ZAGREB – PLITVICE – TROGIR – SPLIT – DUBROVNIK – BUDVA – TIRANA – OHRID – SKOPJE – KOLASIN – CETINJE – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK

This 12-day guided tour offers the unique sights of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia- in fact all the Balkan countries are included. Starting in the ancient city of Zagreb where we explore the old fortified centre and bazaars of the city, we move to the beautiful Plitvice Lakes and Trogir before arriving in the old port cities of Split and Dubrovnik. We then enter Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia, seeing the highlights of Budva, Tirana, Ohrid and Skopje. After an extensive visit to these countries we return to Dubrovnik for leisure time in this unique UNESCO listed city.

Includes
Arrival transfer from Zagreb Airport to hotel and departure transfer from hotel to Dubrovnik Airport, Accommodation in  3* and  4* hotels with breakfast and Dinner daily, except bed and breakfast only in Ohrid on Day 8,  Local guides for sightseeing tours of Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Tirana, Ohrid and Skopje Entrance fees to Plitvice Lakes National Park; St Lawrence Cathedral in Trogir; Diocletian’s Palace and St Duimus Cathedral in Split; Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik; National Museum in Tirana, St Sofia, St Clement and St Naum in Ohrid; Church of Holy Saviour and Monastery of St  Panteleimon in Skopje; Residence of the King Nikola I Petrović in Cetinje; St Triphun Cathedral in Kotor, air cond. Coach, Tour Escort

ITINERARY

Day 1: ZAGREB – Arrival
Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport, transfer to hotel. Meet the tour guide, dinner and overnight.
 

Day 2: ZAGREB – PLITVICE
Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Upper Town, city's historical centre, St Mark's Church
with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre and the University. Afternoon
departure for Plitvice and then tour the Plitvice Lakes National Park on the UNESCO’s List of World Natural
Heritage. Sixteen lakes, each at a different level, are connected in a series of cascading waterfalls.
Surrounded by dense wood, Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of a rare and unique beauty. Dinner
and overnight in Plitvice.
 

Day 3: PLITVICE – TROGIR – SPLIT
Morning departure for Trogir, where we visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. Continuation to Split; city tour of Split, including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage with the Peristyle, the Jupiter's Temple and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Split.
 

Day 4: SPLIT – DUBROVNIK
After breakfast, departure for Dubrovnik. Sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, included on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage. You will visit the Franciscan Monastery with Europe's third oldest pharmacy, the Rector's Palace and the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.
 

Day 5: DUBROVNIK
Day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Dinner and overnight.
 

Day 6: DUBROVNIK – BUDVA / Montenegro – SHKODRA /
Albania – TIRANA
Departure for Tirana; we drive inland to Budva known for its Old City encircled by walls from the Venetian period. Continuation to Shkodra, once the capital of the Illyrian Kingdom (3rd century B.C.). Dinner and overnight in Tirana.
 

Day 7: TIRANA – OHRID / Macedonia
Morning sightseeing tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, including Skender Bey Square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey, and a visit to the National Museum representing the flow of Albanian history, also housing the finds from archeological sites across the country. Afternoon departure for Ohrid, driving via Elbasan and crossing the Macedonian border at Cafasan. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.
 

Day 8: OHRID
Full day in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site. Through the activity of St. Clement and St. Naum of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavic University in Europe, the famous “Ohrid Literary School”, was founded here. Morning sightseeing tour includes the Church of St. Sofia (11th century), the most eminent mediaeval monument in Macedonia with magnificent Byzantine fresco paintings and St. Clement Church with its icon of Annunciation. Afternoon short drive to St. Naum Monastery, built on the shores of Ohrid Lake in 900 A.D. and dedicated to the Slavic missionary and educator St. Naum of Ohrid. Return to hotel for overnight.
 

Day 9: OHRID – SKOPJE
Morning departure for Skopje. Sightseeing tour of Skopje, including the Kale Fortress, Church of the Holy Savior with its iconostas, one of the finest samples of traditional walnut woodcarving, Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge. We drive to the slopes of the Vodno Mountain where we visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon with its 12th century iconostas and frescoes ranking among the highest achievements of Byzantine art of this period. Dinner and overnight in Skopje.
 

Day 10: SKOPJE – KOLAŠIN / Montenegro
Morning departure for Kolašin, driving via Peć and Berane and along the impressive Morača River Canyon. Afternoon
arrival at Kolašin, the town spreading on the left bank of the river Tara, situated at the altitude of 954m. The whole area
is surrounded by the thick pine forest of the Bjelasica Mountain and is a popular skiing and air spa resort. Dinner and overnight in Kolašin.
 

Day 11: KOLAŠIN – CETINJE – KOTOR – DUBROVNIK
Morning departure for Cetinje where we visit King Nikola’s Museum, once the residence of the Montenegrin King Nikola I Petrović. Continuation to Kotor, classified as UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site, where we visit its Romanesque Cathedral dedicated to St Triphon, the city’s patron saint. We continue to Dubrovnik, driving along the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik.
 

Day 12: DUBROVNIK – Departure
Breakfast followed by departure transfer to Dubrovnik Airport.

Hotels (or similar) 
Zagreb:      International Hotel 4*
Plitvice:      Macola Hotel 3*
Split:          As Hotel 3*
Dubrovnik: Ivka Hotel 3*
Tirana:      Sky Tower 4*

Ohrid:        Metropol 4*
Skopje:     Karpos Hotel 4*
Kolašin:      Lipka 4*