Total distance covered: 205 km.

Scenery: Large agricultural plains.
Note: Wear suitable clothing to visit the monastery of Bachkovo.-


08.30hrs.- Sofía. Departure.-
11.00hrs.- BACHKOVO MONASTERY, arrival to the Bulgaria’s second most important monastery, founded in the eleventh century, with its three churches and the life of its monks, and we feel it as a place full of peace.

12.00 hrs.- Bachkovo Monastery. Departure.
12.45 hrs.- PLOVDIV, After time for lunch, we visit the city with a local guide, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Here we include tickets to the Roman amphitheatre, the ancient chemist’s and the Armenian house. Free time to stroll in its beautiful historic town centre with its half-timbered houses. Dinner included.

Total distance covered: 230 km. Scenery: We cross the valley of the roses with great color in season of flowering (May and June). Beautiful scenery across the Balkans mountain range.
Note: in some cases, Arbanassi visit may take place on Sunday instead of Saturday.

08.00hrs.- Plovdiv. Departure. Nice small roads through the interior of Bulgaria. We arrived to the valley of the roses.

KAZANLAK.- In the valley of the Roses, we will see KAZANLAK, where tickets are included to the replica of the Thracian tomb (Heritage of Mankind) and we will learn about the production of products derived from the roses.

11.30 hrs.- Kazalnuk. Departure. Amidst the mountains, we stop at the Russian church of SHIPKA, which reminds us the strong links that exist between the Bulgarians and the Russians and the help that Bulgaria received from Russia in its war of independence against the Ottomans.

13.15hrs.- ETARA, arrival at this charming village/ethnographic. We walk between their traditional houses and their artisan workshops. Lunch included in a typical restaurant.

15.30 hrs.- Etara. Departure.
16.45hrs.- ARBANASSI, arrival to the ancient trading city with its fortress-houses, where we visit the Church of the Nativity (entrance included).

17.45hrs.- Arrival in VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria’s former capital, with a very picturesque mediaeval centre, along with its hill. .

Total distance covered: 190 km.

Scenery: We crossed the Danube on the border.
Note: Keep your passport to hand, as it will be required on the border with Romania.

08.30hrs.- Veliko Tarnovo. Departure. We travel to Romania,

10.00hrs.- BASARBOVSKI MONASTERY, We stop at a place of pilgrimage dug out of the rock.

11.00hrs.- Barsabovski. Departure. We cross the border and the river Danube.

12.45 hrs.- BUCHAREST, arrival (variable schedules depending on the border procedures). After time for lunch, we take a panoramic tour of the city with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Free time. Dinner included.

Total distance covered: 325 km.

Scenery: beautiful landscapes with the Carpathian mountains, remote areas and forests. Small picturesque villages en route.
Note: Wear suitable clothing. The Sinaia area is located on the mountain, we recommend warm clothes and comfortable shoes.

08.00hrs.- Bucharest. Departure. Today we have a stage of great scenic beauty, travelling to Transylvania across the Carpathian mountains and through forests.

10.30hrs.- SINAIA, Arrival. We will stroll in the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor castles (visit of the gardens, the interior of the castle is closed on Mondays).

12.00hrs.- Sinaia- Departure. High mountains.

13.00hrs.- BRAN. arrival to the 14th-century fortress, known as “Dracula’s Castle” (tickets included). Time for lunch and stroll on the beautiful center.

15.30hrs.- Bran - Departure. The architecture of some of the villages shows that these regions were inhabited by people of German origin.

17.45hrs.- SIGHISOARA, arrival to this very beautiful walled mediaeval city and Heritage of Mankind. Tonight we include a very special dinner, in the restaurant of Count Dracula, in the house where Vlad Tepes was born.

Note: The hotel capacity of Sighisoara is limited. On some date the accommodation can be given in SIBIU (departure from Sighisoara after dinner). In these cases the stop in Biertan is removed and the city of Alba Lulia is visited instead.

Total distance covered: 395 km.

Scenery: beautiful landscapes and towns.

08.30 hrs.- Sighisoara- Departure. In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared Heritage of Mankind, and we will see one of them:

09.00 hrs.- BIERTAN. Arrival to visit the fortified church (tickets included).

10.00hrs.- Biertan, Departure.

11.15hrs.- SIBIU, arrival to this important economic and cultural centre that was the capital of Transylvania, with its bustling narrow streets and squares. Time for a stroll and for lunch.

14.15hrs.- Sibiu- Departure.

16.00hrs.- In the afternoon, we visit the impressive castle of HUNEDOARA (tickets included), which is considered the prettiest castle in Romania.

17.00hrs.- Hunedoara- Departure.

19.30hrs.- TIMISOARA, Arrival. Time for a stroll in its elegant central squares.

Total distance covered: 170 km.

Note: Please keep your passport in hand, as it will be required on the border with Serbia.

08.30hrs.- Timisoara- Departure. Among pleasant landscapes we set off for Serbia and the border pass (border procedures sometimes can delay the schedule).

11.30 hrs.- BELGRADE, arrival. We include a panoramic tour of this active capital on the shores of the Danube as it flows into the Sava, where we can admire its busy centre, its parliament, and stroll in the Kalemegdan fortress. A visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito´s Mausoleum is located, will also be included. Free afternoon.

Total distance: 285 km.

Scenery: Forests, mountains, rivers, small towns. Great contrasts in our trip through Bosnia. Note: Please remember to have your Passport ready, you will need it to enter in Bosnia. Schedules of this stage sometimes can suffer important delays due to the border procedures.

08.30 hrs.- Belgrade-. Departure through the Sava plain, mountain scenery, green nature.

09.45 hrs- Celije- Stop to visit this orthodox monastery founded in the 13th century, a place of pilgrimage for Serbs.

11.00 hrs- Celije, departure. Travel to Bosnia. Border formalities. We pass close to the region of Srebrenica that reminds us of terrible periods in history.

16.00 hrs.- Sarajevo -Arrival to the capital of Bosnia. We include a panoramic tour with a local guide of this city of strong Turkish influence: its mosques, its madrasahs, its busy bazaars. Dinner included.

Important note: if the number of travelers is less than 10 people, the route from Belgrade to Sarajevo can be made by regular coach. In this case the visit to Celije is not included.

Total distance: 285 km.
Scenery: Beautiful landscapes throughout the whole route: mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and picturesque villages. Arrival in Dubrovnik with beautiful seascapes.

Notes: Please bring your passport in hand, as today we cross to Croatia.

We will still have some time to explore Sarajevo, where we will visit the Tunnel of Hope that in 1993 saved the city in the 30 months siege of Sarajevo during the war by connecting the besieged city through a tunnel with free Bosnia.

10.30 hrs. - Sarajevo - Departure. Very beautiful landscapes between mountains and valleys.

13.00 hrs.- Mostar.- Free time to stroll and have lunch in this very picturesque city, its streets are full of lively commerce and small restaurants. The high stone bridge separated the Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities.

16.00 hrs.- Departure. Just 20 km away you will find:

16.30 hrs.- Medjugorge.- Arrival. A place where thousands of Catholic pilgrims come. They believe that the Virgin Mary continues to appear on the top of the mountain. Time to walk next to its main church and urban center.

17.30 hrs. - Medjugorge - departure. Departure to Croatia. Border procedures (which may take a while). Very beautiful coastal scenery.

20.00 hrs- Dubrovnik- Arrival.-Accommodation may be in Catvat, on the coast near the city. Dinner included.

N.B.- Depending on the date, accommodation can be provided either in Dubrovnik or in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik - In the morning we begin with a tour with the local guide of the city of Dubrovnik. We are undoubtedly in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe: hanging on a rock, surrounded by walls, by the Adriatic Sea. We start including a cable car ride. From the top of the mountains we can admire the best views of the city. Afterwards, we will walk to visit its historic center, an architectural heritage jewel. In the visit, we include the entrances to the Franciscan Monastery, which holds the oldest pharmacy in Europe; the entrance to the cathedral of Dubrovnik is also included.

Free time during the afternoon.
Return at the end of the afternoon to our hotel. Dinner included.

Note: Instead of Dubrovnik, accommodation could be provided in Cavtat, a coastal town near the city.
Note: Due to weather or maintenance, sometimes the cable car does not operate, in these cases we will offer entrance to the walls of Dubrovnik where you will also have fantastic views of the city and the bay.

After breakfast, end of our services.