Explore the Ex-Yugoslavia: A Journey Through Time

After breakfast, drive to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The city is also called "the Croatian Vienna". See the most important cultural and architectural sites (the old town, the Cathedral, the main Ban Jelačič square, the open market, and the lively Tkalčič street). It will give you a good city story, and you can enjoy some free time exploring it and sampling local food. Then continue this ex-Yugoslavia tour to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and arrive in Belgrade in the evening. Overnight in Belgrade. Perhaps you stroll through the streets of Belgrade, known for its party mood on Skadarlija Street and the river rafts (floating restaurants). Belgrade lies at the confluence of two major rivers – the Danube and the Sava. Hence, parties at the riverside are pretty popular with the locals. Join them!

After breakfast start touring around the former capital of Yugoslavia, now the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, a city with a tumultuous history and one of the oldest cities in Europe.  Stroll along well-known streets such as the Knez Mihailova Street, a lively pedestrian boulevard flanked by historical buildings to the ancient Kalemegdan Citadel, the famous fortress  which consists of two Turkish words, kale and megdan (struggle). Visit the mausoleum of the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. After the sightseeing, head towards Sarajevo but stop in Sremska Mitrovica, a significant Roman settlement. See some fascinating Roman excavations in the city centre and taste traditional Serbian food. The journey then continues to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Arrive in Sarajevo in the evening, and enjoy a panoramic tour of the city hosting the Winter Olympic Games 1984. Overnight in Sarajevo.

After breakfast, head for a tour around the charismatic Sarajevo, which the Ottomans founded and later occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1878. The city shows the influence of both empires. Despite that, the city still retains its traditional habits - in everyday life and food. Sarajevo became (in)famous in 1914 when a young Serb, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. That was the excuse for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to start a war against Serbia, which then grew into the First World War. Enjoy some free time in the famous oriental old town 'Baščaršija' and try local food or shop for handicrafts. Then drive to the picturesque Mostar, which refers to the famous bridge over the Neretva River (most=bridge). During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), the bridge was demolished and then later been rebuilt. In the late afternoon, drive to the Croatian coast and to Dubrovnik, the most beautiful city on the Adriatic coast for many people. Overnight in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The most southern Croatian city, Dubrovnik, is one of the most photographed towns in the Mediterranean and is a real highlight of this tour. This morning we take a walking tour of this historic walled city, including the Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, and Sponza Palace. It is visited by many celebrities each year. You will find that its nickname, "Pearl of the Adriatic", completely corresponds to the beauties of this city. In the afternoon, head to Montenegro to the well-known seaside resort Budva.

After breakfast, drive to the Skadar National Park, the Balkans' largest lake, which has a shape of a dolphin with its tail and two-thirds of its body in Montenegro and its nose in Albania. The area is home to around 270 bird species, and it is an essential refuge for the pelicans in Europe. Take a boat trip across the lake and then drive to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Arrive in Skopje in the evening. Overnight in Skopje, Macedonia.

After breakfast, head for a guided visit to the city. Skopje was the largest city in the province of Macedonia at the time of the Roman Empire. In the 6th century, it was destroyed by an earthquake. Yet plenty survives from earlier times – Skopje's Ottoman- and Byzantine-era wonders include the 15th-century Kameni Most (Stone Bridge), the wonderful Čaršija (old Turkish bazaar) where you can get lost for hours, Sveti Spas Church, with its ornate, hand-carved iconostasis, and Tvrdina Kale Fortress, Skopje's guardian since the 5th century, the Pasha mosque...Have a stroll in your free time, and you will see that Skopje is a warm and entertaining city. Return to the hotel in the evening, dinner. From Skopje, we continue the ex-Yugoslavia tour to Ohrid, a beautiful ancient town by the Ohrid Lake, the deepest and one of the largest lakes in the Balkan Peninsula. Overnight in Ohrid.

Today's morning is planned for walking and sightseeing in the old town of Ohrid. That includes visits to the most important monuments and archaeological sites like the church of St Sophia, Tsar Samoil's Fortress Church of St Jovan Kaneo. In the afternoon, a scenic drive along the lake will take you to visit the monastery of St. Naum and the springs of Lake Ohrid, 30 km from the city of Ohrid. Overnight.

Breakfast in the hotel and drive back to Skopje for your departure flight. Free time until your flight.