15 Day A Taste Of The Balkans
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
✓ Travel with Collette Tours
✓ Uncover a region of rocky coastlines and towering mountains
✓ Learn a complex history of medieval city walls
✓ Personalise your time in Dubrovnik
✓ Travel by boat to Montenegro’s seaside village of Perast
✓ Discover Sarajevo, home to a multitude of religious sects
✓ Enjoy a home-hosted dinner in a Bosnian home, sampling klepe and burek
✓ Explore the natural wonder of Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO)
✓ Get a glimpse into generations of traditions
✓ Connect with the welcoming locals
✓ 14 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 6 Dinners
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Discover the twisting cobblestone streets and burnt-orange rooftops of Dubrovnik, your gateway to the Balkans. Meet your fellow travellers and look out over the sparkling Adriatic Sea during dinner, featuring local seafood dishes.
Personalize your day in Dubrovnik because it’s your choice! See the famous city walls from a new perspective and join a local guide on a kayaking tour* -OR- explore the city with a guide on foot and then discover the city walls on your own -OR- embark on a tour of the city before venturing to Lokrum Island with a local guide, where you can swim or meander along the wandering peacocks. The remainder of the day is yours to do as you please.
Leave Croatia and make your way into Montenegro. Take a private boat and head to the nearby islet of Our Lady of the Rocks. Visit the church before continuing on to the seaside village of Perast. Get acquainted with Kotor’s Old Town (UNESCO). Settle into your historic hotel – an 18th-century building that is part of the original city walls.
Today is at your leisure to explore Kotor. Perhaps you’ll go on an optional excursion to a family-owned olive grove, where you’ll tour the property before enjoying some local snacks.
Cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina and spend time in Mostar, home to the iconic arched Stari Most bridge (UNESCO). Explore with your guide before discovering the area on your own. Continue on to Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital city where East meets West, and your home for the next 3 nights.
Reminiscent of a European Jerusalem, find an ever-evolving conglomeration of religious sects all living in harmony. Perhaps you’ll take an evening stroll with your Tour Manager to get familiar with the area.
With an expert guide, discover Sarajevo, perhaps most famous as the starting point of WWI. As you make your way along the storied roadways, admire the significant blend of religions and architectural styles. Take advantage of free time before it’s your choice!
Uncover the city’s past with a local siege survivor, spending time in the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum before visiting the bobsled track on Trebevic Olympic Mountain -OR- visit Gallery 11/07/95, which documents the city’s 20th-century turmoil through photography.
Enjoy time on your own today. Consider an optional excursion to Lukomir Highland, where you’ll hike to a remote village and bond with locals over lunch. Or maybe you’ll embark on an optional tour of Tito’s Bunker, exploring the former president’s personal hideout.
No matter how you spend the day, connect with locals at a home-hosted dinner. Enjoy regional favorites such as klepe (meat dumplings) and burek (flaky filled pastries). Drink Bosnian coffee as you listen to traditional folk music.
Make your way through Bosnia and into northern Croatia, arriving in Plitvice in the late afternoon. Your hotel supports a Serbian community center where local women produce traditional crafts and bake homemade goods.
During this Impact Moment, learn how the local women are keeping the community alive through their traditions and crafts. As the day ends, enjoy an authentic “under the bell” dinner, where lamb and vegetables are slow-roasted under a giant iron bell for hours.
Take in the forested landscape of Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO) with a guide. Walk along the cascading lakes and the free-flowing waterfalls before cruising through the park by boat. Head to the Istrian Peninsula, where rolling hills and vineyard rows meet seaside towns full of Mediterranean cuisine. For a 3-night stay in Motovun, settle into the Roxanich Wine and Heritage Hotel, nestled at the base of a hilltop village.
Today is at your leisure to explore Kotor. Perhaps you’ll go on an optional excursion to a family-owned olive grove, where you’ll tour the property before enjoying some local snacks.
Feel like a local and join a family on their forested property for a truffle-hunting adventure. Follow their friendly dogs on your quest for the coveted mushrooms, then sit down for a tasty truffle-inspired lunch. Head back to town for an evening on your own. Consider joining your Tour Manager on a leisurely walk to the top of the village for views of the surrounding area.
Cross into Slovenia and spend time at Lipica Stud Farm, the famous breed of the Habsburg Empire. Meet purebred Lipizzan horses, dating back to the 16th century, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride to a picnic lunch in the meadows. Arrive in Ljubljana’s city center, your home for the next two nights. Embark on a city tour to acquaint yourself with this incredible city before having a night to explore on your own.
Today, head to the beauty of Lake Bled. Ride in a Pletna Boat to the isle of Bled, visit the secluded and picturesque St. Mary’s Church on the island, and then get a chance to sample delicious kremšnita (cream cake), a local favorite. Return to Ljubljana where the remainder of the day is yours.
This morning, say goodbye to beautiful Slovenia and continue your journey to Zagreb, the storied capital of Croatia. After independently discovering the city, toast to the end of your adventure at a farewell dinner.
Wish Croatia goodbye as you depart for home.
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Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $1,550.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
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