Balkan Foodie Discovery

Join us on our foodies’ Balkan tour and experience Balkan cuisine. From perfect sights to perfect bites, this Balkan holiday will satisfy all your cravings.
Price
From: 3,590€/person
Starting point
Ljubljana
Finish point
Belgrade
Duration
13 nights / 14 days
Difficulty
Leisurely
Inquiry
2 weeks of culinary immersion in local traditions, authentic dishes, and exquisite produce
Combine the passion for food with the visits of cultural and natural attractions of the Balkans
Taste some of the best wines in the Balkan region
Delight your taste buds with truffles in Istria
Experience the rich flavor of olives and olive oil on the Adriatic coast
Enjoy the unique Ottoman flavors of Bosnia
Pick your favorite from the meat platters in Serbia
Foodie-City-Break-Ljubljana-5-days
Ljubljana
Foodie-City-Break-Ljubljana-3-days-scaled-2
shutterstock_1573228546-scaled-2
Lake Bled
Potica-scaled-2
Potica
Winery
Winery
Vintage-Gourmet-Tour
Vintage Gourmet Tour
untitled1
Split-marina
Split marina
Klis-Fortress-above-Split-scaled-2
Klis Fortress above Split
Mostar-panorama
Mostar panorama
Burek-pastry-scaled-2
Burek pastry
Bosnian-coffee-scaled-2
Bosnian coffee
Belgrade Skadarlija quarter
Belgrade Skadarlija quarter
Ajvar-and-peppers-scaled-2
Ajvar and peppers
Belgrade Kalemegdan view
Belgrade Kalemegdan view

Itinerary

Day What we will do
DAY 1 Ljubljana
DAY 2 Bled - Bohinj
DAY 3 Goriška Brda - Vipava Valley
DAY 4 Slovenian Coast
DAY 5 Istrian peninsula
DAY 6 Plitvice National Park
DAY 7 Šibenik - Trogir
DAY 8 Split
DAY 9 Mostar
DAY 10 Ston - Dubrovnik
DAY 11 Kotor
DAY 12 Durmitor National Park - Zlatibor
DAY 13 Smederevo
DAY 14 Belgrade
Day 1 - Street cuisine of Ljubljana

Ljubljana will act as the starter course on your culinary tour. You will stroll through its lovely city center, and visit the Central Market on the way because as any true foodie knows, the key to a great dish is good local produce! 

You’ll get to know Ljubljana, all its more and less famous treasures, as well as its food scene. Apart from learning about Ljubljana’s food, you will try it during the lunch that is included in the tour. After sightseeing and filling your bellies, you will be able to cook up an afternoon to your tastes. Enjoy a free afternoon or opt for a cooking class or wine-tasting experience in Ljubljana.

Accomodations

Overnight in Ljubljana

Meals

Lunch on Ljubljana Food Tour

Included

Ljubljana Food Tour

Highlights

Ljubljana city center
Ljubljana’s Central market
Food scene of Ljubljana

Extra

Airport transfer
Wine tasting
Cooking class
Ljubljana Castle entrance fee
Boat ride on Ljubljanica River

shutterstock_1142273216-scaled-2
Ljubljana
ljubljana food market tour
Ljubljana food market tour
learn how to cook slovenian
Learn how to cook slovenian
Ljubljana
Ljubljana food market tour
Learn how to cook slovenian
Day 2 - Traditions of the Alps

You will continue your exploration of Slovenia’s menu in the beautiful Alps. You will start with a feast for the eyes with the breathtaking Lake Bled, the historic castle that lies on its shore, and the island in the middle of the lake which you will reach with a traditional “pletna” boat.

After taking in the views, you will visit a local beekeeper and learn about the honey-making traditions of Slovenia. You will also taste local honey, and potica, a traditional Slovenian walnut roll dessert.

In the afternoon, you will head to Lake Bohinj where you will visit a local cheesemaker and try their cheese while learning more about cheese making and classic Slovenian cheeses. You will spend the night in Bohinj, which will give you the opportunity to take a walk on the shores of Lake Bohinj, a mesmerizing and expansive glacial lake.

Accomodations

Overnight in Ljubljana

Meals

Breakfast
Honey & potica tasting
Cheese tasting

Included

Bled Castle entrance fee
Pletna boat ride to Bled island
Beekeeping experience
Cheese tasting

Highlights

Lake Bled
Bled Castle
Traditional pletna boat
Triglav National Park
Lake Bohinj

Extra

Entrance fee to the church on Bled Island

Pletna-boat-Lake-Bled-scaled-2
Pletna boat Lake Bled
lake-bohinj
Lake Bohinj
authentic-cheese-making-scaled-2
Authentic cheese making
Pletna boat Lake Bled
Lake Bohinj
Authentic cheese making
Day 3 - Slovenian wine and wine regions

The third day of your tour will be dedicated to Slovenia’s wine. You will visit two different wine regions, Goriška Brda and the Vipava Valley. Goriška Brda is an idyllic wine-making region, with rolling hills covered in vineyards that bask in the sun as far as the eye can see. The vines grow on the slopes, where they can catch the most sunlight to grow the most delicious sweet grapes, while the tops of the hills are reserved for little villages full of authentic architecture and family winemakers. The fairest of them all is the medieval village of Šmartno, a small, stone-paved settlement encircled by walls. Here, you will have a wine tasting which will introduce you to all the best and most typical wines of the region, and to the wine-making tradition in Goriška Brda, as the winemaker will also show you their wine cellar.

The second part of the day will be dedicated to the Vipava Valley. All wine lovers will know that drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so you will enjoy a home-cooked meal along with a wine tasting at a local Vipava Valley winemaker.

Accomodations

Overnight in Vipava Valley

Meals

Breakfast
2 wine tastings
A home-made meal in Vipava Valley

Included

2 wine tastings and winery visits

Highlights

Goriška Brda wine region
Šmartno village
Vipava Valley wine region
Traditional wine cellars
Local wine production
Slovenian vineyards

goriska-brda
Goriška brda
Wine-cellar-Goriska-brda
Wine cellar Goriška brda
wine tour goriska brda vipava istra kras
Wine tour
Goriška brda
Wine cellar Goriška brda
Wine tour
Day 4 - Gourmet traditions of Slovenian Coast

After the capital, the mountains, and the sunny wine countries, your final day in Slovenia will be spent on the coast. To start, you’ll get up your appetites with an olive oil tasting as part of a gourmet tour of olive groves. Apart from some of the best views of the Slovenian coast, you will also enjoy a traditional Istrian lunch here.

You will continue your day in Piran, the prettiest coastal town in Slovenia. You will also visit a Fonda fish farm for sea bass and sea salt tasting

Accomodations

Overnight in Istria

Meals

Breakfast
Olive oil tasting
Traditional Istrian lunch
Sea bass & sea salt tasting

Included

Vintage gourmet tour at olive oil producer
Fish farm visit

Highlights

Slovenian Coast
Slovenian olive oil
Visit to an organic fish farm
Slovenian salt production

Lisjak-Vintage
Vintage gourmet tour
Town-of-Piran
Town of Piran
degustacija-kruhki
Vintage gourmet tour
Town of Piran
Day 5 - The inland charm of Istria

The next day you will cross the first border on the tour and head to Croatia, but you will stay in the Istria region. You will visit the heart of the Istrian peninsula where you will discover the towns of Hum, the medieval Grožnjan, and Motovun, which is also home to an annual Motovun film festival.

After exploring these wondrous ancient settlements, you will head out on a truffle hunting experience with the best four-legged truffle hunters out there. After our foraging adventure, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor and enjoy some truffles along with other traditional Istrian dishes.

Accomodations

Overnight in Istria

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch

Included

Truffle hunting experience

Highlights

Istrian villages
Truffle hunting

Groznjan-streets-through-arcades
Groznjan streets through arcades
Groznjan-from-above
Groznjan from above
slovenia truffle hunting
Slovenia truffle hunting
Groznjan streets through arcades
Groznjan from above
Slovenia truffle hunting
Day 6 - Lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice

Our next stop is the Plitvice National Park in Croatia, a natural wonder that is under UNESCO heritage protection. You will spend the day marveling at the pristine environment full of breathtaking lakes and rivers. Wandering through the incredible terrain of the park is sure to work up your appetite, but you do not have to fear going hungry! You will sit down for a traditional lunch right next to the park, and enjoy some lamb which will be authentically prepared over an open fire. Afterward, you will take a ride to Zadar, one of Croatia’s beautiful historic harbor cities, and get a good night’s rest there.

Accomodations

Overnight in Zadar

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch

Included

Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee

Highlights

Plitvice Lakes

Boardwalk through Plitvice in Croatia
Boardwalk through Plitvice in Croatia
Large-waterfalls-of-Plitvice-national-park
Large waterfalls of Plitvice national park
Plitvice-pathways
Plitvice pathways
Boardwalk through Plitvice in Croatia
Large waterfalls of Plitvice national park
Plitvice pathways
Day 7 - Flavours of Dalmatia

You will continue your Croatian culinary tour in the Dalmatian city of Zadar. Your morning will be dedicated to a cooking class that will introduce you to the local ingredients, dishes, and some historical background to Dalmatian cuisine. You can look forward to cooking up some amazing fresh seafood dishes!

After the Zadar experience, you will drive to Trogir and make a stop there to enjoy the afternoon while exploring the old town. Then you will continue your journey to Split where you will spend the night.

Accomodations

Overnight in Split

Meals

Breakfast
Cooking class

Included

Cooking class

Highlights

Zadar markets
Dalmatian cuisine
Trogir Old Town

Square-in-Zadar
Square in Zadar
Zadar-from-above
Zadar
Trogir-gates
Trogir gates
Square in Zadar
Zadar
Trogir gates
Day 8 - Roman heritage & olive oil traditions

You will start the day with a tour of the Roman ruins of Salona, near Solin. After letting our imaginations roam free among the ancient ruins, and learning about the lives of its past inhabitants, you will continue on your way. The next stop will be a family-owned olive oil-making business. You will go on a tour of their property, learn about olive oil, and try some of their products. You will combine this with a tour of the Klis Fortress, another incredible remnant of the long history of these parts. You will visit a local tavern for a traditional lunch which will further convince you of the magic of top-quality olive oil. After this comprehensive tour, you will have a free rest of the day in Split.

Accomodations

Overnight in Split

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch

Included

Solin entrance fee
Tour of a local olive farm
Klis Fortress entrance fee

Highlights

Roman ruins of Solin
Traditional olive farm
Ancient Split

Split-waterfront
Split waterfront
Solin-above-Split
Solin above Split
Klis-Fortress-above-Split-scaled-2
Klis Fortress above Split
Split waterfront
Solin above Split
Klis Fortress above Split
Day 9 - Flavors of Bosnia & Herzegovina

After spending the night in Split, you will drive to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the third Balkan country on your list. The goal will be Mostar, a city famous for its Turkish influences that date back to the Ottoman Empire, and its incredible stone bridge that connects the two parts of this glorious city built around the Neretva River.

You will walk through Mostar to take in some of its best sights and then commence on the food tour. This experience will be a great introduction to the multiculturalism of Balkan cuisine, with some classic Balkan meat dishes like “čevapi”, and the strong Ottoman influences that are a consequence of the Turkish invasions. These influences are present everywhere, with the popular “burek” savory pastry and Turkish coffee as just two examples.

Accomodations

Overnight in Mostar

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch on the food tour

Included

Food tour of Mostar

Highlights

Mostar Old Town
Bosnian cuisine

Mostar-old-town
Mostar old town
Bosnian-coffee-scaled-2
Bosnian coffee
Burek dish
Burek dish
Mostar old town
Bosnian coffee
Burek dish
Day 10 - Ston oysters & locals in Dubrovnik

The next day, you will head back to Croatia, to the famous city of Dubrovnik. On the way, you will stop in Ston for an oyster tasting. Once you reach Dubrovnik, you will go on a walking tour to get to know the city and its famous city walls.

Despite the beauty of Dubrovnik, the highlight of your day will definitely come in the evening when you have dinner with the locals. You will have the privilege of enjoying some Dalmatian home cooking. You will also be able to take part in making fresh local delights, like the “Croatian peka” which includes lamb, veal, and roasted potatoes. Our meal will be accompanied by authentic wines and homemade liquors.

 

Accomodations

Overnight in Dubrovnik

Meals

Breakfast
Oyster tasting
Dinner with locals

Included

Oyster tasting in Ston
Dubrovnik walking tour
Dubrovnik Walls entrance fee
Dinner with locals

Highlights

Ston Old Town
Dubrovnik old town

Oysters-in-Ston
Oysters in our Ston
Dubrovnik-marina
Dubrovnik marina
Dubrovnik-street
Dubrovnik streets
Oysters in our Ston
Dubrovnik marina
Dubrovnik streets
Day 11 - Bay of Kotor

On the eleventh day of your tour, you will visit the fourth country, Montenegro. First, you will drive around the spectacularly beautiful Bay of Kotor, and explore Kotor’s historic city center

You will then visit the Njeguši tourist village which is famous for its prosciutto “Negoški pršut”. Of course, we would not want you to miss an opportunity to taste this local delicacy so you will visit a smokehouse, and have a “pršut” tasting.

 

Accomodations

Overnight in Kotor

Meals

Breakfast
Pršut tasting

Included

Visit of Njeguši village
Pršut tasting

Highlights

Bay of Kotor
Kotor Old Town
Smokehouse & traditional Montenegrin cuisine

The-bay-of-Kotor-panorama
The bay of Kotor panorama
Kotor-church
Kotor church
Njegusi-pork-ham-scaled-2
Njegusi pork ham
The bay of Kotor panorama
Kotor church
Njegusi pork ham
Day 12 - Through Montenegro to Serbia

You will spend one more beautiful day in Montenegro, and stop at a local family farm for an authentic organic lunch. You will then head to Black Lake, located in the Durmitor National Park. This is the largest lake out of the whooping eighteen glacial lakes in the park. 

You will continue with our exploration of the great outdoors across the border in Serbia in the Zlatibor National Park, known for its awe-inspiring mountains, breathtaking scenery, and traditional villages such as Drvengrad. You will also spend the night in Zlatibor, to really soak up all its beauty.

Accomodations

Overnight in Zlatibor

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch

Included

Black Lake visit
Traditional village in Zlatibor

Highlights

Durmitor National Park
Black Lake
Zlatibor region

Durmitor-National-Park-and-Black-Lake-scaled-2
Durmitor National Park and Black Lake
Bridge-over-Tara-River-scaled-2
Bridge over Tara River
Zlatibor-panorama-scaled-2
Zlatibor panorama
Durmitor National Park and Black Lake
Bridge over Tara River
Zlatibor panorama
Day 13 - Serbian culinary & wine traditions

The last two days of the tour will be dedicated to Serbia. You will start day thirteen by driving toward Belgrade. On the way, you will stop to have some sarmas for lunch. This is a traditional dish made of rice and meat rolled into fermented cabbage leaves, a favorite among locals and tourists alike. On our way, you will also stop at the historic town of Smederevo, to explore the Smederevo fortress and enjoy a wine tasting on the riverbanks of the Danube River. You will finish the day by arriving in Belgrade and taking some time to relax and reminisce about the amazing two weeks you have just had.

Accomodations

Overnight in Belgrade

Meals

Breakfast
Traditional lunch

Included

Traditional lunch
Smederevo Fortress entrance fee
Wine tasting

Highlights

Smederevo Fortress
Vineyards by the Danube River

Sarma-scaled-2
Sarma
Smederevo-Fortress-scaled-2
Smederevo Fortress
Vineyards-on-the-Danube-River-scaled-2
Vineyards on the Danube River
Sarma
Smederevo Fortress
Vineyards on the Danube River
Day 14 - Serbian cuisine in the capital city

The final day will be spent in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. This mighty and magnificent city will offer plenty to see, and plenty to taste as well! You will get familiar with Belgrade’s culture and cuisine on a food tour, which will round up our knowledge of the Balkan culinary world. You will also enjoy a delicious lunch on our food tour.

Meals

Breakfast
Lunch on the food tour

Included

Belgrade food tour

Highlights

Belgrade city
Serbian cuisine

Belgrade-Kalemegdan-scaled-2
Belgrade Kalemegdan
Belgrade Skadarlija quarter
Belgrade Skadarlija quarter
Balkan-meat-platter-scaled-2
Balkan meat platter
Belgrade Kalemegdan
Belgrade Skadarlija quarter
Balkan meat platter
Extra days

Not enough? Why not spend a few more days here! Extend your holidays with a pre- or post-holiday extension. Accommodation, sightseeing, and activities can be arranged. Add as many extra days to your holiday as you wish.

Want to make some changes?

Tailor made holidays - let us know what works for you and we will make it happen.
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Included in price

English-speaking tour leader*
Comfortable transportation*
13 nights 3* accommodation with breakfast
All entrance fees and activities as specified in the itinerary
Single room supplement
* not included on self guided tours

They say that smells make the strongest memories. Well, with all the delectable dishes and their mouth-watering aromas, the Balkan Foodie Discovery tour will offer a lot of incredible everlasting memories.

This culinary Balkan travel adventure will take you through all the flavors of the Western Balkans, starting with Slovenia. Slovenia is a small country at the northernmost point of the Balkans. One of its neighbors is Austria, and this is apparent in Slovenia’s cuisine, as the presence of Austrian and central-European cuisine is just as strong as its Balkan influences. We will therefore have the chance to explore this mixture of cultures and food and ease our way into proper Balkan cuisine.

As you approach the Slovenian coast that is part of the Istria region you will also see that like in Croatia, we get more of the Mediterranean influences, in food as well as in Slovenia’s amazing wines. The sea air in Slovenia will acclimate you for the tour of Croatia. From Istria to Dalmatia, Croatia is famous for its beautiful beaches and brilliantly blue seas that are home to a number of delicious fish. You will get your fix of great, fresh seafood, and also see how the more meaty Balkan tendencies are incorporated into the lighter Mediterranean diet. During your Croatian adventure, you will also hop into Bosnia and Herzegovina for a day, to get a taste of the delicious Turkish-Balkan cuisine in Mostar.

Now, despite its fame, Croatia isn’t the only Balkan country boasting beautiful beaches. Montenegro also has a lot to show for itself, from perfect vacation spots to mouthwatering food. With its amazing olive oil, fresh fish and vegetables, and inclusion of typical Balkan meat dishes, Montenegrin cuisine is in a way quite similar to Croatian, but it also has some distinctive features of its own, like the delectable kajmak.

The final days of this Balkan trip are dedicated to Serbia, the best representative of the most iconic part of Balkan cuisine: čevapčiči. With its wide range of finger-licking good grilled meat dishes, an incredibly delicious and comforting bean dish called prebranac, the tasty dairy spread kajmak, that Montenegrins also claim as their own, the refreshing and delicious condiment named ajvar, and burek, the savory pastry you’ll always be in the mood for, Serbian cuisine is the intersection of all the best of Balkan food and the perfect way to end your tour.

Join this tour to discover the flavors of the Balkans, and enjoy/dober tek/prijatno!

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Foodie discovery 14 days

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Self-guided: From: 2,930€/person
Join a group: From: 3,590€/person
10 March 2023 - 23 March 2023
17 April 2023 - 30 April 2023
15 May 2023 - 28 May 2023
12 June 2023 - 25 June 2023
21 July 2023 - 4 August 2023
21 August 2023 - 3 September 2023
18 September 2023 - 1 October 2023
Private guided: From: 4,590€/person
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Exceeding Your Expectations

Our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region cherry-picked only the best things to do in the Balkans, aimed at all sorts of travellers.

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Experienced and passionate local guides will make your trip run smoothly, going that extra mile for you.

100% Balkan

We are an international team from the Balkans and our tours have been carefully designed to ensure memorable travel.

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Small Groups

Offering travel in private or small groups, so you can explore without rushing and have more time to immerse yourself in the local culture.

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