Original
Explorer
Dubrovnik to Athens
15 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
circle76 reviews
location_on 15 days
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Start
Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Finish
Athens, Greece
tour
Trip Code
ZMSM
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
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Meals
14 breakfasts
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Transport
Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi, Boat, Train
bed
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hostel with ensuite facilities (1 night)
From £2,169(15 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Admire the World Heritage-listed architecture of Dubrovnik and Montenegro’s Kotor, climbing along their ancient city walls.
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Loose yourself in Tirana, Albania's colourful capital, and partake in the local's favourite pastime: drinking coffee and people-watching.
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Sail across the blue waters of Lake Ohrid – one of Europe's oldest lakes. No wonder North Macedonia and Albania share this beautiful attraction; nobody would want to let it go!
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Hike the slopes of Mt Olympus, the ancient seat of the 12 Greek gods. According to mythology Zeus unleashed his thunderbolts from one of Olympus' peaks.
Is this trip right for you?
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The Balkan peninsula is very hilly and mountainous, so many steps are a feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines, so packing light is recommended. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. Some people may find the Balkan's topography very demanding.
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Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable, especially as many of the transport options and accommodations we use will not have air-conditioning. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
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Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than en-suite, and many accommodations in this part of the world do not have air-conditioning.
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On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
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If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our trip ‘Dubrovnik to Santorini’ (trip code ZMSEC). This trip continues on to explore the beautiful Cycladic Islands, ending on stunning Santorini. Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip.
Itinerary
Experience the seaside charm and Balkan countryside, from Dubrovnik to Athens.
This European adventure combines the must-sees of the Balkan region and the lesser-known glories of North Macedonia and Albania – creating the perfect balance between old and new. Hang out in Dubrovnik's Old Town, cruise around Lake Ohrid, hike the foot hills of Mt Olympus and in Pelister National Park, and sample some regional specialties in Greece's capital. You’ll experience the Adriatic coastline and the Balkans interior on a 15-day regional wrap from Dubrovnik to Athens. With a curated selection of inclusions and plenty of free time, this slice of Europe is all yours to explore.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Dubrovnik
- DAY 2Day 2 • Kotor
- DAY 3Day 3 • Tirana
- DAY 4Day 4 • Kruja / Tirana
- DAY 5Day 5 • Berat
- DAY 6Day 6 • Lake Ohrid
- DAY 7Day 7 • Lake Ohrid
- DAY 8Day 8 • Skopje
- DAY 9Day 9 • Matka Canyon / Skopje
- DAY 10Day 10 • Pelister National Park / Bitola
- DAY 11Day 11 • Kastoria
- DAY 12Day 12 • Litochoro
- DAY 13Day 13 • Mt Olympus National Park / Litochoro
- DAY 14Day 14 • Athens
- DAY 15Day 15 • Athens
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
14 breakfasts
airport_shuttle Transport
Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi, Boat, Train
bed Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hostel with ensuite facilities (1 night)
festival Included activities
circleShkoder - Rozafa Castle
circleKruja - Day Trip
circleKruja - Skanderbeg Museum
circleKruja - Fortress Visit
circleBerat - Walking tour with a local guide
circleBerat - Castle Visit
circleOhrid - Lake Ohrid Boat Cruise
circleSkopje - Matka Canyon visit and Boat Ride
circlePelister National Park - Hike in Pelister National Park
circleMt Olympus National Park - Orlias Waterfall Hike
museum Optional activities
circleDubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
circleDubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
circleDubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
circleDubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
circleDubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10
circleDubrovnik - Rector's Palace - EUR13
circleDubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4
circleDubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery - EUR4
circleDubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR30
circleKotor - Cruise on Kotor Fjord - EUR40
circleKotor - Fortress - EUR3
circleKotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4
circleKotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
circleTirana - Sky Tower - ALL400
circleTirana - National Art Gallery - ALL200
circleTirana - National History Museum - ALL700
circleTirana - Bunk'Art Gallery - ALL500
circleTirana - Dajti Mountain Cable Car - ALL1000
circleOhrid - Robev Family House National Museum - MKD150
circleOhrid - St Jovan Church - MKD150
circleOhrid: Old bazaar street - Free
circleSkopje - Museum of the City of Skopje - Free
circleSkopje - Kale Fortress - Free
circleSkopje - Mount Vodno Cable Car to Millennium Cross - MKD120
circleSkopje - Daut Pasha Hammam - MKD60
circleBitola Museum - MKD100
circleKastoria - Open Museum - EUR5
circleLitochoro - Agios Dionysios Monastery - Free
circleLitochoro - Plaka Beach - Free
circleAthens - Numismatic Museum - EUR15
circleAthens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR15
circleAthens - Lycabettus Hill - Free
circleAthens - Acropolis Pass for 5 Sites - EUR30
circleAthens - Dora Stratou - EUR20
circleAthens - Taste of Athens Urban Adventure - EUR139
circleAthens - Markets, Ruins & Ancient Athens Urban Adventure - EUR139
circleAthens - Twilight Athens Urban Adventure - EUR99
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Saturday May 31, 2025
Saturday Jun 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Saturday Jun 07, 2025
Saturday Jun 21, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,987£2,837
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Saturday Jun 14, 2025
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 7 spaces left
£2,926£2,780
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Saturday Jun 21, 2025
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,882£2,738
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Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Saturday Jul 12, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,877£2,733
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Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Saturday Jul 19, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 9 spaces left
£2,943£2,501
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Saturday Jul 12, 2025
Saturday Jul 26, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£3,289£2,796
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Saturday Jul 19, 2025
Saturday Aug 02, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£2,712£2,305
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Saturday Jul 26, 2025
Saturday Aug 09, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£2,712£2,305
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Saturday Aug 02, 2025
Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 7 spaces left
£2,712£2,169
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Saturday Aug 09, 2025
Saturday Aug 23, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£2,712
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Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Saturday Aug 30, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 4 spaces left
£2,712£2,169
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Saturday Aug 23, 2025
Saturday Sep 06, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,888£2,310
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Saturday Aug 30, 2025
Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 7 spaces left
£2,849£2,279
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Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£2,992£2,693
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Important notes
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1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip. Availability is limited due to small property we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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2. There is not much time in Dubrovnik on this trip, so you may want to consider arriving a few days earlier to make sure you are not missing out on everything that this beautiful city has to offer.
Reviews (76)
5 stars
68
4 stars
6
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
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David
May 16, 2025
We did a 10 day Intrepid tour of the Balkans. When we finished we not only had a great holiday but learnt so much. Felt like we were actually living the history, culture, tragedy of this amazing place 'first hand'.
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Glenda
May 16, 2025
The trip through the Balkans has so much interesting and sad history. Beautiful scenery and friendly people. so glad to have been there.
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Jennifer
May 11, 2025
Amazing journey through Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece! The scenery, culture, and experiences were unforgettable. Bashkim’s expert guidance and passion made it even better. Highly recommend this adventurous, immersive trip—truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that exceeded all expectations
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Amalia
May 08, 2025
This tour from Dubrovnik to Athens revealed the completely underrated beauty of the Balkans to us! The depth of history and culture in this area of the world made for an incredibly fulfilling experience.
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Lynne
Oct 09, 2024
An excellent trip with a perfect balance of organized activities and free time. The small group and excellent guide made for a very enjoyable and enriching few weeks.
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Kathryn
Oct 04, 2024
This was a great trip to a region with a complicated political history that I actually knew little about. George, our leader, not only was extremely organised but his knowledge of the region helped us to understand more. The scenery and the food were an added bonus.
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Edward
Oct 03, 2024
Great way to see Balkan area that was mostly unknown to me. New appreciation for the history and struggles of the peoples.
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Catherine
Sep 27, 2024
Great tour leader Tihana with so much knowledge of all the Balkans.
We travelled through some amazing places and beautiful hikes.
September was a fantastic time to travel,not to hot,not to cold.
I would highly recommend this trip and pack lightly.
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Alison
Sep 27, 2024
Excellent trip made better by our awesome guide Tihana and our fellow travellers. So much fun and the countries we visited were a revelation.
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Sian
Sep 24, 2024
Excellent trip with plenty of interesting and varied places to explore. Be aware that everywhere has stairs or steep hills so light bags are a must