Balojani

Gorki Balojani

Gorki Balojani, the owner-manager of BALOJANI TOURIST SERVICES has been in the tourism business for over 25 years with special experience in bus and group tours. All five permanent staff and three seasonal employees are university graduates, speak English and two are proficient in German.

Gorki and Isidor Balojani established their agency in 1989 as one of the first privately-owned travel agencies in former Yugoslavia. Following the first phase with bus tours to the neighbouring countries, they began to offer incoming bus round trips in 2000. Due to the close adjacency of Bitolas, where the agency is based, to Greece, both outgoing and incoming tours to and from Greece form a major part of their business.

Heraklea has an outstanding archaeological site at Bitola dating back to the Macedonian dynasty with Philip II and his son Alexander the Great and the ensuing Roman era. Bitola was the political and administrative capital of the region for 500 years during the Osmanian era. Thus it is also perhaps no coincidence that Attaturk, founder of present day Turkey, studied and trained at the Bitola military academy. Today, the large number of consulates located here are witness to the city’s former political significance. The region has also beautiful scenery with mountains, lakes and rivers as well as the national parks in Pelister and Galicica, the latter which connects the Prespa and Ohrid lakes.

BALOJANI TOURIST SERVICES has its offices in this unique touristic environment and is working towards opening up Macedonia and this beautiful region to foreign guests.

Contact

Balojani Tourist Services
111-d Solunska Street
7000 Bitola
Macedonia

Tel: +389 47 220 204; 203 203
Fax: +389 47 220 205
E-Mail: info [at] balojani [dot] com [dot] mk
Homepage: www.balojani.com.mk

Our contact person for Germany:

Svetlana Jovanovska
Tel: +389 47 220204
E-Mail: info [at] balojani [dot] com [dot] mk
(German)

Gorki Balojani
Executive Manager
Tel: +389 47 203203,
E-Mail: gorki [dot] balojani [at] balojani [dot] com [dot] mk
(English)

Staff and qualifications

Our five permanent staff and the three seasonal staff are experts in their field! We have excellent know-how in the tourism sector and can look back on many years of experience.
Whether in English or German – we always have the right person to deal with your requirements!

Our executive manager, Gorki Balojani, has been specialising in organising bus tours to rural destinations at home and abroad for the past 25 years. His tasks over the past 17 years include the organisation and management of Balojani Tourist Services.
Isidor Balojani has been responsible for company finances for the past 17 years.

Background

BALOJANI TOURIST SERVICES was established in 1989 by Gorki and Isidor Balojani as one of the first privately-owned travel agencies in former Yugoslavia. In 1999 and 2000 special focus was on organising bus tours to the neighbouring countries (outgoing tours). The agency has been organising regular tours within Macedonia since 2000. It’s most recent activities include supporting ecologically-friendly tourism, rural tourism and organising special theme-based tours.

Business fields and services

Incoming tourism
Organisation of individual trips and group packages: Summer and winter holidays of various length and with a variety of themes (culture, education, sport, relaxation, science and others)

The bus packages all include transport, meals and accommodation and our guests are accompanied by experienced travel guides. Our special programmes include ecological, mountain and countryside tours, hunting holidays as well as hiking and adventure tours.

Nature, bountiful archaeological evidence of eras dating back as far as 6000 BC, festivals, folklore, local cuisine and much more form the basis of our offers such as:

Archaeological tours;
trips to the Byzantine heritage
expeditions to the legacies of Alexander the Great
walking tours through the three national parks
boating and fishing tours.

Outgoing tourism
Organisation of individual trips and group packages:
Summer and winter holidays of various length and with a variety of themes (culture, education, sport, relaxation, science and others)

All tours include transport, meals and accommodation as well as air and sea ferry tickets and our guests are accompanied by experienced travel guides.

Special expertise

Wide experience and specialised in organising bus tours; well-founded knowledge of the infrastructure and conditions in the regions visited;
direct contact and close cooperation with the various partners involved (hotels, restaurants, transport companies, etc.);
constant personal quality checks on local conditions and offers;
professional tour guides.

Our licensed tour guides provide knowledgeable information throughout the tours. Together with the partner agencies, they guarantee a smooth trip and are contact partners for any further requirements our guests may have.

Services for tour operators

Highly qualified tour guides and other staff are made available;transport is provided for special excursions;
detailed information on the individual tour programmes (contents, geography, schedules) is provided;
maps are provided with daily routes, distances, travel times, rest stops and descriptions of local attractions;
assistance with border formalities and questions relating to safety regulations and health insurance;
24-hour logistical support during the entire tour; comprehensive assistance in the case of breakdowns or accidents;
provision of alternative transport and tow and repair services;
advertising support (photos, texts, videos, etc.) as well as additional staff;
organisation of information trips for special target groups or sub-agents.

References

Arcatour, Zug, Switzerland: Tour operator specialising in cultural and ecological tours;
Andante Travel, London, GB: Tour operator specialising in archaeological tours;
Acadimos Holidays, Athens, Greece: Tour operator specialising on cultural study trips