Balkan Gems by Bus (6 Nights) Departing from Izmir

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 (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
18 January – 25 January – 19 March – 22 April – 26 April – 24 May – 14 June – 28 June – 12 July – 26 July – 9 August – 23 August – 6 September – 25 September – 23 October – 8 November – 15 November
 

Üç Kuyular 15:00, Üç Yol 15:30, Lozan Square, 16:00 Karşıyaka Monument 16:30, in front of Bornova Ege University Emergency Department 17:00, Manisa Bus Station 18:00, Balıkesir Bus Station 20:00, in front of Bursa Old Stadium 22:00, we begin our tour by picking up our valued guests from our departure points. We arrive at the İpsala border gate via Gallipoli. After completing the passport and customs procedures here, we continue our journey overnight.

After breakfast, which is taken independently in Kavala in the morning, we will taste the famous Kavala cookies and take a short photo break on the Kavala coast. We will then continue our journey toward Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki, we will visit the house where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born, depart from here, and continue toward the Greek-Macedonian border. After passport and customs procedures, we will continue toward Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arrival in Skopje, we will set out to explore the streets of this city embracing East and West. As we walk through the surviving section of the largest bazaar built outside the capital in Ottoman history, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, Çifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, the clock tower, the Stone Bridge, Skopje Fortress, the groups of statues built as part of the 2019 European 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 should definitely drink a cold boravitsa and taste kikiriki. After our tour, transfer to our hotel and accommodation in the rooms. Overnight at our hotel.

After having our 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 to be organized as an extra (20 Euro) (Guests who do not join the tour will rest at a café along the way). Our guide takes us to Matka Canyon to enjoy a pleasant walk in nature and breathe in the fresh air. After our enjoyable walk here, we continue our journey toward Tetovo (Kalkandelen). You will be amazed when you see the Alaca Mosque, built by two sisters. We visit this mosque, decorated with the traditional hand-painted ornamentation known as kalem işi, an important form of decorative art in the Balkans, and taste the ice-cold water flowing from Mount Šar through its fountain before continuing 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 lovely as a pearl, situated 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 Tekke and Mosque, and the Turkish quarter. After exploring Ohrid on foot, free time is provided for shopping and enjoying yourselves. We recommend that you have a glass of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish quarter. Guests who wish may join the Ohrid Lake Boat Tour to be organized as an extra after the city tour (15 Euro). After an enjoyable and peaceful boat trip lasting approximately one hour on the lake, we return to Ohrid. Following 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 join the Macedonian Night tour to be organized as an extra, featuring dinner, music, and entertainment (45 Euro) After enjoying the food and having lots of fun to Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, we transfer to our hotel and spend the night.

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 to be 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 boasts magnificent natural beauty. During the free time provided here after the boat tour, you may visit the church that houses the tomb of Sv. Naum. Following our tour, we proceed to the North Macedonia–Albania border crossing. After completing the customs and passport procedures here, we arrive in Albania’s capital, Tirana, via Elbasan. During the panoramic tour we will take here, Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg statue, the opera house, Ethem 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 Trileçe, meaning “three milks.” Following our tour, we head via Lezhë to our hotel in Shkodër. Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms. Overnight at our hotel.

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 viewpoint overlooking the island of Sv. Stefan, which was purchased by a Singaporean multi-billionaire. Following the photo break, we continue while viewing 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 sites 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 mountainside, 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 families that are very important to Kotor, St. Tryphon’s Church, the Orthodox church, squares and 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 walls and take magnificent landscape photographs from there, follow the aromas in the narrow streets of the city to taste different and wonderful dishes, sip your drink in one of the squares, or visit the Cat Museum, one of the city’s most interesting museums. Do not forget to ask your guide where that wonderful cake is; it is our recommendation for all dessert lovers. After our free time, we leave Kotor and first travel from Montenegro to Croatia. Our guests who wish may join the extra Dubrovnik tour (40 Euro) (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 in terms of its relations with the Ottoman Empire. During our walking tour inside the fortress, 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 are among the places we will see. Following our pleasant tour in 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 watching the sea or the medieval streets. After our free time, we meet at the time and place specified by our guide, leave Dubrovnik and first travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel. (Depending on the density of the region, accommodation will be provided in the Medjugorje or Trebinje area.)

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 enjoy a coffee overlooking 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 which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mostar will take 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 the 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 many years. During the free time we will provide after our tour, you may 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 beside 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 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, Gazi Husrev Bey Madrasa, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the covered bazaar, 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 may enjoy Bosnian coffee in cafés unique to Bosnia, indulge in the wonderful Bosnian pastry, 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 and will feature music, dinner, and entertainment. We recommend that you do not miss this enjoyable evening, during which we will taste Bosnia’s delicious dishes accompanied by Bosnian music (55 Euros). Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.

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, which will be organized as an extra activity (30 Euros). On our tour, we first go to Vrelo Bosna, the source of the Bosna River. 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 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 in our recent history. 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 cross the border gate over the Drina River, a river familiar to us from books, and enter another country included in our itinerary. After the winding roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we reach Belgrade while enjoying views of vast plains, villages and magnificent landscapes, the complete opposite of what we have seen. During the walking tour after our arrival, Knez Mihajlova Street, Kalemegdan Fortress, the Monument to France, Istanbul Gate, the Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, the panoramic viewpoint, the Victor statue, 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 flavors of ice cream 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, which will be organized as an extra activity (20 Euros). On this tour, which will take place 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.

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and depart for Sofia with our luggage. Upon arrival in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, we begin our panoramic city tour. Some of the places we will see during this tour include Alexander Nevsky, the second-largest Orthodox church in the Balkans, the Russian Church, the Church of Hagia Sophia, the Rotunda Church, the Archaeological Museum, the Presidency, the Prime Ministry, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. After the free time we will have following the panoramic tour, we leave Sofia and continue towards the border crossing. Upon reaching the Kapıkule border crossing and completing the passport and customs procedures there, we return to Istanbul via the highway. Upon our arrival in İzmir, we drop off our valued guests at the points where we picked them up and bid you farewell, hoping to see you again on our next tour.