THE BALKANS · PRIVATE & TAILOR-MADE
Private Balkan Tours with Expert Local Guides
Fully private, chauffeur-driven journeys through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, all arranged through one operator with one point of contact.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BALKANS
Lake Bled to Sarajevo, Dubrovnik and Tirana, privately guided
Top 1%
on Tripadvisor, powered by real reviews
10 Itineraries
from 8 to 14 days, real pricing
6 Countries
Slovenia to North Macedonia, one operator
TURSAB Licensed
A-6257 · ASTA member
HAND-PICKED ROUTES
Multi-Country Balkan Itineraries
Four routes that cross several borders in one trip. Three of them reach Albania or North Macedonia. Pricing is per person and depends on season, group size and hotel category. Every itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed package.
Highlights of Balkans (10 Days)
Ljubljana · Lake Bled · Zagreb · Sarajevo · Dubrovnik · Tirana
From 1,750 USD per person
Explore Balkans (9 Days)
Dubrovnik · Montenegro · Berat · Ohrid · Tirana
From 1,400 USD per person
Best Eastern Europe (13 Days)
Ljubljana · Plitvice · Hvar · Dubrovnik · Berat · Ohrid · Tirana
From 2,290 USD per person
5 in 1: Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro & Venice (14 Days)
Zagreb · Venice · Split · Mostar · Dubrovnik · Montenegro
From 2,890 USD per person
CROATIA-CENTERED ROUTES
If a Traveler Just Wants Croatia
Six routes built around Croatia, from the Dalmatian coast to Zagreb and the national parks. Two add a neighboring country. For Croatia on its own, see our private Croatia tours page.
Marvels of Croatia (10 Days)
Zagreb · Plitvice · Istria · Hvar · Dubrovnik
From 2,950 USD per person
Croatia & Montenegro (10 Days)
Split · Hvar · Korčula · Dubrovnik · Budva
From 2,750 USD per person
Dalmatian Coastline (10 Days)
Split · Hvar · Korčula · Dubrovnik
From 2,850 USD per person
Croatia & Slovenia (11 Days)
Dubrovnik · Zagreb · Lake Bled · Ljubljana
From 3,100 USD per person
Croatian Grand Tour (12 Days)
Zadar · Split · Vis and the Blue Cave · Dubrovnik
From 3,250 USD per person
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
Which Balkan Countries Combine Well
Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania sit in a line down the Adriatic side of the region, and Slovenia pairs easily with Croatia. North Macedonia sits further inland, so it adds real driving time rather than a quick detour.
COMBINATION
COUNTRIES
DURATION
BEST FOR
Croatia + Montenegro
2
7 to 8 days
First Balkan trip, simplest logistics
Slovenia + Croatia
2
8 to 9 days
Lake Bled and the Adriatic
Croatia + Bosnia & Herzegovina + Montenegro
3
9 to 11 days
History plus coast, the classic route
Croatia + Montenegro + Albania + North Macedonia
4
9 days
Our Explore Balkans route
Slovenia through North Macedonia
6
13 days
Our Best Eastern Europe route
Durations are our planning guide for an unrushed pace. Each combination can be shortened or extended to fit your dates.
PRICING
What Your Balkan Tour Price Covers
Every itinerary above shows a real starting price, not a “contact us” wall. Here is exactly what that price includes, and what it doesn’t.
What's Included
Private, chauffeur-driven vehicle for the whole itinerary
English-speaking local guide in each city
Hand-picked hotels at the category you choose
Airport and hotel transfers
24-hour support throughout your trip
Entrance tickets for museums and sightseeing places
Ferry, highway and toll fees, with wifi in the vehicle
What's Not Included
International flights to and from the Balkans
Meals not specifically listed in your itinerary
Travel insurance
Tips for your guide and driver
Final pricing depends on season, group size and hotel category.
WHY A PRIVATE GUIDE
What a Local Guide Actually Handles
Border paperwork
Croatia and Slovenia are in the Schengen Area. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia are not. Under the EU’s Entry/Exit System, non-EU travelers usually complete a short biometric registration on first entry into the Schengen Area, and your guide times the day around it.
Currency at nearly every border
Euro in Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro. Convertible mark in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lek in Albania. Denar in North Macedonia. Your guide knows which stops still expect local cash.
Which stop deserves a full day
Mostar and Kotor both reward a full day, not the two-hour photo stop many fixed itineraries allow. On a private tour the pacing is yours.
WHY CHOOSE US
Why Choose All Private Tours for the Balkans
Local guides in every country
English-speaking guides in each city on your route, arranged by one operator rather than a patchwork of subcontractors.
Private, not shared
Your own vehicle and driver across every border, with no shared minibus and no fixed group departure dates.
Six countries, one operator
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, planned as one trip with one point of contact.
Reasonable prices
Ten sample itineraries with real starting prices shown above, so you can budget before you ever contact us.
WHERE TO GO
Where to Go in the Balkans
Dubrovnik
Old Town walls & Adriatic views
The Pearl of the Adriatic, known for its perfectly preserved medieval city walls and UNESCO-listed Old Town. Walk the walls, wander the Stradun and the old harbor, and watch the light change over the Adriatic.
Split
Diocletian’s Palace, lived-in
Built around Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO site that forms the living heart of the city. Shops, cafes and homes sit inside the Roman walls, and the waterfront promenade is a short stroll away.
Mostar
The Old Bridge and Ottoman old town
Famous for the reconstructed Ottoman-era Old Bridge (Stari Most) and a charming cobbled old town. It rewards a full day, with time for the bazaar, a Bosnian coffee and the view of the bridge from the river.
Sarajevo
Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian layers
A city where Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian history sit side by side. The Baščaršija old bazaar is the heart of it, with coppersmith lanes, mosques and cafes, and your guide can cover the city’s 20th-century story as well.
Kotor
A fjord-like bay and medieval walls
A UNESCO World Heritage town set in a dramatic fjord-like bay, with medieval walls climbing the mountain behind it. Wander the lanes and squares of the old town, then climb the walls for the view over the bay.
Ljubljana & Lake Bled
Slovenia’s capital and island lake
Slovenia’s compact, walkable capital pairs easily with Lake Bled, the iconic alpine lake with an island church and a castle above the shore. Together they make a gentle start to a Balkan route.
Ohrid
A UNESCO lake town in North Macedonia
A UNESCO World Heritage site on Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, with ancient churches and a charming old town. It is the North Macedonia stop on our routes that reach the south.
Tirana
Albania’s colorful, fast-changing capital
Albania’s vibrant, colorful capital, which has changed a great deal in recent years. A mix of Ottoman, Italian and communist-era architecture, lively cafes and a central square make it an easy and interesting city stop.
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around the Balkans
Approximate distances and travel times between places many Balkan itineraries visit. Your driver handles border crossings and paces each day around what you want to see.
ROUTE
DISTANCE
DRIVE TIME
HOW
Dubrovnik to Mostar
~140 km
~2.5 hours
By road, includes border crossing
Mostar to Sarajevo
~125 km
~2 hours
By road
Dubrovnik to Kotor, Montenegro
~95 km
~2 hours
By road, includes border crossing
Kotor to Tirana, Albania
~190 km
~3.5 hours
By road, includes border crossing
Ljubljana to Lake Bled
~55 km
~1 hour
By road
Times are approximate and vary with traffic, season and border queues. Your driver and planner handle all of it.
WHO YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH
Meet Jordan, Owner & Lead Trip Planner
Jordan has spent 20+ years arranging private tours across Turkey and the wider region, and personally plans each itinerary, including multi-country Balkan routes through Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo and Kotor. The same person who answers your first email is the one shaping your trip, so you are never explaining your plans to someone reading from a script.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Best Time to Visit the Balkans
MAY – JUNE, SEPT – MID-OCT
Shoulder Season
Warm days on the coast and in the cities, fewer crowds in Dubrovnik, Kotor and Mostar, and comfortable conditions for long drives and sightseeing. A strong choice for a multi-country route.
JULY – AUGUST
Peak Season
Hottest weather and the busiest coastal towns. Inland cities such as Mostar and Sarajevo can be very hot, so sightseeing shifts to early morning and evening. Book accommodation early.
NOV – APRIL
Off-Season
Quiet on the coast, with some seasonal closures, while cities like Sarajevo and Ljubljana stay lively in cooler weather. Mountain areas can see snow, which affects some routes.
What countries are included in a 6 country Balkan tour?
The six-country route covers Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia. It links the highlights of each into one continuous private trip across Southeast Europe.
Are Balkan private tours customizable?
Yes, you set which countries, cities, and sites to include and how long to spend in each. The route follows your interests rather than a fixed group schedule.
How long should a Balkan tour be?
It depends on how many countries you want to see, since one country can fill several days on its own. A multi-country Balkan route is usually spread across about ten days or more, which keeps the driving between stops relaxed and leaves time to slow down.
What is included in private tours of the Balkans?
A Balkan tour covers private driving between countries, local guides, and selected hotels, with stops at sites like Dubrovnik, Kotor, Mostar, and Plitvice Lakes. Border crossings, transfers, and daily logistics are handled for you.
Which countries are most popular in the Balkans?
Croatia and Montenegro draw the most interest for their Adriatic coastlines and old towns like Dubrovnik and Kotor. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also popular for Mostar and Sarajevo, where Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian history sit side by side.
When is the best time to visit the Balkans?
Late May through June and September into mid-October give warm weather and far fewer crowds than July and August. Summer is the busiest period on the coast, and winter suits city-focused routes better than island or coastal ones.
Is it safe to travel in the Balkans?
The countries on our routes are established tourist destinations, and you travel with a private driver and local guides who know each place well. As with any international trip, check your own government’s current travel advice before you book.
What currency is used in the Balkans?
It varies by country. Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro use the euro, Bosnia and Herzegovina uses the convertible mark, Albania uses the lek, and North Macedonia uses the denar. Your guide can point you to the easiest way to pay in each place.
Do I need a visa for the Balkans?
Requirements depend on your passport and the countries on your route. Many US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders can enter these countries for short tourist stays without a visa, but rules change, so confirm each country before you travel. We can talk through it when we plan your route.
Can I combine a Balkan tour with Turkey?
Yes, many travelers pair a Balkan route with Turkey through the same operator, with one itinerary and one point of contact. Tell us which cities you want to see and we will build the route around your dates.
Which airport should I fly into for a Balkan tour?
Most routes start or end at a major airport such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Sarajevo or Tirana, depending on the direction of your trip. Arriving in one city and leaving from another is common and avoids backtracking.
How much does a private Balkan tour cost?
Our sample itineraries start at 1,400 USD per person for the 9-day Explore Balkans route and go up to 3,250 USD per person for the 12-day Croatian Grand Tour. Final pricing depends on season, group size and hotel category.
Is Mostar worth a full day or just a stop on the way to Montenegro?
Mostar rewards a full day. A short stop covers the Old Bridge, but a longer visit leaves time for the old bazaar, the Ottoman houses and an unhurried meal. Fixed itineraries often allow only a couple of hours, while on a private tour the timing is yours.
How does the EU Entry/Exit System affect a Balkan road trip?
Croatia and Slovenia are in the Schengen Area, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia are not. Non-EU travelers usually complete a short biometric registration on first entry into the Schengen Area. Your driver and guide plan the day around it and handle each border crossing, but check current rules for your passport before you travel.
Private tour or self-drive for a multi-country Balkan trip?
Self-driving means handling border queues, cross-border rental permissions and insurance, and parking in old towns, and rental companies often restrict or charge extra for taking a car into non-EU countries. With a private driver and guide, all of that is handled for you and the time goes to the places themselves.
Can I combine Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro with Venice?
Yes. Our 14-day 5 in 1 itinerary combines Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Venice in a single trip, and it can be adjusted to your dates.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore by Country
Montenegro Private Tours
Kotor Bay and Budva as their own focused trip, or added to a Croatia route.
Croatia Private Tours
The Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice Lakes and the islands.
Ready to Plan Your Balkan Trip?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll handle the rest.