Balkan Express

Balkan Express

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7 Days From

$1600

Balkan Express

7 Days Starting in Athens and ending in Sofia

Visiting: Athens, Kalabaka, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Sofia

Tour operator:

ESKAPAS

Tour code:

828528

Physical rating:

EASY

Tour operated in:

English
From: $1600

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Discover the Hidden Gems of the Balkans — A Fascinating Journey through unexplored beauty and history.Starting from Athens, the capital of Greece, we will take the scenic route through the plains of Beotia before arriving in Delphi, known around ancient Greece as 'the navel of the world'. A town with strong ties to antiquity due to the presence of the famous Oracle, whose ruins still stand proudly. A sacred place for ancient Greeks, as they consulted the great Oracle before every major war campaign. Afterwards, you will travel to Kalambaka, a cozy town in central Greece, sitting right next to Meteora, an incredible spectacle or massive rock pillars rising up from a valley to form a truly rare sight. On top of the pillars, Byzantine monasteries have stood for centuries, adding yet another layer to the sense of wonder that fills any visitor. Then you dill drive to Eastern Greece Thessaloniki, Drama, Kavala and end up in Sofia to visit the capital of Balkans, Sofia. A 7-day tour to discover most iconic  locations in Greece and Bulgaria. How can you say no to a tour like that?Make the smart choice and book today!­Important Trip Notes:We can combine your trip with Bucarest or to Dubrovnik or to Tirana extensions . Please advise during your booking.­­

Highlights

  • Discover the Hidden Gems of the Balkans — A Fascinating Journey through unexplored beauty and history

  • Starting from Athens, the capital of Greece, we will take the scenic route through the plains of Beotia before arriving in Delphi, known around ancient Greece as 'the navel of the world'

  • A town with strong ties to antiquity due to the presence of the famous Oracle, whose ruins still stand proudly

  • A sacred place for ancient Greeks, as they consulted the great Oracle before every major war campaign

  • Afterwards, you will travel to Kalambaka, a cozy town in central Greece, sitting right next to Meteora, an incredible spectacle or massive rock pillars rising up from a valley to form a truly rare sight

  • On top of the pillars, Byzantine monasteries have stood for centuries, adding yet another layer to the sense of wonder that fills any visitor

  • Then you dill drive to Eastern Greece Thessaloniki, Drama, Kavala and end up in Sofia to visit the capital of Balkans, Sofia

  • A 7-day tour to discover most iconic  locations in Greece and Bulgaria

  • How can you say no to a tour like that?Make the smart choice and book today!­Important Trip Notes:We can combine your trip with Bucarest or to Dubrovnik or to Tirana extensions

  • Please advise during your booking

Show all

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Athens Arrival (Tuesday)

Location: Athens


On arrival you will be met by driver and transferred to your hotel by our private vehicle Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Athens Meals: -

Day 2 : Athens - Delphi - Meteora (Wednesday)

Location: Kalabaka


We will pick you up from your hotel in Athens (departure at approx 8:30am) and drive through the fertile plain of Beotia, crossing the towns of Thebes, Levadia and Arachova before arriving in Delphi, the 'navel of the world' according to ancient Greeks. There you will visit the archaeological site of the oracle and depart for Kalambaka, passing through picturesque villages of Central Greece.

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Overnight: Meteora Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

Day 3 : Meteora – Vergina - Thessaloniki (Thursday)

Location: Thessaloniki


Visit Meteora, a geological marvel of vast, rock pillars rising up from the valley to create a unique spectacle that is a testament to wonders of nature. On top of the pillars, stand Byzantine Monasteries, of immeasurable historical and religious importance. Afterwards, continuing to Vergina tomb of Philip, and conclude the day in Thessaloniki. Discover landmarks like the White Tower and the Arch of Galerius before retiring to a Thessaloniki hotel.

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Overnight: Meteora Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 : Thessaloniki -Drama - Kavala (Friday)

Location: Kavala


Start your day with breakfast and a city tour in Drama, uncovering notable sites and enjoying a leisurely stroll in Parko Agias Varmaras. Indulge in free time for lunch and shopping in Drama before progressing to Kavala, where Western and Eastern influences converge seamlessly.

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Overnight: Meteora Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 : Kavala - Sofia (Saturday)

Location: Sofia


After a delightful breakfast, proceed to Sofia. Upon arrival in Sofia, complete the check-in process at your hotel, where you'll have some leisure time to explore the city on your own. Enjoy the evening and stay overnight in Sofia.

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Overnight: Sofia Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 : Sofia (Sunday)

Location: Sofia


After a delicious breakfast, immerse yourself in the rich history of Sofia with a guided tour showcasing iconic landmarks such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Basilica, the National Art Gallery Building, and the Presidential Palace free time at the city center overnight at hotel.

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Overnight: Sofia Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 : Sofia Departure (Monday)

Location: Sofia


After breakfast, transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. Possibility to extend your program to Dubrovnik or Bucarest or Tirana. Please advise during your booking. End of our services

What's Included

  • Accommodation: 6-night 3-star Tourist category accommodation
  • Guide: English-speaking guide during visits
  • Transport: All transfers and transport per itinerary
  • Meals: 6 Breakfasts - 1 dinner
  • Other: Entrance fees during guided sightseeing


What's Not Included

  • Personal expenses, meals other than mentioned.
  • Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts.
  • Stayover hotel tax (to be paid directly to the hotel)

Please Note

This trip can be extended with the following packages;

Tirana Extension - Tirana and Dubrovnik Extension - Bucharest Extension

Please advise us during your booking. 


Check out our Q&As

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    At Eskapas we have a flexible policy. You must change it until 30 days prior to your departure otherwise any changes mean "cancellation".

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Solo travelers must pay single supplement to have a private room due to hygien reasons.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Eskapas has been established in 2000 in Istanbul

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    All hotels used to accommodate our customers are certified by “Hotel Association of Turkey”; they all are committed to use maximum 50 % capacity

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    COVID-19 RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL RULES Eskapas is committed to fulfill the following regulations to protect its customers from the risk of Covid-19 : 1 – Eskapas will fulfill all safety rules mentioned in the “Safe Tourism Certification” prepared by Turkish Ministry of Tourism; that plan covers all aspects of the journey from the aircraft to the airport, transfers, touring and hotels (tga.gov.tr/abou

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes you can.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your timetable - voucher that will show your itinerary with timing and hotels (30 days before prior to your arrival date)

Reviews of this operator

Yılmaz Tepeli (Google Reviewer)  

Eskapas Travel met all my...

05-Jun-2024

Eskapas Travel met all my expectations, I had a wonderful holiday.

Uncle (Google Reviewer)  

The Eskapas 10 day Anatolian...

24-May-2023

The Eskapas 10 day Anatolian tour of Turkey was by far the best experience for my month stay in Turkey. Most of my trips in the past to countries include too many stories about how things went wrong when traveling and planning trips myself. The Eskapas tour started off great with me being picked up by Eskapas at the Turkey airport exit and ending well with a driver picking me up at the scheduled 2am time to get me back to the airport after the tour. I give Ismail the credit for arranging the airport transfers which took the pressure off me. Reading other Eskapas positive reviews mentioning Ismail’s name and her tour arrangement success was one of the deciding factors for me using Eskapas. Now for the tour, I was not doing too well after drinking Istanbul tap water before starting the tour. Nader, the tour guide found me an open pharmacy on a Turkish national holiday when most pharmacies were closed. I and the tour group appreciate him finding that pharmacy. Nader has been leading tours for over 30 years In Turkey and had informative responses to any and all questions. I learned a lot about the Turkey culture from him that I would have missed had I planned this tour on my own. The quality of hotels we stayed at far exceeded my expectations. It was pleasant to have a conversation with others on the tour discussing if a hotel was a 4 or 5 star. I expect to book a tour next year to Egypt using Eskapas. Lessons learned, don’t drink the public water in Turkey and take an Eskapas tour.

Jan Grapp (Google Reviewer)  

The big question: Is...

31-Jan-2024

The big question: Is it safe to travel to Egypt now? Our answer is YES! There is a significant police presence in downtown Cairo, which the locals say is normal. It is reassuring, because they look like they are ready for anything. We felt very safe even walking around the hotel at night. We booked a 12 day group tour of Egypt with Eskapas. It was fantastic! It turned out we were the only members of the group (my husband and I). The accommodations were excellent (5*), the transportation, drivers and guides were exemplary. From the time we arrived at the Cairo airport until we left Egypt, we didn't have to worry about anything, all arrangements were taken care of. There was someone to take us to our hotel, Steigenberger Tahrir Square, a beautiful hotel in a great location. The staff at this hotel responded quickly and efficiently to all our requests and they could not have been more helpful or pleasant. The included breakfast at this hotel is over the top! We toured all the top sights with amazing guides. Marwa in Cairo was incredibly knowledgeable, personable and always concerned for our comfort and welfare. We had many fascinating conversations about the sights and Egypt in general. Abdelrhman was a delight and managed our transportation and helped us navigate Cairo restaurants and the bazaar. Emad stayed with us for the southern half of our tour and the 5 day Nile cruise. He took care of us completely with all the transportation and tickets for all the sights. He is a wonderful and brilliant man. He went beyond our expectations to help us in many ways. We enjoyed his company immensely. Ismail with Eskapas was very efficient and always responded quickly regarding booking, billing, additional nights and general questions. We took a tour with Eskapas in Turkey in 2021 and it was amazing. I highly recommend this company if you are looking for high quality, worry free travel at a reasonable price.

G. YILMAZ (Google Reviewer)  

Thanks to Eskapas, I had...

05-Jun-2024

Thanks to Eskapas, I had the holiday I dreamed of, everything was perfect.

sezer demirel (Google Reviewer)  

Excellent service, friendly staff, great...

05-Jun-2024

Excellent service, friendly staff, great choice for a holiday in Eskapas.

Omer Kocatürk (Google Reviewer)  

Eskapas is the leading tour...

27-Jul-2024

Eskapas is the leading tour operator specialized in multi-day guided tours around the world for active travelers who enjoy a comprehensive tour, with a lot of activity and local experiences. Our groups are mid-size to give you a better experience but also to offer a competitive price. Eskapas is one of nominees for 2023, 30th World Travel Awards in Leading Tour Operator category. The World Travel Awards is globally recognized as a highly prestigious honors program in global travel and tourism. The awards are voted for by tourism professionals and consumers worldwide. This honor recognizes the brands’ commitment to excellence, with an ultimate industry accolade."

kürşad fikri yılmaz (Google Reviewer)  

Eskapas' professional team made our...

05-Jun-2024

Eskapas' professional team made our holiday perfect, it was great.

Efe Bs (Google Reviewer)  

I was looking for a...

09-May-2024

I was looking for a place to travel, I came across you on Google Maps, I did the best thing by coming across you, thank you.

Emel Tekin (Google Reviewer)  

It was a great holiday....

29-Jul-2024

It was a great holiday. Thanks to you, everything was great. Thank you for everything. We also plan to spend our next holidays with you.

Süleyman Ayaz (Google Reviewer)  

Eskapas offers quality holiday services...

05-Jun-2024

Eskapas offers quality holiday services at affordable prices, we are very pleased.

1 Select your preferred date

Tuesday - Monday

Apr 15, 2025 - Apr 21, 2025
$1750

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Apr 29, 2025 - May 05, 2025
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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    ESKAPAS allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    ESKAPAS allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform eskapas, 61 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    ESKAPAS requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 61 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of eskapas charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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