Contrastes del Este (2026)

Day 1: Zagreb

Arrival in Zagreb. We’ll be ready to transfer you to your hotel. Our guide will join us with the group from Slovenia around lunchtime. In the afternoon, at around 04:00 p.m. (time may vary), we’ll embark on a panoramic tour with a local guide (included), giving us the opportunity to admire the city´s two hills, the upper town, and the new neighborhoods of Croatia’s capital. Dinner will be included.

Day 2: Zagreb - Banja Luka - Jajce - Sarajevo

We’ll depart early in the morning to travel to Bosnia. Border formalities may take some time. As we drive through certain areas, we’ll be reminded of the tragic war of the 1990s. Our journey will take us through the majority-Serb territory of Bosnia, with our first stop in Banja Luka. Here, you’ll have time to explore the capital of the autonomous entity of Republika Srpska, the second largest city in Bosnia after Sarajevo, known for its fortress and Orthodox cathedral. There will be time for lunch. We’ll then continue to Jajce, arguably the most beautiful town in Bosnia, celebrated for its cultural diversity, mosque, fortress, and impressive waterfall (admission included). After some time to explore, we’ll proceed to Sarajevo, arriving in the evening. You’ll have the opportunity to stroll through the historic center and visit the charming Bazaar, an old Ottoman market renowned for its architecture, oriental ambiance, and traditional shops. Dinner will be included.

Day 3: Sarajevo - Mostar - Dubrovnik

In the morning, we include a guided tour of SARAJEVO, a fascinating city known as the “Jerusalem of Europe” for its coexistence of different religions. Mosques, churches, and synagogues reflect this rich diversity. We will notice the strong Ottoman influence in its old town, with its more than 500-year-old mosque and beautiful fountain.After the visit, we continue our journey through an area of stunning natural beauty to MOSTAR, with its beautiful historic center and its iconic stone bridge that links the Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic communities. Free time for lunch and to explore the city.We then continue on to CROATIA. Border formalities (which may be lengthy). Arrival in DUBROVNIK at the end of the day. Dinner included

Day 4: Dubrovnik

We’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide in the morning. We will undoubtedly be in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, perched on a cliff, surrounded by walls and kissed by the Adriatic Sea. Its intact historic center is a jewel of world architectural heritage. We’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a stunning view of the city from a scenic viewpoint along the road. The tour includes tickets to the Franciscan Monastery, home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe, and the Assumption Cathedral. We’ll also take a boat trip to Lokrum, a small island just 15 minutes away that is home to the ruins of an eleventh-century Benedictine monastery, a popular setting for the series Game of Thrones. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner will be included.Note: On some occasions, accommodation may be in Cavtat, a coastal town near Dubrovnik. From November to March, there is no boat service to Lokrum, so we will not visit the island during these months.

Day 5: Dubrovnik - Kotor - Budva - Tirana

We’ll set off early for MONTENEGRO. After completing border procedures, we’ll enjoy the stunning coastal scenery and the Bay of Kotor. We’ll take a ferry across the bay to Kotor, where you’ll have time to explore this beautiful walled town with its strong Venetian influence. Next, we’ll stop in BUDVA, a charming walled village surrounded by the sea, for lunch. Then we’ll travel to ALBANIA. After customs procedures, we’ll go to the capital, TIRANA. Dinner will be included.

Day 6: Tirana - Struga - Ohrid

Today, we’ll embark on a panoramic tour of Tirana, the capital of Albania, visiting its mosques, the Clock Tower, and the ministries. Around midday, we’ll head inland, passing through Albania’s tall mountain scenery and little villages. Enjoy the beautiful countryside around Lake Ohrid, which forms the border with Macedonia. We’ll continue to the Republic of Macedonia (border procedures) and stop for lunch in Struga, a picturesque town on the lake´s shores. We’ll then proceed to Ohrid, a city rich in Ottoman influence and a designated World Heritage Site. You’ll have time to explore the Plaosnik Monastery, or the ancient university founded in the ninth century. Dinner will be included.

Day 7: Ohrid - Bitola - Kalambaka

We’ll journey through MACEDONIA into GREECE, with a stop in BITOLA, a city rich in history and charm, known for its Ottoman and neoclassical architecture. You’ll have time to stroll along Širok Sokak, a lively area filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops. After completing border formalities, we’ll enter Greece, where the northern region is deeply influenced by Slavic and Ottoman culture and features rugged landscapes. Our journey will continue to the Meteora region. Just outside Kalabaka, we’ll stop in KASTRAKI, a picturesque village offering stunning views of the valley, where you’ll have time for lunch before going to the Meteora Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll drive through the entire valley and include admission to one of the most famous cliffside monasteries. Arrival in KALABAKA, with dinner included.

Day 8: Kalambaka - Thessaloniki - Melnik - Sandanski

We’ll journey through northern Greece, taking in the beautiful mountain scenery as we head towards the Aegean Sea. Our first stop will be in Thessaloniki, where we’ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch in Greece’s second-largest city. Afterward, we’ll continue into Bulgaria, crossing the border into the region of Bulgarian Macedonia. Here, we’ll visit Melnik, a picturesque museum town nestled among stunning landscapes and renowned for its wine production. We’ll conclude our day in Sandanski, a charming spa town known as the birthplace of Spartacus where we’ll stay for the night. Dinner will be included.

Day 9: Sandanski - Rila - Sofia

We’ll visit the stunning Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its fortress-like appearance and beautiful forest surroundings. We’ll then continue to Sofia, arriving by late morning. After lunch, we’ll take a guided tour of Bulgaria’s capital, where we’ll see the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, and the city´s squares and avenues, showcasing Stalinist architecture. You’ll have free time afterward to explore the city at your leisure.

Day 10: Sofia - Istanbul

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport to take a regular flight to Turkey (included; departure times may vary). Upon arriving in Istanbul, we’ll provide a transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your leisure. You’ll receive detailed information about this part of your trip in the afternoon, either directly from our team or on the information boards at the hotel reception.

Day 11: Istanbul

A sightseeing tour of the city awaits us. On our tour, we´ll enter the Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest in Istanbul, we´ll explore the ancient walls, the Golden Horn, the bustling fishing district and we´ll marvel at the exterior of Hagia Sophia. Our tour also includes tickets to visit the Topkapi Palace, once the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire, with its magnificent courtyards and pavilions. In the afternoon, you´ll have free time to explore this city spanning two continents.As the afternoon draws to a close, we´ll arrange a transfer to Taksim, the city´s most vibrant commercial district. There, you´ll have time to dine at one of its many restaurants and see the charming old tram that runs through the area. Alternatively, you can visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Day 12: Istanbul

Today, we’ll embark on a boat trip on the Bosphorus (tickets included), lasting about two hours on a private boat exclusively for Europamundo travelers. This journey will take us through the strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul between its European and Asian sides. We’ll enjoy the lively activity of the strait with its many boats. We’ll pass under the two bridges that link Europe and Asia and admire the Sultan’s palaces, traditional wooden houses, and Ottoman architecture. Afterward, we’ll return to central Istanbul and have some free time.

Day 13: Istanbul

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.