*With a local Tour Guide

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1 Escorted Group Tours & Tailor-Made Itineraries BALKANS EXPLORER Belgrade to Kruje TRIP NOTES HIGHLIGHTS TOUR ESSENTIALS Nightlife in Belgrade World s Largest Orthodox Church, Saint Sava Carpet-and-cheese shopping in Pirot Pristina, Europe s youngest capital Skopje Old Bazaar Stunning Lake Ohrid (UNESCO) Ottoman City of Berat (UNESCO)* Skanderbeg Citadel Complex, Kruje SUMMARY *With a local Tour Guide One of the few remaining undiscovered corners of Europe and popularly referred to as the Balkans, it s a geographical and cultural region of Southeast Europe. On this tour we ll visit four of these countries, three of which were once part of Yugoslavia, a country existing between Discover how they were shaped by a rich, yet turbulent history. What have now been formed are beautiful, welcoming tourist destinations with an abundance of hospitable locals. Trip Code: RSAL (Combo) 1 Version: TN/RSAL/2017/V1 Start Point: Belgrade, Serbia End Point: Kruje, Albania Countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania Duration: 8 nights/9 days Dates & Prices: Refer to website (flights NOT included) Tour Pace & Style: Moderate/Adventure 2 Accommodation: Central 3* hotel/apartment/room 3 Single room: Available for additional fee Transport: Days 1 8 by private minibus between all accommodation, on foot. 4 Included Meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner 5 Group Size: 4 16 (guaranteed to run with 4) 6 Tour Leader: Accompanies group throughout 7 Kitty: No compulsory tipping kitty for this tour 8 Age: Minimum 12 years/no upper 9 We d like to shatter any preconceptions you have about this region and take you on a cultural journey visiting some fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historical cities. If you wish, you can learn more about the history and collapse of Yugoslavia, swim in the serene waters of Lake Ohrid and experience local culture, cuisine and traditions. Now emerging as independent countries, they are packed with places that for years were off limits to most travelers. LAND ONLY ITINERARY DAY 1 THURSDAY: Arrive in Belgrade Transfer: You will be collected at Nikola Tesla Airport and transferred by shared shuttle to our hotel.

2 Welcome to Belgrade, the former capital of Yugoslavia and now the capital of Serbia. You may have time to explore the city today, one of the oldest in Europe. Visit one of Belgrade s many museums or take a walk to Sveti Sava, the world s largest Orthodox Church before drinking coffee in a traditional Kafana. In the evening, your Tour Leader will arrange a welcome meeting. Afterwards we can take a walk to the Bohemian area of Skadarlija and have dinner in a traditional restaurant, complete with tamburasi music. Serbia doesn t do mild and neither does its capital, one of Europe s wildest party destinations. Move on to one of Belgrade s cool bars, before sampling one of the exciting clubs this city is famous for. Countless river barges have been turned into floating clubs ( Splavovi ) playing all types of music, usually lasting until dawn. Belgrade, 4* Belgrade City Hotel or similar Welcome dinner in Belgrade, airport transfer 10 Airport to hotel = 30 mins offer free walking tours at 1100hrs & 1600hrs daily (rain or shine) and a Pub Crawl on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night at 2100hrs, 10, 4 places, 4 drinks included. offer free walking tours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1030hrs and Friday at 1400hrs. DAY 2 FRIDAY: Belgrade Free day in Belgrade. Today you could take advantage of the Belgrade Free Walking Tour, starting in Republic Square and visiting Bohemian Quarter (Skadarlija), the oldest part of Belgrade with Ottoman heritage, Silicone Valley, Zoo, Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade Fortress, Pobednik, confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Saborna Church, Kafana? and Knez Mihailova, a pedestrian zone and one of the oldest and most valuable monumental complexes in the city. Have lunch on the strip before heading out to see underground Belgrade. Beneath the city are more than one hundred caves and tunnels built by the Austrians, Serbs and Germans. There is also a well and a Roman Hall preserving the tower of the main entrance gate of the Roman fortress. See an army bunker built under the order of Josip Broz Tito, former President of Yugoslavia before taking a short walk down to the riverside to an old underground storage room. Today this is a very cool wine bar tasting is optional, but recommended! Alternatively, you could check out the Military Museum (within the fortress) or for those interested in the former Yugoslavia, the House of Flowers (Tito s mausoleum) is a must. For dinner this evening, we recommend one of the trendy restaurants at Beton Hala. Belgrade, 4* Belgrade City Hotel or similar Buffet breakfast in Belgrade N/A Underground Secrets of Belgrade tour, Friday, 1500hrs, 10 pp, minimum of four people and reservations must be made in advance.

3 DAY 3 SATURDAY: Belgrade Niš Today we ll travel to Niš, the third largest city in Serbia and the birthplace of Constantine the Great. It is lively and full of curious contrasts, where Roma in horse-drawn carriages trot along beside modern cars, and locals enjoy ćevapčići at a pavement cafe, watching the world go by. On the way into town we ll pay a short visit to the Red Cross Concentration Camp, one of the few fully preserved Nazi camps in Europe. The rest of the afternoon is free. Visit Niš Fortress or take a stroll along the Nišava River. For those who are interested, your Tour Leader can organize a visit to a winery a few kilometres out of town (optional, additional cost). DAY 4 Niš, The Only One Apartments or similar Buffet breakfast in Belgrade, entrance to Red Cross Concentration Camp 2 hrs 30 mins N/A SUNDAY: Niš Pirot Niš This part of Serbia is famous for its traditional woven carpets, or kilim. Patterns are always geometric in form, with highly contrasted colours. Red is the prevailing colour and they are only given on special occasions as a valuable gift. Another local speciality is Pirotski kačkavalj, a wonderfully perfumed cheese that Pirot producers are so proud of, they patented it. Along with ironed sausage, you can find it for sale all over town. Both so good, sampling is a must! Today we ll head out in the minibus for a short tour of Niš, followed by a stop at Cele Kula (Skull Tower), the most infamous and slightly unnerving sight in the city. Built with the skulls of Serbs killed during the 1809 Battle of Cegar by order of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, it served as a warning to whoever opposed the Ottoman Empire. 952 were included but today only 58 skulls remain. Our next stop will be nearby Mediana, where Constantine himself once lived. Continuing on, we ll drive through the beautiful Jelasnica Gorge before reaching Pirot, located in the heart of the Balkans. Stroll down Srpskih Vladara Street and you ll find several stunning structures built following the Turkish occupation and was once part of the road heading to Constantinople (Istanbul). The Museum of Ponišavlje also displays a rich collection of traditional costumes, rugs and pottery in an authentic 19thcentury Balkan merchant s house. We ll stop for a late lunch in a small village on the way back to Niš. Niš, The Only One Apartments or similar Tea/coffee in your room, entrance to Skull Tower, Mediana, 11 excursion to Pirot (transport), late lunch 2 hrs 30 mins N/A

4 DAY 5 MONDAY: Niš Đavolja Varoš Priština 12 Skopje On our way to Macedonia (FYROM), we ll stop to take a look at a first-class natural landmark before visiting the capital of Europe s newest country! In the south of Serbia, 27 km south-east of Kursumlija, lies Đavolja Varoš (Devil s Town). Featuring 202 rock formations created by centuries of erosion, they are similar to those found in Cappadocia, Turkey. Standing between 2m - 15m high, they are topped by stone blocks weighing as much as 100kg. It is also home to two springs with high mineral content. The natural surrounding area adds to the attraction of these wonders depicting an almost mystical atmosphere. The whole 67 hectares of its territory has had Natural Monument level of protection since We will then depart for the Serbia / Kosovo border and will arrive in Priština 12 around lunchtime. The current population estimate is over 500,000, the majority of which is comprised of Albanians, with the rest made up of Turks, Serbs, Bosniaks and Roma. Around 40,000 Serbs left Priština following the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in There are a number of cultural and historical sites to see in/near the centre: The Kosovo Museum, the Turkish-period 15 th century Emperor s Mosque and Emincik House, a typical 19 th century oriental residence and you are free to enjoy them at your own pace. Nene Teresa (Mother Teresa) Street is pedestrianised and lined with eateries, bars and coffee shops. Have a meal in a restaurant or something quick and easy from a vendor. At one end of this street you can visit the Cathedral of Mother Teresa - on a good day, 1 and an elevator will get you to the top of the bell tower for panoramic views over the city. At the opposite end of the pedestrian zone you ll find a monument of Skanderbeg on his horse and the new Government Building. From here you can point yourself towards the historic mosques, the old quarter and market. Afterwards you should visit the NEWBORN monument. Kosovo is Europe s newest country and after gaining independence in 2008, the letters were placed here announcing in monumental form that Priština is indeed in its infancy. Drive to Skopje, Macedonia where we ll spend the night. Part Balkan and part Mediterranean, this landlocked nation offers impressive ancient sites, yet an undiscovered feel that is lacking elsewhere in Europe as visitors will discover among the hospitable, laid-back locals. DAY 6 Skopje, 3* Hotel De Koka or similar Tea/coffee in your room in Niš, tour of Devil s Town (transport, entrance fees and guide) Nis to Devil s Town = 1 hr 15 mins, Devil s Town to Pristina = 2 hrs, Pristina to Skopje = 2 hrs Walk from car park to the formations is through uneven, sometimes muddy terrain with some steep steps. You ll walk around 1.5km each way. Should you decide not to go, you can wait in a cafe. 13 TUESDAY: Skopje Ohrid Leaving the capital after lunch will give you enough time to see the main sights on your own or to take advantage of the Free Walking Tour Skopje. The tour takes you to Ploštad Makedonija, a pretty square complete with statue of Alexander the Great, Ottoman and Byzantine-era wonders such as the 15 th century Kameni Most (Stone Bridge), Stara Čaršija (Old Turkish Bazaar housing the main historic sites), Sveti Spas Church and nearby Kale Fortress from the 5 th century. Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje, has a Memorial House you can peek inside. The old train station was the first in the Balkans; the stone fingers of its clock were frozen at 0517hrs on 27 th July 1963, the moment when a great earthquake struck and have remained

5 that way ever since. Inside the station is the free Museum of the City of Skopje and has exhibitions of ancient and Byzantine finds from Kale Fortress, which is worth a look. We ll now drive south to Ohrid, Macedonia s prime destination and on the lake of the same name. Arriving into our apartments late afternoon, you should have time to relax before dinner. Straddling the border with Albania, Lake Ohrid is among Europe s largest and oldest. A mere two minutes walk from our accommodation, it has lake-front bars with patios for a pleasant midday coffee and is lively at night. DAY 7 Ohrid, Luccia Apartments or similar Buffet breakfast in Skopje Skopje to Ohrid = 2 hrs 45 mins Orientation walk with your Tour Leader taking you to the main sights around the city, leaving you with a completely free day tomorrow. This walk has steep hills and will take around 2 hours. WEDNESDAY: Ohrid Free day in Ohrid. For hikers, the start of Galicica National Park is only a 10-minute walk from the centre and on a good day, offers amazing views of both Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa from the summit of Magaro, the highest point in the park (2,255m). Take a boat ride to the prehistoric settlement of Bay of Bones, St Naum Monastery and walk to St. Sofia Church, Amphitheatre, Sveti Clement I Pantelejmon, Church of St. Jovan and the old fisherman s settlement of Kaneo. Then head up to 10 th century Samoil s Fortress (open in summer months) for the most wonderful views of the entire city, the lake and coastline. Lake Ohrid is 70% in Macedonia and 30% in Albania and Albania can be seen from the viewing gallery. After this cultural and historical feast, sip a coffee in Kliment Ohridski Square, relax in the wonderful surroundings or take a dip in the lake! Ohrid, Luccia Apartments or similar Breakfast in Ohrid (in your room) N/A DAY 8 THURSDAY: Ohrid Berat Kruje After breakfast we ll start our drive to Albania. Today you will get to see one of its most beautiful cities on a guided tour of Berat. It s most striking feature is the collection of white Ottoman houses climbing up the hill to its castle, earning it the title of town of a thousand windows and UNESCO listed status. The old quarters are lovely ensembles of whitewashed walls, tiled roofs and cobblestone roads. Sitting high above the Osum River is Berat Castle where a local guide will take you on a tour. Visit the Onufri Museum and enjoy a traditional Albanian lunch within the walls before taking a gentle stroll in the old quarters below. We ll arrive into Kruje, a small town in northern Albania, in the evening and spend the night. Along the way you may spot a few of the 700,000 mushroom-shaped bunkers which were built under the order of Enver Hoxha. Some have now been turned into tourist attractions.

6 The national museum celebrates Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeg (Skanderbeg), a 15 th century Albanian lord whose formidable military strategy skills defended Albania from Ottoman invasion for over two decades. It was built with a fake medieval façade in 1982 and houses copies of Skanderbeg s sword and spiky helmet (the originals are in Vienna), paintings and exhibits (mostly replicas) presenting Skanderbeg s struggle against the Ottomans. They have tours in English (on request). Nearby is the excellent small Ethnographic Museum which displays the beautiful interior of a traditional Albanian house around Exhibits include 19th-century folk dress, as well as traditional copper goods and clay utensils. Kruje, 4* Hotel Panorama or similar Breakfast in Ohrid (in your room), guided tour of Berat Castle, entrance to Onufri Museum, lunch Ohrid to Berat = 3 hrs, Berat to Kruje = 2 hrs 30 mins The official currency in Albania is Lek but Euros are widely accepted. DAY 9 Friday: Departure from Kruje ***This is a leaving city 1 *** Transfer: Your transfer to Tirana International (Mother Teresa) Airport has been pre-arranged and you will be collected from the hotel reception by shared shuttle transfer. Your collection time will be shown on your Final Joining instructions sent 2 3 weeks before the tour start date. Buffet breakfast in Kruje, airport transfer 10 Kruje to Tirana Airport = mins What s Included? What s NOT included? Return airport transfers (shared shuttle) International flights (unless specified) All accommodation Meals not listed All transport (as listed) Drinks 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners Travel Insurance (compulsory on ALL tours) Tour Leader to accompany group Pre / post accommodation or single room Local Guides on included tours (as listed) Optional excursions Sightseeing as listed in Trip Notes Spending money (tips, laundry, souvenirs, mini-bar) 100% Financial Protection Visa and passport fees MEAL ARRANGEMENTS DAY OVERNIGHT COUNTRY INCLUDED MEALS* 1 T Belgrade Serbia Welcome dinner Belgrade 2 F Belgrade Serbia Buffet breakfast Belgrade 3 S Niš Serbia Buffet breakfast Belgrade 4 S Niš Serbia Tea & coffee Niš / Lunch Pirot 5 M Skopje Macedonia Tea & coffee Niš 6 T Ohrid Macedonia Buffet breakfast Skopje 7 W Ohrid Macedonia Breakfast in room Ohrid

7 8 T Kruje Albania Breakfast in room Ohrid / Lunch Berat 9 F Departure Albania Buffet breakfast Kruje * Drinks are at your own cost. PRE / POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION** OVERNIGHT TWIN / DOUBLE SINGLE Belgrade 60 GBP (BB) 54 GBP (BB) Kruje 40 GBP (BB) 30 GBP (BB) ** Prices are per room, per night. BB = includes buffet breakfast. Additional Information: 1 Combination Tour: RSAL: Balkan Explorer is a shorter section of two other longer tours a) RSHR: Balkans Adventure and b) YUGO: Best of the Balkans. Joiners in Belgrade are starting on day 1 of the tour and have not previously been together as a group on another section. 2 Tour Pace & Style: Balkan Explorer tour is graded as Moderate / Adventure: Moderate: Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a holiday combining activities, culture UNESCO World Heritage Sites and some time to relax and unwind. It includes a reasonable amount of walking. Therefore, in order to fully appreciate everything it has to offer it is only suitable for individuals capable of walking around 3 4 km per day, sometimes spread out during the course of the day, sometimes all at once. You will usually be busy for part of the day and then free to recharge and do your own thing for the rest. Adventure: If your idea of a holiday is to see interesting sites in more than one country, immerse yourself in the culture, try new activities and also have a bit of down time, this is the style for you. Travelling with a small group of like-minded independent people, this tour has some amazing experiences but not so overorganised that you have no time to unwind. Although there are some long travel days and included excursions as a group, at other times you will have the freedom to explore individually and at your own pace. This tour is a great option for both the not-so-experienced, and seasoned traveler. 3 Accommodation: Prices are on a twin share basis. If you are a single traveller and would be prepared to share a room with another guest of the same sex, the price will remain the same. If you would like your own space, we have single rooms available at an extra fee. Accommodation is chosen for cleanliness and location rather than decor and sea views i.e. a hotel by the sea will not necessarily mean you will have a sea view. Some of the hotels do not have elevators. 4 Transport: Days 1 8 (until arrival into Kruje hotel) - A private minibus will be used to transport the group door to door between all hotels. However, this does not necessarily mean transporting us in between. Although we are driven on some excursions, the majority of sights are reached on foot from our hotel. 5 Hotel Restaurant/Meals: Please note that although some hotels include breakfast it is sometimes not possible to have lunch or dinner. As you are travelling through new countries we realise you probably want to experience local cuisine, which is why your Tour Leader will organise or recommend a local restaurant/eatery for the group in each location. Included meals do not come with drinks and these are at your own expense. 6 Group Size & Guaranteed Departure: Refer to General Information below. 7 Tour Leader: You are accompanied by a TL throughout your tour. They are NOT a guide. Refer to General Information Are Tour Leaders and Tour Guides the same? below. 8 Tipping: Refer to Practical Information below. 9 Age: Guests between years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. There is no upper age limit however, every traveller must complete a standard medical questionnaire and depending on the answers could result in a further medical examination being deemed necessary before a booking can be accepted (you will be responsible for paying any necessary costs). It is also compulsory that you have adequate travel insurance for the duration of the tour. 10 Transfers: Included for arrival into Belgrade (Nikola Tesla) and out of Tirana International (Mother Teresa) airports only. Transfers will still be included if you have taken pre or post accommodation on the condition that it is in the same joining/leaving hotel. You do not have to book the leaving/joining hotel through us, but be aware if you book it yourself you may have to switch rooms on the first day of the tour as we already have allocated rooms. Hotels listed are a guide only and may sometimes change if you would like to book the joining/leaving hotels yourself, please check which ones we will be using before making confirmation. You will be responsible for settling any payments due for reserved pre/post accommodation you have made of your own accord. 11 Mediana: This may be closed during some months of Priština (alternative arrangements): while every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, political tensions in this area can heighten occasionally. If the Foreign Office advises against travel to Priština specifically or Kosovo in general, we will not go. We also reserve the right to make alternative arrangements if we feel that any area we are to visit has become, or could potentially become, troublesome/violent. In this case we will arrange another activity in its place. 13 Refunds: will not be made for any included tours/excursions if you decide not to participate, nor can tickets be exchanged for another activity.

8 GENERAL INFORMATION IS THIS TOUR SUITABLE FOR ME? This tour is suitable for people: over 12 years (accompanied by responsible adult) traveling alone, as a couple or friends who enjoy small group travel (up to 16) who want to experience the best sights in more than one country over a short period able to travel in a minibus for quite long periods on winding mountainous roads able to walk continuously up to a distance of 3km, sometimes up steep hills able to participate in activities/excursions as listed in the daily trip notes who want the convenience of being privately driven from hotel to hotel and to some included excursions but knowing that most of the main sights and attractions will be reached on foot from the hotel who d like to sample the local cuisine in nearby restaurants (sometimes complete with tamburasi, traditional music of the former Yugoslavia) and eateries rather than the hotel who aren t affected by smoke (see Smoking ) If you don t agree with, or are unable to do/participate in some of the listings above, you may want to reconsider booking. Not only will it affect your enjoyment of the trip, but it may also affect the rest of the group. If you re unsure, please contact louise@borderlandstravel.com or call us on +44 (0) LOCAL CONDITIONS Often standards will not match those at home and while we aim to make your trip as comfortable as possible, please be aware that we are often visiting areas which are either remote or less developed, have little infrastructure and a lack of medical supplies. Some of the roads can be a little uneven and a little bumpy, but generally they are of a good standard. There can be occasions when strikes occur, or museums, attractions, etc are closed for no apparent reason. While this is quite rare, please be advised that it can happen and it is out of the control of Borderlands Travel. COMFORT BREAKS We understand that people require a comfort stop when travelling on a bus for long periods. Stopping too often will result in a shorter time spent at an attraction or at our final destination. Therefore as a general rule we don t stop for a bathroom break on a journey of 2 hours, and stop only once up to 3 hours. ARE TOUR LEADERS AND TOUR GUIDES THE SAME? No, they aren t. A Tour Guide is someone who works within an area they know very well. They provide a tour of a city or specific attraction. Their job entails providing commentary, routing the tour and seeing that people have a good time. They are paid by a local company and typically work on a daily basis. All of our Tour Guides are certified and registered with the relevant authority. A Tour Leader is someone who leads a group overseas. Their job entails ensuring the people get what they paid for, sometimes leading orientation walks around town and making sure people have a good time. They are the person who takes a guest to see a doctor, throws a welcome meeting on arrival and makes sure the trip runs as smoothly as possible, sorting out any problems along the way. They work together with the Tour Guide. A Tour Leader will typically lead about a dozen trips a year. In some places, and in particular UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is forbidden for anyone who is not a locally registered, certified Tour Guide to be seen to be showing a group around town. On orientation walks a Tour Leader is there to point out places of interest, good restaurants, Tourist Information Centre, etc. However, this can sometimes be mistaken as guiding and therefore orientation walks by Tour Leaders will never be carried out in these areas. A Tour Leader, or indeed Borderlands Travel can get into a lot of trouble and be issued with steep fines if they/we are thought to be guiding. Tour Leaders will sometimes only take you to a certain point but cannot then walk around with you as a group. Sometimes there will be 'Free Walking Tours' in the cities we visit and your Tour Leader will advise you where and when to meet. TRANSPORT A private minibus will be used to transport us between each of the hotels on tour up until day 8 when we arrive in the hotel in Kruje, and to some excursions (as listed in the trip notes). A number of places of interest will be reached on foot, usually from the hotel but within a minute walk away.

9 ACCOMMODATION We have chosen well-positioned, comfortable accommodation within a minute walking distance of the main areas of interest. The majority are 3* hotels, some are 4*. Be aware that a 4* in some countries may not be of the same quality/standard as your own. However, we have chosen what we consider to be the best option for location, cleanliness and facilities. All hotels/apartments will have air-conditioning and free wi-fi (sometimes only available in common areas). In almost all locations you will have a mini-bar (payable at check-out) or refrigerator, as well as a hairdryer and a TV with English channels. Some of the hotels do not have elevators but there will be someone on hand to help with your luggage. All of our hotels/apartments are featured on feel free to check them out! SMOKING A high percentage of people in the Balkans are smokers. Although some countries have officially prohibited it in public places, it is not enforced. It s safest to assume that everywhere you visit will be a smoking zone be it bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs or hotels, except where very strictly classified otherwise. It is perfectly common to see people smoking in restaurants while others are eating at the same table, many of them smoking half-way through a course. In some countries, outlets smaller than a certain size can choose whether or not to ban smoking and outlets larger than this have to have divided areas. You should be aware that any complaints by tourists about cigarette smoke and the perils thereof will be met with total derision and scornful laughter by both locals and foreigners who live there. FOOD Due to the many influences on the region, food in the Balkans is quite varied and combines both Turkish and European tastes. Locally sourced cheeses are present in almost every meal, as is meat. Pork and veal are popular in Serbia and Macedonia and lamb and veal in Kosovo and Albania. If you are vegetarian, vegan or have special dietary requirements you can still enjoy the local cuisine, however options will be limited throughout the Balkans. We advise checking whether the non-meat option contains chicken. Meals are usually big in size and reasonably priced at around (15-20 USD) per person. As a guide, beer and soft drinks are usually around 2, with a bottle of wine costing around GROUP SIZES & GUARANTEED DEPARTURES This tour is based on a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 16 guests (plus 1 Tour Leader and sometimes, a trainee). In the event that we are unable to operate the tour on this basis, you will be advised at the earliest opportunity and always no less than 28 days before departure. At that time you will be offered one of the following options: travel as planned, but at an additional supplement, payable per person. The cost of this supplement will vary depending on the date of travel and number of confirmed clients. the same tour but for a different date or a different tour, for another destination and date. a full refund of all monies paid to the Company. Please do not book flights until your tour has been confirmed! HOW TO BOOK 1. Contact us: check the availability of a tour by calling us or completing the simple Tour Enquiry Form. 2. Secure your place: you can provisionally hold a place/s on a tour for up to 7 days. 3. Booking / Payment: if your tour is available you can: a. pay by cheque made payable to Borderlands Travel Ltd Trust Account b. pay through the website using World Pay. We accept all major credit and debit cards. Go to and click on BOOK THIS TOUR on the relevant tour page. Follow the instructions to make payment. Deposits are the same for every tour per person (non-refundable) if you are booking a tour which departs in 70 days or more. If you are booking a tour less than 70 days before departure, full payment must be made on booking. As there are different tour prices, number of people, add-ons, etc to consider, your total is likely to be different to other guests. In this case please request a link to your personal payment page, processed again using World Pay. We are registered in England ( ) and are a member of the Travel Trust Association with TTA No. Q1412. The TTA exists in order to give you, the customer, 100% financial protection as every penny you pay to Borderlands Travel Ltd is protected by the association. We also feature on Trip Advisor under Borderlands Travel Ltd.

10 PRACTICAL INFORMATION CLIMATE Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. Get upto-date information at: FIRST AID KIT Travellers are best advised to travel well-prepared: adequately immunized, with sufficient supplies of prescription drugs, along with a medical kit. PHOTOGRAPHY Please ask permission before taking photos, especially of children, military installations and at border control. In remote areas women and older people generally do not like being photographed. Please respect their decision if they say no. CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR Our general recommendation is to bring light clothing and layer up or down. A fleece or jumper for cooler evenings and a waterproof jacket for even rainy, summer days. You should bring at least one long sleeved top in case you d like to visit a church or monastery, along with a shawl/scarf (ladies). We recommend at least one pair of comfortable walking shoes/boots. Flip flops are not suitable for any of the days we visit an Old Town (Stari Grad). The surface is very slippery when it s dry and when wet, can be quite dangerous when wearing this type of footwear. LUGGAGE Your luggage should not exceed 20kgs (44lbs). On private minibus tours please be aware that luggage space is limited and we therefore advise that you bring no bigger than a medium sized bag, suitcase or rucksack along with your daypack or handbag. Your luggage is your responsibility if you are unable to manage it yourself, leave it at home! ELECTRICITY The two-pin Type C (Euro plug) electrical plug is used throughout the Balkans. Voltage is Volts. You will be able to charge a phone/camera etc on all nights during this trip. EQUIPMENT We recommend you bring a water bottle, torch, a pair of binoculars, a hat and sunscreen/block. CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES Every traveller has different perspectives on begging and it is your choice whether or not you give them money. The rule of thumb would be if locals give, follow their lead with genuine beggars. We do not encourage giving money, sweets, etc to children as this can encourage them choosing to beg rather than go to school. Please do not buy any products made from endangered species. TIPPING Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in some regions of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. We are always asked how much people should give and while entirely your decision, we have tried to make things a little easier for you: If your driver/guide has been good/helpful then a reasonable amount would be around (25 35 ) per person, per tour and depending on the group size. If you take a short tour (for example, a 3 hour walking tour of a city or a minibus excursion), we recommend you give between 2-3 per hour, per person if they ve done a good job. At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive. A reasonable amount would be around per person (30 40 ) per person, per tour and depending on the group size. Most groups prefer to present the money at the end of the tour with two separate envelopes (one for the leader and one for the driver). This is to be used as a guideline only. HEALTH & IMMUNISATIONS We recommend that you check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor at least one month prior to departure. Further information can be found at:

11 ESSENTIAL INFORMATION JOINING INSTRUCTIONS Full joining instructions will be sent to you within 2 3 weeks prior to your departure. If you do not receive these at least a week beforehand, please contact louise@borderlandstravel.com directly or let us know if you require them earlier. The information in the Trip Notes is given in good faith and the content will always supersede information on our website, in our brochures or on our leaflets. VISA & PASSPORT It is your responsibility to obtain the relevant visa for the countries you are entering (including any transit visas). We advise you to check with the relevant Embassy prior to departure. Please ensure you will have at least 6 months validity on your passport on day of travel. You should carry at least a copy of your passport details page with you at all times. Usually hotels will accept our detailed list of passport information for the group but in some countries they are required by law to hold your passport for the duration of your stay. CURRENCY & FOREIGN EXCHANGE ATM / Currency Exchange: Plentiful in almost every town/city. Your Tour Leader will advise on location. Scottish notes are usually not accepted. Exchange rate: information can be found at Credit Card Acceptance: Major stores and restaurants, some smaller shops will accept them. INSURANCE It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance and it should cover you for: Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad, 24 hour emergency service and assistance, personal liability cover in case you re sued for causing injury or damaging property, lost and stolen possessions cover, cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover. Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as certain sports. The policy should cover the whole time that you are away and may also cover personal accident and legal expenses. More information: FOREIGN OFFICE ADVICE We constantly monitor the advice posted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). We will always advise clients of any relevant travel warnings. This information applies to British citizens only and other nationalities are advised to check the current position of their respective government. For further information go to We recommend that you check your government s travel advice and up-to-date information about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of, and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships.