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- Istanbul Dynamic Head-to-Head Balkan Tour 8 Countries (All Day Tours, Dinner and Balkan Nights Included)
Istanbul Dynamic Head-to-Head Balkan Tour 8 Countries (All Day Tours, Dinner and Balkan Nights Included)
BALKANS TOUR FROM A TO Z 8 COUNTRIES
2026
ALL DAY TOURS AND DINNERS INCLUDED
VRELO BOSNA NATIONAL PARK – POČITELJ TOUR – SVETI NAUM TOUR – MATKA CANYON TOUR – BLAGAJ TOUR SARAJEVO BOŞNAK MEATBALLS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS WITH REAL MACEDONIAN PROGRAMS INCLUDED DIFFERENTLY
VRELO BOSNA NATIONAL PARK – POČITELJ TOUR – SVETI NAUM TOUR – MATKA CANYON TOUR – BLAGAJ TOUR SARAJEVO BOŞNAK MEATBALLS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS WITH REAL MACEDONIAN PROGRAMS INCLUDED DIFFERENTLY
The Journey to the Heart of the Balkans,
Where Civilizations, Cultures, and Faiths Meet
A Meeting Point of History and Civilizations.
Bulgaria – Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatia
Montenegro – Albania – Macedonia - Greece
Sofia – Belgrade – Sarajevo – Konjic - Mostar – Blagay - Počitelj – Trebinje – Dubrovnik – Herceg Novi - Kotor – Budva – Shkodra – Tirana – Ohrid – Struga – Tetovo – Skopje – Thessaloniki
Bulgaria – Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatia
Montenegro – Albania – Macedonia - Greece
Sofia – Belgrade – Sarajevo – Konjic - Mostar – Blagay - Počitelj – Trebinje – Dubrovnik – Herceg Novi - Kotor – Budva – Shkodra – Tirana – Ohrid – Struga – Tetovo – Skopje – Thessaloniki
Tour Departure Dates :
April 19 / April 26 / May 17 / May 24 / May 31 / June 7 / June 14 / June 21 / June 28 / July 5 / July 12 / July 19 / July 26 / August 2 / August 9 / August 16 / August 23 / August 30 / September 13 / September 27 / October 11 / October 25 / November 8
Special Days :
April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day: April 19
April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day: April 19
May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk Youth and Sports Day: May 17
Eid al-Adha: May 24
July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day: July 12
Eid al-Adha: May 24
July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day: July 12
Republic Day : October 25
November Semester: November 8
November Semester: November 8
Day 1 Istanbul - Sofia
On the first day of our tour, we depart at 21:00 from Kadıköy Marriage Office, at 21:30 from Mecidiyeköy Oto Ekspertiz front, and at 22:00 from İncirli Ömür Plaza front, 22:30 from Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Front, heading to Kapıkule border gate. After customs, passport, and border crossing procedures, we are heading towards Sofia.
Day 2 Sofia – Belgrade
In the early morning hours, we arrive in Sofia and start our panoramic city tour. We will see St. Nedelya Church, the Russian Church, Rotunda Church, Hagia Sophia Church, the Parliament, the National Library, the Old Royal Palace, Sofia University, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Presidency, the Prime Ministry, and Banya Bashi Mosque among the sights. We will also have the opportunity to see the military house where our great leader M. Kemal Atatürk wore a Janissary outfit to attend a ball. After the tour and some free time, we will head to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade.
Upon arrival, our panoramic city tour in Belgrade will begin; we start from Knez Mihailova street, which is the most elegant street of the city, a symbol of liveliness and motion, one of Europe’s oldest cities. Then we move to the Belgrade Fortress, where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded for, but the conquest was granted to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. Inside the fortress, we will see the Key Keeper Monument, the French statue, the Istanbul Gate, the Military Museum, the tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, Sokullu Fountain, and end our tour at the terrace area where we see the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, the most beautiful view of the city. Guests can join a boat activity on the Danube and Sava rivers (20 EUR) organized by our guide if they wish. After the tour, we will have leisure time before heading to our hotel in Belgrade.
Breakfast: It will be taken at a rest area as an extra.
Breakfast: It will be taken at a rest area as an extra.
Lunch: At a Turkish restaurant determined by the guide in Sofia, during the free time.
Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or restaurant, which is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Abba etc. – Belgrade
Currencies : Bulgaria – Lev ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 Lev )
Currencies : Bulgaria – Lev ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 Lev )
Route: Istanbul-Sofia (551 km), Sofia – Belgrade (392 km)
Total Distance Covered: 943 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated based on customs processing time: 19:00
Day 3 Belgrade – Sarajevo – Vrelo Bosna
After breakfast, we head towards Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After arriving, we will perform a panoramic city tour of Sarajevo, which has served as the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries, known for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Serbs in 1914, which led to World War I, and was greatly damaged during the war among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks in 1992, but still retains a great deal of its beauty. During the tour, we will visit the Baščaršija, which is Europe’s most unique bazaar. The tour starts at the famous Sebilj Fountain, which symbolizes the bazaar, followed by the Morica Han, and then we visit Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, a relative of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. During our tour, we will see the Clock Tower and the famous “Eternal Flame” monument. After the tour and free time, we will transfer to our hotel.Afterwards, lunch included, we will have Bosnian Meatball at a local restaurant.
Breakfast: It will be served at the hotel as a buffet and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: During the free time, at a rest area determined by the guide while traveling from Belgrade to Sarajevo.
Dinner: At a local restaurant, which is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Homestory etc. – Sarajevo
Currencies: Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 KM), Serbia – Dinar (Average Rate 1 Euro: 115 Dinar)
Currencies: Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka (Average Rate 1 Euro: 1.95 KM), Serbia – Dinar (Average Rate 1 Euro: 115 Dinar)
Route: Belgrade-Sarajevo (294 km)
Total Distance Covered: 294 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated based on customs processing time 19:00
Day 4 Sarajevo – Blagay - Mostar – Trebinje (Dubrovnik)
After breakfast, we head towards Mostar. Before that, we will visit Blagay and reach Mostar. (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!) After arriving in Mostar, we will walk and do a city tour, first seeing the Mostar Bridge (built by Architect Hayreddin in 1557, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture). The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery in 1992 but was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. We will explore the old town bazaar and enjoy free time to shop at the local markets in Mostar. The visit to the Osmanlı village of Počitelj, which has been preserved since the 16th century filled with Ottoman structures, will be next. (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!) After our tour of this authentic village, where even the playing children speak Turkish, we will head towards Trebinje. Accommodation may be in Trebinje or surrounding cities depending on regional capacity. Overnight at our hotel. Guests can join an evening tour of Dubrovnik (45 EUR) if they wish.
During the Dubrovnik panoramic tour, we will walk around the old town square, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Towers, magnificent walls, the Franciscan Monastery from the 14th century, which also hosts the oldest pharmacy in the world, Rector's Palace, city gates, towers, and other significant structures will be included. After the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel.
Breakfast: It will be served at the hotel as a buffet and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: It will be taken during free time in Mostar city center as extra.- You can taste all the local delicacies. Guide Recommendation: Bosnian Pie, Onion Stuffed, Meatballs, Bosnian Coffee.
Dinner: Dinner will be served at our hotel or restaurant, which is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Leotar etc. – Trebinje or surroundings
Currencies Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM )
Currencies Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM )
Route: Sarajevo – Mostar (126 km), Mostar – Trebinje (116 km)
Total Distance Covered: 242 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated based on road conditions: 18:00
Day 5 Trebinje – Kotor – Budva – Tirana – Ohrid
After breakfast, we cross into Montenegro, one of the world's youngest states. Our first stop is Kotor, an important history and nature heaven and a tourist attraction. Here, we will walk in Stari Grad (Old Town-Castle) and get to know this charming town. After the Kotor tour, we will head to Budva, where we will see the stunning St. Stefan from a panoramic view after a stop to admire the island's beauty, which was once a fishing village and has now been transformed with renovations for tourism. After passing through Albania Tirana, we arrive at Ohrid. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: It will be served at the hotel as a buffet and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: It will be taken during free time in Kotor city center.- You can taste all the local delicacies. Guide Recommendation: Seafood, Appetizers, Grills, Local Beverages.
Dinner: Will be served at a rest area along the way, which is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Village etc., Ohrid
Currencies : Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka (Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM), Montenegro – Euro, Macedonia – Denar (Average Rate 1 Euro : 60 Denar)
Currencies : Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Marka (Average Rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM), Montenegro – Euro, Macedonia – Denar (Average Rate 1 Euro : 60 Denar)
Route: Trebinje-Kotor (81 KM), Kotor-Budva (22 KM), Budva – Tirana (180 KM), Tirana – Ohrid (134 KM)
Total Distance Covered: 417 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Based on customs processing time: 23:30
Day 6 Ohrid – St.Naum - Tetova (Kalkandelen) – Skopje
After breakfast at the hotel, we continue over the Mavrovo mountains for a tour of Ohrid, a Mediterranean town in the Balkans. We start our tour in Ohrid at the Harbor Square, where we will talk about the statues we see and walk through the historical neighborhood where scenes from the series Elveda Rumeli were filmed, viewing the historic Ottoman houses, the church of St. Sophia, and concluding our tour with the presentation of the famous Ohrid pearl, the most significant symbol of Ohrid. Guests can join a boat activity on Lake Ohrid organized by our guide (15 EUR). After this, we will proceed to visit the site of St. Naum, which has monumental views. Next, we will start our journey toward the capital, Skopje. Along the way, we will visit Tetova (Kalkandelen), the third largest city in the country and the one with the highest Albanian population. We will visit the Alaca Mosque and its Imaret. We will start our city tour from the Macedonian side, where there are many massive statues, and the prominent Grand Alexander statue will be among the first we see followed by the historic Skopje Stone Bridge where we will witness how cultures change so abruptly crossing the Vardar river, heading towards the Old Turkish Bazaar of Skopje, which is one of the most important structures of Ottoman bazaar organizations consisting of Davut Pasha bath, Kapan Han, and Murat Pasha Mosque which survived despite the earthquakes. After our visit, we will have one hour for shopping in Turkish Bazaar. Options include bulgarian peppers, ustrumca, and various items. After this tour, we will transfer to our hotel and check-in. Finally, we will have a Makedonian Night with local meals and music at a location determined by the guide which is included! Overnight at our hotel.
Breakfast: It will be served at the hotel as a buffet and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: It will be taken during free time in Ohrid city center as extra.- You can taste all local flavors. Guide Recommendation: Ohrid Trout, Meatballs, and Baked Beans.
Dinner: At a local place with Makedonian Night, which is included!
Accommodation: Hotel Gold etc. – Skopje
Currencies : Macedonia – Denar ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 60 Denar)
Currencies : Macedonia – Denar ( Average Rate 1 Euro : 60 Denar)
Route: Ohrid-Tetova(Kalkandelen) (133 KM), Tetova - Skopje (45 KM)
Total Distance Covered: 178 km
Hotel Check-in Time: 19:00
Day 7 Skopje – Matka Canyon - Thessaloniki - Istanbul
After breakfast, we visit the Matka Canyon, known for its stunning beauty (INCLUDED IN PRICE!!!). Afterwards, we head to Thessaloniki. Upon arrival, we will commence our Thessaloniki city tour. We will see the Promenade, White Tower, Rotunda, Exhibition Square, Ottoman and Byzantine monuments, Greece's largest cathedral Aya Dimitros, the statue of Alexander the Great, Hamza Bey Mosque, E. Venizelos-P. Konstantinos Statues, Vardar, Macedonia, Aristotle, Eleftherios squares are among the places to visit. We conclude our Thessaloniki tour by visiting the house where our great leader M. Kemal Atatürk was born, and with a bus ride, we will head towards the border crossing at Ipsala passing through İskeçe, Dedeağaç. After completing customary passport and customs procedures, we will be heading towards Istanbul via Tekirdağ.
Breakfast: It will be served at the hotel as a buffet and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: A free extra during Thessaloniki city center.
Dinner: It will be taken at a rest area on the way to İstanbul.
Currencies Greece - Euro
Route: Skopje – Thessaloniki (234 km), Thessaloniki – Kavala (153 KM), Kavala – Istanbul (443 KM)
Total Distance Covered: 830 km
Estimated Arrival Time in Istanbul: Depending on customs processing time: around 02:00.
INFORMATION
- Guests participating in the tour must have a valid multi-entry Schengen visa or a multiple-entry Bulgarian visa for the entire duration of the tour. (Holders of Green Passports are exempt from visa requirements.)
- For shopping and spending in all countries included in the program, it is sufficient to carry Euros. In regions where local currency is used, the guide will assist with currency exchange.
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers should be preferred during the tour. It is advisable to bring a cardigan or similar clothing for the evening.
- On our tours, seat rotation is applied daily in the coach seating plan; fixed seats and front-row seat guarantees are not provided. Seat changes are organized by the tour guide.
- When entering Turkey from abroad, a minimum stay of 3 days is required in order to bring goods (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) into the country.
- Duty-free shopping limits when entering Turkey from abroad: Cigarettes: 3 cartons; Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of alcoholic beverage (for alcoholic drinks with more than 22% alcohol, excluding wine and champagne); Alcoholic beverages: 2 liters of alcoholic beverage (for alcoholic drinks with less than 22% alcohol, including wine and champagne); Perfume: 600 ml; Makeup or skincare products: 5 items; Chocolate and confectionery: 2 kg; Coffee: 1 kg; Tea: 1 kg.
- The guide may make changes to the itinerary flow depending on weather and road conditions, provided that all places specified in the program are shown.
- Guests who register for the tour have the right to cancel free of charge up to 30 days before the tour date. If the cancellation is made less than 30 days before the tour, a 30% penalty applies, and if it is 20 days or less before the tour, a 100% penalty applies. Documents submitted with the cancellation request, such as hospital reports, workplace leave documents, etc. obtained from authorities in Turkey, are unfortunately not accepted for the cancellation of hotel and service bookings outside Turkey.
- Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation of 25 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved, the latest cancellation notice date is 20 days before the tour departure. The canceled tour due to insufficient participation will be notified by Viyatravel.
- In cases where only category information is provided without specifying a hotel name and/or there are multiple options for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be announced by Viyatravel 2 days before departure.
- During fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used at distances greater than those specified. In such cases, information will be provided by Viyatravel 15 days before the tour departure.
- Triple rooms are subject to hotel availability, and in such rooms the bed allocated to the third person is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable and/or coach beds, participants booking as the third person and/or child are deemed to have accepted the possible cramped conditions and bed type. Child discounts are valid only for one child in 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 being visited and are generally a limited menu known as a continental breakfast, consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee. For groups, breakfast may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group.
- Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours lasting no more than 2-3 hours, organized to introduce the cities in general, and conducted panoramically from the vehicle with guide commentary, without museum or archaeological site entrance fees. Viyatravel is not responsible if panoramic tours, including other tours specified in the program, cannot be carried out on the day and time of the tour due to restrictions imposed by local authorities, road closures caused by events, or weather conditions making the tour impossible. Some tours may, where possible, be conducted by public transport or on foot in areas closed to vehicle access or where vehicle entry is not permitted.
- Waiting times at border gates crossed by road during the journey may exceed standard times; Viyatravel cannot be held responsible for any inconveniences caused by these waiting times.
- Extra tours are organized by the local Viyatravel service provider with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If the required number is not met, the excursions cannot be carried out, or the extra tour price, content, and vehicle used may vary depending on 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 historical sites at the destination and weather conditions.
- Extra tours are optional and not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in optional tours during the trip are deemed to have accepted waiting at a suitable rest stop along the route. These passengers will be dropped off at a roadside rest area before the extra tour begins and picked up again from the same point after the tour is completed.
- For passengers on air tours, check-in and boarding procedures are personal responsibilities and must be completed by the guest before the flight at the relevant airline counters at the airport or online through the airline’s website.
- Viyatravel is not responsible for passengers who do not arrive at the airport at the times specified by Viyatravel for participation in the tour, or who fail to complete check-in and boarding on time, or who complete check-in and boarding on time but do not board the plane. Passengers who miss the flight are responsible for all costs related to purchasing new round-trip tickets needed to join the tour and for transfers in the destination region.
- Viyatravel acts as an intermediary between the passenger and the airline and is subject to the Hague Protocol dated 28.09.1955. On scheduled and special flights, there may be a risk of delay, or the times of the trip and flight may change. Viyatravel is obliged to inform you of these changes as soon as possible. The passenger has purchased the tour accepting the risk of schedule changes. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport taxes and airport service fees.
- The vehicle types used on our tours are classified as follows according to the number of participants. The vehicle types below are assigned based on the number of people on each tour.
Buses: (Used for 25-46 people) *Mercedes Travego/Tourismo *NEOPLAN Cityliner/Tourliner *Temsa Safir/Maraton *Man Fortuna
Midibuses: (Used for 17-24 people) *Isuzu Turkuaz, *Otokar Mega
Minibuses: (Used for up to 16 people) *VW Volt, *Mercedes Sprinter
- All guests are deemed to have accepted the above conditions by purchasing the tour.
What's Included
* All transportation services throughout the program
* Local professional Turkish guiding services
* Accommodation for 1 night in Belgrade, 1 night in Sarajevo, 1 night in Trebinje or surroundings, 1 night in Ohrid, 1 night in Skopje at 3 or 4* hotels with breakfast included.
* Local Restaurant's Macedonian Night (Balkan Night)
* Local Restaurant's Bosnian Meatballs
* Three dinners taken at hotels or restaurants in Belgrade, Trebinje, and Ohrid
* Vrelo Bosna National Park Tour
* Blagay Tour
* Počitelj Tour
* Sveti Naum Tour
* Matka Canyon Tour
* Thessaloniki Tour
* Mandatory local guiding services in some cities
* All highway check-point and parking fees
* Customs Taxes
* Panoramic city tours specified in the program.
* Limited water service inside the vehicle
* Local professional Turkish guiding services
* Accommodation for 1 night in Belgrade, 1 night in Sarajevo, 1 night in Trebinje or surroundings, 1 night in Ohrid, 1 night in Skopje at 3 or 4* hotels with breakfast included.
* Local Restaurant's Macedonian Night (Balkan Night)
* Local Restaurant's Bosnian Meatballs
* Three dinners taken at hotels or restaurants in Belgrade, Trebinje, and Ohrid
* Vrelo Bosna National Park Tour
* Blagay Tour
* Počitelj Tour
* Sveti Naum Tour
* Matka Canyon Tour
* Thessaloniki Tour
* Mandatory local guiding services in some cities
* All highway check-point and parking fees
* Customs Taxes
* Panoramic city tours specified in the program.
* Limited water service inside the vehicle
Not Included
*Museum and archaeological site entrances*
* Tours organized by the guide
* All personal expenses
* City Taxes (20 EUR per person, paid to the guide during the tour)
* Lunches
* Drinks taken during meals
* Tips for the driver and guide
* MULTI SCHENGEN VISA OR MULTIPLE ENTRY BULGARIAN VISA (HOLDERS OF GREEN PASSPORTS ARE EXEMPT FROM VISA).
* Exit tax from abroad
* International travel health insurance
* Tours organized by the guide
* All personal expenses
* City Taxes (20 EUR per person, paid to the guide during the tour)
* Lunches
* Drinks taken during meals
* Tips for the driver and guide
* MULTI SCHENGEN VISA OR MULTIPLE ENTRY BULGARIAN VISA (HOLDERS OF GREEN PASSPORTS ARE EXEMPT FROM VISA).
* Exit tax from abroad
* International travel health insurance
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