*** THE 2010 PRESIDENT'S TOUR ***




DAY 1 - ARRIVE BUCHAREST [Thursday, 16 September 2010]
Welcome to Romania! On arrival at the Henri Coanda International Airport, you are met and transferred to your tour hotel [14.6km from airport to Radisson SAS hotel]. Relax and settle in before renewing old friendships over a welcome drink this evening.

Hotel: Radisson SAS Bucharest. (D)


DAY 2 - BRAN CASTLE EXCURSION [Friday, 17 September 2010]
Head north from Bucharest and follow the Prahova Valley to the elegant alpine resort of Sinaia, where you visit Peles Castle, the former summer residence of Romania's first royal family. After some time to admire the lavish rooms filled with art, armour and tapestries continue into the Transylvanian Alps. Now imagine a horse and carriage careering up a wet mountainous road - thunder and lightning illuminating the imposing medieval castle guarding the Transylvanian border. Discover if this popular image of Dracula's castle is true or, like the vampire story itself, only a myth, as you visit Bran Castle - said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's book. [for more information, see: Vlad III the Impaler.] Return to Bucharest late afternoon. (BB)


DAY 3 - BUCHAREST - VELIKA TURNOVO [Saturday, 18 September 2010]
The tree-lined boulevards and wonderful late 19th century architecture have given the Romanian capital Bucharest the nickname "Paris on the Danube". The highlights of your sightseeing tour include the immense Parliament Palace, one of the largest buildings in the world, University Square and former Communist Headquarters [now the Ministry of Administration and Interior]. Now it's on to Bulgaria! Cross the Danube at Ruse and continue to Velika Turnovo, the "City of the Tsars", where the houses cling to the cliffs of the river Yantra making it one of the country's most beautiful towns.

Hotel: Yantra Hotel, Velika Turnovo (BB,D)


DAY 4 - VELIKA TURNOVO - SOFIA [Sunday, 19 September 2010]
This morning enjoy a tour with a local guide. Stroll along Gurko Street with its cascade of restored old houses overlooking over the river, including the delightful Sarafkina house. Enjoy unparalleled views down to the Monument of the Assens - symbol of the city. In Main Street is the Mother Bulgaria Monument and amusingly titled 'House of the Monkey'. But the highlight is an included visit to the Tsaravets Fortress, housing a host of archeological remains and a reminder of the town's former imperial status. Later cross the Balkan Mountains and continue over the plains to the Bulgaria 's capital city of Sophia.

Hotel: Hilton Sofia (BB,D)


DAY 5 - SOFIA SIGHTSEEING [Monday, 20 September 2010]
Sightseeing with a local guide takes in the St Sofia Church across the square from the golden domed St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure to shop or continue sightseeing. Perhaps visit Sofia 's National Museum of History or take an optional excursion to the most important symbol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the magnificent Rila Monastery. (BB)


DAY 6 - SOFIA - OHRID [Tuesday, 21 September 2010]
Cross the border this morning and head for the Macedonian capital. Skopje is an ultra modern city with an ancient bazaar where Turkish influences can still be seen and felt. Enjoy a guided walk through these enchanting streets to see the churches, mosques and old Turkish buildings. Then continue south to the lakeside resort of Ohrid where you can wander the cobblestone streets of the old town.

Hotel: Belvedere Hotel Ohrid (BB,D)


DAY 7 - OHRID - TIRANA [Wednesday, 22 September 2010]
Cross into Albania and drive to the capital city, Tirana, for a guided sightseeing tour before heading to your hotel.

Hotel: Sheraton Hotel Tirana (BB,D)


DAY 8 - TIRANA - DUBROVNIK [Thursday, 23 September 2010]
Travel to the northern Albanian city of Shkodra, during its long history the city has played a very important role in Albanian culture and history. Then cross over to the Montenegro coast in former Yugoslavia to visit the old town of Kotor, perched beside the only European fjord outside of Norway [actually, it is a submerged river canyon]. Tonight stay on the glorious Dalmatian coast overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Hotel: Libertas Rixos, Dubrovnik (BB,D)


DAY 9 - DUBROVNIK SIGHTSEEING [Friday, 24 September 2010]
A guided sightseeing tour in the Old Town explores the stone-paved streets inside the 16th century bastions. See Onofrio's fountain and the Rector's Palace, the city walls, as well as the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. This afternoon is at leisure. (BB)


DAY 10 - DUBROVNIK - KORCULA [Saturday, 25 September 2010]
After breakfast drive along the beautiful southern slopes of the Peljesac peninsula. Stop amid the age-old vines to see how wine is produced and enjoy a taste. Now take the short ferry crossing to Korcula, an island of exceptional grace, history and culture. Upon arrival, explore Korcula town with its ramparts and well known legends. Your walking tour takes you to the Cathedral, the town museum and the Bishop's Palace. The locals also claim Marco Polo was born here and you see his ruined house next.

Hotel: Marco Polo, Korcula (BB,D)


DAY 11 - KORCULA - SARAJEVO [Sunday, 26 September 2010]
Return to the mainland and follow the marvellous gorge of the River Neretva to Mostar. Here you can walk across the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), recently reconstructed after being almost completely destroyed during the war. The cobbled old town stretches on both sides of the bridge and is filled with shops selling Turkish style souvenirs. Now it's on to Sarajevo - a city that has attracted its fair share of international attention over the years. In 1914 it was the site of the assassination that sparked WWI and more recently, it endured the longest siege in modern military history.

Hotel: Europa Hotel Sarajevo (BB,D)


DAY 12 - SARAJEVO SIGHTSEEING [Monday, 27 September 2010]
This morning your guided sightseeing tour shows you the Bacarsija, the cobbled old town market where the city was founded by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Admire Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque and the Olympic Stadium before visiting the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum, revered by the locals as an inanimate war hero. The afternoon is at leisure to try the Bosnian coffee and shop for traditional & hand crafted wares in the Turkish quarter. (BB)


DAY 13 - SARAJEVO - BELGRADE [Tuesday, 28 September 2010]
Your route today winds northwards through the remote villages and spa resorts which nestle in the forested Bosnian mountains. Your destination is Belgrade. On arrival transfer to your hotel and relax before dinner.

Hotel: Moskva Hotel Belgrade (BB,D)


DAY 14 - BELGRADE SIGHTSEEING [Wednesday, 29 September 2010]
Your morning sightseeing tour with a local guide shows you the city's main attractions: St Sava Church, the third largest Orthodox Church in Europe, Terazije Street, the National Museum and National Theatre in Republic Square. Finish your tour at the imposing Kalemegdan Fortress, dramatically situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. The afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, why not enjoy dinner with local live music in a typical national restaurant in the old bohemian quarter of Skadarlija? (BB)


DAY 15 - BELGRADE - PÉCS [Thursday, 30 September 2010]
Leave Belgrade and take the motorway north, soon reaching the town of Novi Sad. Visit the historic Petrovaradin Fortress, built high on the banks of the River Danube, offering stunning views over the city. Now cross the Hungarian border and continue to Pécs which in 2010 is designated a European Capital of Culture!

Hotel: Danubius Patria, Pecs (BB,D)


DAY 16 - PÉCS - BUDAPEST [Friday, 1 October 2010]
A range of events and festivals are being planned by the city's historic sites and buildings. From Roman times, visit the early Christian burial chambers which date to the fourth century. Also check out the Inner City Parish Church, a former Turkish mosque complete with Islamic prayer nook and even faded verses from the Koran on the wall! Also there will certainly be lots going on in the pedestrianised Kiraly utca with its brightly coloured town houses, cafes and restaurants. Leaving the vibrant university town, head north to Budapest. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the culmination of a wonderful tour.

Hotel: Corinthia Royal Grand Hotel Budapest (BB,HD)


DAY 17 - DEPART BUDAPEST [Saturday, 2 October 2010]
Time to bid farewell to your friends and tour director. Transfers will be made to the airport and also to the ferry port for those catching the hydrofoil to Vienna. (BB)

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Some other relevant links:

• BALKANS: History / Ottoman Conquest / Geography
  
• ALBANIA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• BULGARIA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• CROATIA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• HUNGARY: Portal / History / Geography
  
• MONTENEGRO: Portal / History / Geography
  
• REPUBLIC of MACEDONIA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• ROMANIA: Portal / History / Geography
  
• SERBIA: Portal / History / Geography

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Meet the INSIGHT President and CEO: John Boulding's YouTube Channel

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

As usual you have done all the work for us Phil. Thanks very much. regards Jim

Here is a page from our Sydney newspaper about Kotor in Montenegro. Noticed it this morning. We will travel through this lovely town after leaving Tirana. Jim
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/i...n-20091016-h0p1.html

Kotor is an interesting place Jim with narrow little streets in the old town etc but I haven't done the climb up the hill. Its pretty hard going I believe.

Awesome Phil!

Phil

As Tangata says, ' awesome '.

ps .... Phil, I sincerely hope that you will not be upset by my pointing the BBers to your recent posting under 2010 / by Italian Groupie.

Kind regards, Roger

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hornet,

No problem at all, Roger.

Phil - I just logged on and spent a great deal of time going through your itinerary. What a great job. I want to go now!!!