0800 785 386
Grand Balkans & Eastern Europe
Grand Balkans
and Eastern Europe
Prices From
$16,098NZD
per person twin share
Travel Dates
Depart: Wed 01 Sep 2027
Return: Tue 21 Sep 2027
Duration: 20 nights
Enquire Now
For centuries the Balkans sat at the crossroads of empires – Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman – and each left its mark on the towns, food and people of the region. This escorted journey takes you from the stone-built UNESCO towns of Albania, the mountains of Montenegro and the bazaars of Kosovo and North Macedonia, to the great monasteries of Bulgaria and the grand boulevards of Bucharest.
You cook a traditional lunch in Gjirokastër, hear Albania’s haunting iso-polyphonic singing over dinner, enjoy a farm-to-table feast in the northern hills, taste wine at family wineries in Albania and Kosovo, and meet the students of a Tirana school.
Your Pukekohe Travel escort travels with you from Auckland, an English-speaking guide is with you throughout, and your own coach takes care of the rest.
Don’t miss this chance to discover seven countries in one unforgettable, hassle-free journey.
Your travel itinerary
Wednesday 01 September
Auckland – Athens
Depart Auckland on Emirates to arrive in Dubai. Change planes to continue on to Athens.
Thursday 02 September
Athens
Arrive in Athens and transfer to your central city hotel. Settle in for the night, with an evening at leisure.
Friday 03 September
Athens – Corfu
Breakfast
This morning transfer to the airport for your short flight to Corfu. On Arrival transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day to rest or to take a gentle stroll and enjoy your first taste of Greek island life.
Saturday 04 September
Corfu - Butrint - Sarandë
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Today cross the narrow strait to Albania by ferry and explore Butrint National Park, where Greek temples, Roman baths, Venetian fortifications and Byzantine monuments sit among woodland and lagoons. After lunch, relax at Ksamil, famed for its crystal-clear water and white beaches. This evening enjoy dinner at the marina in Sarandë.
Sunday 05 September
Sarandë - Blue Eye - Gjirokastër
Breakfast
Dinner
Visit the Blue Eye, a deep sapphire-coloured spring and one of Albania’s most photographed natural wonders. Continue to the hillside town of Gjirokastër, with free time for lunch in the Old Bazaar. Tonight enjoy a traditional Albanian dinner with a live performance of iso-polyphony, a style of folk singing recognised by UNESCO.
Monday 06 September
Gjirokastër
Breakfast
Lunch
Explore the UNESCO-listed “City of Stone”, with its cobbled lanes, Ottoman-era tower houses and imposing hilltop castle overlooking the Drino Valley. At midday, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class, then sit down together to enjoy the dishes you’ve prepared for lunch. The afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Tuesday 07 September
Gjirokastër - Berat - Tirana
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Travel north to Berat, the “City of a Thousand Windows”, and visit the Onufri Museum with its remarkable collection of icons. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local winery, then continue to Albania’s colourful capital, Tirana. See Skanderbeg Square and the lively Blloku district before dinner at Villa Era restaurant.
Wednesday 08 September
Tirana
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Visit a local school for an informal cultural exchange with Albanian students and teachers, a personal insight into everyday life in modern Albania. Ride the cable car up Mount Dajti for lunch with sweeping views, then return to explore the city centre
Thursday 09 September
Tirana - Shkodër - Kolašin
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, a celebrated country restaurant known for its home-grown produce and regional recipes. In Shkodër, we discover the traditional art of Filigree as we watch local artisans at work on delicate handmade silver filigree. Cross into Montenegro and climb into the mountains to the alpine town of Kolašin for dinner.
Friday 10 September
Kolašin - Prizren
Breakfast
Dinner
A scenic mountain drive brings you into Kosovo and the charming old town of Prizren, arriving in time for lunch at leisure. This afternoon your local guide shows you the fortress, the Ottoman stone bridge, the old bazaar and the lively riverside centre.
Saturday 11 September
Prizren - Rahovec - Pristina
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Enjoy a relaxed morning, then travel to Stone Castle Winery in Rahovec for a wine tasting and lunch. Continue to Kosovo’s youthful capital, Pristina, to see the Newborn Monument, Mother Teresa Boulevard and the striking National Library.
Sunday 12 September
Pristina - Skopje
Breakfast
Lunch
Cross into North Macedonia and walk through Skopje’s historic centre, including Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge and the Old Bazaar, one of the largest in the Balkans. After a traditional Macedonian lunch, visit spectacular Matka Canyon for a scenic walk beside its turquoise waters. Dinner this evening is at leisure.
Monday 13 September
Skopje
Breakfast
Dinner
Discover Skopje’s fascinating contrasts, from the Mustafa Pasha Mosque to the Mother Teresa Memorial House. After lunch at leisure, continue to Kale Fortress for views over the city.
Tuesday 14 September
Skopje - Rila Monastery - Sofia
Breakfast
Dinner
Cross into Bulgaria and travel into the Rila Mountains to visit Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most important spiritual and cultural monument. After lunch at leisure. Continue to Sofia for a guide introduction, including the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Vitosha Boulevard.
Wednesday 15 September
Sofia
Breakfast
Spend a full day in one of Europe’s oldest cities. Visit the 6th-century St Sofia Church, the golden-domed Russian Church, the Roman ruins of ancient Serdica and the “Square of Tolerance”, where a mosque, synagogue, Catholic cathedral and Orthodox church stand side by side. Browse the Central Market Hall, then enjoy an evening at leisure in a traditional tavern of your choice.
Thursday 16 September
Sofia - Ruse
Breakfast
Dinner
Travel north through the Bulgarian countryside to Ruse on the Danube, known as “Little Vienna” for its elegant Neo-Baroque architecture. After lunch at leisure, explore Freedom Square, the Regional History Museum and the Danube promenade, with views across the river to Romania.
Friday 17 September
Ruse - Bucharest
Breakfast
Lunch
Cross the Danube into Romania and arrive in Bucharest in time for lunch. This afternoon your local guide introduces the highlights of the Romanian capital. Subject to availability, we aim to arrange an optional George Enescu Festival performance this evening (additional cost).
Saturday 18 September
Bucharest
Breakfast
Dinner
Visit Revolution Square, University Square and the historic Calea Victoriei, with its mix of Romanian, French-inspired and communist-era architecture. After lunch, explore the open-air National Village Museum and stroll through Herăstrău Park. Tonight we gather for a farewell dinner.
Sunday 19 September
Bucharest - Dubai
Breakfast
Enjoy a relaxing day in Bucharest before an afternoon departure to Dubai. Overnight stop in Dubai.
Monday 20 September
Dubai - Auckland
Morning check in and fly to Auckland.
Tuesday 21 September
Auckland
Morning arrival in Auckland. Welcome home.
Optional Greece by Land and Sea Tour Add-On (PRECEDING TOUR)
Extend your European adventure by joining our Greece by Land and Sea tour, travelling before the Grand Balkans & Eastern Europe tour. Discover the beauty, history and culture of Greece, from ancient landmarks to stunning islands, before continuing your journey through the Balkans.
Inclusions
- Return economy class airfares Auckland – Corfu and Bucharest – Auckland, including airport taxes of $240
- Pukekohe Travel tour escort travelling with you from New Zealand
- Professional English-speaking tour guide throughout, plus local guides in Prizren, Pristina, Skopje, Rila, Sofia, Ruse and Bucharest
- Private air-conditioned coach throughout
- Arrival meet and greet with airport transfer in Corfu
- Ferry from Corfu to Sarandë
- Breakfast daily, 8 lunches and 11 dinners as shown in the itinerary
- Entry to Butrint National Park, Blue Eye, Onufri Museum, Rila Monastery and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Mount Dajti cable car
- Traditional Albanian cooking class with lunch in Gjirokastër
- Iso-polyphony performance over dinner in Gjirokastër
- Winery lunches and tastings in Albania and Kosovo
- Farm-to-table lunch at Mrizi i Zanave
- Filigree workshop visit in Shkodër and school visit in Tirana
- 18 nights’ four-star accommodation including city taxes:
Cost
| Cost Per Person * Auckland - Auckland | Twin Share | Single |
|---|---|---|
| $16,098 | $18,211 |
| Business Class Upgrade |
+$11,500 |
| Premium Economy Class Upgrade |
+$4,600 |
| Early Booking Discount ( 01 December 2026) | $150 |
| Previous International Pukekohe Travel Tour Discount | $100 |
*This is a cash price. Credit cards will incur a 1.5% fee
*Itinerary and costs subject to change, airline and fuel charges and currency fluctuations prior to final payment
Exclusions
- Travel insurance - ask us for a quote
- Meals not listed in the itinerary, and drinks with meals unless stated
- Optional activities
- Tipping for guides and drivers estimated at Euro120 per person
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs
Booking Conditions
- A deposit of $1,500 per person secures your place on the tour.
- Final payment is due by 18 June 2027.
Cancellations
- From date of booking until 18 June 2027 – loss of deposit
- After 18 June 2027 – no refund
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend all clients purchase travel insurance to protect against cancellations, lost items, and delays that could lead to unexpected costs. Please ask us for a quote.
General Information
Documentation
- A New Zealand passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required.
- New Zealand passport holders do not currently need a visa for any of the seven countries visited.
- Greece, Bulgaria and Romania are part of the Schengen Area, where the EU’s Entry/Exit System and the new ETIAS travel authorisation apply. We will advise you of the requirements before departure.
Temperatures Max °C Min °C
Corfu 28 18
Tirana 28 15
Kolašin 21 7
Skopje 27 12
Sofia 22 10
Bucharest 24 11
Currency: The euro is used in Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo and Bulgaria Albania uses the lek, North Macedonia the denar and Romania the leu. Credit cards are widely accepted in the cities, but carry some cash for markets and smaller towns.
Clothing
- Daytime: Comfortable, lightweight layers, a sunhat, a light jacket for the mountains and sturdy walking shoes with good grip for cobbled streets.
- Evening: Smart casual, with a warmer layer for cooler mountain evenings.
Health and Mobility
A good standard of fitness and health is required for this tour. Clients must be independently mobile with the ability to walk on uneven ground and unaided for 30 minutes. Please note that mobility frames and wheelchairs are not practical or permitted on our tours. It is expected you will arrive on tour fit, healthy and ready to travel.
Terms and Conditions
For full terms and conditions please visit our website Terms and Conditions or please ask our tour consultant for a copy.
Note:
Pukekohe Travel reserves the right to correct errors and omissions on our website without recourse.
* Itinerary subject to change
Prices From
$16,098NZD
per person twin share
Travel Dates
- Depart: Wed 01 Sep 2027
- Return: Tue 21 Sep 2027
- Duration: 20 nights
Early Booking Discount
Save $150 if your deposit is paid by 01 Dec 2026
Previous Client Discount
Our previous International Tour clients can save a further $100 per person
View profile