Treasures On the Northern Balkans

Welcome to Bucharest, known as "Little Paris. There’s time to relax before meeting your fellow travelers and Tour Director for a Welcome Dinner. (D)

Get acquainted with the Romanian capital on a sightseeing tour. Visit the Parliament Palace, one of the largest buildings in the world and a National Treasure. Learn how the Romanian people finally succeeded in toppling the last communist dictator in Eastern Europe at the Revolution Square. The tour will also bring you to the Romanian Athenaeum, the Opera House, the National Military Club, the Military Academy, Triumphal Arch, and the Village Museum. Celebrate your Balkan Adventure tonight with a Farewell Dinner and folklore show. (B, D)

Depart Bucharest to visit the beautiful 17th-century Sinaia Monastery and view the Peles Castle, built as the summer residence of King Carol I. On to Bran for a visit to Bran Castle, made famous by Bram Stoker's novel as the residence of the sinister vampire, Count Dracula. Continue toward Brasov for the night. (B, D)

Walking tour of Brasov includes a visit to the First Romanian School Museum with an impressive collection of rare books, documents, and art. On to Sighisoara, to visit the best-preserved medieval city in southeastern Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site, including the visit the famous Clock Tower Museum. We will end the day in Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. See the Huet Square, the Great Square, the Evangelical Cathedral, Liar's Bridge and more. Transfer for dinner at a local farmhouse in the village of Sibiel. Return to Sibiu for the night. (B, D)

Continue our journey via Hunedoara, where we visit one of the largest European castles: the Corvinesti Castle. Dinner, overnight. (B, D)

Drive towards the Djerdap and cross the border of Serbia. On for a cruise through the gorge, seeing the most beautiful sections of the Danube river. Continue to Golubac Fortress, to visit the fortified ten- tower town located on the hill slope, overlooking the Danube River. We end the day in Belgrade. (B, L)

After breakfast, full-day excursion from Belgrade: Our first stop is Krusedol monastery, founded in the beginning of the 16th century and considered one of Serbia's most significant monasteries. Continue to Sremski Karlovci, a picturesque town with its baroque and neoclassical houses and buildings. After an orientation tour, we will depart to one of the famous local wineries for lunch and wine tasting. Afterwards, we visit the intriguing Petrovaradin fortress, with its underground trenches and tunnels. The last stop is the city of Novi Sad, where will have a quick orientation tour and some free time before returning to Belgrade and your hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant. (B,D)

Your morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically set at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. You’ll also see Republic Square and Knez Mihailova Street, Saint Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in the city, and Tito’s Memorial. Continue to Avala. The rest of the day is free. In the afternoon, Optional excursion to Topola, where George Petrovic, better known by his sobriquet Karadjordje, was chosen as the leader of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. A very short drive away is the local St. George's Church, also known as Oplenac, the burial place of the Ducal and Royal Family of Serbia and Yugoslavia. After a lunch break (on own), we are going back to Belgrade. Evening is on own. Dinner in a local restaurant. (B,D) 

Leave Belgrade towards Zagreb, Croatia. Dinner, overnight. (B,D)

This morning, enjoy a city tour featuring the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding streets of the old town or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. (B)