Classic Balkans: Zagreb to Tirana

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Head out with your CEO to get your bearings in the vibrant city of Zagreb. Wander by some key sites and landmarks, and check out the amazing graffiti and street art along the way.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Explore the forests, crystal waters, and cascading falls of Plitvice Lakes with your CEO. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Croatia’s natural phenomenon of 16 interconnected lakes is a wonder to behold, explore, and provides endless photo opportunities of over 90 waterfalls

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take a walking tour of Zadar with a local guide and taste its culinary traditions. Walk around the historical city centre from the Sea Organ to the Roman Forum, Cathedral of St. Anastasia and the City Walls to other important landmarks. Learn about the city's history, culture, local legends and everyday life. Reaching a beautiful Wine Garden hidden inside a 16th century monument, taste bites of traditional Dalmatian food and three types of delicious local wines.

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Set off with your CEO for a hike in the Krka National Park. This is a moderate trail that offers a very scenic walk through lush forests and along the Krka River. The highlight is the breathtaking Skradinski Buk waterfall. The terrain is a mix of compact dirt and paved section, with an elevation gain/loss of approximately 100m.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a full-day excursion to a couple of the coastal islands near Šibenik. Embark the ferry first to the island of Prvic to explore the historic old town with the CEO and other parts of the island near town. Hop on the next ferry to Zlarin with free time to grab lunch somewhere and to continue exploring. The island of Zlarin is the first island of the Šibenik archipelago, practically at the entrance to the Sveti Ante Canal along the mysterious walls of the Sveti Nikola fortress where the Adriatic winds rush to meet Šibenik. Because of its beauty, over the years it has been named Golden, Green, and Coral Island and has been populated since ancient times. The historical monuments of the island include the Church of Our Lady of Rašelj, the Church of the Assumption, and the Chapels of St Roche and Simon from the 17th century.

Join your CEO for an orientation walk of Split to get your bearings and to see some of the main sites. Brimming with high-quality restaurants, ancient architecture aplenty and one of the best stretches of Adriatic coast, Croatia’s main ferry port is a year-round city break destination. Split, a stunning walled city on the Adriatic Sea, is best known for the splendid palace erected by the Roman emperor Diocletian. The old town of Split is compact and walkable. Visitors can easily access the city's primary attractions, including Diocletian's Palace and the Riva promenade.

Enjoy some free time in Split to continue exploring.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take advantage of a free day to choose from the many optional activities available in the area.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Walk along the bay of Uvala Bistrina and learn about the oyster farming tradition in the region. Stop at a rustic place to taste some fresh oysters and have lunch with wine, everything sourced from local products of the region

Take a walk around the "Great Wall of Europe" in Ston: Ston was an important military fort of the Ragusan Republic, and the defensive walls are world-famous. Originally more than 7km long, it was the second largest in the world after the Great Wall of China and now up to 5.5km of it can still be explored.

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Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO around the city of Dubrovnik. Walk with your CEO and explore Dubrovnik old town, walk from the gate via main street called Stradun to the end. See Dubrovnik Cathedral, Lovrijenac Fort, and Franciscan Monastery. All visits are from outside with no entrance fees included.

DEŠA is a women's non-profit, founded during the homeland war in Dubrovnik. It is dedicated to empowering and employing women in the area. From their headquarters in Dubrovnik's Old Town, DEŠA runs victim support for survivors of domestic abuse through computer classes, language lessons, cultural preservation activities, and other inspiring programs. During your visit, you will learn about the powerful work undertaken by the women of DEŠA and their network across Croatia working to preserve traditional foods and handicrafts.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Dubrovnik to continue exploring this incredible and beautiful city.

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Visit this beautiful 16th century Serbian Orthodox Monastery built on the foundations of a 4th century Roman church. Taste some of the local wine before continuing on to Trebinje.

Explore the local Green (Organic) Market. Begin with the meat and cheese vendors, sample some options and learn of the local specialties. Wander to the outdoor market and try seasonal fruits and vegetables grown from small scale farmers. Then meet with women who gather wile, medicinal plants and prepare traditional teas to cure various ailments.

Climb aboard a private bus and set off to a local, family run apiary. Meet your guide and learn of the 5 generations of women who've built the farm into what it is today. Suit up in protective gear should you wish, and see how they manage the hives. After, discover the honey and related products, learn more about the family history and enjoy the farm.

Join our guide at a local farm that has specialized in cheese making over more than 5 generations. Today the farm is moving beyond just sustenance farming and joining the slow food movement to build awareness about organic food production. Here you'll visit the farm to witness the cheese production before enjoying lunch with the family, outside overlooking the farm. Cheese and meat made on site, fruits and vegetables grown on the farm, and homemade bread - it doesn't get more farm to table than that.

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Visit the town centre of Stolac and learn about its history before reaching the Necropolis 'stećak' tombstones. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the necropolis consists of hundreds of ornamented tombstones and is part of a large local complex, one of many such sites across Bosnia and Herzegovina which give insights into how people lived in the Middle Ages.

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Take a moment to enjoy the Kravica waterfalls, arguably one of the most beautiful natural sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Surrounded by poplars and figs, this 25 meter high waterfall is a sight to be seen.

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The Koćuša Waterfall sits near the village of Veljaci on the Trebižat River. Enjoy time to visit this spectacular waterfall, a hidden gem with a restaurant on-site.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Explore Pocitelj, an old Ottoman stone town and art colony boasting beautiful views of the surrounding village. Located along the Neretva river, Pocitelj is considered an open-air museum and hold significant architectural and historic value. Artists gather from around the world to be part of the largest operating art colony in southeast Europe.

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Hike for approximately 20 minutes to explore the Blagaj Fortress, once hold to the Ruler of the region prior to the Ottoman conquest. The fortress sits atop the mountain, overlooking the Buna River spring below.

This Ottoman-era building, built in 1520, is located at the base of an enormous cliff, next to a small waterfall from the Buna river. Take in the stunning blue water that's said to contain mystic properties.

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Join a local expert guide and set off on a walking tour of the beautiful city of Mostar and it's historic buildings and landmarks. See the iconic old bridge over the Neretva River and wander the narrow alleys lined with shops and market stalls. Visit a 17th century Turkish house and enjoy a coffee while hearing all about the storied history of the city.

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Explore the Cold War-era nuclear bunker and military command centre built in the 1950s for Josip Broz Tito, esteemed leader of Yugoslavia. Located near Konjic, the top-secret bunker was designed to be an intricate underground complex providing safety and security.

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Immerse yourself in the culture by sampling traditional Bosnian flavours. Learn about the rich history while exploring important landmarks, tiny alleys, local restaurants, and hawker markets with a local expert. Discover the city beyond the tourist attractions and fill your belly; what could be better?

Set out to explore this historic city. Opt to join your CEO on the Funicular up to the Bobsled track or visit the museum of the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

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Kotor is a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, in a bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen. Characterized by winding streets and squares, its medieval old town has several Romanesque churches, including Kotor Cathedral. It's also home to the Maritime Museum, which explores local seafaring history. Sveti Đorđe, one of 2 tiny islands off the ancient town of Perast, features a centuries-old church.

Set off from Kotor’s historic centre for a scenic boat ride past St. Mateus Church and the Temple of Our Lady to the artificial island known as Our Lady of the Rock. Afterwards, spend free time in Perast to admire the old town sights. Visit the 15th-century Our Lady of the Rock at your own pace Sightsee, dine, and shop in Perast’s historic center independently before returning to Kotor.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Kotor to continue exploring.

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Join your CEO for a walk in the old town of Budva: Stone walls built by the Venetians surround the narrow streets of the medieval old town (Stari Grad). This historic district is home to a seaside citadel and religious sites such as the Church of Santa Maria in Punta, established in the 9th century.

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Visit the 17th century Ostrog Monastery and pilgrimage site that was rebuilt in the 1920s and dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog. Strikingly located high up against the cliff face, the views are incredible from the top over the Montenegro countryside towards the mountains.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Set off with the CEO on a walk around Biogradska Gora National Park: Walk around the Beiogradsko lake to discover this pearl of European natural heritage. Today almost the only European rainforest, was for a long time under the protection of rulers of these areas, and the National Park Biogradska Gora people say that not a single tree has been cut in it. Today, this natural reservation preserves dozens of plant and hundreds of animal species, which can only be found in this place in all of Europe. Biogradska Gora was proclaimed National Park in 1952.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Be immersed in Montenegro's landscapes on a 4x4 excursion into the back-country. Head off-road in 4x4 vehicles to traverse the mountains, rivers and forests while exploring some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Stop at various viewpoints along the way for photos before returning to Kolašin around midday.

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The Old Town of Podgorica was a medieval stronghold. Near Ribnica and the bridge lies the old fortress built by the Turks in the 15th century, originally named Stari Grad, which Marko Miljanov wrote about in his book ” The Examples of Humanity and Bravery”. Although much of the structure has succumbed to time, the ruins offer a poignant reminder of Podgorica’s medieval heritage and the city’s strategic importance throughout the centuries.Throughout history and various upheavals, the fortress has borne many names, such as Ribnica, Birziminijum, Nemanja’s city, and Podgorica fortress. Visitors to Stari Grad can explore the ruins and imagine the fortress in its heyday. Today, it offers a unique backdrop for cultural events and a serene spot for visitors to reflect on the layers of history that define Podgorica.

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Visit Theth National Park with your CEO. Situated at the end of a winding mountain road, Theth is home to just a few houses surrounded by looming mountain peaks and meadows full of wildflowers. Just 45 minutes from Theth village is the beautiful Grunasi Waterfall, a huge 25-meter-high cascade that falls from a dramatic limestone cliff. It’s a 45-minute walk each way that crosses rocky paths and follows along the mountain river before heading up into the woods. As you go, discover wonderful views out across the mountain peaks—this is nature at its finest!

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Take a guided walking tour of the old town of Shkodër. Start with the Rozafa castle and then the Mesi bridge, then go into the old town to explore. The viewpoint from Rozafa castle gives you plenty of photos opportunities, with stunning views of Albania’s "Accursed Mountains". The city’s rich cultural heritage can be seen through its traditional architecture, monuments, and museums which tell stories from different eras of Albanian history. From ancient Illyrian settlements to Ottoman occupations and Italian rule during World War II – each period has left its mark on the cityscape of Shkodër for visitors to explore today.

Sett off and explore Shkodër on your own this afternoon

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Set off on a walking tour of Kruje with your CEO. Krujë is more than just a small mountain village in Albania – it holds historical importance for various reasons. Back in the day, around the Roman era, the area was home to the so-called Albani. This ancient Balkan tribe turned the area into one of the more important cities of that time. Later, during the Middle Ages, it became the first capital of the Albanian state. However, the village is best known as the hometown of national hero Skanderbeg, a military commander who fought off Ottoman forces for 25 whole years before his death in 1468. Check the Old Bazaar and the Castle of Kruja.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.