Together We Stand

8 Days From Pristine (Kosovo) to Belgrade (Serbia)

Day 1, Arrive to Pristina

You will meet with our local guide at the Pristina Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Check in and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel for you and for your travel partners. Accommodation at the hotel in Pristina.

*D – Dinner at the hotel.-

Day 2, Pristina – Prizren – Tirana

Breakfast at the hotel and check out from our rooms. After we will start Pristina City Tour with our coach.

After the city tour, we will stop by for our lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, we will move to historic town of Prizren (84 Km – Approx : 2 Hour by Coach). After our arrival, we will start our Prizren City Tour (on foot). At the end of the Prizren City Tour, we will move to Tirana, Capital City of Albania (191 Km – Approx: 3 Hour, 30 Minutes by coach). Arrival and transfer to our hotel. Check in at the hotel and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel in Tirana.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Pristine City Tour : We take a drive just outside of Pristina to visit the Battle of Kosovo monument dedicated to the battle of 1389 between a Balkan Alliance force led by Serbian prince Lazar against an Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad I. The battle was fierce and both leaders of the armies were killed in the battle. Then continue further to visit the monument as well as the Tomb of Sulltan Murad. At Gracanica, a few kilometers from Pristine, we visit a superb Orthodox Church founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321, a triumph of Byzantine architecture and part of the Kosovo Medieval Monuments protected by UNESCO. Close by, the ancient remains of Ulpiana, a Roman town in the province of Dardania home, also known as Justiniana Secunda, have been unearthed, testimony to Kosovo’s ancient past. After visits return to Pristina where we will walk through the capital exploring its main attractions including the Mother Teresa Square, the Monument of Scanderbeg (Albanian National Hero), the clock tower, Kosovo Government building and the ‘New Born’ monument which is becoming the symbol of this new state. Of particular interest are the Ottoman period mosques of Prishtina with probably the most beautiful, being the Fatih Mosque dating back to 1461 during the golden era of Sultan Mehmet II. Its huge ceiling domed cupola crowns a splendidly painted floral interior of Arabesque design. Nearby is Pristina’s oldest building, the Çarshia Mosque completed in 1389. We end our tour with a visit to the Ethnographic Museum situated in a typical Ottoman architecture house, beautifully stocked with original artifacts which testify to the traditions and way of living of the people in Kosovo.

Center of Prizren-Kosovo

**Prizren City Tour : Take a change to capture your worthy experience in Prizren during stops at few tourist attraction places. Rozafa Castle: A legendary castle rises imposingly on a rocky hill, 130 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Buna and Drini Rivers. Sinan Mosque: An Ottoman mosque that declared a Monument Of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1991 by the Republic of Serbia. Stone Bridge: represent one of the longest Ottoman Bridge in the region. Daut Pasha Hamam: an old Turkish bath house. Other stops will be Abu Baker Mosque and National League House.

Day 3, Tirana – Schkoder – Budva – Kotor

Rich Breakfast at the hotel and check out from our rooms. After, we will start Tirana City Tour with our private coach. After our tour, we will continue to Schkoder (102 Km – Approx: 2 Hour by coach). According to arrival, we will visit most attractive points of Schkoder. At the end of the trip, we will move to our hotel in Budva. Arrival to Budva, transfer to hotel, check in and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accommodation in our hotel at Budva.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Tirana City Tour : Explore Tirana starting with National Historical Museum: the country’s largest museum which holds many of the country’s archaeological treasures. Visit Et’hem Beu Mosque: the oldest buildings left in the city. Capture the beauty of Tabake Bridge: a famous stone footbridge that takes its name from the many butchers and tanners who operated in the area during the Ottoman era in Albania. Checkout The Pyramid: also known as ‘’Enver Hoxha Museum’’, a structure and former museum in Tirana. Proceed transfer to the airport for your flight back home; bringing back wonderful memories and momentous souvenirs from Awakening Illyrian Dream vacation.

**Schkoder City Tour : Shkodra, the largest city in the north of Albania is located on the east side of Shkodra Lake. The city is one of the oldest in Albania and it is also an important cultural and Economic center. Inhabited continuously since its foundation in the 4th century BC, Shkodra still is the classic example of a city with most modern and humorous citizen in Albania. Shkodra is also the centre of Albanian Catholicism as well as a fine example of tolerance between religions, with the city comprising all the major faiths found in Albania.

**Budva City Tour : Discover ‘’the place to be seen’’, Budva Old Town. A very old historical town where you can gaze the Adriatic Sea. Continue journey to the charming Sveti Stephan Island, a unique place not only Montenegro or Budva’s Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean.

Day 4, Kotor – Budva – Dubrovnik – Trebinje

Breakfast and check out from hotel. After that, we will start to Budva City Tour. When we finish our tour, we will transfer to Dubrovnik for Dubrovnik City Tour (92 Km – Approx: 3 Hours). We will have lunch during the Dubrovnik City Tour. At the end of the trip, we will transfer to Trebinje (35 Km – Approx: 1 Hour). Arrival to Trebinje, transfer to hotel and check in. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accommodation in Trebinje

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Historic town of Perast-Bay of Kotor-Montenegro

**Budva City Tour : Discover ‘’the place to be seen’’, Budva Old Town. A very old historical town where you can gaze the Adriatic Sea. Continue journey to the charming Sveti Stephan Island, a unique place not only Montenegro or Budva’s Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean.

**Dubrovnik City Tour : Capture moments during visits to the main attraction of Old Town Dubrovnic, City Walls: a World renowned iconic symbol of the White stone beauty, therefore the main reason why Dubrovnik is now known as the Pearl Of The Adriatic. Stroll through this vibrant city and lookout for landmarks such as the Onofrio Fountain and Harbor. Admire vibrant architecture of Rector’s Palace: A harmonious Gothic and Renaissance palace with certain Baroque additions.

Day 5, Trebinje –Blagaj & Poçitell & Mostar – Sarajevo

Breakfast and check out from hotel. Transfer for Blagaj & Poçitell & Mostar Trip (110 Km – Approx: 2 Hours by coach). We will have city tour and lunch in Mostar. After tour, we will transfer to Sarajevo (129 Km – 2 Hours and 30 Minutes by coach). Arrival to Sarajevo, transfer and check in to the hotel. Dinner & Overnigt in the hotel at Sarajevo.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stream of Blagaj-Bosnia

**Mostar & Blagaj & Pocitell Trip : Our first stop of the day is a short visit to the old part of Konjic town. Unique, prehistorically inhabited, famous for 17th century 6-arch Old Bridge, looming over the turquoise Neretva river, it is a day’s perfect start. Standing at the site of WW2’s last day, during the Nazi withdrawal, we learn the story of the ‘monument to human stupidity’, the mystery of Tito’s Bunker, Boracko Lake glacier and few other stories before we continue our way. The ride continues by passing the large, dammed but very beautiful Jablanicko lake, with a short stop at Jablanica where we learn the WW2 story of ‘Neretva Battle’. Then we continue through some really amazing parts of Neretva river canyon, telling the unique stories of Herzegovina, before we arrive to our second stop – Počitelj. Unique, Medieval, dating back to the Ottoman era, present day Ottoman-Mediterranean style architecture fortress in Počitelj town, is one of the very few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present times. After Pocitelj, we keep going, and after a short ride we arrive to Blagaj. Blagaj town is home to the Buna river spring – Europe’s most beautiful, most powerful, clean and drinkable river spring, settled beneath few hundred meters of rocks. Water comes out of quite large but stunningly deep cave, which springs amazing 43 cubic meters of water per second. Just next to the spring, under the rock, is home to Blagaj Tekke – Dervish house, dating most likely to a pre or early Ottoman era from early 16th century, and it is a unique sacral-residential example of Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a visit to Blagajska Tekija and Izvor rijeke Bune we stay there for bit longer as it is time for lunch. Due to the cleanliness of Buna river, the most important thing to taste in Blagaj today is the local trout. Later, only 15 minute further, it is time for the visit to Mostar, which is the most important jewel in this Herzegovina day trip. As soon as we arrive to Mostar, we start our 2 hour walking tour which will cover most important sites and locations in Mostar. We focus at Mostar’s Old Bridge, Old Bazaar and Old Town, but offer stories of Mostar’s uniqueness, in regards to historical and cultural diversity. In Mostar we give our guests free time to explore on their own as we simply do not like to hold a candle all the way. After Mostar it is time to go back to Sarajevo, and it will take us around two hours ride before we are home.

Sarajevo-Bosnia

Day 6, Sarajevo

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the full-day Sarajevo City Tour. We will have our lunch during the city tour at local restaurant. In the evening, we will be meeting at the hotel lobby for our dinner transfer. We will get our dinner in traditional Bosnian Restaurant with live traditional music. At the end of the dinner, we will return back to hotel and free time. Accommodation at the hotel in Sarajevo.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Sarajevo City Tour : Capital of the Bosnia, Sarajevo is one of the top destination on Balkan Region. The main sights of the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian architecture and will show you a unique line where East meets West.  Starting with Bascarsija Square, an outdoor market that was built in 15th century you will get short tour introduction The wooden fountain Sebilj, one of the main symbols of Sarajevo will be our first stop. our guide will tell you some of the secrets of this  Sarajevans favorite meeting point also known as the Pigeon Square. Heading to Kazandziluk (Coppersmith Street), where you can feel like you’ve stepped back into the 16th century as you browse the copper crafts, from jewelry to pottery. After Bravadziluk street, famous for its restaurants you will get to the pearl of Austria-Hungarian architecture, also one of the symbols of this remarkable city – The City Hall. The tour will continue along the Miljacka river to our next stop. Worldwide know site .-Latin bridge, the place of Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand that triggered WWI. Heading back to Ottoman area, you will enjoy stories about Gazi Husrev Bey and his heritage we still are proud of. Once you step from Ottoman area to Austrian part of the town, you will be fascinated by totally different street style and architecture. Find out why Sarajevo is know as European Jerusalem… 

Day 7, Sarajevo – Belgrade

Breakfast and check out from hotel. Transfer to Belgrade, Serbia (294 Km – Approx: 6 Hours by coach).Lunch at the local restaurant on the way. Arrival and Belgrade City Tour. After tour, transfer to hotel and free time. Dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel in Belgrade.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Belgrad Tour : Start the tour from Studentski Trg, and head towards New Belgrade, on the other side of the Sava River. Built as a new part of the town, after the WWII and during the socialist regime, it has many interesting buildings. Ex-Central Committee of the Communist Party, Federal Executive Council, also known as Palace of Federation, Genex Tower or Western Gate of Belgrade, Sava Center, one of the biggest congress halls in this part of Europe, etc. Cross the Gazela Bridge and head for Dedinje – Belgrade’s richest residential area, where you can see the Museum of History of Yugoslavia and House of Flowers – the resting place of Josip Broz Tito, a leader of second Yugoslavia. Continue to Vračar area, where you can see one of Belgrade’s  most prominent landmarks  – The Church of St. Sava (also known as St. Sava Temple, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Shortstop for taking pictures. By passing the Slavija Square, you will enter Nemanjina Street.: Government Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Staff of Serbian Army, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance, the State Court,  After that, Kralja Milana Street with Old and New Royal Palaces. Stop in front of the Parliament Building where there is a short break for taking pictures and a walk between the Old and New Royal Palaces where you can hear the stories about the two dynasties that ruled Serbia in the 19th and 20th centuries.King Aleksandar Boulevard: Main Post Office, St. Mark’s Church, Tašmajdan Park, Metropol Palace Hotel, University Library and Technical University with monuments to Nikola Tesla and Vuk Karadzic.Terazije Square with its recognizable 19-th century white stone fountain and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city – the Moskva Hotel.  Republic Square: the National Museum and the National Theater and Opera buildings/ Walk trough Kalemegdan, the oldest and largest park in the city centre. Starting from Leopold’s Gate, you will pass by the remains of the Roman castrum – Singidunum and medieval walls built upon it – Zindan Gate, Despot’s Gate, Jakšića tower, Chapel of St Petka and Ružica Church (Virgin Mary Church). Upper town (Gornji grad):  the magnificent sight of the confluence of two rivers: the Sava and the Danube, Mehmed-pasha Sokolović fountain, the Victor monument by world-renowned sculptor Ivan Meshtrovic, one of Belgrade landmarks, Roman well, the King’s gate and Sava promenade, the Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Clock Gate (Sahatkapija) Clock Tower (Sahatkula), Military Museum and Istanbul’s gate (Stambol gate), Monument of Gratitude to France. Through the pedestrian street Knez Mihajlova, you will reach the Republic square once again passing by many interesting examples of civil architecture from 19th and 20th century, such as Serbian Academy of Science and Arts…

Sava Cathedral-Belgrade-Serbia

Day 8, Belgrade

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci for full day trip (94 Km – Approx: 1 Hour). We will have our lunch at the local restaurant. After trip, we will transfer back to hotel and free time for leisure. In the evening, we will be meeting at the hotel lobby for our dinner transfer. We will have our dinner in traditional Serbian Restaurant with live traditional music. At the end dinner, we will return back to hotel and free time. Accommodation at the hotel in Serbia.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Novi Sad & Sremski Karlovci Trip : Given a mere 539-metres highest peak and close proximity  of Novi Sad city, one wouldn’t expect much from Mt Fruška Gora. However, , this mountain is awash with historic treasures and pleasant unknown corners, be it old towns or  villages, Orthodox monasteries or excellent wineries. After a short drive across the Danube we reach  lush Fruška Gora woodlands,  justly named as “Alma Mons (“Fruitful Mountain”) by the Romans. Our first stop is the monastery of Novo Hopovo with its unique church spire and dome as well as  beautifully decorated interior by early 17th century fresco paintings.  Continuing on minor roads through picturesque villages we reach Grgeteg monastery. The  existing monastery complex rose from ashes after being demolished and plundered by Croatian Nazis during World War Two.  Nowadays this is a place of serenity and prayer, highly regarded by local residents . Tourists flock here to see elaborate templon conceived  by  Serbia’s famous painter Paja Jovanović.  We then visit another remarkable monastery  Krušedol, with its beautiful 16th century  fresco and  tombs of significant contributors to Serbian history. Last but  not least, we arrive to the picture-postcard town of Sremski Karlovci, which abounds with old churches and magnificent palaces  but even older wine cellars!. After  visiting  most important sites  there is an optional visit to the  Parish Museum  boasting a rich collection of  vintage books and icons Time permitting we visit  the Chapel of Peace, where  historic Karlowitz Treaty was agreed  back in 1699. We wrap up the day with wine tasting followed by lunch at  local wine producers’ estate.

Day 9, Departure from Belgrade

After breakfast, we will check out from the hotel. Transfer to Sarajevo airport for your flight home…