Balkan adventure holiday
| country: | Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | Departs Saturdays Apr - Oct |
| price: | From £1210 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| offers: | Save 15% on all trips to Europe and the Middle East if you book by 9th April |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Balkan adventure holiday
Welcome to the Balkans - where East meets West and new merges almost imperceptibly with old. Over the centuries people have been drawn to this region for its fertile soil, natural resources and healing waters. This enchanting land, which has remained virtually untouched by tourism, holds much tradition and a rich and diverse culture. Embark on a memorable adventure to discover its natural beauty, mouth-watering cuisine, pulsating nightlife and hospitable people.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Budapest. Built on the banks of the Danube River, this beautiful city is best seen from the water. Admire the architecture and cross the iconic Chain Bridge to get a great view over the Castle District. |
| Days 3-4: | Osijek. Cross the border into Croatia and travel to the beautiful city of Osijek. Explore grand buildings, stroll along the mighty Drava River and search out wildlife in the beautiful wetlands of the Kopacki Rit Nature Park. |
| Days 5-6: | Belgrade. Soak up the history of one of Europe's oldest cities and experience a mix of progressive flamboyance and conservative tradition. Stroll through the Bohemian quarter or explore the boulevards to see Orthodox churches vying for space amid fashionable nightclubs. |
| Days 7-9: | Sarajevo/Mostar. Travel through serene countryside to the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. A day trip to Mostar affords an opportunity to see the famous town and bridge, both reduced to rubble during the Yugoslav wars. Since rebuilt, the town is an important symbol of the new Balkans. |
| Day 10: | Ostrog Monastery. Follow pilgrims up the rocky mountain path and spend the night in humble konaks at a monastery. |
| Days 11-12: | Budva. The 'Montenegrin Miami' is known for its pristine coastline and vibrant nightlife. Hit the beach and soak up some sun. |
| Day 13: | Kotor. Hop aboard a bus bound for a perfectly preserved, World Heritage-listed medieval town with charming, crooked alleyways to explore. |
| Days 14-15: | Dubrovnik. Walk along the city walls for panoramas of the Adriatic Sea or climb Mt Srd for an aerial perspective. |
traveller reviews for Balkan adventure holiday
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.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
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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. |
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