Balkans Uncovered

Traveler Reviews

• AR

  Alun4.8•September 2026
  This is truly a fantastic trip. We were fortunate to have a lovely group but also a wonderful tour manager, Kristina,...
  This is truly a fantastic trip. We were fortunate to have a lovely group but also a wonderful tour manager, Kristina, and driver, Deki. There was a lot of time on the bus but it was clean and very comfortable with plenty of space and amenities (e.g. charger ports). We had plenty of comfort breaks. Hotels were almost always excellent (the exception being Hotel Nar in Trebinje, Bosnia) and we were given executive rooms. The trip took us from Sofia, Bulgaria into Serbia to Belgrade. We had two nights here in the excellent Hotel Metropol. We had a free afternoon on the first day and then a city tour on the second (there was an optional excursion offered to a vineyard for wine tasting but at €50 per person was expensive and insufficient numbers signed up). On the afternoon, we had an optional tour to the House of Flowers to see Tito’s tomb and then on to the Tesla museum (well worth it). It was then onto Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an included city walking tour. We stayed at the lovely Swisshotel which had very large rooms. The next morning had an optional visit to the Sarajevo tunnel which was fascinating. Then it was off to Trebinje via a few hours in Mostar which had an included walking tour and time for lunch. The hotel in Trebinje was poor in that the rooms were small, lacked facilities and the staff on the front desk were rude. The small walled town itself was lovely and our included dinner was in a lovely central restaurant. Dubrovnik in only a short hop away and we visited on the next day. The optional extra was a 4.5 hour boat trip and a meal at a seafood restaurant at a cost of €55 per person. If you didn’t take the optional tour, it meant 6.5 hours free time which is a long time for a small city. Next day took us through Montenegro, with a stop in Kotor for a tour and plenty of free time for lunch before travelling onto Shkodra in Albania for the night. We then drove to Tirana for a walking tour and plenty of time for lunch before travelling on to the lovely Lake Ohrid in Macedonia for a two night stay. We then moved onto Macedonia’s capital, Skopje which is a lovely city. We stopped on the way at the Matka gorge and took an optional boat trip (500 Macedonia Dinari each) The last day saw us to return to Sofia as stay again at the first class Hilton. Dinner was included every night bar the first when an optional group meal was offered. Daily breakfast was also provided along with complimentary airport pick-up/return and free luggage porterage at every hotel. There were only a few minor gripes along the way. It would have been nice to have had sight of the optional tours and costs before hand so we could have made considered choices and known the additional cost. We were also told that our dietary choices had been forwarded to the Tour Manager but this obviously didn’t happen. It would have been better to have buffett dinners rather than one set plate which we didn’t know what it was until it was presented in front of us. The positives more than made up for this - (mostly) excellent hotels, wonderful tour manager/driver, good company and a fantastic tour through breathtaking scenery in the southern Balkans. A big “thank you” to Kristina who, as tour manager, was always on hand and was responsive and helpful always.Show more
  Traveled in September 2026
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Alun, we’re grateful for your thoughtful review of your journey through the Balkans. It’s wonderful to hear that the experience brought together beautiful destinations, comfortable travel and a great group of fellow travellers. We’re especially pleased to hear your kind words about Kristina and Deki. Their care, professionalism and attention throughout the journey clearly made a meaningful difference, and we’ll be sure to share your appreciation with them both. Your thoughtful feedback on the optional excursions, accommodation, dietary arrangements and dining is greatly appreciated. These details are important, and we’ll make sure your comments are shared with the relevant teams for consideration. We look forward to welcoming you back for another journey in the future. All the best, Ciconia Team

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  colin5.0•December 2024
  Very well organized multi country tour . Very good local guides who explained their city and countries history...
  Very well organized multi country tour . Very good local guides who explained their city and countries history culture and sights Exceeded my expectationsShow more
  Traveled in December 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Colin, thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad to hear that the multi-country tour was well-organized and exceeded your expectations. It's wonderful to know that the local guides were able to share their expertise and bring the history, culture, and sights to life. We hope you have many more unforgettable journeys with us! All the best, Ciconia Team

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  Rosemary5.0•December 2024
  This trip exceeded all of my expectations. I knew so little about the very complex Balkan countries and with the aid...
  This trip exceeded all of my expectations. I knew so little about the very complex Balkan countries and with the aid of a very capable and knowledgeable and kind guide I learned a lot. The cities we visited were pretty and decorated for the holidays, the food and the accommodation were excellentShow more
  Traveled in December 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Rosemary, thank you for sharing such wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear the trip exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed exploring the Balkans, especially during the festive season. It’s fantastic that our guide could provide valuable insights into this fascinating region. The charming cities, delicious food, and comfortable accommodations truly make for a memorable journey. Here’s to many more enriching adventures ahead! All the best, Ciconia Team

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  Debbie5.0•November 2024
  The organisation of the trip was smooth and the itinerary well designed. There was quite a lot of time spent on the...
  The organisation of the trip was smooth and the itinerary well designed. There was quite a lot of time spent on the bus getting around the countries but that was inevitable given the ground we were covering. Our guide Milosh was a big part of the success I think, because he was very knowledgeable, always helpful and keeping an eye on how we were all doing, highly professional and very likeable. Zocky, the driver was also pleasant, professional and flexible.Show more
  Traveled in October 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Debbie, thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that the trip ran smoothly and that you enjoyed the carefully curated itinerary, even with the necessary travel time between destinations. It’s wonderful to know that Milosh’s knowledge, professionalism, and attentiveness enhanced your experience, along with Zocky’s skilled and flexible driving. We hope to welcome you on another journey soon, where every detail is just as seamless and enriching. All the best, Ciconia Team

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  -4.0•October 2024
  The guide (Milos) and driver were excellent who brought out all the fun and cooperation of the tour group. They made...
  The guide (Milos) and driver were excellent who brought out all the fun and cooperation of the tour group. They made the tour such a success. The luxury title applied to most (except 1) accommodation and they were appreciated after all the travel each day. Some local guides added superbly to our knowledge of each city within the 7 Balkan countries. Due to the tightness of the itinerary, there was little opportunity to add some important requests for more time at some centres. Some closer links between the Circonia Journeys listed program and what occurred needs some resolution !Show more
  Traveled in September 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi, thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Milos and our driver played such pivotal roles in fostering a fun and cooperative atmosphere within your tour group. It's wonderful to know that the luxury accommodations met your expectations and provided a comfortable retreat. We appreciate your feedback regarding the itinerary's tightness. Your insights are invaluable, and we will certainly consider them for future tours. We hope to welcome you again on another journey! All the best, Ciconia Team

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• EG

  Elizabeth3.0•July 2024
  Ciconia Exclusive Journeys Booking ID: 35252 Hello- I have just completed the June 21-July 2 Balkans trip. I...
  Ciconia Exclusive Journeys Booking ID: 35252 Hello- I have just completed the June 21-July 2 Balkans trip. I only had a few minutes to complete the evaluation form and wanted to express my views more fully. Milan was our guide, and he did an exceptional job discussing the region. He managed all of the many details with precision and was caring and responsive to the needs of everyone on the trip. I developed significant back pain from the many hours on the bus every day sitting on a narrow seat. The safety belt locks dug into my hips and were extremely uncomfortable. Milan arranged two massage appointments for me during the trip. He checked in with group members almost constantly to see if anyone needed help or had questions. He made a genuine effort to get to know each of us as individuals. Igor was a great driver, managed the border crossings with skill, shared his prized recipe for rice pudding, and was a wonderful addition to our group. Both Milan and Igor had a great sense of humor. Everyone in the group was good natured and fun to get to know. I can say that I have technically been to each city listed on the itinerary, but I can't say that I got to know a single place - with the exception of Ohrid. We had 6-10 hours on the bus every day that we didn't change cities. In most places we had a 45 minute tour and sometimes an extra hour to explore. The local guides were either highly engaging and integrated interesting stories (Zoran in Ohrid and Maria in Sofia) or they recited boring facts about government buildings and dead communists. On some days we spent as much time at truck stops for bathroom/lunch breaks as we did in the actual destination. That is completely inadequate. The ratio of bus time to actually experiencing a place was roughly 80/20. We should have two full days in several cities. I teach history and was very frustrated to only walk past significant churches, museums, and markets without going in! It's not fun to feel like there is always a stopwatch running. Eighty percent of my photos were taken from inside the tour bus. We should be given 3+ choices about what to eat for dinner each night. It was roughly 100 degrees and humid for much of the tour, yet night after night a pile of beef and potatoes buried in a salty sauce awaited. Heavy food in hot weather is really unappealing. Include chicken, cold soups, fruit, dinner salads, and vegetarian options throughout the trip. It's more important to me to eat food that is healthy and appealing than to eat traditional Balkan dishes. Revamp the itinerary. Which cities have really interesting markets/bazaars? What are some of the "must see" museums, gardens/natural areas? Is there a festival happening somewhere along the route? Integrate opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities. Travel is about moments: engaging with local people at a market, discovering something that amazes you, and feeling like you have had a unique experience with time to savor it. The pace of the trip felt very rushed; build in a mid-trip "vacation from your vacation" day that allows people to sleep in and decide how to spend their day. Please provide some guidance about money. Identify a bank ATM near each hotel that allows one to use a debit card to get euros. Give an idea of what a $20 USD/Euro/CAN/Australian withdrawal would cover in terms of lunch, snacks, church entries, and toilets. It's hard to guess how much money to withdraw from country to country. The hotels were well chosen. The Unique in Ohrid was a standout. Trebinje, Skopje, and Sofia were great, too. With the exception of the Hotel Grand Europa in Shkoder, all of them had excellent breakfast buffets and were comfortable. I realized that I had to think of this trip as reconnaissance - a brief glimpse to decide which places I want to return to and explore in-depth. For $4,785, that is not an acceptable outcome. I had a great time getting to know everyone in our group, enjoyed the scenery as we drove (and drove and drove), and really had fun in Ohrid. But I should have gained a much deeper understanding of each city's culture, layout, and place in Balkan history. Sincerely, Betsy GutsteinShow more
  Traveled in June 2024
• DK

  David5.0•May 2024
  To add to my wifes comments this exceeded my expectations both in terms of content and delivery or the tour by Bojan...
  To add to my wifes comments this exceeded my expectations both in terms of content and delivery or the tour by Bojan (and Barry!). So some additional pictures…Show more
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  Traveled in May 2024
• DK

  David5.0•May 2024
  Our guide Bojan was excellent.Very knowledgeable,considerate and with a great sense of humour.Thoroughly enjoyed the...
  Our guide Bojan was excellent.Very knowledgeable,considerate and with a great sense of humour.Thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary.Well paced with a great variety of tours and activities which were all very well organised.Highly recommendShow more
  Traveled in May 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi David, thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our Balkans tour and will be sure to pass your kind words onto Bojan. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour with us soon! All the best, Ciconia Team

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  Norm5.0•April 2024
  My experience with this tour was great. The hotels were tops. Our tour guide very attentive and knowledgeable. Our...
  My experience with this tour was great. The hotels were tops. Our tour guide very attentive and knowledgeable. Our bus driver, Barry, was the best. The itinerary is very busy and a bit tight. I would suggest spending less time at Dubrovnik and more at Kotor. Our pre-fix meals were good, but maybe offer a choice of two or three entrees? Overall, it was a very enjoyable trip!Show more
  Traveled in April 2024
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Norm, thank you for your review! We are always looking for ways to improve our tours for future travellers so we really appreciate your feedback regarding the itinerary and meals. We're so glad to hear you had a wonderful time on tour and hope to see you on another journey with us again soon! All the best, Ciconia Team

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• XL

  Xingyan5.0•September 2023
  The itinerary was good. The food was good.
  Traveled in September 2023
  

  Reply from: Ciconia Exclusive Journeys

  Hi Xingyan, thank you for taking the time to leave your review! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed the itinerary and food on tour. We hope to welcome you on another adventure with us soon! All the best, Ciconia Team

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