Balkan Adventure

15 Days | Explore the heart of Eastern Europe, from Budapest to Dubrovnik

4.8 out of 5 based on 86 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
USD $2,885
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Welcome to the Balkans, where the east meets the west and the new merges seamlessly with the old. Over the centuries, people have travelled to Eastern Europe for its fertile soil, natural resources and healing waters. This land boasts rich tradition, layered cultures and mouth-watering cuisines. With historic attractions in Budapest, thriving nightlife in Belgrade, a 15th-century Old Town in Sarajevo, Durmitor National Park in Montenegro and the medieval walls of Dubrovnik, you have plenty to discover. Hike through mountains, drive through ever-changing scenery and hit up the local bars after feasting on regional favourites.

Trip overview

Map of Balkan Adventure including Bosnia And Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro and Serbia
Start
Budapest, Hungary
Finish
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
WMSK
This trip generates 26 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Cross the Chain Bridge in Budapest – known as the Pearl of the Danube – and take the funicular up to Buda Castle for beautiful views over Pest.
  • Discover the rich biodiversity of Kopacki Rit Nature Park on a guided tour and explore the vast landscapes of Durmitor National Park with a guided hike.
  • Wander through Belgrade’s Bohemian quarter and grand 19th-century boulevards before launching into a spot of nightlife. Then, take a daytrip to the artists’ haven of Zemun.
  • Watch Mostar's famous bridge divers hurl themselves from the stones of a bridge that has spanned the river for centuries and visit Tito's bunker – one of the best-kept secrets in former Yugoslavia.
  • See the sights on a guided walking tour of Sarajevo and learn about its recent history as a city under siege.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Summer temperatures can exceed 40°C in many visited regions, requiring sun protection, layered clothing for heat, and ample hydration.
  • Hotels in Europe often have single beds that can be pushed together, and air conditioning is not guaranteed.
  • If you have more time to explore the region, you may want to check out our trip 'Vienna to Dubrovnik' (trip code AMSNC). Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combos.
  • There are some long walks and short hikes on this trip, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities. Activities can be opted out of if you want to refrain from participating.
  • Pack lightly for this trip as you'll need to carry your own bag, aiming to keep it under 15 kg (33 lb). Opt for a backpack or a shoulder bag for convenience, ensuring it has straps suitable for cobbled streets and stairs, and bring a bag for essentials on day trips.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Balkan Adventure including Bosnia And Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro and Serbia

Inclusions

Meals

14 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, Public bus, Van

Accommodation

Hotel (12 nights), Guesthouse (1 night), Hostel (1 night)

Activities
  • Kopacki Rit NP- guided tour
  • Novi Sad - Synagogue
  • Novi Sad - Petrovaradin Fortress
  • Belgrade - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Belgrade- Zemun Orientation Walk
  • Sarajevo - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Konjic - Armijska Ratna Komanda ARK D-0 (Tito’s Bunker) tour
  • Mostar - Day Trip
  • Durmitor National Park Hike
  • Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport & entry to sites)
Add on activities
  • Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
  • Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF9000
  • Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
  • Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
  • Budapest - Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF7000
  • Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF10000
  • Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
  • Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
  • Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
  • Budapest - Danube Boat Trip - EUR15
  • Novi Sad - City Museum - RSD500
  • Novi Sad - Museum of Vojvodina - RSD200
  • Belgrade - Museum of Contemporary Art - Free
  • Belgrade - House of Flowers - RSD400
  • Belgrade - Nikola Tesla Museum - RSD800
  • Belgrade - Museum of Yugoslav History - RSD400
  • Belgrade - Military Museum - RSD350
  • Belgrade - St. Mark's Church - Free
  • Belgrade - Sveti Sava Church - Free
  • Belgrade - Ethnographic Museum - RSD300
  • Mostar - War Photo Exhibition - BAM6
  • Mostar - Old Bridge Museum - EUR5
  • Sarajevo - Ilidza Park and Springs - BAM15
  • Sarajevo - Jewish Museum - BAM3
  • Sarajevo - Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque - BAM3
  • Sarajevo - Sarajevo Museum - BAM10
  • Sarajevo - Brusa Bezistan - BAM3
  • Sarajevo - Despica House - BAM3
  • Sarajevo - Svrzo's House - BAM3
  • Sarajevo - City Hall & Old National Library - BAM10
  • Sarajevo - National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina - BAM8
  • Sarajevo - War Tunnel - BAM10
  • Sarajevo - Gallery 11/07/95 - Free
  • Kotor - Cruise on Kotor Fjord - EUR40
  • Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
  • Kotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4
  • Kotor - Fortress - EUR3
  • Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
  • Dubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
  • Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
  • Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
  • Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27
  • Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding day 12&13. Availability is limited due to small properties that we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 86 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Nicola · Traveled September 2024
We had a great trip through the Balkans with Intrepid, which was our first time using this tour company. The scenery was beautiful and the architecture was stunning. More importantly, I learnt so much about a time in history that I had little knowledge of, even though the war occurred only 30 years ago. Our trip was made even better by our fantastic guide, Dora. She had so much knowledge of the area and was passionate in conveying this to us. I would not hesitate to book another trip with Intrepid.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024

David · Traveled September 2024
We can highly recommend Intrepid to provide a memorable and informative travel experience. Small group sizes, utilizing local guides and services, makes for a memorable travel experience. The guides are friendly and knowledgeable, making for a relaxed but stimulating experience.
Review submitted 19 Sep 2024

Michael · Traveled August 2024
This trip is very interesting and steeped in history.
Review submitted 16 Sep 2024

Jeremy · Traveled August 2024
I want to rate this trip higher, but it was just not one of the better itineraries compared to my prior Intrepid trips. Let me start with the good - our tour leader Petar was extremely knowledgeable of the Balkans, passionate about the region, well-organized, a good communicator and fun to be with; the smaller cities like Sarajevo and Novi Sad were fantastic. The not so good - too much time spent in private vehicles going from place to place; an overall lack of what usually makes Intrepid great like a homestay with a local family or truly getting off the beaten path; and no real formalized physical activities like kayaking, biking, etc. An interesting region, but there are better Intrepid trips/itineraries.
Review submitted 18 Sep 2024

Marc · Traveled August 2024
What a great trip and introduction to this fascinating part of the world. So much history, so many great sites, delicious food. Sarajevo, Mostar, Kotor and Dubrovnik were the highlights. And top marks to our excellent tour leader Dusan, so full of knowledge and always a smile on his face.
Review submitted 13 Sep 2024
Balkan Adventure
From
USD $2,885