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- Bursa Active Big Balkan Tour in 9 Days 9 Countries (All Tours, Dinner and Balkan Nights Included)
Bursa Moving Grand Balkan Tour: 9 Countries in 9 Days
Great Balkan Tour by Bus Departing from Bursa, 9 Countries in 9 Days
Greece - Macedonia – Kosovo – Albania – Montenegro - Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia – Bulgaria
23 Cities – 5 Capitals
Kavala – Thessaloniki – Bitola–Resen-Ohrid – Struga – Tetovo - Skopje – Pristina – Prizren – Shkodër – Bar – Petrovac – Budva – Kotor – Herceg Novi –Trebinje – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo – Belgrade – Sofia – Plovdiv
7 Nights 9 Days
Accommodation in 4* Hotels – Dinner Included
No Extra Tours – All Inclusive - Kosovo Program
Dubrovnik – Matka Canyon – Blagaj Tekke – Vrelo Bosne - Sarajevo Bosnian Meatballs and Authentic Macedonian and Bulgarian Night Programs in Local Restaurants Included
Day 1 Bursa – Kavala
On the first day of our tour, at 17:30 we depart from in front of Bursa Nilüfer Migros and arrive at the İpsala border gate via Tekirdağ. After completing passport and customs procedures, we continue through Alexandroupoli, Komotini and Xanthi to arrive in Kavala.
Day 2 Kavala – Thessaloniki – Bitola – Resen – Ohrid
After arriving in Kavala, we stop for breakfast and to taste the delicious Kavala cookies. After the breakfast break, we take a short photo stop on the beautiful Kavala beaches and then set off for Thessaloniki. Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, we begin our panoramic city tour. During our panoramic tour, we see the waterfront promenade, the White Tower, the Rotunda, the Fair, Thessaloniki Castle, and Ottoman and Byzantine works. After visiting the Church of Saint Demetrius, the largest church in Greece, and Atatürk’s house, where the Turkish consulate is now also located in its garden, we head to Bitola. After arrival, there are Şirok Street, the Bedesten, Ishak Mosque, Yeni Mosque, and the Military High School from which Atatürk graduated, where we will experience the most emotional moments of the trip. After our visit to Bitola, we pass through Resen, the hometown of Resneli Niyazi, and arrive in Ohrid, the pearl of the Balkans. Transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken extra at a rest area in Kavala.
Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Thessaloniki city center. - You can taste all local flavors. Guide Recommendation: Seafood and appetizers.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or in a restaurant and is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Aqulina etc. – Ohrid
Currency: 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: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 20:00
Day 3 Ohrid – Sveti Naum - Tetovo – Skopje
After breakfast at the hotel, we continue by crossing the Mavrovo Mountains and set off for the Ohrid tour, a town with a Mediterranean feel in the Balkans. We begin our tour introducing the city of Ohrid at the Harbor Square, and after speaking about the statues we will see there, we end our tour with a walk through the district where the historical Ohrid houses used in the filming of the TV series Elveda Rumeli are located, seeing the historic Ottoman houses, the Hagia Sophia Church, and the presentation of the famous Ohrid pearl, the biggest symbol of Ohrid. Guests who wish may join the Ohrid Lake boat activity organized by our guide. (15EUR) After our tour, we carry out the St. Naum tour, the source of Ohrid Lake, hosting magnificent views. After the tour, we start our journey to the capital Skopje. Along our route, we visit Tetovo, the country’s third largest city and the city with the highest Albanian population. We visit the Painted Mosque and its soup kitchen, founded by two sisters. We begin our city tour introducing this city, where two different cultures are separated by the famous Vardar River, from the Macedonian side, which we can call the land of statues; among the statues we will first see is the giant statue of Alexander the Great. Then, crossing the historic Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, we experience a moment where we witness how quickly cultures change and move on to Skopje’s Turkish Bazaar, one of the most refined bazaars of the Ottoman Balkans. Speaking about the statues at the bazaar entrance, we begin our bazaar tour with the historic Davut Pasha Bath. Then, seeing Kapan Han, one of the most important structures of Ottoman bazaar organization, and Murat Pasha Mosque, which managed to survive despite earthquakes, we end our tour. After our visits, one hour of free time will be given for shopping in the Turkish Bazaar. Among the items we can buy are Šuska peppers, Strumica peanuts, and opanci. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and settle into rooms. Afterwards, Macedonian Night with local dishes and music at a place to be determined by the guide. (Included in the price). Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken extra at facilities serving authentic tastes on the Ohrid – Skopje route.
Dinner: Macedonian Night with extra local dishes and music at a place to be determined by the guide. Included in the price
Accommodation: Hotel Gold etc. – Skopje
Currency: Macedonia – Denar (Average 1 Euro : 60 Denar)
Route: Ohrid – Skopje (175 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 170 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Approximate: 20:00
Day 4 Skopje – Prizren – Shkodër or Podgorica
After breakfast at the hotel, we take the Matka Canyon tour, known for its unique beauty (included in the price). Then we begin our journey to the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. After crossing the Kosovo border gate, we continue with a panoramic pass through Pristina, the Kosovo Plain where the Kosovo War took place, and after visiting the Tomb of Sultan Murat I Hüdavendigar, we continue to Prizren. Arrival in Prizren. City tour in Prizren, the authentic city with the highest Turkish population in the country. During the panoramic tour in Prizren, perhaps one of the most charming cities in the Balkans, we will see the 17th-century Turkish Bath, Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, and Prizren Castle. After our visits, free time for lunch. After meeting, journey to Podgorica via Albania. Travel to Montenegro, one of Europe’s youngest states, with transit through Shkodër. Arrival at the accommodation point after the border crossing and journey continuing in Montenegro. Settling into 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 price.
Lunch: In Prizren, it can be taken extra at the facilities our guide will recommend in the Shadervan Square area.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or in a restaurant and is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Oasis etc. – Podgorica
Currency: 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: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 20:00
Day 5 Podgorica - Budva – Kotor – Dubrovnik – Trebinje or Surroundings
After breakfast, our first stop is a break where you can see the magnificent St. Stefan from above, which was once an island inhabited by fishermen, later expropriated and then sold to a Singaporean multimillionaire, and today is a vacation spot for the jet set. (Depending on availability in the parking area) We continue along roads with extraordinary views on the Adriatic coast and arrive in Kotor via a panoramic Budva passage, inside the Bay of Kotor. In Kotor, the Old Town, the Churches of Saint Tryphon and Saint Nicholas, and the historic Clock Tower are among the places we will see. After our Kotor tour, in the afternoon we cross into Croatia, one of the three main states that formed the former Yugoslavia, known for adopting the Catholic faith and for its geography that dominates the Adriatic coast, and is therefore closer to Italian-Mediterranean culture than Balkan culture. After a scenic short drive for the Dubrovnik tour (included in the price), we arrive in Dubrovnik, called Ragusa in Italian, one of the Adriatic’s oldest trade ports, which remained under Venetian influence for many years and therefore possesses a magnificent synthesis of history and nature with Italian-style architecture and urban fabric. We begin our tour introducing this beautiful city with the Old Town Square, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city’s Towers and Walls, Saint Blaise Church, Knez Palace, the statue of the famous poet Gundulić, the historic Fountain and the 14th-century Pharmacy are some of the other places we will see. Afterwards, free time to spend in the magical atmosphere of this beautiful city. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel in Trebinje or the surrounding area. (Accommodation city may change depending on seasonal density)
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Kotor city center. - You can taste all local flavors. Guide Recommendation: Seafood, appetizers, grills, local drinks
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or in a restaurant and is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel Leotar etc.
Currency: Montenegro – Euro, Croatia – Euro, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Mark (Average rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM)
Route: Shkodër-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: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 21:00
Day 6 Trebinje or (Neum) - Blagaj – Mostar – Sarajevo
After breakfast, departure for Mostar. Before arrival in Mostar, we carry out the Blagaj Tekke Blagaj tour. (Included in the price). After arrival in Mostar, in our city tour on foot, we first see the Mostar Bridge. (The bridge, built by Mimar Hayreddin in 1557, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture.) The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery in the 1992 war, but with major contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened in 2004. We stroll through the old town bazaar. After free time where you can shop in Mostar’s local markets, we head to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we carry out a panoramic city tour in Sarajevo, which for centuries served as the cultural capital of the Balkans, was the place where World War I began after the Austro-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed here by the Serbs in 1914, and was heavily damaged in the 1992 war as a result of devastating wars among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, yet still largely preserves its beauty. We take a walk in Baščaršija, the most exceptional bazaar in Europe. In our tour introducing this cultural city, we begin with the Sarajevo Sebilj Fountain, which has almost become the symbol of the Bazaar, then we see Morića Han, one of the city’s most authentic spots. Afterwards, we visit the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, a relative of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Continuing our tour, we see the Clock Tower, the famous fountain that has become a ritual, and the meeting point of cultures; this street is also where the symbol of Sarajevo, the Eternal Flame monument, is located, and then we move to free time. Guests who wish may photograph the Latin Bridge, where World War I began, during free time. After our tour and free time, transfer to our hotel.
Afterwards, Bosnian meatballs at a local restaurant to be determined by the guide. (Included in the price) Accommodation at our hotel in Sarajevo.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Mostar city center. - You can taste all local flavors. Guide Recommendation: Bosnian burek, stuffed onions, meatballs, Bosnian coffee
Dinner: Bosnian meatballs at a local restaurant. (Included in the tour price.)
Accommodation: Hotel Holiday etc. – Sarajevo
Currency Bosnia and Herzegovina – Convertible Mark (Average rate 1 Euro : 1.95 KM)
Route: Trebinje-Počitelj (108 km), Počitelj – Blagaj (23 km), Blagaj - Mostar (12 km), Mostar– Sarajevo (126 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 269 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 20:00
Day 7 Sarajevo – Belgrade
After breakfast, journey to Belgrade. Before the trip, we carry out the Vrelo Bosne tour, located at the foot of Mount Igman, Sarajevo’s water source and the largest national park in Bosnia. (Included in the price) After our journey, we begin our Belgrade city tour, one of Europe’s oldest cities and a new symbol of vitality and movement, with Knez Mihailova Street, the city’s most elegant avenue. Then we go to the Belgrade Fortress, one of the supply centers of the Ottoman navy, where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded for its sake but whose conquest fell to Suleiman the Magnificent; inside the fortress we end our tour at the terrace area where we will see the Key Handover Monument, the French statue, Istanbul Gate, the Military Museum, the Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha, Sokollu Fountain, and the confluence point of the Danube and Sava rivers, offering the city’s most beautiful view. Guests who wish may join the Danube and Sava river boat activity organized by our guide. (20 EUR) After our tour, we move on to free time. Accommodation at our hotel in Belgrade.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Free time extra at a rest area determined by the guide between Sarajevo and Belgrade.
Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or in a restaurant and is included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotel B etc. - Belgrade
Currency 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: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 20:00
Day 8 Belgrade – Sofia
After breakfast, departure for Sofia. Upon arrival, we begin our panoramic Sofia city tour. Places to be seen during our panoramic tour include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the largest church in the Balkans, the National Library, Sofia University, the Old Royal Palace, the National Bulgarian Theater built in neo-classical style, the Archaeological Museum, Old Sofia - Trade Union City, and the Rotunda Church. Then, walking past the Parliament building, we take a panoramic view of the Sofia Statue and a photo break, and visit the Banya Bashi Mosque, the symbol of the city. After our visits and free time, transfer to our hotel. Afterwards, Bulgarian Night with extra local dishes and music at a place to be determined by the guide. (Included in the price) Accommodation at our hotel in Sofia.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Sofia.
Dinner: Bulgarian Night with extra local dishes and music at a place to be determined by the guide. Included in the price.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Astoria etc. - Sofia
Currency: Bulgaria – Lev (Average rate 1 Euro : 1.95 Lev)
Route: Belgrade - Sofia (393 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 393 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 20:00
Day 9 Sofia – Plovdiv – Bursa
After breakfast, we begin our journey to Plovdiv. After a journey of about 2 hours, we start our city tour. As a city with a 4000-year history, it is a beautiful city that combines today’s modern buildings with the architecture of ancient times. The most interesting place in the city is undoubtedly located in the area of Nebet Tepe on the oldest part of the city called “Old Plovdiv.” Among the places to see are the house of Argir Kuyumcuoğlu, now serving as the Ethnography Museum, the perfect example of a symmetrical house unique to Plovdiv with its original house layout, the Balabanov House and the house of Georgi Mavridis, which today host all kinds of cultural activities, the Roman Amphitheater from the ancient Roman era, the Roman Stadium, Hisar Gate, the Old Town Quarter and the Hindliyan Museum, the Friday Mosque, which is quite interesting with Turkish architecture, and the Aya Konstantin, Elena and Aya Nedelya churches, among the oldest churches of Plovdiv, and the ancient Amphitheater from the old Roman era. There is free time for shopping and to explore the city at your leisure. After free time, we depart for Turkey. After passport and customs procedures and a free shop shopping break at the Kapıkule border gate, which we will reach in the evening, we enter Turkey. By continuing via the Çorlu road, the program ends upon arrival at Bursa starting points.
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Free time extra in Plovdiv city center.
Dinner: Rest area on the Edirne – Istanbul highway.
Currency Bulgaria – Lev (Average rate 1 Euro : 1.95 Lev)
Route: Sofia – Plovdiv (145 km), Plovdiv – Kapıkule (155 km), Kapıkule – Istanbul ( 258 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 558 km
Istanbul Entry Time: Approximate depending on border crossing time: 21:00
What's Included
✅ Transportation by luxury buses
✅ Local professional Turkish-speaking guiding services
✅ Accommodation with breakfast included for a total of 7 nights in 4* hotels: 1 night in Skopje, 1 night in Ohrid, 1 night in Podgorica or Surroundings, 1 night in Trebinje or Surroundings, 1 night in Sarajevo, 1 night in Belgrade, 1 night in Sofia
✅ Four dinners at hotels in Ohrid, Podgorica, Trebinje, and Belgrade
✅ Macedonian Night (Balkan Night) at a local restaurant
✅ Bosnian meatballs at a local restaurant
✅ Bulgarian Night at a local restaurant
✅ Panoramic city tours of Thessaloniki, Skopje, Tetova, Ohrid, Kotor, Mostar, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Sofia, and Plovdiv
✅ Monastery Tour
✅ Dubrovnik tour
✅ Matka canyon tour
✅ Prizren Tour
✅ Blagay Tour
✅ Vrelo Bosna tour
✅ Plovdiv Tour
✅ Kosovo entrance fee
✅ Mandatory local guiding services taken in some cities
✅ All highway check-point and parking fees
✅ Customs taxes
✅ Panoramic city tours specified in the program.
✅ Limited water service on the vehicle
Not Included
❌ Museum and archaeological sites
❌ Tours organized by the guide
❌ All personal expenses
❌ Lunches
❌ Drinks taken with meals
❌ Driver and guide tips
❌ Multi Schengen Visa (Green Passport holders are exempt from visas).
❌ Foreign departure tax
❌ Overseas travel health insurance
INFORMATION
- Our participating guests must have a valid Multi (Multiple Entry) Schengen visa for the entire duration of the tour. (Green passport holders are exempt from visas.)
- During the tour, having Euros is sufficient for shopping and spending in all countries included in the program. In regions where local currency is used, the guide will assist with currency exchange.
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers should be preferred during the trip. It is advisable to bring a cardigan or similar clothing item with you for the evening.
- On our tours, a daily rotation (seat change) policy is applied in seat planning, and no fixed seat or front seat guarantee is given. Seat changes are organized by the vehicle guide.
- When entering Turkey from abroad, there is a requirement of at least 3 days of accommodation in order to bring goods (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.).
- Free shop shopping limits when entering Turkey from abroad: Cigarettes: 3 cartons, Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of alcoholic drink (excluding alcoholic beverages with more than 22% alcohol, wine and champagne), Alcoholic beverages: 2 liters of alcoholic drink (including alcoholic beverages with 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
- In the tour program, guides may make changes to the flow of the program depending on weather and road conditions, provided that all places specified in the program are shown.
- Our guests who register for the tour have the right to cancel free of charge until 30 days before the tour date. If less than 30 days remain before the tour date, a 30% penalty applies; if 20 days or less remain, a 100% penalty applies. Hospital reports, workplace leave documents, etc. obtained from authorities in Turkey and submitted with the participant’s cancellation request are unfortunately not accepted for the cancellation of hotels and services to be used outside Turkey.
- Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 25 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved for the trip, the latest cancellation notification date is 20 days before the tour departure. Cancellations due to insufficient participation will be notified by Lidya Tour.
- In cases where only category information is provided without specifying names in the tour program and/or there are alternative options for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be notified by Lidya Tour 2 days before the tour departure.
- During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used at distances greater than the specified km. In such a case, information will be provided by Lidya Tour 15 days before the departure date of the tour.
- Triple rooms are provided subject to hotel availability, and the bed allocated to the 3rd person in such rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable and called coach beds, tour participants, in 3rd person and/or child reservations, are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible crowding in the rooms and the bed type. Child discounts are valid only for a single child staying with 2 adults and matching the relevant age group.
- Breakfasts included among the services in the tour program are served at the hotel in line with the breakfast culture of the country being visited and generally as a limited menu called continental breakfast, consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group.
- Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours of up to 2-3 hours organized for the general introduction of the cities and conducted panoramically with guide narration from inside the vehicle, excluding museum and archaeological site entrances. Panoramic tours, including other tours specified in the program, if they cannot be carried out because local authorities do not allow visits or entry on the day and time corresponding to the tour, or due to closed roads because of any event, or when weather conditions make the tour impossible, Lidya Tour is not responsible for the failure to perform the tours in question. Some tours may be conducted by public transport or on foot where possible due to closed roads or points where vehicle access is not permitted.
- Waiting times at customs gates crossed by road during travel may exceed the standards, and Lidya Tour cannot be held responsible for any inconveniences arising from these waiting times.
- Extra tours are organized by the local Lidya Tour service provider with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If the required number is not reached, trips cannot be made, or extra trip prices, content, and the vehicle to be used may vary according to 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 the museums and archaeological sites in the destinations and weather conditions.
- Participation in extra tours is optional and not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to join extra tours organized during the tour are deemed to have accepted waiting at a suitable rest facility along the route. These passengers are dropped off at a roadside rest facility before the extra tour starts and picked up from the point where they were left after the tour is completed.
- For people joining tours by plane, the required check-in and boarding procedures are personal procedures and must be completed by the guest before the flight at the relevant airline counters at airports or online through the airlines’ websites.
- Lidya Tour is not responsible for the inability of persons who are not present at the airport at the times announced by Lidya Tour for participation in the tour, who do not complete check-in and boarding on time, or who complete check-in and boarding on time but do not board the plane, to take their flight. The new round-trip plane tickets required for those who miss the plane to join the tour, as well as all expenses related to their transfers in the destination region, are their own responsibility.
- Lidya Tour is an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol dated 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delay on scheduled and special flights, or the times may change before the current trip and flight. Lidya Tour is obliged to notify these changes as soon as possible. The passenger has purchased the trip accepting the risk of schedule changes. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport taxes and airport service fees.
- The vehicle types used in our tours are classified as follows according to the number of people. The vehicle types listed below are assigned according to the number of participants in each of our tours.
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 sold the tour by accepting the above-mentioned items
- Book Now & Pay Later. · Make your reservation now, pay anytime before the tour starts.