Grand Balkan

12 Days / 11 Nights
Banglore → Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Carpathian Mountains, Peleș Castle, Sofia, Macedonia Square, Pristina)

11 nights | 12 Days | 07 October 2026

“Balkan Countries” or “Balkans” are mostly countries located on the Balkan Peninsula situated in southeastern Europe. The boundaries of the Balkan Peninsula in the north are generally considered to be the Danube and Sava rivers. The Balkan Peninsula includes countries such as Croatia, Romania, Kosovo, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bulgaria. The population is predominantly Christian except Bosniaks, Kosovars and Albanians, who are mostly Muslims.

In ancient times, the Balkan Peninsula was dominated by the Greeks, and the Roman Empire was the last empire to dominate the region. Today, several Balkan countries are members of the EU and NATO, reflecting their growing integration into border European political and economic structure

Itinerary

Join the tour from anywhere in India and board your flight to Bangalore.
Meet your Santamonica tour manager at Bangalore airport
Begin your check-in procedures and prepare to board your flight to Bucharest.
You will arrive at Bucharest after a short transit through Frankfurt.
Complete the checkout procedures and exit from the airport
Meet your local tour guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in.
After which, we go for an orientation tour of Bucharest.
Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Bucharest, Romania.

Have your breakfast from the hotel in the morning
Today, we drive to the Carpathian Mountains, the third-longest European mountain range. It is 1500 km long and stretches across Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic and Serbia. The largest portion of the mountain is located in Romania.
Next, we visit Peleș Castle, a 19th-century castle commissioned by King Carol I and considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe.
After that, we visit Bran Castle, in Transylvania, Romania. This 14th-century fortress is also known as “Dracula’s Castle” as it resembles Dracula’s castle from Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.
Last spot for the day is a walk through the historic centre of Brașov, a picturesque city in Transylvania that boasts Renaissance architecture, historic churches and medieval charm.
After the day tour, we head back to Bucharest.
Dinner and overnight stay in Bucharest, Romania.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning
Check out of the hotel and drive from Bucharest to Sofia via Ruse. Sofia is a 7000-year-old European city, the capital and largest city of Bulgaria.
We will be having lunch en route.
Once we reach Sofia, we go for a guided city tour of Sofia. It features a blend of Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques and Soviet-era architecture. One of Europe’s oldest capitals, it is historically rich promising impressive sights and landmarks.
After the tour, we check-in to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.
Check out of the hotel and drive to Skopje, which is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. A fascinating city with Ottoman heritage and stone structures along Vardar River.
Once we arrive at Skopje, we will have lunch.
Post lunch, we visit the memorial house of Mother Teresa. Skopje is the birthplace of Mother Teresa, and it is a tribute to her humanitarian work.
Later, carry on with a guided city tour including Old Bazaar and Stone Bridge (a 15th-century bridge crossing the Vardar River connecting Macedonia with the old bazaar).
Last stop for the day is at Macedonia Square, the central, largest and iconic square in Skopje, serving as the hub for tourism and city life. You don’t want to miss the “warrior on a horse” statue of Alexander the Great, the musical fountain, the stone bridge, etc.
Dinner and overnight stay in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Check out from the hotel, and we drive to Pristina, the capital and largest city of Kosovo.

Enjoy the guided city tour of Pristina.
We will be having lunch in Pristina
Post lunch, we continue our drive to Shkodër, one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and inhabited since the Early Bronze Age. It is often known as the gateway to the Albanian Alps. It is well known for its rich cultural history, castles, nature, and landscape, etc.
Dinner and overnight stay in Shkoder, Albania .

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Continue with the Tour of Shkoder where we have a photo stop at Lake Shkoder, the largest lake in Southern Europe and the Balkans, famous for its exceptional biodiversity providing habitat for more than 270 bird species, bird watching, etc.

Then we proceed to Montenegro, in the Balkans on the Adriatic sea, famous for dramatic mountain landscapes, coastal cities and breathtaking scenery.
After that, we drive along the Adriatic coast to Budva, a 2500-year-old walled town.
Free time to explore Budva, it is best known for sandy beaches, narrow cobblestone streets, medieval walls and diverse nightlife.
Check in to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay in Budva, Montenegro.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Check out of the hotel because today we will be exploring the historic town of Budva. Budva is Montenegro’s most popular resort town famous for beautiful beaches and nightlife. Explore Budva Old Town ( a walled coastal medieval town), Sveti Stefan etc.

From Budva we move to Kotor, one of Montenegro’s enchanting destinations surrounded by dramatic mountains and Adriatic waters. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site best known for perfectly preserved medieval charm.

Once we reach Kotor, proceed with a guided tour of the Old Kotor town. A maze of narrow stone streets, historic squares, centuries-old churches and Venetian architecture.

Enjoy a scenic drive around the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southwestern Montenegro is a breathtaking fjord surrounded by Limestone Mountains. Stunning scenery, medieval towns, rich history, and Mediterranean charm make it a must-visit place.

Arrive in Dubrovnik (Also called the Pearl of the Adriatic, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Croatia, famous for well-preserved medieval limestone walls, baroque churches and stunning coastal views)

Check into the hotel

Dinner and overnight stay in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Today, we begin the guided tour of Dubrovnik’s Old Town (which served as King’s Landing in the famous series, the Game of Thrones )

Later, we drive into Bosnia and Herzegovina, often called the “Jerusalem of Europe”, which is a blend of Ottoman and Hungarian empires, renowned for mountain landscapes, turquoise waters and unique culture.

En route, we stop in Mostar to visit Stari Most, a 16th-century Ottoman bridge in Mostar, over the Neretva River that connects two parts of the city. The iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar is one of the renowned architectural landmarks in the Balkan. It was rebuilt after its destruction during the Bosnian War.

Continue the drive to Međugorje, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which became a Catholic pilgrimage site after apparitions of the Virgin Mary were reported.
Check in to the hotel with dinner and overnight stay in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Then we visit pilgrimage sites in Medjugorje, including St. James Church. Medjugorje, which means “between mountains”, is a popular site of Catholic pilgrimage where more than 1 million people visit every year. Our Lady of Medjugorje is the name given to the apparition by those who believe that the Virgin Mary has been appearing to six children in Medjugorje since 24 June 1981 and continues to do so today.
Free time is allotted to pray and explore the churches and surroundings
By the afternoon, we depart for Croatia, one of Europe’s most stunning coastal destinations, famous for its crystal-clear Adriatic waters, historic towns, and dramatic landscapes.
Arrive in Croatia and check in to the hotel.
Dinner, and overnight stay in the Plitvice region, Croatia.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.

Post breakfast, we check out from the hotel and visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the oldest and largest national prks in Croatia listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its picturesque lakes, caves and waterfalls.

Later, we continue the journey toward Budapest, the capital of Hungary is famous for its stunning Danube-divided architecture and vibrant nightlife.

Arrive in Budapest, also known as the “Pearl of the Danube” is a mix of Roman, Ottoman, and Habsburg history.

Check into the hotel; dinner and overnight stay in Budapest, Hungary.

Have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning.
Post breakfast, explore the city of Budapest, a guided tour where you can see iconic sights like the Hungarian Parliament, Fisherman’s Bastion, Chain Bridge, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Heroes’ Square & city park, etc.
Next, we ride the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular through the city, offering a unique and beautiful view of Budapest, the Danube, and sights at the top of Castle Hill, Fisherman’s Bastion etc. The funicular was destroyed during World War II bombing, then reconstructed in a vintage style and added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987.
Panoramic view of Budapest from Buda Castle, a historic castle and palace complex of the Hungarian Kings in Budapest. Landmarks include Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Later, enjoy an evening cruise on the Danube River, Europe’s second largest river, passing through ten countries.
Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay in Budapest, Hungary.