The journey
A 15-day Balkans small-group tour from India — Athens to Sofia across seven countries, with ancient ruins, Adriatic coastlines and old-town evenings.
Balkans
Getting your trip ready
Just a moment, your journey is on its way.Opening your tour
Just a moment, your journey is on its way.A 15-day Balkans small-group tour from India — Athens to Sofia across seven countries, with ancient ruins, Adriatic coastlines and old-town evenings.
Fifteen days and seven countries, overland from Athens to Sofia. Begin at the Acropolis, then the clifftop monasteries of Meteora. Cross into North Macedonia for Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest lakes, and on to Tirana, Albania's colourful capital. Follow the Adriatic to Montenegro's Bay of Kotor and Budva, then Mostar's Old Bridge and Sarajevo's layered history in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The journey ends through Belgrade, Skopje and Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with wine tastings and old-town evenings along the way. Distances are broken up sensibly, with no strenuous walking — a small group of 10–16 travellers.
Arrive in Athens and transfer to your hotel. After a short orientation, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local taverna beneath the softly lit Acropolis.
Spend the morning at the Acropolis and in the old Plaka district. Later, take a scenic coastal drive to Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon crowns the cliffs at sunset.
Travel north to Meteora, where centuries-old monasteries sit on top of towering rock pillars. Visit some of these UNESCO-listed sanctuaries and enjoy the peace of this remarkable landscape.
Cross into North Macedonia to the lakeside town of Ohrid. Wander its cobbled lanes and old churches, then take an evening boat ride on Lake Ohrid as the light fades.
Drive to Tirana, Albania's lively and ever-changing capital. Stroll around Skanderbeg Square, admire the colourful buildings and street art, and enjoy the neighbourhood café culture.
Follow scenic roads to Montenegro, visiting Rozafa Castle and stopping at the Mes Bridge on the way. Arrive in Budva to explore its walled old town by the Adriatic.
Spend the day on the Bay of Kotor, one of Europe's most beautiful bays. Take a guided walk through the UNESCO-listed walled town of Kotor and ride the funicular for panoramic views, then return to Budva for an evening stroll.
Cross into Bosnia & Herzegovina and stop at Blagaj Tekke, a 16th-century Dervish house at the source of the Buna River. In Mostar, tour the Old Bazaar and artisan shops, ending with a local rakija and wine tasting.
Begin at Mostar's iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge). Continue via Konjic for a guided visit to Tito's Bunker, then arrive in Sarajevo for a short guided tour of the city.
Spend a little time in Sarajevo's historic centre in the morning, then drive across the border into Serbia, arriving in Belgrade by evening.
Take a guided tour of Belgrade, including Kalemegdan Fortress with its views over the Danube and Sava rivers and the magnificent Church of St Sava. The rest of the day is free.
Travel south across the border into North Macedonia and arrive in Skopje. The evening is free to explore nearby or simply relax.
Tour Skopje's Old Bazaar, Stone Bridge and central square, then continue into Bulgaria to arrive in Sofia.
Take a guided tour of Sofia, including the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St George Rotunda and the city centre. The afternoon is free for shopping or a relaxed café stop.
After breakfast, transfer to Sofia airport for your flight home, bringing this seven-country Balkan journey to a close.
Easy to moderate. Walking is mostly during guided city and old-town tours, at a relaxed pace with time to rest. Expect cobblestone streets and some steps at historical sites; the Meteora monasteries are reached by stairs. All travel between towns is by coach, and there are no hikes.
May: 20–28°C, perfect spring weather. October: 15–22°C, pleasant autumn. Both months have low rainfall across the region.
Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip. We can help you find the right plan.
May brings warm, settled weather: 20–28°C by day, cooler mornings in the mountains, low rainfall and long, light evenings. Pack layers for Meteora and the mountain drives.
You need a Schengen visa for Greece and Bulgaria. With a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, Indian passport holders can generally also enter North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia without separate visas. Some of these also accept valid US or UK visas. We confirm each country's current rules after booking, and visa fees are included.
International airfare is not included. The whole route is overland, so there are no internal flights. The price includes: hotels with daily breakfast; breakfast and dinner throughout; visa fees, entrance fees and activities; travel insurance up to age 69. GST (5%) and TCS are extra.
Easy to moderate. Walking is mostly during the guided city and old-town tours, at a relaxed pace with regular breaks, and you travel between places by coach. Old towns are cobbled with some steps, and the Meteora monasteries are reached by stairs. There are no hikes.
Between 10 and 16 travellers.
Absolutely. We can try to match you with a same-gender room-share. If you'd prefer a room to yourself, the single supplement is EUR 700.
Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory on this trip and is included for travellers up to age 69. If you are 70 or older, we help you arrange separate cover.
Yes. Tell us your needs when you book and we brief our hotels and restaurants in advance.
Let’s work out the dates and details together.
Real moments from our travellers, click any photo to view full size.