Tales of the Balkans

Tales of the Balkans some of the best tours to discover them

Slovenia

Croatia Romania Bosnia Herzegovina

Serbia

Montenegro

Kosovo

Macedonia Albania

Northern Greece

Bulgaria

GoBalkans is an exclusively oriented b2b Destination Management Company for the whole area of the Balkan Peninsula.

Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Northern Greece - the territory is really vast and each country has its own identity, but this has just made the challenge exciting and interesting - to be able to achieve an excellent tourist product, possibility to combine its diversity in the best way in order to discover the natural beauties, historical, spiritual and anthropogenic richness.

We began this work in 2004 believing from the start in the tourism potential of the region, although in those years the situation was not yet mature in many points of view. It’s been more than 10 years and many things have changed positively in the various sectors of political, social and economic life. This allowed us to work serenely, to invest more and more and to offer a growing of quality services, to direct our efforts towards development of the range of products and the satisfaction of customers’ expectations.

GoBalkans has two offices - in Sofia, Bulgaria and in Skopje, Macedonia. These points are strategic to the operational management of ground services as allowing us to interact easily with the suppliers of the different countries, and to monitor the performance of tours in every phase, to intervene quickly and

Contacts E-mail: gobalkans@gmail.com office@gobalkans.net Phone: +359 2 4627020 Mobile: +359 898 201071 +389 78 44 99 98 Skype: gobalkans-sofia www.gobalkans.travel

effectively wherever this might be necessary.

Our Partners can rely on our knowledge of the area to build tailor - made itineraries to meet the demands of their customers, we could advise where there are doubts and answer any questions - this is the main role of a DMC company and we at GoBalkans will do it with great sense of responsibilty and professionalism, as well as pleasure.

The Balkan Peninsula is one of the greatest battlegrounds of history. Balkans, that specific mixture of races and beliefs with its great cultural, ethnic, religious, social, economic, and geographic diversity possesses an unseen and alluring, unforgettable side unknown to many, of its ancient sites and greatest achievements of the Medieval and the Ottoman architectures, as well as brilliant examples of the Hapsburg era preserving a seemingly unchanged past.

Thus traveling the Balkans is considered as “the journey in time”. With such deep History, rich Inheritance and impressive Culture of its cheerful people, Balkans inspires many to travel because Balkans has to offer something peculiarly distinctive and not replicated elsewhere in Europe.

Index • P. 1 Discover Bulgaria - 8 days • P. 2 The Rose Valley of Bulgaria - 8 days • P. 3 Discover Macedonia - 8 days • P. 4 The Ancient Macedonia: Macedonia and Northern Greece - 9 days • P. 5 Macedonia and Kosovo - 8 days • P. 6 Serbia and Montenegro - 8 days • P. 7 Discover Romania - 12 days • P. 8 Balkan mosaic - 12 days • P. 9 Coast to coast: from Dubrovnik to Istanbul - 11 days • P. 11 Commemoration of the British soldiers on the Macedonian Front - 10 days

Discover Bulgaria 8 days 7 nights

Day 1: SOFIA Arrival in Sofia. Meeting at the airport with the guide. Transfer to the hotel for accommodation and overnight stay.

Varna Veliko Tarnovo Sofia

Kazanlak

Rila

Nessebar

Plovdiv

Bulgaria

is truly a land of outstanding beauty and astonishing heritage linking the East and the West, located on the northeastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe and on the Black Sea. It has a wealth of attractions including historical monuments, beautiful beaches, gorgeous mountain landscape with intriguing caves, waterfalls, striking rock formations, picturesque lakes and rivers, numerous different species of flora and fauna, ancient cultural and religious monuments, well-preserved medieval monasteries, vineyards and wineries, delicious food, and welcoming and nice people.

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Day 2: SOFIA – TROYAN – VELIKO TARNOVO (260 km) Departure to Troyan Monastery dating back to the 16th century AD. Continue to the medieval capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo to visit the Tzarevets Hill, a medieval stronghold that served as the 2nd Bulgarian Kingdom’s primary fortress. Explore the Samovodshka charshiya – a street with many shops for traditional hand-made souvenirs and other crafts.

Departure to the village of Arbanassi to see the well-preserved 17th century Kostantsaliev house-museum. Visit the medieval Church of the Nativity, known for its beautiful frescoed interior.

Day 3: VELIKO TARNOVO – IVANOVO – SVESHTARI – MADARA – VARNA (250 km) Head to visit the Sveshtarska Tomb, (UNESCO).

It is an unique monument of the Thracian funeral architecture and dates back to the first quarter of the 3rd century BC. Depart for a visit to the monument to the “Creators of the Bulgarian State” in the town of Shumen. It was built in the 1980’s on the hill, soaring over the town. In this way the communist regime wanted to celebrate the 1300 year anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian State.

Continue to visit the Madara Horseman (UNESCO).

Day 4: VARNA – NESEBAR – KAZANLAK (435 km) Visit to the Cathedral of Varna and the Archaeological Museum. Departure to Nessebar (UNESCO) - the richest place in history of the entire Black Sea coast. Visit the churches of Jesus the Pantocrator, St. John the Baptist and of the Redeemer. Continue to Kazanlak - the capital of the Rose valley .

Day 5: KAZANLAK – BACHKOVO – PLOVDIV (160 km) Head to visit the Thracian Tomb (UNESCO) from the 4th century BC. Departure to Bachkovo Monastery founded in 1083 by the Byzantine military commander, Grigorij Bakuriani. It is one of the largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe and it is known for the unique combination of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian styles.

Day 6: PLOVDIV – KOPRIVSHTIZA – SOFIA (250 km) Visit of Plovdiv, a town that was built around seven hills, which is a feature that is a distinct part of the city’s history. Visit the old town situated on Nebet Tepe hill to see the EthnographicMuseum,theRomanTheaterand the Church of SS Contantine and Elena. See the Roman Stadium and the Mosque. Continue to Koprivshtitsa, one of the Bulgarian towns that has the best preserved architectural heritage.

It shelters almost 400 untouched buildings of the National Revival period. It seems that the time has stopped there, especially because it is still flecked with the rhythms and traditions of the country life. Visit the historical center of this city, which hosts some of the most beautiful historic houses throughout Bulgaria. Even today, there are over sixty of these houses, built between 1700 and 1800.

Day 7: SOFIA – RILA – SOFIA (250 km) Depart for the magnificent Rila Monastery, the most important monument of the Orthodox religion in the Balkans (UNESCO). Return to Sofia. City tour of Sofia: Church of St. Sofia, Church of St. George, Aleksandar Nevski Memorial Cathedral: the wonderful building rises gloriously in the centre of the town. Officially opened in 1912, in honor of the 200.000 Russian warriors, who died in the liberation war.

Day 8: SOFIA – Departure Transfer to the airport.

The Rose Valley 8 days 7 nights

Day 1: SOFIA Friday Arrival in Sofia. Visit of Sofia.

Day 2: SOFIA – BACHKOVO – PLOVDIV (200 km) Saturday Visit Bachkovo Monastery, one of the oldest Orthodox monasteries in Europe. Visit the Old Plovdiv.

The Rose Valley

is a narrow plateau of the central part of the country, ranging from Kazanlak to Karlovo. This territory covers about 2600 hectares (height varies from 300 to 700 m asl), here are almost all of the 36.000 manufacturers, producers of roses of Bulgaria.

In fact, the valley climate characterized by mild winter and long spring with low rainfall and high humidity in the morning dew, allows the rose to contain a high percentage of oil by fragrance unique and valuable.

Bulgarian tradition in the cultivation of roses dates back almost 5 centuries ago, when the Turks brought the first plants of the “rose oil” in the valley of Kazanlak.

The Rose Festival From mid-May until the first week of June, the Rose Valley hosts tourists from all around the world, attracted by the numerous festivals organized in the villages over the weekend.

The events which surely attract the most visitors, are the Feast of the Rose of Karlovo and the International Folklore Festival of Kazanlak.

These days, in the early morning, in the roses fields the visitors can see boys and girls dressed in traditional costumes to picking up rose rose petals.

Day 3: PLOVDIV – KAZANLAK – STARA ZAGORA – BURGAS (310 km) Sunday Departure to the “Valley of Roses”. Participation in the festival at one of many local villages. At the rose fields you will see the ritual of rose picking and enjoy a program with singers and dancers in traditional costumes. Tasting of typical products. In Kazanlak visit the Thracian Tomb - UNESCO. In Stara Zagora visit the rich Historical Museum.

Day 4: BURGAS – NESSEBAR – VARNA (130 km) Monday Departure to Nessebar - UNESCO. Visit the Archaeological Museum and the city center of Varna.

Day 5: VARNA – ARBANASSI – VELIKO TARNOVO (250 km) Tuesday Visit the Madara Horseman - UNESCO. Visit Arbanassi and Tsarevets Fortress of Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 6: V. TARNOVO – TROYAN – KOPRIVSHTIZA – SOFIA (310 km ) Wednesday Visit the Troyan Monastery. Visit Koprivshtiza.

Arrival in Sofia.

Day 7: SOFIA – RILA – SOFIA (250 km) Thursday Vsit the Boyana Church - UNESCO and the National Historical Museum. Visit Rila Monastery - UNESCO, the most important monastery of the Balkans.

Day 8: SOFIA – Departure Friday Transfer to airport.

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Discover Macedonia 8 days 7 nights Day 1: SKOPJE Arrival in Skopje and meeting with the local guide. Panoramic tour of Skopje Day 2: SKOPJE – TETOVO – OHRID (180 km) Visit the National Museum, the Church of St. Kliment Ohridski, the Fortress, the Church of St. Spas with its incredible iconostasis six meters high and ten meters long, made entirely by brothers Filipovski from 1819 to 1824. Visit the Memorial dedicated to Mother Teresa and the place where once stood the house of her birth.

Visit the ancient Muslim quarter. Departure to Tetovo. Visit the Painted Mosque built in the 17th century. Arrival in Ohrid.

Day 3: OHRID Visit Ohrid (UNESCO) - the Cathedral of St. Sophia, the Church of St. Maria Perivlepta, the Samuil fortress, the Churches Plaosnik and St. Kaneo. Boat trip to visit the Monastery St. Naum.

Day 4: OHRID – BITOLA (80 km) Departure to visit the ancient city of Heraclea, founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, towards the middle of the fourth century BC. Visit of Bitola. From the many mosques built by the Turks during their occupation, there are about a dozen left. Stroll along the way “Consulates”.

Day 5: BITOLA – TRESKAVEC – PRILEP – DEMIR KAPIJA (130 km) Departure to visit the monastery Treskavets dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Stop to visit the town of Prilep. Continue to Popova Kula winery, enjoy wine tasting and culinary treats.

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Day 6: D. KAPIJA – STOBI – SKOPJE (110 km) Visit the Roman city of Stobi, situated along the way Axia was one of the largest Roman cities in the region. Continue towards Skopje, visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon located on a hill overlooking the city of Skopje.

Day 7: SKOPJE – MATKA CANYON – SKOPJE Visit the magnificent Matka canyon - one of the most recognizable and magnificent areas in Macedonia, located just 15 kilometers from the capital. The place is very interesting because many preserved species live here like the white-headed eagles and about 15 types of butterflies which can be found only here.

Return to Skopje.

Day 8: SKOPJE – Departure Free time for individual activities. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Tetovo

Ohrid St. Naum

K. Palanka

Skopje Stobi

Bitola

Macedonia is a small nation with a complex and fascinating history. In part Balkanian, in part Mediterranean and rich in Greek, Roman and Ottoman history, it offers impressive ancient sites side by side with buzzing modernity, managing to pick up much more activity and natural beauty than would seem possible for a country its size.

Ohrid, noted for its beaches, summer festival, sublime Byzantine churches and 34km-long lake, is the centre of the country’s tourism industry.

Skopje Tetovo

Bitola Ohrid Kastoria

Thessaloniki

Meteora

The ancient Macedonia Macedonia and Northern Greece 9 days 8 nights Day 1: THESSALONIKI Arrival at Thessaloniki. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: THESSALONIKI – VERGINA – KALAMPAKA (250 km) Departure to Vergina, UNESCO-protected site.

Located a few kilometres away from Veria, the royal necropolis of Vergina was discovered in 1977 and there was found what is believed to be the tomb of Philip II of Macedonia. The museum is built around the ruins of houses and all the material found in the area is considered as one of the greatest archaeological collections of the entire Greece. Arrival at Kalampaka.

Day 3: KALAMBAKA – METEORA – KASTORIA (170 km) Visit of Meteora - the largest monastic complex of Orthodox tradition in Greece after those of Mount Athos. UNESCO-protected site.

These monasteries represent a unique artistic achievement and are one of the most powerful examples of the architectural transformation of a site into a place of retreat, meditation and prayer. Departure for Kastoria.

Day 4: KASTORIA – BITOLA – OHRID (280 km) Visit of Kastoria - the city is built on a promontory of the western shore of Lake Orestiada. It has fifty Byzantine and medieval churches to be admired, fans of frescoes may risk to get a stiff neck, but they will be impressed. Departure to Bitola. Visit the archaeological site of Heraclea.

Day 5: OHRID Visit the ancient city (UNESCO): the Fortress of King Samuel, the Church of St. Sofia, St.Kaneo Church, Roman Theatre.

Day 6: OHRID – TETOVO – SKOPIE (150 km) Departure to visit the Monastery of St. Bigorski - this is the most impressive monastery in Macedonia. Arrival in Tetovo. Visit of the Painted Mosque, one of the best preserved on the Balkans. Continue to Skopje. Visiting the modern part of the city: the Cathedral, the Feudal Tower, the old station.

Day 7: SKOPIE – STOBI – THESSALONIKI (230 km) Visit the old part of the capital: the Medieval Fortress, the Old Bazar with its narrow streets, flowing into small squares ore in the huge city boulevards. The pedestrian walk is characterized with one floor houses, where there are jewelleries, carpet shops, clothes, cotton objects, Islam books etc. Departure for Stobi - the most impressive and famous of the ancient cities in Macedonia. Located in the heart of the country, this is a must in the field of archeology. The many vestiges testify to the Hellenistic period. They are also proof that Stobi was an economic, urban and administrative power of 400 years.

Day 8: THESSALONIKI Tour of Thessaloniki (UNESCO). It is the 2nd largest city in Greece. With over 800 000 inhabitants, it is also the fifth city of the Balkans by size, and the second largest city after Istanbul. Thessaloniki’s history spans over 2300 years. An important metropolis by the Roman period, Thessaloniki was the second largest and wealthiest city of the Byzantine Empire.

Day 9: THESSALONIKI - Departure Transfer to the airport.

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Albania and Kosovo 10 days 9nights

Day 1: TIRANA Arrival in Tirana. Meeting with the guide. Walk in the pedestrian center of the capital: the main square with the statue of Gjergj Kastroti - Skenderbeg, the center of culture and business. Visit the National Historical Museum, the Mosque of Haxhi Ethem Bey. Day 2: TIRANA – KRUJA – PRIZREN – PEC (300 km) Departure to visit the fortress of Kruja. Visit the rich Ethnographic Museum, the Historical Museum and the antique market. Departure to Kosovo. Visit Prizren - the cultural capital of Kosovo.

Day 3: PEC – DECANI – GRACANICA – PRISTINA (150 km) Visit the Pec Monastery (UNESCO). Departure to another beautiful Monastery - Monastery Decani (UNESCO). It was founded in 1327

by St. Stephen Uros III. In 1331 King Stephen was killed by his son Dusan. Visit Gracanica Monastery (UNESCO).

Day 4: PRISTINA – DURRES (260 km) Visit Kosovo Polje - a sacred monument of Serbian nationalism now protected by UN forces. Visit the capital Pristina, walk in the pedestrian center. Departure to Albania.

Day 5: DURRES – ARDENICA – APPOLONIA – VALONA (130 km) Visit Durres, the ancient city that housed the largest amphitheater in the Balkans. It can accommodate 15 000 spectators. View of the ruins of the Roman era. Visit the Monastery of Ardenica. Arrival in Appolonia and visit one of the most important archaeological sites in Albania. Arrival in Vlora - one of the most important cities in Albania is in terms of

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economy and tourism. Here, in November 28, 1912 was proclaimed the independence of the country and today this event is commemorated with a monument.

Day 6: VALONA – BUTRINTI – SARANDA (180 km) Departure to the archaeological site of Butrint (UNESCO), located almost on the southern border with Greece, opposite the island of Corfu.

Day 7: SARANDA – BLUE EYE – ARGIROCASTRO - SARANDA (130 km) Departure to the charming water source “Blue Eye”. Morning arrival to Argirokastro - city protected by UNESCO. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Fortress with the prisons and the War Museum. Return to Saranda.

Day 8: SARANDA – PORTO PALERMO – BERAT (230 km) Depart to visit the Castle of Porto Palermo near Himara, also known as the Castle of Ali Pasha Tepelena - The Lion of Ioannina. The castle stands on a small headland to the south of the bay of Porto Palermo. Continue towards Berat.

Introductory visit of the city.

Day 9: BERAT – TIRANA (130 km) Visit Berat, also called “the city of a thousand and one windows”, as the facades of the houses, side by side, are built out of windows.

Bright white, the houses of Berat, climbing on steep slopes, along both banks of the river, are connected with the Old Bridge, built in 1777.

Visit the medieval castle built on a rocky hill at 260 m above of the sea.

Day 10: TIRANA – departure Breakfast and departure to the airport.

Kosovo

is a fascinating land at the heart of the Balkans, one of the last corners of Europe that remains off the beaten track for travellers.

Albania

has natural beauty and historical sites in such abundance that you might wonder why it’s taken 20 years for the country to take off as a tourist destination since the end of a particularly brutal strain of communism in 1991.

Serbia and Montenegro 8 days 7 nights

Day 1: BELGRADE Arrival in Belgrade. Meeting with the local guide. Visit Belgrade, bustling, modern and active, in constant expansion and development. Belgrade is situated on the small plateau at the confluence of the Danube and Sava and is presented with great rectilinear avenues shaded by plane trees and lime trees, overlooked by ancient buildings of different styles, large parks and green areas. Visit the historical center, the Kalemegdan fortress, the Temple of St. Sava and the House of Flowers the place where Josip Broz Tito, following his personal wish, was buried after death. The House of Flowers is now part of the Museum of Yugoslav History.

Day 5: KOLASIN – MORACA – OSTROG – HERCEG NOVI (230 km) Departure for Ostrog. Brief stop along the way to the Moraca monastery. Arrival at the Ostrog monastery that has had a turbulent history because of the frequent attacks of the Turks.

For lovers of mysticism and esotericism, this impressive monastery carved into the rock a few steps from Niksic is a stop not to be missed. Arrival in Herceg Novi. Visit the old town of with the Church of St. Leopold Mandic located near the church of Geronimo. Leopold Bogdan Mandic was born in Herceg Novi in 1866 and moved to Italy at the age of sixteen years to complete his studies in philosophy and theology.

Day 2: BELGRADE – NOVI SAD – FRUSKA GORA – BELGRADE (200 km) Departure for seeing the sights of Novi Sad on the Danube at the foot of the Citadel of Petrovaradin: a massive building that stands on the site of an ancient Roman village and then a Cistercian monastery. Continue visiting the famous monasteries of Fruska Gora region, here you will find the highest concentration of monasteries in Serbia built between the fifteenth and eighteenth century. Back in Belgrade.

Day 6: HERCEG NOVI – PERAST – KOTOR – HERCEG NOVI (80 km) Departure to the world-famous Bay of Kotor - a deep fjord in the Mediterranean that stretches 30 km inland from the coast. Arrival in the ancient seaside town of Kotor which preserves a beautiful historic center where are enclosed over 30 churches of various eras. Boat ride from Perast to the two islands of St. George (Benedictine abbey) and Gaspo or Skrpjela (Our Lady of the sanctuary). Back in Herceg Novi.

Day 3: BELGRADE – VIMINACIUM – RAVANICA – ŽIČA – KRALJEVO (360 km) Depart to visit Viminacium. It was the most important Roman city in the northern part of the province of Moesia. During the campaign of Dacia Emperor Trajan had gathered here and the legions formed in the city their headquarters. Visit the Monastery of Ravanica, great place of pilgrimage and worship nestled in a picturesque landscape. Continue to Kraljevo. On the outskirts of the city visit the Monastery of Žiča.

Day 7: HERCEG NOVI – BUDVA – CETINJE – PODGORICA (110 km) Departure to visit Budva. The city lies on a small island connected to the mainland by a strip of sand that over time became peninsula.

Departure to the museum town of Cetinje: visit of the ancient capital (square Malo Guvno, monastery, palace of the Prince. A brief visit to Podgorica. The city is located 44 meters above sea level, in the fertile plains to the north of Lake Scutari.

Day 4: KRALJEVO – SOPOCANI – STUDENICA – KOLASIN (300 km) Departure to visit the monastery of Studenica, UNESCO heritage since 1986. It is one of the largest and richest Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Near the city of Novi Pazar, visit the Monastery Sopocani, UNESCO World Heritage since 1979. It was built in the second half of the thirteenth century, in the region of Ras by King Stefan Uros I of Serbia.

It became the mausoleum of the royal family.

The frescoes inside the church are among the most outstanding achievements of European painting of the thirteenth century.

Day 8: PODGORICA – Departure Airport transfer.

Novi Sad Belgrade

Kraljevo Novi Pazar

Podgorica

Kotor Budva

Serbia

is a fabulous country in the mountainous Western Balkans, breathtakingly rich in History and outstanding cultural Inheritance from the Pre-historical, Roman, Byzantine, Medieval and the Modern times. Serbia provides diversified and spectacular landmarks, colorful and picturesque villages and unique surprises of tradition beyond imagination. It contains over 156 sites of exceptional importance amongst them 6 belonging to UNESCO Cultural Heritage.

Montenegro

Montenegro, Crna Gora, Black Mountain: the very name conjures up images of romance and drama – and this fascinating land doesn’t disappoint on either front.

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Romania Authentic, Natural and Cultural are the words that best capture the essence of Romania, a dynamic country rich in history, arts and scenic beauty.

Fortified churches and painted monasteries stand regally amid a pristine landscape. In the cities, former Saxon settlements such as Sibiu and Braşov ooze charm, while vibrant Bucharest is all energy.

The Carpathian Mountains draw a wide arc through the centre of the country, leaving a swath of exposed rocky peaks surrounded by groves of pine and deciduous trees.

Discover Romania 12 days 11 nights

Day 1: BUCHAREST Arrival and meeting with the guide. Panoramic tour of Bucharest.

Day 2: BUCHAREST – SIBIU (275 km) Departure for Sibiu. Visit the Monastery of Cozia, considered as a masterpiece of the Romanian architecture. Visit the historical center rich of suggestive evidences of Saxon period .

Day 3: SIBIU – ALBA IULIA – HUNEDOARA – CLUJ NAPOCA (340 km) Departure for Alba Iulia, visit the fortress.

In Hunedoara, visit the medieval Castle of Corvino, also known as the Castle of Hunyadi.

It stands proudly on the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress. Arrival to Cluj Napoca.

Day 4: CLUJ NAPOCA – BAIA MARE (310 km) Visit Cluj Napoca, the ancient Klausenburg of the Saxonian settlers and Kolozsvar for the Hungarians, the capital of Transilvania. In Sapanta and visit the “Cimitrul vesel” where a local painter decorated the cemetery monuments with a caricature of the dead persons.

Day 5: BAIA MARE – MARAMURES – GURA HUMORULUI (310 km) Visit the church of Surdesti: the largest wooden building in Europe (Unesco). Visit the churches of Barsana, Rozavlea and Bogdan Voda exceptional examples of the “vernacolare” architecture. Arrival in Bucovina.

Day 6: BUCOVINA MONASTERIES (UNESCO) Visit Moldoviţa Monastery and the Monastery Suceviţa famous for its fresco “The Ladder of Virtues”. Visit the village of Marginea. Visit the Monastery of Voroneţ from 1488. It is considered the jewel of Bukovina.

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Day 7: GURA HUMORULUI – GOLE DI BICAZ – SIGHISOARA (300 km) Visit the Monastery of Agapia. Continue for the town of Sighisoara, through the Carpathian Mountains. Arrival in Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad Tepes, known as Count Dracula.

Day 8: SIGHISOARA – BRAN – BRASOV – POIANA BRASOV (180 km) Visit Sighisoara. Continue to Brasov and visit the Schei quarter with the church of Sfantul Nicolae. Arrival at the Castle of Bran or Castle of Dracula, one of the most picturesque Romanian buildings.

Day 9: POIANA BRASOV – SINAIA – TULCEA (410 km) Visit the Pelesh Castle: the summer residence of King Charles I. Departure for the Black Sea. Across the Danube by ferry and continue to Tulcea, by bus, to visit the Museum of Delta.

Day 10: TULCEA – DANUBIE DELTA – CONSTANTA (130 km) Daily boat excursion to the protected area of the Danube Delta, declared as a World heritage

by UNESCO. This area, the youngest of Europe, is a true great natural laboratory.

Day 11: CONSTANTA – BUCHAREST (230 km) Visit the Roman villa, famous for its beautiful mosaics, the Museum of History and the Archaeological museum. Departure for Bucharest. Afternoon spent to visit the capital, called “The Paris of the East” for its large boulevards and its buildings in “Belle Époque” style.

Day 12: BUCHAREST – DEPARTURE Visit the National Cotroceni Museum, the oldest royal residence in Bucharest, now used as museum and residence of the President.

Balkan mosaic

Croatia - Bosnia Herzegovina - Montenegro Kosovo - Macedonia - Serbia

15 days 14 nights Day 1: LJUBLJANA Visit “Bela Ljubjana”: the 16th century castle, Trg Naradnih Herojev, the old town with its large university, philharmonic hall, beautiful square of the three bridges and the Cathedral.

Day 2: LJUBLJANA – BLED – ZAGREB (260 km) Departure to visit the Lake Bled, the castle located on a cliff with nice view of the town and embark on a boat ride to Slovenia’s only island. Visit the Žiče Carthusian Monastery.

Departure for Croatia.

Day 3: ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES (150 km) Visit Zagreb: along the suggestive old town, the Gornji grad where are all kinds of historical buildings, as the Church of St. Marco.

Departure to Plitvice. Visit one of the world’s most beautiful park - Plitvice Lakes where the waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have, over thousands of years, deposited travertine barriers, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls.

Day 4: PLITVICE – SIBENIK – TROGIR – SPLIT (270 km) Visit of Sibenik, a unique place on the Dalmatian coast. Visit of the medieval town of Trogir. Departure to Split. The ruins of Diocletian’s Palace, built between the late 3rd and the early 4th c. a.D., can be found throughout the city. The Cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum.

Day 5: SPLIT – MOSTAR – SARAJEVO (300 km) Departure for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit Mostar. In the 1990s conflict most of the historic town and the Old Bridge (UNESCO), designed by the renowned architect Sinan, was destroyed.

Day 6: SARAJEVO Visit Sarajevo: walk along the Baščaršija, the exotic old town dating from the mid-15th century: Sebilj Square, Gazi Husrev Begova Mosque, the Orthodox Church, the National Library, the Jewish Temple, the Catholic Cathedral and the 1914 Museum about the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand on the Latinska Cuprija Bridge. Visit the War Tunnel Museum, the sole supply and transit pipeline for Sarajevo during the siege of 1992-95.

Day 7: SARAJEVO – DUBROVNIK (260 km) Departure for Croatia. Visit Dubrovnik (UNESCO): the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards.

Day 8: DUBROVNIK – KOTOR – CETINJE – KOLASIN (250 km) Departure for Montenegro. Visit of Kotor in the Bay of Kotor - UNESCO protected area. Visit the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, the churches San Luca, St. Anna and Santa Maria. Visit Cetinje, the old capital of Montenegro, the Monastery and the Royal Palace. Visit the Moraca Monastery from the 13th c. considered for the most important monastery in Montenegro.

Day 9: KOLASIN – DECANI – PEC – PRISTINA (250 km) Departure for Kosovo. Visit the Monastery of Decani (UNESCO), founded in 1327 by St. Stephen Uros III. Visit the Monastery of Pec (UNESCO). The monastery contains four churches built over two centuries by some Serbian archbishops and patriarchs.

Day 10: PRISTINA – GRACANICA – STOBI – BITOLA – OHRID (330 km) Visit the Monastery of Gracanica (UNESCO).

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the church of the monastery is an outstanding example of Byzantine architecture. Departure for Macedonia. Visit the Roman city of Stobi - it was one of the largest Roman cities in the region. Short visit of Bitola.

St. Spas, the Memorial dedicated to Mother Teresa and the place where stood his house, the ancient Muslim quarter.

Day 13: SKOPJE – NIS – BELGARDE (440 km) Departure for Serbia. Visit Niš: the Concentration camp of Nis located in the district of Crveni Krst (Red Cross), one of the few fully preserved fascist camps in Europe.

Visit the Manasija Monastery: in the 15th century it was a haven for artists and writers who fled Kosovo after the Ottoman invasion.

Day 14: BELGRADE Visit Belgrade, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Visit the historic part the bohemian quarter Skadarlija, the Dositej School, the Cathedral, the Mosque Bajrakli Dzamija. Visit of the temple of Saint Sava, the largest Orthodox Church in the Balkans.

Evening walk in the center to admire the Palace of Parliament, the Government, the Kalemegdan - the great Roman fortress.

Day 15: BELGRADE – Departure Transfer to the airport.

Day 11: OHRID Visit of the old centre of Ohrid. It is the most beautiful cities of Macedonia (UNESCO). Visit the Cathedral of St. Sophia, built in 1037-1056, the Church of S. Bogorodica Perivlepta of 1259 with Byzantine forms, the roman theatre, the Samuil fortress, the Church of St. Constantine and Helen from the second half of the 14th century, the Plaosnik, the Church of St. Kaneo one of the symbols of Ohrid.

Day 12: OHRID – TETOVO – SKOPJE (190 km) Visit the Painted Mosque of Tetovo - a gem of islamic art built in 1459. Visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon located on a hill overlooking the city of Skopje. Visit Skopje: the Church of St. Kliment Ohridski, the Fortress, the Church of

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Coast to Coast From Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea, along the Aegean and Marmara Sea

12 days 11 nights Day 1: DUBROVNIK Arrival in Dubrovnik. Visit the ”Pearl of Adriatic”, UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Franciscan Monastery, the cathedral, the Church of the Redeemer.

A special tour for great travelers ...

From Dalmatia to Constantinople, along the “Via Egnatia” and “Via Axia” - a journey in time, full of nuances and emotions.

Day 2: DUBROVNIK – KOTOR – BUDVA (160 km) Departure to Montenegro. At the border meeting with the local guide. Visit Kotor situated in the Bay of Kotor – a UNESCOprotected area. Arrival in Budva and visit the fortified town in typical Mediterranean style.

The town lies on a small island connected to the mainland by a strip of sand that with time became peninsula, but with its remaining mediaeval urban plot surrounded by ramparts dating from the fifteenth century.

Day 3: BUDVA – STARI BAR – KRUJA – TIRANA (250 km) Departure to visit Stari Bar: the architectural palimpsest of the city was made homogeneous during the Turkish domination, which marked the last years of the life of Stari Bar. Departure to Albania. At the border meeting with the local guide. Arrival in Kruja – an Albanian historic town located 30 km North-East from Tirana. The fort was built on a hill overlooking the area, during the V - VI century AD over a circular area of 2.25 hectares. Visit the rich ethnographic museum, the Historical Museum (closed, usually we can get them to open extraordinary) and the antique market with typical craft products. Arrival in Tirana for dinner and overnight stay. (B/D) Day 4: TIRANA - DURRES - OHRID (230 km) Sightseeing tour of Tirana, starting from the Skanderbeg square. Visit in the National History Museum, E`them Bey Mosque, Clock Tower etc. Departure to Macedonia.

Day 5: OHRID Visit of the old center of Ohrid. The most beautiful city of Macedonia and one of the most fascinating of the Balkan Peninsula was declared world heritage by UNESCO. Visit the Cathedral of St. Sophia, built in 1037-1056 with interesting frescoes of the 14th century, the Church of St. Maria Perivlepta of 1259 with Byzantine forms, the Samuil fortress, the Church of St. Constantine and Helen (from outside). Visit the Plaosnik. Visit the Church of St. Kaneo (one of the symbols of Ohrid). Boat trip to visit the Monastery St. Naum.

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Day 6: OHRID – HERAKLEA – BITOLA - STOBI DEMIR KAPIJA (200 km) Departure to visit the ancient city of Heraclea, founded by Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, towards the middle of the fourth century BC. Among the most interesting ruins of the site you can see the hot springs, the colonnade, the amphitheater, the remains of two churches, both with wonderful and colorful mosaics. Visit of Bitola. Of the many mosques built by the Turks during their occupation, there are about a dozen left. Stroll along the way “Consulates”. Depart to visit the Roman city of Stobi, which was discovered during archaeological searches in the 20th century. Situated along the way Axia, Stobi was one of the largest Roman cities in the region.

Day 7: DEMIR KAPIJA – PELLA – VERGINA – THESSALONIKI (260 km) Departure to Greece and meeting with the local guide. Visit Pella with the ruins of the ancient capital of Macedonia. It was founded

by Archelaus I to become the capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia and was also home to the empire of Philip II and Alexander the Great.

Visit the new museum with all the material found in the area is considered as one of the greatest archaeological collections of the entire Greece. Arrival in Thessaloniki.

Day 8: THESSALONIKI Visit Thessaloniki, a place of art and culture.

As a UNESCO-protected site it witnesses its prestigious role during the centuries of the Roman Empire of the East. The tour begins with the Arch of Galerius in the lower town and then you will visit the churches of Agios Georgios and Agia Sofia. Their interiors keep well preserved precious mosaics. In the afternoon visit the National Archaeological Museum.

Day 9: THESSALONIKI – M. ATHOS – KAVALA (260 km) Departure to port Ouranoupoli. Take the boat for the mini-cruise around the Mount Athos.

Arrival in Kavala.

Day 10: KAVALA – PHILIPPI – ALEXANDROUPOLIS (180 km) Visit Kavala, a city rich in history, located on the Bay of Kavala, across the island of Thasos. The spacious squares, contemporary buildings and shopping malls on the west side of the city, form a pleasant contrast with the traditional

old houses, small alleys and gardens that mark the eastern side. The castle of Kavala (or citadel) dominates the top of the peninsula, where there is the old town. Its current form was built in the first quarter of the 15th century, based on the foundations of the Byzantine period. Visit the archaeological site of Philippi – an important ancient city founded by Philip II of Macedonia, but perhaps best known for the battle between the Romans Octavian and Antony against Caesar’s assassins, Brutus and Cassius. Here Saint Paul baptized the first Christian in Europe – St. Lydia. Visit the church built on this sacred for the Christians place.

Continue to Alexandroupolis.

Day 11: ALEXANDROUPOLIS – ISTANBUL (300 km) Departure to Turkey. Visit the astonishing

Istanbul. With its long history at the center of empires, Istanbul offers a wealth of historic and religious places to visit. The bulk of these ancient monuments, dating back to Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Blue Moscque and Basilica Cistern are located around the Sultanahmet Square. Visit the Hagia Sophia, which is a museum in the present day. Explore the Grand Bazaar - the oldest and the largest covered market place in the World.

Day 12: ISTANBUL Visit the Topkapi Palace which served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire.

Visit the amazing Blue Mosque, one of the most famous monuments in the Turkish and Islamic world. Enjoy the Spice Bazaar. Transfer to the airport for the flight back home.

Dubrovnik

Kotor

Tirana Demir Kapija

Istanbul

Kavala

Ohrid Thessalonique

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Commemoration of the British soldiers on the Macedonian Front 10 days 9 nights

Day 1: THESSALONIKI In the hotel presentation and deepening of the theme of the tour with the support of audiovisual materials.

Day 2: THESSALONIKI – FORT ROUPEL – SOFIA (320 km) Departure to visit the Struma Cemetery. It contains 947 Commonwealth burials of the World War 1. Visit Fort Roupel. It is a fortress at the northern border of Greece, built in 1914. During WW1 (1916), under German pressure, the Greek government ordered the surrender of the fortress to the Germans and their Bulgarian allies. In the postwar period It became part of the fortifications of the Metaxas line in the 1930. Arrival Sofia.

Day 3: SOFIA Visit Sofia. Visit the British Military cemetery.

This War Cemetery contains the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died as prisoners of war during the WW1 and those of airmen who died in raids over Bulgaria during the WW2. Visit the National Museum of Military History. It represents a chronological story about the history of the Bulgarian Army since the year 681 until now.

Day 4: SOFIA - PLOVDIV - SOFIA (260 km) Excursion to Plovdiv. Visit the old town and the British Military cemetery which contains 55 graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died as prisoners of war during the WW1.

Day 5: SOFIA – SKOPJE (200 km) Departure to Macedonia. Visit Skopje and the British Military Cemetery. It was created after the Armistice when burials were gathered together from other Military Cemeteries.

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Day 6: SKOPJE – STARI DOJRAN (180 km) Visit the archaeological site of Stobi. Crossing the tunnel of Demir Kapjira built by the German troops in 1912. Visit the Kosturino battlefield area. Visit the memorial to the 10th Irish division. Arrival Lake Dojran.

Day 7: STARI DOJRAN Visit Dojran battlefield area - Kala Tepe , the main attraction for military buffs. It was part of WW1 Macedonian front from 1915-1918.

There are remains from trenches carved into the rocks, bunkers and military nests.

Day 8: STARI DOJRAN – THESSALONIKY (80 km) Visit the British Dojran Memorial of the 22th division and the Military Memorial and the Cemetery. Visit the Sarigol British military cemetery. It was established fto be used by the two local military hospitals. The graves are those of men who had been wounded in April and May 1917 during the attacks on the Petit-Couronne and on 18-19 September 1918 during the attacks on Pip Ridge and the GrandCouronne.

Day 9: THESSALONIKI Visit the War Museum opened in 2000. Follows a commemorative event at the magnificent Cemetery Zeitenlik. Apposition crown flowers with the names of the participants of the tour.

In the afternoon visiting to Thessaloniki, place of art and culture, evidence of the prestigious role played over the centuries of the Roman Empire of the East.

Day 10: THESSALONIKI – Departures Depending of flight time: free activities.

Transfer to the airport.

The First World War began in the Balkans with the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. What is less well known is that it also ended in the Balkans.

The fighting along the Macedonian Front in September 1918 might not be as well known as the Somme, Ypres or Verdun, but in terms of delivering the fatal blow to the German war machine, it was unsurpassed. “It was upon this much-abused front that the final collapse of the Central Empires first began,” Winston Churchill wrote.

Controversy had dogged the Allied ‘‘Army of the Orient’’ ever since it began deploying three years earlier through Salonika, the Greek port city that provides the southern gateway to the Balkans. The force was polyglot with French, British, Serbian, Italian and Russian among the languages spoken in its ranks. And it included the only British woman officially to serve as a soldier in the First World War, the redoubtable Flora Sandes.

When the moment came for the force to push north shortly after daybreak on September 14, 1918, its assault along the front into Macedonia was so intense it bore comparison with the heaviest fighting of the Great War. For two months, French and Serbian combat engineers had been working only at night to covertly drag heavy artillery pieces into position through mountainous terrain south of Dobro Polje. It meant that when the attack came, with a barrage from 1,800 cannons, it came where the enemy least expected it, through mountain passes they believed impregnable. The fighting is remembered for its pioneering use of air power, with Royal Air Force planes strafing lines of Bulgarian soldiers fleeing the battlefield.

German forces had been thinned so much to supply soldiers to France that when the Macedonian Front fell, there was a risk that Allied forces could advance unopposed to Berlin.

“As a result of the collapse of the Macedonian Front... there is, so far as can be foreseen, no longer a prospect of forcing peace on the enemy,” Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, the German commander-in-chief, wrote on October 3, 1918. Two days later, Germany formally requested the armistice.

Tim Butcher - The Telegraph, 4 Oct 2013

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