Balkan Pearls by Bus (6 Nights) Departing from Eskişehir and Ankara
Tour Detail
Tour Program
Eskisehir – Ankara – Bolu – Duzce – Sakarya – Izmitv
Balkan Pearls 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 – 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
18 January – 25 January – 19 March – 12 April – 22 April – 10 May – 24 May – 21 June – 5 July – 19 July – 2 August – 16 August – 30 August – 13 September – 9 October – 8 November – 15 November
We begin our tour by picking up our valued guests at Eskişehir Özdilek Parking Lot at 12:00, across from Ankara Armada Mall at 15:00, Ümitköy Bridge at 15:30, Bolu Highway Facilities at 18:30, Düzce Tursan Rest Facilities at 20:00, Sapanca Berceste at 21:30, and across from İzmit Bus Terminal at 22:00. We arrive at the Ipsala border gate. After completing the passport and customs procedures here, we continue our journey overnight.
Kavala – Thessaloniki – Skopje
After breakfast, which is taken independently 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. Following passport and customs procedures, we continue towards Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arrival in Skopje, we set out to explore the streets of this city that embraces East and West. As we walk 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 built as part of the 2019 Capital of Culture 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; if it is in season, you must also 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 participate in the Matka Canyon tour, which will be organized as an extra (20 Euros) (Guests who do not participate in the tour will rest at a café along the way). Our guide takes us to Matka Canyon for an enjoyable walk in nature and to breathe in the fresh air. After our pleasant walk here, we continue our journey toward Tetovo. You will be amazed when you see the Painted Mosque, built by two sisters. We visit this mosque, decorated with hand-painted ornamentation, an important decorative art 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, established on the shores of Lake Ohrid and famous for its pearl, which is itself like a pearl, some of the places we will see include the Ohrid houses, the Church of Hagia Sophia, 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 leisure. We recommend that you enjoy a cup of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish quarter. Guests who wish may participate in the Ohrid Lake Boat Tour, which will be organized as an extra after the city tour (15 Euros). After an enjoyable and peaceful boat trip lasting approximately one hour on the lake, we return to Ohrid. After our tour, we meet at the designated place and time and depart for our hotel. Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms. In the evening, guests who wish may participate in the Macedonian Night tour, which will be organized as an extra and includes dinner, music, and entertainment (45 Euros). After enjoying the food and having a wonderful time accompanied by Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, we transfer to our hotel and spend the night.
Ohrid – St. Naum – Tirana – Shkodër
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. Guests who wish may join the Sv. Naum and boat tour organized as an extra (30 Euros). We head 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 on the natural spring known as Black Drim, which has magnificent natural beauty. During the free time to be given here after the boat tour, you may wish to visit the church, which also contains the tomb of Sv. Naum. After our tour, we proceed to the North Macedonia–Albania border crossing. Following 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, we recommend that you try the famous Albanian dessert Trileche, whose name means three milks. After our tour, we proceed 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 having breakfast 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 give our valued guests a short photo break at a point overlooking the island of Sv. Stefan, which was purchased by a Singaporean multibillionaire. 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 overseas destinations 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 important families of Kotor, St. Tryphon’s Church, the Orthodox church, squares and beautiful stories are just some of the things 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 in the city’s narrow streets, 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 magnificent cake can be found; it is our recommendation for all dessert lovers. After the free time, we leave Kotor and first cross from Montenegro into Croatia. Guests who wish may join the Dubrovnik tour, which will be organized as an extra (40 Euros) (Guests who do not join 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, was a very important settlement due to its relations with the Ottoman Empire. During our walking tour inside the fortress, some of the sights we will see include 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 our enjoyable tour of this medieval-scented 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 check-in to our rooms. Overnight at our hotel. (Depending on the regional occupancy, 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 fascinated by the Kravica Waterfalls, a wonder of nature. You should definitely have a coffee while enjoying the view of the waterfall. After the pleasant time we will spend here, our next stop is Mostar, one of the most important cities in the region, 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 included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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 Mehmet Pasha Mosque, Catholic Cathedral, Turkish Consulate and Martyrs’ Cemetery are among the places we will see. If we are lucky, we may also see young men who jump from the bridge for show, although this tradition dates back to long ago. During the free time we will have after our tour, you can buy souvenirs unique to Mostar or 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 next to the source of the Buna River, which springs from beneath the mountain, will allow you to create unforgettable memories. In addition to its natural beauty, we will also hear about the lodge’s story and history 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 places we will see include the sebil, the Gazi Husrev Bey madrasa, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the bedesten, the clock tower, the various shops of Baščaršija, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eternal Flame, the Latin Bridge and the Fatih Mosque. After our walking tour, you can have Bosnian coffee in cafés unique to Bosnia, indulge in the magnificent Bosnian börek, or explore the city by getting lost in its European and Ottoman-era streets. Transfer to our hotel after our tour. In the evening, guests who wish may join the Bosnian Night tour, which will be organized as an extra, featuring music, dinner and entertainment. We recommend that you do not miss this enjoyable evening, during which we will taste Bosnia’s delicious traditional dishes 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 organized as an optional extra (30 Euros). On our tour, we first go to Vrelo Bosna, where the Bosna River springs. After taking a pleasant walk and photographs in this natural park located at the foot of Mount Igman, just outside Sarajevo, we go to see the remaining part 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 in our recent history. Here, after listening to our guide's information about the war and the tunnel, we visit the house of Sida Nine, located in the garden of the tunnel, which is now open to visitors as a museum. Following our tour, we depart for Belgrade. With a pleasant journey through the highlands and villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we enter another country on our itinerary by crossing the border gate on the Drina River, which we are familiar with from books. After the winding roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we arrive in Belgrade while enjoying the wide plains, villages, and magnificent views that are the complete opposite of what we have seen. During the walking tour we will take upon 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 statue, Zindan Gate, Leopold's Gate, the clock tower, and the city walls are just some of the sights we will see. After 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 admiring the surroundings and the city. Following our tour, guests who wish may join the Belgrade Boat tour organized as an extra (20 Euros). During this tour on 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 – Eskişehir
After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, 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, the second-largest Orthodox church in the Balkans, the Russian Church, Hagia Sophia Church, the Rotunda Church, the Archaeological Museum, the Presidency, the Prime Ministry, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. After the panoramic tour and some free time, we leave Sofia and continue towards the border gate. Upon arriving at the Kapıkule border gate and completing the passport and customs procedures there, we return to Istanbul via the highway. Upon arriving in Eskişehir, we drop off our valued guests at the locations where we picked them up and bid you farewell, hoping to see you again on our next tour.
General Information
- Guests participating must 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 expenses in all countries included in the itinerary. 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, daily seat rotation (seat changes) is applied in the seating plan; fixed-seat and front-seat guarantees are not provided. Seat changes are organized by the vehicle guide.
- When entering Türkiye from abroad, at least 1 night of accommodation is required 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
- Guides may make changes to the program flow depending on weather and road conditions, provided that all locations specified in the program are visited.
- The Travel Assurance Package can only be added at the time of purchasing the tour. It cannot be added afterward. 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 if fewer than 30 days remain before the tour date, and a 100% penalty applies if 20 days or fewer remain. Hospital reports, workplace leave 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, the final cancellation notification date is 20 days before the tour departure. Tours canceled due to insufficient participation will be announced by İTC TUR.
- When only category information is provided without specifying names in the tour program and/or when there are options 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 third person in these rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 double bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds consist of beds known as folding beds and coach beds, tour participants in third-person and/or child reservations are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible lack of space and bed type in the rooms. Child discounts apply to one child staying with 2 adults and belonging to the applicable age group.
- Breakfasts included in the tour program and served at hotels are provided in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited and generally consist of a limited menu known as a continental breakfast, including butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee. For groups, breakfast may be served in a separate room allocated to the group.
- Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours lasting no more than 2–3 hours, organized for the general introduction of 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 locations on the corresponding day and time, roads are closed due to an event, or weather conditions make the tour impossible. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot where possible, on closed roads or at points where vehicle access is not permitted.
- At border gates crossed by road during the journey, waiting times may exceed standard durations. İTC TUR cannot be held responsible for inconveniences arising from these waiting times.
- Optional 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 optional 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 whether museums and archaeological sites at the destinations are open or closed and according to weather conditions.
- Optional tours are subject to the participant’s preference and are not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in optional tours organized during the tour are deemed to have accepted waiting at a suitable rest facility along the route. These passengers will be dropped off at a roadside rest facility before the optional tour begins and picked up from the same point after the tour is completed.
- For persons participating in tours by air, 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 via the airlines’ websites.
- İTC TUR is not responsible for the inability to take the flight of persons who are not present at the specified airport at the times communicated by İTC TUR for participation in the tour, who do not complete their check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who complete these procedures on time but do not board the aircraft. All costs of the new round-trip air tickets required for persons who miss the flight to join the tour, as well as their transfers in the destination region, are borne by them.
- İTC TUR acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. Scheduled and charter flights may be subject to delays, 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 changes to flight times. Children between 0 and 2 years of age do not pay airport taxes or airport service fees.
- The types of vehicles used on our tours are classified according to the number of people as follows. The vehicle types listed below are assigned according to the number of participants on 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 provisions stated above by completing the purchase of the tour.