Beauty of the Balkans for 2

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the highlights of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria
• Visit Ljubljana, Dubrovnik, Sofia, Kotor and more
• Wander the streets of Zagreb on a guided tour
• Marvel the lush greenery of Plitvice Lakes National Park 
• Enjoy a guided tour of picturesque Lake Bled and to see Bled Castle
• Explore Ljubljana, Europe's greenest capital city
• Discover the charming & historic city of Zadar
• Visit Split, the beautiful UNESCO seaside town on the Dalmatian Coast
• Experience Mostar and its UNESCO-listed Old Town
• Stay in the resort town of Neum on the Adriatic Coast
• Visit Dubrovnik, known as ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’ on a guided tour
• Explore Kotor's medieval charm on a guided tour
• Admire Shkoder, a picturesque historic town in Albania
• Discover Tirana, Albania’s capital city on a guided tour
• Explore UNESCO-listed Ohrid and its famous lake
• Spend a day at leisure in the Ottoman and Byzantine city of Skopje
• See the famous gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia on a leisure day

FLIGHTS

• Return international flights (economy class), surcharges may apply

ACCOMMODATION

• 14 nights in 3, 4 and 5-star hotel accommodation

DINING

• Enjoy daily breakfast

ESSENTIALS

• English-speaking tour leader and guides
• Airline taxes and surcharges

TRANSPORT

• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicles

TRANSFERS

• Return airport transfers

UPGRADES AVAILABLE

• Arrive Early: Fly out up to 60 days before your tour starts (does not include hotel accommodation, meals or transfers)
• Stay Behind: Return home up to 60 days after your tour concludes (does not include hotel accommodation, meals or transfers)
• Stopover Packages: Break up the long-haul flight with a stopover at a fantastic location (see checkout for details)
• Optional Tours: Optional experiences and tours are available to add to your itinerary (see checkout for details)
• Flight Upgrades: Upgrade to Business Class (see checkout for details)
• Preferred Airline: Fly with a preferred airline (see checkout for details)

Please note: Extra charges may apply, see the Important Info section and checkout cart for fees and details

Itinerary 1 - From $11,699 for 2 people

Day 1 Australia (or New Zealand) – Zagreb, Croatia

Day 2 Welcome to Zagreb

Day 3 Zagreb City Tour

Day 4 Zagreb, Croatia - Lake Bled, Slovenia - Ljubljana, Slovenia

Day 5 Ljubljana City Tour

Day 6 Ljubljana, Slovenia - Plitvice, Croatia

Day 7 Plitvice - Rastoke - Plitvice

Day 8 Plitvice – Zadar - Split, Croatia - Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Day 9 Neum - Mostar

Day 10 Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Dubrovnik, Croatia – Petrovac, Montenegro

Day 11 Petrovac - Kotor

Day 12 Petrovac, Montenegro - Shkoder, Albania

Day 13 Shkoder - Tirana, Albania - Ohrid, North Macedonia

Day 14 Ohrid - Skopje

Day 15 Skopje, North Macedonia - Sofia, Bulgaria

Day 16 Sofia, Bulgaria – Australia or (New Zealand)

Day 17 Arrive in Australia (or New Zealand)

Itinerary 2 - From $11,699 for 2 people

Day 1 Australia (or New Zealand) – Sofia, Bulgaria

Day 2 Welcome to Sofia

Day 3 Sofia, Bulgaria - Skopje, North Macedonia

Day 4 Skopje - Ohrid, North Macedonia

Day 5 Ohrid, North Macedonia - Tirana, Albania - Shkoder, Albania

Day 6 Shkoder, Albania - Petrovac, Montenegro

Day 7 Petrovac - Kotor

Day 8 Petrovac, Montenegro - Dubrovnik, Croatia - Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Day 9 Neum - Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Day 10 Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Split, Croatia - Zadar, Croatia - Plitvice, Croatia

Day 11 Plitvice - Rastoke - Plitvice

Day 12 Plitvice, Croatia - Ljubljana, Slovenia

Day 13 Ljubljana City Tour

Day 14 Ljubljana, Slovenia - Lake Bled, Slovenia - Zagreb, Croatia

Day 15 Zagreb City Tour

Day 16 Zagreb, Croatia – Australia or (New Zealand)

Day 17 Arrive in Australia (or New Zealand)

This travel offer is valid for travel on selected dates until the 28th October 2026.
 
This travel offer is priced for 2 people based on twin share.
 
Single Traveller Supplement
For solo travellers, a full-priced voucher must be purchased. 
Please note: Accommodation for single customers who are travelling on a tour or cruise package may be in a single room, depending on availability.
 
Departure Dates & Surcharges
See checkout for live dates and availability.

Departure Cities
Sydney, Melbourne, *Perth, *Brisbane, *Adelaide or *Auckland.
 
Departure City Surcharges
• Perth: $50 per person
• Brisbane: $250 per person.
• Adelaide: $450 per person.
• Auckland: $650 per person.
 
International Flight(s)
• Cabin Class: Economy Class
Please note:
• FlyDubai, Emirates low-cost partner airline will operate the Dubai to Zagreb sector (if flying with Emirates). This is not a full-service flight, however it will include a meal, drink and checked baggage.
• We cannot accommodate one-way flights. Travellers must take all included flights within the package, and any flights intentionally forfeited will result in later flights being subject to cancellation. 
 
Missed Flights 
If you fail to arrive for your outbound flight, you risk all flight and land arrangements in your destination being automatically cancelled by the airlines and land operator, respectively. Additional fees may apply to reinstate these services. If you miss your flight for whatever reason, please contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements. 
 
Preferred Airline Surcharge
• Cabin Class: Economy Class
• Singapore Airlines: $550 per person 
• Emirates: $578 per person 
Please note: 
• If choosing Emirates, FlyDubai (Emirates low-cost partner airline) will operate the Dubai to Zagreb sector. This is not a full-service flight, however it will include a meal, drink and checked baggage. 
• Preferred airlines are subject to availability. If we are unable to fulfil your request, the above extra cost will be refunded.
• On any upgrade purchase, short-haul flights and domestic flight sectors are not guaranteed, subject to aircraft configuration.
• In the event that a purchased stopover package and a purchased preferred airline upgrade are not compatible, you will have the option to receive a refund for the preferred airline upgrade or be offered an alternative stopover city option, e.g if you choose to fly with Singapore Airlines you cannot stopover in Dubai.
• Preferred airline refers to the marketing carrier and could include codeshare partners. 
 
Arrive Early & Stay Behind Options
Fly out and return home up to 60 days pre and post your tour dates.
Arrive Early
Zagreb, Croatia (Itinerary 1 only) - From $300 per person, subject to availability.
Sofia, Bulgaria (Itinerary 2 only) - From $300 per person, subject to availability.

Stay Behind
Sofia, Bulgaria (Itinerary 1 only) - From $300 per person, subject to availability.
Zagreb, Croatia (Itinerary 2 only) - From $300 per person, subject to availability.

Please note:
• Exclusions: This fee does not include extra nights' accommodation, meals or airport transfers.
•  Cancellations & Changes:   Flight booking changes or cancellations after air tickets have been issued are not guaranteed and may incur additional fees and fare difference, subject to the airline cancellation and change policies. Flight changes are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• High-Season: A high-season Arrive Early or Stay Behind can be purchased for an additional charge, subject to availability. For pricing, please refer to the cart.
• + 60 days: You can fly out up to 60 days before your package’s start date, and/or return home 60 days after your package's end date. Should you wish to fly out or return home for more than 60 days from the tour, please contact us to request availability. Additional costs may apply.
• Estimated dates: Your estimated departure, return, and arrival dates are all subject to availability and may vary. The confirmed schedule for all flights will be provided when you receive your flight tickets.

• High season surcharges apply to flights departing between the below date ranges:
16 June 2025 - 20 July 2025
15 September 2025 - 12 October 2025
1 December 2025 - 31 January 2026
3 April 2026 - 20 April 2026
26 June 2026 - 17 July 2026
18 September 2026 - 9 October 2026
12 December 2026 - 26 January 2027

Stopover Packages 
• Dubai
• Doha
• Singapore
 Includes:
• 2, 3 or 5 nights in 4-star accommodation. 
• Daily breakfast
• Return airport transfers 
For pricing, please refer to the payment cart at checkout. 
 Please note: 
• When a pre and post-tour stopover is chosen, the same stopover location must be chosen each way, due to the airline used.
• When selecting to Arrive Early for your tour in conjunction with a Stopover Package, your fly out date from home will take place before the stopover.  
• When selecting to Stay Behind after your tour in conjunction with a Stopover Package, your stopover will take place before your final flight home.
• Stopover packages are subject to availability.
• In the event that a purchased stopover package and a purchased preferred airline upgrade are not compatible, you will have the option to receive a refund for the preferred airline upgrade or be offered an alternative stopover city option, e.g if you choose to fly with Singapore Airlines you cannot stopover in Dubai.
• Blackout dates apply to flights departing between the below date ranges:
Singapore Grand Prix: 02 October - 08 October 2025
Doha Grand Prix: 27 November - 03 December 2025
Doha MotoGP: 08 April 2025 - 16 April 2025
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (for Dubai): 04 December - 10 December 2025
Christmas and New Years Eve: 22 December 2025 - 02 January 2026
Please note: The exact dates for 2025 are yet to be confirmed.
  
Flight Class Upgrades
Business or Premium Economy Class: For pricing, please refer to the payment cart at checkout.
Please note:
• Flight upgrades are subject to availability and pricing changes (if we cannot fulfil your request, the upgrade cost will be refunded).
• On any upgrade purchase, short-haul flights and domestic flight sectors are not guaranteed

Accommodation Used
3 & 5-Star Accommodation (self-rated)
• Zagreb, Croatia: Pullman Accor
• Sofia, Bulgaria: Budapest Hotel
• Ljubljana, Slovenia: Exe Lev Hotel
• Plitvice, Croatia: Hotel Jezero
• Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Grand Hotel
• Petrovac Area, Montenegro: Hotel Sato
• Ohrid, North Macedonia: Hotel Belvedere
• Shkoder, Albania: Hotel Colosseo & Spa
• Skopje, North Macedonia: Bushi Resort
 
Please note: Accommodation/rooms offered are based on a lead-in room type and are subject to availability based on seasonality. In the instance a property is not available, a similar standard of accommodation will be provided. Properties will be confirmed and included in your travel pack, which you will receive 4-6 weeks before travel.
  
Accommodation Location
To ensure a comfortable and convenient experience for everyone, we've carefully selected hotels that best suit the size and specific needs of each group. While this means your accommodation may not be in the city centre, you can rest assured that our hotels are typically located near public transportation and a variety of local restaurants and attractions. Once your tour begins, your friendly driver or tour leader will be happy to help you get your bearings and offer assistance, should you need it.

Extra Nights
Not available at check-out. 
Please note: If you are interested in booking additional nights of accommodation pre or post-tour, please wait until you receive your travel documentation approximately 4-6 weeks before departure for the confirmed list of hotels. If booking your own additional accommodation directly with the hotel, please be aware that you may be required to change rooms at the start/end of your tour. 
  
Maximum Room Capacity
2 people.
  
Child Policy
• No child discounts. The full price applies to all children travelling with their parents.
• Valid for children 8 years old and over.
Please note: Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult 18 years old and over to travel. No unaccompanied minors are allowed.
  
Triple Share
Not available.
  
Bedding Configuration
Double or Twin bedding (subject to availability).

Minimum group size 25, maximum group size 40 per vehicle.
 
Optional Tours/Activities

• Day 4: Boat ride to Bled Island - $50 AUD per person
• Day 5: Entrance Ticket to Postojna Cave, Slovenia - $65 AUD per person
• Day 6: Entrance Ticket to Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (Valid for two entries into the park) - $45 AUD per person

Please note:

• The optional tours listed above must be purchased on checkout or over the phone before submitting your passenger information form (subject to availability). 
• Some tours require minimum numbers to operate.
• An entry ticket for Plitvice National Park is required to be purchased in advance to secure your spot, skip the line and take part in a guided tour (Valid for two entries into the park).

• Visa fees and requirements 
• Domestic transfers and flights not stated in the deal offer
• Meals/beverages not stated in the deal offer
• Optional gratuities/tipping 
• Optional activities/tours/entrance fees
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance

A tourist visa is not required in Europe for stays of up to 90 days if travelling on an Australian or New Zealand passport.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
From October 12, 2025, a new European Entry System (EES) replaces the current manual passport-stamping process for non-EU travellers. Upon arrival in the Schengen area, Australian and New Zealand passport holders will have their fingerprints recorded and a photograph taken. Their entry and exit dates will be electronically registered. No previous action is required, but please be aware of longer wait times at border entry. From 10 April 2026, the EES will be fully operational at all external border crossing points of all the European countries (Schengen area) using the system.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS)
As an extension of the EES implementation introduced from 2025, ETIAS travel authorisation is a mandatory entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries, including Australian and New Zealand citizens, that will be introduced in 2026. We advise you to monitor smartraveller.com.au closer to your departure to ensure you are up to date on the requirements at the time of entry.

Important: 

• Please start arranging your visa three weeks before departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.
• Visa rules may have changed since Covid-19. Some countries and airlines may require you to obtain an additional visa before arrival. Please check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

Please note: 

• Passengers who are not Australian citizens must also check with the respective consulate or visa agency to determine what their visa requirements are and what personal identification is required.
• It is also important to note that some areas of employment, such as journalism, government authorities and charity organisations, may have additional restrictions in applying for visas. This may, in turn, affect the type of application required.

Planning your next adventure is thrilling! While we hope for smooth travels, preparing for the unexpected is always smart. We highly recommend getting travel insurance when you book. Whether it's a medical emergency, a flight cancellation, a delayed suitcase, or an unforeseen event, ensure you're covered. For more info and advice, please visit: www.twac.com.au/travel-insurance or talk to your TWAC travel consultant.

Voluntary Changes

Includes booking changes requested by you, including but not limited to those changes requiring an airline ticket or a Purchase Confirmation reissue.

 • Changes - $100.00 per booking + additional charges from the airline/cruise company/accommodation/other travel providers.

Name Changes Due To Passenger Error

• If the incorrect name has been advised to TWAC, charges of $100.00 per booking + any additional charges applied by the airline/cruise company/accommodation/other travel providers.

Supplier Fees

In the event the Travel Offer you have purchased is unable to proceed, and/or a travel Supplier is unable to fulfil the Travel Offer due to external circumstances (Limitation of Liability e.g. a Force Majeure event), there may be a fee or amount of money that is withheld by our Suppliers and is unrecoverable. This may be due to non-refundable airline tickets, cancellation penalties with cruise cabins or unrecoverable payments with our land/accommodation partners. TWAC has committed to these costs as your Agent and will endeavour to recover all funds committed and/or paid for your Travel Offer, but this may not be possible in all circumstances. If refunds are unavailable from Suppliers, we will endeavour to obtain a travel credit on the best terms available and communicate these outcomes to you. If TWAC cannot obtain a refund or travel service credit, or part thereof, this cost is passed on to the customer as a Supplier Fee. This fee is not revenue-raising and is paid to or withheld by our suppliers when recovering payments.

Although you should read all of the terms and conditions, the following is a summary of the most important:

• Our travel package is non-refundable, however you will receive a travel credit to be applied to our travel services.
• You, as our client, agree to check all documentation immediately for errors. Travel With A Cause (TWAC) does not take responsibility for incorrect dates or names supplied.
• Prices, including, in some cases, of confirmed bookings, may be subject to change. ​
• Some confirmed bookings are non-refundable if cancelled by you and it is your responsibility to check if this applies.
• We will be entitled to retain our service fees even if a booking is cancelled or does not proceed for any reason which is not our fault.
• It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of all information relevant to your travel plans, including but not limited to visa requirements and health precautions.
• There may be some additional fees or other incentives from Suppliers.
• We are not liable for the recent updates of any published Supplier content including websites and brochures

CANCELLATION POLICY
Tour packages are non-refundable. If your tour package is affected by Covid-19 related travel restrictions and you are unable to travel, you will receive either a free date change (credit that is specific to your original package and purchase value) or an open credit less any non-recoverable supplier fees to the value of your original purchase for use on any other tour or package available via the TWAC website.
 
Please note: Date change credits are subject to availability and not guaranteed until confirmed by TWAC, not the tour operator you are due to stay with.
 
We recommend you consider purchasing travel insurance with Covid-19 protection. The standard cancellation policy will apply if you cannot travel because you have tested positive for Covid-19.
 
Please note: All additional charges are payable in AUD (unless otherwise stated).