This morning, we’ll set out for a walking tour of Belgrade, taking in sights such as Republic Square and the Kalemegdan Fortress. We’ll get a sense of the city’s diverse architecture, ranging from Serbo-Byzantine through Baroque and Classical, to striking works in the Modernist style. Lunch will be a traditional meal in the Old Town area, ‘Skadarlija.’ In the afternoon, we’ll visit an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Belgrade where we’ll wander through the ruins of a once-thriving site of Yugoslav manufacturing. We’ll relax at the end of an exciting day with dinner back at the hotel.

This morning our bus will collect us from the hotel, stopping first at the partisan monument on Mount Kosmaj. We’ll then drive south to visit the Šumarice Memorial Park at Kragujevac, the site of terrible atrocities during WWII and now a place of great national significance. After a tour of the museum, we’ll explore the sprawling park on foot and admire the many monuments placed in memory of the victims. By early evening, we’ll arrive in Niš, where we’ll head directly for a visit to the Bubanj Memorial Complex. For dinner, we’ll sample some of the local barbecue cuisine.

Today we’re on the road again, heading west. Southern Serbia is densely packed with poignant and striking Yugoslav-era monuments, and today, we’ll visit some of the best—stopping at the Mausoleum in Čačak, the Slobodište Memorial Park at Kruševac, and the Modernist mausoleum at Popina, before finally arriving at our accommodation for the night.

Užice is a paradise for architecture geeks. We’ll take a walk through the city in the morning, admiring some truly remarkable examples of the Brutalist and Modernist styles. Later we’ll hit the road to visit the nearby Kadinjača Memorial Complex... and then we bid Serbia “Zbogom” as we cross the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina. We’ll drive first to the Tjentište Monument, located down south in the remote Sutjeska National Park. There’ll be a variety of interesting stops along this scenic drive, before we eventually pull into Sarajevo come evening, and head out after dark to get out first taste of the Bosnian capital.

Today you'll have the opportunity to learn about the Bosnian War and the 1992-96 Siege of Sarajevo. Survivors of the conflict will share their stories with us during a walking tour of the abandoned Olympic bobsleigh track, which became a front line during the conflict. In the afternoon, take some free time to explore the city’s many markets, mosques, plazas, and coffee shops; Sarajevo is a one-of-a-kind place, rich and layered with history. This evening, you’ll also have the opportunity to sample a thriving contemporary craft beer scene.

Leaving Sarajevo in the morning, we’ll drive northward. There’ll be some interesting smaller monuments to look at along the way, and we’ll learn more about Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Islamic heritage today. We eat lunch in the historic city of Zenica, then by late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Banja Luka: the largest city in Bosnia’s 'Republika Srpska' region. Here we’ll take a look around the city center, before gathering for dinner in a modern restaurant.

Crossing the scenic north of Bosnia today, we’ll drive first to Mount Kozara to visit the memorial tower built on the site of a WWII battlefield. Next, we continue west to Bihac to see the Garavice Memorial Park, and learn about the town’s troubled history. After that, we’re crossing the border—out of Bosnia and into Croatia—to reach our final stop, a cosy guesthouse in the Plitvice National Park.

Today, we’ll see the famous Plitvice Lakes before heading out to explore (access allowing) the nearby Željava Air Base, an abandoned tunnel complex hidden deep beneath a mountain on the Croatian-Bosnian border. Afterward, we’ll drive north to see the largest monument of this tour: the colossal memorial house on Petrova Gora. After taking our time to explore this extraordinary ruin we’ll continue on towards the Croatian capital, Zagreb, where we’ll have dinner and settle in.

On Sunday morning, we’ll explore the Croatian capital and its Old Town in the company of a local expert. From there, we’ll head up the mountain to see an abandoned sanatorium, with views overlooking the capital. We’ll return to Zagreb for some free time to relax or explore on your own, followed by dinner and a second night in the city.

A number of powerful monuments await us today. We’ll stop at the Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina, just outside Podgarić, and then drive on to Sisak to see the partisan monument in the forests on the edge of town. Finally, we’ll drive south to Jasenovac to visit the Stone Flower monument and learn about this site’s tragic history at the concentration camp museum. It’s one more hour from here to our accommodations, a rustic, traditional-styled hotel in the town of Slavonski Brod.

On our last full day, we’ll begin with a drive towards Vukovar, a town that played a key role in the Croatian War for Independence, and where we’ll visit the striking – but sobering – Dudik Memorial Park. Right after that, we’ll cross the border, back into Serbia. Upon reaching Belgrade mid-afternoon, we’ll visit the Museum of Yugoslav History and the House of Flowers to pay our respects at the tomb of Marshall Josip Broz Tito. By early evening, we’ll be back at Hotel Jugoslavija, ready to wind down with one final dinner and drinks in the Serbian capital.

Today’s breakfast will be our last group meal—but the fun doesn’t have to end here. You’ll find plenty more to explore in Belgrade, from Brutalist architecture to curious museums and quirky bars, if you'd like to spend more time here on your own. Until next time!