thermal springs. straddling the danube river, the city is...

TRIP NOTES

Best of the Balkans18 Days | Budapest to Dubrovnik

Best of the Balkans - 18 Days updated on 02-03-2016

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Take a journey through the heart

of the Balkans from the fortresses

of Serbia to the bustling capital

of Bulgaria, the ancient lakes

of Macedonia to the cobbled

streets of Montenegro ending in

the medieval city of Dubrovnik in

Croatia.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Budapest - capital of Hungary. The City of

Spas, home to tasty Goulash and the mostphotographed Parliament building.

• Novi Sad - cultural centre of Serbia. Home toone of the largest art colonies in the worldand international music festivals.

• Belgrade - capital of Serbia. Straddling theSava and Danube Rivers. Overlooked by theancient Kalemegdan Citadel.

• Nis - one of the Balkan's oldest cities.Birthplace of Constantine the Great andhome to the Nis Concentration Camp andMuseum.

• Sofia - capital of Bulgaria. Laid back largelymodern city with onion domed churchesand Ottoman mosques.

• Skopje - capital of Macedonia. Ottomanand Byzantine architecture combined withmodern kitschy buildings make it a veryeclectic city!

• Lake Ohrid - Macedonia/Albania border.Europe's oldest lake.

• Tirana - capital of Albania. A buzzingmodern city transformed from its formervery Grey and soviet past.

• Budva - vibrant seaside town inMontenegro. Beautiful sandy beaches, ahistoric old town and vibrant nightlife.

• Sarajevo - capital of Bosnia andHerzegovina. Known as the Jerusalem ofEurope - full of religious diversity.

• Mostar - prettiest city in Bosnia andHerzegovina. Famous for the Stari Mostbridge over the Neretva River.

• Dubrovnik - famous walled city of Croatia.Perched on the Adriatic coast.

What's Included• 17 breakfasts• 15 nights in hotels, 2 nights in apartments• Airport arrival transfer on day 1• Transportation by public bus, private

vehicle, train and minibus• Escorted by a tour leader, English speaking

local guide at included sites.• Entry into Kelemegdan Citadel and Military

Museum in Belgrade• Matka Canyon Boat Ride at Lake Ohrid• Entry into Kruja (City Walls and Skanderbeg

Museum) in Albania• Day trip to Kotor in Montenegro• Visit to Kravice Waterfall in Croatia• Entrance to Dubrovnik City Wall

What's Not Included• Items of a personal nature and additional

meals• International flights to/from our tour start/

end points and visas

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : Budapest, Hungary

Upon arrival at Budapest Airport you'll be metand transferred to your hotel. On arrival pleaseask at the reception for information on when thepre departure meeting will be held.

Budapest, Hungary’s stylish capital is known asthe ‘City of Spas’ for its abundance of naturalthermal springs.

Straddling the Danube River, the city iscomprised of two very different historic cities,Buda on the west bank and Pest on theeast bank. Highlights here include CastleHill, Matthius Church, Fisherman’s Bastion,

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the Liberation Monument, the fabulous StStephen’s Basilica and the much photographedParliament Building.

Terror Haza (Terror House) is a popular museumrecounting stories of espionage and atrocitiescommitted during World War II and during thecommunist period. During your optional visityou can view very moving testimonial footagefrom survivors and visit old jail cells, torturechambers and interrogation rooms.

The Dohany Street Synagogue is the largestsynagogue in Europe and features stunningdecorations. You can also wander aroundCentral Market Hall and enjoy the intoxicatingsights and smells of ‘Budapest’s pantry’ and getan idea of Hungary’s food culture - you can evenbuy chocolates by the kilo!

The perfect place to relax after a day ofsightseeing is in a traditional bath. TheSzéchenyi Medicinal Baths are one of thecity‘s more famous Neo Baroque-style bathswith indoor and outdoor pools, thermal pools,saunas and massages in a beautiful setting. Aftera nice soak you can visit numerous restaurantsand bars to visit on Liszt Ferenc for an enjoyableevening's entertainment.

Optional Excursions: Danube Cruise – €16(drinks only). You can expect to pay approx €30for dinner aboard. • Hop on, Hop off bus – HUF6000 • Szechenyi baths – HUF 3600 • House ofTerror – HUF 2000 • Basilica of St Stephen – free• Castle Hill – HUF 1700 • Hungarian NationalMuseum – HUF1600 • The Great Synagogue –HUF 1600 • Royal Palace & Parliament – HUF2520 Overnight - Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 : Novi Sad, Serbia

Budapest - Novi Sad. Departing the Hungariancapital we take the train to Novi Sad in

neighbouring Serbia. The country’s culturalcentre, Novi Sad, is overlooked by themagnificent Petrovaradin Fortress. Built duringthe 18th century, the fortress was repeatedlyattacked but never taken by an enemy.Although it has long since lost its strategicmilitary value, since 1951 it has been animportant cultural centre and one of the largestart colonies in the world with over 88 art studios.Visitors can buy art, talk with the artists andfeel the atmosphere of studios while works ofart are created. There are also three interestingrestaurants, a museum, catacombs, great viewsof the Danube. Novi Sad is also known forits international music festivals, undergroundmilitary galleries and above ground, suchas the International Street Musicians’ Festivalin September offering diverse music genres,funny instruments, jugglers, street shows andacrobatics.

Optional Excursions: Petrovaradin Fortress –RSD 400 Overnight - Novi Sad, Serbia (B)

Days 3-4 : Belgrade, Serbia

Novi Sad - Belgrade. Heading south, we leaveNovi Sad by public bus bound for the capitalBelgrade. Located at the crossing point of theSava and Danube rivers is Belgrade, the capitalof Serbia, where you will have plenty of timeto explore. In the course of its long history,Belgrade has been captured 60 times, burneddown around 40 times, and has risen like aphoenix from the ashes every time.

Looming over the old city is the ancientKalemegdan Citadel, which was built in stagesfrom the 1st century BC and was finally finishedin the 18th century. We will visit the well-preserved ruins and may even see graffiti madeby bored medieval guardsmen. As well as this,we have the opportunity to explore the militarymuseum inside the fortress. The view of the

city from the fortress is fantastic and not to bemissed. If time allows it is definitely worth a visitto St Sava Church, one of the largest Orthodoxchurches in world. The city itself offers excellentshopping opportunities, from luxurious upscaleboutiques through to an enormous bazaar and aSaturday farmer’s market at Zeleni Venac sellingan assortment of seasonal produce.

When you’re ready for a break, you can relax onthe beach at ‘Belgrade Hawaii’, Ada Ciganlija, anisland in the middle of the Sava River. Duringthe summer the island attracts hundreds ofthousands of people looking for a place tocool down, so it can be crowded on hot days.Belgrade is very well known for its nightlife andis a major draw card for Europeans looking for aparty. There are countless nightclubs, bars, andcafés that stay lively into the wee hours of thenight, many of which are located on river barges.

Included Excursions: Kalemegdan CitadelOptional Excursions: Ethnographical Museum– RSD 100 • Nikola Tesla Museum – RSD 300 •National Museum – RSD 200 • Sightseeing bus –RSD 500 Overnight - Belgrade, Serbia (B:2)

Day 5 : Nis, Serbia

Belgrade - Nis. After Belgrade we move on toNiš, one of the oldest cities in the Balkans. Nišis the birthplace of Constantine the Great, thefirst Christian Roman Emperor and founder ofConstantinople, AD 306 to 337. If time allowswe may have a chance to visit the Medianaruins and see where Constantine the Great oncelived. The most infamous attraction at Niš isthe Ottoman skull-tower known as Ćele Kula. Itdates from a time when ruling Ottoman soldierswere growing tired of Serb rebellions againstoccupation. After quelling an uprising in 1809,Ottoman troops decapitated 952 fallen Serbsand built a short, square tower out of theSerbs' heads. Within a few years the Serbs had

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managed to get rid of the Ottomans but keptthe Skull Tower as a memorial to the sacrifice ofthe early Serb nationalists. There are about 58skulls left - others were removed for burial ordestroyed over time. Before our onward travelto Sofia in Bulgaria you have an opportunity tovisit the Niš Concentration Camp and Museum,one of the few fully preserved fascist camps inEurope.

Optional Excursions: Ćele Kula (skull tower) –RSD 160 • Mediana, an archaeological site datingback to Constantine the Great – included in skulltower ticket • Archeological Museum – RSD 160• Crveni Krst Concentration Camp – RSD 160Overnight - Nis, Serbia (B)

Days 6-7 : Sofia, Bulgaria

Nis - Sofia. Leaving Serbia behind us we continueon to our next destination - Sofia. Bulgaria’scapital offers a wealth of cultural entertainment,including Byzantine churches, museums fullof ancient archaeological treasures, toweringmonuments and numerous mineral bathsadjacent to the magnificent Mount Vitosha.Laid back and cosmopolitan, Sofia offers athriving and diverse street life, including open-air cafés, busy markets such as the famousLadies’ Market, rattling trams and buskers alladding to the ambience. At the foothills ofMount Vitosha about 8 kilometres from the citycentre you can visit the 900 year-old BoyanaChurch, considered among the masterpiecesof medieval European painting, which featuresmurals and frescoes dating back to 1259 AD,medieval architecture and monumental art. Alsoat the base of Mt. Vitosha is the splendidNational History Museum, with antiques datingback to the Thracian period.

Sofia also offers many beautiful gardens to relaxin, such as Boris Gardens and the South Park,which starts just behind the Palace of Culture.

Optional Excursions: Ethnographical Museum– BGN 3 • National Art Gallery – BGN 6 •Alexander Nevski Cathedral – free • St AlexanderNevski Crypt – BGN 4 • National Museum ofHistory – BGN 10 Overnight - Sofia, Bulgaria(B:2)

Day 8 : Skopje, Macedonia

Sofia - Skopje. Today we depart Sofia bybus heading for neighbouring Macedonia. InSkopje, Macedonia’s capital, you can enjoy 2,000years of history spanning Oriental and Westerncultures, neatly divided by the Vardar Riverthrough the centre of the city. Skopje hasmany historical monuments including the KaleFortress dating back to the 6th century and theDaud Paša Amam, a 15th century bathhousenow converted into the city art gallery. Youcan also see the Mustafa-pasha's mosque, the16th century Clock Tower and the Kamen Most(Stone Bridge) over the Vardar River.

Optional Excursions: Mother Teresa statue andmemorial room – free • National Museum &Icon Gallery – MKD 50 Overnight - Skopje,Macedonia (B)

Days 9-10 : Lake Ohrid,Macedonia

Skopje - Lake Ohrid. Departing Skopje we headto Lake Ohrid. Beforehabd we can enjoy a visitto the Matka Canyon. Cruise down Matka lake

admiring the large rock walls towering besidethe water. Keep an eye out for the fascinatingcaves that are found within the canyon.

Once we have collected our bags from thehotel, we then travel on to the gorgeous lakeside town of Ohrid, perched on the borderof Macedonia and Albania. This unassuming,picturesque settlement has been the setting ofthousands of years of human history and theancient churches, fortress walls, bazaars and oldquarters are testimony to its past.

Lake Ohrid itself is Europe’s oldest lake havingformed over three millions years ago. Wanderthe streets and squares of its compact centrebefore hiking up to the ancient walled fortressthat overlooks the day to day life of the city andexplore the famous old churches, monasteriesand basilicas.

Included Excursions:

Matka Canyon boat ride •Visit Lake Ohrid

Optional Excursions: Sveta BogorodicaBolnicka, originally a hospital church whereplague victims were quarantined – free ofcharge • Sveti Nikola Bolnicki – free of charge •National Museum – MKD 100 • Samoils Fortress– MKD 50 • Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta, a13th century painted church – MKD 100 • StPantelejmon monastery – free • Boat trip aroundLake Ohrid - €15 per person (based on 6-8people) Overnight - Lake Ohrid, Macedonia(B:2)

Day 11 : Tirana, Albania

Lake Ohrid - Tirana. Today we leave Lake Ohridand head by private transfer for Albania. On theway to Tirana we stop of at the small town ofKruja. Built on a mountainside, you can discoverthe old town and explore Kruja Castle where

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we include entry to the Skanderbeg Museumlocated inside. Skanderbeg was a war hero ofAlbania, helping defeat the Ottomans, and thismuseum focuses on his bravery and importanceto Albania.

We then head to Tirana, the trendy capital andlargest city of Albania, which has transformedfrom a grey, dismal ex-communist city, isolatedby the regime until the 1990s, to a colourfulcapital buzzing with life. While the city has along history, you can enjoy its modern outlook,with fashionable bars, and wander boulevardslined with relics of the city’s Ottoman, clubs andboutiques, Italian and communist past. Tirana’smassive main square, Sheshi Skënderbej, isbordered by the National History Museum, thePalace of Culture, the National Bank, the Et'hemBey Mosque and Skanderbeg's statue. A shortbus ride from the centre city, the Martyr’sCemetery offers marvellous panoramic viewsover the city.

Included Excursions: Kruja city walls andSkenderbeg Museum

Optional Excursions: National Art Gallery –Lek 200 • National Museum of History – Lek200 • Muzeu Onufri (Onufri museum) – Lek200 • Muzeu Etnografik – Lek 200 • Sky Bar &Restaurant – €2 Overnight - Tirana, Albania (B)

Days 12-13 : Budva,Montenegro

Tirana - Budva. Leaving Albania behind wehead north to the seaside town of Budva inMontenegro. Budva (not to be confused withthe Czech beer Budvar) is 2,500 years old, oneof the oldest and most popular settlementson the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. Thisvibrant seaside town is well known for its sandybeaches, historic old town, diverse nightlife,

and beautiful examples of Mediterraneanarchitecture.

We will take a day trip to the picturesqueKotor, a walled city nestled at the bottom ofEurope’s deepest fjord. Stari Grad, the old town,is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a trickylabyrinth of cobbled alleys, squares and ancientchurches, including St Tryphon's Cathedral builtin 1166. The mountains provide a dramaticbackdrop to this beautiful town as they comedown steeply, almost to the waterfront. Youcould spend the day drinking espresso in theshade of the medieval walls watching people goby. You can climb the walls of the ancient fortof Sveti Ivan which spans some 4.5 kilometresabove the city on almost vertical cliffs. Yourefforts will be rewarded by an excellent view ofKotor and the bay.

Included Excursions: Kotor

Optional Excursions: Budva Museum – €3 •Discover the picturesque old town – free •Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor), a full day trip ofMamula Island, Zanice beach and Blue cave– price TBA Overnight - Budva, Montenegro(B:2)

Days 14-15 : Sarajevo, Bosnia& Herzegovina

Budva - Sarajevo. Crossing the border into the‘heart-shaped land’ of Bosnia and Herzegovinawe visit the capital Sarajevo, a fascinatingmixture of western and eastern cultures.Known as the ‘Jerusalem of Europe’, the citywas once famous for its religious diversity,with people of Islamic, Orthodox Christian,Catholic and Jewish faiths coexisting relativelypeacefully for centuries. The atmosphere ofcalm and tolerance changed dramatically whenviolence erupted in the mid-1990s and the city

underwent the longest siege in modern militaryhistory during the Yugoslav War.

Today the city is largely recovered and is packedwith fascinating museums bazaars, marketsand bridges. During your time here you couldexplore the cobbled streets, mosques andOriental style shops of the Old Town, visit theBosnian Historical Museum to learn about thesiege of Sarajevo and discover the SarajevoTunnel Museum, the tunnel which was used toferry supplies into the besieged city during theconflict, next to the airport. For history buffsa must see is the “Latin Bridge" spanning theriver in the downtown area. The bridge bearsa plaque commemorating the assassinationof Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,Franz Ferdinand, the event that sparked thebeginning of World War I. Today the city islargely recovered and is packed with fascinatingmuseums.

Optional Excursions: Tunnel Museum, theentrance to the tunnel used during the BosnianWar – BAM 30 • Jewish Museum – BAM 2 • JewishTour – BAM 32 every day at 2pm • CommunismTour – BAM 38 (minimum 2 people) • OrthodoxChurch Museum – free but donations welcome• History Museum – BAM 1 • Walking Tour ofthe Old City (Bascarsija) – BAM 20 Overnight -Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina (B:2)

Day 16 : Mostar, Bosnia &Herzegovina

Sarajevo - Mostar. Today we head south tothe prettiest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Mostar is situated on the Neretva river andis the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostarwas named after the bridge keepers (natively:mostari) who kept the Stari Most (Old Bridge)over Neretva river. The city is particularly famousfor this beautiful single span bridge, Stari Most,which collapsed into the Neretva River during

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the Yugoslav War in 1993. Built in 1556 bythe Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Great, StariMost had been a globally recognised landmarkand a national symbol for Bosnia-Herzegovina.It had survived centuries of conflict includingboth world wars and proved that, whateverhappened, the mainly Christian west bankand mainly Muslim east remained united. Thedestruction of the bridge was a huge blow tothe local people, but in 2004 the bridge wasrebuilt as a replica of the original using piecesof masonry salvaged from the riverbed. Itsreopening represented the hope that Muslims,Croats and Serbs could once again live side byside and that Mostar would be healed after adecade of ethnic division.

Optional Excursions: Koski Mehmed PashaMosque - €2.5 (includes minaret) • Karad-zozbegova Mosque - €2.5 (includes minaret) •Turkish House – BAM 2 • Memorial Museum ofHerzegovina – BAM 1.5 Overnight - Mostar,Bosnia & Herzegovina (B)

Day 17 : Dubrovnik, Croatia

Mostar - Dubrovnik. On the way to the southof Croatia, we stop off at the Kravice waterfalls,located on the Trebižat river in Bosnia andHerzegovina. A popular swimming area, you willhave time to enjoy the water before headingto the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, the UNESCO WorldHeritage listed walled city of Dubrovnik inCroatia.

With a paved town centre enclosed in fortress-like 13th century stone walls, the city is easy toexplore on foot and is full of character. A greatstart to your exploration of Dubrovnik is with anincluded walk around the city walls. Stretchingalmost 2 kilometres around the old town, thewalls offer stunning rooftop and city views outto the turquoise blue Adriatic Sea. Founded in

the 7th century, for a time in its glorious pastthe city was a serious rival for Venice in termsof maritime trade. It is hard to believe nowbut in 1991, two out of every three buildingswere damaged during the bombardment ofthe Yugoslav War. Since then the buildingsand walls have been painstakingly restored topristine condition and represents one of themost beautiful and solid fortress systems on theMediterranean. There are several other historicattractions worth a visit near the main street(Stradun), such as the 14th century Franciscanmonastery which houses a treasury full of sacredart and artefacts, as well as one of the oldestcontinually working pharmacies in the world,dating back to 1317. Overnight - Dubrovnik,Croatia (B)

Day 18 : Dubrovnik, CroatiaYour adventure of a lifetime comes to anend today. If you have a late flight or havelengthened your stay by adding post touraccommodation you will have more time toexplore the sights.(B)

Single SupplementIf you paid our single supplement for this tour,a single room will be provided for your comforton all nights of the tour.

Arriving into BudapestOn arrival at Ferihegi International Airport (BUD)in Budapest we recommend that you obtainsome local currency, the Hungarian forint. Thereare international ATMs inside the airport, as wellas money exchange offices offering a good rate.The rate will always vary slightly depending onwhere you go and it may be worth changinga small amount of money at the airport foryour transport, then finding a bank or moneyexchange within the town centre.

Airport transferAn arrival transfer from Budapest Airport to yourhotel is included on day 1. If you are going to bedelayed more than two hours, you must adviseus of the delay at least six hours before arrival. Ifwe are advised in time, we will make every effortto reschedule your transfer and your driver willbe asked to wait for two hours after your newexpected arrival time. However, if we are notmade aware of any change, the driver will onlywait for two hours after the original scheduled

arrival time and after this point it will be upto you to arrange transport to your hotel atyour own expense. Please contact us on theemergency contact person as detailed on yourvoucher.

Making your own wayIf you would prefer to make your own way to andfrom your hotel, the Zona taxi company is theonly one authorised to run taxis from the standoutside the airport. The fares are fixed by zoneand a taxi to the hotel will cost €20-30.

the Airport Minibus service, a shared taxioperation that collects passengers going inthe same direction, will take you to orfrom anywhere in Budapest for HUF 2990(approximately €10 per person).

The state railway operates a service to theNyugati Railway Station in central Budapestfrom a station outside Terminal 1. From Terminal2 the The 200E bus runs past the stationat Terminal 1. This stop is called ‘Ferihegyvasútállomás’. Tickets can be bought from theinformation desk or vending machines insidethe terminal. Tickets cost 365 forints (€1.30)

The bus no. 200E connects to the metro systemat Köbánya-Kispest metro station. The journeytakes approximately 30 minutes. Tickets can bebought at newspaper vendors inside the airportfor 300-400 forints. A separate ticket will be needfor the metro and can be bought at the terminal.

The nearest metro station to hotel is Oktogonstation on the Yellow line.

Your joining hotel is:

Medosz HotelJokai ter 9H-1061Budapest,Hungary

Tel: (+36) 1 374 3001 or 353 1700www.medoszhotel.hu

There are safe deposit boxes for your use(you will get an itemised receipt). Please leaveall of your important documents, money andtravellers cheques here when you go out but

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remember to carry some form of ID and aphotocopy of your passport with you.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Our partners Tucan TravelPlease note that our Eastern Europe grouptours are operated by Tucan Travel. Travellerson your trip will have made their reservationwith either On The Go Tours or Tucan Travel.

Travel StyleThis is an Adventure Tour, we see a destinationfrom the locals' perspective using a variety oftransport and staying in small locally ownedaccommodation. There is a maximum of 16travellers with an average group size of 8-12.All our Adventure Tours are priced per personon a shared room basis meaning there is nocompulsory extra payment for those travellingon their own.

Keeping in TouchYour tour leader will point out internet cafesin all major cities and towns and Wi-Fi may beavailable in some hotels. Hotel details, apartfrom the joining hotel, are not given in advanceand are subject to change, so if someone needsto contact you urgently during your tour, thebest method is to contact our office who canpass a message on to the tour leader.

If you intend to take your mobile phone youshould find out in advance from your networkprovider if your phone is set up for internationalroaming and if there is coverage in yourdestination. You may also find it considerablymore expensive to send texts and receive callsif you are on a non European or British Network.A much cheaper option would be to purchase atelephone card and use local pay phones.

Pre-Departure MeetingWhen you arrive on day one of your trip, youshould find some local information at the hotellobby. Your tour leader will be staying in thehotel and should have put up a welcome noteto let you know what room they are in. Apre-departure meeting is usually held in theafternoon or early evening of day one. You willneed to bring the following important items tothe meeting with your tour leader:

• Your passport, including any necessary visasand at least one photocopy to give to your tourleader• Vaccination certificates if relevant to anydestinations on your tour• Travel insurance policy and a photocopy togive to your tour leader• Your travel voucherMissing the tour departure

If you miss the start of your tour, please ask at thereception of the hotel for a message from yourtour leader which will give you instructions onhow to catch up with the group. Any associatedcosts will be at your own expense (although,depending on the reason, you may be able toclaim these from your travel insurance so ensureyou keep all receipts).

If you know in advance that you are unlikely toarrive on time, please contact us immediately sowe can inform the tour leader. On The Go Tourscannot be held responsible should your airline/boat/coach be delayed and we are unable torefund any unused portion of your tour.

Time Keeping

Punctuality is very important and throughoutthe tour your tour leader will give you the timeto meet in reception. Tour leaders will oftenpost notes at reception with meeting times, soremember to always look out for these.

Although rare, delays can occur and wetherefore advise you not to arrange youronward travel too close to the end of the tour.We take no responsibility for any missed flightsor additional expenses If the group arrives lateinto the departure city at the end of the tour.

MoneyFor personal spending money you should bringEuros alongside the local currency (whereapplicable). Generally the most convenient wayof carrying your spending money is by havingat least a couple of credit or debit cards. Themajority of cards (Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard,American Express and Maestro, Plus and Cirrusfor debit cards) are accepted in most large citiesand tourist areas. ATMs (cash machines) arewidespread. It is always best to carry a mix of

cards and cash with you, including notes in smalldenominations.

Your spending money should cover some meals,optional excursions, souvenirs, drinks, laundry,border and airport taxes and any visas obtainedlocally. We provide guideline prices for optionalexcursions in the itinerary to help you budget,but ultimately the amount you will need tobudget for your trip very much depends onyour individual requirements. We recommendbringing extra money to cover emergencies orunexpected situations.

TippingTipping is a part of the life in Europe, butyou should not feel obliged or pressured totip if you have not received good service. Agratuity of 10% of the total bill is recommendedin restaurants. Gratuities are usually expectedfor local guides on included and optionalexcursions. Tips are also appreciated by TucanTravel tour leaders at the end of your tour andwe recommend an average of $2-$4 per personper day for the duration of your tour. This is onlyif you feel that their service was up to standardand is completely at your own discretion.

Packing ListThe best advice when packing is to travel lightand leave space for souvenirs in your bag.

Luggage

On our tours in Europe your luggage mustbe strictly limited to one reasonably-sized bagor backpack with a recommended maximumweight of no more than 20 kilograms/44 poundsplus one small day pack. You will have to carryyour own luggage, sometimes down cobbledstreets and up flights of stairs and cannot expectyour tour leader to carry your bags.

We recommend a frameless backpack or a sportstype shoulder bag which fits comfortably onyour shoulders, as they are less bulky andeasier to handle than rigid suitcases or framedbackpacks. Suitcases are not suitable for ourtours and are not recommended. On The Go Tours takes no responsibility for damage to yourluggage while on tour.

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In addition to your main bag, you will needa small daypack for your everyday excursions.Try to keep this bag as light as possible andmake sure that all main sections of your bagscan be padlocked. This daypack should haveenough room to carry food and snacks, cameraand personal items

Sleeping Sheet

Sleeping bags are not required on this tour, buta sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet is optional if youwish to bring one along. Some passengers liketo use them on long bus journeys and overnighttrains.

Clothing and Footwear

All clothes should be lightweight, durableand easily washable. Please do not bring anymilitary or camouflage-style clothing as it canbe dangerous to wear and occasionally illegal.Nights can be cold so it is a good idea to bringat least one pair of warm trousers or jeans plusseveral thinner sweaters / fleeces which you canlayer.

Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential.These do not need to be expensive boots, butthey should have good ankle support and grip,be worn in and ideally waterproof.

Essential items:

• A lightweight water/windproof jacket withhood• Easy to pack wide-brimmed hat or cap• Swimwear• Sandals or thongs/jandals/flip flops

Suggested items:

• Money belt• Sunglasses• Small calculator• Universal washbasin plug• Travel alarm clock• Lip balm, sun block with high UV factor• Wet wipes• Cheap plastic watch• Plenty of spare memory cards for your camera• Spare rechargeable batteries for camera• Writing materials, address book and diary

• Travel games, cards and a couple of paperbacks• Small medical kit with diarrhoea remedy,rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, steriledressings, plasters, bandages, pain-killers, safetypins etc.• Small collapsible umbrella• Plastic bags for waterproofing• Inflatable pillow• Towel• Travel plug adaptor with a USB port• Small sewing kit• Insect repellent (DEET 35% min) and bite cream• Antibactarial hand clensing gel• Ear plugs and sleep mask• Travel sickness tablets• Spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses andsolution• Hard drive or USB stick to back up your photos• Pocket size phrasebook• Pegless washing line & travel laundry detergent(bio-degradable preferable)

LaundryThere are usually laundromats or laundryservices in or near most of our hotels. Hotelservices can be pretty costly however yourtour leader will be able to recommend cheaperoptions. If you wash clothes yourself take carenot to be too obvious where you hang themas most hotels do not like guests washing anddrying their clothes in the hotel rooms.

Electricity SupplyIf bringing electrical equipment, make surethat you bring a two-pin/pronged, round-pinadapter/plug adapter.

Health, Fitness & SafetyPack a Medical Kit

A medical kit is handy for minor woundsand ailments. In areas with limited or dubiousmedical facilities, an emergency medical kitcontaining sterile syringes is also advisable. Bylaw our staff are not allowed to administer firstaid or give drugs to travellers, so please beprepared with your own supplies.

If you are taking medication, please ensure youbring an adequate supply and a letter fromyour doctor to avoid potential issues at bordercrossings.

Fitness & Suitability

This is a public transport-based tour so it isessential that you be able to carry your bagsover distances between bus and train stationsand hotels, generally for up to 20 minutes.Disruptions happen and while your tour leaderwill make every effort to ensure your trip runssmoothly, patience, a sense of humour andwillingness to get involved and help your tourleader are essential ingredients for a successfuland happy group.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditionsplease let us know at the time you book or asearly before departure as possible. Dependingon the severity of the condition, you may beasked to produce a medical certificate fromyour doctor approving your participation in thistour. While this would only happen in veryexceptional circumstances, if we consider youincapable completing this tour or you haveconcealed an existing medical condition whichis affecting your ability to participate in the tourof On The Go Tours reserve the right to turn youaway without reimbursement.

Safety & Security

Europe is generally very safe, even more so in agroup. Reasonable precaution is advised; do notbring valuable jewellery or watches (even fakescan catch the eye of a thief), do not bring yourcamera equipment in a flashy camera bag, beprudent and keep your valuables in a safe secureplace whenever possible, wear a money beltand distribute your valuables throughout yourluggage, heed your tour leader’s advice andalways keep an eye and a hand on your cameraand bags in public places. On The Go Tourscannot accept responsibility for any valuablesleft in safe deposits in hotels or on publictransport.

Age Restrictions

We have a minimum age on all our grouptours of 12 years old. Children aged between 12and 18 must each be accompanied by a legalguardian or parent and we recommend thatchildren have a companion of a similar age tothem so that they have company along the way.While we do not have an upper age limit, the

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nature of our group tours can be very fast pacedand travellers might be required to walk longdistances, often in the heat.

DocumentsPassport

Your passport should be valid for at least 6months after you have finished your tour withsufficient blank pages for visas and immigrationstamps. Photocopy your passport, leaving onecopy at home and taking one with you on tour.If you lose your passport while on tour, you willbe responsible for any expenses incurred suchas extra accommodation and transport whilereplacing your passport and will not be entitledto a refund of any unused portion of your tour.

Tour Documents

Before you depart you will be issued witha voucher for your tour any extra servicessuch as airport transfers and pre/post touraccommodation. Please print these out andbring them with you. These Trip Notes areupdated regularly, so we recommend checkingour website for the latest version just prior to thestart of your tour.

Final Balance

The balance for your tour is due no later than60 days prior to the start of your tour and notour vouchers will be issued until this is received.In addition please send the following details atleast 60 days before you depart:

• Passport number, date of issue, date of expiry,nationality and place of issue• Your full name and date of birth• Flight arrival details in your starting city• Special requirements, e.g. special dietaryrequirements or allergies

Please let us know if you are travelling withanother person on the tour but have madeseparate bookings and we will endeavour tomake suitable rooming arrangements.

Visas

All countries have visa requirements that aresubject to change at short notice. Please check

with your local embassy or consulate for thevery latest visa requirement information basedon your nationality. It is your responsibility toensure that you have all necessary visas for yourtour. If you would like help applying for visas, wehave recommended visa agencies.

Important things to check when applying forvisas:

• Does the validity of the visa cover the durationof your time spent in the country?• Do you require a single or multiple entry visa(s)for your tour?• Are you required to show additionaldocumentation when you arrive in a country?(Examples include proof of onward travel andtravel itinerary)

Some visas are only valid for entry within threemonths of the date of issue which means onsome of our longer tours the visa would expirebefore you are scheduled to enter the country.In these cases you must obtain the relevant visaduring your tour. If it is necessary for you toobtain any visas en-route, please contact On TheGo Tours or your travel consultant and informyour tour leader at the start of the tour. If youdo not have the appropriate visas, On The GoTours will not reimburse any expenses incurredin acquiring visas or any unused portion of thetour.

It is best to apply for visas in your homecountry if possible. If applying for visas by post,please allow plenty of time before departureand send your application by registered mail.Postal applications tend to be given a lowerpriority than in person applications and can takelonger to process.

Special Note: If you have dual nationality it isadvised not to obtain different visas in differentpassports. Although this may sometimes becheaper, you may encounter problems at bordercrossings if your exit stamps from one countryare not the same as your visa for the next.

Travel Insurance Policy

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours.You must be adequately insured for medical,hospital, baggage and personal expenses,

any necessary extra travel (rejoining touror repatriation) as well as curtailment andcancellation.

We strongly recommend that all clients carrya copy of their full policy document withthem at all times, together with any certificateshowing the policy number and emergencycontact details. Your tour leader will also ask fora photocopy of your insurance document, soplease take this to the pre-departure meetingat the start of your tour. You will not be ableto commence your tour unless you can provideproof of insurance to your tour leader.

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies of informationpages and visas)• Trip Notes• Cash & credit/debit cards (best to take amixture and more than one card in case onedoes not work)• Travel Insurance Certificate and photocopy fortour leader• Travel consultant's phone number and emailaddress• Proof of onward travel, ie airline ticket

Optional ExcursionsOptional excursions are not operated by OnThe Go Tours and while every effort is madeprices may not be up-to-date and are intendedas a general guide to help you budget for yourtrip. Prices for vehicle-based excursions suchas game drives are approximate based on theoptimum number of participants and the actualprice may vary depending on group size.

Sufficient safety equipment such as helmetsand life jackets are sometimes not availableand On The Go Tours is unable to provide thisequipment. If you intend to participate in anoptional excursion you may like to considerbringing your own safety gear.

Excursions are run by a local operator or thirdparty with both On The Go Tours and the TourLeader acting as a booking agent only. Optionalactivities are not part of the tour and TucanTravel’s booking conditions do not apply tothem. It is your responsibility to ensure you havethe correct travel insurance for the excursions

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you intend to take part in and On The Go Toursis not liable for any injuries incurred.

ExtrasOn many of our Group Tours, we spend onenight in our arrival and departure cities. If youwant to explore these cities more we can bookpre and post tour accommodation and airporttransfers for you. Price information can be foundon the price page of each tour.

Illegal DrugsThe possession or use of illegal drugs will notbe tolerated on our tours. When overseas youare subject to local laws and the penalties forbreaking these laws can be harsh. In order tosafeguard the interests of the group as a whole,our tour leaders have been instructed to insistthat any person found with illegal drugs leavethe tour immediately – without refund. Thetour leader’s decision on this matter is final. Ifyou need to carry certain drugs with you forpurposes of medication, please inform your tourleader and ensure that you carry a copy of yourprescription or letter from your doctor.

Country Guide

Macedonia: Fact FileOfficial Name: The Former Yugoslav Republicof MacedoniaCapital: SkopjePopulation: 2.1 millionTotal Area: 25,713 square kilometresOfficial Language: Macedonian (a slavoniclanguage using the Cyrillic script) is the mostwidely used language. Albanian, Turkish andSerbo-Croat are also used by ethnic groups.English, French and German are widely spoken.Religions: 67 per cent of the population areEastern Orthodox Macedonians and around23% are Muslim Albanians. There are alsoMuslim Turks and Serbian Orthodox minoritiesVoltage: 220 volts / 50 Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are in use.Dialling Code: +38Time Difference: GMT/UTC +1. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.comAirport Departure Tax: US$18 if not includedin the ticket

Macedonia: Brief historyMacedonia is a landlocked country in the BalkanPeninsula of southeastern Europe, north ofGreece.

Parts of the territory were occupied by Illyriansin antiquity, who were followed by various tribalpeoples and Romans conquests - Alexanderthe Great was born there in 4th century BC.When the Roman Empire was divided in the 4thcentury AD, the region came under the EasternRoman Empire, ruled from Constantinople. TheByzantines succumbed to Slavic raiders arrivedduring the 6th century and Christianity tookhold in the 9th century when the BulgarianEmpire took hold, followed by the rise ofByzantine power again in 1018, and a briefNorman occupation in the 1080s. The BulgarianEmpire rose to prominence again in the 13thcentury but was plagued by difficulties and theByzantine Empire took over again in the 14thcentury. This was followed by ‘liberation’ by theSerbian Empire, but the Balkan region was laterdivided and ruled by the Ottoman Empire forthe following 5 centuries. The fight to establishan autonomous state of Macedonia started inthe 1800s with the rise of various revolutionarynationalist organisations, culminating in theIlinden uprising of August 1903, which wasbrutally suppressed by the Turks in October ofthe same year. After two Balkan Wars in 1912and 1913 and the dissolution of the OttomanEmpire, the Balkan territory was divided upbetween Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. Thenew territory was named Southern Serbia andbecame part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croatsand Slovenes after World War I, which waslater renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.Yugoslavia was occupied by Axis forces duringWorld War II and liberated in 1944. The People’sRepublic of Macedonia was formed in 1944,renamed Socialist Republic of Macedonia in1963 and later dropped ‘Socialist’ from its titlewhen it succeeded from Yugoslavia and helda referendum to become independent on 8September 1991, formally ratified in January1992. Macedonia remained at peace duringthe Yugoslav wars of the early 1990s but wasdestabilised by the influx of Albanian refugeesfrom neighbouring states during the siege ofKosovo in 1999. Angered by perceived politicaland social inequalities, Albanian forces fought

a civil war with support from MacedonianAlbanians to try to establish a separate state,but peace was negotiated with NATO in 2001resulting in law changes but no change tothe borders. Macedonia became an officialcandidate for EU membership in 2005 andhopes to join NATO.

Macedonia: Geography andweatherMacedonia is a mountainous, landlocked,country bordering Serbia and Montenegro tothe north, Albania to the west, Greece to thesouth and Bulgaria to the east. Macedonia has acontinental climate, with very cold winters andhot summers.

Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your tour.

Macedonia: VisasA valid passport (at least 3 months within date)is required for entry. Some nationalities maybe required to show proof of departure atimmigration. Visas are not needed for citizens ofthe EU, USA and New Zealand but most othernationals do require a visa. Visa regulationschange frequently so it is important you consultwith the embassy prior to travelling to ensureyou have the correct visas. In some cases you willbe crossing the borders on overnight trains andwithout the correct visa for your nationality youwill not be allowed to enter the country and willbe asked to leave the train. It is the responsibilityof the traveller to obtain all correct visas neededprior to departure.

Macedonia: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Macedonia is the denar(MKD). Prices quoted in this country dossier arein euro or denar. For up to date exchange rateswith your own currency visit www.oanda.com orwww.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMs

You can exchange most currencies althoughEuros are the most widely accepted. ATMs are

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not widely available but one or two can befound in Skopje. Traveller's cheques can beexchanged in US Dollars or Euros. Carrying cashis advisable and may be necessary for mostpayments.

Working out your budget

Our Europe pre-departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and anestimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours in Macedonia.

Entrance fees

Generally speaking most entrance fees will becovered by the recommended spending money.There are, however, other sites and museumsthat are not part of the tour programme whichyou may wish to visit in your free time. If youhave an International Student Card you willoften be entitled to reduced entrance fees.

Tipping

In restaurants 15% is usually added to restaurantbills and you are obliged to pay this. It is alsocustomary to give the waiter 5%-10% on top ofthis if you are happy with the service.

You do not need to tip taxi drivers, etc butyou should tip people who assist you withyour luggage at hotels (don’t over-tip; your tourleader will advise a suitable amount). Tippingguides at the end of excursions and treks etcis always appreciated and your tour leader willadvise you on the amount for this.

Macedonia: OptionalexcursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Macedonia: Local transportThe road network is very well developed as isthe railway. Buses and trains leave Skopje, toother major towns such as Ohrid and Bitola quite

frequently. Services to international cities oftenhave at least two bus departures per day.

One of the most popular and reliable ways ofgetting around is by taxi. Do not get into taxiswithout the official taxi sign. It is possible tonegotiate a fare if the metre is not in use. InSkopje, Macedonia’s capital, you will find muchof the city centre is easy to explore on foot. Yourtour leader will be able to provide advice on thebest way to get around in each city.

Macedonia: SecurityGenerally people find Eastern Europe to besafe and feel confident wandering alone duringthe day. However if you are unfamiliar with anarea it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. Insome cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.If there is a safe available in your hotel it isrecommended you us

Macedonia: Local food anddrinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.

A rough idea of local prices:

Simple snack - €2-5Meal - €10-15Fancy restaurant - €25+

Ask your tour leader if they can recommendany restaurants in the area to suit your taste orbudget or have fun exploring independently.

Food

Traditional cuisine is similar to that of Turkey andGreece, combining Balkan and Mediterraneaninfluences. Keep a look out for nationalspecialities. Different varieties of kebab can befound almost everywhere. Kebapci (barbequedmeat rolls) are especially popular. Ajvar is thenational sauce made from sweet red peppers.You can also try gravce tavce (beans in a skillet),

burek (flaky pie filled with combinations of ham,cheese, spinach and ground beef). Also don’tforget to try a fresh trout from Lake Ohrid if youget the chance.

Drink

All drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions. The legal drinking age: 18.

Macedonia: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day.6 -7 January - Orthodox Christmas.8 March - International Women's Day.28 April - Orthodox Easter Monday.1 May - May Day.2 August - Ilinden (National Holiday).8 September- Independence Day.

Country Guide

Montenegro: Fact FileOfficial Name: Montenegrin RepublicCapital: Podgorica (administrative) Cetinje(historical and cultural capital)Population: 685,000Total Area: 14,026 square kilometresOfficial Language: Montenegrin, Serbian,Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian.Religions: Majority Eastern Orthodox, with aMuslim minority.Voltage: 220 volts / 50 Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are in use.Dialling Code: +382Time Difference: GMT/UTC +1. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Montenegro: Brief HistoryMontenegro was originally settled by theIllyrians, followed by Romans and Slav colonies,then incorporated into the Serbian Empire inthe 15th century before it was brought underOttoman rule. Montenegrins refused to accepttheir Turkish rulers and in the 17th centuryrebelled numerous times, culminating with theGreat Turkish War in which the Ottomanswere defeated at the end of the century,making Montenegro the only country to defeatTurkish forces and become independent in1878. The republic was succeeded to the Austro-

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Hungarian Empire when it was invaded in 1916and King Nikola I and his government wentinto exile. In 1918, an Assembly in Podgoricadeposed Nikola I and declared Montenegropart of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats andSlovenes' under a Serbian King, a move thatwas resisted by some Montenegrins. The newstate was renamed the 'Kingdom of Yugoslavia'in 1929. During World War II, Montenegrofell under the control of the Italians followingthe Axis powers’ invasion of Yugoslavia. Thecommunist leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz(Tito), granted Montenegro status as a republicin 1945 along with Croatia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedoniain the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia(SFRY). Montenegro remained an ally of Serbiain the early 1990s, fighting in Croatia andBosnia and involved in the siege of Dubrovnik.When the Federal Republic of Yugoslaviabroke up in 1992, Montenegro and Serbiadeclared themselves a new state under thesame name, but Montenegro later distanceditself from Serbia and criticised its leaderSlobodan Milosevic for his policies and hisarmy’s actions in Kosovo in 1998-1999. In 2002the two countries’ union loosened under a newagreement and in 2006 Montenegro held areferendum which resulted in moving towardsindependence. Serbia did not obstruct theruling, confirming its own independence anddeclaring the union of Serbia and Montenegroended shortly thereafter. Montenegro is nowfully independent for the first time since 1916,and became the 192nd member of the UN on 28June 2006.

Montenegro: Geography andweatherThe independent state of Montenegro is a smallmountainous region located on the Adriaticcoast north of Albania, bordering Bosnia &Herzegovina to the west, Serbia to the east andAlbania to the south in Eastern Europe. Its smallAdriatic coastline harbours the main ports ofBar and those in the Gulf of Kotor. Montenegrohas a Mediterranean climate on the coast, withalpine conditions towards the mountains on theborders with Serbia and Albania. The averagesummer coastal temperature is 27°C.

Our tours mostly operate from late spring(April/May) to early Autumn (in Eastern Europe)

when the weather is generally at its best.Temperatures will vary but will still be coolin April/May and again in October. Thewarmest months tend to be July/August. Thefurther south you are the higher the averagetemperatures. You can expect snow fromDecember to late March.


Montenegro: VisasA valid passport is required for entry. Mostnationalities do not require a visa. However visaregulations change frequently so it is importantyou consult with the embassy prior to travellingto ensure you have the correct visas. In somecases you will be crossing the borders onovernight trains and without the correct visafor your nationality you will not be allowed toenter the country and will be asked to disembarkthe train. It is the responsibility of the travellerto obtain all correct visas needed prior todeparture. Visa services like www.travcour.comcan be very helpful.

Visa services like www.travcour.com can be veryhelpful.

Montenegro: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Local currency

Montenegro is in the euro zone. For up to dateexchange rates with your own currency visitwww.oanda.com or www.xe.com.


You should use official exchange officesand banks only. Some ATMs accept Visa orMastercard, but few accept international debitcards. Traveller's cheques can often be difficultto exchange. Carrying cash is advisable and maybe necessary for most payments.


Our Europe pre departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and an

estimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours in Montenegro.

Entrance fees


Tipping

It is customary to give round up the taxi fareand leave an extra €1-2 extra at restaurants. (Ifyou are unsure your tour leader will advise asuitable amount). Tipping guides at the end ofexcursions is always appreciated and your tourleader will advise you on the amount for this.

Montenegro: OptionalexcursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Montenegro: Local transportDriving at night is not advisable due to the poorcondition of the roads. Traffic drives on the right.The two major roads are the Adriatic motorwayfrom Igalo to Ulcinj and the motorway linkingthe north and south.

One of the most popular and reliable waysof getting around is by taxi. Main cities havemetered taxis. It is possible to negotiate a farewhen the meters are not in use. Only useofficially marked taxis. Your tour leader will beable to provide advice on this in each city.

Montenegro: SecurityGenerally people find Eastern Europe to besafe and feel confident wandering alone duringthe day. However if you are unfamiliar with anarea it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. In

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some cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.

Montenegro: Local food anddrinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.


Food

The cuisine in Montenegro has a distinctlyItalian influence, so keep an eye out for nationalspecialities such as lamb or kid's meat, pizza,polenta, stuffed capsicums, cheese and sourcream and Vienna-style bread, clear fish soup,and prsuta (smoked ham) and steak from aregion in Montenegro called Durmitor. Turkishinfluences can be found in moussaka (a bakedaubergine and mince dish) and ćevapi (skinlesssausages or meatballs served with onions,peppers and bread). Other specialities includegibanica (thinly layered pastry, eggs and fetacheese, burek (a pastry layered with cheese ormeat), and ajvar (a relish made of roasted redpeppers, aubergine and garlic). Fresh fish suchas carp, trout and eel come from the SkadarLake. Vegetables such as chicory, asparagus,leeks, fennel and nettles are common to manydishes.

Drink

National drinks you may wish to try are plumbrandy (slivovica), nikšicko beer, lozova rakija(grape brandy) and wine. Please note that mostplaces serving alcohol close by 10pm.

All drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions. The legal drinking age is 18.

Vegetarians

Strict vegetarians might struggle as chickenand fish are classed as vegetarian food andvegetable soups are likely to be flavoured withsmoked ham.

Montenegro: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day7 -8 January - Orthodox Christmas Day25 April - Orthodox Good Friday27 April - Statehood Day28 April - Orthodox Easter Monday1 - 2 May - Labour Days9 May - Victory Day29 - 30 November - Republic Day25 December - Christmas Day

Albania Country Guide

Albania: Fact FileOfficial Name: Republic of AlbaniaCapital: TiranaPopulation: 3.6 millionTotal Area: 28,748 square kilometresOfficial Language: Albanian (official - derivedfrom Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, SlavicdialectsReligions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox20%, Roman Catholic 10% (estimates)Voltage: 220 volts / 50 HzDialling Code: +355Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 1. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Albania: Brief historyThe country known to us as the Republicof Albania is known locally as Shqipëria. Theheritage of Albanians can be traced back toprehistoric times, when the area was ruled byIllyrian tribes. The country was later taken overby Greeks, followed by Romans who occupiedthe land from 168 BC and incorporated it intothe Roman Empire. Albania became part ofthe Byzantine Empire when the Roman Empiredivided into east and west in 395 AD. During the14th century AD the territory was turned overto the Ottoman Turks, who ruled throughoutthe medieval era into the Middle Ages subduingall resistance in the Balkan region, includingthe small strip of Albanian coastline which wasfamously crushed after staging a fierce but futilebattle against the occupiers in the 15th century.Albania declared its independence from theOttoman Empire in 1912 after five hundred

years of domination, but fell to Italian rule underMussolini in 1939. Communist partisans laterliberated Albania from Italian control and in1941 Enver Hoxha became leader of the rulingAlbanian Communist Party, a position he helduntil his death in 1985. Albania was free ofGerman control in 1944 and then allied itselfwith the USSR until 1960, followed by Chinauntil 1978. In the early 1990s, Albania ended46 years of Communist rule and establisheda multiparty democracy. Albania is a memberof the United Nations, NATO, Organisation forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe, WorldTrade Organisation, and is a potential candidatefor EU accession and formally applied formembership in 2009.

Albania: Geography andweatherAlbania is bordered by Montenegro to the north,Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the eastand Greece to the southeast. It also has a coaston the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. About 70% ofthe country is mountainous and over a third ofthe territory is forested. The climate is generallypleasant and mild, with cool, cloudy, wet wintersand hot, dry, clear summers. It’s generally driertowards the coastal lowlands where there’sa more Mediterranean climate, whereas theinterior is much hotter in summer and wetter asaltitude increases. Visit www.worldclimate.comto get an idea of what the weather will be like onyour tour.

Albania: VisasVisas are not required if you are a citizen of anEU country or Australia, New Zealand, Canada,Switzerland or the USA. South Africans canapply for a visa from the Albanian consulate inLondon. You can check your visa requirementsat www.mfa.gov.al.

Albania: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Albania is the lekë (ALL).For up to date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.


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All major currencies can be exchanged at banksand bureaux de change. Currency marketsoperate on the street in front of the main postoffice or bank in most towns, a perfectly legalway to exchange your money and avoid bankcommission. You will not be able to exchangelekë outside of Albania so make sure youexchange before you leave.

While most rural towns still deal exclusivelyin cash, supermarkets in cities, the betterbookstores and the better boutique stores willgenerally accept credit or debit cards. Themost widely accepted credit cards are VISA,Mastercard, and Diner's Club. Most banks willgive cash advances on credit cards with apassport. There are ATMs in most towns whichyou can use to withdraw cash from mostinternational Visa and Mastercard credit or debitcards. Traveller's cheques can be changed inbanks in most larger towns. To avoid additionalexchange rate charges, travellers are advised totake traveller's cheques in US dollars or Euros.The main banks in Albania who serve tourists areRaiffeisen Bank, American Bank of Albania, ProCredit Bank and Tirana Bank.Working out your budget

Our Europe pre-departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and anestimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours in Albania.Entrance fees


Tipping

It is customary to give the waiter 5%-10% ontop of the bill if you are happy with the service.You do not need to tip taxi drivers, etc butyou should tip people who assist you withyour luggage at hotels (don’t over-tip; your tourleader will advise a suitable amount). Tipping

guides at the end of excursions and treks etcis always appreciated and your tour leader willadvise you on the amount for this.Optional excursions

A full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on the optionalexcursions guide, available from our website. Allprices given are approximate and are subject tochange due to local inflation or exchange rates.

Albania: Local transportPublic transport in Tirana mostly consists of buslines which are very reasonably priced. The citycentre is small enough to explore on foot. Oneof the most popular and reliable ways of gettingaround on your own is by taxi. Try to find outwhat the going rate for journeys is before youhop into a taxi to ensure you are not beingovercharged. Your tour leader will be able toprovide advice on this when you stop in majorcities.

Albania: SecurityGenerally people find Eastern Europe to besafe and feel confident wandering alone duringthe day. However if you are unfamiliar with anarea it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. Insome cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.

Albania: Local food and drinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.


Food

Albanian cuisine is colourful and flavoursomeand features a lot of Italian, Greek and Turkishinfluences. You will find plenty of tasty, spicydishes to tempt you, Keep a look out forMediterranean fish such as sea-bream and sea-bass, as well as eel. Traditional dishes often use

vegetables and yoghurt or curd cheese to makethe meat go further.

You may want to try national specialities such asKoran, a species of trout unique to the Ohrid andPrespa lakes. If you’re feeling daring, you couldtry Paçë koke (sheep's head soup). You may alsocome across Kukurec (sheep's innards in a gutcasing).

Drink

Albania offers many high-quality wines, some ofit from indigenous grapes such as Kallmet (red)and Shesh (red and white).

National drinks include: raki, a clear spirit madeof grapes. Coffee is also very popular and ismostly served as cappuccino or espresso inbars and restaurants, or prepared the traditionalBalkan way, with grounds and sugar brewedtogether, when served at home.

All drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians will find no shortage of fresh saladson offer.

Albania: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day7 March - Teacher's Day (unofficial)8 March - Mother's Day (unofficial)14 March - The Summer Day22 March - Nevruz DayMarch - Catholic Easter (date varies)April - Orthodox Easter (date varies)1 May - May Day19 October - Mother Teresa Day28 November - Independence Day29 November - Liberation Day25 December - Christmas Day

Bosnia And Herzegovina CountryGuide

Bosnia: Fact FileOfficial Name: Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Capital: SarajevoPopulation: 4.6 millionTotal Area: 51,129 square kilometresOfficial Language: Bosnian, Serbian andCroatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latinalphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic.Religions: 45% Muslim, 36% Orthodox, 15%Roman Catholic, 4% Protestant, Jews and otherdenominations.Voltage: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs arein use.Dialing Code: +387Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 1. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Bosnia: Brief historyBosnia and Herzegovina has been inhabitedsince the Neolithic age (around 9500 BC) and hasbeen occupied by the Illyrians, the Romans, theByzantines and later the Slavs in the medievalperiod. The Turks dominated during the 400year-long Ottoman rule of 1463-1868 andreorganised society along class and religiouslines. During this period of relative peaceand prosperity, Islam became the dominantreligion with Orthodox and Catholic Christiansin large minorities. Many of the country’smost important architectural achievementswere made during this time, including theStari Most (bridge at Mostar) and Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque in Sarajevo. During the last 100years of Ottoman rule, the situation deterioratedwith plagues, military failures and revolts, andin 1875 a widespread peasant rebellion leadto the Ottomans succeeding power to theAustro-Hungarian Empire in 1878. The Austro-Hungarian leaders built catholic cathedralsand encouraged a pluralist multi-religiousnation, as well as introducing coal mining,railways and other infrastructure. Politicalunrest rose as Bosnia’s Catholic and Orthodoxpopulation started to identify themselves withneighbouring Croatia or Serbia respectively.After a Serb nationalist assassinated the heirto the Austro-Hungarian throne in Sarajevo in1914 sparking the beginning of World War I,Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the South SlavKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, whichbecame known as Yugoslavia in 1929. Tensionsremained over national identities within thekingdom and the map was redrawn many timesin an effort to erase traditional geographicaldivisions between major ethnic groups and

formerly separate nations. Yugoslavia wasinvaded by Germany in 1941 during WorldWar II and Croatia sided with Germany topersecute Croatia’s and Bosnia’s Jewish andSerbian population. Bosnia and Herzegovinadeclared its independence from the formerYugoslavia on 3 March 1992, which wasfollowed by three years of civil war betweenBosnian Serbian forces and Bosnian Muslimsas well as between Muslims and Croats. Apeace agreement was signed in 1995 and theFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina wascreated (Muslim & Croat), alongside the Serbrepublic Republika Srpska. Parliament has sincebeen centralised in Bosnia and Herzegovinaand the country has a democratically electedparliament.

Bosnia: Geography andweatherOften referred to as ‘heart shaped’, Bosnia andHerzegovina share borders with Serbia in theeast, Montenegro in the southeast, and Croatiato the north and west. It has a short Adriaticcoastline of 20km (12 miles) to the south. Twomajor rivers to the north (Sava) and east (Drina)shape the countries borders.

Much of the terrain is mountainous andhilly. The climate is variable with moderatecontinental climatic conditions marked by verycold winters and hot summers. Snowfall canoften last until April.

Visit www.weather2travel.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your tour.

Bosnia: VisasA valid passport is required for entry. Youshould also have a copy of your returnticket if requested. Most nationalities do notrequire a visa, however visa regulations changefrequently so it is important you consult withthe embassy prior to travelling to ensure youhave the correct visas. In some cases you willbe crossing the borders on overnight trainsand if you do not have the correct visa youwill not be allowed to enter the country andwill be asked to leave the train. It is theresponsibility of the traveller to obtain all correctvisas needed prior to departure. Visa serviceslike www.travcour.com can be very helpful.

Bosnia: MoneyPlease note: ALL prices stated in this dossier aregiven as a guide only and are subject to change.

Prices quoted in this country dossier are in euroor Konvertibilna Marka (KM) unless otherwisespecified.

Local Currency

The monetary unit in Bosnia and Herzegovinais the Konvertibilna Marka (KM). For up to dateexchange rates with your own currency visitwww.oanda.com or www.xe.com.

Notes come in denominations of KM200, 100,50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 and 50 feninga. Coins areavailable in denominations of KM2 and 1, and50, 20 and 10 feninga. Euro notes (but not coins)are also widely accepted, prices can also befound in euros.Changing money, credit cards & ATMs

Most major currencies can be exchanged atbanks and bureaux de change, however thepound sterling is less popular than the euro andUS dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted. Mostbanks will give cash advances on credit cardswith a passport. Cash machines can be foundin cities like Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja and Luka.Travellers cheques can be changed in only inselected banks. Carrying cash is advisable.


Our Europe pre-departure information bookletincludes a general list of all the things youshould take into consideration when budgetingand an estimate of what you should allow perday for spending money.

Entrance fees

Generally speaking most entrance fees will becovered by the recommended spending moneyon your tour dossier. There are, however, othersites and museums that are not part of the tourprogramme which you may wish to visit in yourfree time. If you have an International StudentCard you will often be entitled to reducedentrance fees.

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Tipping

It is customary to give round up the taxi fareand leave an extra 1-2 KM extra at restaurants.(If you are unsure your tour leader will advise asuitable amount). Tipping guides at the end ofexcursions is always appreciated and your tourleader will advise you on the amount for this.

Bosnia: Optional excursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Bosnia: Local transportThe safety and condition of urban roads inBosnia and Herzegovina are generally fair, butrural road maintenance is poor. During winterand spring, block ice and landslides can makedriving difficult. In Sarajevo you will find a fairlyefficient tram network. Tickets are sold fromkiosks. One of the most popular and reliableways of getting around on your own in largecities in is by taxi and Sarajevo has many. Tryto find out what the going rate for journeys isbefore you hop in to ensure you are not beingovercharged – only some taxis will have meters.Your tour leader will be able to provide adviceon this in each major city.

Bosnia: Safety & SecurityGenerally people find Eastern Europe to besafe and feel confident wandering alone duringthe day. However if you are unfamiliar with anarea it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night and take taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. Insome cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.Petty theft is becoming increasingly common.If there is a safe available in your hotel it isrecommended you use it for any items of value.

The risk of landmines has decreased in recentyears, as most mines remaining from the warare now clearly marked. However, visitors arestill advised to exercise caution when travellingoutside main cities and towns and you shouldbe careful not to stray from roads and pavedareas without an experienced guide. Cautionshould also be taken when driving at night

or during winter. Drivers should keep to themain roads. There are also many abandonedhouses which are booby trapped with mines,even within towns and cities so it is advisable tostay well clear.

Bosnia: Local food and drinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.


Food

You will find that the region’s traditionalcuisine exhibits Turkish influences, with plentyof grilled meat dishes. You may want to trynational specialities such as jagnjetina (flame-grilled lamb or mutton), bosanski ionac (meatstew cooked on an open fire), cevapcici (smallsausages made from a lamb and beef mix),burek (layerd meat or cheese pie made with filopastry), Baklava (sweet nuts and honey in pastry)and tufahije (apple cake).

Drink

Spirits made from fruit are popular, so look outfor sljivovica (homemade plum brandy) and ioza(made from grapes). Turkish-style coffee is alsowidely available. Popular wines to try are zilavka(white) and blatina (red).

All drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions. The legal drinking age is 18 years-old.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians may occasionally struggle tofind suitable dishes, although you may findvegetarian versions of dolma (vegetables suchas peppers or aubergines stuffed with rice) andzeljanica (spinach in a flakey filo pastry), as wellas plenty of pasty options, kljukuša (batter with

shredded potatoes, baked) ljevača (batter withvegetables, baked),vegetable soups and salads.

Bosnia: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day.6 - 7 January - Orthodox Christmas.15 January -Orthodox New Year.27 January - St Sava's Day.1 March - Independence Day.2 - 5 April - Easter.1 May - Labour Day.15 August - Velika gospa (Western ChristianAssumption).1 November - All Saints' Day.25 November - National Statehood Day.25 December - Christmas.

Bulgaria Country Guide

Bulgaria: Fact FileCapital: Sofia,Population: 7.5 millionTotal Area: 110,910 square kilometresOfficial Language: Bulgarian. English is widelyspoken in the main cities, If you tour also spendstime in smaller towns and villages you may wishto bring along a phrasebook to help you pick upa few words of the local language.Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim12.2%Voltage: 220-240V. Sockets are of European twopronged round pin variety.Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 2. For timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Bulgaria: Geography andweatherOur tours only operate from late spring to earlyautumn, when the weather is generally at itsbest. Temperatures will generally still be cool inMay and again in October. The warmest (andbusiest) months tend to be July/August. Thefurther south you are the higher the averagetemperatures. Rainfall is at its lowest from Juneto August but it can rain at any time of year.

Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your trip.

Bulgaria: VisasCitizens of the UK, Canada, Australia, NewZealand, the US and EU citizens can enterBulgaria viisa-free for 30-90 days (depending on

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nationality). If your nationality is not listed aboveplease consult your nearest local embassy orconsulate before you travel.

Bulgaria: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Prices quoted in this country dossier are ineuros, unless otherwise specified.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Bulgaria is the lev (BGN)

You might find these difficult to obtainoverseas, however it should be no problemto change currency on arrival. For up to dateexchange rates with your own currency visitwww.oanda.com or www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards and ATMs

The easiest way to obtain money in EasternEurope is to draw it out of an ATM (cashmachine) on a credit or debit card (e.g. visa orcirrus). ATMs are widely available throughoutBulgaria. Another option is to bring cash, ineither US dollars or euros (pounds sterlingand other currencies cannot always be easilychanged) but we advise against bringing allyour money in this form, in case of theft. In allof the cities that we visit there are many placesto change money and your tour leader will beable to show you where to get the best rates ofexchange.

Please note: Travellers cheques are notrecommended for travel anywhere in EasternEurope as these can be difficult to changeand attract poor exchange rates or exorbitantcommission. In some countries it may not bepossible to change travellers cheques at all. Ifpossible make sure that you bring crisp newbanknotes as some exchange offices will notaccept old or dirty notes (US$ notes issuedbefore 1990 are not generally accepted)


Our Europe pre-departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and an

estimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours through Bulgaria.

Entrance fees

Generally speaking most entrance fees willbe covered by the recommended spendingmoney. However please note that all pricesare subject to increase and the amounts givenare estimates based on an average amount ofsightseeing. Bulgaria has a wealth of historicalsites, monuments and museums and if youintend visiting many different sites in each townor city you should allow extra spending moneyfor this. If you have an International StudentCard you will often be entitled to reducedentrance fees.

Tipping

If there is no service fee, a general rule of thumbis to add 10 to 15 percent of the bill for a tip.

Bulgaria: Optional ExcursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Bulgaria: SecurityMost people find Bulgaria very friendly and safeand feel quite comfortable wandering aroundalone during the day. However, as with any areayou are not familiar with (particularly in biggercities) it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night especially if you are a lonefemale.

Bulgaria: National Holidays1 January - New Year's Day.3 March - National Day (Day of Liberation).Variable - Easter.1 May - Labour Day.6 May - St George's Day (Day of Bulgarian Army).24 May - St Cyril and Methodius Day (Day ofCulture and Literacy).6 September - The Unification of Bulgaria.22 September - Independence Day.1 November - Day of the Bulgarian RevivalLeaders.24-25 - December Christmas.

31 December - New Year's Eve.

Serbia Country Guide

Serbia: Fact FileOfficial Name: Republic of SerbiaCapital: BelgradePopulation: 8.3 millionTotal Area: 77,474 square kilometresOfficial Language: Serbian, and uses bothCyrillic and Latin script. Some Hungarian andAlbanian also spoken in the north.Religions: Majority Eastern Orthodox Serbs,with a Muslim ethnic Albanian minority, aMuslim ethnic Slavic minority in the Raskaregion of the southwest, a Roman Catholicethnic Serbian and Croatian minority, aProtestant ethnic Hungarian minority (in theprovince of Vojvodina) and a small Jewishcommunity.Voltage: 220 volts / 50 Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are in use.Dialling Code: +381Time Difference: GMT/UTC +1. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Serbia: Brief historyLocated on a major route between Turkey inthe Middle East and Europe, Serbia (Srbija) hasa long and complex history spanning thousandsof years and countless foreign invasions. TheIllyrians were supplanted by the Celts in 4thcentury BC, followed by the arrival of theRomans a century later, then the Slavs occupiedmuch of the Balkan Peninsula in the 6th centuryAD. The Serbian Kingdom achieved a short livedindependence from Byzantium in 1217 but theTurks arrived in the 14th century and settledfor the next 500 years. The Ottoman Empirebegan to decay in the 19th century and theSerbian Kingdom joined Greece, Bulgaria andMontenegro in attempting to repel the Turksfrom Macedonia in the First Balkan War of 1912.Macedonia was divided up among the victorsbut the former allies began quarrelling over theterritory resulting in the Second Balkan War of1913, after which Serbia gained some of northand central Macedonia and the Kosovo region,while Albania became an independent state.After the assassination of Austrian ArchdukeFrancis Ferdinand in 1914 by a Serb nationalistin Sarajevo, Serbia was invaded and World WarI began. In 1918 Croatia and Slovenia joined the

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Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and thegroup of nations was renamed Yugoslavia in1929.

In 1941 Yugoslavia joined the fascists but thepeople overthrew the leaders in a military coupand the country abruptly withdrew from thealliance. Hitler invaded, sliced up the countryand handed parts to Germany, Italy, Hungaryand Bulgaria. In 1945 the communist party cameto power under Josip Broz Tito. The monarchywas abolished and and Yugoslavia becamea federal republic, while Bosnia-Herzegovina,Montenegro and Macedonia were grantedrepublic status. Tito broke with Stalin in 1948and Yugoslavia became non-aligned.

Slobodan Milosevic became president in1989 and revealed an ambition to reuniteYugoslavia with Croatia and Slovenia andunder Milosevic's leadership, Serbia led variousmilitary campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs inneighbouring republics into a "Greater Serbia."In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedoniadeclared independence, followed by Bosniain 1992. The remaining republics of Serbiaand Montenegro declared a new FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia (FRY) which was oustedfrom the UN the same year. Bloody battlesensued against the Serb-controlled Yugoslavarmy before UN declared a cease fire. AYugoslav-Croat peace treaty was signed in 1995and Bosnia-Herzegovina was divided betweenSerbs and Croat-Muslims. After Milosovicrevoked Albanian autonomy in Kosovo, theAlbanian majority rebelled and the federalarmy responded brutally by killing hundredsof people in 1998, while thousands morewere forced to flee as refugees. Internationalarms embargos were implemented but to littleavail and Belgrade was bombed by NATO in1999 followed by the Serbs withdrawing fromKosovo that June. Over the next two yearsMilosevic attempted to hold onto power byholding democratic elections but manipulatedthe electoral process and in October 2000 massprotests and national strikes saw his presidencycome to an end. Milosevic was arrested in 2001and sent to be tried in The Hague for crimesagainst humanity but died in prison in 2006before his trial ended. The Federal Republicof Yugoslavia was dissolved on 4 February2003 and the state of Serbia and Montenegro

was established. In 2006 Montenegro exercisedits right to leave the union and becomean independent state. Two days later Serbiadeclared itself a successor state and threemonths later had its own constitution. In 2008Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbiabut although Serbia was powerless to stop it, itdoes not acknowledge the succession.

Serbia: Geography and weatherSerbia is land locked bordering Hungary to thenorth, Romania to the northeast, Bulgaria to thesoutheast, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania tothe south, Montenegro to the southwest, Bosnia& Herzegovina to the west and Croatia to thenorthwest. Northern Serbia is dominated by theflat, fertile farmland of the Danube delta andTisa valleys. The scenery varies from rich Alpinevalleys, vast fertile plains and rolling greenhills to bare, rocky gorges as much as 1,140metres deep, thick forests and gaunt limestonemountain regions. Belgrade, the capital, lies atthe confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.Serbia has a mild continental climate with coldwinters and warm summers. The best time tovisit is from May to September.


Serbia: VisasA valid passport is required for entry. Visas arecurrently not required for most nationalities.However visa regulations change frequently soit is important you consult with the embassyprior to travelling to ensure you have the correctvisas. In some cases you will be crossing theborders on overnight trains and without thecorrect visa for your nationality you will notbe allowed to enter the country and will beasked to leave the train. It is the responsibilityof the traveller to obtain all correct visasneeded prior to departure. Visa services likewww.travcour.com can be very helpful.

Serbia: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Prices quoted in this country dossier are in eurosor Serbian dinar, unless otherwise specified.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Serbia is the Serbiandinar (RSD). For up to date exchange rateswith your own currency visit www.oanda.com orwww.xe.com.


Most major currencies can be exchanged atbanks and bureaux de change but the euro isfavoured and the pound sterling is rarely used.You should use official exchange services only.There are several money-exchange machines inBelgrade (as well as one at the airport), whichaccept pounds sterling, US dollars and euros,giving back Dinars. Scottish and Northern Irishpound sterling bank notes are not accepted.

The most widely accepted credit cards areVisa and Mastercard. Diners Club and AmericanExpress are not so widely accepted. ATMs arebecoming more common in towns. Traveller'scheques often prove to be a lot of hassle so analternative should be used.


Our Europe pre departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and anestimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours in Serbia.

Entrance fees


Tipping

It is customary to give the waiter 10% on top ofthe bill if you are happy with the service. (If youare unsure your tour leader will advise a suitableamount). Tipping local guides at the end ofexcursions is always appreciated and your tourleader will advise you on the amount for this.

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Serbia: Optional excursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Serbia: Local transportTraffic drives on the right. Driving at night isnot advisable on minor roads in the countryside,owing to their poor condition. An efficient ifsomewhat aged bus service runs between majortowns.

Public transport in Belgrade mainly consists ofbus, tram and trolleybus. Tickets can be boughtfrom street Kiosks and must be validated onceon board. One of the most popular and reliableways of getting around on your own is by taxi.Check that the meter is running or find out whatthe going rate for your journey is before you getin. Your tour leader will be able to provide adviceon this in each city.

Serbia: SecurityGenerally people find Eastern Europe to besafe and feel confident wandering alone duringthe day. However if you are unfamiliar with anarea it is recommended that you exercise morecaution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. Insome cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.Petty theft is becoming increasingly common.If there is a safe available in your hotel it isrecommended you use it.

Avoid taking pictures of military installationsand of obvious bomb damage from 1999, asthis may cause offence to locals. You try toavoid heated public gatherings, political rallies,protests and polling stations, and pay closeattention to local media reports.

Unfortunately landmines and other unexplodedartillery remain in Serbia. You should exercisecaution especially when travelling within thePresevo and Bujanovac districts of South Serbia.

When visiting Serbia, you will need to registerwith the local police within 24 hours of arrival.If you are staying in a hotel or official touristaccommodation, you should be registered

automatically but it is always best to checkrather than risking a fine, detention or a courtappearance. You should also carry your passportat all times for identification purposes. Keep itsafely concealed in a pouch on the inside of yourclothes.

Serbia: Local food and drinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.


Food

Grilled meat dishes are especially popular.Most fish dishes are freshwater fish. Vegetarianchoices are limited. Keep a look out for nationalspecialities such as: pihtije (jellied pork orduck), cevapcici (charcoal-grilled minced meat),raznjici (skewered meat), sarma or japrak (vineor cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice)and pljeskavica (meat patties of pork, beef andlamb).

Drink

All drinks such as bottled water or soft drinks areat your own expense at all times and are fairlyinexpensive. Alcoholic drinks vary in price, withwine and beer generally being the cheapestoptions. The legal drinking age is 18.

You can also try national drinks such as: slivovica(a potent plum brandy), rakija (spirit usuallymade from grapes), loza and maraskino (madeof morello cherries), Wine: ljutomer, traminer,riesling and vugava and Turkish coffee (Turskakafa).

Vegetarians

Strict vegetarians might struggle as chickenand fish are classed as vegetarian food andvegetable soups are likely to be flavoured withsmoked ham.

Serbia: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day7 -8 January - Orthodox Christmas DayJanuary (variable) - St Sava's Day.15 Feburary - Constitution Day/Serbia NationalDayApril (variable) - Orthodox Easter1 - 2 May - Labour Days9 May - Victory Day.28 Jun - St Vitus' Day.25 December - Christmas Day

Croatia Country Guide

Croatia: Fact FileOfficial Name: Republic of CroatiaCapital: ZagrebPopulation: 4.5 millionTotal Area: 56,542 square kilometresOfficial Languages: Croatian (others Serbian,Italian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Czech) English iswidely spoken in the main cities, If you tour alsospends time in smaller towns and villages youmay wish to bring along a phrasebook to helpyou pick up a few words of the local language.Religion: Roman Catholic 88%, Orthodox 4.4%,Muslim 1.3%Voltage: 220-240V. Sockets are of European twopronged round pin variety.Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 1. For all timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Croatia: Brief HistoryCroatia was part of the Austro-HungarianEmpire until the end of World War I. In 1918, theCroats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdomknown as Yugoslavia. Following World WarII, Yugoslavia became a federal independentCommunist state under the strong hand ofMarshal TITO. Although Croatia declared itsindependence from Yugoslavia in 1991, ittook four years of sporadic, but often bitter,fighting before occupying Serb armies weremostly cleared from Croatian lands. UnderUN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave ineastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in1998.

Croatia: Geography andweatherCroatia is situated in southeastern Europe,bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia

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and Herzegovina and Slovenia. Geographicallydiverse, the country has flat plains alongthe Hungarian border, low mountains andhighlands near Adriatic coastline and islands.The climate is predominantly continental withhot summers and cold winters, although thecoast is more Mediterranean with mild wintersand dry summers.

Croatia: VisasMany nationalities (including citizens of the UK,Australia, Canada, the US and EU citizens) donot need a visa to enter Croatia or Slovenia.However, visitors must hold an onward ticket, alldocuments required for their next destinationand sufficient funds. If your nationality is notlisted please consult your nearest Croatianconsulate before you travel.

Croatia: MoneyPrices quoted in this country dossier are in eurosunless otherwise specified.

ALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Croatia is the kuna (HRK).For up to date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.You might find kuna difficult to obtain overseas,however it should be no problem to changecurrency on arrival


The easiest way to obtain money in Croatia is todraw it out of an ATM (cash machine) on a creditor debit card (e.g. visa or cirrus). ATMs are widelyavailable throughout Eastern Europe and creditcards are accepted in many restaurants andshops. Another option is to bring cash, in eitherUS dollars or euros (pounds sterling and othercurrencies cannot always be easily changed) butwe advise against bringing all your money inthis form, in case of theft. In all of the cities thatwe visit there are many places to change moneyand your tour leader will be able to show youwhere to get the best rates of exchange.

Please note: Travellers cheques are notrecommended for travel anywhere in Eastern

Europe as these can be difficult to changeand attract poor exchange rates or exorbitantcommission.


Our Europe Pre-Departure Information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and anestimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our trips travelling through Croatia.

Entrance fees


Tipping

In a restaurant, round up the bill unless a servicecharge has already been added or the servicewas not up to standard. You should also roundup bar bills and taxi fares.

Croatia: Optional excursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found in the dailyitinerary on these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Croatia: SecurityMost people find Croatia a very friendly and safeand feel quite comfortable wandering aroundalone during the day. However, as with anyarea you are not familiar with (particularly inthe capital cities) it is recommended that youexercise more caution at night especially if youare a lone female.

Croatia: Local food and drinkSome breakfasts are included in your tour.Breakfasts can be basic so if you tend to gethungry it may be a good idea to buy some fruitor snacks to eat during the day. All other meals,extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at yourown expense.


Food

Croatian specialities include Dalmatian or Istrianprosciutto, Pag or Lika cheese, sheep's cheese,Slavonian paprika-flavoured salami ("kulen"and Samobor or Zagorje garlic sausages("èešnjovka"). There is also a wide selection ofmeat dishes, including turkey with a specialpasta known as "mlinci", roast lamb, roastsuckling pig, and boiled or baked "štrukli" (pastawith cheese). Croatian vineyards producereasonable wine – particularly red and you willalmost certainly come across plum brandy, anational favourite.

Drink


Croatia: National holidays1 January - New Year’s Day6 January - Epiphany; Easter Sunday & EasterMonday1 May - Labour Day; Corpus Christi22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day25 June - Statehood Day5 August - Victory Day and NationalThanksgiving Day15 August - Assumption Day8 October- Independence Day1 November - All Saints' Day25-26 December - Christmas Holidays

Hungary Country Guide

Hungary: Fact FileOfficial Name: Republic of HungaryCapital: BudapestPopulation: 10 millionTotal Area: 93,030square kilometresOfficial Language: HungarianReligions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%Voltage: 220-240 volts. Sockets are of Europeantwo pronged round pin variety.

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Dialling Code: +36Time Difference: GMT/UTC + 2. For other timedifferences please visit www.timeanddate.com

Hungary: Geography andWeatherHungary is divided in two by the River Danube,its major waterway. Nearly half the country islow rolling plains while the other half is morehilly, with mountains in the northern reaches ofthe country.

Hungary is home to the largest thermal watercave system and the second largest thermal lakein the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake inCentral Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largestnatural grasslands in Europe (Hortobágy).

Our tours only operate from late spring to earlyautumn, when the weather is generally at itsbest. Temperatures will generally still be cool inMay and again in October. The warmest (andbusiest) months tend to be July/August. Thefurther south you are the higher the averagetemperatures. Rainfall is at its lowest from Juneto August but it can rain at any time of year.


Hungary: VisasCitizens of the EU, the US, Canada, Australiaand New Zealand do not require visas to enterHungary. These are valid for between 30 and90 days and cannot be purchased at bordercrossings.

Hungary: MoneyALL prices stated in this dossier are given as aguide only and are subject to change.

Prices quoted in this country dossier are ineuros, unless otherwise specified.

Local currency

The monetary unit in Hungary is the forint (HUF).For up to date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.


The easiest way to obtain money in Hungaryis to draw it out of an ATM (cash machine)on a credit or debit card (e.g. visa or cirrus).ATMs are widely available throughout EasternEurope. Another option is to bring cash, in eitherUS dollars or euros (pounds sterling and othercurrencies cannot always be easily changed) butwe advise against bringing all your money inthis form, in case of theft. In all of the cities thatwe visit there are many places to change moneyand your tour leader will be able to show youwhere to get the best rates of exchange.


Our Europe pre departure information includesa general list of all the things you shouldtake into consideration when budgeting and anestimate of what you should allow per day forspending money. Below are some specific notesrelevant to our tours in Hungary.

Entrance fees

Generally speaking most entrance fees will becovered by the recommended spending money.However please note that all prices are subjectto increase and the amounts given are estimatesbased on an average amount of sightseeing.Eastern Europe has a wealth of historical sites,monuments and museums and if you intendvisiting many different sites in each town or cityyou should allow extra spending money for this.If you have an International Student Card youwill often be entitled to reduced entrance fees.

Tipping

If there is no service fee, a general rule of thumbis to add 10 to 15 percent of the bill for a tip.

Hungary: Optional excursionsA full list of the main excursions availableon each tour can be found on daily itineraryon these trip notes. All prices given areapproximate and are subject to change due tolocal inflation or exchange rates.

Hungary: SecurityGenerally people find Hungary to be safe andfeel confident wandering alone during the day.However if you are unfamiliar with an areait is recommended that you exercise more

caution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk,especially if you are a lone female traveller. Insome cities bag snatching can occur so alwayskeep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.

Hungary: Local food and drinkSome meals are included when camping (pleasesee your tour dossier for a complete breakdownof meals included). Breakfasts can be basic so ifyou tend to get hungry it may be a good idea tobuy some fruit or snacks to eat during the day.All other meals, extra snacks and drinks on thetour are at your own expense.

Ask your tour leader if he or she can recommendany restaurants in the area to suit your taste orbudget or have fun exploring independently.

Food

Food offered in much of Hungary is delicious,hearty, and often (but not always) meatorientated. You may well find yourself smokedor salted fish, pickled cabbage stew, beefstroganoff, goulash, meat stews, game meats,and many varieties of dumplings.

Drink

Like most of Eastern Europe, beer is alwayspopular in Hungary. The country also has a goodrange of locally produced wines.


Hungary: National holidays1 January - New Year's Day.15 March- Anniversary of 1848 uprising againstAustrian rule.Variable - Easter Monday.1 May - Labour Day.Variable - Whit Monday.20 August - National Day (Feast of St Stephen).23 October - Republic Day (Anniversary of1956).1 November- All Saints' Day.25 December - Christmas Day.26 December - Boxing Day.