Balkan Pearls by Bus (6 Nights) Departure 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 – Kicevo – Ohrid (1) 
Elbasan – Tirana – Lezhe – Shkodra (1) – Podgorica – Petrovac – Budva – Kotor – 
Herceg Novi – Dubrovnik – Medjugorje (1) – Mostar – Blagaj – Jablanica – Konjic – Sarajevo (1) – Belgrade (1) – Sofia

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

We start our tour by picking up you, our valued guests, from our Departure Points: Üçkuyular at 15:00, Üçyol at 15:30, Lausanne Square at 16:00, Karsiyaka Monument at 16:30, Bornova Ege University Emergency Front at 17:00, Manisa Bus Terminal at 18:00, Balikesir Bus Terminal at 20:00, Bursa in front of the Old Stadium at 22:00. We arrive at the Ipsala border gate via Gelibolu. Following the passport and customs procedures we will perform here, we continue our journey with an overnight ride.

After having breakfast at leisure in Kavala, we taste the famous Kavala cookies and take a short photo break on the Kavala coastline. Then we continue our journey towards Thessaloniki. We visit the house where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in Thessaloniki, leave from there, and continue our journey towards the Greece-Macedonia border. After passport and customs procedures, we continue our journey towards Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon our arrival in Skopje, we set out to explore the streets of this city embracing both East and West. While wandering through the surviving section of the largest bazaar built outside the capital in Ottoman history, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, Cifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, clock tower, stone bridge, Skopje Fortress, sculpture groups built within the scope of the 2019 European Capital of Culture, Macedonia Square, Vardar River, and the Alexander the Great statue are just some of what we will see in this magnificent city. If you are lucky and they haven't sold out early that morning, you should eat the famous badem ezmesi (almond paste), drink a cold borovitsa if it's the season, and taste the kikiriki. After our tour, transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel.

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel along with our luggage. Guests who wish can participate in the extra Matka Canyon tour to be organized (20 Euros) (Guests not participating in the tour will rest at a cafe on the way). Our guide takes us to Matka Canyon to take a pleasant walk in nature and store up oxygen. Following the pleasant walk we will make here, we continue our journey towards Tetovo. You will be amazed when you see the Painted Mosque (Alaca Mosque) built by two sisters. After visiting this mosque, adorned with pencil work which is an important decorative art in the Balkans, and tasting the ice-cold water flowing from the fountain originating from Mount Shar, we continue our journey to Ohrid. Following a short and delicious break we will give in Straza on the route, we start our walking city tour upon our arrival in Ohrid. During our tour in this beautiful city, which is built on the shore of Lake Ohrid, famous for its pearls, and is like a pearl itself, we will see Ohrid houses, the Church of St. Sophia, Damat Ali Pasha Mosque, Halveti Tekke and Mosque, and the Turkish quarter. After touring Ohrid on foot, free time for your shopping and enjoyment. We recommend you drink a cup of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish quarter. Guests who wish can participate in the extra Ohrid Lake Boat tour to be organized after the city tour (15 Euros). After the pleasant and peaceful trip lasting about 1 hour on the lake, we return to Ohrid. After our tour, meeting at the specified place and time, we depart for our hotel. Upon our arrival, check-in to the rooms. In the evening, guests who wish can participate in the extra Macedonian Night tour with dinner, music, and entertainment (45 Euros). After enjoying the meals and having fun to the fullest with Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, transfer to our hotel and overnight stay.

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we complete our check-out procedures and leave our hotel along with our luggage. Guests who wish can participate in the extra Sv. Naum and boat tour to be organized (30 Euros). We go to the location of the Sv. Naum Monastery, also known as Sarı Saltuk, established right on the shore of the Lake Ohrid source. We perform our boat tour on the natural spring known as Black Drim, which has a magnificent natural beauty. During the free time to be given here after the boat tour, if you wish, you can visit the church where the tomb of Sv. Naum is also located. After our tour, we go to the Macedonia-Albania border gate. After the customs and passport procedures we will perform here, we arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania, via Elbasan. During our panoramic tour here, Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg statue, the opera house, Et'hem Bey Mosque, and Enver Hoxha's pyramid are just some of what we will see. During the free time given, we suggest you taste Trileche, the famous Albanian dessert meaning three milks. After our tour, we go to our hotel in Shkodra via Lezhe. Upon our arrival, check-in to the rooms. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and leave the 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 esteemed guests a short photo break at a spot overlooking the island of Sv. Stefan, which was purchased by a Singaporean multi-billionaire. After the photo break, we proceed, seeing the city of Budva, famous for its beaches, panoramically from our vehicle. Immediately after Budva, one of the ideal centers abroad for a seaside holiday, we arrive at Kotor, one of the most important surviving medieval sites. When you see the city of Kotor, which has defied the centuries in the depths of the bay and on the mountainside, and is one of the touristic centers of Montenegro, both your mind and heart will stay here. With our arrival, during the walking tour we will take, the mansions of families very important for Kotor, Saint Tryphon Church, the Orthodox church, squares, and the beautiful stories we will see and hear will be only some of them. During the free time we will give in this city, if the season and weather permit, you can climb the stairs to the chapel at the very top of the walls and take magnificent landscape photos from here, follow the aromas in the narrow streets of the city to taste different and magnificent dishes, sip your drink in one of the squares, and visit the Cat Museum, one of the most interesting museums in the city. Don't forget to ask your guide where that magnificent cake is in this city, it is our recommendation to all sweet lovers. After the free time, we leave Kotor and first cross from Montenegro to Croatia. Guests who wish can join the optional Dubrovnik tour (40 Euros) (Guests not participating in the tour will rest at a facility). We arrive at Dubrovnik, one of the most popular holiday centers of recent years, used as the shooting set of the popular TV series Game Of Thrones, and a historically very important settlement in terms of relations with the Ottoman Empire. During the walking tour we will make inside the fortress, the Pile Gate, Ploce Gate, Onofrio's Fountain, the world's first pharmacy, Franciscan Monastery, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, and Rector's Palace are some of the things we will see. After our pleasant tour in this city smelling of the Middle Ages, during the free time we will give, you can explore the narrow streets of the city, shop in the stores, taste seafood, or drink a pleasant coffee while watching the sea or the medieval streets. After the free time, meeting at the time and place given by our guide, we leave Dubrovnik and first cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transfer to our hotel and check-in to rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel. (Depending on regional density, accommodation will be made in the Medjugorje or Trebinje region.)

After breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and leave the hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish can join the optional Kravice Waterfalls tour (25 Euros). You will admire the Kravice waterfalls, a wonder of nature. You must definitely drink a coffee against the view of the waterfall. After the pleasant time we will spend here, our next stop is Mostar, one of the most important cities of the region, destroyed by the fire of Croatian artillery during the Bosnian War in our recent history, later rebuilt with the contributions of the Republic of Turkey, famous for its bridge listed on the UNESCO world heritage list, and which will take you to a completely different world with its narrow and authentic streets dating back to the Ottomans. During our tour here, the Mostar Bridge, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Catholic Cathedral, Turkish Consulate, and martyrs' cemetery are some of the things we will see. If we are on a lucky day, we may also see young people jumping from the bridge for show purposes, but whose story goes back a long time. During the free time we will provide after our tour, you can buy souvenirs specific to Mostar and take a nice meal break. After the free time, we meet our vehicle at the time and place specified by our guide and continue our way. Guests who wish can join the optional Blagaj tour (20 Euros). Blagaj, where we will visit the Dervish House (Tekke) established right on the bank of the Buna River springing from under the mountain, will allow you to accumulate unforgettable memories. In addition to its natural beauty, we will also listen to the story and history of the tekke from our guide. After our tour, we continue our way towards Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With our arrival, we start exploring the center of the city on foot. In our walking tour, the symbol of the city Sebilj, Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, bezistan, clock tower, various shops of Baščaršija, Sacred Heart Cathedral, eternal flame, Latin Bridge, and Fatih Mosque are just some of the things we will see. After our walking tour, you can drink Bosnian coffee in cafes unique to Bosnia, lose yourself with the magnificent Bosnian pastry (börek), or explore the city by getting lost in its streets remaining from the European and Ottoman periods. Transfer to our hotel after our tour. In the evening, guests who wish can join the optional Bosnian Night tour with music, dinner, and entertainment. We recommend you not to miss this pleasant night where we will taste the delicious dishes of Bosnia accompanied by Bosnian music (55 Euros). Transfer to our hotel after our tour. Overnight stay at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and leave the hotel with our luggage. Guests who wish can join the optional Vrelo Bosne and Tunnel of Hope tour (30 Euros). On our tour, we first go to Vrelo Bosne, the source of the Bosna River. After taking a pleasant walk and taking our photos in this natural park located right on the edge of Sarajevo at the foot of Mount Igman, 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 was the scene of the most dramatic events of our recent history. Here, after listening to the information our guide will give about the war and the tunnel, we visit the house of Grandma Sida, located in the garden of the tunnel, which is visited as a museum today. After our tour, we depart for Belgrade. With a pleasant journey continuing through the highlands and villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we cross the border gate on the Drina River, which we are familiar with from books, and enter another country on our program. After the winding roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we reach Belgrade by watching wide plains, villages, and magnificent views that are the exact opposite of what we saw. During our walking tour after our arrival, Knez Mihajlova Street, Kalemegdan, Monument of Gratitude to France, Stambol Gate, Damad Ali Pasha Tomb, panorama point, Victor Monument, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, clock tower, and walls are just some of the things we will see. After our walking tour, you can wander the bustling streets of Belgrade, taste different ice cream flavors at the ice cream shop recommended by your guide, or drink a pleasant coffee while watching the surroundings and the city. After our tour, guests who wish can join the optional Belgrade Boat Tour (20 Euros). On this tour to be made on the Danube and Sava rivers, you will have the opportunity to watch the city of Belgrade from the river and see the war island more closely. After our tour, transfer to our hotel and room placement. Overnight stay at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we complete our check-out procedures and set off for Sofia with our luggage. With our arrival in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, we start our panoramic city tour. During this tour, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is the second largest Orthodox church in the Balkans, Russian Church, St. Sophia Church, Church of St George (Rotunda), Archaeological Museum, Presidency, Prime Ministry, and Banya Bashi Mosque are some of the places we will see. After the panoramic tour and the free time we will give, we leave Sofia and continue our way towards the border gate. Arriving at the Kapikule border gate and after passport and customs procedures there, we return to Istanbul following the highway. Upon our arrival in Izmir, we leave you, our esteemed guests, at the points where we picked you up, and say goodbye to you with the wish to see you again on our next tour.