Your fly, tour and cruise package includes:

• Flight to Bucharest, return from Barcelona
• 17 night Treasures of the Balkans tour with Insight Vacations, Bucharest to Budapest
• Includes 17 nights accommodation in stylish hand-picked hotels
• 17 Breakfasts, 10 Dinners with Wine
• Airport transfers in Bucharest and Budapest

• Flight from Budapest to Barcelona
• 2 nights accommodation in Barcelona including breakfast
• 7 night Italian Coast cruise onboard Celebrity Edge, Barcelona return
• All onboard meals in complimentary dining venues & selected non-alcoholic beverages
• A wide range of activities & entertainment onboard
• Private transfers in Barcelona

***Rate is based on twin share for travel 17 July to 12 August 2023***

Treasures of the Balkans Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Bucharest
Transfers depart Henri Coandă International Airport at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 for your hotel, which is one of the city's most sophisticated and prestigious landmarks. At 18:00, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for your Welcome Dinner, served with wine at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Athénée Palace Hilton
Meals: Dinner with Wine

Day 2: From Bucharest to Brașov
Accommodation: Aro Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 3: Brasov and Sinaia
With your Local Expert, walk around Town Hall Square, lined with beautiful red-roofed houses and dominated by the Black Church. Travel along the Prahova Valley to the elegant mountain resort of Sinaia to visit Peleș Castle. Led by a local historian, admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armour and tapestries. Return through the Carpathian Mountains to the charming medieval city of Brașov, founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights.
Accommodation: Aro Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo
Cross the Danube into Bulgaria and continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful towns. In the evening, enjoy a Highlight Dinner of local specialities and wine, followed by an authentic folklore show.
Accommodation: Yantra Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 5: To Sofia
Meet your Local Expert to climb up to the ruined Tsarevets Fortress, a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Enjoy the stunning views over the old Bulgarian capital and the Yantra Valley. Arbanasi is one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The frescoed churches and fortified dwellings offer a unique insight into the former wealth and spiritual commitment of the settlement. Visit a traditional 17th century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity. Cross the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's modern day capital of Sofia. On arrival, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you to St. Sofia Church, across the square from the golden domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the archaeological complex, dominated by the church of St. George Rotonda.
Accommodation: InterContinental Sofia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 6: Sofia at Your Pace
Enjoy the day at your leisure. Perhaps visit the Rila Monastery or enjoy a fascinating insight into the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria?
Accommodation: InterContinental Sofia
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Skopje
Cross the border and continue to the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, an ultra-modern city juxtaposed by an ancient bazaar, where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy sightseeing with a Local Expert.
Accommodation: Bushi Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 8: Lake Ohrid and Tirana
Making your way to the border, stop by the scenic Lake Ohrid for lunch. Cross into Albania and journey to Tirana, renowned for its friendly locals.  Continue to the landmark Skanderbeg Square for an insider’s look at the Albanian capital.
Accommodation: MAK Albania Hotel Tirana
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 9: Kotor and Dubrovnik
Journey through the spectacular scenery of Montenegro to the Old Town of Kotor, known as Stari Grad. Located beside a beautiful bay near the limestone cliffs of Mt. Lovćen, its no surprise it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue over the Croatian border to the fortified port of Dubrovnik where you are at leisure to explore the Old Town, bustling with street artists, cafes and restaurants. At night, you may choose from a fine selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
Accommodation: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10: Dubrovnik Sightseeing
Join a Local Expert for a morning of exploring the stone-paved streets within the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's Fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. The rest of the day is free for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps enjoy an Optional Experience to a stunning town on the Adriatic coast, Cavtat, where you can wander along the pine-forest paths beside the crystal-clear sea. Visit the workshop of Deša during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This important educational centre supports vulnerable communities and promotes local cultural heritage.
Accommodation: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Dubrovnik, Paradise on Earth
Spend a day at leisure in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Sunbathe by the pool or stroll with friends along the ancient city walls. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to learn about olive oil traditions at an ancient mill, followed by a delightful home-cooked meal.
Accommodation: Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12: Mostar and Sarajevo
Journey to Mostar. With your Local Expert, see the famous Stari Most, the Old Bridge, reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, stretching on both sides of the bridge and filled with shops selling traditional handicrafts. Continue your travels following the scenic route to Sarajevo for a unique and rewarding insight into the local way of life as you are invited into a Sarajevan family home for a dinner with drinks. Savour the authentic cuisine and traditional Bosnian coffee as you hear inspirational stories.
Accommodation: Swissotel Sarajevo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 13: Sarajevo, City of Culture
Explore Sarajevo with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an expert on the Bosnian War for a visit to Sarajevo’s astonishing Tunnel of Hope. Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience for a nature walk to the spring of the Bosna River, a protected park just beyond the city, led by a conservation guide. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore as you wish.
Accommodation: Swissotel Sarajevo
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: The Serbian Capital of Belgrade
Trace your way along the Drina River, that lies on the border of Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Take in beautiful landscapes of lush, green mountains that create magical forest canyons, winding your way through deep valleys as you make your way to Belgrade.
Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 15: The Best of Belgrade
Join a Local Expert to see the best of Belgrade including Terazije Street, the national museum and national theatre in Republic Square, as well as a visit to the famous St. Sava Church. Finish your sightseeing at the Kalemegdan Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax or continue exploring on your own.
Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Old Mill Belgrade
Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Across to Budapest
Journey north and cross the Province of Vojvodina to reach Palić on the Hungarian border. See the picturesque lake, where you can admire the art nouveau buildings. Continue on through the vast wilderness of the Puszta, where once cowboys rustled up goulash under the stars. Your destination will be Budapest on the Danube.
Accommodation: Hotel Nemzeti Budapest – Mgallery
Meals: Breakfast

Day 17: Budapest, Queen of the Danube
Explore Buda with a Local Expert and marvel at the variety of architectural styles that adorn the city. Cross the Danube to the Pest district to visit Heroes' Square and travel down elegant Andrássy Boulevard. Enjoy time to wander through the Central Market Hall. Spread over three levels, the market is a foodie's paradise, brimming with aromatic food stalls offering delicious salamis, spicy paprika, delicious Tokaji wines and an array of flavoured Pálinkas, a traditional Hungarian fruit brandy. Tonight you are in for a treat with your Celebration Dinner at Gundel, one of Budapest's most renowned restaurants for over a hundred years. Dine in elegance as you savour hearty, Hungarian delicacies accompanied with specially-selected Hungarian wine.
Accommodation: Hotel Nemzeti Budapest – Mgallery
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 18: Depart Budapest
Departure transfers arrive at Ferenc Liszt International Airport at 07:00 and 11:00.
Meals: Breakfast

Italian Coast Cruise Itinerary