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Tales of the Balkan Peninsula
Immerse yourself in the history of the wonderful Balkan Peninsula, a land of magnificent contrast. From pretty villages and a picturesque coastline, to historic cities and stunning mountain and lake scenery, this fantastic part of Europe certainly has a lot to offer. See towns steeped in history and tradition, and enjoy experiences you will never forget as we visit Croatia, neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and more!
Tour Includes
- 14 or 17 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 12 or 15 evening meals
- Overnight ferry crossing from Ancona to Split in an en-suite cabin with breakfast and an evening meal
- Convenient local joining points
- Porterage at the hotels
19 days from £3,229pp
Travel Options
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Inbound Travel
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Inbound
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Experiences
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 16 or 19 day itinerary
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to northern France for an overnight stay.
Continue south through France and Italy to our hotel in northern Italy.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
We travel across Italy to the port of Ancona, where we board the overnight ferry for the crossing to Split in Croatia. Accommodation is in 2-berth cabins.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We arrive in Split this morning and disembark the ferry. We include a guided tour of the city and a visit to Diocletian’s Palace, which lays claim to being one of the Roman Empire’s finest buildings.
We later commence our journey crossing the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina to later reach Mostar, situated on the Neretva River. During Turkish occupation a bridge (Stari Most) was built across the river, which became a symbol of the city. However the bridge was totally destroyed during the Croatia-Bosnia conflict in the early 1990s.
Since then, there has been a painstaking rebuilding of the bridge, which now represents a symbol of unity.
We include entrance to the Muslim Mosque and the 350-year-old Turkish House. We later head to Sarajevo, where we stay overnight.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend the morning in Sarajevo, one of the most historically interesting and varied cities in Europe. It has been both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-cultural integration.
Today the city has physically recovered from the war damage caused by Yugoslav Wars of 1992-1995 and is now a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist. Sarajevo became the only city outside of the European Union to be nominated for the European Capital of culture in 2014. We include a guided city tour.
We continue into Croatia to reach Dubrovnik, where we stay for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a day at leisure in our resort, described as ‘Paradise on Earth’, and a ‘Jewel in the Crown of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik has been called the most perfectly preserved medieval town in the world and is a city, which for centuries rivalled Venice as a major sea trading port. It has now been fully restored to its former glory with the huge walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries still intact.
Dubrovnik has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the beautiful old town is a joy to explore. Take a walk along the stone ramparts of the city for the best views, before venturing inside to experience the many treasures.
Our included guided city tour will show the main highlights including entrance to the Cathedral and Franciscan Monastery.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We leave Dubrovnik and cross the border into neighbouring Montenegro, reaching the well-preserved city of Kotor. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor a UNESCO-listed World Natural and Historical Heritage Site, and you can enjoy the sights on our included guided sightseeing tour.
The entire city is criss-crossed with narrow streets and squares. Byron judged this part of the coast as 'the most beautiful encounter between land and sea'.
We continue to Budva, where we stay overnight.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We pass Lake Skadar and continue inland across the border into North Macedonia, to later reach Skopje, where we stay for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Spend the day exploring the North Macedonian capital, a city with a 2000-year-old history. Skopje is now a modern capital and boasts a bustling quayside on the River Vardar.
Explore the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar, which is the largest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today. Our included city tour will show the main highlights and we include entrance to Kale Fortress.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Head north into Serbia and to the capital, Belgrade for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Belgrade lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It has a long history dating back to the 4th century BC when the area was first settled by Celtic tribes. Later it became the Roman city of Singidunum and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly the Kalemegdan Fortress.
Join our included sightseeing tour of Belgrade’s main attractions including the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic square, Saint Sava Temple and of course Tito’s Memorial.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We continue our journey north and into Croatia. We make a short stop in the capital, Zagreb, a charming medieval city. See the majestic cathedral, St. Mark's Church and the Opera House.
We continue into Slovenia to reach Ljubljana for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend the morning in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
Enjoy our included city tour taking in the sights of the city. This cosmopolitan city boasts a rich history and is situated along the River Ljubljanica, which is characterised by its architecture from the baroque period.
Why not sip a coffee by the riverbank, where your views will encompass the old city centre overlooked by the mighty castle.
This afternoon, we offer an optional excursion into the Slovenian Alps, to the picture-postcard resort of Bled on the bank of this glistening blue lake.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
We head into Austria to our overnight hotel in the Munich area.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Head north through Germany and into Belgium to reach our overnight hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to northern France for an overnight stay.
Continue to the northern Italy area for an overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Today we make our way across Italy, past the cities of Parma and Bologna, and onto the port at Ancona. Here we board our overnight ferry for the sailing to Split in Croatia. Our evening meal will be served on board.
Please note: your driver will be required to collect your passport in order for you to be checked-in before boarding the ferry. Please ensure you have your passport to hand. It is advisable to pack a small overnight bag for this evening.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
We arrive in Split this morning and disembark the ferry. We include a guided tour of the city and a visit to Diocletian’s Palace, which lays claim to being one of the Roman Empire’s finest buildings.
We later commence our journey crossing the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina to later reach Mostar, situated on the Neretva River. During Turkish occupation a bridge (Stari Most) was built across the river, which became a symbol of the city. However, the bridge was totally destroyed during the Croatia-Bosnia conflict in the early 1990s. Since then, there has been a painstaking rebuilding of the bridge, which now represents a symbol of unity. We include entrance to the Muslim Mosque and the 350-year-old Turkish House.
We later head to Sarajevo, where we stay overnight.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend the morning in Sarajevo, one of the most historically interesting and varied cities in Europe. It has been both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-cultural integration.
Today the city has physically recovered from the war damage caused by Yugoslav Wars of 1992-1995 and is now a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist. Sarajevo became the only city outside of the European Union to be nominated for the European Capital of culture in 2014. We include a guided city tour.
We continue into Croatia to reach Dubrovnik, where we stay for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a day at leisure in our resort, described as ‘Paradise on Earth’ and a ‘Jewel in the Crown of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik has been called the most perfectly preserved medieval town in the world and has rivalled Venice for centuries as a major sea trading port. It has now been fully restored to its former glory with the huge walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries, still intact.
Dubrovnik has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the beautiful old town is a joy to explore. Take a walk along the stone ramparts of the city for the best views, before venturing inside to experience the many treasures. Our included guided city tour will show the main highlights including entrance to the Cathedral and Franciscan Monastery.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We leave Dubrovnik and cross the border into neighbouring Montenegro, reaching the well-preserved city of Kotor. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor a UNESCO listed World Natural and Historical Heritage Site, and you can enjoy the sights on our included guided sightseeing tour.
The entire city is criss-crossed with narrow streets and squares. Byron judged this part of the coast as 'the most beautiful encounter between land and sea'. We continue to Budva, where we stay overnight.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We cross the border into Albania and travel to Krujë where we enjoy a visit to the Rozafa Castle (also known as Shkodër Castle), as well as a city tour which includes entrance to the Skanderbeg Museum. We then reach our hotel in the Krujë area where we stay for one night.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend some time this morning exploring the colourful capital of Albania, Tirana, with our local guide
Take the opportunity to enjoy the return cable car journey (the longest in the Balkans) from Tirana to Dajti to enjoy wonderful views over the city. We travel onwards to our hotel in Durres for a two-night stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tirana to Dajti Cable Car | 2025 TBC | 2026 TBC |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
We include a guided city tour of Berat today with entrance to the imposing Berat Castle. The guide also accompanies us to the Ethnographic Museum, explaining the many rich traditions of Berat's heritage.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a visit to Elbasan, boasting a rich diversity of historical sites and cultural monuments, and Lake Ohrid, which is straddled between the mountainous border of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. We continue to our hotel in Skopje for a two night stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend the day exploring the North Macedonian capital, a city with a 2000-year-old history. Skopje is now a modern capital and boasts a bustling quayside on the River Vardar.
Explore the narrow streets in the Old Bazaar, which is the largest bazaar preserved in the Balkans today. Our included city tour will show the main highlights and we include entrance to Kale Fortress.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Head north into Serbia and to the capital, Belgrade, for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Belgrade lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It has a long history dating back to the 4th century BC when the area was first settled by Celtic tribes. It later became the Roman city of Singidunum and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly the Kalemegdan Fortress.
Join our included sightseeing tour of Belgrade’s main attractions including the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic square, Saint Sava Temple and of course Tito’s Memorial.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
We continue our journey north and into Croatia. We make a short stop in the capital, Zagreb, a charming medieval city. See the majestic cathedral, St. Mark's Church and the Opera House.
We continue into Slovenia to reach Ljubljana for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Spend the morning in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Enjoy our included tour taking in the sights of this cosmopolitan city. Situated along the River Ljubljanica, Ljubljana is characterised by its architecture from the Baroque period.
Take the chance to sip a coffee by the riverbank, where your views will encompass the old city centre overlooked by the mighty castle.
This afternoon, we offer an optional excursion into the Slovenian Alps, to the picture-postcard resort of Bled on the bank of this glistening blue lake.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Bled with Boat Cruise | 2025 TBC | 2026 TBC |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
We head into Austria to our overnight hotel in the Salzburg area.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Head north through Germany and into Belgium to reach our overnight hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Accommodation
On the 19-day 2025 itinerary, you will stay overnight in northern Italy, followed by an overnight crossing into Split, Croatia. You will then stay for one night in the Sarajevo area, before travelling to Dubrovnik for a two night stay. You will then stay overnight in the Budva area, and then we reach Albania with an overnight in the Krujë area. You will continue onwards to Durres for two nights and then Skopje for a further two-night stay. You will then travel to Belgrade for a two-night stay, followed by two nights in Ljubljana. Finally, you will stay for one night in the Salzburg area in Austria. Throughout the tour, you will stay in minimum 3-star hotels. All hotels will have a restaurant and bar.
Overnight stays in Belgium and northern France will be in city-style hotels.
On your overnight ferry sailing, accommodation will be in an en-suite cabin.
Luxuria Coach
Stylish and modern, state-of-the-art Luxuria is the business class of coaches. Boasting comfort of the highest standard, sink into the deluxe armchair-style seats, stretch out with much more space around you, and enjoy a vast choice of entertainment on your personal touch-screen TV.
Luxuria Features
- Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests* with cup holders, adjustable headrests and retractable calf rests on most seats to give you a more comfortable journey.
*Face to face seats are forward and rear facing with a table and will not have a calf rest. - Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch-screen TV offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
- There’s a selection of double and single seats, including six face-to-face seats with tables, and five single seats which are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
- Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
- Onboard toilet.
Departure Dates
Good tidings we bring!
Fully escorted breaks
throughout the festive season
