Balkan adventure holiday

country:	Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia
trip type:	A small group adventure.
departures:	Weekly Saturday departures from late March - mid October
price:	From £605 (14 days) excluding flights, local payment €300. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed

read 2 travellers reviews

Europe overland holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

A fascinating journey through the Balkans from the 'Pearl of the Danube' to the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'.

Join us on an adventure like no other. From Hungary's captivating capital to Croatia and the former Yugoslav republics of Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Montenegro, this little known corner of Europe offers travellers something a little different from the norm. Intriguing cities, beautiful countryside, relaxing coastline and stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites allow us to get a true sense of the region and its people. This will most definitely be a trip to remember!

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Budapest. We converge in this historical city which, with its imposing architecture, monuments and quaint air gives us a glimpse of what's in store.
Day 2-3:	Novi Sad. Vegetarians may feel somewhat neglected in Novi Sad, capital of Serbia's 'bacon heartland', but its sights have a universal appeal. Originally established by the Romans, the hilltop Petrovaradin Fortress offers beautiful views of town.
Day 4-5:	Belgrade. One of Europe's oldest cities, Belgrade is a curious mish-mash of modernity and tradition. Observe how the Orthodox churches jostle for space with up-and-coming nightclubs in this vibrant city.
Day 6-8:	Sarajevo. Travel through serene countryside to the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. We take a stroll down the streets of this rejuvenated city, and head to the thermal springs of nearby llidza. There is plenty of free time to visit sites including the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Yugoslav Wars.
Day 9:	Ostrog Monastery. We imbibe a healthy dose of mysticism today with a visit to stunning Ostrog Monastery. Mingle with pilgrims on our overnight stay in a simple konak.
Day 10-11:	Budva. The Montenegrin Miami is known for its pristine coastline and vibrant nightlife. Hit the beach this afternoon to soak up some sun.
Day 12:	Kotor. Hop aboard a boat bound for World Heritage-listed Kotor, a perfectly-preserved medieval town with charming crooked alleyways to explore.
Day 13-14:	Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik retains much of its old-world charm despite damage sustained during the war. Walk along the city walls for great views of the city and Adriatic Sea, or climb Srd Hill for an aerial perspective.

travellers' tales

I loved the whole holiday but the people on the holiday were so great that they will remain in my memory for a long time. Sarajevo was perhaps the place I liked best for many reasons. Budva was beautiful. (more)

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

In the Balkans, our focus is on making a positive impact, providing numerous opportunities for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.

Your leader and local guides will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare, at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some local language at the same time).

On the many guided town tours we use the services of a local guide, helping to bring money into the local community and giving our travellers the benefit of the experience through the eyes of a local Balkan. For a touch of history we sleep overnight in OIstrog in a very non-commercial 'konak' (simple night quarters) close to the Lower Monastery, whereas in Dubrovnik we have the unique opportunity to stay in private apartments run by local families – a very special experience to live as the locals do.

During this trip we have many opportunities to visit the UNESCO World Heritage sights that feature in many of Europe’s destinations, where our entrance fees help maintain and restore these precious icons.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.