800.343.6266

11-Nights Discover the Balkans - National Geographic Journeys

Eastern Europe
11-Nights Discover the Balkans - National Geographic Journeys
Eastern Europe
G Adventures
Vacation Offer ID 1532835
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
Overview

G Adventures

Journeys: Discover the Balkans
On the crossroads between East and West, the Balkan Peninsula dazzles with less-discovered gems. Enjoy a fascinating introduction to the stunning Dalmatian coast of Croatia, the dramatic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the lush waterways of Montenegro, discovering an array of UNESCO World Heritage sites and natural treasures along the way.

Highlights
Visit the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park, Explore the ancient town of Mostar and the Stari Most (Old Bridge), Take a tour of the "Tunnel of Life" in Sarajevo, Spend a couple days on the Bay of Kotor.

Accommodation
Hotels (11 nts).

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Group Size Notes
Max 16, Avg 10.

Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Siege of Sarajevo Tour, Sarajevo Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Agroturizam Experience, Dubrovnik Your G for Good Moment: DES?A Women's Centre Visit, Dubrovnik Local Life: Traditional Peka Dinner, Zagreb. Plitvice Lakes National Park walk. Traditional peka dinner. Split orientation walk around Diocletian's Palace. Excursion to Mostar visiting the Stari Most (Old Bridge). Kotor orientation walk. Dubrovnik city wall walk. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Featured Destinations

Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor

For centuries, Montenegro's Boka Kotorska, or Bay of Kotor, the deepest coastal inlet in the Mediterranean, was the boundary between Christianity and Islam. Today, the beach-lined bay, located 35 mi/55 km west of Podgorica, is home to several tourist resorts and historical sites. It is also considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and is the southernmost fjord in Europe.

Herceg Novi, strategically located at the northern entrance of the Bay of Kotor, is close to the borders of Bosnia and Croatia. Herceg Novi is noted for its city gates, fortresses and the church and monastery of Savina, which contain Gothic and baroque architecture. It is also a haven for artists, with numerous galleries located throughout the area that continuously hold exhibitions. If you visit in February, you can attend the Mimosa Festival, which is the city's oldest traditional event.

The 14th-century port of Perast has been declared a national conservation area. It has a strong seafaring tradition—Peter the Great, when building up the Russian Navy, sent sailors to its naval academy. With the mountains in the background and the Bay of Kotor in the foreground, Perast is a pleasant place to spend some time just relaxing or strolling its narrow streets.

At the southern end of the bay is the town of Kotor, a medieval walled city on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Kotor rates a full day to walk its narrow streets, investigate the shops and see Katedrala Sv. Tripuna (St. Tryphon's Cathedral). History buffs will enjoy the Maritime Museum located in the Grgurina Palace. If you're feeling fit, you can walk on Kotor's fortress walls that eventually wind their way up to St. Ivan's Castle. It's a steep climb, but worth it for the views of the bay.

Other interesting places along the bay include the fortresses and second-century Roman mosaics in Risan and the Island of Flowers near Tivat.

Destination Guide
Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo is one of the most historically interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & Eastern Roman Empire split; where the people of the Eastern Orthodox east, the Ottoman south and the Roman Catholic west, met, lived and warred. It has been both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-cultural integration.

Today the city has physically recovered from most of the war damage caused by the Yugoslav Wars of the early nineties. Sarajevo is a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist that is a delight to visit. The people are very friendly, be they Bosniak, Serb, or Croat. There is very little crime, not nearly as many tourists as on the Dalmatian coast and a wealth of architecture (not to mention history) to see.

Destination Guide
Mostar

Mostar

Mostar is a small historic town in southwestern Bosnia, surrounded on three sides by rugged mountains. Mostar is Bosnia's most famous and popular destination, mainly because of its impressive Ottoman-era historic district and famous Ottoman-built arched stone bridge over the Neretva River gorge. Although quite small, Mostar is the capital of the Herzegovina district.

Since Mostar lies on the trading route between the Adriatic Sea and mineral-rich Bosnian lands, the site was occupied for many centuries prior to Ottoman rule of the region. However, it was the Ottoman Turks who established the present-day town when taking control of the region in 1468. They began building many Ottoman-style buildings, Turkish-style mosques and large private mansions for wealthy citizens. Their most-acclaimed architectural structure is the arched stone bridge, Stari Most, built in 1566.

Like nearly every town and city in Bosnia, Mostar was badly damaged by the 1990s regional wars. Many historic mansions and buildings, private homes and all of Mostar's bridges were completely destroyed. A major incident in Mostar took place in 1993, when Bosnian Croats began a 10-month siege of the Muslim quarter of the city, rendering its landmark, stone-arch bridge, Stari Most, and mosques to rubble.

Fortunately, Mostar has been able to rebuild, in great part thanks to various international organizations and governments contributions. The reconstruction of Stari Most (the Old Bridge) has been completed and it is well worth a visit. On the other hand, many large buildings have been left in states of destruction, complete with bullet and grenade holes, providing a stark reminder of the devastation. Rebuilding of the city continues, and tourists are warmly welcomed.

The annual bridge jumping competition from Stari Most into the Neretva River below is famous throughout the regions. Having taken place for more than four centuries, this competition attracts both swimmers and spectators from all over Europe.

Destination Guide
Plitvice National Park

Plitvice National Park

The natural attributes of Plitvice Lakes National Park, uniqueness and sensibility of that phenomenon, deserve full attention of visitors. Its natural diversity and harmony of shapes and colours in any of the seasons are enough to make any visitor amazed by the beauty. UNESCO has declared it with all rights as the World's natural inheritance.
Destination Guide
Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Classed as a world heritage treasure by UNESCO, Dubrovnik is a place of ancient streets lined with stone palaces, Venetian-style buildings and bell towers. The city is enclosed by stone walls, and the highlight is a leisurely walk atop these massive walls for a great view of the city and the sea. Entering Dubrovnik, you are greeted by an impressive pedestrian promenade, the Placa, which extends before you all the way to the clock tower at the other end of town. The Orlando Tower here is a favorite meeting place. Just inside the city walls near the Pile Gate is the Franciscan Monastery housing the third-oldest functioning pharmacy in Europe, operating since 1391. For a fantastic panorama of the city, take a cable car ride to the summit of the 1,340-foot Mount Srdj.
Destination Guide
Split

Split

Split, the largest Croatian city on the Adriatic coast, is the heart of Dalmatia. The old town is built around the harbor on the south side of a high peninsula sheltered from the open sea by many islands. Split achieved fame when the Roman emperor Diocletian (245-313), noted for his persecution of early Christians, had his retirement palace built here from 295 to 305. Since 1945 Split has grown into a major industrial city with large apartment-block housing areas. Much of old Split remains, however, and this combined with its exuberant nature makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Europe.
Destination Guide
Zagreb

Zagreb

Croatia's capital and largest city, Zagreb also was the cultural capital of the former Yugoslavia. The city boasts many museums, art galleries, orchestras and folk festivals. Today, outdoor cafes are full, dance clubs pump music into the night air and art festivals are as popular as they were before the war. Zagreb has several reminders of the Austro-Hungarian period, particularly the decorated facades and the deep yellow color of old government buildings.
Destination Guide

View Full Itinerary

Valid Date Ranges

May 2025
05/04/2025 05/15/2025 $3,799 per person
05/11/2025 05/22/2025 $3,799 per person
05/18/2025 05/29/2025 $3,799 per person
05/25/2025 06/05/2025 $3,799 per person
June 2025
06/01/2025 06/12/2025 $3,799 per person
06/08/2025 06/19/2025 $3,799 per person
06/15/2025 06/26/2025 $3,799 per person
06/29/2025 07/10/2025 $3,999 per person
July 2025
07/06/2025 07/17/2025 $3,999 per person
07/13/2025 07/24/2025 $3,999 per person
07/27/2025 08/07/2025 $3,999 per person
August 2025
08/10/2025 08/21/2025 $3,999 per person
08/24/2025 09/04/2025 $3,999 per person
08/31/2025 09/11/2025 $3,999 per person
September 2025
09/07/2025 09/18/2025 $4,199 per person
09/10/2025 09/21/2025 $4,199 per person
09/14/2025 09/25/2025 $4,199 per person
09/21/2025 10/02/2025 $4,199 per person
09/28/2025 10/09/2025 $4,199 per person
May 2026
05/03/2026 05/14/2026 $3,799 per person
05/10/2026 05/21/2026 $3,799 per person
05/17/2026 05/28/2026 $3,799 per person
05/24/2026 06/04/2026 $3,799 per person
05/31/2026 06/11/2026 $3,799 per person
June 2026
06/07/2026 06/18/2026 $3,799 per person
06/14/2026 06/25/2026 $3,799 per person
06/28/2026 07/09/2026 $3,799 per person
July 2026
07/12/2026 07/23/2026 $3,799 per person
07/26/2026 08/06/2026 $3,799 per person
August 2026
08/09/2026 08/20/2026 $3,799 per person
08/23/2026 09/03/2026 $3,799 per person
September 2026
09/06/2026 09/17/2026 $3,799 per person
09/09/2026 09/20/2026 $3,799 per person
09/13/2026 09/24/2026 $3,799 per person
09/20/2026 10/01/2026 $3,799 per person
09/27/2026 10/08/2026 $3,799 per person
Pricing is per person, land only, in US dollars and based on double occupancy. For specific validity dates, discount amount and tour information, please return to the promotion in question. Promotion valid on G Adventures small group tours excluding Independent, MS Expedition or National Geographic Journeys, unless otherwise stated. Promotion applicable to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Does not apply to airfare (unless otherwise stated), pre-/post-accommodation, 'My Own Room' or 'My Own Tent', transfers, theme packs, insurance, polar kayaking & camping excursions or other in-country services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time. Itinerary and map subject to change.  Please click here for a description of the travel style options provided by G Adventures. 

Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
 

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.