This journey takes us to a fascinating corner of Europe, the Balkans. The tour starts with a Travel Directors' exclusive week-long cruise as we head south along Croatia’s beautiful Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. We then head north through the amazing bridge town of Mostar (pictured above) to Sarajevo, a city steeped in history. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand here in 1914 triggered World War I. We then cross the magnificent Dinaric Alps into Montenegro before heading to Kosovo, which since 2008 has been recognised as an independent country. That is, except for Serbia, which still considers Kosovo a United Nations-governed entity within its borders. Moving further south, we enter Macedonia and the Ottoman city of Skopje, before heading to stunning Ohrid Lake. We then cross into mysterious and little-visited Albania, the only country in Europe without a McDonald's outlet! 'Soul of the Balkans' takes us through a  region  rich in history, culture, natural beauty, reconciliation and hope. Explore the last hidden gem of Europe before the advent of mass tourism.

Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the historical centre, and within walking distance of the port, is the huge palace of the Emperor Diocletian. Dating from the end of the third century AD, it was one of the last palaces of the Roman Empire. This evening we board our cruise ship, MS Emanuel.  With just 18 cabins, Emanuel is the perfect size for visiting the small ports and coastal towns of the Adriatic.

This morning we start to explore the old city of Split. We begin with the warren of medievel buildings that are contained within the walls of Diocletian's Palace. We then continue along the beautifully restored promenade as we make our way to the open air marketplace. After lunch we explore the nearby UNESCO World Heritage town of Trogir, with its ancient serpentine streets and the wonderfully imposing Kamerlengo Fortress. This evening we depart Split for our voyage through the Croation Islands.

Today we arrive at the island of Hvar, recently voted one of  the world's 10 most beautiful islands. "I know paradise now I know Hvar", goes a local saying. The island is known as the Croatian Madeira because of its lush vegetation and mild climate. A walk along the waterfront promenade and through the Old Town reveals a wealth of medieval and Renaissance buildings.

Vis is the most westerly of the larger Croatian islands. A British base during World War II, the island was closed to tourism after 1945 and only reopened in 1990 after Croatia declared its independence. This, together with its location, make Vis largely unspoiled by mass tourism. More significantly, it was the island where Marshall Tito directed his partisans from a secret cave in which he worked and slept. We have the chance to view these living quarters today.

One of the greenest islands in the Adriatic with numerous tiny and secluded bays, Korcula is rich in art and culture. It is a typical medieval walled Dalmatian town, with its cluster of red rooftops and round defensive towers. It is also reputed to be the birthplace of the great explorer, Marco Polo, in 1254.

We set sail from Korcula and by early afternoon arrive at the island of Mljet. We enjoy a delightful walk to the two lakes, a stunningly beautiful part of the island. In fact, no less than half of the island is designated a national park. This lushly forested paradise also attracted such residents as Ulysses and St Paul!

After breakfast we start to explore Dubrovnik. Lord Byron famously described the city as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic’. A magnificent medieval wall encloses marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is full of cafés and shops, and has outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition.

This morning we drive to Medjugorje. The town has become world famous for the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since the first appearance in 1981, millions of people from all over the world have been spiritually strengthened and renewed after a visit to Medjugorje. Countless non-believers and the physically afflicted have returned home converted or healed.

After lunch we depart for nearby Mostar. The beautiful Stari Most (Old Bridge) is the icon that gives Mostar ('Keeper of the Bridge') its name. On November 9th, 1993, during the Bosnian War, the bridge lay in ruins. It was rebuilt, and reopened on 22 July, 2004. Today the bridge marks a new era of reconciliation and hope for the future of the region.  Flanking the great bridge is the old cobbled Ottoman Quarter with its 16th-century mosques and old Turkish houses.

This morning we pass through the beautiful mountainous scenery of the Dinaric Alps before entering a lush green valley with the city of Sarajevo at its heart. Dissected by the Miljacka river, Sarajevo has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Age. It is a city that has an amazing religious diversity as Islam, Judaism, Orthodoxy and Catholicism have co-existed here for centuries. It has a long and often infamous past. On the 28th June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie of Austria-Hungary were assassinated in one of the most bizarre attacks in history. The event sparked the outbreak of World War I and four years later Bosnia became part of Yugoslavia. From 1992 to 1996, the city was under siege - the longest in the history of modern warfare. Today Sarajevo has been totally rebuilt and its inhabitants now look forward to a peaceful and prosperous future in a city that continues to fascinate historians from all over the world.

Today we begin a walking tour to discover all of Sarajevo's hidden marvels.

Hotel Europa
Vladislava Skarica 5
Sarajevo
Bosnia
Ph: 0011-387-33-580400
Fx:: 580580 

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12/08/2012  Sarajevo (BLD)

This morning we visit the Olympic Stadium built for the 1984 winter games. During the siege it was used as a massive cemetery.  We then explore the Butmir Tunnel Museum.  You will get to see a film showing the bombardment of Sarajevo. The tunnel which is located under the airport was used to bring food and supplies to Sarajevo when Serbs shut off the United Nations airlift and the one remaining road. The Bosnian Army also used it to move soldiers and guns.

This afternoon you will have free time to explore "Bascarsija', the pedestrian street.

 

 

Kolasin lies at the foot of Bjelasica and Biogradska Gora mountains. Today we take a trip into these mountains and explore the immensely beautiful Biogradsko National Park. Montenegro is the best kept secret in Europe. It has a wonderful unspoilt natural habitat and is a fantastic place to unwind.

Shortly after leaving Kolasin we cross the border into Kosovo. After lunch in Pristina, we drive into Macedonia and continue to the capital Skopje, birthplace of Mother Theresa.

Skopje is 2,500 years old and Macedonia's friendly capital  has had many different incarnations. All of them, from Roman to Byzantine and Ottoman to Yugoslav, have left indelible marks on the city as evidenced by the varied architecture and mix of cultures. A walk through the meandering narrow streets of the Old Town is certain to illicit the spirit of the past.

Ohrid is a kingdom of light and water; a maze of ancient ruins from Macedonia's earlier settlements. It is a sublime lakeside town that for many represents the culmination of the Macedonian experience. Thought to be among the oldest human settlements in Europe, and with a lake that is three million years old, Ohrid is truly worthy of its UNESCO World Hertiage listing and is often described as Macedonia's 'crown jewel'.

Albania is slowly emerging from being the most isolated country in Europe, if not the world. The brutal dictatorship of Enver Hoxha came to a violent end in the early 1990s and today Albania remains the only country in Europe without a McDonald's! Tirana is a lovely city of parks and striking architecture with a vibrant population forging a new relationship with Europe.