening at leisure or enjoy the waterfront promenade. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Split | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10 | Tuesday – Dubrovnik City Tour

Travel along the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik, stopping at:

• Ston saltworks and Pelješac Peninsula wineries for tasting

• Walking tour of Old Dubrovnik: Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace, Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with 14th-century pharmacy

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast

DAY 11 | Wednesday – Full Day in Dubrovnik & Optional Silk Wonder Tour

Day at leisure to explore Dubrovnik Old Town independently. Optional tour:

• Silk Wonder & Old Mills – see traditional embroidery and flour & wool processing at Ðivanovic Mill

Farewell dinner with your Tour Manager to celebrate your journey.

Overnight: Dubrovnik | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 12 | Thursday – Depart Croatia

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, concluding your Balkan adventure.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Highlights

• Belgrade: Kalemegdan Fortress, Saint Sava Temple, Tito Memorial

• Zagreb: Upper Town, Cathedral, St. Mark’s Square

• Ljubljana: Open-air market, Baroque architecture, Triple Bridge

• Bled: Castle on cliff, optional Lake Bled & Bohinj tour

• Plitvice Lakes: 16 interlinked lakes and waterfalls, UNESCO-listed

• Split: Diocletian’s Palace, Roman architecture

• Dubrovnik: UNESCO Old Town, Rector’s Palace, Franciscan Monastery

Package Includes

• Round-trip flights: New York–Belgrade / Dubrovnik–New York

• 10 nights First Class accommodations: 2 Belgrade, 2 Zagreb, 2 Bled, 1 Plitvice Lakes, 1 Split, 2 Dubrovnik

• 16 meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 dinners

• Transfers with airfare purchase, guided sightseeing, entrance fees, and local English-speaking Tour Manager

• Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring

Not Included

• Optional tours and gratuities (unless specified)