ekstrahayatprivate journeys
private journeys..
sometimes a single day in one town, sometimes ten days across six countries.. the scale changes..; what stays is that the road runs through people..
not a tour.. a journey through a story..
the scale changes
three things don't..
an ordinary tour asks “what did you see..?”..; we ask “who did you meet, and what did you bring home..?”
- 01a host at every stop
a craftsman, a family, a musician, a historian.. every stop is a person, not just a place..
- 02a keepsake every day
a photo, a note, a taste, a sound..; back home, an album and an evening together..
- 03a journey that carries on at home
the guest book, the reunion evening and halka..: the journey doesn't end when you unpack..
the first journey · 50+ · 8 days, 3 countries
a rumelian story..
skopje, ohrid, prizren.. no rushing..; at least two nights in every town and a host at every stop..there's no upper age limit..; a medical report and the participation file decide, not your age..
- guests
- 50 and over..; no upper age limit
- group
- 12–16 guests..; one team member for every 6
- pace
- no more than 3–4 hours on the road a day, a break every 90 minutes..; at least two nights in each town
- to join
- a medical board report and the participation file..; your place is confirmed once the file is complete
day 1
istanbul → skopje
a short flight, the hotel and a rest..; in the evening a slow walk across the stone bridge and the first dinner together..
day 2
skopje
morning in the old bazaar with a coppersmith..; a free afternoon..; dinner at a local family's home..
day 3
skopje → ohrid
a drive with two stops..; a hotel by the lake..; tea on the jetty at sunset..
day 4
ohrid
a quiet morning..; a short boat trip on the lake..; an evening surprise with a local musician..
day 5
ohrid → prizren
a mountain road with long stops..; the evening in the fountain square..
day 6
prizren
a filigree master in the morning..; an afternoon rest..; in the evening, “in the footsteps of family” — stories of where we come from..
day 7
prizren
a free morning..; a farewell dinner and a short show of the trip's photos..
day 8
prizren → istanbul
an unhurried drive to the airport and home..
timings are approximate..; the route is finalised with our partner.. the same approach works for a one-day escape to a single town..
peace of mind, excitement, joy
peace of mind..
- the team carries your suitcase..; you carry only a small bag..
- each evening, a card for the next day..: large print, hour by hour, with walking distances and breaks..
- guide headsets, so you can listen without straining in a crowd..
- if you come alone, someone to sit with on the first evening..
excitement..
- a surprise evening that isn't on the programme..
- dinner at a family's table..
- a short try at a craft with a master..: filigree, copper..
- a half day “in the footsteps of family”..
joy..
- a “photo of the day” from our photographer, and a small printed album when you're home..
- a postcard to your grandchildren, posted from the town itself..
- a reunion evening in istanbul two weeks after you're back..
safety first, then the story
travel with peace of mind..
our order never changes..: safety, health, comfort, the story, then the sights.. any stop that doesn't fit that order is dropped..
- 01
the participation file
passport and visa, a health declaration, a medical board report (for everyone), a medication list, two people to call in an emergency, dietary needs, insurance and consent.. we never collect health details on the site or by e-mail..: you choose a printed file or an encrypted one..
- 02
a companion
for anyone travelling alone, a trained companion who reminds you of your medication, offers an arm on walks and waits with you at the hospital if needed..; you meet before the journey..
- 03
a doctor at every stop
a card for every town..: our doctor, the nearest hospital, the ambulance number, the consulate and the team's three phone numbers, printed for your pocket..
other groups
with whom, and in search of what..?
shared interests make the road shorter.. small groups, a programme shaped around you..
business owners
by private jet, 6–12 guests, 3–4 days..; at every stop, a master of each guest's own hobby.. no business on the agenda, though it tends to come up..
photography
a schedule built around the light..; an evening review with a master photographer and a small book at the end..
diving
dive sites on the adriatic coast matched to your certification, with coastal villages on the days in between..
food and the table
a kitchen, a market and a family table in every town, and a recipe book to take home..
architecture and ottoman traces
bridges, inns and bazaars, with a historian..
music
sevdalinka, folk songs and an instrument maker's workshop..
generations
grandparents and grandchildren, with a programme that works at both paces..
reading and writing
reading a novel in the town where it's set..
other regions
from the balkans to the world..
the same principle everywhere..: a host, the keepsake of the day and a reunion back home.. on long-haul journeys the first and last days are rest days..
- central asiathe silk road..: samarkand and bukhara..
- the caucasusfood culture, mountain villages and old cellars..
- south asiatea gardens and train journeys..
- south-east asia and japanmorning markets, gardens and quiet temples..
- south americainca trails, tango and patagonia..
- africadesert camps, safaris and coastal towns..
- northern europethe northern lights and the fjords..
- mediterranean islandsa slow week by boat..
let's plan your journey together..
how many of you, when, and what are you looking for..? a few lines are enough..; we'll shape the rest together.. booking and prices open on ekstrapazar once the dates are set..
let's talk about your journeywrite on whatsappsend an e-mail
booking terms, cancellation and safety..: participation principles →