Essence of the Balkans with Adriatic Cruise

Bine ați venit! Welcome to Bucharest. On arrival, transfer from the airport to your hotel and take time to relax. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception. Stay: Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town

This morning, take in the highlights of Bucharest before travelling towards Braşov. Relax as the scenery transforms from city streets to rolling hills and dense Transylvanian forests. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Brașov, Radisson Blu Aurum Hotel or similar (B/D)

Begin the day with a guided walking tour through Brașov's charming medieval streets, discovering key landmarks as your guide shares the city's rich history and enduring legends. Later, travel to the iconic Bran Castle, famed for its Dracula lore. With VIP entry, skip the lines and explore the castle's atmospheric rooms and intriguing stories. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

Today, travel to Veliko Tarnovo, pausing along the way for lunch at a local spot. On arrival, check in to your hotel before enjoying dinner this evening. Stay: Veliko Tarnovo, Grand Hotel Yantra (B/L/D)

Explore Veliko Tarnovo on a guided tour, including a visit to the impressive Tsarevets, which served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress. Enjoy a memorable Insider Experience before continuing to Sofia, where dinner awaits at your hotel, accompanied by a traditional folk show. Stay Two Nights: Sofia Balkan Palace (B/D)

Insider Experience - Orthodox A Cappella Choir Be welcomed into an intimate Orthodox a cappella performance inside one of Veliko Tarnovo's historic churches. Surrounded by centuries-old harmonies, this rare experience offers a deeply moving connection to Bulgaria's spiritual and cultural heritage.

Discover Sofia on a guided walking tour this morning, or choose to join an optional excursion to the Rila Monastery. (B)

Enhance Your Journey - Full-Day Visit to Rila Monastery with Lunch Journey into the forested Rila Mountains to visit the magnificent Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's most revered spiritual site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in the 10th century by Saint Ivan of Rila, the monastery sits dramatically in a mountain valley and is renowned for its striped arcades, vivid frescoes and tranquil courtyard. Explore this remarkable complex before enjoying lunch amid the serene alpine surroundings.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before travelling to Skopje. On arrival, join a local guide for a walking tour through the heart of the city. Visit the The Church of the Ascension of Jesus and the elegant Mustafa Pasha Mosque, two of Skopje's most iconic landmarks. This evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. Stay: Skopje, Hotel Solun or similar (B)

Relax and enjoy the changing scenery as you travel into Albania, stopping along the way for a local lunch. On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Opera Tirana or similar (B/L)

Enjoy a relaxed morning before setting out to explore Tirana, Albania's vibrant capital. Stroll through the city's colourful streets, uncover its layered history, and visit landmarks such as Skanderbeg Square, Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the lively Blloku district. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at leisure. (B)

Travel to Budva for lunch before continuing on to the beautiful town of Kotor. Step inside the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Kotor on a guided walking tour, where narrow cobblestone streets and elegant Venetian architecture reveal centuries of history. Afterwards, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure in this stunning coastal town. Stay Two Nights: Kotor, Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro (B/L)

Begin the day with a memorable Insider Experience. This evening, come together with your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner, marking the conclusion of your Balkan journey. (B/D)

Insider Experience - Perast and Olive Oil Tasting in Luštica Bay Discover the coastal elegance of Perast, known for its Baroque architecture and sweeping views across the Bay of Kotor. Take a boat ride to the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks to visit its historic church, before continuing to Luštica Bay for a visit to a traditional olive oil estate and a guided tasting of regional varieties.

Depart Kotor this morning and travel to Dubrovnik, where you will board your coastal cruising ship, the MV Princess Eleganza. Unpack and settle into your cabin, ready to begin exploring the Adriatic coast. Later, enjoy a Captain's Welcome Dinner and meet your fellow travellers and Cruise Director. Stay Seven Nights: MV Princess Eleganza (D)

Spend the morning exploring Dubrovnik's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town on a guided walk. Begin at the impressive Pile Gate and wander through narrow limestone alleys, passing the Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace, and the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries.

After returning to your ship for lunch, set sail for Korčula. Here, enjoy a guided tour through its maze of cobblestone streets and elegant squares, lined with palaces once home to the island's nobility. While less well known than Dubrovnik, Korčula offers an equally captivating experience. The evening is at leisure - perfect for dining along the scenic waterfront esplanade. (B/L)

Cruise to the Croatian island of Vis, where you'll disembark to explore its remote, unspoilt beauty on a scenic drive around the island. Then sail to Split, one of the Adriatic's most vibrant port cities. Join your guide for a walking tour of Diocletian's Palace, built by the Roman emperor as his retirement residence around AD 305. Today, the city's historic centre lies within and around the palace walls, making it one of the best-preserved and still-inhabited Roman complexes in the world.

Your ship remains docked overnight, giving you the opportunity to explore Split at leisure after dinner on board. (B/L/D)

Set sail for Šibenik, stopping for a swim along the way. Often considered the gateway to Krka National Park, Šibenik provides access to one of Croatia's most beautiful natural areas. Your ship remains in port overnight, giving you the flexibility to dine on board or head into town to a local restaurant. (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Krka National Park Spend the afternoon exploring the dramatic waterfalls of Krka National Park. Wander along wooden boardwalks and bridges at Skradinski Buk, a series of turquoise cascades and pools set amid lush greenery.

This morning, take a guided walk through Šibenik's remarkably well-preserved old town. Return to your ship and set sail for Zadar, an ancient port city that once rivalled Venice as a major power on the Adriatic coast. Arrive in the early evening and join a guided tour of the historic centre. Enjoy dinner ashore tonight, with your ship moored near a lively waterfront lined with charming restaurants and bars serving freshly caught seafood. (B/L)

Wake this morning and enjoy a relaxing sail to the island of Rab. This afternoon, you are free to wander the white-walled harbour foreshore. Later, perhaps enjoy dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the lively marina. (B/L)

This morning, anchor off the island of Krk, where you may enjoy a refreshing swim in the inviting Adriatic. Continue cruising to Opatija and spend the afternoon at leisure. This evening, join your newfound friends for a special Captain's Farewell Dinner on board your ship. (B/L/D)

Disembark your ship and transfer by coach to Zagreb Airport for your onward flight. (B)