Tour Best Of Balkans Start Split (15 Days)

Guide

Expert Trip Manager & Driver Team + Local Guides

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Contiki through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. For guests travelling with Contiki from 1 January 2023, Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are highly recommended, but no longer required. Please note that regardless of time of travel guests will need to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destination visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than above. It is guests’ responsibility to ensure that they comply at all times with these requirements. No refunds will be given if guests are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to their failure to comply with these requirements.

Transport

Coach

Others

Dubrovnik: Stroll through the UNESCO-listed old town with a local guide. And play a game of ‘spot the Game of Thrones film set’ as you go. Mostar: See this epic piece of Ottoman architecture, which was destroyed by war in 1993 and then rebuilt. Sarajevo: See the sights of the Bosnian capital and get up to speed on 500 years of history, from the Ottomans to the present day. Belgrade: Ramble around the Serbian capital. It’s brimming with culture and history for you to soak up. Budapest: An expert walking tour that’ll take you past the Royal Palace, Chain Bridge and Fisherman’s Bastion. Ljubljana: Join your new gang for an orientation of Slovenia’s fairytale-like capital. Get your fix of rainbow architecture, Insta-friendly bridges and epic mountain backdrops. Plitvice Lakes National Park: Turquoise lakes. Sparkling waterfalls. Lush green forests. You’ll never want to leave this little slice of heaven.

Meals

5 Dinner (D) 14 Breakfast (B)

Accommodation

14 nights in Hotels

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Optional

City Walls Kayaking Sarajevo Dine With the Locals Budapest River Cruise with Dinner

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Split
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Split

What better place to get acquainted with your new squad then here on the coast of Croatia. Spend a free day roaming around or rest in your hotel room before we catch up over our first cosy Croatian dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Split To Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Split To Dubrovnik

Split it’s been fantastic, but we have to leave for other Croatian gems further down the coast. The drive along the Dalmatian coastline to Dubrovnik is a sightseeing must do all on its own. On arrival in the city you’ll be greeted by limestone walls; an Old Town filled with quintessentially Croatian cafes and plenty of clubs; and a mountain meets sea situation will see you falling in love within seconds. Tonight over dinner with the crew, spirits will no doubt be high and the show’s not over yet!
Day 3 Day 3: Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Dubrovnik

The city of Dubrovnik is so much more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Game of Thrones location - not that either of those claims to fame are even mildly mediocre. After you’ve been guided around the city with intricate detail with our local guide you’ll be armed with the knowledge to pick out a waterside rock bar where you can swim and indulge ’til your heart’s content.
Day 4 Day 4: Dubrovnik To Budva
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Dubrovnik To Budva

Now that we’ve done all things Dubrovnik, we’ll coast our way to Montenegro via the dramatic Adriatic Coastline. All good journeys are broken up by fjords, steep mountain landscapes & a trot in a town that meets old and new. Our journey between Dubrovnik and Budva will tick all the boxes, stopping in the super-yacht spot of pretty Kotor. If you tire of European coastal towns, you have tired of life. Take it easy tonight with the assurance that you have all day tomorrow in Montenegro’s seaside beauty of Budva.
Day 5 Day 5: Budva
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Budva

Just what does one do with a whole day free to explore the 2,500 year old town of Budva? Well - you could start with a dip in the dreamy Adriatic Sea, continue with coffee in a café draped in vines down a narrow cobbled stone road, finish with the Church of St. Ivan, and eat some milk-soaked lamb and buttered polenta along the way. That should get you started.
Day 6 Day 6: Budva To Sarajevo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Budva To Sarajevo

The time has come to farewell our ocean hangs in exchange for rivers, countrysides and captivating culture, which means a sad goodbye to beautiful Budva. Mostar is home to the world’s cutest bridge. According to us. But still - we’ve seen a lot of bridges. You’ll have plenty of time to oohh and aahh before we kick on to our 2-night site of Sarajevo. Later on in our perfect day, we’ll skip into the brimming with lively culture town of Sarajevo, also known as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. With all the day’s explorations you may just want to hang out and take on the city with the fresh eyes of a new day.
Day 7 Day 7: Sarajevo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Sarajevo

The only way to uncover the town of Sarajevo is with the wisdom shared on a guided walking tour. We’ll help you tap into history & understand the magnitude of our destination before leaving you to lighten the mood with an evening of bars and nightlife, should you so choose.
Day 8 Day 8: Sarajevo To Belgrade
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Sarajevo To Belgrade

Rise up, roamers! We’re departing for the town of Belgrade to continue our epic frolic through the Balkans. Another border crossing is on the agenda as we wave our way into Serbia en route to Belgrade. Medieval meets modern in this bustling, pure white city. Zen folk can go sit on the Hill of Contemplation or stroll Sava rivers, others can see the fortress of Beogradska Tvrđava & enjoy the lively mood of Belgrade by night.
Day 9 Day 9: Belgrade To Budapest
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Belgrade To Budapest

Leaving Belgrade behind, today we’re onto beautiful Budapest. Fast becoming one of the hottest destinations in Europe, Budapest is on our beeline. Despite having all day tomorrow to get cosy with this city, we’ll get stuck into it today checking out the likes of the royal palace, the famed chain bridge & the stunning parliament building. Later you’ll have the option to take a cruise and make the most of your first Hungarian evening. Later, you’ll no doubt want to keep things moving at one of the city’s famous ruins bars, that need to be seen to be believed!
Day 10 Day 10: Budapest
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Budapest

This morning we’ll set out along the cobbled streets of Budapest for a guided walking tour to explore what this city has on offer. We’ll see St Stephen’s Basilica, a grand neo-Classical Roman Catholic affair named after the first King of Hungary, and the largest church in the country. The rest of the day will be yours to lounge about at the famous thermal baths and soak up the city alfresco. This evening we’ll join forces as a group for an included dinner in town to try some more Hungarian delicacies.
Day 11 Day 11: Budapest To Ljubljana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Budapest To Ljubljana

Having immersed ourselves in all things Hungarian, we’ll make a stop at magical Lake Bled and then we’re off to Ljubljana, a name you’ll be able to pronounce by the time we’re leaving for Croatia. You’ve probably seen pictures of Lake Bled, but nothing will prepare you for the real thing. With its fairytale medieval castle reaching out of an islet, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Julian Alps and the turquoise waters of the lake itself, it really is like something out of a Disney movie. After a morning of swoonin at all that beauty, we’ll be ready to arrive in Ljubljana for a free evening to grab dinner.
Day 12 Day 12: Ljubljana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Ljubljana

Although you might find nods to neighbouring countries within Slovenian culture, a distinct identity has evolved from a melody of influences in Ljubljana. After our guided walking tour, explore the bohemian art district of Metelkova Mesto, sit by one of the cities atmospheric watercourses & try all the incredible food on offer.
Day 13 Day 13: Ljubljana To Plitvice Lakes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Ljubljana To Plitvice Lakes

Next up is something altogether drop dead gorgeous.... A strong introduction to Croatia is on the cards today with cascading teal forest pools at Plitvice Lakes. Why this place is not famous world over as one of the prettiest places in Europe, we have no idea.
Day 14 Day 14: Plitvice Lakes To Split
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Plitvice Lakes To Split

We’ll hit the road this morning for Split. On the way we’ll have an option to experience even more natural beauty at the famous Krka Waterfalls. As well as being one of the most photogenic places you’ve ever seen! After plenty of selfies it’s time to head onto split, where we’ll enjoy an optional farm-to-table Croatian feast, washed down with local wine.
Day 15 Day 15: End Split
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: End Split

This morning, Split becomes sob town as the adventure ends and we say our teary goodbyes. We have two words: reunion trip. It’s the only way to ease the pain.

+12

15 days tour

Best Of Balkans Start Split (15 Days)

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of Balkans Start Split (15 Days)

Day 1: Start Split

Day 2: Split To Dubrovnik

Day 3: Dubrovnik

Day 4: Dubrovnik To Budva

Day 5: Budva

Day 6: Budva To Sarajevo

Day 7: Sarajevo

Day 8: Sarajevo To Belgrade

Day 9: Belgrade To Budapest

Day 10: Budapest

Day 11: Budapest To Ljubljana

Day 12: Ljubljana

Day 13: Ljubljana To Plitvice Lakes

Day 14: Plitvice Lakes To Split

Day 15: End Split

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