16-Day Balkanic Miracle Tour from sofia

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Sofia

IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.


NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.






Welcome to SOFIA!!!. Upon arrival at the airport, we shall be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. After lunch (towards 15.00hrs) we include a panoramic tour of the capital of Bulgaria, where we will see the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Russian church, the mosque, its squares and avenues of Stalinist architecture. Free time.

Total distance covered: 205 km.

Scenery: Large agricultural plains.
Note: Wear suitable clothing to visit the monastery of Bachkovo.-


08.30hrs.- Sofía. Departure.-
11.00hrs.- BACHKOVO MONASTERY, arrival to the Bulgaria’s second most important monastery, founded in the eleventh century, with its three churches and the life of its monks, and we feel it as a place full of peace.


12.00 hrs.- Bachkovo Monastery. Departure.
12.45 hrs.- PLOVDIV, After time for lunch, we visit the city with a local guide, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Here we include tickets to the Roman amphitheatre, the ancient chemist’s and the Armenian house. Free time to stroll in its beautiful historic town centre with its half-timbered houses. Dinner included.

Total distance covered: 230 km. Scenery: We cross the valley of the roses with great color in season of flowering (May and June). Beautiful scenery across the Balkans mountain range.
Note: in some cases, Arbanassi visit may take place on Sunday instead of Saturday.



08.00hrs.- Plovdiv. Departure. Nice small roads through the interior of Bulgaria. We arrived to the valley of the roses.


KAZANLAK.- In the valley of the Roses, we will see KAZANLAK, where tickets are included to the replica of the Thracian tomb (Heritage of Mankind) and we will learn about the production of products derived from the roses.


11.30 hrs.- Kazalnuk. Departure. Amidst the mountains, we stop at the Russian church of SHIPKA, which reminds us the strong links that exist between the Bulgarians and the Russians and the help that Bulgaria received from Russia in its war of independence against the Ottomans.


13.15hrs.- ETARA, arrival at this charming village/ethnographic. We walk between their traditional houses and their artisan workshops. Lunch included in a typical restaurant.


15.30 hrs.- Etara. Departure.
16.45hrs.- ARBANASSI, arrival to the ancient trading city with its fortress-houses, where we visit the Church of the Nativity (entrance included).


17.45hrs.- Arrival in VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria’s former capital, with a very picturesque mediaeval centre, along with its hill. .

Total distance covered: 190 km.

Scenery: We crossed the Danube on the border.
Note: Keep your passport to hand, as it will be required on the border with Romania.



08.30hrs.- Veliko Tarnovo. Departure. We travel to Romania,
10.00hrs.- BASARBOVSKI MONASTERY, We stop at a place of pilgrimage dug out of the rock.


11.00hrs.- Barsabovski. Departure. We cross the border and the river Danube.


12.45 hrs.- BUCHAREST, arrival (variable schedules depending on the border procedures). After time for lunch, we take a panoramic tour of the city with its ancient quarter and the giant Parliament Palace. Free time. Dinner included.

Total distance covered: 325 km.

Scenery: beautiful landscapes with the Carpathian mountains, remote areas and forests. Small picturesque villages en route.
Note: Wear suitable clothing. The Sinaia area is located on the mountain, we recommend warm clothes and comfortable shoes.



08.00hrs.- Bucharest. Departure. Today we have a stage of great scenic beauty, travelling to Transylvania across the Carpathian mountains and through forests.


10.30hrs.- SINAIA, Arrival. We will stroll in the gardens of the Peles and Pelisor castles (visit of the gardens, the interior of the castle is closed on Mondays).


12.00hrs.- Sinaia- Departure. High mountains.
13.00hrs.- BRAN. arrival to the 14th-century fortress, known as “Dracula’s Castle” (tickets included). Time for lunch and stroll on the beautiful center.


15.30hrs.- Bran - Departure. The architecture of some of the villages shows that these regions were inhabited by people of German origin.


17.45hrs.- SIGHISOARA, arrival to this very beautiful walled mediaeval city and Heritage of Mankind. Tonight we include a very special dinner, in the restaurant of Count Dracula, in the house where Vlad Tepes was born.


Note: The hotel capacity of Sighisoara is limited. On some date the accommodation can be given in SIBIU (departure from Sighisoara after dinner). In these cases the stop in Biertan is removed and the city of Alba Lulia is visited instead.

Total distance covered: 395 km.

Scenery: beautiful landscapes and towns.
Note: Due to the length of the days in winter and the opening hours of the monuments, from November to March we will not be able to visit the interior of the church of Biertan, although a brief stop will be made to see it from the outside.

08.30 hrs.- Sighisoara- Departure. In Transylvania there are numerous fortified churches in areas that were inhabited by people of German origin; some of these churches have been declared Heritage of Mankind, and we will see one of them:
09.00 hrs.- BIERTAN. Arrival to visit the fortified church (tickets included).


10.00hrs.- Biertan, Departure.
11.15hrs.- SIBIU, arrival to this important economic and cultural centre that was the capital of Transylvania, with its bustling narrow streets and squares. Time for a stroll and for lunch.


14.15hrs.- Sibiu- Departure.
16.00hrs.- In the afternoon, we visit the impressive castle of HUNEDOARA (tickets included), which is considered the prettiest castle in Romania.


17.00hrs.- Hunedoara- Departure.
19.30hrs.- TIMISOARA, Arrival. Time for a stroll in its elegant central squares.

Total distance covered: 170 km.

Note: Please keep your passport in hand, as it will be required on the border with Serbia.

08.30hrs.- Timisoara- Departure. Among pleasant landscapes we set off for Serbia and the border pass (border procedures sometimes can delay the schedule).
11.30 hrs.- BELGRADE, arrival. We include a panoramic tour of this active capital on the shores of the Danube as it flows into the Sava, where we can admire its busy centre, its parliament, and stroll in the Kalemegdan fortress. A visit to the Museum of Yugoslavia, where Tito´s Mausoleum is located, will also be included. Free afternoon.

Total distance: 310 km.

Scenery: Forests, mountains, rivers, small towns. Great contrasts in our trip through Bosnia.

Note: Please remember to have your Passport ready, you will need it to enter in Bosnia.


08.30 hrs.- Belgrade-. Departure. We start our beautiful stage towards Bosnia among beautiful landscapes following the Drina River. Border crossing.
11.15 hrs- Zvornik, arrival and brief stop in one of the oldest cities in Bosnia, crossed by the river that marks the border with Serbia and will make us remember with sadness the war in Bosnia. Its population has since changed a lot as most of it, Muslims, were expelled while Serb refugees from other regions settled. We are near the village of Srebrenica, known for the massacre.

12.00hrs- Zvornik. Departure. Our road follows an area of small villages, forests, and hills.
12.30 hrs- Monastery of Papraça. Brief stop at this humble Orthodox monastery established around the sixteenth century and known for its attractive church.

13.00 hrs- Papraça. Departure continuing our route to the capital of Bosnia. Short stop en route for a quick lunch.

16.00 hrs.- Sarajevo -Arrival to the capital of Bosnia. We include a panoramic tour with a local guide of this city of strong Turkish influence: its mosques, its madrasahs, its busy bazaars. Dinner included.

Note: if the number of travelers is less than 10 people, the route from Belgrade to Sarajevo can be made by regular coach or plane. In this case the visits to Zvornik and Papraça are not included.

Total distance: 285 km.
Scenery: Beautiful landscapes throughout the whole route: mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and picturesque villages. Arrival in Dubrovnik with beautiful seascapes.


Notes: Please bring your passport in hand, as today we cross to Croatia.


We will still have some time to explore Sarajevo, where we will visit the Tunnel of Hope that in 1993 saved the city in the 30 months siege of Sarajevo during the war by connecting the besieged city through a tunnel with free Bosnia.


10.30 hrs. - Sarajevo - Departure. Very beautiful landscapes between mountains and valleys.
13.00 hrs.- Mostar.- Free time to stroll and have lunch in this very picturesque city, its streets are full of lively commerce and small restaurants. The high stone bridge separated the Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim communities.


16.00 hrs.- Departure. Just 20 km away you will find:
16.30 hrs.- Medjugorge.- Arrival. A place where thousands of Catholic pilgrims come. They believe that the Virgin Mary continues to appear on the top of the mountain. Time to walk next to its main church and urban center.


17.30 hrs. - Medjugorge - departure. Departure to Croatia. Border procedures (which may take a while). Very beautiful coastal scenery.
20.00 hrs- Dubrovnik- Arrival.-Accommodation may be in Catvat, on the coast near the city. Dinner included.

Note: in some departures, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near the city of Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik - In the morning we begin with a tour with the local guide of the city of Dubrovnik. We are undoubtedly in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe: hanging on a rock, surrounded by walls, by the Adriatic Sea. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery with the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Cathedral. We also include a boat trip to LOKRUM, a small island 15 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik and home to the ruins of a Benedictine monastery of the eleventh century, popular setting of the series "Game of Thrones". Free time during the afternoon. Return at the end of the afternoon to our hotel. Dinner included.

Note: in some departures, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near the city of Dubrovnik.
Note: in the winter months, from November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum and therefore we cannot visit the island.

Total distance: 240 km.
Scenery: Beautiful coastal landscapes on the Dalmatian coast.


08:30 hrs. - Dubrovnik. Today´s route will be exciting. Beautiful landscapes following the Dalmatian coast.
12.15 hrs. - Split -. Free time for lunch.
14: 00/14: 30 hrs. - Visit with local guide of this impressive city that emphasizes the immense Palace of Diocletian (entrance included). We will visit the roman palace, the alleys, and enjoy a great view over the sea. Duration of the visit of about two and a half hours.
Free time afterwards. Dinner included.

Total distance: 450 km.
Scenery: Varied, mountains, lakes, plateaus.
Note: Wear comfortable shoes, you will need them in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. We also recommend you to wear warm clothing.


08:00 hrs. - Split-Departure. We travel to the north of Croatia following the coast.
11:30 hrs. - Plitvice Lakes National Park, site declared World Heritage by Unesco; Entrance included to the park where you will be able to admire its lakes. The entrance gives you the right to use the boats of the park to approach the falls or, if you prefer, the inner train to approach the most picturesque places. Time to visit and have lunch.


15:00 hrs. - Plitvice National Park - Departure - We continue to the north.
18:15 hrs. - Opatija. Elegant Croatian coastal town that followed the tourist line of the Côte D´Azur or the Italian Riviera. Dinner and accommodation.


Note: in exceptional circumstances, either for meteorological reasons or due to tourist density, it may not be possible or advisable to use the train or/nor boat in Plitvice.

Total Distance: 230 Km.
Scenery: Very different from those of previous days: alpine type, with forests, high peaks and lakes.
Note: Carry your passport, it will be required when you pass to Slovenia. Wear a jacket for Postojna where there may be a strong temperature difference between the inside and the ouside of the cave.


07.30 hrs.- Opatija -departure. We leave to Slovenia. Mountains covered with forests, picturesque villages along the route.
09.30 hrs- Postojna-Arrival. We will know one of the world´s biggest and most visited caves in Europe with more than 20 km of galleries and lounges. We will visit it partially in an enabled tourist train where we will travel 3 km of its natural universe of stalactites and stalagmites (entrance and train ticket included).


11.00 hrs- Postojna, exit.
12.30 hrs. - Bled. Between mountains and forests, on the edge of the lake, a very beautiful Slovenian enclave on the shore of a lake in the middle of which there is an islet where the bell tower of a monastery stands out at the foot of a medieval castle. We include a boat trip around Bled’s lake and a visit of the monastery on the islet.
Time for lunch in the tourist town of Bled.-


15.30 hrs. Bled-departure.
16.30 hrs. - Ljubljana - Arrival - Time to visit the small capital of Slovenia, a beautiful central European city, meeting point throughout the history of Slavs, Germanic and Mediterranean. It emphasizes its castle. We make a two hours visit with local guide that will make us know the peculiarities of this small country and its capital.
Dinner included and accommodation.


Note: During winter, in order to be able to visit Ljubljna during the daylight hours, this may take place before departure to Maribor.

Total distance covered: 240 km. Scenery: Mediterranean scenery.
NOTE: Have your passports to hand, we are entering Italy. There may sometimes be delays in arrival due to crowding at the borders.-


Free time to see the little capital of Slovenia, a beautiful central European city and a meeting point in history for Slavs, Germans and peoples of the Mediterranean. Its castle stands out.


16:30 hrs. - Ljubljana - Departure -. After the following mountains covered by dense forests, we come to the Adriatic and enter Italy.


20:00 hrs. – Venice - Arrival -. Accommodation in the Mestre area.

08.30 hrs- In the morning we include a boat transfer to the area of Saint Mark in Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands connected by bridges. We include a walking tour with a local guide around the city of canals. Afterwards, we shall be able to visit the Murano glass factory city. It is marvellous to see the technique of crystal blowing. Free time. In the afternoon, some might like to take the chance to have a trip on a gondola.

18.30 hrs.- Transfer to the hotel from the area of St. Marcos. You will have the chance to eat dinner in the Mestre area, where you can choose the type of restaurant that you prefer (Indian, Oriental, Italian, etc.).

After breakfast, end of our services.

Note: Remember that check-out time is usually at 10.00 hrs. In most cases, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception at check-out time so you can enjoy the city and pick it up at the time you require that same day. If you need more time to use your room, please consider booking an additional night at the end of your tour.