• 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 Turksh 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.

BULGARIA

• 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 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 

• 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.

• 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.

MECADONIA

• 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)

• 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

ALBANIA

• 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

MONTENEGRO

• 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 Dalmatia, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik.