Balkans vacation, two week explorer
Highlights
Dubrovnik | Sarajevo | Belgrade | Sofia | Skopje | Lake Ohrid | Tirana | Kotor |
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
Check dates, prices & availability
US $1695
US $1998
US $1796
US $1754
US $1728
US $1728
US $1599
US $1599
US $1720
US $1594
US $1488
US $1265
US $1651
US $1677
US $1677
US $1736
US $1736
US $1762
US $1762
US $1788
US $1788
US $1780
US $1780
US $1771
Small group adventure vacation
Whether you are traveling alone or with friends/family its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. This trip will appeal to travelers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
This tour is fortunate to visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sarajevo, Tirana, Kotor and Dubrovnik. Our entrance fees contribute to the maintenance and restoration of these unique places. We have a published responsible travel policy available on our website which among other things, asks that all travelers respect signage at these sites, take nothing but photographs and do not litter or deface monuments or buildings. We also do not endorse the taking of rocks or stones as souvenirs or purchasing items of this nature from local vendors. This stance is reaffirmed by our tour leader during our pre departure meeting on day one of the tour and reiterated throughout the duration of the trip.We use a combination of public buses and private vans to get from A to B on this tour. This helps to keep our Carbon footprint low and these modes of travel are often the most practical and efficient available.
The Impacts of this Trip
We stay at locally owned hotels and our small group policy allows us the luxury of staying in quaint, small hotels, homestays and guesthouses which has the dual benefit of supporting the local economy and providing our travelers with a genuine travel experience with lots of contact with local people. We encourage our travelers to learn about the culture, rather than just photographing it, and become familiar with the recent and ancient history of the area. We encourage communication and attempting to learn phrases in the local languages and familiarising ourselves with the local customs.
The tour leader will introduce the group to local cuisines and encourage them to eat in small, locally owned restaurants for the most authentic experience. Dining at these restaurants allows money to go back into small communities rather than larger restaurant chains and clients are encouraged to tip restaurant staff for good service where appropriate.
Culture - We employ local guides throughout the journey to assist our tour leader with their specialised local knowledge. This is a valuable source of employment to the local communities as well as positive reinforcement to local to preserve and be proud of their culture. This also benefits our travelers who gain greater insight into the area by their contact with these guides.
This tour is fortunate to visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sarajevo, Tirana, Kotor and Dubrovnik. Our entrance fees contribute to the maintenance and restoration of these unique places. We have a published responsible travel policy available on our website which among other things, asks that all travelers respect signage at these sites, take nothing but photographs and do not litter or deface monuments or buildings. We also do not endorse the taking of rocks or stones as souvenirs or purchasing items of this nature from local vendors. This stance is reaffirmed by our tour leader during our pre departure meeting on day one of the tour and reiterated throughout the duration of the trip.We use a combination of public buses and private vans to get from A to B on this tour. This helps to keep our Carbon footprint low and these modes of travel are often the most practical and efficient available.
The Impacts of this Trip
We stay at locally owned hotels and our small group policy allows us the luxury of staying in quaint, small hotels, homestays and guesthouses which has the dual benefit of supporting the local economy and providing our travelers with a genuine travel experience with lots of contact with local people. We encourage our travelers to learn about the culture, rather than just photographing it, and become familiar with the recent and ancient history of the area. We encourage communication and attempting to learn phrases in the local languages and familiarising ourselves with the local customs.
The tour leader will introduce the group to local cuisines and encourage them to eat in small, locally owned restaurants for the most authentic experience. Dining at these restaurants allows money to go back into small communities rather than larger restaurant chains and clients are encouraged to tip restaurant staff for good service where appropriate.
Culture - We employ local guides throughout the journey to assist our tour leader with their specialised local knowledge. This is a valuable source of employment to the local communities as well as positive reinforcement to local to preserve and be proud of their culture. This also benefits our travelers who gain greater insight into the area by their contact with these guides.
3 Reviews of Balkans vacation, two week explorer
Reviewed on 20 Oct 2019 by Diane Rowe
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Too many good experiences to pick just one
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Good walking shoes and layers - the weather was warm/hot during the day but dropped significantly in the evening
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Using local hotels and restaurants rather than chains meant more money going to local economy
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent- 4 stars. Lost one star due to the accomodation in Belgrade and Tirana
Read the operator's response here:
adventure!
Best, Rosanna @ Tucan Travel
Reviewed on 10 Sep 2018 by Reid Kincaid
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Dubrovnik.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The operator has policies in place to utilize exchange rates to elevate trip prices, adding two hundred dollars to my price by converting my euro price to dollars. Responsible Travel got the price difference refunded to us. I would be very careful booking anything with this operator, and if you do, go through Responsible Travel as they stick by their customers to ensure a decent outcome. After my experience with the operator's pricing practices I had decided that this,
our first group tour ever, would be our last. We really enjoyed the tour itself however, and will do more small group tours but only through Responsible
Travel.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I believe it did benefit local people as our tour guide intentional chose small vendors for our meals and day trips. Most of the time, this meant an exceptional
experience, including some fantastic restaurants that we never would have found ourselves.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Responsible Travel: Five Stars
The operator: One star for honest business practices, but four stars for the actual trip.
Reviewed on 29 Aug 2017 by Sara Detmer
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing all these places I had been reading about! I can't pick one memory.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you have Euros with you. Many places will accept Euros, if you run out of local currency.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Amazing!!!
Popular similar vacations
Balkan adventure vacation
Explore Hungary's capital to medieval towns
From US $1345 - US $1465 10 days excluding flights
Dubrovnik to Athens tour
Join us on a whirlwind adventure through the Balkans
From US $2845 - US $3315 15 days excluding flights
Balkans cultural vacation
Best of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro
From €3200 15 days excluding flights
Balkan adventure vacation, 15 days
From Hungary through to Croatia
From US $2385 - US $2805 15 days excluding flights
protection
