Essential Serbia and Kosovo Tour
Essential Serbia and Kosovo Tour
From
995 €
Your Package Price
Day 1 Airprot – Belgrade
Arrival to Belgrade airport, and welcome by a professional English speaking guide and transfer to the best centrally located Excelsior Hotel next to the Parliament. Belgrade city tour: Republic Square, National Theatre, Saint Sava Orthodox Cathedral, second largest Orthodox church in the world, Kalemegdan Fortress wrap up a beautifully introduction into Serbia’s capital city. Optional dinner in restaurant in the famous Skadarlija bohemian quarter. Overnight. Majestic Hotel or Opera Hotel or similar available.
Day 2 Belgrade – South Western Serbia - Mecavnik –B-D
After breakfast departure to South Western Serbia and Mecavnik Drvengrad, with break for touring the Oplenac Royal Mausoleum with the Saint George Church which features gorgeous mosaics. Accommodation in Tara Hotel or Zlatibor Mountain Resort & Spa or Similar. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 3 Mecavnik – Mokra Gora – Train Ride SW Serbia- Studenica Monastery - B-L
After breakfast transfer to the nearby train station of Mokra Gora and take a 2,5 hours Sargan train ride, along the wonderful scenery of SW Serbia with its numerous tunnels and bridges. Drive via Nova Varos with short stop for photo shooting the beautiful Zlatar-Uvac Lake, the largest natural habitat of griffin vultures in the Balkans, and further via Ivanjica where we can make short stop over for tasting of homemade raspberry juice and farther along the purely intact nature of Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve to Studenica Monastery, UNESCO site and one of the most famous Medieval monasteries of Serbia. Sightseeing of the Medieval complex of Studenica and overnight and accommodation at Ivanjicki Konaci complex or Similar.
Day 4 Studenica Monastery – Novi Pazar (UNESCO) - B-D
After early breakfast drive to Novi Pazar and sightseeing of the UNESCO heritage sites : SS Peter’s and Paul Church one of the oldest in the Balkans, the Djurdjevi Stupovi Monastery and Sopocani Monastery. Break for short walk along the historical center of Novi Pazar and visit to the Altun Alem Mosque, one of the best preserved mosques of Novi Pazar and visit to the Ras Museum, which keeps wonderful ethnographic collections. Accommodation and dinner and overnight at Pasha Hotel or Eminent Hotel or similar in Novi Pazar.
Day 5 Novi Pazar, Serbia – Prizren, Kosovo - B-D
After breakfast departure for Prizren, for touring the Banjska Monastery which is located very close to the border between Kosovo and Serbia, as soon as we enter Kosovo in 30 minutes we will reach Banjska Monastery. Afterwards continue to Prizren one of the most beautiful towns in Kosovo. It is the second largest in the country, is a beautiful city situated on the slopes of the Sharr Mountains in southern Kosovo, close to the border with Albania. It is a historic city known for the arts and crafts something which becomes obvious as soon as you approach the centre, with cobble stone roads, beautifully crafted shops, bars and restaurants built in a typical Ottoman architecture. Overnight in Prizren. Hotel Kacinari or Similar.
Day 6: Prizren – Rahovec - Gjakova B – L / Wine Testing
After breakfast visits of Prizren which offers some great religious monuments representing different faiths, with lots of monuments and sites we visit: The Mosque of Sinan Pasha built in 1615, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Prizren's main Catholic church from 1870), House of the League of Prizren, and the Stone Bridge. Afterward, we drive through Rahoveci fields of grapes which you can be forgotten and think you are in Tuscany where we have lunch and a wine testing. On the main road to Gjakova, it is the Fshajt Bridge, 30 meters high from the river lever and it is located in the Fshajt village which crosses over the White River. The bridge, which is at the southern end of a fantastic gorge, is a very popular place during the summer for its organisations such as camping and jumping competitions from this bridge in the water running down, here you can also cross the river by walking on an iron bridge created for walking on the top of the river which gives you extraordinary adrenaline. This bridge is called the Tibetan Bridge. Continuing not far from Fshajt Bridge is an Ottoman-era bridge 190 meters long, along the Erenik River, with 11 arches dating from the 15th century, and is named after the renovations made in the 18th century, financed by local artisans now it is known as Tailors Bridge. Continue to the city of Gjakova and visit the old quarter called: Carshi full of old houses, shops, bars, and the 16th-century Hadum Aga Mosque. Overnight in the old quarter of Gjakova. Carshia e Jupave or Similar.
Day 7: Gjakova – Decan – Peja – Gracanica – Ulpiana – Pristina- B – D
A day dedicated to religious monuments and art in Kosovo. The Monastery complex of Decani is considered as the largest medieval church in the Balkans and contains the most extensive beautifully preserved fresco decorations. It deservingly is one of the most important parts of the Medieval Monuments of Kosovo under the protection of UNESCO for their importance in the preservation of World Heritage. This monastery was constructed by king Stefan Urosh buried in the chapel and his son Stefan Dushan. Interesting is the fact that the catholicon has striking similarities to a roman catholic church which can be explain by the fact that its architect was a Franciscan monk from the Montenegrin town of Kotor where he was in contact with obvious architectural influences from Venice. Continue to visit the Patriarchate of Peja constructed in the XIII century. It is composed of three small churches with beautiful frescoes. The complex of churches for its architectural and cultural values it represents is part of UNESCO. Next is Gracanica a few kilometres from Pristina, we visit the superb 14th century Orthodox Church founded by king Stefan Milutin in 1321, a triumph of Byzantine architecture and part of the Kosovo Medieval Monuments protected by UNESCO. Finally, close by visit ancient remains of Ulpiana a pre roman town in the province of Dardania populated by the Illyrian tribe of Dardanoi. After an earthquake it was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian hence was also known as Justiniana Secunda. Overnight in Pristina. Garden Down Town or Similar.
Day 8: Pristina B – D
Today we will walk through the capital Pristina exploring its main attractions in the centre and surroundings including: The Mother Teresa Square, the Monument of Scanderbeg (Albanian National Hero), the clock tower, Kosovo Government building the “New Born” monument which is becoming the symbol of this new state, and Saint Mother Teresa Cathedral considering it to be one of the largest Catholic Cathedrals in the Balkans. In front of the Cathedral is the public University campus and we will visit the National Library with its unique architecture, looking from a distance it looks like a bird nest built of iron mesh. Of particular interest are the Ottoman period mosques of Pristina 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. The Ethnographic Museum situated in a typical Ottoman architecture house is a beautifully stocked with original artefacts which testify to the traditions and way of living of the people in Kosovo. After the lunch just outside Pristina visit the Battle of Kosovo monument dedicated to the battle of 1389 between a Balkan Alliance force led by prince Lazar against an Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad I. The battle was fierce and both leaders of the armies were killed in battle. Then continue further to visit the monument as well as the Tomb of Sulltan Murad I. Return to Pristina for overnight. Garden Down Town or Similar.
Day 9: Pristina –Airport B
Free time until departure to Pristina airport.
Price
995 Euro p/person sharing a double/twin room for minimum 9 - 10 participants
1085 Euro p/person sharing a double/twin room for minimum 7 - 8 participants
1185 Euro p/person sharing a double/twin room for minimum 5 - 6 participants
1275 Euro p/person sharing a double/twin room for minimum 3 - 4 participants
1540 Euro p/person sharing a double/ twin room for minimum 2 participants
2125 Euro for one person sharing a double room single use 1 participant
Single room supplement = 210 Euro. (Single rooms will usually be double or twin for single use.)
Included:
- Transfers from the airport with A/C vehicle / Mini Bus or Bus- Depending on the size of the group
- All transportation according to the program
- English speaking Guide for all tour
- Accommodation in good 3*/4* hotels
- Breakfast /buffet/ from day 2 till day 9 (B)
- Homemade brunch in Uvac Special Reserve area /buckwheat pie, natural juice/ (L)
- 2 Dinners in Serbia as per Program (D)
- 1 Lunch with wine testing in Rahovec (L)
- 3 Dinners in Kosovo (D)
- 1 bottle of water per person per day on the car or bus
- Entrance Fees as per program
- Sargan Train Ride
- 24/7 assistance from Balkan Destination
- Taxes
Not Included:
- Flight tickets
- Lunches and dinners, except those that are specified in the “Includes” section
- Gratuities to guide and driver and hotels and restaurants
- Everything not mentioned in the “Includes” section
Best months for tours
We recommend you booking this tour for one of the months: April, May, September, October or November. However, this tour can be booked also in other months as per your request, we arrange the tour during the 12 months of the year.
This tour is private. For group tours of more than 10 people in a group, please contact us for lower prices.
Cancellation Policy
Payment Conditions for Group Departure dates, for clients that book directly at our website.
1.1. THE CLIENT is required to pay Balkan Destination a deposit of 30% of the total amount at the moment he/she book the tour as per departure dates or Private tour (FIT) at our website.
1.2. The remaining 70% of the total amount must be paid to Balkan Destination LTD, no later than 30 days prior to start date of services of this tour group departure or Private (FIT) tour.
1.3. If you book this tour within 30 days before the tour starts according to the group departure dates or as per your departure date as a private (FIT) tour, we will require from you to pay 100% whole amount before the tour starts.
Cancellation Policy for Group Departure dates and Private Tours
For group tours of 6 people or more, the following cancellation policy will apply:
a. If the reservation is cancelled/amended 45 days or more, prior to the arrival date, then a full refund will be given, minus a bank transaction charges.
b. If the reservation is cancelled/amended 44 to 30 days, prior to the arrival date, a 10 % penalty of the total amount will apply.
c. If the reservation is cancelled/amended 29 to 21 days, prior to the arrival date, a 30 % penalty of the total amount will apply.
d. If the reservation is cancelled/amended 20 to 15 days, prior to the arrival date, a 50 % penalty of the total amount will apply.
e. If the reservation is cancelled/amended 14 to 7 days, prior to the arrival date, a 70 % penalty of the total amount will apply.
f. If the reservation is cancelled/amended less than 7 days prior to the arrival date a non-refund will apply.
g. In case of no shows or early interruption of services a strict non-refund rule will apply.
Cancellation for FIT/Individuals private bookings. FIT tours of 5 participants or less which have been confirmed paid and Invoice settled, can be cancelled without penalty up to 10 days prior to arrival date. Cancellations after this deadline will be charged 100% in full. Bank transfer for refunds will be the recipients’ responsibility.
Balkan Destination reserve the right to cancel any of the published tours on our site only according to fixed dates that are published for groups. When there are not enough participants on the relevant dates, in such cases, we may cancel the departure date by notifying the clients that already booked in a written notice, no later than 30 days prior to the start of the tour departure date. In such cases when we cancel a departure due to insufficient participants on the due date, the clients will be refunded all the money 100 % they have paid to us in total.
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