Day 1 Fly to Sofia and transfer to the 4-star Hotel Anel for three nights.
Day 2 Travel south to visit Rila Monastery, a symbol of the 19th-century Bulgarian Renaissance and spiritual centre of the country. Tour of Sofia visiting Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Russian Church, St. George’s Rotunda and Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rakia Tasting. (B)
Day 3 Travel to Plovdiv and tour the old town including a visit to the Roman theatre and Dzhumaya Mosque. (B)
Day 4 Cross the border to Nis in Serbia (3 hrs) one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and take a tour of its fortress. Continue to Belgrade (3 hrs) for three nights at the 4-star Belgrade Art Hotel. (B)
Day 5 Morning tour visits the medieval Kalemegdan Fortress, Republic Square, Church of Saint Sava and Tito’s memorial. Coffee and cake at a kafana. (B)
Day 6 Drive to Sremski Karlovci, the spiritual and cultural centre of Serbia for a tour of the Baroque centre and a wine tasting. Continue to Novi Sad to visit Petrovaradin Fortress and its Gothic and Baroque architecture. (B)
Day 7 Travel to Viminacium, one of the most important Roman cities alongside the Danube and visit the archaeological site. Travel along the Danube to view King Decebal’s face (3 hrs), carved into the rock on the banks of the river and the Romanian spa town Băile Herculane for overnight at the 3-star Afrodita Hotel. (B)
Day 8 Drive to Târgu Jiu to view sculptures by Constantin BrâncuÈ™i, a pioneer of modernism. Continue to Horezu and visit the monastery, part of UNESCO World Heritage. Later, travel to Râmnicu Vâlcea for overnight at the 4-star Ramada Hotel. (B)
Day 9 Travel to Curtea de Arges to visit the monastery. Drive to Bucharest for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Cismigiu. (B)
Day 10 Tour of Bucharest includes the Palace of Parliament, Metropolitan Church, Romanian Athenaeum and Arch of Triumph. Later, visit the open-air Village Museum in Herăstrău Park. Drink at a historic restaurant. (B)
Day 11 Return flight. (B)
- Key
- B - Breakfast
- L - Lunch
- D - Dinner