Balkan Gems by Bus (6 Nights) - 2026 Period
Tour Detail
Tour Program
Istanbul
Discovering the Balkans by Bus
(8 Days 7 Nights, 6 Nights Accommodation)
8 Countries – 6 Capitals – 24 Cities
Greece – North Macedonia – Albania – Montenegro – Croatia –
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia - Bulgaria
Kavala – Thessaloniki – Skopje (1) – Tetovo (Kalkandelen) – Kičevo – Ohrid (1)
Elbasan – Tirana – Lezhë – Shkodër (1) – Podgorica – Petrovac – Budva – Kotor –
Herceg Novi – Dubrovnik – Medjugorje (1) – Mostar – Blagaj – Jablanica – Konjic – Sarajevo (1) – Belgrade (1) – Sofia
Departure Dates
We begin our tour by picking up our valued guests from in front of the Istanbul Kadıköy Marriage Office Parking Lot at 21:00, in front of the Mecidiyeköy Ziraat Bank at 21:30, from the İncirli Ömür bus stops at 22:00, from the Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Havaist stop at 22:30, in front of Silivri 5M Vega Shopping Mall at 23:15, from the Yenice Aytemiz facilities at 23:55, and from the Namık Kemal Yaypet Rest Facilities at 00:25, then following the Malkara – Keşan route. We arrive at the İpsala border gate. After completing the passport and customs procedures here, we continue our journey overnight. After completing the passport and customs procedures here, we continue our journey overnight.
Kavala – Thessaloniki – Skopje
After having breakfast at leisure in Kavala in the morning, we taste the famous Kavala cookies and take a short photo break on the Kavala waterfront. We then continue our journey towards Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki, we visit the house where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born, depart from here, and continue towards the Greece–Macedonia border. After passport and customs procedures, we continue towards Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arriving in Skopje, we set out to explore the streets of this city that embraces the East and the West. As we wander through the surviving part of the largest bazaar built outside the capital in Ottoman history, the Kapan Han, Sulu Han, Çifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, clock tower, Stone Bridge, Skopje Fortress, groups of statues created as part of the 2019 cultural capital program, Macedonia Square, the Vardar River, and the statue of Alexander the Great are just some of what we will see in this magnificent city. If you are lucky and they have not sold out early that morning, you should try the famous acıbadem, and if it is in season, you should definitely drink a cold boravitsa and taste kikiriki. After our tour, transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel.
Skopje – Matka Canyon – Tetovo – Ohrid
After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish may join the Matka Canyon tour, organized as an extra (20 Euros) (Guests who do not join the tour will rest at a café along the way). Our guide takes us to Matka Canyon, where we will enjoy a pleasant walk in nature and fill our lungs with fresh air. After the enjoyable walk here, we continue our journey toward Tetovo (Kalkandelen). You will be fascinated when you see the Alaca Mosque, built by two sisters. We visit this mosque, decorated with hand-painted designs, an important form of ornamentation in the Balkans, taste the ice-cold water flowing from Mount Šar through its fountain, and continue our journey to Ohrid. After a short and delicious break in Straza along the route, we arrive in Ohrid and begin our walking city tour. During our tour of this beautiful city, famous for its pearl and itself as beautiful as a pearl, built on the shores of Lake Ohrid, some of the places we will see include the Ohrid houses, the Church of Hagia Sophia, the Damat Ali Pasha Mosque, the Halveti Lodge and Mosque, and the Turkish quarter. After exploring Ohrid on foot, free time is provided for shopping and relaxation. We recommend that you enjoy a glass of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish quarter. Guests who wish may join the Ohrid Lake boat tour, organized as an extra, after the city tour (15 Euros). After the pleasant and peaceful excursion on the lake, which will last approximately 1 hour, we return to Ohrid. Following our tour, we depart for our hotel after meeting at the designated place and time. Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms. In the evening, guests who wish may join the Macedonian Night tour, organized as an extra, featuring dinner, music, and entertainment (45 Euros). After enjoying the meal and having a wonderful time with Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, we transfer to our hotel for overnight accommodation.
Ohrid – St. Naum – Tirana – Shkodër
After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish may join the Sv. Naum and boat tour, which will be organized as an extra (30 Euros). We travel to the location of the Sv. Naum Monastery, also known as Sarı Saltuk, built right on the shore of the source of Lake Ohrid. We take a boat tour over the natural spring known as Black Drim, which has magnificent natural beauty. During the free time provided here after the boat tour, you may visit the church where Sv. Naum’s tomb is also located. Following our tour, we proceed to the North Macedonia–Albania border crossing. After completing the customs and passport procedures here, we arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania, via Elbasan. During the panoramic tour we will take here, Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg statue, the opera house, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, and Enver Hoxha’s pyramid are just some of the sights we will see. During the free time provided, we recommend that you taste the famous Albanian dessert Trileche, which means three milks. Following our tour, we travel via Lezhë to our hotel in Shkodër. Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms. Overnight at our hotel.
Shkodër – Budva – Kotor – Dubrovnik – Medjugorje or Surroundings
After the breakfast we will have at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel with our luggage. After completing our passport and customs procedures at the Albania–Montenegro border, we continue via Podgorica, Sutomore and Petrovac, and will give our valued guests a short photo break at a viewpoint overlooking the island of Sv. Stefan, which was purchased by a Singaporean multi-billionaire. Following the photo break, we continue by seeing the famous coastal city of Budva panoramically from our vehicle. Immediately after Budva, one of the ideal destinations abroad for a seaside holiday, we arrive in Kotor, one of the important medieval places that has survived to the present day. When you see the city of Kotor, which has defied the centuries in the depths of the bay and on the slopes of the mountain, one of Montenegro’s tourist centers, both your minds and hearts will remain here. During the city tour we will take on foot upon our arrival, the mansions of the families that are very important to Kotor, the Church of St. Tryphon, the Orthodox church, the squares and the beautiful stories are just some of what we will see and hear. During our free time in this city, if the season and weather are suitable, you can climb the stairs to the chapel at the very top of the city walls and take magnificent landscape photographs from there, taste different and wonderful dishes by following the aromas found in the narrow streets of the city, sip your drink in one of the squares, or visit the Cat Museum, one of the city’s most interesting museums. In this city, do not forget to ask your guide where that wonderful cake is; we recommend it to all dessert lovers. After the free time, we leave Kotor and first cross from Montenegro into Croatia. Our guests who wish may participate in the Dubrovnik tour, which will be organized as an extra (40 Euros) (Guests who do not participate in the tour will rest at a facility). We arrive in Dubrovnik, one of the most popular holiday destinations in recent years, which was also used as a filming location for the popular series Game of Thrones and, historically, is a very important settlement in terms of its relations with the Ottoman Empire. During the walking tour we will take inside the fortress, some of the places we will see include the Pile Gate, Ploče Gate, Onofrio’s Fountain, the world’s first pharmacy, the Franciscan monastery, the Orlando Column, Sponza Palace and the Rector’s Palace. After the pleasant tour we will take in this medieval city, during our free time you can explore the city’s side streets, shop in the stores, taste seafood, or enjoy a pleasant coffee while looking out at the sea or the medieval streets. After the free time, we meet at the time and place specified by our guide, leave Dubrovnik and first cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transfer to our hotel and accommodation in the rooms. Overnight at our hotel. (Depending on the density of the region, accommodation will be provided in the Medjugorje or Trebinje area.)
Medjugorje – Kravica – Mostar – Blagaj – Sarajevo
After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave the hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish may join the Kravica Waterfalls tour, which will be organized as an extra (25 Euros). You will be amazed by the Kravica Waterfalls, a natural wonder. You should definitely enjoy a coffee overlooking the waterfall. After the pleasant time we spend here, our next stop is Mostar, one of the region’s most important cities, famous for its bridge, which was destroyed by Croatian artillery fire during the Bosnian War in our recent history and later rebuilt with contributions from the Republic of Türkiye and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mostar will transport you to a completely different world with its narrow and authentic Ottoman-era streets. During our tour here, the Mostar Bridge, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Catholic Cathedral, Turkish Consulate, and Martyrs’ Cemetery are some of the sights we will see. If we are lucky, we may also see the young men who jump from the bridge for show, a tradition with roots going back many years. During the free time after our tour, you can buy souvenirs unique to Mostar and take a pleasant meal break. After the free time, we meet our vehicle at the time and place specified by our guide and continue our journey. Guests who wish may join the Blagaj tour, which will be organized as an extra (20 Euros). Blagaj, where we will visit the Alperen Dervish Lodge built right beside the source of the Buna River springing from beneath the mountain, will allow you to create unforgettable memories. In addition to its natural beauty, we will also hear the story and history of the lodge from our guide. After our tour, we continue our journey toward Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon arrival, we begin exploring the city center on foot. During our walking tour, some of the sights we will see include the sebil, the Gazi Husrev Bey Madrasa, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the bedesten, the clock tower, the diverse shops of Baščaršija, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the eternal flame, the Latin Bridge, and the Fatih Mosque. After our walking tour, you can enjoy Bosnian coffee in cafés unique to Bosnia, indulge in delicious Bosnian börek, or explore the city by getting lost in its European-style and Ottoman-era streets. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. In the evening, guests who wish may join the Bosnian Night tour, which will be organized as an extra and include music, dinner, and entertainment. We recommend that you do not miss this enjoyable evening, during which we will taste Bosnia’s delicious cuisine accompanied by Bosnian music (55 Euros). Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
Sarajevo – Belgrade
After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we check out and leave the hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish may join the Vrelo Bosna and Tunnel of Hope tour to be organized as an extra (30 Euros). On our tour, we first go to Vrelo Bosna, where the source of the Bosna River is located. After taking a pleasant walk and photographs in this natural park located at the foot of Mount Igman, right on the outskirts of Sarajevo, we go to see the remaining section of the tunnel that gave hope to the people of Sarajevo and the country during the Bosnian War, which witnessed some of the most dramatic events of our recent history. After listening to our guide's information about the war and the tunnel here, we visit the house of Sida Nine, located in the garden of the tunnel, which is now visited as a museum. Following our tour, we depart for Belgrade. With a pleasant journey through the plateaus and villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we cross through the border gate located on the Drina River, with which we are familiar from books, and enter another country included in our itinerary. After the winding roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we reach Belgrade while enjoying the vast plains, villages, and magnificent views that are the complete opposite of what we have seen. During the walking tour we will take after our arrival, Knez Mihajlova Street, Kalemegdan Fortress, the Monument of Gratitude to France, Istanbul Gate, the Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, the panoramic viewpoint, the Victor Monument, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, the clock tower, and the city walls are just some of the sights we will see. Following our walking tour, you can stroll through the lively streets of Belgrade, taste different ice cream flavors at the ice cream shop recommended by your guide, or enjoy a pleasant coffee while taking in the surroundings and the city. Following our tour, guests who wish may join the Belgrade Boat Tour to be organized as an extra (20 Euros). On this tour along the Danube and Sava Rivers, you will have the opportunity to view the city of Belgrade from the river and see the War Island more closely. Following our tour, we transfer to our hotel and settle into our rooms. Overnight at our hotel.
Belgrade – Sofia– Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and depart for Sofia with our luggage. Upon arriving in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, we begin our panoramic city tour. During this tour, some of the places we will see include Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Church of Hagia Sophia, the Rotunda Church, the Archaeological Museum, the Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. Following the free time we will have after the panoramic tour, we leave Sofia and continue toward the border crossing. After arriving at the Kapıkule border crossing and completing the passport and customs procedures there, we return to Istanbul via the highway. Upon our arrival in Istanbul, we drop off our valued guests at the points where we picked them up and bid farewell, hoping to see you again on our next tour.
General Information
- Our guests participating are required to have a valid Multi (Multiple Entry) Schengen visa for the entire duration of the tour. (Green Passport holders are exempt from the visa requirement.)
- During the tour, it is sufficient to carry Euros for shopping and spending in all countries included in the program. In regions where the local currency is used, the Guide will assist with currency exchange.
- Comfortable walking shoes or sports shoes should be preferred throughout the trip. It is advisable to bring a cardigan or similar clothing for the evening.
- On our weekly tours, rotation (seat changes) is applied to the daily seating plan; therefore, a fixed seat or front-seat guarantee is not provided. Seat changes are organized by the vehicle guide.
- When entering Türkiye from abroad, at least 1 day of accommodation is required in order to bring goods (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.).
- When entering Türkiye from abroad, the duty-free shopping limits are: Cigarettes: 3 cartons, Alcoholic Beverages: 1 liter of alcoholic beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages containing more than 22% alcohol, wine and champagne), Alcoholic Beverages: 2 liters of alcoholic beverages (including alcoholic beverages containing less than 22% alcohol, wine and champagne), Perfume: 600 ml, Makeup or Skin Care Products: 5 items, Chocolate and Confectionery: 2 kg, Coffee: 1 kg, Tea: 1 kg
- During the tour program, the Guides may make changes to the program flow depending on weather and road conditions, provided that they show all the places specified in the program.
- The Travel Assurance Package can only be added during the tour purchase process. It cannot be added later. It provides the guest with an unconditional and uninterrupted cancellation right up to 7 days before the travel date. It is non-refundable if unused. If the cancellation assurance package is not purchased, guests have the right to cancel free of charge up to 30 days before the tour. A 30% penalty applies when fewer than 30 days remain before the tour date, and a 100% penalty applies when 20 days or less remain. Hospital reports, workplace permission documents and similar documents obtained from authorities in Türkiye and submitted with the participant’s cancellation request are unfortunately not accepted for the cancellation of hotels where they will stay and services they will receive outside Türkiye.
- Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 25 people. If sufficient participation cannot be achieved for the trip, the final cancellation notification date is 20 days before the tour departure. İTC TUR will notify participants if the tour is canceled due to insufficient participation.
- In cases where only category information is provided without specifying a name in the tour program and/or where there are alternatives for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be announced by İTC TUR 2 days before the trip departure.
- During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events and sports tournaments, hotels may be used at distances exceeding the specified kilometers. In such a case, İTC TUR will provide information 15 days before the tour departure date.
- Triple rooms may be provided depending on hotel availability, and the bed allocated to the 3rd person in such rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds consist of beds referred to as folding beds and coach beds, tour participants making reservations for a 3rd person and/or child are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible congestion in the rooms and the bed type. Child discounts are valid for one child –within the applicable age group– staying with 2 adults.
- Breakfasts included in the tour program are served in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited and generally consist of a limited menu of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee, known as a continental breakfast, and may be served in a separate room allocated to the group.
- The panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours lasting no more than 2–3 hours, organized for the general introduction of the cities and conducted panoramically with the guide’s narration from inside the vehicle; they do not include museum or archaeological site entrance fees. İTC TUR is not responsible if panoramic tours, including other tours specified in the program, cannot take place because local authorities do not permit visiting or entering the relevant places on the day and at the time corresponding to the tour, roads are closed due to any event, or weather conditions make it impossible to conduct the tour. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot, where possible, in locations with closed roads or where vehicle access is not permitted.
- During travel, waiting times at customs gates crossed by road may exceed standard durations, and İTC TUR cannot be held responsible for inconveniences arising from these waiting times.
- Extra tours are organized by the local İTC TUR from which we receive services, with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved, the excursions may not take place, or the prices, content and vehicle used for extra excursions may vary according to the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of the tours may be changed by the guide according to the opening/closing status of museums and archaeological sites at the destinations and weather conditions.
- Extra tours are optional for participants and are not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in the extra tours organized during the tour are deemed to have agreed to wait at a suitable rest facility along the route. These passengers will be dropped off at a roadside rest facility before the extra tour begins and picked up from the point where they were dropped off after the tour is completed.
- For persons participating in tours with flights, check-in and boarding procedures are personal procedures and must be completed by the guest before the flight at the relevant airline counters at the airports or online through the airlines’ websites.
- İTC TUR is not responsible for the failure to take the flight of persons who are not present at the specified airport at the times notified by İTC TUR for participation in the tour, who do not complete their check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who complete their check-in and boarding procedures on time but do not board the aircraft. All costs of new round-trip flight tickets required for persons who miss the flight to join the tour and of their transfers in the destination region are their own responsibility.
- İTC TUR acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays on scheduled and charter flights, or flight times may change before the existing trip and flight. İTC TUR is obliged to notify passengers of these changes as soon as possible. The passenger has purchased the trip by accepting the risk of schedule changes. Children between 0 and 2 years of age do not pay airport taxes or airport service fees.
- The vehicle types used on our tours are classified according to the number of persons as follows. The vehicle types listed below are assigned according to the number of people participating in each tour.
- Buses: (Used for groups of 25–46 people) *Mercedes Travego/Tourismo *NEOPLAN Cityliner/Tourliner -*Temsa Safir/Maraton *Man Fortuna, Midibuses: (Used for groups of 17–24 people) *Isuzu Turkuaz , *Otokar Mega, Minibuses: (Used for groups of up to 16 people) *Vw Volt , *Mercedes Sprinter
- All guests are deemed to have accepted the above-mentioned terms and completed the sale of the tour.