Europe Explorer Grand Tour “dacia Route”
Whats included?
Itinerary
Accommodation included: 11 nights
Accommodation included: 11 nights
Hotel: Accommodation 3* hotels on...
Hotel: Accommodation 3* hotels on double occupancy in good locations of respective cities/places.
Transportation: Air Conditioned modern van/minibus/bus...
Transportation: Air Conditioned modern van/minibus/bus and other transportation listed in itinerary.
Breakfast: Daily breakfast. All other...
Breakfast: Daily breakfast. All other meals not listed are at your expense.
Guide: Professional bilingual English, speaking...
Guide: Professional bilingual English, speaking tour guide/leader, etc.
Not included:
Admission/entry Fees
Admission/entry Fees
Travel insurance, visa fees (if...
Travel insurance, visa fees (if applicable)
Any charges for additional itinerary...
Any charges for additional itinerary are not listed in itinerary
A mandatory service fee for...
A mandatory service fee for tour guide/bus driver (min. 5-7 Euro /day per person)
Excess baggage charges from Airlines
Excess baggage charges from Airlines
Personal expenses such as room...
Personal expenses such as room service, telephone, laundry service charges
Losses or additional expenses
Losses or additional expenses
Lunch and Dinner charges (if...
Lunch and Dinner charges (if applicable)
Everything not mentioned in “Inclusions”
Everything not mentioned in “Inclusions”
Start planning your experience
About experience
Itinerary
Day 1: Tirana - Elbasan - Ohrid (UNESCO) - (North Macedonia).
Stop At: Elbasan, Elbasan, Elbasan County
After breakfast travel to Elbasan. Elbasan which was a very important city in ancient time where in Roman empire time was called “Via Egnatia” that used to connect Rome-Naples-Bari-Durres-Elbasan-Ohrid-Thessaloniki-Istanbul. City tour to visit: Elbasan Castle (dating back to 4rth Century BC), The Clock, The ethnographic Museum, Church, The Old Mosque.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ohrid, Ohrid, Southwestern Region
Then we continue the beautiful city of Ohrid, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the Sveti Naum Monastery, a beautiful site with impressive views of Lake Ohrid across to Albania. Explore its mixture of western and oriental architecture including the Orthodox Cathedral, the 11th century church of St Sofia as well as the Roman theater.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skopje (Hotel De Koka 3*, or similar).
Day 2: Tetova - Skopje.
Stop At: Tetovo, Tetovo, Polog Region
After breakfast continue to Tetova. Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. home of multiple ethnic Albanian political parties and a population in which Albanians form a majority, Tetovo has become the unofficial capital and centre of a predominantly Albanian region which extends in an arc from Tetovo to Struga. Visit to Mosque of Tetovo. This brightly painted Mosque is located on the right bank of the river Pena (Artat) in the old part of town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Then we head to its capital Skopje. Upon arrival we visit some of the most important parts of the town, including the old Albanian part of the city (Ottoman time market), the ancient Kale Fortress which dates back to Illyrian and Roman times, and mosques. The structure stands on a plateau above the old bazaar, built in 1492 by Mustafa Pasha, vizier on the court of Sultan Selim 1st. The mosque is largely intact from its original state, and no additions have been made through the years. The body of the daughter of Mustafa Pasha is buried in the türbe next to the mosque. The mosque has a rose garden. A five-year renovation of the mosque, funded by the Turkish government, was completed in August 2011.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skopje (Hotel De Koka 3*, or similar).
Day 3: Sofia (Bulgaria).
Stop At: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
In the morning after breakfast, continue to Sofia in Bulgaria. Panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital – an 8500-years old city called “My Rome” by the emperor Constantine The Great. Visit the most fascinating places of interest: the forum of Ancient Serdica (the old name of the city) with the newest archeological discoveries from Roman time, which are exhibited next to the Bulgarian presidency. Next is the St. Nedelya square, where 4 worship buildings of the main religions in Bulgaria are located next to each other. These are the Orthodox Church St. Nedelya, the Catholic church, the Synagogue and the Mosque. They form a quadrangle, symbolizing the peace between different religions in Bulgaria. Our tour continues with the “Alexander I” square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, “Tzar Osvoboditel” boulevard, the Parliament, the Church of ”St. Sofia” (the name means wisdom), which had given the name of the city, the Sofia University and the “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral (the biggest Orthodox church on the Balkan peninsula).
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Maxim Hotel 3*, or similar.
Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi (UNESCO) - Shumen (UNESCO).
Stop At: Arbanasi, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo Province
After breakfast, continue to the village of Arbanassi (meaning Albania). The village is famous for its ancient, richly decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Continue to the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Wax museum, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin’s Tower. You will walk along the old Trade Street – “Samovodska charshia”.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shumen, Shumen, Shumen Province
Departure for the region of Shumen town. Visit of the architecture reserve with a stone, 25 m high bas-relief of Madara Horseman, which is under the protection of UNESCO. This mystical place is one of the strongest energy zones in Bulgaria with healthy and psychological effects over the people who have been there. Departure for the first capital of Bulgaria – Pliska (VII-IX century). Visit to the Archeological reserve complex and the Great Basilica – is a real masterpiece of mediaeval architecture. It was the biggest Christian orthodox temple in Southeast Europe in the IX century.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Rimini Club Hotel 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 5: Varna (Bulgaria) - Constanta (Romania).
Stop At: Varna, Varna, Varna Province
After breakfast, set off to Varna – the sea capital of Bulgaria and the biggest port on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. On the way – visit to the nature phenomenon “The Stone Forest'' – a magical place with many stone figures, dated tens of thousands years back in time. Arrival in Varna in the afternoon. panoramic tour around the sea capital of Bulgaria.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Constanta, Constanta, Constanta County, Southeast Romania
Then continue to Constanta in Romania, where we visit Constanta, a coastal Black Sea town, founded as a colony almost 2600 years ago. It’s the oldest attested city in Romania, the biggest port at the Black Sea (third largest in Europe) and also the fourth largest city in Romania with its 400,000 inhabitants. Visit the Old Casino, The statue of Ovid.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Voila 3* or similar.
Day 6: Bucharest.
Stop At: Bucharest, Bucharest
After breakfast, continue to the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Visit the patriarchal church, the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, the village museum with its houses from all parts of Romania, and stop at the Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. The wide boulevards of Bucharest, monuments like the triumphal arch and wide places explain why Bucharest is known as "small Paris of the East".
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Hotel SS Residence Unirii 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 7: Sinaia - Predeal - Prejmer (UNESCO) - Harman - Brașov.
Stop At: Predeal, Predeal, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
In the morning drive to Predeal. Then visit Peles Castle, the summer residence of the royal family. In 1866, the first king of the Hohenzollern family came to Romania and decided to build a castle in Sinaia on the banks of the Peles brook in the German Renaissance, so that it would remind him of his home country.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Prejmer, Prejmer, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Afterward, continue to Prejmer, where we visit the Prejmer Fortified Church. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site, Prejmer Fortified Church was conquered only once, but went through 50 sieges during its hundreds of years of existence.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Harman, Harman, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Then continue to Harman where we have a visit to the fortified church.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Brasov, Brasov, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Return to Brasov, where we have a city tour. Brasov, located at the foot of Transylvania's Carpathian Mountains. Founded by Teutonic Knights in 1211, Brasov is a perfect example of a settlement of the Middle Ages. Today, it is one of the best preserved cities in Europe and home to some of Europe's narrowest streets.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Belfort 3* or similar.
Day 8: Bran (Dracula Castle UNESCO) - Piteşti - Craiova.
Stop At: Bran, Bran, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
After breakfast, we continue to Bran (Dracula Castle). It was built in the 14th century and served the inhabitants of nearby Brasov as part of its protective belt against the Ottomans. The romantic castle, in the interwar residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, is now a museum.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pitesti, Pitesti, Arges County, Southern Romania
Piteşti is a pleasant, medium-sized city with a pretty, pedestrianized centre lined with cafes, bars, etc. Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Craiova, Craiova, Dolj County, Southwest Romania
Then continue to Craiova. It is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube. We will start our tour visiting Downtown, Art Museum,Ethnographic museum " Casa Baniei" , House of Culture "Traian Demetrescu" , Romanescu Park ( Zoo, the bridge, The Castle) and Botanic Park.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Helin Central 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 9: Nis (Serbia).
Stop At: Nis, Nis, Central Serbia
After breakfast, continue to Nis. Nis is the third largest city in Serbia and it is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and Europe, and from ancient times has been considered a gateway between the East and the West. It was named Navissos by the Scordisci in 279 BC, after an invasion of the Balkans. The city was among several taken in the Roman conquest in 75 BC. The Romans built the Via Militaris in the 1st century, with Naissus being one of its key towns; it is also the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, and Constantius III and Justin I. It is home to one of the oldest churches in Serbia, dating to the 4th century, located in the suburb of Mediana. Upon our arrival in Nis we will first visit the famous Cele Kula (Skull Tower NIS) where you will learn about the atrocities of the Turks against the Serbs and you will see a unique in the world monument for the sacrifice of Serbian revolutionaries. The second important archaeological site in Nis is Medijana. This Roman estate exhibits the remains of a granary, craft centre, villas , thermae, and the remains of an ancient villa with rich mosaics. Most mosaics exhibit geometrical or floral motifs, while two mosaics presenting figures - the head of the Medusa and a semi-prostrate figure of a river deity (probably Neptune).
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Garni Eter 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 10: Ulpiana (Kosova) - Gracanica Monastery (UNESCO) - Prishtine - Prizren.
Stop At: Ulpiana, Lipljan, Gracanica Kosovo
Afterward, drive to Pristina where we stop first to visit the ruins of Ulpiana, an ancient Dardanian-Illyrian city dating back to Roman invasion period of the 1st century that was once one of the most powerful in the Balkans.
Later we visit the spectacular Gracanica Monastery, one of Kosovo’s most beautiful sites and containing some impressive frescoes.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pristina, Pristina
Proceed to Prishtina Kosova’s capital. Where we have a walking tour to explore the city visiting its main sites such as the Orthodox Church and the Carshi Mosque, dating back to the early 15th century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Prizren, Prizren
We continue to Prizren. This city, probably is the most attractive town in Kosovo with superbly preserved buildings from the Ottoman era. We visit the castle which is one of the oldest in the Balkans (almost 3 millenniums), built to protect the city from attacks, the ornate Bajrakli Mosque and the old Turkish Hammam among other sights. Prizren is an absolute highlight of any visit to Kosovo and to see the old houses of the old town in low light as the sun sets is a delight.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Hotel Prizren 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 11: Kukes (Albania) - Rubik (Albania) - Tirana.
Stop At: Kukes, Kukes, Kukes County
After breakfast, continue the tour by enjoying the wonderful panorama of Black Drini River Valley and Firza Lake to arrive in Kukes. This city became famous and later was a Nobel Candidate city for the hospitality shown for about 1 million refugees from the Kosovo War in 1999.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rubik, Rubik, Lezhe County
Then continue to Rubik via Has and Kukes in Drini River valley and the Rruga e Kombit Hiwayay. Visit in Info Kulla Rubik, where you will be introduced to the history of Mirdita which is the most authentic region in Albania, because it was never fully occupied fully in the last two millenniums by the various invaders starting from Hellenic, Roman, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. Introduction to Kanuni i Maleve, or known as “The Illyrian Code, Or Code of Lek Dukagjini”, where a similar one is founded in Hittite civilization dating back 3500 year ago. Visit to then the Shelbuemi Church of Rubik (dated in 1162), built over ancient Illyrian Temple/Castle over the hill/rock in the strategic control of Fani River Valley.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Drive back to Tirana for our final night where you will enjoy a farewell dinner with traditional food.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel Kruja or similar.
Day 1: Tirana - Elbasan - Ohrid (UNESCO) - (North Macedonia).
Stop At: Elbasan, Elbasan, Elbasan County
After breakfast travel to Elbasan. Elbasan which was a very important city in ancient time where in Roman empire time was called “Via Egnatia” that used to connect Rome-Naples-Bari-Durres-Elbasan-Ohrid-Thessaloniki-Istanbul. City tour to visit: Elbasan Castle (dating back to 4rth Century BC), The Clock, The ethnographic Museum, Church, The Old Mosque.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ohrid, Ohrid, Southwestern Region
Then we continue the beautiful city of Ohrid, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the Sveti Naum Monastery, a beautiful site with impressive views of Lake Ohrid across to Albania. Explore its mixture of western and oriental architecture including the Orthodox Cathedral, the 11th century church of St Sofia as well as the Roman theater.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skopje (Hotel De Koka 3*, or similar).
Day 2: Tetova - Skopje.
Stop At: Tetovo, Tetovo, Polog Region
After breakfast continue to Tetova. Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. home of multiple ethnic Albanian political parties and a population in which Albanians form a majority, Tetovo has become the unofficial capital and centre of a predominantly Albanian region which extends in an arc from Tetovo to Struga. Visit to Mosque of Tetovo. This brightly painted Mosque is located on the right bank of the river Pena (Artat) in the old part of town.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Then we head to its capital Skopje. Upon arrival we visit some of the most important parts of the town, including the old Albanian part of the city (Ottoman time market), the ancient Kale Fortress which dates back to Illyrian and Roman times, and mosques. The structure stands on a plateau above the old bazaar, built in 1492 by Mustafa Pasha, vizier on the court of Sultan Selim 1st. The mosque is largely intact from its original state, and no additions have been made through the years. The body of the daughter of Mustafa Pasha is buried in the türbe next to the mosque. The mosque has a rose garden. A five-year renovation of the mosque, funded by the Turkish government, was completed in August 2011.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skopje (Hotel De Koka 3*, or similar).
Day 3: Sofia (Bulgaria).
Stop At: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
In the morning after breakfast, continue to Sofia in Bulgaria. Panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital – an 8500-years old city called “My Rome” by the emperor Constantine The Great. Visit the most fascinating places of interest: the forum of Ancient Serdica (the old name of the city) with the newest archeological discoveries from Roman time, which are exhibited next to the Bulgarian presidency. Next is the St. Nedelya square, where 4 worship buildings of the main religions in Bulgaria are located next to each other. These are the Orthodox Church St. Nedelya, the Catholic church, the Synagogue and the Mosque. They form a quadrangle, symbolizing the peace between different religions in Bulgaria. Our tour continues with the “Alexander I” square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, “Tzar Osvoboditel” boulevard, the Parliament, the Church of ”St. Sofia” (the name means wisdom), which had given the name of the city, the Sofia University and the “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral (the biggest Orthodox church on the Balkan peninsula).
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Maxim Hotel 3*, or similar.
Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi (UNESCO) - Shumen (UNESCO).
Stop At: Arbanasi, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo Province
After breakfast, continue to the village of Arbanassi (meaning Albania). The village is famous for its ancient, richly decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Continue to the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Wax museum, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin’s Tower. You will walk along the old Trade Street – “Samovodska charshia”.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shumen, Shumen, Shumen Province
Departure for the region of Shumen town. Visit of the architecture reserve with a stone, 25 m high bas-relief of Madara Horseman, which is under the protection of UNESCO. This mystical place is one of the strongest energy zones in Bulgaria with healthy and psychological effects over the people who have been there. Departure for the first capital of Bulgaria – Pliska (VII-IX century). Visit to the Archeological reserve complex and the Great Basilica – is a real masterpiece of mediaeval architecture. It was the biggest Christian orthodox temple in Southeast Europe in the IX century.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Rimini Club Hotel 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 5: Varna (Bulgaria) - Constanta (Romania).
Stop At: Varna, Varna, Varna Province
After breakfast, set off to Varna – the sea capital of Bulgaria and the biggest port on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. On the way – visit to the nature phenomenon “The Stone Forest'' – a magical place with many stone figures, dated tens of thousands years back in time. Arrival in Varna in the afternoon. panoramic tour around the sea capital of Bulgaria.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Constanta, Constanta, Constanta County, Southeast Romania
Then continue to Constanta in Romania, where we visit Constanta, a coastal Black Sea town, founded as a colony almost 2600 years ago. It’s the oldest attested city in Romania, the biggest port at the Black Sea (third largest in Europe) and also the fourth largest city in Romania with its 400,000 inhabitants. Visit the Old Casino, The statue of Ovid.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Voila 3* or similar.
Day 6: Bucharest.
Stop At: Bucharest, Bucharest
After breakfast, continue to the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Visit the patriarchal church, the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch, the village museum with its houses from all parts of Romania, and stop at the Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon. The wide boulevards of Bucharest, monuments like the triumphal arch and wide places explain why Bucharest is known as "small Paris of the East".
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Hotel SS Residence Unirii 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 7: Sinaia - Predeal - Prejmer (UNESCO) - Harman - Brașov.
Stop At: Predeal, Predeal, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
In the morning drive to Predeal. Then visit Peles Castle, the summer residence of the royal family. In 1866, the first king of the Hohenzollern family came to Romania and decided to build a castle in Sinaia on the banks of the Peles brook in the German Renaissance, so that it would remind him of his home country.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Prejmer, Prejmer, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Afterward, continue to Prejmer, where we visit the Prejmer Fortified Church. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site, Prejmer Fortified Church was conquered only once, but went through 50 sieges during its hundreds of years of existence.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Harman, Harman, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Then continue to Harman where we have a visit to the fortified church.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Brasov, Brasov, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
Return to Brasov, where we have a city tour. Brasov, located at the foot of Transylvania's Carpathian Mountains. Founded by Teutonic Knights in 1211, Brasov is a perfect example of a settlement of the Middle Ages. Today, it is one of the best preserved cities in Europe and home to some of Europe's narrowest streets.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Belfort 3* or similar.
Day 8: Bran (Dracula Castle UNESCO) - Piteşti - Craiova.
Stop At: Bran, Bran, Brasov County, Central Romania, Transylvania
After breakfast, we continue to Bran (Dracula Castle). It was built in the 14th century and served the inhabitants of nearby Brasov as part of its protective belt against the Ottomans. The romantic castle, in the interwar residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, is now a museum.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pitesti, Pitesti, Arges County, Southern Romania
Piteşti is a pleasant, medium-sized city with a pretty, pedestrianized centre lined with cafes, bars, etc. Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Craiova, Craiova, Dolj County, Southwest Romania
Then continue to Craiova. It is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube. We will start our tour visiting Downtown, Art Museum,Ethnographic museum " Casa Baniei" , House of Culture "Traian Demetrescu" , Romanescu Park ( Zoo, the bridge, The Castle) and Botanic Park.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Helin Central 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 9: Nis (Serbia).
Stop At: Nis, Nis, Central Serbia
After breakfast, continue to Nis. Nis is the third largest city in Serbia and it is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and Europe, and from ancient times has been considered a gateway between the East and the West. It was named Navissos by the Scordisci in 279 BC, after an invasion of the Balkans. The city was among several taken in the Roman conquest in 75 BC. The Romans built the Via Militaris in the 1st century, with Naissus being one of its key towns; it is also the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, and Constantius III and Justin I. It is home to one of the oldest churches in Serbia, dating to the 4th century, located in the suburb of Mediana. Upon our arrival in Nis we will first visit the famous Cele Kula (Skull Tower NIS) where you will learn about the atrocities of the Turks against the Serbs and you will see a unique in the world monument for the sacrifice of Serbian revolutionaries. The second important archaeological site in Nis is Medijana. This Roman estate exhibits the remains of a granary, craft centre, villas , thermae, and the remains of an ancient villa with rich mosaics. Most mosaics exhibit geometrical or floral motifs, while two mosaics presenting figures - the head of the Medusa and a semi-prostrate figure of a river deity (probably Neptune).
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Garni Eter 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 10: Ulpiana (Kosova) - Gracanica Monastery (UNESCO) - Prishtine - Prizren.
Stop At: Ulpiana, Lipljan, Gracanica Kosovo
Afterward, drive to Pristina where we stop first to visit the ruins of Ulpiana, an ancient Dardanian-Illyrian city dating back to Roman invasion period of the 1st century that was once one of the most powerful in the Balkans.
Later we visit the spectacular Gracanica Monastery, one of Kosovo’s most beautiful sites and containing some impressive frescoes.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pristina, Pristina
Proceed to Prishtina Kosova’s capital. Where we have a walking tour to explore the city visiting its main sites such as the Orthodox Church and the Carshi Mosque, dating back to the early 15th century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Prizren, Prizren
We continue to Prizren. This city, probably is the most attractive town in Kosovo with superbly preserved buildings from the Ottoman era. We visit the castle which is one of the oldest in the Balkans (almost 3 millenniums), built to protect the city from attacks, the ornate Bajrakli Mosque and the old Turkish Hammam among other sights. Prizren is an absolute highlight of any visit to Kosovo and to see the old houses of the old town in low light as the sun sets is a delight.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accomodation in hotel (Hotel Prizren 3*, or similar) and overnight.
Day 11: Kukes (Albania) - Rubik (Albania) - Tirana.
Stop At: Kukes, Kukes, Kukes County
After breakfast, continue the tour by enjoying the wonderful panorama of Black Drini River Valley and Firza Lake to arrive in Kukes. This city became famous and later was a Nobel Candidate city for the hospitality shown for about 1 million refugees from the Kosovo War in 1999.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rubik, Rubik, Lezhe County
Then continue to Rubik via Has and Kukes in Drini River valley and the Rruga e Kombit Hiwayay. Visit in Info Kulla Rubik, where you will be introduced to the history of Mirdita which is the most authentic region in Albania, because it was never fully occupied fully in the last two millenniums by the various invaders starting from Hellenic, Roman, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. Introduction to Kanuni i Maleve, or known as “The Illyrian Code, Or Code of Lek Dukagjini”, where a similar one is founded in Hittite civilization dating back 3500 year ago. Visit to then the Shelbuemi Church of Rubik (dated in 1162), built over ancient Illyrian Temple/Castle over the hill/rock in the strategic control of Fani River Valley.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Drive back to Tirana for our final night where you will enjoy a farewell dinner with traditional food.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel Kruja or similar.
Select a country to define if the visa is required
Who talk about us:
Best cities to travel to
America
Europe
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Paris
Travel to Madrid
Travel to Budapest
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Barcelona
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Vienna
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Berlin
Travel to Copenhagen
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Amsterdam
Travel to Munich