15-Day Private Balkan Tour from Istanbul: 9 Countries

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Turkey

1. Istanbul
   8h
   Arrive in Istanbul and meet your driver for the transfer from the airport to your hotel. Check in and take some time to rest after your journey. In the evening, join a welcome dinner and briefing to go over the route and what to expect during the days ahead.

Day 2: Istanbul City Tour

1. Istanbul
   8h
   Spend the day exploring some of Istanbul’s best-known landmarks, including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and Topkapi Palace. In the afternoon, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise before having free time to explore the Grand Bazaar at your own pace.

Day 3: Istanbul – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

1. Plovdiv Old Town
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Leave Istanbul and travel to Plovdiv, a drive of approximately five hours. Explore Plovdiv’s Old Town on foot, including the Roman Theatre and the lively Kapana District. In the evening, you can choose to join an optional Bulgarian folklore dinner.

Day 4: Plovdiv – Sofia

1. Bachkovo Monastery
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Begin the day with a visit to Bachkovo Monastery before continuing to Sofia. After arriving in the Bulgarian capital, see landmarks including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Theater, and Roman ruins. Finish with free time around Vitosha Boulevard.

Day 5: Sofia – Rila Monastery – Veliko Tarnovo

1. Rila Monastery
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Travel from Sofia to UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, one of Bulgaria’s most important historic and religious sites. After the visit, continue to Veliko Tarnovo, the country’s medieval capital.

Day 6: Veliko Tarnovo – Bucharest, Romania

1. Tsarevets
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Start with a short tour of Veliko Tarnovo and a visit to Tsarevets Fortress. Then cross the border into Romania and continue to Bucharest. On arrival, take a panoramic city tour before settling in for the night.

Day 7: Bucharest – Sibiu – Hunedoara – Timisoara

1. Transylvania
   8h
   Travel through the landscapes of Transylvania, stopping in Sibiu along the way. Continue to Hunedoara Castle before heading west to Timisoara, where you will spend the evening.

Day 8: Timisoara – Novi Sad – Belgrade, Serbia

1. Petrovaradin Fortress
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Cross into Serbia and stop in Novi Sad to visit Petrovaradin Fortress, overlooking the Danube River. Continue to Belgrade, arriving in the evening for a city tour of the Serbian capital.

Day 9: Belgrade – Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

1. Sarajevo
   8h
   Leave Belgrade and travel through the scenic Drina River valley toward Sarajevo. On arrival, explore Sarajevo’s historic Old Town, Baščaršija, along with the Latin Bridge and Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque.

Day 10: Sarajevo – Mostar – Dubrovnik, Croatia

1. Dubrovnik
   8h
   Travel from Sarajevo toward the Adriatic coast, stopping in Mostar to see its famous Old Bridge and historic Ottoman quarter. Continue to Dubrovnik, where the evening is free for you to explore or relax at your own pace.

Day 11: Dubrovnik – Kotor – Budva, Montenegro

1. Kotor Old Town
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Begin with a walking tour around Dubrovnik’s historic city walls before continuing south into Montenegro. Visit UNESCO-listed Kotor Old Town, with its narrow streets, historic buildings, and setting beneath the surrounding mountains.

Day 12: Budva – Shkodra – Tirana, Albania

1. Rozafa Castle
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Leave Budva and continue toward Albania. Stop in Shkodra to explore Rozafa Fortress before traveling on to Tirana. In the capital, visit Skanderbeg Square and the Blloku District.

Day 13: Tirana – Ohrid, North Macedonia

1. Tirana
   8h
   Leave Tirana and cross into North Macedonia. Continue to the Lake Ohrid area, where you will visit the Church of St. John at Kaneo and explore the Old Bazaar.

Day 14: Ohrid – Skopje

1. Lake Bled
   8h · Admission ticket not included
   Travel from Ohrid toward Skopje. On arrival, explore some of the city’s main landmarks, including the Old Bazaar, Stone Bridge, and Mother Teresa Memorial House. End the journey with a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Day 15: Departure from Skopje or Return to Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   Pass by
   After breakfast, transfer to Skopje Airport for your departure. Depending on your travel arrangements, an optional return journey to Istanbul can also be made by road or flight.

Pickup details

Pickup available from Istanbul International Airport or any centrally located hotel in Istanbul.
Please provide your arrival flight details (airline, flight number, arrival time) at least 7 days before the tour.
Your driver/guide will be waiting in the airport arrivals hall holding a sign with your name or group name.
For hotel pickups, please be ready 10 minutes before the scheduled time at the main reception/lobby.
If arriving earlier than Day 1, we can arrange an extra transfer or pre-tour hotel night (on request).

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels