Balkans

"Leave Istria behind and island-hop along the Dalmatian coastline down to Split, where the medieval walled harbour sits beneath the rugged Mosor heights."

"Skim the pearl of the Adriatic's outer islands on the long coastal run south to Dubrovnik, the fortified city ringed by its bay at Croatia's southern tip."

"Thread the tight, mountain-framed inlet of the Bay of Kotor — one of Europe's most scenic approaches — to Montenegro's coastal Tivat."

"Climb out of the Bay of Kotor and cross into Albania, descending into Tirana's basin ringed by the Dajti and Kruja ranges."

"Cross Albania's central ridges to the UNESCO-listed Lake Ohrid, landing at the shore-side St. Paul the Apostle field beneath the Galičica massif."

"Cruise north over North Macedonia's lake country into the Skopje valley, with the Šar Mountains standing watch to the west."

"A short hop north across the highlands to Pristina, Kosovo's capital — mindful of the surrounding hills on the approach."

"Cross the Merdare hills into Serbia's south, running down the South Morava valley to the historic crossroads city of Niš."

"Climb back over the Balkan foothills eastward to the Sofia basin, framed by Vitosha and the Stara Planina range."

"A short domestic descent across the Thracian plain to Plovdiv, one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, beneath the Rhodope foothills."

"Run the full length of Bulgaria's northern lowlands to the quiet Danubian stop at Vidin, hugging the river bank on the long, flat transit."

"Follow the Danube as it leaves Bulgaria's edge and rolls out across the Wallachian plain to Romania's busy capital hub at Bucharest Otopeni."

"Turn west across the western Romanian plain to Timișoara, the gate to the Banat — a straight, high cruise over farmland."

"Cross back into Serbia over the confluence of the Tisa and the Danube, descending into Belgrade's busy airspace at the heart of the region."

"Track south-west across the Mačva and Podrinje to Tuzla in Bosnia's north-east, threading among the Drina valley hills."

"A short westward hop across Bosnia's rolling interior to Banja Luka, the Republika Srpska capital set in the Vrbas canyon."

"Climb over the Dinaric ridges toward Sarajevo, hemmed in its dramatic valley — a genuine Balkan mountain approach demanding a careful descent."

"Follow the Neretva river down its celebrated canyon to Mostar, where the short, scenic hop ends beside the famed Old Bridge."

"Run the final long north-west leg out of Bosnia across the Croatian karst to land at Zagreb, closing the Balkans loop where the journey began."