Six Balkan Countries Tour

Matka Canyon to Ohrid

Meet at the Turkish Airlines check-in counter in the International Departures terminal of Istanbul Airport 3 hours before your flight. After completing baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we will depart for Skopje on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1003 at 07:25. Arriving at 07:55 local time, we will head towards Matka Canyon with our vehicle waiting 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 wonders, we will proceed to Kalkandelen. In Kalkandelen, we will visit the Alaca Mosque, an architectural masterpiece built in 1438 and restored in 1833, which features bright floral decorations that set it apart from other Ottoman mosques with typical ceramic tile decor. After our visit, we will move on to Bitola. During our city tour of Bitola, we will see the Historical Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishak Mosque, the New Mosque, one of the most prominent elements of the city skyline, and the Bitola Military High School, where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk graduated, along with the Atatürk Museum, where you will experience emotional moments. You will have free time in the area to enjoy your lunch. After our break, we will head to Ohrid, our final stop for the day. Nestled between high mountains and Lake Ohrid, this city continues to impress visitors with its history as well as its nature. During our panoramic city tour on foot in Ohrid, we will see the Samuil's Fortress, which crowns the old city, the Church of St. Sophia, the Ancient Theatre, the only Hellenistic theater that has survived in North Macedonia, and many churches and monasteries from the Byzantine period. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Ohrid Lake and St. Naum

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for the Ohrid Lake & St. Naum tour with our private buses. Our first stop will be Ohrid Lake. Ohrid Lake is one of the largest and most important natural treasures of North Macedonia, located in the southwest of the country. Considered one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, Ohrid Lake is famous for its stunningly clear waters, surrounding natural beauty, and its unique aquatic ecosystem that hosts over 200 endemic species, along with rich biodiversity. During our break around the lake, you will have the opportunity to take unique photographs. After the tour, we will arrive at St. Naum after a scenic journey of approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival, we will visit the St. Naum Monastery and Church, one of the most important saints in the region. The historic church within the monastery, along with its frescoes and other religious structures, reflects the artistic and architectural understanding of the Middle Ages. After the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Tirana and Shkodra

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms, we will head to Tirana, the capital of Albania. During our panoramic city tour of Tirana, we will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and the Skanderbeg Monument and Square. After some free time, we will depart for Shkodra at the time indicated by our guide. On our city tour, we will see the Abu Bekir Mosque, Rozafa Castle, Tito Square, and the Five Heroes Monument. Following this, we will transfer to our hotel and enjoy some free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Budva and Kotor Coastline

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we will head to Montenegro. Upon arrival at the border, we will complete customs and passport procedures, and then take a break at a viewpoint where we can see the once fishing village, now transformed into a city, of St. Stefan and its turquoise beaches. Next, we will arrive in Budva, the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its coastline along the Adriatic Sea, well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches, and vibrant nightlife. Our walking city tour will include the Old Town Center (Stari Grad) and Budva Castle. After some free time for lunch, we will depart for Kotor at the time indicated by our guide. The city, located at the deepest part of Kotor Bay, is recognized for its beautiful architecture and natural surroundings. Here, we will explore Kotor by walking through the Old Town Center, Stari Grad. After our visit to Kotor, we will head to the Bosnia and Herzegovina border and, after customs procedures, transfer to our hotel in Trebinje or the surrounding area. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Mostar Bridge to Sarajevo

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we will set off to explore the historic cities of Bosnia. Our first stop is Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village, where we will visit the well-preserved historical site featuring buildings from the 16th century Ottoman Period and Počitelj Castle. Next, we will head to Blagaj. In this historic town, we will see the Blagaj Tekke, built during the Ottoman Period as a dervish lodge, located by the banks of the Buna River and surrounded by towering cliffs. You will have free time by the Buna River to enjoy your lunch. After the break, we will take a short journey to Mostar. In this city, established around the Neretva River, we will begin our walking tour by visiting the Mostar Bridge, a symbol of the city and a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Although it was destroyed during the conflicts at the end of 1992, it was rebuilt in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. Our tour will also include the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. After the tour, we will head to Sarajevo. As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo holds significant importance in the Balkans. The city serves as a meeting point for Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Ottoman peoples from the west, east, and south. Throughout history, it has exemplified the clash of civilizations while also being a beacon of hope for peace through its multiculturalism and tolerance. The city is known for its religious diversity, with Muslims, Christians of various denominations, and Jews living together for centuries. The city's rich historical diversity is reflected in its architecture, where some areas resemble a Central European city, while just a few streets away, you can find influences of Ottoman or Soviet-style socialist modernism. Upon our arrival in the city center, we will embark on a walking tour where we will see the Vijecnica (National Library), built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now serving as the national library, the intriguing Inat Kuca, the Bosnia River, the Latin Bridge, which has survived since the Ottoman Period, and the site where the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian archduke ignited World War I. We will then proceed to Baščaršija, the historic center of Sarajevo, known for its cobblestone streets, traditional bazaar, and historic mosques. It is possible to hear the call to prayer while passing by a church or synagogue in this area. Among the sights we will see in Baščaršija are the Sebilj Fountain, Pigeon Square, the historic clock tower, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, and the only surviving Ottoman caravanserai, Morica Han. We will conclude our tour by visiting the Eternal Flame (Vjecna Vatra), dedicated to the military and civilian losses that liberated Sarajevo during World War II. This monument consists of tiles inscribed in the colors of the old Yugoslav flag (blue, white, and red) and features a copper vessel shaped like a laurel wreath containing a flame that burns continuously. After the tour, you will have free time. At the time indicated by our guide, we will transfer back to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Belgrade's Fortress and Streets

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we will set off towards Belgrade. Upon our arrival in Belgrade, we will begin our panoramic city tour. During the panoramic city tour, we will see the daily life of the city, important buildings, and the deliberately left bombed Ministry of Interior building by NATO in the heart of the city.

Continuing our tour, we will disembark from our bus for a walking tour that includes the Bayrakli Mosque, Belgrade Fortress, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Clock Tower, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Fountain, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Dungeon Gate, Leopoldov Gate, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Kale Square, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazi Square, and Stone Square. We will complete our city tour with a walk along Knez Mihajlova Street, considered the heart of the city. Here, you will have free time until the meeting time announced by our guide, allowing you to shop or enjoy the cafes along the street.

At the time determined by our guide, we will transfer back to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Back to Skopje

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we will head to Skopje. This city, located by the banks of the Vardar River, is home to many historic mosques, bazaars, and inns due to its influence from the Ottoman Empire. Upon our arrival, we will embark on a city tour of Skopje, where we will visit Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Isa Bey Mosque, Kapan Inn, the Turkish Bazaar, Skopje City Park, the iconic Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, and Macedonia Square. There will be free time at Macedonia Square until the time indicated by our guide. Afterwards, we will proceed to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Prizren, Pristina and Flight Home

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms, we will set off for the Republic of Kosovo. Following customs and passport procedures, we will arrive in Prizren. Our tour in this city, nestled on the slopes of the lush Shar Mountains and divided by the Lumbardh River, will include visits to Sinan Pasha Mosque, the main square of the city known as Shadervan, Prizren Bath, Bayrakli Mosque, and Halveti Teke. After our tour, we will head to Pristina, the youngest capital in Europe. Among the sights we will see are Germia Park, the Kosovo National Museum, Yasar Pasha Mosque, the historic Clock Tower, and the tomb of Sultan Murat, who lost his life in the First Kosovo War. After the tour, we will transfer to the airport at the time indicated by our guide. After handling luggage, tickets, and passport procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1020 at 20:25. We will arrive in Istanbul at 23:15 local time, concluding our tour.