From Shore to Shore: The Balkan Peninsula
Slovenia | Croatia | Montenegro | Serbia | Bulgaria | Romania | Germany | Austria
44 Days - 4,060 Miles
7
Season 2024
- Depart USA / Canada August 26th
- Arrival in Frankfurt August 27th
- Return from Frankfurt October 9th
This unique area of Europe, which was long out of bounds for travelers during the cold war and the Yugoslavia crisis, has become one of the new top destinations on the continent. Travel with us through beautiful Bavaria south to the Balkan Peninsula. On a wonderful round-trip we discover the amazing history of the capital cities of Zagreb, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia. We drive through beautiful countryside, to fascinating National Parks and across majestic mountain ranges. Follow in the footsteps of Count Dracula in Transylvania and relax on the shores of the Black Sea. Meet lovely people from very distinct cultures and with different temperaments. Of course you have to enjoy their unique cuisine. The breathtaking shorelines of Montenegro and Croatia are just another of the many highlights on this fascinating extended overseas RV tour.
Day 1
We welcome you at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. You get a transfer to our comfortable hotel in downtown Frankfurt where you can relax or enjoy the town before you meet your fellow travelers at our briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2
After breakfast we transfer to the rental station where you get an orientation to your motorhome. Then we stock up on supplies at a supermarket before we hit the road for an easy drive on the autobahn into Bavaria.
Day 3
This morning we enjoy a leisurely walking tour through the beautiful old town of Bamberg. Our local guide will tell us about the medieval history and we learn about the well-known beer brewing traditions of this Franconian town. In the afternoon we enjoy a scenic drive through Bavaria to Regensburg.
Day 4
Regensburg is a true gem located on the River Danube. We tour the city with a modern tourist tram followed by a visit to the amazing Regensburg Dom cathedral. Then we have a short drive to our campsite near Passau at the border to Austria.
Day 5
Passau is picturesquely located at the convergence of three rivers (‘Dreiflüsse’) Danube, Inn and Ilz. On a stroll through the old town we enjoy the marvelous architecture which has an Italian flair to it. After lunch in a traditional Bavarian restaurant we take a cruise on the rivers. Then you have time to enjoy more of the town on your own.
Days 6 & 7
We are crossing the Alps on our way south through Austria and Slovenia to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The next day we enjoy a tour of the Upper Town (Gornji grad) and the more modern Lower Town (Donji grad) with our local guide, including a ride on the shortest funicular in Europe. The Church of St. Mark with its colorful tiled roof is a highlight.
Days 8 & 9
After an easy drive east on the autobahn into Serbia, we will arrive at your campsite in Belgrade. The next day our charter bus picks us up with our local guide for an all-day tour of the country’s capital city. We walk the streets of the Old Town (Stari grad) and visit the impressive Temple of St. Sava, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches. Then we see Kalemegdan Fortress which towers over the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. We also host lunch there. In the afternoon we visit the Nikola Tesla Museum and learn about his pioneering inventions.
Day 10
Today we enjoy a scenic drive including many local roads into Transylvania in central Romania.
Day 11
Many consider Sibiu the most beautiful town in Romania. We take a tour across its historic squares including the Piata Mara and Piata Mica. We see the famous Primaria (town hall) and learn about the Podul Minciunilor (bridge of lies). After free time in town for lunch on your own we tour the open-air museum Astra with about 170 traditional buildings. Here we learn more about the lives of the local people and their crafts.
Day 12
An exciting scenic driving day awaits us as we travel the Transfargarasan high-road, considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
Day 13
On an exciting all-day coach tour we first visit Bran Castle located in the Carpathian Mountains and steeped in legend around Count Dracula. Then we continue to the beautiful town of Brasov. Here you can feel the German heritage on a short guided walk. Then you have time for lunch in town. After another scenic drive with our bus we visit the neo-renaissance style Peles Castle with its vast collection of arms and armor.
Day 14
After a short drive to Romania’s capital city of Bucharest, we enjoy a tour of the city in the afternoon. The highlight is a visit of the Palatul Parlamentului, the Palace of the Parliament. The colossal construction dating from communist times is considered to be the heaviest building in the world. We also enjoy a fantastic view from its huge terrace. A delicious and fun dinner is included in a traditional beer hall in the old town.
Days 15 & 16
Now we drive east to our small campsite near the Danube Delta on the Black Sea. The next day we board a small boat to experience the unparalleled flora and fauna up close with our local captain. We also have a fun picnic style lunch on our cruise.
Days 17 & 18
Our scenic route leads us south along the shores of the Black Sea across the border to Bulgaria. Our RV park is located on the Black Sea near the seaside resort town of Varna. After our arrival we have dinner in the excellent campground restaurant. The next day is free to enjoy the water and beach. For more sightseeing there is an optional bus tour to the historic little town of Nessebar.
Day 19
We head back west and enjoy a scenic drive across the Balkan Mountain range. In the afternoon we visit the Valley of the Thracian Kings near our campsite.
Day 20
An easy drive brings us to our campground south of Sofia. In the afternoon we board a charter bus for an excursion to the famous Rila Monastery which was established in the 10th century.
Day 21
Today we have an exciting all day bus and walking tour of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city. We see the highlights of the historic center including the Aleksandur Nevski Memorial Church and the Stalinist-era architecture of the Party House. A wonderful traditional lunch is included before we visit the interesting Archaeological Museum with its many medieval and ancient treasures.
Days 22 & 23
Our tour continues with some easy drives on the autobahn plus some scenic detours. We cross the border back into Serbia where we overnight amidst vineyards. The next day we continue our scenic drive when we also cross the Tara Canyon on our way to our campsite in the Durmitor National Park in Montenegro.
Day 24
Today is a free day to just relax or to take a scenic hike in the fascinating Durmitor National Park, which features many mountains above 6,000 feet as well as crystal-clear mountain lakes.
Day 25
We head back to the shore, but this time to the Adriatic Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean. Enjoy the breathtaking views as we are making our way down from the mountain ranges to the beaches at Buljarica. We host dinner in a seaside restaurant.
Day 26
On our all-day coach tour we drive around the Bay of Kotor and have lunch included in the old town of Kotor. In the afternoon we take a boat trip on the bay to the famous island with the small Lady of our Rock Church where our guide also shows us the museum. We finish the exciting day with a stroll along the Promenade of Perast before our bus takes us back to the campground.
Day 27
A short and scenic drive including a ferry ride across the bay brings us back to Croatia to our campsite near Dubrovnik. In the afternoon we enjoy the breathtaking views of the city and the coast on a boat cruise on the Adriatic Sea.
Days 28 & 29
It is time to explore the wonderful city of Dubrovnik. Our bus takes us to a great viewpoint high above the town before we take a walk through the medieval alleyways and along parts of the old city wall. We enjoy lunch in the city before we visit the beautiful little village of Cavtat which has been built on the site of Roman ruins. The next day is free for your own excursions or to have a day just to relax.
Day 30
We drive north along the coast to Trogir, picturesquely located on a small Island. After our arrival in the afternoon we take a taxi boat to meet our local guide for a walking tour of the historic center.
Day 31
The city of Split with its busy port is our destination for the day. Here we take a tour of the Palace of Diocletian, one of the largest and best preserved Roman palaces in Europe. Then you can explore more of Split on your own and enjoy lunch in one of the many sidewalk restaurants.
Days 32 & 33
We leave the coast again for a scenic drive into the mountains to Plitvice Lakes National Park. We host dinner in the campsite restaurant in the evening. The next day you can take a shuttle bus into the park to take walks across the many footbridges and paths with views of gorgeous waterfalls.
Day 34
A scenic drive takes us through beautiful mountains and finally back to the sea to Pula on the Istria Peninsula.
Day 35
In the morning we tour the town of Pula with its many Roman monuments. We also visit the impressive Pula Amphitheatre which could hold more than 20,000 spectators. In the afternoon we drive north into Slovenia.
Day 36
We have two great places to explore today. First, we head to Predjama Castle. This fortress is dramatically set inside a cave on the side of a rock wall. Then we get to explore one of Slovenia’s most popular national attractions, the Postojna Caves which include more than 12 miles of tunnels and beautiful rock formations.
Days 37 & 38
A very short and easy drive takes us to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital. You can enjoy the afternoon at leisure. The next day we tour this beautiful and very green town, where we see among other things the Dragon Bridge, the Triple Bridge, the Fountain of the Three Rivers and St Nicholas’s Cathedral. After our included lunch in town we have a short drive to Lake Bled.
Day 39
Today we take a boat ride on picturesque Lake Bled. We also get off on Bled Island with the little Church of the Assumption which remains popular with pilgrims. In the afternoon we drive into Austria to our campground on Lake Wolfgang.
Day 40
From our campground on Lake Wolfgang we take a bus to the amazing Salt mines at Althaussee, the largest still active salt mines in Austria. We take a tour through tunnels with walls of pure salt, see an underground chapel and salt lake. In the afternoon we arrive back in Germany at our campground near Lake Starnberg.
Day 41
We visit Kloster Andechs, a Benedictine priory, not only famous for its beautiful Baroque Church but also for its brewery, the Klosterbrauerei Andechs. It is considered by many the cradle of German beer brewing tradition. Then we drive north on the autobahn to our campsite near the town of Speyer.
Day 42
In the morning we visit the Technik Museum Speyer. The fantastic collection focusing on transportation boasts a Boing 747 and a Soviet-era spacecraft. In the afternoon you have time to pack.
Days 43 & 44
This morning we return the rentals and check into our comfortable hotel. The afternoon is free to relax before we meet for our farewell dinner. The next morning after a breakfast buffet you get a shuttle to the airport.
PRICES
2024
- $ 12,480 per person (two in an RV)
- $ 7,840 additional person
- $ 15,980 solo traveler
- for RV upgrade add $ 1,590
The Tour Price includes:
Rental Motorhomes
- New or almost new 20-22 ft. (Upgrades up to 24 ft) class B+/C diesel motorhomes with stick shifts
- Fully equipped with bedding, camping chairs, dishes etc.
- Vehicle insurance with €1,500 deductible
- Unlimited mileage
- Full propane tank
Transfers
- Airport to hotel on arrival day
- Hotel to rental company
- Transfers to all activities included in our itineraries
- Rental company to hotel
- Hotel to airport on departure day
Meals
- Welcome dinner
- 2 breakfast buffets (Tour 4 - Greece: 3 breakfast buffets)
- Various other meals in fine restaurants as described in the itinerary
- Choice of one beverage (soft drink, beer or wine) with included meals
- Farewell dinner
Campground Fees
- Fees for the best available campgrounds
- Including electrical hook-up
Ferries and Toll Bridges
- Tour 2 - Scandinavia: Comfortable ferries, toll for the long suspension bridges
- Tour 3 - UK & Ireland: Comfortable ferries to and from France to England and to and from Ireland
- Tour 4 - Greece: Cruise the Adriatic Sea to and from Greece on comfortable ferris (overnight including inside cabin) and to and from Mykonos Island
Hotel
- 2 nights first class hotel (Tour 4 - Greece: 3 nights)
Experienced Wagonmaster & Tailgunner
- We are there for you at all times en route, during sightseeing and on the campgrounds
Daily Briefings
- Every afternoon we meet for a briefing at which we provide you with detailed information on the next day
Toll Roads (except cash tolls)
- All street tolls that we can pay in advance via vignette, online RV registration or transponders are included
- Cash tolls are not included (approx. €50-150 on some tours, mostly in Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Balkans)
Sightseeing Tours
- Selected sightseeing tours as listed in the itineraries
- Our sightseeing tours always include an experienced local guide
- Entrance fees to the sights
- Personal receiver and head-set to use on guided tour
- For big cities like Paris, Barcelona, Athens, Stockholm or London we have our own charter bus which picks us up at the campground
Navigation Aids
- Detailed trip-logs with itinerary and driving directions, personally prepared (except Tour 7 & 8 which are fully GPS guided)
- Road maps
- Pre-programmed GPS for use during the tour