Great Balkan Tour 9 COUNTRIES IN 8 DAYS
2026
6 Nights 8 Days – 4* Hotels – Dinner Included
NO EXTRA TOURS – EVERYTHING INCLUDED!!!! KOSOVO PROGRAM
DUBROVNIK – MATKA CANYON – BLAGAJ TEKKESI – VRELO BOSNA, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, BOSNIAN MEATBALLS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS WITH REAL MACEDONIAN NIGHTS, INCLUDED WITH DIFFERENCE
Of Civilizations, Cultures, and Religions,
Journeying to the Heart of the Balkans at the Meeting Point
Meeting Point of Dates and Civilizations.
Greece - Macedonia – Kosovo – Albania – Montenegro
Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia – Bulgaria
23 CITIES – 5 CAPITALS
Kavala – Thessaloniki – Bitola – Resne – Ohrid – Struga – Tetovo - Skopje – Pristina – Prizren – Shkodra – Bar – Petrovac – Budva – Kotor – Herceg Novi – Trebinje – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo – Belgrade – Sofia
Tour Departure Dates :
January 24 / March 14 / March 18 / April 4 / April 11 / April 18 / April 25 / May 2 / May 9 / May 16 / May 23 / May 24 / June 6 / June 13 / June 20 / June 26 / June 27 / July 3 / July 4 / July 10 / July 11 / July 17 / July 18 / July 24 / July 25 / July 31 / August 1 / August 7 / August 8 / August 14 / August 15 / August 21 / August 22 / August 28 / August 29 / September 4 / September 5 / September 12 / September 19 / September 26 / October 3 / October 10 / October 17 / October 24 / October 31 / November 7 / November 28 / December 12
Special Days :
January Semester : January 25
Ramadan Feast and April Semester : March 14 / March 18
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, April 23 : April 18
May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk Youth and Sports Day : May 16
Kurban Bayramı (Feast of Sacrifice) : May 23 / May 24
July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day :July 10 / July 11
August 30 Victory Day : August 28 / August 29
Republic Day : October 24
November Semester : November 7
Day 1 Bursa – Kavala
On the first day of the tour, we depart at 17:30 from the front of the Bursa Nilüfer Migros, traveling through Tekirdağ to reach the İpsala border gate. After completing passport and customs procedures, we proceed to Kavala via Dedeağaç, Gümülcine, and İskeçe.
Day 2 Kavala – Thessaloniki – Bitola (Manastır) – Resne – Ohrid
Upon arrival in Kavala, we stop for breakfast and to taste the famous Kavala cookies. After breakfast, we take a short photo break along the beautiful Kavala beaches before heading to Thessaloniki. Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, we start our panoramic city tour.During the panoramic city tour, we will see the Kordon, White Tower, Rotunda, Fair, Thessaloniki Castle, as well as Ottoman and Byzantine artifacts. After visiting the Church of St. Dimitrios, Greece's largest church, and the house of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk located in the garden of the current Turkish consulate, we will move on to Bitola. After our arrival, Sirok Street, Bedesten, Ishak Mosque, Yeni Mosque, and the places where we will experience the most emotional moments, Atatürk's Military High School will be part of our visit. After visiting Bitola, we arrive at Ohrid via Resne, the hometown of Resneli Niyazi. Transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken at a rest area in Kavala at an extra cost.
Lunch: Will be taken at your leisure in the center of Thessaloniki at an extra cost.- You can taste all the local delicacies. Guide's Recommendation: Seafood and Mezes.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour fee.
Accommodation: Hotel Aqulina etc. – Ohrid
Currencies : Greece - Euro, Macedonia – Denar (Average 1 Euro: 60 Denar)
Route: Istanbul – Kavala (445 km), Kavala – Thessaloniki (136 km), Thessaloniki – Bitola (219 km), Bitola – Ohrid (70 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 870 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Depends on customs crossing time: Estimated: 20:00
Day 3 Ohrid – Sveti Naum – Tetovo (Kalkandelen) – Skopje
After breakfast at the hotel, we will cross the Mavrovo mountains and head towards Ohrid, a Mediterranean town in the Balkans. We start our tour in Ohrid with the Harbor square, providing information about the statues we see; while walking through the neighborhood where the historic Ohrid houses, which were filmed for the "Elveda Rumeli" series, are located, we will see the historic Ottoman houses, the Church of St. Sophia, and conclude with the presentation of the famous Ohrid pearl, the biggest symbol of Ohrid city.Our guests wishing to join the optional Ohrid lake boat activity can do so (15 EUR). After the tour, we will visit St. Naum, a place where the Ohrid lake originates, hosting magnificent views. After the tour, we will begin our journey to the capital Skopje. On our route, we will visit Tetovo (Kalkandelen), the third largest city in the country with the highest Albanian population. We will visit the Alaca Mosque and Imarethane. We will start our tour of this city, which separates two different cultures by the famous Vardar River, with the Macedonian side, where we will first see the impressive Great Alexander statue, and then cross the historic Stone Bridge built over the Vardar River, experiencing how quickly cultures can change as we visit the Turkish Bazaar, one of the most luxurious bazaars in the Balkans during the Ottoman era. After introducing the statues at the bazaar entrance, we will start our tour of the historic Davut Pasha Hammam, followed by the Kapan Han, one of the important structures of the Ottoman bazaar organization, and the Murat Pasha mosque, which has survived earthquakes. After our visits, we will have one hour of free time for shopping in the Turkish Bazaar, where we can find Shushka peppers, Ustrumca peanuts, and traditional slippers among the items to purchase. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and check in. Then, at a location determined by the guide, we will have an optional traditional dinner with music at a Macedonian Night event. (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE !!!!). Overnight at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be available at local restaurants with traditional food along the Ohrid – Skopje route.
Dinner: An optional traditional dinner with music at the designated place by the guide. INCLUDED IN THE PRICE !!!!
Accommodation: Hotel Gold etc. – Skopje
Currencies : Macedonia – Denar (Average 1 Euro: 60 Denar)
Route: Ohrid – Skopje (175 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 170 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated: 20:00
Day 4 Skopje – Prizren – Shkodra or Podgorica
After breakfast at the hotel, we will realize a tour of the famous Matka Canyon (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE !!!). We then head towards the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. After crossing the Kosovo border, we will have a panoramic view of Pristina, the Kosovar Plain where the Kosovo War took place, and we will visit the tomb of I. Sultan Murad Hüdavendigar. Afterward, we will continue our journey to the city of Prizren. After arriving in Prizren, which is known for having the highest Turkish population in the country, we will take a city tour.During our tour of Prizren, one of the sweetest cities in the Balkans, we will see the Turkish Bath dating back to the 17th century, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, and the Prizren Fortress. After the visits, we will have free time for lunch. After we gather, we will cross into Albania, continuing our journey towards Podgorica. After passing through the city of Shkodra, we will travel to Montenegro, one of the youngest states in Europe, thanks to its border crossing and ongoing journey leading us to our accommodation point. We will check in to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be taken at the recommended establishments in the Shadervan Square area in Prizren at an extra cost.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour fee.
Accommodation: Hotel Oasis etc. – Podgorica
Currencies : Kosovo - Euro, Montenegro – Euro
Route: Skopje – Pristina (92 km), Pristina – Prizren (85 km), Prizren – Podgorica (238 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 415 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Depends on customs crossing time: Estimated: 20:00
Day 5 Podgorica - Budva – Kotor – Dubrovnik – Trebinje or Surroundings
After breakfast, our first stop will be a view of the magnificent St. Stefan, a holiday destination of the Jet Set, with its former history as a fisherman’s settlement transformed by sale to a Singaporian billionaire. (Dependent on availability at the parking area) We will continue along breathtaking coastal roads and arrive at Kotor after a panoramic passage through Budva. In Kotor, we will visit attractions like the Old Town, St. Tripun and Nikola Churches, and the historical Clock Tower. After our visit to Kotor, we will head to Croatia, known for its Italian-Mediterranean proximity due to its geography dominating the Adriatic Coast, for the Dubrovnik tour (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!). After a scenic short journey, we will arrive at Dubrovnik, also known as Ragusa in Italian, one of the oldest trading ports on the Adriatic, greatly influenced by Venice, housing a wonderful blend of history and nature. We will begin our city tour with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town Square. Among the places we will see are the Towers and Walls of the City, the Church of St. Blaise, the Duke's Palace, the statue of the famous poet Gundulić, the historical Fountain and the Pharmacy from the 14th century. Following this, we will have free time to explore this beautiful city's enchanting atmosphere.
After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Accommodation will be in Trebinje or nearby hotel. (Depending on seasonal intensity, the city of accommodation may change)
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be available at local restaurants in Kotor at an extra cost.- You can taste all the local delicacies. Guide's Recommendation: Seafood, Mezes, Grills, Local Drinks.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour fee.
Accommodation: Hotel Leotar etc.
Currencies :Montenegro – Euro, Croatia – Euro, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Mark (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 KM)
Route:Shkodra – Budva (86 km), Budva – Kotor (23 km), Kotor - Dubrovnik (90 km), Dubrovnik – Trebinje (31 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 230 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Depends on customs crossing time: Estimated: 21:00
Day 6 Trebinje or (Neum) - Blagay – Mostar – Sarajevo
After breakfast, we will head to Mostar. Before arriving at Mostar, we will visit Blagay Tekke (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!).Upon arrival in Mostar, we will start our walking city tour by first seeing the Mostar Bridge. (The bridge, constructed by Architect Hayreddin in 1557, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture.) The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery in 1992, but with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened in 2004. We will explore the old city's market. After shopping at local markets in Mostar, we will head to Sarajevo. After arriving, we will conduct a panoramic city tour in Sarajevo, which has been the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and was known as the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary leading to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Sarajevo suffered great destruction during the Bosnian War in 1992, however, it still retains much of its beauty.During our tour, we will visit the famous Baščaršija, a cultural hub of Europe. We will kick off our tour with the Sebilj Fountain, which is a symbol of the city, then continue to see the Morica Han, one of the city's most authentic spots. Following this, we will visit the Husein Bey Mosque, which is a relative of Suleiman the Magnificent. In our tour, we will also see the Clock Tower, a famous fountain that has become a ritual, and at the intersection, we will see the Eternal Flame monument, which has become a symbol of the city, followed by free time, and those who wish may photograph the Latin Bridge, which is known as the site of the outbreak of World War I. At the end of our tour and free time, we will transfer to our hotel.Dinner at a local restaurant with Bosnian meatballs. (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!!) Accommodation will be at our hotel in Sarajevo.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be available at Mostar's city center at your leisure at an extra cost. All local delicacies can be tasted. Guide's Recommendation: Bosnian Pita, Onion Stuffed, Meatballs, Bosnian Coffee.
Dinner: Traditional Bosnian Meatballs at a local restaurant. The tour fee covers this.
Accommodation: Hotel Holiday etc. – Sarajevo
Currencies Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Mark (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 KM)
Route:Trebinje – Počitelj (108 km), Počitelj – Blagay (23 km), Blagay – Mostar (12 km), Mostar – Sarajevo (126 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 269 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Dependent on customs crossing time: Estimated: 20:00
Day 7 Sarajevo – Belgrade
After breakfast, we will journey to Belgrade. Before we set off, we will visit Vrelo Bosna, the largest national park in Bosnia located at the foothills of Mount Igman (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!). Upon arrival in Belgrade, which is the new symbol of liveliness and movement, our city tour will commence from the most elegant street, Knez Mihailova street. Next, we will visit the Belgrade Fortress, where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded, but the conquest was destined for Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, as one of the supply centers for the Ottoman navy. Within the fortress, we will see the Key Monument, the French statue, the Istanbul Gate, the Military museum, the Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, the Sokullu Fountain, and the terrace area with the best view of the meeting point of the Danube and Sava rivers. After the tour, we will have free time. Accommodation will be at our hotel in Belgrade.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: We will have extra free time at the resting area determined by the guide between Sarajevo and Belgrade
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour fee.
Accommodation: Hotel B etc. – Belgrade
Currencies Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Mark (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 KM), Serbia – Dinar (Average Rate 1 Euro: 115 Dinar)
Route: Sarajevo – Belgrade (284 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 284 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Depends on customs crossing time: Estimated: 20:00
Day 8 Belgrade – Sofia – Bursa
After breakfast, we will set off for Sofia. Upon arrival, we will start our panoramic city tour. During our panoramic city tour, we will see some of the sites such as the largest church in the Balkans, Alexsander Nevski Cathedral, the National Library, Sofia University, the Old Royal Palace, the National Bulgarian Theater built in a neoclassical style, the Archaeological Museum, the Old Sofia – Union Town, and the Rotunda Church. Then we will walk from the side of the Parliament building to take a panoramic look at the Sofia sculpture and take photos. The visit will also include the Banya Bashi Mosque, the symbol of the city. After the visits and free time, we will head towards Turkey. We expect to reach the Kapikule border gate in the evening for passport and customs procedures and free shop shopping before entering Turkey. After traveling through Çorlu, we will return to our starting points in Bursa, marking the end of the program.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be an extra cost during free time in Sofia.
Dinner: Will be an extra cost at the rest area on the Edirne-Istanbul highway.
Currencies Bulgaria – Lev (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 Lev)
Route: Belgrade - Sofia (393 km) Sofia – Istanbul ( 553 km)
Istanbul Arrival Time: Estimated based on customs processing time: 02:00