Mystical Far EASTERN EUROPE The Balkan Legacies Romania / Bulgaria / FYR Macedonia / Northern Greece

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1 EUROPE 12Days 9Nights Mystical Far EASTERN EUROPE The Balkan Legacies Romania / Bulgaria / FYR Macedonia / Northern Greece VALIDITY: APR 2016 ONWARDS HIGHLIGHTS ENG

2 ENTRANCES / FEES INCLUDED HOTELS ACCOMMODATION Premium tourist class hotels, majority with free wifi (at least at the lobby). 1N Brasov Hotel Kronwell or sml 2N Bucharest JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel or sml 2N Sofia Radisson Blu or sml 1N Skopje Alexander Palace or sml 1N Ohrid Inex Gorica or sml 1N Kalabaka Divani Meteora or sml 1N Thessaloniki Elektra Palace or sml *Daily hot breakfast served in all hotels. DAY 01 DAY 02 Arrival Bucharest 142km- Sinaia 48km - Brasov Sinaia tour ( Romania ) Up in the Carpathian Mountains, stop for a short tour of the Sinaia Monastery before heading to the Neo-Renaissance jewel,. This 160-room palace was home to many Romanian kings. Be captivated by the abundance of intricate wooden interiors and external terraces decorated with statues, stone wells, ornamental vases and marble as you tour one of Europe s most beautiful and best preserved royal palaces. Brasov tour, part I ( Romania ) Continue to Brasov, the biggest city in Transylvania where we will stroll along the Old Town s pedestrian streets to the beautiful main square. DAY 04 Bucharest (Hotel breakfast / Western lunch / Western dinner) Bucharest city tour ( Romania ) Start with an orientation inside the Palace of the Parliament, the 2nd largest building in the world after the Pentagon. As you stroll through the halls and ornate rooms, the marble fittings and crystal chandeliers will reflect the unconfined lavishness of the previous ruling Dictator. Step outside the terrace for sweeping views of the Bucharest city centre. Adjourn to the Village Museum, showcasing the cultural heritage of Romanian life with hundreds of traditional dwellings and tools from various rural counties. Then, drive past landmarks such as the Romanian Athenaeum, the and the Triumphal Arch. In the afternoon, stroll the pedestrian old town or browse the main shopping street, DAY 03 Brasov 30km- Bran 188km- Bucharest (Hotel breakfast / Western lunch / Western dinner) Brasov tour, part II ( Romania ) This morning, we visit the Biserica (Black Church), the largest Gothic Church between Vienna and Istanbul. Hear its unique history, see the richest collection of Anatolian carpets in all of Europe and view the 4,000-pipe massive Organ. Bran Dracula Castle tour ( Romania) Tour this medieval castle with a name that was made famous by author Bram Stoker when he created the legendary fictional vampire, Dracula. The castle is called by virtue of it being inhabited by Count Dracula s infamous son Vlad III or Vlad the Impaler. DAY 05 Romania -181km- -210km- Sofia (Hotel breakfast / Western lunch / Western dinner) Veliko Tarnovo tour ( Bulgaria ) In the morning we depart from Bucharest to the old capital of Bulgaria from the 12th to 14th centuries. The old city has a picturesque location on the banks of the meandering Yantra River. Visit Tsarevets Hill where you will find relics of the mighty fortress of the Bulgarian monarchs. Proceed to Sofia after tour completes. DAY 06 Sofia (Hotel breakfast / Chinese lunch /Western dinner) Sofia city tour ( Bulgaria ) Enjoy a richly rewarding walking tour through this fascinating city. Start with a visit inside the imposing Alexander, the symbol of Sofia. Visit the nearby St Sofia Basilica and

3 view the National Art Gallery building, the majestic National Theatre, The Presidential Palace and National and take a peep at the archaeological site right beneath the busy streets of Sofia. Spend the afternoon enjoying the cosmopolitan feel of Sofia along its main shopping entertainment street Vitosha Boulevard. This evening, enjoy typical Bulgarian cuisine with some fabulous Folklore Shows. DAY 07 Sofia -123km- Rila -237km- Skopje Rila Monastery tour ( Bulgaria ) Today, we head to the Rila Mountains to visit its UNESCO World Heritage pride, the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria s most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery. The Birth of the Holy Virgin Mary Church has an impressive collection of frescoes on its ceiling and walls. The church and its tower is completely surrounded by the monastery buildings with a courtyard at the center. The striped design of this whole complex is a sight to behold. After this, proceed to Skopje, Macedonia. Skopje 2014 Illuminated tour ( FYR Macedonia ) Tonight, marvel at the colorful light displays of various monuments and statues created as part of the massive Skopje 2014 project to give Skopje a new classic look. The reconstructed façade around the Macedonian Square stand out in this illuminated scene. DAY 08 Skopje -172km- Ohrid Skopje city tour ( FYR Macedonia ) Visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, built on the same spot of the church where she was baptized and pose with her beautiful statue. Proceed to the Macedonia Square to understand the extent of the Skopje 2014 project before proceeding to the Old Bazaar, the biggest in the Balkans for some free time. After that, we drive to Ohrid city by the Lake Ohrid. DAY 09 Ohrid -278km- Kalambaka Ohrid city tour ( FYR Macedonia ) Often known as Macedonian Jerusalem, this UNESCO World Heritage city has numerous impressive centres of worship. Start the tour at the, then proceed to the Plaošnik excavation site of the old St Panteleimon Monastery. Visit the adjacent before strolling down to the picturesque at Kaneo, built on a cliff above the crisp clear waters of Lake Ohrid. Enjoy a sublime boat ride to the old town center and browse the pedestrian main street or port area with lovely vistas of the massive lake. DAY 10 Kalambaka - 229km - Thessaloniki (Hotel breakfast /Western lunch / Western dinner) Meteora tour ( Northern Greece ) Start an awe-inspiring day to discover the astonishing Meteora. Visit 2 main monasteries built on the massive rocks of Meteora. This tour will take you back to the dark ages and share the story of the first hermits and monks who laid the foundations of what later became one of the most intriguing architecture creations ever discovered. We will take you to the most beautiful spots for amazing views to wrap up an unforgettable encounter with the UNESCO World Heritage of Meteora. After lunch, we will drive to Thessaloniki, the 2nd largest city in Greece. DAY 11 (Hotel breakfast / Western lunch) Thessaloniki city tour ( Northern Greece) Start the morning with a stroll through Ano Poli, the Upper Town and enjoy the rustic old town feel while taking in some glorious views of the Thermaikos Gulf from higher grounds. Adjourn to the very attractive and have a look at its beautiful relics and elements inside. Drive past the Arch of Galerius to the iconic White Tower and take a short walk along the seaside promenade Nea Paralia. Complete the tour with free time at the shopping precinct Aristotelous Square and Tsimiski Street. Tonight, we depart for home after an intriguing journey that answers some of the myths surrounding this region. Memorial House of Mother Teresa DAY 12 Arrival home Tour completes upon arrival in KLIA.

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6 HUNGARY CROATIA ROMANIA Bran Braşov Bucharest BOSNIA D HERZEGOVINA SERBIA Skopje MACEDONIA Ohrid Meteora Sofia BULGARIA Rila Thessaloniki GREECE Veliko Tarnovo TURKEY Monastery on Rocks, Meteora KEY ITINERARY FEATURES Bilingual commentaries with high emphasis on English Comprehensive inclusions with sufficient free time for your preferred activity. Meticulously planned logistics for a well paced journey MEAL PLAN and meals on your own to optimize your dining pleasure. Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest Terms & Conditions Tour Code / : EDHSJJ Printed Date 26 February 2016