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Day 01: Arrival Belgrade, SERBIA
Our journey of the bewildering Balkans start at the heart
city of Serbia, Belgrade. We find a beautiful romantic
and medieval city competing amongst the most charming cities
in Eastern Europe as we are warmly received and transferred
to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Majestik, Belgrade (2 nights) (D)
Day 02: Belgrade
The capital city of Serbia since 1403, our Belgrade tour
starts with the Republic Square, where we see the architectural
wonders in monuments such as the National Theatre, National
Museum, Serbian Academy of Science & Arts in the famous
Knez Mihajlova Street. At the old town we see 19thC quarters,
the 'Question mark sign' Inn, Princess Ljubica's Residence
(now housing a permanent exhibition of original furniture),
the Patriarchy and the Orthodox Cathedral. No visit to
Belgrade is complete without the fortress area which includes
well-preserved artillery structures dating from the 18thC,
acropolis with original ramparts, gateways, towers, some
Turkish monuments and some older, ancient Roman. Evening
is a welcome dinner at the local Bohemian quarters of Skadarlija
with Serbian cuisine and music. (B, D)
Day 03: Belgrade / Zlatibor / Sirogojno
Continuing our journey we drive south and ascend Mount Zlatibor
National Park known for its beauty and intact nature. It
is a mountain of golden pines, after which it got its name
(Zlatan - golden Bor –- pine three). A short drive
through the beautiful countryside gets us into an area
where the vegetation changes into a jungle. Here we find
flora and fauna such as the Omorica. This is also one of
the last refuge areas for Bears. Our final destination
for today is the unique and charming ethno village of Sirogojno.
It is an open-air museum of traditional architecture, as
well as an exhibition of handicrafts and world famous hand-knitted
clothes. We walk through the village before checking in
at our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Staro Selo, Zlatibor (1 night) (B, D)
Day 04: Mokra Gora / Sargan / Studenica / Kopaonik
An interesting 15Kms. train ride on the old narrow gauge
steam engine “"Sarganska Osmica"”.
we cross breathtaking scenery through 20 tunnels, 10 bridges
and as many viaducts.
The trail cut its path through astonishing landscapes of
Serbia and Bosnia, on its way from Belgrade to Sarajevo
and Dubrovnik. This will be a day for rail and steam buffs,
photographers and lovers of nature. We visit the World
Heritage Site of Studenica Monastery considered to be the
crowning achievement of medieval culture and art in Serbia.
After visiting the monastic site including Churches of
the Virgin (1183-1196), SS Joachim & Anne (also known
as the King's Church) and St. Nicholas, we continue for
the final destination of the day - Kapaonik Park. Among
Serbian mountains, Kopaonik is unrivalled by its natural
beauty and mineral wealth.
Overnight: Hotel Grand, Kapaonik (1 night) (B, D)
Day 05: Kopaonik / Pristina (KOSOVO) / Skopje (MACEDONIA)
A scenic drive as we cross into Kosovo. We drive past Kosovska
Mitrovica before reaching the capital city of Pristina
where we stroll along its streets and the main square located
right in the heart of the town. We then visit the Monastery
of Gracania from where we drive to the countryside of Pristina
to see the famous Church devoted to Annunciation. The monastery
was an endowment of King Milutin and was built in the early
14th century. Its architectural structure represents the
apex of Serbian building that followed in the spirit of
Byzantine tradition. However, this monastery also stands
apart as a work of harmonious proportions and extraordinary
beauty. We then cross from Kosovo to the historical country
of Macedonia and drive to the capital city, Skopje.
Overnight: Hotel BW Tourist, Skopje (B, D)
Day 06: Skoplje / Sv Jovan Bigorski / Ohrid
Skopje is not only the capital but also the largest city
in the Republic of Macedonia. It is located in a valley,
on both sides of River Vardar and traces back to over 2000
years of history when it was known as Skupi. Our exploration
of this historical city starts with a walking tour the
old part of the town “"Charshi"”,
where lies the Stone Bridge - a symbol of Skopje built
by Turks in
15thC. Here we visit some of the marvels which include
the Church St. Spas, (famous for its marvelous iconostas
from 17thC), the Old Bazaar, Fortress Kale (with walls
dating back from the 6thC), Mustapha Pasha Mosque (a marvel
of Ottoman architecture erected in 1492 with the earliest
wall paintings), Daut Pasa Bath (a masterpiece of Islamic
civil architecture from the 15thC). Continuing to Ohrid,
we cross the National Park of Mavrovo with its majestic
lake, river, gorges and waterfalls and culminate the day
with a visit to the
Monastery of Sv. Jovan Bigorski, famous for its iconostasis
carved in wood and by its particular nice location on the
slope of the mountain.
Overnight: Hotel Millennium, Ohrid (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 07: Ohrid
We start the day with a walking tour around the old town-museum
of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of
the town was known in ancient times as Lychnidos, the City
of Lights. Slavs gave it the name of Arida in the 10thC,
and it became a major center of culture and art for this
area. It is the cradle of Slavic written language and literature,
from where the alphabet called Cyrillic was created by
the two brothers Cyril and Methody. Ohrid is also known
as the “"City of 365 churches “" and we visit,
not all, but the most important ones. Visiting Tsar Smuili
fortress from the 10thC, St. Kliment from the 13thC, St.
Sophia from the 11th C, and St. Panteleimon from the 9th
C., we culminate the tour of Ohrid with a walk through
the local bazaar. Afternoon is free to enjoy Ohrid at our
own leisure. (B, D)
Day 08: Ohrid / Berat (ALBANIA)
Before crossing into Albania, we visit the famous Monastery
of Sv. Naum. Continuing our drive we go around Like Ohrid
and enter Albanian before arriving Berat. Berat is known
as a “"city of one thousand windows"”,
and is a declared as a museum city. The old name of the
city was
Antipatrea. It is built on the slopes of mountain Timori,
with a castle dominating over the city. Within its walls
there are dwelling houses and the Onufri Museum, where
we see paintings by this outstanding painter from the 16thC,
as well as paintings from his son Nikolla. In the old part
of the town we visit several Byzantine churches known for
their interesting architecture.
Overnight: Hotel Timori, Berat (1 night) (B, D)
Day 09: Berat / Durres / Tirana
We drive from Berat to Durres (formerly Durrazzo) Albania’'s
second largest city and one of its oldest town. Legend has
it that Durrazzo was founded by the Illyrian King, Epidamnos,
who called it by his own name and named the port after his
grandson, Dyrrah It was for centuries the largest port on
the Adriatic and got back into world highlights when in 1939,
the Italian troops met brief but fierce resistance, and those
killed defending it are now regarded as the first martyrs
of the War of National Liberation. Our visit here includes
the Roman amphitheatre and, time permitting, the archaeological
museum. We visit the Roman Baths behind the Aleksandër
Moisiu Theatre on the central square. We then drive to the
capital city of Tirana relatively a new town, founded in
1614 located on the site of a Byzantine fortress. Tirana
has been the capital of Albania since 1920 and lies at the
foot of Dajti Mountain. Our visit here includes the Skanderbeg
Square in the centre of the town, the 1789 old Mosque of
Et’'hem Bey, the 1830 Clock Towerand the Palace of Culture
housing the Opera.
Overnight: Hotel Chateaux Linza (1 night) (B, D)
Day 10: Tirana / Kruja / Shodra / Podgorica (MONTENEGRO)
/ Budva
Another interesting day as we start at the charming little
town of Kruja, perched high on the face of a hill. Kruja
was the centre of the 15th C. Albanian resistance under Skanderbeg
against Ottoman Turks. We visit the museum named after him.
The street leading up to the castle is built in the style
of a Turkish bazaar. From here we continue to Shkoder, in
Illyrian times known as Scodra one of the oldest cities in
Europe and the traditional centre of the Gheg cultural. Shkodra
is rich with historical monuments, including the old Illyrian
Rozafa Castle, Mesi Bridge. After crossing the border to
Montenegro, we drive to the capital, Podgorica. We take a
scenic drive alongside Lake Skadar to the Montenegrin coast
to Budva. Budva is a medieval town and is definitely the
most attractive tourist place on the Riviera. The old part
of the town is fortified with typical architecture of narrow
streets and stone buildings placed around the main cathedral.
This area is a popular tourist hang out with now many shops
and taverns. Budva also has several attractive beaches and
hotels.
Overnight: Hotel Queen of Montenegro (1 night) (B, D)
Day 11: Budva / Cetinje / Kotor / Dubrovnik (CROATIA)
A scenic drive up the mountain gets us to Cetinje, capital
of Montenegro during the Njegos era. It doesn’'t
have a strong fort like many other important capitals from
its
time as nature blessed this place with natural stone protections.
The town was founded in 1482, when Ivan Crnojevic, the
last ruler of the medieval country of Zeta, built here
a palace and church. Cetinje remained as the heart and
soul of Montenegro up to WW1. We visit the royal palace
of King Nikola II, last King of Montenegro which contains
both a beautiful small museum as well as the Monastery
of St. Petar. Next we visit the World Heritage Site of
Kotar - a town museum which was inhabited from the times
of the Illyrians and the Romans. Our walk through the city
takes us back to medieval times, as most of the monuments
we observe are from the 14th to 18th C's. We vist
the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, St. Luka Church, St. Mihail
Church, amongst other sites. Late afternoon we continue
on a spectacular drive to Dubrovnik. This drive will be
witnessing beautiful Boka Kotorska Bay and many old fishing
villages, churches, monasteries, marinas and beaches. We
cross the border into Croatia before arriving Dubrovnik.
Overnight: Hotel Imperial or Excelsior, Dubrovnik (2 nights)
(B)
Day 12: Dubrovnik
This morning we start with a walking tour through the old
walled heart of Dubrovnik. All motor vehicles are banned
from the center and our transport drops us outside the
Pile Gate where we visit the Franciscan Monastery, housing
one of the world's oldest pharmacies, the old harbor, St
Laurence Fortress, the Sponza and Rector's Palaces and
other points of interest in this best preserved European
walled city. Afternoon, we are free to enjoy Dubrovnik's
old city or its popular Adriatic Sea beach. (B)
Day
13: Dubrovnik / Trebinje / Sarajevo (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)
After a leisurely day at Dubrovnik coast, we drive inland
up the mountains where we cross the border into Bosnia
and Herzegovina. We pass through the picturesque little
town of Trebinje famous for its Old Town and by the church
Mausoleum of the very famous poet Jovan Ducic. We proceed
through the bare mountains of the area, then through the
National Park of Sutjeska, crossing the river Sutjeska
and driving through its Canyon before arriving Sarajevo,
capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Overnight: Hotel Europa Garni / Astra Garni (Sarjevo) (2
nights) (B, D)
Day 14: Sarajevo
Enchanting Sarajevo, to some it competes with Isfahan in
Iran. We start with a
walking tour of Sarajevo. This magical town with all its
charms takes us instantly back to the Ottoman day as we visit
beautiful Ottoman mosques, old quarters and the authentic
Turkish “"carsija"”, with its oriental
sweets shops, cafes and traditional Bosnian food. Sarajevo is
also a town
in which for more then 400 years mosques, orthodox churches,
roman-catholic churches and synagogues have been standing
together. (B, D)
Day
15: Sarajevo –/ Mostar
No visit of Bosnia & Herzegovina is complete without
a visit to Mostar. We start the day with a breathtaking drive
along River Neretva and through the Bosnian Mountains before
arriving Mostar. Afternoon, we tour Mostar, a picturesque
town, more then 5 centuries old and made famous by the old
Turkish bridge that once was the only means uniting the city
over the emerald waters of the Neretva River. The bridge
always played a central role in lives of its inhabitants.
The original bridge was wooden, built at the beginning of
the 15th century, and it was a very important link of the
two parts of Herzegovina, not only strategically but also
in respect of trade linking the sea to the interior. This
soon brought the urgent need to replace the old unsafe wooden
chain bridge with a new which could meet the growing requirements.
The construction of the bridge began in 1557 and continued
for nine years making it the masterpiece of Hajrudin, and
under the close observation of the Caliph, Suleyman The Magnificent
(builder). We stroll through the narrow medieval style old
bazaar with astounding Ottoman Islamic architecture.
Overnight: Hotel Ero, Mostar (1 night) (B, D)
Day 16: Mostar / Mejugorje / Split (CROATIA)
After a short drive through the bare mountains of the area,
we reach the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. It is a small
village and a target of many pilgrims from all around the
world in the last 24 years. In 1981, several of the local
children received the messages of Virgin Mary, and since
then, this has been a place of “"miracles"” which
draw many believers. We tour the big local church and the
area where the miracle is reputed to have taken place.
A picturesque drive through the mount of Biokovo will take
us down to the Dalmatian Coast where we make a brief stop
at the town of Makarska making our for our final destination
of the day to the old town of Split.
Overnight: Hotel President or similar, Split (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 17: Split
Split is a vibrant city of shouting stall owners, in-transit
travelers, and white-suited sailors who give it a noisy,
night-on-the-town feel. At the heart of all of this, hemmed
in by sprawling estates and a modern harbor, lies Diocletians'
Palace, a crumbling old town, and some of the most outstanding
classical architecture in the world which we will enjoy
visiting today. It was in 295-A.D., 1700 years ago that
the Roman emperor Diocletian started to build his palace
in the bay of Aspalathos on the Dalmatian Coast, the land
of his birth. After his abdication in 305, the retired
emperor left Nicomedia and settled in the palace, intending
to spend the rest of his life there. The rectangular palace
of Diocletian occupies an area of about 29,000 square meters.
The transformation of the palace into the town began in
the 7th C when the inhabitants of nearby Salona took refuge
in the palace during the invasions of the Avars and Slavs.
We visit the impressive cellars of the palace to get an
idea of the original structure, Peristyle, Baptistery of
St. John, Cathedral of St. Domnius and many more. Afternoon
is free to enjoy the markets of Split. (B, D)
Day 18: Split / Trogir / Sibenik / Zadar / Plitvice Lakes
Another interesting day ahead as we start with a visit of
the medieval town of Trogir, which has changed little over
the years and even today is one of the most beautiful towns
on this coast. Life here revolves around Narodni Trg, a
creamy-white square flanked by the Cathedral, Communal
Palace and Loggia. We visit the Venetian Cathedral of St.
Lovro, built from the 13th to 15th centuries on the Place
of Ivana Pavla, one of the finest architectural works in
Croatia. Our next stop is at Sibenik located in an area
of several hundred inlets spread out to the open blue sea,
forming many channels, bays and droves of rare beauty.
Especially lovely are the inlets posted in front to the
open sea, with their rocky cliffs and deep abrasions. Sibenik
and its beautiful surroundings occupy a unique place in
the Dalmatian coast. Our last stop of the day will be at
Zadar, the ancient capital of Dalmatia. The town offers
a variety of architectures and styles, where lone Corinthian
columns stand alongside Romanesque churches. Zadar was
part of Italy until 1947, and, though fast diminishing,
one still finds Italian influence. We visit the Archaeological
Museum, which has a neatly displayed collection of Roman
relics, pre-Christian, Roman and medieval finds from nearby
Nin, as well as fragments of sculpture from most of the
local churches. We also see the Roman Forum from 2ndC.
BC, the 9th century pre Romanesque church of St Donatus
and St Elias church.
Overnight: Hotel Jezera, Plitvice Lakes area (1 night) (B,
D)
Day 19: Plitvice Lakes / Zagreb
Today we walk on one of the most magnificent sites in Croatia,
the Plitvice Lakes. Here sixteen lakes, each at a different
level join the other in a series of cascading waterfalls.
Surrounded by dense woods, the region, UNESCO World Natural
Heritage Site is a natural phenomenon of rare and unique
beauty. Wooded paths follow the succession of lakes and
waterfalls where streams burst out of rocks creating a
unique place. The colors of the pools are reminiscent of
Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. Afternoon, we visit
Zagreb, capital of Croatia. It has 770 000 inhabitants
and it is a political, cultural and economical center of
Croatia. We experience the past and the present of Zagreb
by passing through the streets of the Lower and Upper Towns.
We visit the Zagreb Cathedral followed by the lively atmosphere
of Dolac Market. Our walk will also take us to St. Mark’'s
Church and the Lotrscak Tower, from where noon time is
announced by cannon firing. We culminate the day with a
tour of Maksimir, the oldest public cultivated park in
Europe. Evening is our send off dinner with local delicates.
Overnight: Hotel Dubrovnik, Zagreb (1 night) (B, D)
Day 20: Zagreb / departure or continue to SLOVENIA
After an interesting tour of the Balkans, we are transferred
to the airport for our departure flight or we continue
on an optional tour of the last of Yugoslavian territory –- SLOVENIA.
(B)
SLOVENIA EXTENSION
Day 20: Zagreb / Lipica Stud Farm / Postojna Cave / Ljubljana
(SLOVENIA)
After breakfast we depart Zagreb for Slovenia. Our first
stop is to tour Lipica Stud Farm. The impact of Lipica has
been far greater than its tiny size would suggest. In 1580,
the Austrian Archduke Charles, son of Ferdinand I, established
a stud farm (kobilarna) to breed horses for the Spanish Riding
School in Vienna. The stud farm remained the property of
the court in Vienna until the end of WWI when the Italians
took control of Primorska province and herds were moved to
Hungary and then to Austria, but the change in climate took
its toll on the horses. In 1943, with WWII still raging,
the Germans moved more than 200 horses to the Sudetenland
in Bohemia (now Czech Republic). When the area was liberated
by American forces in 1945, most of the horses and the stud
farms’' archives were shipped off to Italy. Sadly, only
11 horses returned to Slovenia when operations resumed in
Lipica in 1947. We later visit Postojna. The cave at this
scenic town is one of the largest in the world, and is among
Slovenia’'s most popular attractions. The Postojna Cave
(Postojnska Jama) system, a series of caverns, halls and
passages some 27 km (17 miles) long and 2,000,000 years old,
was hollowed out by the Pivka River, which enters a subterranean
tunnel near the caves’' entrance. The river continues
its deep passage underground, carving out several more series
of caves, and emerges again as the Unica River.
Overnight: Hotel Union, Ljubljana (1 night) (B, D)
Day 21: Ljubljana / Bled
We start the day with a tour of "Bela Ljubjana." This
was the nickname given to this delightful city after it was
entirely rebuilt in the 16th century following the massive
earthquake of 1511. A drive through the streets of this sunny
city reminds us of the buildings of both Vienna and Prague.
The difference, however, is that the Slovene capital is tiny
by comparison, small enough to be easily visited on foot.
We go up to the city's highest point to visit the 16th century
castle, then descend to the lower city to see Trg Naradnih
Herojev, the square housing one of the worlds newest parliaments.
Here the Slovene flag was raised for the first time in 1991.
We continue on foot to visit the old town with its large
university, philharmonic hall, and beautiful square of the
three bridges. Across the bridge in the old town we will
see the city cathedral. Perhaps the most interesting parts
of the building are the brand new bronze doors. Commemorating
centuries of struggle towards independence, these doors recount
major events in the history of Slovenia. Our walking tour
is not complete without time spent wandering through the
open air and indoor city market. People come here to buy
fresh mountain herbs and flowers, famous forest honey, wild
mushrooms, and fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms.
Fresh cheeses made each morning for the market are also on
display. Our next visit is Lake Bled. Reflecting the high
peaks of the Julian Alps, the lake has always been considered
sacred to the locals. We start with a visit of the castle
perched on a cliff overlooking the town. Offering stunning
views over the still morning waters, the castle is also home
to a small historical museum with artifacts dating back to
the time of the Romans. At the shores of Lake Bled we embark
on a boat ride to Slovenia's only island. Legend has it that
this little island was originally inhabited by fairies. Today
the island is home to a Baroque church dedicated to Our Lady
of the Lake. Near the altar of the church hangs a rope attached
to the bells in the tower. Legend has it that if you make
a wish while ringing the bells the wish will come true.
Overnight: Hotel Park, Bled (1 night) (B, D)
Day 22: Bled departure
Completing the historical trail of the Balkans, of Yugoslavia –- the
country that has played a major role in the 20th C., we bid
farewell to this aspect of history with our transfer to Ljubljana
airport for our onward flight. (B)
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