Tour dates
Day 01 ISTANBUL Sept. 22 nd Thursday - Day 19 Depart from Belgrade Oct.10^th Monday
18 nights - 19 Days

 I T I N E R A R Y 
For the itinerary with out pictures please click here

Day 01 Istanbul   Sept. 22, 2011 Thursday Arrival

Transfer to the  Hotel Ayasofaya.. If you arrive  a day or two before the tour starts, you will still be given transfer included in the price Please click here to check the arrival info .  At 04:00 PM meet at the lobby for group  meeting. Dinner  will be at a wonderful restaurant where we can enjoy the sun set in the horizon of this historic city. The Dinner is included

Day 02 Istanbul Sept. 23 , 2011 Friday  Istanbul fun day
If every one in the group had already been to Istanbul before, instead of going to the museums again we can go to the small islands of Istanbul and do sketching of the old Ottoman houses in wonderful setting. I want to leave this day open for group member's suggestions. Lunch and dinner will be included.

Day 03 Edirne   Sept. 24, 2011 Saturday Drive to Edirne overnight in Edirne

Edirne is a pleasant, historic city seldom visited by tourists even though it's an easy day-trip west of  Istanbul. Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, when Istanbul (Constantinople) became the empire's new capital. Edirne contains the ruins of the ancient palace of the Sultans and the Selimiye Mosque, one of the most important monuments in this ancient province; built in 1575 and designed by Turkey's greatest master architect, Mimar Sinan, it has the highest minarets in Turkey, at 70.9 meters and a cupola three or four feet higher than that of St. Sophia in Istanbul. for those who had visited the Western and Central part of  Turkey, Edirne will give you an other insight to the Turkish culture and the cuisine. If you do not mind eating liver, Edirne claims to have the best liver cooked in the world. it is absolutely worth giving a try.

Day 04 Sept,25,2011 Drive to Burgas

Our Balkan guide will meet the group at the Turkish border. Change of the coach and departure to Burgas.

We will drive north to the Black Sea coast to get close to Stella's farm. the city was established during the Roman era but remained as a small town during the medieval age. In the 15th Century under the   Turkish Ottoman rule the city became an important trade center with its harbor connecting the sea trade from Trabzon and Istanbul going on to Europe.
Today, Burgas is a popular destination for beach lovers. the reason why we are here is only because tomorrow will be a very special day at Stella's farm and village

Day 05 Sept.26, 2011  Plovdiv – Veliko Tarnovo

After breakfast we set off for Stell''s Farm. She will show us her villages and this will be a very much a experience that all the MELITOUR travelers always love to have.
Our next destination is Bulgaria’s middle Ages capital Veliko Turnovo. We pass through the Balkan Mountain and the unique museum-town of Arbanassi. Accommodation and O/N in Veliko Turnovo  The old city is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora raising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. Tsarevets housed the palaces of the Bulgarian Emperors and the Patriarchate, as well as a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls. Trapezitsa was known for its many churches and as the main residence of the nobility. In the Middle Ages it was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the Tarnovo Artistic School of architecture, painting and literature.

Day 06 Sept, 27 ,2011  Veliko Turnovo – Sofia

Departure to Sofia. Sofia city tour (one of Bulgaria’s oldest cities, National history museum, Church of Alexander Nevski, the unique Folklore ansamble) O/N in Sofia. As with much of Eastern and Central Europe, Bulgarian traditional embroidery was very much regionally led. The country's embroidered craft tradition was a particularly rich and profuse one with many regions having strong variations within them so that sometimes small villages and communities could well have their own unique traditions.
We will try to give you free time in the afternoon so you can explore the city on your own  or may be have a caffée on one of the street cafés and watch people.

Day 07  Sept. 28, 2011 Sofia – Rila monastery – Osogovo Monastery (Macedonia)

Drive to Rila monastery. Rila monastery, Bulgaria most famous landmark, situated in the magnificent Rila Mountain. Afternoon departure to Macedonia – Osogovo monastery. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and it is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe as a whole.

Day 07 Sept. 28 , 2011 MACEDONIA Osogovo Monastary

O/N in Osogovo monastery –guestrooms in monastery courtyard. (MULTIPLE ROOMS – MOST OF THEM WITH SHARED TOILET FACILITIES)
The monastery consists of two churches including the larger "Saint Joachim of Osogovo" and the smaller "Holy Mother of God." The monastery grounds also consist of a bell tower, dormitories, a guardhouse, and a residency for the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. The monastery was founded in the 12th century, though there are no remains of the original monastery. The smaller church in today's monastery complex got its present look in the 14th century, while the larger one was built in the 19th century.

Day 08 Sept. 29 ,2011 Osogovo monastery – Skopje – Mavrovo NP

Departure to city of Kratovo, possibility to see some old crafts in this unique small city. Skopje, the Macedonian capital city. Skopje city tour with visit of Ethnographic museum, memorial house of Mother Teresa, Skopje fortress Kale, Museum of contemporary art in Skopje… Afternoon departure to Mavrovo NP. O/N in Mavrovo NP

Day 09 Sept, 30, 2011 Mavrovo NP– Ohrid – Prespa –Brajchino village

Departure to Ohrid via valley of Radika river. Ohrid sightseeing – Gallery of Ohrid icons and most important Ohrid sights. Afternoon departure to Prespa lake. O/N in village Brajchino (Prespa region) - host families, home made traditional dinner...

Day 10  October 01, 2011 Brajchino - Resen – Galichica NP - Ohrid

Morning visit of the unique FOLKLORE MUSEUM, the richest private collection of folk costumes and hand made pieces in Macedonia. Visit of Resen museum and exhibition of art pieces made during the “Resen ceramic colony”, held annually in village near the city. Drive across Galichica NP with magnificent view of both Prespa and Ohrid lakes. Dinner with folklore show in national restaurant in Ohrid O/N in Ohrid

Day 11 October 02, 2011 Ohrid - Elbasan - Berat - Durres

Crossing Macedonia-Albania border and arrival in Elbasan. Short city tour and continue to Berat, Visit of Onufri museum and Berat castle. Late afternoon arrival in Durres. O/N in Durres

Day 12  October 03 , 2011 Durres - Tirana - Durres
City tour in Durres, the biggest Albanian coastal city.. Afternoon Tirana sightseeing. Free afternoon in Tirana and (or) Durres O/N in Durres
Day 13 October 04 , 2011 Durres - Kruje - Budva
Departure to Kruje and visit of Skenderbeg museum and castle. Drive along the Albanian coastline and crossing Albania - Montenegro border

Day 13 October 04, 2011 Budva

Evenıng arrival to Montenegro O/N in Budva  There is vast archaeological evidence that places Budva among the oldest urban settlements of the Adriatic coast. Substantial documentary evidence provides historical references dating back to the 5th century BC.
Day 14 October 05,2011 Budva -Back to Budva. Cetinje - Podgorica – Budva Full day excursion to Cetinje - the royal Montenegrian city and Lovcen National Park with Njegus mausoleum. Back to Budva. O/N in Budva
 

Day 15 October 06 , 2011  Budva – Kotor – Dubrovnik - Mostar

Departure to Boka area and visit of the picturesque city of Kotor. Drive towards Croatia (Crossing the border) and afternoon visit of Dubrovnik. Arrival in Mostar in the evening. Crossing the border. O/N in Mostar. Dubrovnik  is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Dalmatian shore, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik.

Day 16 October 07, 2011 Mostar - Sarajevo

Morning Mostar city tour and departure to the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. O/N in Sarajevo

Day 17 October 08 , 2011 Sarajevo -
Belgrade Sarajevo sightseeing tour in a morning. Continue through Bosnian cantons and crossing Bosnia - Serbia border. Arrival in Belgrade early in the evening. O/N in Belgrade

The Price
The payment will be made in Euro since the Balkan countries use Euro . To give you an idea of the US$ value based on the exchange rate on Dec.06,2010  the approximate US$ value is also given below.