Arrive in Budapest, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and enjoy your first impressions of Hungary’s elegant capital. Take a leisurely walk along the Danube, visit a nearby café or sample traditional Hungarian cuisine before meeting your tour leader and fellow travellers at the evening welcome meeting.

Explore Budapest with a local guide, beginning with panoramic views from Gellért Hill. Continue through Buda to Buda Castle, Trinity Square, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church before crossing the Chain Bridge into Pest. See the Hungarian Parliament, Váci Street, St Stephen’s Basilica, Andrássy Avenue and Heroes’ Square. The afternoon is free, with the option to enjoy Budapest’s thermal baths or join an evening Danube cruise.

Travel from Hungary into Croatia and arrive in Zagreb. Explore the Croatian capital on foot with a local guide, beginning in Kaptol Square and the Upper Town. Visit Zagreb Cathedral, St Mark’s Church, St Catherine’s Church and the historic Parliament building. Later, enjoy free time to explore Ban Jelačić Square, Dolac Market, Ilica Street and the surrounding Old Town at your own pace.

Leave Zagreb and travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its cascading waterfalls, interconnected lakes and lush forest landscapes. Enjoy a guided walk through this extraordinary natural setting before continuing towards Split on the Adriatic coast. After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is free to relax, explore the waterfront or enjoy a leisurely Croatian dinner.

Explore Split’s Old Town with a local guide and uncover the city’s remarkable Roman heritage. Visit Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St Domnius and the Temple of Jupiter, all woven into the fabric of the modern city. The afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish. Consider an excursion to Hvar, a walk up Marjan Hill or simply relax beside the Adriatic.

Travel along Croatia’s spectacular coastline towards Dubrovnik, the celebrated Pearl of the Adriatic. After checking in, explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town on a guided walking tour. Visit the Rector’s Palace and see Sponza Palace, Orlando’s Tower and the Franciscan Monastery. The afternoon is free for exploring the city walls, visiting museums, taking the cable car or enjoying the Adriatic views.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Dubrovnik. Wander the Old Town, explore the historic city walls or relax at a café overlooking the harbour. For a broader taste of the Adriatic, an optional full-day Montenegro excursion visits Perast and Kotor, including the opportunity to take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks. The excursion returns to Dubrovnik in the late afternoon.

Cross into Bosnia & Herzegovina and continue to Mostar, where a guided walk introduces the historic Old Town and UNESCO-protected Old Bridge. See the distinctive architecture lining the Neretva River and experience the atmosphere of this culturally layered city. Continue to Sarajevo in the late afternoon, with time to settle in and enjoy the Bosnian capital independently.

Explore Sarajevo with a local guide, beginning in Baščaršija, the city’s historic Turkish bazaar. See the Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque, Sebilj Fountain, City Hall and Spite House before visiting the Tunnel of Hope Museum. The tour also passes significant sites connected with Sarajevo’s modern history. Enjoy free time afterwards, followed by an included dinner featuring traditional Bosnian cuisine.

Travel north from Sarajevo towards Belgrade, passing through changing Balkan landscapes and countryside. Arrive in Serbia’s capital during the afternoon, leaving time to begin exploring independently. Walk along Knez Mihailova Street, visit Kalemegdan Fortress or enjoy the meeting point of the Danube and Sava rivers from a riverside café.

Discover Belgrade on a guided tour beginning at the historic fortress overlooking the Danube and Sava. Continue through New Belgrade and the riverside district of Zemun before visiting the impressive Saint Sava Temple. The afternoon is free for independent exploration. In the evening, visit the bohemian Skadarlija quarter for an included dinner and an introduction to traditional Serbian cuisine.

Travel towards Novi Sad via Sremski Karlovci, a historic town in Serbia’s wine region. Explore its heritage and visit a local cellar to sample Bermet, a distinctive local wine. Continue to Novi Sad for a walking tour and free time before crossing into Romania and travelling onwards to Timișoara. The evening is free to relax or begin exploring the city.

Begin with a guided exploration of Timișoara’s historic centre, including Victory Square, Liberty Square, Union Square and its distinctive religious architecture. Continue to Corvin Castle, a dramatic Gothic fortress in Transylvania. Later arrive in Sibiu for a walking tour encompassing the Large Square, Small Square, Council Tower, Bridge of Lies and Orthodox Cathedral. Enjoy free time to experience Sibiu independently.

Travel through Transylvania to Sighișoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its beautifully preserved medieval centre. Visit the Clock Tower, Dominican Monastery Church, Tailors’ Tower and Covered Stairway before continuing to Brașov. Explore the city’s historic streets, including the Black Church, Catherine’s Gate and its distinctive medieval architecture.

Continue through the landscapes of Transylvania, beginning with Bran Castle, associated with the Dracula legend and Vlad the Impaler. Continue to Peles Castle in Sinaia, an ornate Neo-Renaissance former royal residence surrounded by mountain scenery. After exploring these two remarkable castles, continue to Bucharest and enjoy free time after checking into your hotel.

Explore Bucharest on a guided city tour, taking in the Palace of the Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Lipscani Street, Calea Victoriei and Revolution Square. The city’s mixture of French-inspired, Byzantine and communist-era architecture provides a fascinating introduction to Romania’s capital. The afternoon is free to explore independently before an included evening dinner.

Cross into Bulgaria and visit the UNESCO-listed Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a remarkable complex of churches, chapels and monastic spaces carved into the surrounding rock. Continue to the historic village of Arbanasi before arriving in Veliko Tarnovo, the former medieval capital of Bulgaria. Explore its dramatic setting along the Yantra River and enjoy free time in the evening.

Visit the Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum Etar, showcasing traditional Bulgarian architecture, crafts and ways of life. Continue through the Valley of the Roses towards Kazanlak, visiting the Damascene Ethnographic Complex and the UNESCO-listed Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak. Later arrive in Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities, and enjoy a free evening.

Explore Plovdiv on a guided walking tour, visiting the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, Roman Stadium and Church of Saint Constantine and Helena. Continue through the creative Kapana district before travelling to Sofia. In the evening, enjoy an included Bulgarian dinner accompanied by a traditional folklore performance featuring music and dance.

Discover Sofia’s historic centre on a guided walking tour. See the remains of the ancient Serdica complex, St George Rotunda, St Sofia Basilica, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the National Theatre. The afternoon is free for independent exploration, or you may choose an optional excursion to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the Rila Mountains.

After breakfast, your Balkan adventure comes to an end. Transfer to Sofia Airport for your onward flight.