This eight-day tour flies from Istanbul to Skopje and returns from Pristina, covering six countries in the Balkans: North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. City tours take in Ohrid, Tirana, Kotor, Mostar, Sarajevo and Belgrade. Half-board accommodation and Turkish-speaking guiding are included in the price.
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Seven nights link six Balkan countries on a route beginning in Skopje and continuing through Ohrid, Tirana, Shkodra, Budva, Kotor, Trebinje, Mostar, Sarajevo and Belgrade. Turkish Airlines operates the outbound flight from Istanbul to Skopje, while the overland programme also stops at Matka Canyon, Tetovo, Bitola, St Naum, Pocitelj and Blagaj.
The final section returns to Skopje before visiting Prizren and Pristina in Kosovo. From Pristina, the programme concludes with the Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.
01
Ohrid and St. Naum
A photo stop on Ohrid Lake and a visit to the Monastery of St. Naum.
02
Mostar and Sarajevo
Mostar Bridge, Bascarsija, the Latin Bridge and the Eternal Flame on one day.
03
Montenegro's coast
Walking tours of the Old Town in Budva and Stari Grad in Kotor.
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Planning your budgetThe departure tax, museum and site entrance fees, excursions not in the programme, lunches and personal expenses are not included. Tourist city taxes and guide and driver gratuities come to 100 EUR, collected by the guide on the first day. See details →
On our panoramic walking tour of Ohrid, we will see Tsar Samuel Castle, which stands like a crown above the old city and greets it, St. After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we depart by private coach for the Ohrid Lake and St.
The line shows the order of overnight stops; it is not the actual road or flight path. Map: Natural Earth, GeoNames.
01Istanbul - Skopje - Matka Canyon - Tetovo - Bitola - OhridMatka Canyon, Alaca Mosque, Bitola and Tsar Samuel Castle in Ohrid.
Ohrid · night 1
Canyon to lakeshore
Meeting in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport 3 hours before the flight. Following baggage, ticket and passport procedures, departure for Skopje at 07.25 on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK 1003. Following our arrival at 07:55 local time, we set off for Matka Canyon in the vehicle waiting for us at the airport. The canyon is famous for its prehistoric caves and numerous medieval monasteries. After a photo stop at Matka Canyon, one of Macedonia's most popular outdoor destinations and natural attractions, we depart for Tetovo. In Tetovo, we will visit Alaca Mosque, an architectural masterpiece built in 1438 and restored to its present form in 1833, which differs from other Ottoman mosques typically decorated with ceramic tiles through its vivid floral paintings. After our visit, we depart for Bitola. During our city tour of Bitola, the sights will include the Historic Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, Ishakiye Mosque, Yeni Mosque, one of the most distinctive elements of the city skyline, and the Bitola Military High School, from which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk graduated, and the Atatürk Museum, where you will experience emotional moments. During the free time provided in the area, you may have lunch. After our break, we depart for Ohrid, the final stop of our day. Situated between high mountains and Ohrid Lake, this city continues to impress visitors with its natural beauty as much as its history. On our panoramic walking tour of Ohrid, we will see Tsar Samuel Castle, which stands like a crown above the old city and greets it, St. Sophia Church, the Ancient Theatre, the only surviving Hellenistic theatre in North Macedonia, and many churches and monasteries from the Byzantine Period. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
02Ohrid - St. Naum - OhridA photo stop at Ohrid Lake, then the Monastery and Church of St. Naum.
Ohrid · night 2
Ohrid Lake and St. Naum
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we depart by private coach for the Ohrid Lake and St. Naum tour. The first stop on our tour will be Ohrid Lake, located in southwestern North Macedonia. One of the country’s largest and most important natural treasures, Ohrid Lake is considered one of the world’s oldest and deepest lakes. It is known for its clear waters, surrounding natural beauty, unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 endemic species, and rich biodiversity. During our stop by the lake, you will have an opportunity to take photographs. We then arrive in St. Naum after a journey of approximately 45 minutes through scenic landscapes. Here, we visit the Monastery and Church of St. Naum, one of the region’s most important saints. The historic church, frescoes, and other religious structures within the monastery reflect the artistic and architectural traditions of the Middle Ages. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
03Ohrid - Tirana - ShkodraEthem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, Skanderbeg Square and Rozafa Castle.
Shkoder · night 3
Capital Tirana and Shkodra
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we depart for Tirana, the capital of Albania. On our panoramic Tirana city tour, the sights will include Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Skanderbeg Monument and Square. After the free time provided, we depart for Shkodra at the time specified by our guide. On our city tour, the sights will include Abu Bakr Mosque, Rozafa Castle, Tito Square and the Five Heroes Monument. Afterwards, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
04Shkodra - St. Stefan - Budva - Kotor - TrebinjeSt. Stefan viewpoint, Stari Grad in Budva and Kotor, then Trebinje for the night.
Trebinje · night 4
Montenegro's coast
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we depart for Montenegro. Following customs and passport procedures upon arrival at the border, we stop on a hill offering panoramic views of St. Stefan, once a fishing village and later transformed into a town that has remained unchanged through the years, and its turquoise shores. We then arrive in Budva, the centre of Montenegro's tourism, known for its Adriatic coastal setting, well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches and lively nightlife. On our walking city tour, the sights will include the Old Town Centre (Stari Grad) and Budva Castle. After free time for lunch, we depart for Kotor at the time specified by our guide. Located in the deepest part of Kotor Bay, the city is known for its beautiful architecture and natural setting. Here, we will explore Kotor on a walking city tour through Stari Grad, the Old Town Centre. After our Kotor excursion, we depart for the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, following customs procedures, transfer to the hotel where we will stay in Trebinje or the surrounding area, our final stop. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
05Trebinje - Pocitelj - Blagaj - Mostar - SarajevoPocitelj, Blagaj Tekke, Mostar Bridge and Bascarsija in Sarajevo.
Sarajevo · night 5
Historic cities of Bosnia
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we set off to explore Bosnia's historic cities. First, we visit Pocitelj, located along our route, preserved with all its historic character and known as the Turkish Village, where we will see buildings constructed during the Ottoman Period in the 16th century and Pocitelj Castle. Our next stop will then be Blagaj. In this historic town, we will see Blagaj Tekke, located on the banks of the Buna River, surrounded by high cliffs and built as a dervish lodge during the Ottoman Period. During the free time provided on the banks of the Buna River, you may have lunch. After the break, we will arrive in Mostar following a short journey. On our walking tour of the city established around the Neretva River, we will first see Mostar Bridge. A masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, the bridge is the symbol of the city. Although it was destroyed in the conflicts that took place at the end of 1992, it was rebuilt in 2004 with major contributions from the Republic of Turkey. Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is also among the sights on our tour. After our tour, we depart for Sarajevo. Sarajevo, the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is also a highly important centre in the Balkans. The city is a meeting point for Roman Catholic peoples in the west, Eastern Orthodox peoples in the east and Ottoman peoples in the south. While it has been an example of the clash of civilizations throughout history, it is also a beacon of hope for peace through its multiculturalism and tolerance. In this city, also known for its religious diversity, Muslims, Christians of different denominations and Jews have lived together for centuries. Reflecting its broad historical diversity in its architecture, some parts of the city resemble a Central European city, while just a few streets away it is possible to encounter the influence of Ottoman or Soviet-style socialist modernism. Following our arrival in the centre, on our walking city tour we will see Vijecnica (Central Library), built as a municipal building during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now used as the national library, Inat Kuca with its surprising story, the Bosnia River, the Latin Bridge preserved from the Ottoman Period, and the spot where the Austro-Hungarian archduke was shot, the event that ignited the spark of World War 1. We will then proceed to Bascarsija, Sarajevo's historic centre, famous for its narrow cobbled streets from the Ottoman Period, traditional bazaar and historic mosques. In this area, it is possible to hear the call to prayer while passing a church or synagogue. The Bascarsija Sebilj and Pigeon Square, the historic clock tower, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and Morica Han, the only Ottoman inn preserved from the Ottoman Period to the present day, are among the sights we will see in the Bascarsija district. We will conclude our tour by seeing the Eternal Flame (Vjecna Vatra), dedicated to the military and civilian casualties who liberated Sarajevo in World War 2. The monument consists of tiles bearing inscriptions in the colours of the former Yugoslav flag (blue, white and red), with a copper vessel shaped like a wreath of laurel leaves containing an open flame that always burns. After our tour, free time. Transfer to our hotel at the time specified by our guide. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
06Sarajevo - BelgradeBelgrade Castle, Knez Mihajlova Street and a panoramic city tour.
Belgrade · night 6
Walking Belgrade
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we set off for Belgrade. Upon our arrival in Belgrade, we begin our panoramic city tour. During our panoramic city tour, we see the city's daily life, important buildings and the Ministry of the Interior building bombed by NATO, deliberately left standing in the middle of the city. Continuing our tour, we leave our coach for a walking tour, during which the sights will include Bayrakli Mosque, Belgrade Castle, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, the Clock Tower, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Fountain, the Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Dungeon Gate, Leopoldov Gate, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Castle Square, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazi Square and Stone Square. We complete our city tour with a walk along Knez Mihajlova Street, regarded as the heart of the city. During the free time provided here until the meeting time announced by our guide, you may shop or enjoy the cafes along the street. Transfer to our hotel at the time determined by our guide. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
07Belgrade - SkopjeMustafa Pasha Mosque, the Stone Bridge, the Turkish Bazaar and Macedonia Square.
Skopje · night 7
Skopje on the Vardar
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we depart for Skopje. Situated on the banks of the Vardar River, this city is home to many historic mosques, bazaars and inns due to its history under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. On our Skopje city tour following our arrival, the sights will include Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Isa Bey Mosque and Kapan Han, the Turkish Bazaar, Skopje City Park, the Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, the symbol of the city, and Macedonia Square. Free time in Macedonia Square until the time specified by our guide. Afterwards, departure for our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
08Skopje - Prizren - Pristina - IstanbulSinan Pasha Mosque, Shadervan, the Kosovo National Museum and the flight home.
Prizren, Pristina and home
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and check-out, we set off for the Republic of Kosovo. Following customs and passport procedures, we arrive in Prizren. On our tour of the city, which clings to the slopes of the lush Shar Mountains and is divided by the Lumbardh River, the sights will include Sinan Pasha Mosque, Shadervan, the city's main square, Prizren Hammam, Bayrakli Mosque and Halveti Tekke. After our tour, we depart for Pristina, Europe's youngest capital. Germia Park, the Kosovo National Museum, Yasar Pasha Mosque, the historic Clock Tower and the Tomb of Murad 1, who died in the 1st Battle of Kosovo, are among the sights we will see. After our tour, transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. Following baggage, ticket and passport procedures, departure for Istanbul at 20.25 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1020. Arrival in Istanbul at 23.15 local time and the end of our tour.
OUTBOUND & RETURN
Flight details
Outbound
Istanbul07:25
TK 1003
Skopje
Return
Priştine20:25
TK 1020
Istanbul
Times are local, taken from the programme. Baggage allowance is given in your booking documents.
