MEGA BALKANS SPECIAL 2027

Arrive at Panama City's International Airport 3 hours before departure to board transatlantic flight TK-904 at 21:45, bound for Sofia with a connection in Istanbul. Overnight on board.

Arrival at Sofia Airport. Meet and greet, followed by transfer to the hotel. Free time. Accommodation.

Breakfast. We begin our tour of Sofia, the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. As one of the oldest cities in the world, Sofia has three levels: modern-day life takes place on the third level, where we will see St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Central Square, the buildings of the National Gallery, the National Theatre, and the Banya Bashi Mosque. We will also visit the second level of the city, where the Roman and medieval ruins are located. Accommodation.

Free time to take the optional tour to the city of Plovdiv.

Optional Excursion: Plovdiv

The city of Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in the world. We will tour Plovdiv's Old Town, enjoying monuments from past eras, from antiquity to the present day, including a Roman Theatre, a medieval mosque, and architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. We will have free time for lunch at one of the picturesque local restaurants.

Breakfast. Free time to take the optional tour to the city of Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation.

Optional Excursion: The City of Veliko Tarnovo

The thousand-year-old city of Veliko Tarnovo, located within the Balkan Mountains on the slopes of a meander of the Yantra River, was the medieval capital of Bulgaria and the largest city in Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries. It amazes us with its three fortresses. During our tour, we will also see the restored church of the medieval patriarch, houses from later periods, and admire the craftsmanship of local artisans along Samovodska Street.

Optional Excursion: Dinner with a Traditional Bulgarian Folk Dance Show

We will visit one of the city's most famous traditional restaurants, where we will enjoy a typical Bulgarian menu accompanied by traditional folk music and dancing.

Breakfast. Journey to Thessaloniki via Rila Monastery. The Monastery of St. John of Rila, better known as Rila Monastery, is the largest and most famous Orthodox Christian monastery in Bulgaria and the Balkans. The monastery complex, originally built in the 10th century, is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the Bulgarian National Revival following its reconstruction in the 19th century. In 1983, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After visiting the monastery and its magnificent church (entrance to the monastery museum is not included), we will continue to the Greek city of Thessaloniki, located on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, we will enjoy a sightseeing tour including the White Tower, Aristotle Square, the Roman Forum, the Rotunda, and the Arch of the Roman Emperor Galerius. Accommodation.

Included Excursion: Boat Ride along the Gulf of Thessaloniki

We will admire the city of Thessaloniki from the sea aboard an authentic boat. Our tour will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

Breakfast. Free day to take the optional tour to Meteora.

Optional Excursion: Meteora

Meteora, which means "halfway to the sky" in Greek, is a rock formation in central Greece where one of the most famous and remarkable monastic complexes of Orthodox Christianity is located.

The monasteries were built during the Middle Ages on enormous natural rock pillars. Monks still live in them today. We will visit up to three monasteries, depending on the time available. After the visit, we will return to Thessaloniki.

Optional Excursion: Dinner at a Traditional Greek Taverna

We will visit one of the city's most famous traditional restaurants, where we will enjoy a typical Greek menu accompanied by traditional folk music and dances made famous by the movie Zorba the Greek.

Breakfast. Departure for the city of Skopje, the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Upon arrival, we will enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of this picturesque city located on the banks of the Vardar River. During the tour, we will see the Macedonia Gate, Macedonia Square, and the statue of Alexander the Great near the Vardar River.

We will then continue across the Stone Bridge toward the buildings of the Archaeological Museum, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the Mother Teresa Memorial House, the Old Turkish Bazaar, and Skopje Fortress.

Afterward, we will check into the hotel.

Optional Excursion: Matka Canyon

Matka is a canyon located west of Skopje, covering an area of 5,000 hectares, and is one of the most popular destinations in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Here, visitors can enjoy not only the unique beauty of the local natural landscape but also the harmony between nature and human construction achieved by medieval craftsmen who built several monasteries in the area.

Breakfast. Free day for personal activities or to take an optional excursion to the cities of Pristina and Prizren. Accommodation.

Optional Excursion: Republic of Kosovo

Pristina is the capital of the Republic of Kosovo, which declared its independence on February 17, 2008.

With its pedestrian streets reflecting the spirit of the socialist era, we will visit the Imperial Mosque, built by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in the mid-15th century, the National Library, the Clock Tower, and other important monuments.

We will continue to Prizren, Kosovo's second-largest city. We will see monuments from the Ottoman period, such as the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the Stone Bridge, and the Turkish Bath.

At the end of our tour, we will return to Skopje.

Optional Excursion: Macedonian Dinner and Dance Show

Dinner at one of the city's traditional restaurants, where we will enjoy traditional Macedonian cuisine and performances of folk music and dancing.

Breakfast. We depart for the ancient and very picturesque city of Ohrid, located on the shores of Lake Ohrid. The city is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During our tour of the Old Town, we will see the Lower Gate, the Ancient Theatre, the Church of St. Sophia, the fortress, and the Ali Pasha Mosque. Accommodation. Free time to take an optional tour to the Monastery of Saint Naum.

Included Excursion: Boat Ride on Lake Ohrid

The boat ride on Lake Ohrid offers wonderful views of medieval and modern buildings along the shoreline.

Optional Excursion: Monastery of Saint Naum

The Monastery of Saint Naum, featuring exquisite exterior decoration, is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, perched atop a rock. The monastery is named after its founder, Saint Naum, a medieval Bulgarian writer, educator, and teacher. The walls of the monastery church are covered with magnificent medieval frescoes. After visiting the monastery, we will take a boat ride to the springs of Lake Ohrid to enjoy this natural wonder.

Breakfast. Afterward, we depart for the city of Tirana. Tirana is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. Our tour through the center of Tirana includes important monuments such as Skanderbeg Square, the Pyramid of Tirana, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and others. We will then continue to the city of Podgorica or Sutomore (depending on the season). Accommodation.

Included Excursion: City of Kruje

We will visit the city of Kruje, the former capital of Albania, known for its mountain views and distinctive architecture. The word "Kruje" itself means "beautiful." In Kruje, we will see Kruje Castle, the Ethnographic Museum building, the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque, and the picturesque Old Bazaar, featuring carpets with unique traditional local designs.

Breakfast. Departure for the Republic of Montenegro. Our first stop will be the thousand-year-old city of Kotor. We will admire its exceptionally well-preserved medieval architecture and historical sites, including Latin and Gothic structures. We will see the North Gate, St. Tryphon's Cathedral, and Army Square. We will then continue to the city of Dubrovnik in the Republic of Croatia. Located on the Adriatic Sea coast, the city is a true jewel of European architecture and history. We will explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will see the ancient city walls, Orlando's Column, the City Tower, the Rector's Palace, St. Blaise's Church, the Franciscan Monastery (entrance not included), and the Old Pharmacy. We will then continue to the small town of Medjugorje, home to one of Europe's most popular pilgrimage destinations, the third most important site of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Europe, attracting more than one million visitors annually. Medjugorje is a town located in the Herzegovina region of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will visit Apparition Hill and the Catholic Church of the Queen of Peace Shrine. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Free day to take the optional tour to Croatia to discover some of the most beautiful places along the Dalmatian coast: the cities of Split and Trogir.

Optional Excursion: Game of Thrones Day – Split and Trogir

After crossing the border into Croatia, our first stop will be the city of Split, included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List since 1979. In ancient times, Roman Emperor Diocletian was so fascinated by its beauty that he chose to settle there after his retirement. Split is Croatia's second-largest city and the largest in the Dalmatian region. During our tour of Split, we will explore the Old Town, including Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, the Temple of Jupiter, and the Riva waterfront. After Split, we will continue to Trogir. Trogir is a city located on the central Adriatic coast. Here, we will also explore the Old Town to enjoy a beautiful combination of Renaissance, Baroque, and Romanesque architectural styles. We will see the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, Cippiko Palace, the Trogir City Museum building, and Kamerlengo Tower. After the tour, we will return to the hotel in Medjugorje.

Breakfast. Our journey will take us to one of the most famous bridges in Europe, the Old Bridge (Stari Most), located in the city of Mostar in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar is a historic city stretching across the deep valley of the Neretva River. Our visit includes a walking tour through the Old Town (Stari Grad), with its market street, mosques, and old houses featuring architecture that combines different foreign and local styles. We will see the remains of the Turkish Quarter, the Jewelers' Bazaar, the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, the Karagoz Bey Mosque, the Ottoman hammams, and traditional old houses (the most popular being the Muslum House). We will cross the legendary 16th-century Stone Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the tour, we will head to the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we will enjoy a walking tour through its historic center. We will see the Old Turkish Bazaar, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the Watchtower, the Latin Bridge, and Sarajevo Cathedral. Accommodation.

Optional Excursion: Kravice Waterfalls

Kravice Waterfalls is a large tufa waterfall on the Trebižat River, located in the heart of the karst region of Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The waterfall is approximately 25 meters high, and the lake at its base has a radius of 120 meters. Kravice is a popular picnic and swimming destination visited by numerous tourists.

Breakfast. Departure for the city of Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Belgrade means "The White City" in English, referring to the white color of its medieval walls, which we will see during our walking tour. We will also stroll through the main pedestrian area of Knez Mihailova Street, passing by the University of Belgrade, the National Theatre, and the Orthodox Cathedral Church. Afterward, we will continue to Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, offering magnificent views of the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. Accommodation.

Included Excursion: Boat Ride on the Danube River

We will enjoy a boat ride along the Danube, one of Europe's most important rivers, offering panoramic views of Belgrade.

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, departure transfer to Belgrade Airport to board flight TK-1082 at 09:00, bound for Panama.