Balkans_Itinerary
DAY 01: DEPARTURE MANILA:
Check-in at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Enjoy your flight with on board amenities and entertainment.
DAY 02: ARRIVAL BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (LD):
Welcome to Budapest, the capital city of Hungary! Meet and assist by your Tour Manager then your private coach will take you for sightseeing in the most cosmopolitan metropolis of Eastern Europe. Drive in Buda and Pest, the twin towns of the Hungarian capital linked by many spectacular bridges across Danube. See the Citadel on Mount Gellert, the ornate Parliament, and visit Hero Square. From the Fisherman’s Bastion, enjoy a panoramic view of the sprawling city, home to more than 1/5 of the Hungarian population. Admire the 14th century Matthias Coronation Church. Dinner in a local restaurant. As the day ends, continue to hotel for check-in and overnight.
DAY 03: SZEGED – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BLD):
Breakfast inside hotel then board our coach as we head towards Szeged. Szeged is the third biggest city in Hungary. It is the lowest elevation city in the country and is known as the "City of Sunshine", because it has the highest number of sunny days throughout the year. During the city tour we will see Mora Museum, Szeged National Theater, Szeged Water Tower, Csanad Cathedral, and Klauzai Square. Have lunch and spend free time to explore around. In the evening, we shall travel back to Budapest. Romance will be in the air as you join an evening cruise along the Danube River pass Budapest’s crown jewel its parliament brilliantly lit at night. Enjoy dinner with local dances onboard. In the evening, back to hotel for overnight.
DAY 04: BELGRADE, SERBIA (BLD):
After breakfast in the hotel, departure for Belgrade. Upon arrival, lunch will be in local restaurant then proceeds for city tour in Belgrade. Belgrade has most of the trappings of an evolving magnet for hip travelers: a riverfront medieval fortress, historic shop-lined avenues, and former industrial zones that have become a lure for creative types. We will visit Republic Square, National Museum, Knez Mihajlova Ulica or Prince Michael Street, Kalemegdan, Tašmejdan and Flower House then spend some free time for shopping at Kinezmhajlova Street. Dinner then continue to hotel for check-in.
DAY 05: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA (BLD):
Breakfast inside hotel then check-out and we will proceed for Sarajevo for city tour. During the tour; Fire of Freedom, Old Library, Kursunlu Medrese, Catholic Churches, Bazaar, Begova Mosque, Sebil, Orthodox Church, and Fatih Mosque will be visited. Lunch will be in traditional restaurant with best view of Sarajevo from the hill. Free time for shopping and to explore around until dinner then transfer to hotel for check-in and overnight.
DAY 06: MOSTAR – MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA (BLD):
Breakfast inside hotel then check-out and we will travel first to Mostar. Here we will see the remains of the Turkish quarter and the reconstruction efforts on the 16th century stone bridge, today inscribed on World Heritage List by UNESCO. Have lunch then we will continue to Medjugorje. Have city tour then experience climbing the apparition hill. Free time for private devotion and meditation then we transfer to hotel for check-in, dinner, and overnight.
DAY 07: MALI STON – DUBROVNIK, CROATIA (BLD):
Breakfast inside hotel then check-out and we will head to Dubrovnik. Along the way we still stop at Mali Ston. Experience Oyster tasting and a glass of house wine. Continue towards Dubrovnik, then upon arrival, exploring will start with the walking tour of the city which is on the UNESCO's List of Cultural Heritage. This ancient town, surrounded by ramparts and fortresses is a treasure trove of architectural and cultural master pieces, scrupulously preserved over the centuries. Here you will have Game of Thrones tour around the walled city, a pleasant walk that will take you to the Franciscan Monastery with its 14th century pharmacy, which is still operating today, and see other place of interest. Free time for shopping in Dubrovnik until we gather again for dinner in a restaurant with view of Adriatic Sea. Afterwards proceed to hotel.
DAY 08: PERAST – KOTOR – BUDVA, MONTENEGRO – TIRANA, ALBANIA (BLD):
Breakfast inside the hotel then depart for the neighboring country of Montenegro. Firstly, head to Kotor which is surrounded by high mountains reflected in the blue waters, a fjord-shape Bay of Kotor is one of the most spectacular landscapes on the Mediterranean. Drive along the bay past Risan and picturesque Perast, a home-town of many captains. Take a photo of the man-made islet of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Skrpjela). Enjoy a city tour of Kotor with its beautiful Romanesque Cathedral of St. Triphun, surrounded by walls and fortresses included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Our lunch will be with the best view of the Adriatic Sea. Afterwards, we drove to Budva which is known as the Mosaic of the Balkans. With the most beautiful beaches, islands, and one of the oldest towns, Budva is welcoming to every guest. Visit the Budva Old Town, Amphitheater, Catholic and Orthodox Churches then have some time on your own to enjoy the rest of Budva until our dinner. As the day ends, we will proceed to Tirana, the capital city of Albania for overnight.
DAY 09: TIRANA, ALBANIA – OHRID, MACEDONIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel then have city tour in Tirana. During the city tour the following landmarks will be seen: Iskender Bey Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Opera Building, and Ministries Buildings, then Teatri Kombëtar which is the State Theater. Lunch in local restaurant then proceed to Ohrid. Upon arrival in Ohrid, city walking tour visiting Cinar Square, Ottoman Homes and Mosques, Ohrid Lake, Amphitheater, Aya Sofija Church, and the statue of Ciril and Methodius which was constructed in honor of these two brothers who were Byzantine Christian theologians and Christian missionaries. Experience Boat Tour on Ohrid Lake where half of it belongs to Macedonia-the rest half to Albania. Amphitheatre or Ancient theatre of Ohrid of the Hellenistic period is located in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. During Roman times, the theater was also used for gladiator fights. Kuloglu Mosque or Nişancı Mehmed Kuloglu ıs 18th c mosque in Ohrid which's style accompanies the same like the one present in the mosques made during the Ottoman empire in the Balkans. In the evening check-in hotel.
DAY 10: SKOPJE, MACEDONIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel and check out then departure for Skopje. Upon arrival, tour in Skopje to visit Square of Macedonia, Stone Bridge, Statue of Alexander, Castle of Skopje, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Murat Pasha Mosque, Yahya Pasha Mosque. House of Mother Theresa, Ristik's Palace. Mother Theresa Monumental Home, is dedicated to the humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mother Teresa and is located in her hometown Skopje, in Macedonia, where she lived from 1910 to 1928. The memorial house was built on the popular Macedonia Street in the Center municipality, on the very location of the once Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where Mother Teresa was baptized. Lunch will be in local restaurant then visit Matka Canyon and Vrelo Cave, located on the right bank of the Trska River, Vrelo Cave was listed as one of the top 77 natural sites in the world in the New 7 Wonders of Nature project. Dinner will be in Matka Canyon then proceed to hotel.
DAY 11: SOFIA, BULGARIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel then depart for Sofia then lunch will be in local restaurant. After lunch Sofia Brief introduction: The city enjoys a status of one of the most important Balkan cities. Situated in the west of the country, bellow Vitosha Mountain. Sofia landmarks reflect more than 2, 000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupation. Start a city tour during which the following landmarks will be visited: Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Holy Synod, Statue of Tsar Alexander II, National Theatre Ivan Vazov, Banya Bashi Mosque, Museum of Socialist Art, Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia Court House, Slaveikov Square, Statue of Slaveikovs, will be visited. Upon seeing what the essence of Sofia is, spend free time for shopping then dinner in local restaurant. Afterwards, proceed to hotel for overnight.
DAY 12: ROZOVA DOLINA – VELIKO TARNOVO, BULGARIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel then depart for Rozova Dolina. Then visit The Rose Valley, a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora chain to the south. Lunch in local restaurant and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, free walking in perfect nature until dinner in local restaurant. Continue to hotel for overnight.
DAY 13: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel then departure for Bucharest, capital of Romania. Proceed for tour visiting, Palace of Parliament, Calea Victoriei street, CEC building, Triumphal Arc, Revolution Square, and Stavropoleos Church will be seen. After city tour, free time then dinner will be in local restaurant. Evening continue to hotel.
DAY 14: SINAIA – BRAN – BRASOV, ROMANIA (BLD):
Breakfast in the hotel then depart to Sinaia. Upon arrival city tour in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle, Sinaia Monastery, Babele. After city tour late lunch at traditional Sinaia taverna then continue to Bran and visit Bran Castle. Free time in local market and Bran village. In the evening, back to Bucharest. Dinner will be in local restaurant and as the day ends, back to hotel.
DAY 15: DEPARTURE BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (BL):
Breakfast in the hotel then visit Herastrau Park. Herăstrău Park is a large park on the northern side of Bucharest, Romania. Lunch in local restaurant. After that, free time for shopping then continue to airport to catch flight back home.
DAY 16: ARRIVAL MANILA:
Home Sweet Home.
