European Odyssey
Pearls of the Caucasus and the Balkans
From 26 500€ per person
16 days / 15 nights
Slovenia, Albania, Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey
Organised trip by private plane to discover the Caucasus and the Balkans.
Next departure: Saturday 26 August 2023
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A journey to the heart of the European continent, this Odyssey will take you through the history of the former Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, now broken up into dozens of countries with vivid and often unknown traditions.
Next departure: Saturday 26 August 2023
Your itinerary in brief
| Days 1 - 2 | Ljubljana - White City |
| Days 2 - 4 | Tirana - "Against all odds |
| Days 4 - 5 | Belgrade - The Pearl of the Balkans |
| Days 5 - 8 | Yerevan - Noah's Homeland |
| Days 8 - 10 | Tbilisi - Georgian Renaissance |
| Days 10 - 12 | Baku - Land of Flames |
| Days 12 - 14 | Nevşehir - Charm of Cappadocia |
| Days 14 - 16 | Istanbul - The Sublime Gate |
Highlights of the trip
- Surprising dinner in a bunker in Tirana
- Wine tastings in Armenia and Georgia
- Prestigious evening at the Opera
- Cappadocia hot air balloon flight
- Dinner dance in an Ottoman palace overlooking the Bosphorus
Days 1 - 2
Ljubljana - White City
With its typical architecture from the Austro-Hungarian period and the alpine scenery around Lake Bled, Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, welcomes you for your first stop.
You will visit Bled Castle, a medieval building perched on the cliff above the lake, before heading to Ljubljana to explore its historic centre.
Days 2 - 4
Tirana - Against all odds
In Albania, we dive into the most secret of the Balkan capitals, Tirana, an astonishing mixture of Maoist austerity and Mediterranean charm. You will walk through the city centre, its nooks and crannies and bunkers before having dinner in Enver Hoxha's villa. The next day, you will go on an excursion to Berat, the city of a thousand windows, known for its 13th century fortress before heading to Apollonia of Illyria, an ancient Greek city mentioned by Aristotle and Cicero, the residence of Octavian, before he became the first Roman emperor.
Days 4 - 5
Belgrade - The Pearl of the Balkans
In a flash, we are in Belgrade on the banks of the majestic Danube. You will be seduced by the singular charm of the Serbian capital and also of the former Yugoslavia, where the vestiges of Titism and the gold and iconography of the Orthodox religion are intermingled.
You will visit its city centre, museums and churches. The next day, you will discover Viminacium, which was the permanent garrison of the Legio VII. The day continues in the direction of Topola, a wine-growing region where the Royal Mausoleum of Oplenac is located, the necropolis of the dynasties that ruled Yugoslavia until the Communist Party took power in 1945.
Days 5 - 8
Yerevan - Noah's Homeland
Armenia will reveal the secret of its monasteries and its thousand-year-old traditions through its vine culture and its sunny wines. You will visit the ruins of Zvartnots where King Tiridate converted to Christianity in 301, making Armenia the first Christian state.
The next day, you will continue your exploration at the Monastery of St. Lance of Geghard, in the middle of the cliffs. Back in Yerevan, you will learn about the process of making the ancient wines of this region of Europe.
Days 8 - 10
Tbilisi - Georgian Renaissance
We continue our Odyssey in Georgia, the country where a certain Joseph Djougachvili, better known as Stalin, was born. A true crossroads of the Caucasus, Tbilisi reveals its gentle way of life and its architecture, a cross between Art Nouveau, Byzantine influences and Soviet rigorism. You will discover the historic buildings of its city centre as well as the town of Mtskheta, one of the oldest in the country.
You will leave for the region of Kakhetia, a Christian land on the borders of Islamic countries. You will stop in Sighnaghi, city of love, a charming stopover overlooking the vineyards and hills of the region.
Days 10 - 12
Baku - Land of Flames
Arrival in Azerbaijan, the dividing line between Europe and Asia and the easternmost point of our journey to the East. A former stop on the oil-rich Silk Road, Baku, the bustling, modern capital, welcomes you to the Caspian Sea. You will explore the Old City of Baku, including the Shirvanshah's Palace and the Maiden Tower, the scene of legends since its origin.
During this trip, you will also have the option of visiting the Gobustan National Reserve: between the mud volcanoes, drawings and petroglyphs dating back 5,000 to 20,000 years describe scenes of prehistoric life in the Caucasus.
Days 12 - 14
Nevşehir - Charm of Cappadocia
The penultimate leg of our journey takes us to Turkey, first to Cappadocia, to discover its incredible troglodyte dwellings, rock churches, curious fairy chimney landscapes and rock formations of volcanic origin.
In the early morning, you will take off in a hot air balloon over the extraordinary landscapes of Cappadocia, slowly revealed by the first rays of the sun.
Days 14 - 16
Istanbul - The Sublime Gate
You finally land in Istanbul, an open-air museum with a carefree and joyful soul. From one side of the Bosphorus to the other, you will discover the historic centre of this megalopolis straddling Europe and Asia as well as its modern districts.
In one of the ancient palaces of the Sublime Porte, overlooking the Bosphorus, you will enjoy a dreamy last evening to the sound of oriental music and the movements of the dances of the seven sails.
Carefully selected by the Ciels du Monde team, discover the accommodations of your trip.
Next departure dates
2023
Saturday 26 August to Sunday 10 September 2023
2024
Sunday 24 August to Monday 8 September 2024
Prices and conditions
General Terms and Conditions of Sale
THE PRICE INCLUDES :
- The trip according to the number of days indicated by private plane (assigned seat for the entire trip),
- Accommodation in shared rooms in 5* hotels (local standard) or in the best accommodation available on the destination,
- Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the entire trip,
- Drinks on board the aircraft (champagne*, spirits*, wine*, beer*, soft drinks) and standard drinks at meals (wine,* mineral water, beer* and soft drinks),
- All transfers, excursions and visits included in the programme by coach, minibus, boat, 4×4 vehicle, train with French-speaking local guides (other languages, please consult us)
- The services of a cruise director and his team of escorts, a French-speaking doctor and/or nurse throughout the trip,
- Party nights according to the programme,
- All visa, immigration and customs formalities and baggage handling subject to local law in some countries,
- Luggage allowance: 1 or 2 pieces of luggage per person depending on the type of aircraft and/or the duration of the trip,
- Repatriation assistance insurance, airport taxes, various issue fees,
- Tips.
(*) alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE :
- Drinks outside the programme (bars, minibar, etc.),
- Expenses of a personal nature (telephone, laundry, etc.),
- Optional excursions (to be found on each product sheet),
- Double room for single use (so-called "single room supplement") : consult us,
- Accommodation in Suites : consult us,
- Private excursions (guide and driver) at each port of call for two people or small groups: consult us,
- Pre/post arrival package in Paris including domestic flight or train, transfers and 2 nights in a 4* hotel: 850€ per person.
FORMALITIES :
Our visa service will take care of all the visa procedures on presentation of the information to be provided after confirmation of your booking.
This service, worth an average of €300, is offered free of charge to all passengers.
As an indication, EU nationals must provide a passport valid for 6 months after the date of return with 4 free pages.
REGISTRATION CONDITIONS :
Registration form duly completed and signed, returned by e-mail (scan) or post.
| 1st instalment | 30 % from travel to booking |
| 2ᵉ deposit | 45 % of the trip, 90 days before departure |
| Remaining balance | 25% of the trip, 45 days before departure |
INSURANCE :
Optional multi-risk cancellation insurance not included but highly recommended, to be taken out at the time of booking, for an amount equal to 6 % of the total amount of the trip.
Details of the conditions can be found in the insurance company's brochure enclosed with the application.
CANCELLATION POLICY :
All cancellations must be communicated by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt and will incur the following cancellation fees depending on the date of receipt:
| 180 days or more before departure | 10 % of the cost of the trip |
| 179 to 120 days before departure | 30 % of the cost of the trip |
| 119 to 90 days before departure | 40 % of the cost of the trip |
| 89 to 60 days before departure | 50 % of the cost of the trip |
| 59 to 30 days before departure | 75 % of the cost of the trip |
| Less than 30 days before departure | 100 % of the cost of the trip |
AFTER SALE :
All complaints must be sent as soon as possible and at the latest 20 days after the date of return by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, enclosing supporting documents to
Skies of the World
29 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud
75011 Paris
France
PRICES AND TERMS OF DELIVERY :
Our prices are payable in Euros (€) and are firm, but may be subject to revision, in accordance with the conditions described below and the terms of the General Conditions of Sale, and Articles R.211-3 to R.211-11 of the Tourism Code.
Our prices are based on the economic conditions prevailing in 2022, including accommodation, transport, fuel, taxes and the exchange rate of the US dollar and the currencies of the countries concerned.
Airlines, aircraft types and airports are subject to change without notice and are given as an indication only. Likewise, some scheduled stopovers may be replaced, cancelled or reversed due to security criteria or external parameters beyond the organiser's control and impossible to anticipate when the trips are published on our 2022 commercial media. The same applies to certain hotels and excursions that could not be offered in the end for reasons of force majeure. These services will be replaced by similar services at least equal to those initially planned.
The trip may be cancelled if the group does not reach the minimum number of participants required for the type of aircraft. In the event of cancellation of the trip due to lack of participants or a significant increase in the price of the trip due to the exchange rate or to the increase in particular of taxes or oil, the customer will be informed at the latest 30 days before the departure. The client will have a period of 8 days from receipt of the notification to accept the new proposal or to request the cancellation of his registration, which will result in the reimbursement of the sums paid by the client, however, no compensation can be claimed.
In the event of cancellation due to force majeure, the client may not claim any compensation. Force majeure is characterised by the unpredictability, irresistibility and exteriority of the event that prevented the execution of the contract (C. civ. art. 1148).
In the event of voluntary interruption of the trip by the client, the latter shall not be entitled to any reimbursement, even partial, of either transport services or other services, the only exception being total or partial coverage by an insurance company depending on the contract taken out and within the limits of the latter only.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We actively support local initiatives that have been carefully selected for their positive impact on the environment. We work with our local partners to introduce you to these destinations through tours designed to preserve nature and respect the local population. We develop partnerships with international NGOs to deliver medical and educational supplies to selected destinations.