Balkan Fairy Tale by Bus (7 Nights – All Surrounding Excursions and Extra Tours Included – With a Difference for Thessaloniki Accommodation) Departing from Izmir

Tour details
Greece – North Macedonia – Kosovo – Albania – Montenegro – Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia – Bulgaria 7 Nights with Half-Board Accommodation Round Trip | By Luxury Coaches
Need to Know
  • Participating guests are required to have a Multi (Multiple Entry) Schengen visa valid throughout 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 areas 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, seat rotation (seat changes) is applied daily, and no guarantee is given for a fixed seat or a front seat. Seat changes are organized by the vehicle guide.
  • When entering Türkiye from abroad, at least 1 night of accommodation is required in order to bring in 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 change the program itinerary depending on weather and road conditions, provided that all locations specified in the program are shown.
  • The Travel Assurance Package can only be added when purchasing the tour. It cannot be added later. It provides guests with an unconditional and uninterrupted cancellation right up to 7 days before the travel date. It is non-refundable if not used. 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 fewer 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 canceling hotels and services to be used outside Türkiye.
  • Our tour program is organized subject to a minimum participation of 25 people.  If sufficient participation cannot be reached for the trip, the final cancellation notification date is 20 days before departure. İTC TUR will notify guests of tours canceled due to insufficient participation.
  • When only category information is provided without specifying a name in the tour program and/or when there are alternative options for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be notified by İTC TUR 2 days before departure.
  • During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events and sports tournaments, hotels may be used at distances greater than the specified number of kilometers. In such a case, İTC TUR will provide information 15 days before the tour departure date.
  • Triple rooms may be provided subject to hotel availability, and the bed assigned to the 3rd person in these rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds consist of beds known as folding or coach beds, tour participants are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible crowding in the rooms and the bed type in reservations for a 3rd person and/or child. Child discounts are valid for one child who stays with 2 adults and belongs to the applicable age group.
  • Breakfasts included among the services provided at the hotel as part of the tour are served in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited, generally as a continental breakfast consisting of a limited menu of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee, and may be served in a separate room allocated to the group.
  • Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours of up to 2–3 hours organized for a general introduction to 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 the other tours specified in the program, cannot take place because local authorities do not permit visiting or entering the relevant locations on the day and at the time of the tour, roads are closed due to any event, or weather conditions make the tour impossible. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot where roads are closed or vehicles are not permitted to enter, subject to available facilities.
  • At border gates crossed by road during the journey, waiting times may exceed standard durations, and İTC TUR cannot be held responsible for any inconveniences arising from these waiting periods.
  • Optional tours are organized by the local İTC TUR from which we receive services, subject to a minimum participation of 20 people. If sufficient numbers are not reached, the excursions may not take place, or the prices, content and vehicles 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 depending on whether museums and archaeological sites at the destinations are open or closed and on weather conditions.
  • Optional tours are at the participant's discretion 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 people participating in tours involving flights, check-in and boarding procedures are personal responsibilities, and guests are required to complete them before the flight at the relevant airline counters at the airports or online through the airlines' websites.
  • İTC TUR is not responsible for people 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 for new round-trip flight tickets required for people who miss their flight to join the tour, as well as 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. Scheduled and charter flights may be subject to delays, or times may change before the existing trip and flight. İTC TUR is obliged to notify guests of these changes as soon as possible. The passenger purchased the trip accepting the risk of schedule changes. 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 purchasing the tour.
Izmir
Tour Program
İzmir – Manisa – Balıkesir - Bursa

A Balkan Tale by Bus
(Extra Tours, Dinners, Balkan Night & Greek Tavern Included)
(9 Days 8 Nights, 7 Nights Accommodation)
9 Countries – 5 Capitals – 25 Cities

Greece – North Macedonia – Kosovo – Albania – Montenegro – Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia – Bulgaria

Kavala – Thessaloniki (1) – Bitola – Resen - Ohrid (1) - Kičevo – Tetovo - Skopje (1) – Pristina– Prizren – Lezhë – Shkodër (1) – Petrovac – Budva – Kotor – Herceg Novi – Dubrovnik – Medjugorje (1) – Mostar – Jablanica – Konjic – Sarajevo (1) – Belgrade (1) – Sofia

Greek Tavern with Music and Dinner Included  Matka Canyon Included   
Dubrovnik Tour Included   5 Dinners Included  Bosnian Meatball Delicacy   
Pocitelj Village Included  Kravica Waterfalls Included  Balkan Night with Music and Dinner Included

Departure Dates
17 January – 24 January & 14 March – 18 March – 19 March & 11 April – 22 April – 30 April & 2 May – 9 May – 15 May – 22 May – 23 May & 20 June & 4 July – 18 July & 1 August – 15 August – 29 August & 12 September – 25 September & 9 October – 23 October & 7 November – 14 November

Üç Kuyular 15:00, Üç Yol 15:30, Lausanne Square, 16:00, Karşıyaka Monument 16:30, in front of Bornova Ege University Emergency Department 17:00, Manisa Bus Terminal 18:00, Balıkesir Bus Terminal 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 our passport and customs procedures here, we continue our journey with an overnight drive.

Kavala – Thessaloniki – Atatürk House – Waterfront – Via Egnatia – Aristotelous Square – Greek Tavern

In the morning, we will have breakfast independently along the way. Then, we will proceed to Kavala, one of Greece’s important cities. After the panoramic tour and photo break we will take here, we will continue on our way to Thessaloniki. Upon arriving in Thessaloniki, during our panoramic city tour, we will first see the Church of Agios Dimitrios, the largest church in Greece, followed by the house where the founder and great leader of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was born and lived. Afterwards, the Church of Hagia Sophia, Bey Hamam, Hamza Bey Mosque, Bedesten, White Tower, Rotunda, and the International Fairgrounds are among the places we will see. During the free time after our tour, we recommend that you take a walk along the famous waterfront of Thessaloniki, known for its cafés and shops, and visit Aristotelous Square. After the free time, we will see the statue of Alexander the Great before heading to our hotel. Following our tour, we will transfer to our hotel. In the evening, we will depart from our hotel for the Greek Taverna Tour , which will be organized as part of the tour fee. After enjoying our meal and having a great time accompanied by Greek melodies, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be purchased as an extra along the way. Soup, a breakfast plate, börek, and brewed tea options may be considered (not included in the tour fee).
Lunch: Free time in Thessaloniki. You may prefer seafood at the fish restaurants along the waterfront (not included in the tour fee)
Dinner: Greek Taverna (included in the tour fee).
Currency: € (Euro)
Route: Istanbul – Thessaloniki (590 km),
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 590 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated at 17:30, depending on the duration of the customs crossing

Thessaloniki – Bitola (Monastir) – Ohrid

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we leave the hotel with our luggage and continue our journey toward the Greece–Macedonia border. Following passport and customs procedures, we arrive in the city of Bitola (Monastir), where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk attended high school and which is also home to the military high school. During the tour we will take here, the military high school, which today houses the Atatürk Memorial Room and also hosts the city’s archaeological museum, Širok Sokak, the New Mosque, and Eleni Karite’s balcony are just some of the places we will see. After our tour here, you can have lunch at the restaurants on Širok Sokak during the free time provided. At the meeting time given by our guide, we depart and continue our journey toward Ohrid. Upon arriving in Ohrid, we begin our walking tour. During our tour of this beautiful city, which was founded on the shores of Lake Ohrid and is famous for its pearl, while itself being like a pearl, some of the places we will see include 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, you will have free time for shopping and leisure. We recommend that you have a glass of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish quarter. After our tour, we depart for our hotel upon meeting at the specified place and time. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay (included in the tour price)
Lunch: Will be taken during free time in the city of Bitola (Monastir) (not included in the tour price) 
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel as an open buffet or set menu (included in the tour price)
Currencies: € (Euro) in Greece, Dinar in Macedonia (1€ = 61 Dinar)
Route:  Thessaloniki – Monastir (219 km), Monastir – Ohrid (70 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 289 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated depending on the duration of the border crossing: 20:3

 

Ohrid – Tetovo (Kalkandelen) – Skopje

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel with our luggage. Following a short and delicious break in Straza along the route, we continue to Tetovo, one of the important cities of Macedonia, where the majority of the population is Albanian. Upon arrival, we visit the Painted Mosque, perhaps one of the most colorful sights you may ever see. During our visit, we will also drink ice-cold mountain water from the fountain in the mosque courtyard before continuing our journey to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arriving in Skopje, we set out to explore the streets of this city that embraces both 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, the Double Bath, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, the clock tower, the Stone Bridge, Skopje Fortress, the groups of statues built as part of the 2014 project, 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 run 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. Following our tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel. In the evening, we depart from the hotel for our dinner, music, and entertainment-filled Balkan Night tour , which will be organized as part of the tour price. After enjoying the food and having a wonderful time with Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, we transfer back to our hotel for overnight accommodation.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at our hotel (Included in the tour price)
Lunch: Free time in Skopje Bazaar (Not included in the tour price).
Dinner: Balkan Night (Included in the tour price).
Currency: Macedonian Denar (1€ = 61 Denars)
Route: Ohrid – Skopje (170 km),
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 200 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 18:00

Skopje – Matka Canyon – Prizren – Pristina – Shkodër

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel with our luggage. First, our guide takes us to Matka Canyon, included in our tour program, where we will enjoy a pleasant walk in nature and breathe in the fresh air. After our enjoyable walk here, we set off and reach the North Macedonia–Kosovo border. Following passport and customs procedures, we arrive in Kosovo, the world’s second-newest and Europe’s newest state. First, we arrive in Prizren, which bears many traces of the Ottoman Empire and where you will feel as though you are in an Anatolian town. During our walking tour here, some of the sights we will see include the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the minaret of the Arasta Mosque, the Ottoman bathhouse, the stone bridge, the Turkish consulate and the fortress. We definitely recommend that you taste the region’s delicious dishes during the free time we will have here. After completing our Prizren tour, we set off to visit the mausoleum built at the place where the tent of Murat Hüdavendigâr, one of the important sultans of Ottoman history, was pitched during his reign, and where his organs were embalmed and buried after he lost his life following the battle. After visiting the mausoleum, we see Pristina panoramically from the road, complete our visits in Kosovo and set off toward the city of Shkodër in Albania for our overnight stay. Upon arrival, we settle into the hotel, have dinner and spend the night at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay (included in the tour price)
Lunch: Free time in Pristina Bazaar (not included in the tour price).
Dinner: Will be served as an open buffet or set menu at the hotel (included in the tour price)
Currencies: Macedonian Denar (1€ = 61 Denars) in North Macedonia, € (Euro) in Kosovo, Albanian Lek (1€ = 124 Lek) in Albania
Route: Skopje – Pristina (95 km), Pristina – Prizren (86 km), Prizren – Shkodër (187 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 390 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 19:30

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, panoramically viewing Sv. Stefan Island, which was purchased by a Singaporean multi-billionaire, and then proceed by panoramically viewing the city of Budva, famous for its beaches, 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 slopes of the mountain, one of Montenegro’s tourist centers, both your minds and hearts will remain here. Upon our arrival, some of the important sights and stories we will see and hear during our walking city tour include the mansions of Kotor’s prominent families, St. Tryphon’s Cathedral, the Orthodox church and the squares. 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; follow the aromas in the city’s narrow streets 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 magnificent cake can be found; we recommend it to all dessert lovers. After our free time, we leave Kotor and first cross from Montenegro into Croatia, arriving 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 the Pile Gate, Ploče Gate, Onorphius 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 admiring the sea or the medieval streets. After our free time, we meet at the time and place specified by our guide, leave Dubrovnik, first cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and transfer to our hotel in Medjugorje. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay (included in the tour price)
Lunch: Free time in Kotor (not included in the tour price).
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel as an open buffet or set menu (included in the tour price)
Currencies: Albanian Lek (1€ = 124 Lek), € in Montenegro, Kuna in Croatia (1€ = 7.6 Kuna)
Route: Shkodër – Kotor (110 km), Kotor – Dubrovnik (93 km), Dubrovnik – Trebinje (35 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 260 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 20:30

Medjugorje – Kravica – Počitelj – Mostar – Sarajevo

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave the hotel with our luggage. First, we head to the Kravica Waterfalls, a natural wonder included in our tour program. Following our free time here, we arrive at Pocitelj, a garrison village dating back to the Ottoman era. Here, after seeing the Ottoman houses, bathhouse, mosque and old cobblestone streets, and sipping our Turkish teas and Bosnian coffees, we leave the village. 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. With its narrow and authentic Ottoman-era streets, Mostar will transport you to an entirely different world. 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 jumping from the bridge for show, a tradition with roots going back many years. During our free time after the tour, you can buy souvenirs unique to Mostar or take a pleasant meal break. After our free time, we meet our vehicle at the time and place specified by our guide and 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 city’s symbol, the Sebilj fountain, Gazi Husrev Bey Madrasa, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the bezistan, the clock tower, the various shops of Baščaršija, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 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 the magnificent Bosnian burek, or explore the city by getting lost in its European and Ottoman-era streets. Following our tour, we have Bosnia’s famous meatballs, cevapi, for dinner in the city center. (Depending on the hotel where we stay, dinner may also be served at the hotel.) After dinner, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. Overnight at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay (included in the tour price)
Lunch: Free time in Mostar (not included in the tour price).
Dinner: We will have the famous Bosnian meatballs in Sarajevo’s Baščaršija. 8-piece Bosnian meatballs, salad and beverage (included in the tour price) (Depending on the hotel where we stay, dinner may also be served at the hotel)
Currency: Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark (1 € = 1.96 KM)
Route: Trebinje – Mostar (116 km), Mostar – Sarajevo ( 130 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 290 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 20:30

Sarajevo – Belgrade

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we check out and set off towards Belgrade with our luggage. Continuing through the plateaus and villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we cross 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 views of wide plains, villages and magnificent landscapes that are the complete opposite of what we have seen. During the walking tour we will take upon arrival, some of the sights we will see include Knez Mihajlova Street, Kalemegdan, the Monument to France, Istanbul Gate, the Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, the panoramic viewpoint, the Victor Monument, Zindan Gate, Leopoldov Gate, the Clock Tower and the city walls. After our walking tour, you can stroll through the lively streets of Belgrade, taste different ice cream flavors at an ice cream shop recommended by your guide, or enjoy a pleasant coffee while taking in the surroundings and the city. Following our tour, we transfer to our hotel by vehicle. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay (Included in the tour price)
Lunch: In the city of Zvornik, at Luna Hotel & Restaurant, we can choose from lamb tandoori, fish, meatballs and soup options as desired (Not included in the tour price).
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel as an open buffet or set menu (Included in the tour price)
Currencies: Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark (1 € = 1.96 KM), Serbian Dinar (1€ = 118 Dinars)
Route: Sarajevo – Belgrade (294 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 320 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 20:30

Belgrade – Sofia – Izmir

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we check out and depart for Sofia with our luggage. Upon arrival 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, the Church of Hagia Sofia, the Rotunda Church, the Archaeological Museum, the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. Following the free time after the panoramic tour, we meet at the time and place designated by our guide and depart from Sofia. Upon arrival at the Kapıkule border gate, after completing the passport and customs procedures, we return to Izmir via the highway. Upon our arrival in Izmir, 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.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at our hotel (included in the tour price)
Lunch: Free time in Sofia (not included in the tour price).
Dinner: Will be served at a roadside facility within the borders of Türkiye (not included in the tour price).
Currency: Euro
Route: Belgrade – Sofia (391 km), Sofia – Izmir (1045 km)
Approximate Distance to Be Covered: 1436 km