Arrival in Sofia and transfer to your hotel (check-in starts at 14:00h.) Free time to explore the Bulgarian capital.
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Deze reis voert je door het hart van de Westelijke Balkan, waar je een unieke mix van culturen, conflicten uit het verleden en samenleven zult zien.
Laten we diep duiken in de gelaagde geschiedenis, levendige culturen en opvallende landschappen van de Westelijke Balkan - een vaak over het hoofd geziene regio die de toegewijde en ruimdenkende reiziger veel te bieden heeft. Van de bruisende boulevards van Sofia en Belgrado tot de moskeeën en markten van Sarajevo, en tot slot de zonovergoten kusten van Dubrovnik, onthult deze reisroute hoe eeuwen van Ottomaanse, Oostenrijks-Hongaarse en Slavische invloeden een uniek rijk cultureel mozaïek hebben gevormd. Onderweg verken je UNESCO Werelderfgoedlocaties, door oorlog verwoeste monumenten en eeuwenoude tradities, terwijl je geniet van momenten van bezinning, ontdekking en verbinding in enkele van de meest legendarische steden van Europa.
Hoogtepunten:
♦ Sarajevo - de hoofdstad van Bosnië en Herzegovina
♦ Mostar, waarvan het oude gedeelte op de Werelderfgoedlijst staat
♦ Dubrovnik - het meesterwerk van de Adriatische Zee, de zee en commerciële rivaal van Venetië, onder auspiciën van UNESCO
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to your hotel (check-in starts at 14:00h.) Free time to explore the Bulgarian capital.
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Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, departure to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. After check-in into the hotel we will have a short walking tour in the city centre with a local guide. We will visit Saint Michael's cathedral - one of Belgrade’s most significant religious landmarks. Then we will continue our walk to Belgrade's fortress, situated in Kalemegdan park. It was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and is protected by the Republic of Serbia. From there we will continue to Skadarlija street, where well-known restaurants, hotels, art galleries, antique and souvenir shops are located. Free time to explore the city by yourself. Overnight in Belgrade. B/-/-
Today we head to Bosnia and Herzegovina. After crossing the border we continue straight to Sarajevo. Check-in into the hotel. In the afternoon we will have a city tour of Sarajevo, whose mosques and old Turkish bazaar with shops and cafes still keep the traditional oriental atmosphere of the region. We will start our tour from Pigeon square, then we will continue to Sarajevo City Hal(outside) l and the historical and significant place of city where Franz Ferdinand was killed. We will visit the eternal fire in honor of Yugoslavia's ex leader Josip Broz Tito. Free time to explore the city by yourself. B/-/-
Today you have free time to continue exploring Sarajevo on your own. Some of the most interesting sites you can visit in the surrounding area include the Tunnel of Hope, the only way in our out of Sarajevo during the prolonged Sarajevo siege (1992 - 1996) and the Abandoned Bobsled Track, built for the 1984 Winter Olympics. If you prefer to stay in the city, there are multiple interesting museums you can visit, like the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide, The War Childhood Museum, The National Museum and others. One of the notable remnants of Ottoman heritage in Sarajevo is the hammam tradition. Hammams (Turkish baths) are still easy to find in the city (е.g Isa Begov Hammam Hotel) and are a great way to take a break and recharge for the following travel days. B/-/-
Optional half-day trip: “Sarajevo Under the Siege” (your tour leader will give you more details about the tour on the first day) (Price: around 35 EUR - 40 EUR)
Our first stop for the day - Mostar, is famous for its old houses and the old bridge, a symbol of peaceful coexistence of different cultural and religious communities in the Balkans. Afterwards we continie towards the historic Sufi monastery Blagaj Tekija, set at the source of the river Buna. In the afternoon, we will reach our last stop for the day - the charming town of Trebinje, where we will spend the night. B/-/-
We start our day early with a transfer to one of the highlights of the trip - the city of Dubrovnik. We will do a s short walking tour in the historic part of the town - the Pile Gate and Stradun Street, the Franciscan Monastery, the Dominican church, the Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, "St. Blaise" cathedral and others. In the afternoon, you will have free time to continue exploring it on your own. Overnight in Dubrovnik. B/-/-
Departure
accommodatie in standaard 3*-hotels (kamers met eigen badkamer)
alle vervoer volgens de reisroute in een comfortabele minibus met airco voor toeristen
internationale vliegtickets
luchthaventransfers
visa (indien van toepassing)
entreegelden rond de 30 EUR (ter plaatse contant te betalen)
drankjes en maaltijden die niet in het programma vermeld staan
persoonlijke uitgaven
fooien (5 EUR/USD per pers./dag)
maaltijden volgens de reisbeschrijving (Bontbijt)
lokale Engelssprekende gidsen tijdens de stadstours
Engelssprekende reisleider van Penguin Travel (bij min. 10 personen)
Bulgarije