The Balkans Unlocked
19 Sep –
7 Oct 2026
- 19 Days
- Comfortable Bespoke Accommodation
- 32 Meals
- Group size: 15
Itinerary
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Zagreb, Croatia. The journey that lies ahead has been carefully planned and curated to show us the best of the Balkans, yet what we really look forward to are the unexpected moments that will engrain this journey in our memories.
We arrive in Zagreb, where grand boulevards lined with elegant buildings meet an old town of winding lanes. The air hums with café chatter and the scent of freshly baked bread, inviting you to pause and take it in. After settling into our carefully chosen hotel, its charm reminiscent of your favourite boutique find, we gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Over Croatian wine and dishes like slow-cooked lamb, we share the first stories of our journey, setting the tone for what’s to come.
Highlights:
Wander Zagreb’s Upper Town, where Zagreb Cathedral’s spires pierce the morning sky and St. Mark’s Church glows with its colourful tiled roof. At Dolac Market, stalls brim with homemade cheese, local wine, and delicate lace, a treasure trove you’ll describe to friends over coffee.
After lunch, we travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park, where turquoise lakes spill into cascades through dense beech forests, the soft rush of water and crisp air perfect for a reflective walk. We rest at Maškovića Han, a 17th-century Ottoman estate reimagined as a boutique retreat, its history and comfort a nod to the curated experiences you cherish.
Highlights:
In Šibenik, stroll steep stone alleys to the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James, its carved faces catching the morning sun. Pause by the seafront, where the scent of coffee mingles with salt air, and share a quiet moment with fellow travellers, like a conversation at your favourite café.
We continue to Split, a city where Roman ruins meet lively squares, its streets buzzing with local life. Gather for a seafood dinner by the Adriatic, the kind of meal you’ll recount at your next dinner party, savouring the day’s discoveries.
Highlights:
Drive to Trogir, a mediaeval town on a small island, its cobbled lanes and Cathedral of St. Lawrence glowing with Romanesque detail, like a rare find in a boutique shop. The sea breeze carries the hum of local life, inviting you to linger.
Back in Split, wander Diocletian’s Palace, where grand columns frame bustling markets and cafés, and explore its cool stone cellars, a glimpse into Roman life. Over dinner at a local restaurant, share stories of the day.
Highlights:
Travel to Mostar, Bosnia, where the Neretva River flows beneath the rebuilt Stari Most bridge, its stone arches a testament to resilience. Wander the bazaar’s colourful stalls, filled with handmade crafts and the warm scent of fresh pastries, perfect for finding a keepsake to share with friends.
Visit a historic mosque, its quiet courtyard steeped in Ottoman heritage. As the call to prayer echoes at dusk, we share dinner overlooking the river, connecting with Mostar’s layered past in a setting that feels intimate and alive.
Highlights:
Pause in Jablanica, where the Neretva’s emerald waters shimmer between green hills, a serene moment to savour with fellow travellers. Arrive in Sarajevo and wander the Bascarsija’s Ottoman alleys, where the scent of grilled ćevapčići and glinting tea sets fills the air. Visit the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and the Latin Bridge, tied to a moment that shaped history, and hear our guide’s stories at the Sarajevo Museum.
Over dinner, reflect on the city’s blend of east and west, a conversation to share at your next gathering.
Highlights:
Journey through Bosnia’s rugged hills to Višegrad, where an Ottoman bridge, a UNESCO gem, spans the Drina River with quiet grace. Cross into Serbia and pause in Bajina Bašta, a historic town at Tara Mountain’s foot, its streets whispering tales of old empires.
In Valjevo, a lively centre unfolds with charming cafés, inviting a brief stroll. Arrive in Belgrade, where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, and dine at a local restaurant, sharing plates of grilled meats and stories of the day’s travels in our intimate group.
Highlights:
Explore Belgrade’s contrasts: the stark socialist blocks of Novi Beograd, the elegant mansions of Dedinje, and the old town’s cobbled lanes, alive with local chatter. Stand at Belgrade Fortress, its white stone framing views of the Danube, a scene to recount over wine with friends. Pass the soaring Temple of St. Sava, then enjoy lunch at a local haunt.
Spend the afternoon exploring the shops on Knez Mihailova Street, similar to your local Trenery shop, or visit the Nikola Tesla Museum to see Serbia’s imaginative spirit.
Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Highlights:
Drive to Studenica Monastery, its white marble church and vivid frescos nestled in wooded hills, a haven of Serbian spirituality that invites quiet reflection. Visit Žiča Monastery, its red walls hiding intricate 13th-century interiors, a place to pause and connect.
End in Vrnjačka Banja, a spa town once loved by Serbian aristocracy, where mineral springs and lush gardens set the scene for a dinner that feels like a retreat. Share thoughts with fellow travellers, a moment to carry to your next book club.
Highlight:
Cross into Kosovo and pause at Kosovo Polje, where rolling fields recall a 14th-century battle central to Serbian lore, a story our guide brings to life. Pass Pristina’s youthful energy, its streets buzzing with café culture, and visit Gračanica Monastery, its mediaeval murals glowing in soft light.
Enter North Macedonia and settle in Skopje, dining in a restaurant where local dishes like tavče gravče spark conversations about the day’s discoveries, perfect for sharing with friends back home.
Highlights:
Wander Skopje’s Old Bazaar, where mosques and hammams line crooked lanes, and cross the Stone Bridge to the city’s newer heart, the air filled with the scent of fresh coffee. Visit the Church of St. Panteleimon, its frescos vivid against a quiet hillside. In Tetovo, marvel at the Sarena Dzamija Mosque’s painted walls, a rare gem commissioned by two sisters.
Arrive in Ohrid for a lakeside dinner, the water reflecting the evening’s calm, a scene you’ll describe over coffee with friends.
Highlights:
Explore Ohrid’s old town, where Tsar Samuel’s fortress looms over St. Sofia’s church and cobbled lanes, their charm like a boutique find. Cruise Lake Ohrid to St. Naum Monastery, its frescos vibrant against karst cliffs, the boat ride a serene moment to share with fellow travellers. Cross into Albania and reach Tirana, a city alive with colour and history.
Over an Albanian dinner of byrek and local wine, reflect on the day’s blend of nature and culture, a story to share at your next gathering.
Highlights:
In Tirana, walk Skanderbeg Square, where a mosque’s minaret and museum treasures frame a bustling heart, alive with the hum of local life. Drive to Montenegro’s Sveti Stefan, a stone village on a tiny island, its beauty like a painting you’ll describe to friends.
End in Budva, where the sea breeze drifts through a narrow old town, its charm rivalling your favourite boutique shop. Dine by the glamorous beachfront, sharing stories of the day’s discoveries in our small group.
Highlights:
Visit Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic core, where Court Square and King Nikola’s Museum hold treasures like Persian carpets and Venetian mirrors, a curated collection you’ll appreciate. Drive to Kotor, its old Venetian town tucked in a fjord, and wander to St. Tryphon’s Cathedral, its stone walls whispering history. Return to Budva for dinner, savouring local Krstač wine, a taste to recount at your next dinner party. The evening feels intimate, like a conversation among friends.
Highlights:
Skirt the Bay of Kotor to Boka Kotorska, its serene shores a quiet contrast to the journey’s pace, inviting a moment to pause with fellow travellers. Arrive in Dubrovnik, where red-roofed buildings gleam within mediaeval walls and limestone streets come alive with history during your city tour.
Settle into our sea-view hotel, chosen for its comfort and charm, and explore the ancient town or rest by the Adriatic. The evening encourages introspection and allows us to exchange tales in our small group setting.
Highlights:
Day at leisure: Start with a gentle stroll along Dubrovnik’s Stradun, the lively heart of the old town, where the Rector’s Palace and St. Blaise’s Church glow in the morning light. You might visit the cathedral and nearby monasteries, each sharing a chapter of the city’s 1,400-year story. In the afternoon, perhaps spend time in a café or wander the city walls, soaking in views of the Adriatic at your own pace.
Gather for a farewell dinner, sharing memories of the Balkans’ beauty.
Highlight:
This morning, our tour of the Balkans comes to an end as we make our way to the airport and board our flight to South Africa.
Seven countries, seventeen days and one incredible journey. Our tour through the Balkans has been an epic exploration of the many histories, cultures and cuisines of a multi-faceted region. From sun-kissed beaches and towering mountains to mediaeval villages and pulsating cities, it’s shown us a different side of Europe.
We return with vivid memories and enchanting experiences that will last a lifetime. Seagull Travel & Tours looks forward to taking the road less travelled with you again.
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Zagreb, Croatia. The journey that lies ahead has been carefully planned and curated to show us the best of the Balkans, yet what we really look forward to are the unexpected moments that will engrain this journey in our memories.
We arrive in Zagreb, where grand boulevards lined with elegant buildings meet an old town of winding lanes. The air hums with café chatter and the scent of freshly baked bread, inviting you to pause and take it in. After settling into our carefully chosen hotel, its charm reminiscent of your favourite boutique find, we gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Over Croatian wine and dishes like slow-cooked lamb, we share the first stories of our journey, setting the tone for what’s to come.
Highlights:
Wander Zagreb’s Upper Town, where Zagreb Cathedral’s spires pierce the morning sky and St. Mark’s Church glows with its colourful tiled roof. At Dolac Market, stalls brim with homemade cheese, local wine, and delicate lace, a treasure trove you’ll describe to friends over coffee.
After lunch, we travel to Plitvice Lakes National Park, where turquoise lakes spill into cascades through dense beech forests, the soft rush of water and crisp air perfect for a reflective walk. We rest at Maškovića Han, a 17th-century Ottoman estate reimagined as a boutique retreat, its history and comfort a nod to the curated experiences you cherish.
Highlights:
In Šibenik, stroll steep stone alleys to the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James, its carved faces catching the morning sun. Pause by the seafront, where the scent of coffee mingles with salt air, and share a quiet moment with fellow travellers, like a conversation at your favourite café.
We continue to Split, a city where Roman ruins meet lively squares, its streets buzzing with local life. Gather for a seafood dinner by the Adriatic, the kind of meal you’ll recount at your next dinner party, savouring the day’s discoveries.
Highlights:
Drive to Trogir, a mediaeval town on a small island, its cobbled lanes and Cathedral of St. Lawrence glowing with Romanesque detail, like a rare find in a boutique shop. The sea breeze carries the hum of local life, inviting you to linger.
Back in Split, wander Diocletian’s Palace, where grand columns frame bustling markets and cafés, and explore its cool stone cellars, a glimpse into Roman life. Over dinner at a local restaurant, share stories of the day.
Highlights:
Travel to Mostar, Bosnia, where the Neretva River flows beneath the rebuilt Stari Most bridge, its stone arches a testament to resilience. Wander the bazaar’s colourful stalls, filled with handmade crafts and the warm scent of fresh pastries, perfect for finding a keepsake to share with friends.
Visit a historic mosque, its quiet courtyard steeped in Ottoman heritage. As the call to prayer echoes at dusk, we share dinner overlooking the river, connecting with Mostar’s layered past in a setting that feels intimate and alive.
Highlights:
Pause in Jablanica, where the Neretva’s emerald waters shimmer between green hills, a serene moment to savour with fellow travellers. Arrive in Sarajevo and wander the Bascarsija’s Ottoman alleys, where the scent of grilled ćevapčići and glinting tea sets fills the air. Visit the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and the Latin Bridge, tied to a moment that shaped history, and hear our guide’s stories at the Sarajevo Museum.
Over dinner, reflect on the city’s blend of east and west, a conversation to share at your next gathering.
Highlights:
Journey through Bosnia’s rugged hills to Višegrad, where an Ottoman bridge, a UNESCO gem, spans the Drina River with quiet grace. Cross into Serbia and pause in Bajina Bašta, a historic town at Tara Mountain’s foot, its streets whispering tales of old empires.
In Valjevo, a lively centre unfolds with charming cafés, inviting a brief stroll. Arrive in Belgrade, where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, and dine at a local restaurant, sharing plates of grilled meats and stories of the day’s travels in our intimate group.
Highlights:
Explore Belgrade’s contrasts: the stark socialist blocks of Novi Beograd, the elegant mansions of Dedinje, and the old town’s cobbled lanes, alive with local chatter. Stand at Belgrade Fortress, its white stone framing views of the Danube, a scene to recount over wine with friends. Pass the soaring Temple of St. Sava, then enjoy lunch at a local haunt.
Spend the afternoon exploring the shops on Knez Mihailova Street, similar to your local Trenery shop, or visit the Nikola Tesla Museum to see Serbia’s imaginative spirit.
Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Highlights:
Drive to Studenica Monastery, its white marble church and vivid frescos nestled in wooded hills, a haven of Serbian spirituality that invites quiet reflection. Visit Žiča Monastery, its red walls hiding intricate 13th-century interiors, a place to pause and connect.
End in Vrnjačka Banja, a spa town once loved by Serbian aristocracy, where mineral springs and lush gardens set the scene for a dinner that feels like a retreat. Share thoughts with fellow travellers, a moment to carry to your next book club.
Highlight:
Cross into Kosovo and pause at Kosovo Polje, where rolling fields recall a 14th-century battle central to Serbian lore, a story our guide brings to life. Pass Pristina’s youthful energy, its streets buzzing with café culture, and visit Gračanica Monastery, its mediaeval murals glowing in soft light.
Enter North Macedonia and settle in Skopje, dining in a restaurant where local dishes like tavče gravče spark conversations about the day’s discoveries, perfect for sharing with friends back home.
Highlights:
Wander Skopje’s Old Bazaar, where mosques and hammams line crooked lanes, and cross the Stone Bridge to the city’s newer heart, the air filled with the scent of fresh coffee. Visit the Church of St. Panteleimon, its frescos vivid against a quiet hillside. In Tetovo, marvel at the Sarena Dzamija Mosque’s painted walls, a rare gem commissioned by two sisters.
Arrive in Ohrid for a lakeside dinner, the water reflecting the evening’s calm, a scene you’ll describe over coffee with friends.
Highlights:
Explore Ohrid’s old town, where Tsar Samuel’s fortress looms over St. Sofia’s church and cobbled lanes, their charm like a boutique find. Cruise Lake Ohrid to St. Naum Monastery, its frescos vibrant against karst cliffs, the boat ride a serene moment to share with fellow travellers. Cross into Albania and reach Tirana, a city alive with colour and history.
Over an Albanian dinner of byrek and local wine, reflect on the day’s blend of nature and culture, a story to share at your next gathering.
Highlights:
In Tirana, walk Skanderbeg Square, where a mosque’s minaret and museum treasures frame a bustling heart, alive with the hum of local life. Drive to Montenegro’s Sveti Stefan, a stone village on a tiny island, its beauty like a painting you’ll describe to friends.
End in Budva, where the sea breeze drifts through a narrow old town, its charm rivalling your favourite boutique shop. Dine by the glamorous beachfront, sharing stories of the day’s discoveries in our small group.
Highlights:
Visit Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic core, where Court Square and King Nikola’s Museum hold treasures like Persian carpets and Venetian mirrors, a curated collection you’ll appreciate. Drive to Kotor, its old Venetian town tucked in a fjord, and wander to St. Tryphon’s Cathedral, its stone walls whispering history. Return to Budva for dinner, savouring local Krstač wine, a taste to recount at your next dinner party. The evening feels intimate, like a conversation among friends.
Highlights:
Skirt the Bay of Kotor to Boka Kotorska, its serene shores a quiet contrast to the journey’s pace, inviting a moment to pause with fellow travellers. Arrive in Dubrovnik, where red-roofed buildings gleam within mediaeval walls and limestone streets come alive with history during your city tour.
Settle into our sea-view hotel, chosen for its comfort and charm, and explore the ancient town or rest by the Adriatic. The evening encourages introspection and allows us to exchange tales in our small group setting.
Highlights:
Day at leisure: Start with a gentle stroll along Dubrovnik’s Stradun, the lively heart of the old town, where the Rector’s Palace and St. Blaise’s Church glow in the morning light. You might visit the cathedral and nearby monasteries, each sharing a chapter of the city’s 1,400-year story. In the afternoon, perhaps spend time in a café or wander the city walls, soaking in views of the Adriatic at your own pace.
Gather for a farewell dinner, sharing memories of the Balkans’ beauty.
Highlight:
This morning, our tour of the Balkans comes to an end as we make our way to the airport and board our flight to South Africa.
Seven countries, seventeen days and one incredible journey. Our tour through the Balkans has been an epic exploration of the many histories, cultures and cuisines of a multi-faceted region. From sun-kissed beaches and towering mountains to mediaeval villages and pulsating cities, it’s shown us a different side of Europe.
We return with vivid memories and enchanting experiences that will last a lifetime. Seagull Travel & Tours looks forward to taking the road less travelled with you again.
Join us on a 19-day journey across Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and other Balkan countries, where we’ll hear their silent stories. Stroll through mediaeval passageways in Dubrovnik, where limestone streets shine in the dusk light. Taste warm pastries in Sarajevo’s bustling bazaars and drink local wine near Ohrid’s tranquil lake. Each moment is designed just for our small group of 15 or fewer: intimate, considered, and full of connection. With knowledgeable guides and stays chosen for their character, we’ll share meals and stories that linger like evenings with old friends.
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Seagull Travel & Tours crafts small group tours that offer luxury, convenience, and spontaneous moments of joy.
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Seagull curates and facilitates exceptional travel experiences to premium destinations worldwide.
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The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email with the itinerary which includes pricing, inclusions and flight options.
You can contact us at info@seagulltours.co.za or +27 42 296 0475