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Discover the delights of Eastern Europe from Dubrovnik to Istanbul.
Embrace romance on this 23-day tour through Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and into Turkey. This itinerary combines the best of the Balkans; a colourful tapestry of cultures, landscapes and traditions, with whimsical villages and walled cities to sparkling waters and stunning national parks. Be charmed by the hearty food and opulent buildings of Sofia, learn the political history of Sarajevo, discover a 10th-century monastery in the Rila Mountains, and spend three nights on the Black Sea Coast. With local guides to illuminate the historic sights and cities along the way, this trip is a feast of ancient cultures, untouched wilderness and some of the best food and drink in Europe.
- Start
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Finish
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Destinations
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PEKAC
- Physical rating
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Under the guidance of knowledgeable locals, you'll visit some of the region's most beautiful cathedrals, monasteries, palaces, Ottoman mosques and UNESCO-protected townscapes.
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The smaller, lesser-known destinations on this trip are some of the best. The crystalline beauty of towns like Mostar and Veliko Tarnovo is the stuff of fairy tales.
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Visit the Zivanovic family’s honey museum and winery in Sremski Karlovci. Their old house has been converted into museum full of beekeeping memorabilia and the have had a wine cellar here for 300 years.
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Explore cultural and architectural delights of Sofia on a tour with a local guide, stopping along the way to indulge in local delicacies like shopska (cucumber salad), ukanka (semi-dried salami) and wine.
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Observe the architectural grand jewels of Turkey from the water during a cruise along the narrow Bosphorus strait that bisects the city.
Is this trip right for you?
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Summer temperatures can reach 40°C or higher in some areas, so it's important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
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As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. While this is a great opportunity to chat with like-minded travellers, you can purchase a single room supplement (where available) if you'd prefer not to share. Note that many hotels in Europe don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
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A visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Centre can be an emotional experience. If you would rather not visit the centre please just let your leader know.
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You will visit a number of religious buildings which require a level of modesty. You will need to bring clothes that cover the shoulders and trousers/shorts or skirts that go to knee. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.
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Part of travelling with Peregrine means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. You will visit several religious buildings on this trip which require men and women to cover from shoulder to knee. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders
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Itinerary
Accommodation
- Hotel Lero or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Dinner
Special Information
An airport arrival transfer is included in the price of the trip. Please advise your travel agent of your flight details at the time of booking. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Meet your leader and group, and have your essential details such as passport number and insurance details ready for collection. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception.Accommodation
- Hotel Lero or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kotor Sightseeing with Local Guide
- St Tryphon's Cathedral
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that the drive from Dubrovnik to Kotor should take about 2 hours one-way, but can be longer if there is a lot of traffic at the border crossing entering or leaving Montenegro. Please have your passport handy.Accommodation
- Hotel Festival or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Blagaj Teke Monastery
- Guided Tour in Mostar with a Local Guide & Craftsman Visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Hotel Festival or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sarajevo Sightseeing with Local Guide
- War Tunnel Museum
- Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Royal Inn Belgrade or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Srebrenica Memorial Centre with Local Guide
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
A visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Centre can be an emotional experience. If you would rather not visit the centre just let your leader know.Accommodation
- Hotel Royal Inn Belgrade or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Guided Tour Belgrade
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Royal Inn Belgrade or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Petrovaradin Fortress
- Wine & Honey Tasting in Sremski Karlovci
- Novo Hopovo Monastery
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Hotel Royal Inn Belgrade or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Sveti Sava Church - Free
- Museum of Contemporary Art - RSD120
- Tito’s Mausoleum (House of Flowers) - RSD400
- Military Museum - RSD200
- Nikola Tesla Museum - RSD500
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. We suggest you attend, as this is also a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.Accommodation
- Mecavnik Festival Village (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Mecavnik Festival Village (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Western Serbian Gastronomy Experience with Cooking Class & Lunch
- Sargan Eight Heritage Railway
- Hike in Tara National Park
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodation
- New City Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Bubanj Memorial Park
- Nis Walking Tour with Local Guide
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Coop or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Urban Adventures - Sofia Food, Heritage, and Culture
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Hotel Coop or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Urban Adventures - Breakfast with Sofia - EUR27
- National Art Gallery - BGN10
- National History Museum - BGN10
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Evmolpia or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Rila Monastery Visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Evmolpia or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Yustina Winery Visit with Wine Tasting & Lunch
- Bachkovo Monastery Visit
- Plovdiv Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Accommodation
- Hotel Evmolpia or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Hisarya Hot Springs - BGN50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Concorde or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Tsarevets Fortress
- Etar Ethnographic Village
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Sea Sense or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Hotel Sea Sense or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Ropotamo Nature Reserve Boat Cruise
- Visit to Castle of Ravadinovo
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Hotel Sea Sense or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Legacy Ottoman Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Accommodation
- Legacy Ottoman Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
22 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 8 dinnersTransport
Private vehicle, Heritage railwayAccommodation
Comfortable Hotel (18 nights), Feature stay in Drvengrad and Sozopol (5 nights)Included Activities
- Kotor Sightseeing with Local Guide
- St Tryphon's Cathedral
- Blagaj Teke Monastery
- Guided Tour in Mostar with a Local Guide & Craftsman Visit
- Sarajevo Sightseeing with Local Guide
- War Tunnel Museum
- Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque
- Srebrenica Memorial Centre with Local Guide
- Guided Tour Belgrade
- Petrovaradin Fortress
- Wine & Honey Tasting in Sremski Karlovci
- Novo Hopovo Monastery
- Western Serbian Gastronomy Experience with Cooking Class & Lunch
- Sargan Eight Heritage Railway
- Hike in Tara National Park
- Bubanj Memorial Park
- Nis Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Urban Adventures - Sofia Food, Heritage, and Culture
- Rila Monastery Visit
- Yustina Winery Visit with Wine Tasting & Lunch
- Bachkovo Monastery Visit
- Plovdiv Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum
- Tsarevets Fortress
- Etar Ethnographic Village
- Ropotamo Nature Reserve Boat Cruise
- Visit to Castle of Ravadinovo
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise
Dates & availability
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Important notes
LEVEL OF FITNESS
This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
ARRIVAL TRANSFER
An arrival transfer from Dubrovnik Airport to the start point hotel is included in the price of the trip. Please advise your travel agent of your flight times at the time of booking.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.

Essential trip information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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