Visit and get to know three Balkan countries with little change of hotel.
Get to know the contrasting Balkans - a unique mixture of old and new - traditional and modern. Embark on a star tour with little change of hotel and visit three different countries in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula.
INCLUDED SERVICES:
- Welcome with our tour guide and information hour
- Welcome drink
- 1x overnight stay with breakfast in a 4 * hotel in Belgrade
- 4x overnight stay with half board in a 4 * hotel in Niš
- 1x overnight stay with breakfast in a 4 * hotel in Niš
- 1x local dinner - well-known "Leskovački Grill"
- Continuous english-speaking tour guide according to the program from the first to the last day
- Guided tours of Belgrade, Niš, Sofia, Skopje
- Boat trip in the Đerdap National Park (Iron Gate)
- Lunch including wine on a farm on the edge of the national park
PROGRAM SUGGESTION:
DAY 1: Arrival in Belgrade
Arrival to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Reception by the guide, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2: Belgrade - Niš
The capital of Serbia lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube, between the Panonia plain and the mountainous south. In the 6th century, the Slavs crossed the Danube more and more often, so that they found their own settlement on the stony heights above the Sava estuary - the White City, Belgrade. From the 16th to the 19th century the city has different names in different languages: Alba Graeca, Alba Bulgarica, Bello grado, Nandor Alba, Greek Weissenburg and Castelbianco but all names are translations of the Slavic name Belgrade (White City).
During a city tour you will learn about the turbulent history of the Serbian capital and enjoy the Balkan flair of the old town. After a stroll through the old town we continue to Niš, dinner in the hotel.
DAY 3: Niš
Historians, geographers and writers have always described the city of Niš as a place where east and west meet, as the gateway between east and west. The city, first known as Navissos, later Naissus and Niš by the Slavs, is the birthplace of the Roman emperor "Constantine the Great" (280 BC) who recognized Christianity and proclaimed it as a legal religion. The skull tower from the Ottoman era is a unique sight in Niš: This unique monument was built after the battle of over 3,000 skulls from people who were killed by the Turks.
After a city tour we drive to Leskovac. Serbian cuisine is part of the so-called Balkan cuisine and the most distinctive feature of this rural cuisine is the large selection of grilled and meat dishes. The most famous are the grilled specialties from Leskovac - find out why with us. In a typical local restaurant we taste the best specialties of the region.
DAY 4: Sofia - Bulgaria
After breakfast we drive to Sofia - the capital of neighboring Bulgaria. Since the end of communist rule in Bulgaria, Sofia has reinvented itself as a lively, cosmopolitan city. In the shadow of Byzantine buildings, churches with golden domes and monuments from the communist era, guests can expect spacious parks, elegant boulevards, many cafes and restaurants that make up the charm of Sofia. After the city tour with a local guide, you will have free time in the city center, followed by the return journey to Niš, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Our tip: Once a year, at the end of May / beginning of June, this region is filled with the scent of roses, folklore festivals are celebrated, rose jam is boiled down and the precious rose oil is distilled as the queen of flowers was harvested in the valley of roses. The place nestles against the central Balkans in the heart of Bulgaria. On the first weekend in June there is a rose festival in the valley of roses.
DAY 5: Skopje Macedonia
Day trip to the capital of Macedonia. Both Skopje and the whole of Macedonia can look back on an eventful history, which is why different cultures come together here. Many mosques give the capital of Macedonia an oriental flair. During a city tour, we discover an exciting mix of old and new. You will be charmed by iconic monuments such as the Memorial House of Mother Theresa, built on the site where she was baptized, the Old Bazaar, Mustapha Pasha Mosque and Kale Fortress. We will return to Niš in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
DAY 6: NP Đerdap - Iron Gate
The Đerdap gorge (Iron Gate) is located in northeastern Serbia and is the largest river gorge in Europe. Due to its geological, hydrological and archaeological features and the rich flora and fauna, Đerdap was declared a national park. The most beautiful experience of the great nature offers the boat trip through the Scerdap gorge. During a boat trip we enjoy the view of beautiful nature and imposing historical monuments.
On a farm on the edge of the national park we taste the best traditional grilled specialties and wines. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Niš.
DAY 7: Journey home
Travel time: April, May, June, mid-September, October
Overnight stay:
When traveling to the Zagreb / Osijek area (Croatia)
On departure, Pecs area, Budapest (Hungary)
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOURNEY:
- Sofia - capital of Bulgaria
- Niš fortress
- Skopje old town
- Barbecue evening with famous Leskovac grill specialties
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:
Rose Festival The famous Rose Festival takes place in Bulgaria in the first week of June. During a trip to Kazanlak, we organize participation in the rose festival with folklore performances, election of the rose queen, presentation of rose oil production and tasting of local specialties on a farm
Wine history in Malča - tasting with a snack at a winery where wine lovers can travel through wine history in a wine cellar that is over 110 years old. When visiting 4 completely different types of viticulture, 4 different wine periods are presented and the wines that are characteristic of this period are tasted.