Balkans Tour

Meeting at the Turkish Airlines check-in counter in the International Departures terminal of Istanbul Airport 3 hours before the flight. After completing luggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we depart for Skopje on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1003 at 07:25. Upon arrival at 07:55 local time, we will head to Matka Canyon with our vehicle waiting at the airport. The canyon is famous for its prehistoric caves and numerous medieval monasteries. After a photo break in Matka Canyon, one of Macedonia's most popular outdoor destinations and natural beauties, we will proceed to Tetovo. In Tetovo, we will visit the Alaca Mosque, an architectural masterpiece built in 1438 and restored in 1833, which features bright floral paintings unlike other Ottoman mosques with typical ceramic tile decorations. After our visit, we will head to Bitola. During our city tour of Bitola, we will see the Historic Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Isak Mosque, the Yeni Mosque, one of the most prominent elements of the city skyline, and the Military High School and Atatürk Museum, where you will experience emotional moments as it is the alma mater of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for the Ohrid Lake & St. Naum tour using 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, the natural beauty surrounding it, and its unique aquatic ecosystem that hosts over 200 endemic species and 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 approximately 45 minutes of travel, accompanied by breathtaking views. Upon arrival, we will visit the St. Naum Monastery and Church, one of the most significant 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.

After enjoying 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 sights such as Ethem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Skanderbeg Square. After some free time, we will depart for Shkodra at the time indicated by our guide. Our city tour will include visits to the Ebu Bekir Mosque, Rozafa Castle, Tito Square, and the Monument of the Five Heroes. Following the tour, we will transfer to our hotel and enjoy some free time. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms, we will set off for Montenegro. Upon arrival at the border, we will complete customs and passport procedures, followed by a scenic stop at a viewpoint where we can see St. Stefan, a former fishing village that has transformed into a town, along with its turquoise beaches. Next, we will arrive in Budva, the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its coastal area along the Adriatic Sea, well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches, and vibrant nightlife. During our walking city tour, we will visit the Old Town (Stari Grad) and Budva Fortress. After some free time for lunch, we will depart for Kotor at the time specified by our guide. The city, located at the deepest part of Kotor Bay, is renowned for its beautiful architecture and natural setting. Here, we will explore Kotor by walking through the Old Town (Stari Grad). After our visit to Kotor, we will head towards the Bosnia and Herzegovina border and, after completing customs procedures, transfer to our hotel in Trebinje or the surrounding area. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

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 will be Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village, where we will visit the well-preserved buildings from the 16th century Ottoman Period and see Počitelj Castle. Next, we will head to Blagaj. In this historic town, we will visit Blagaj Tekke, built as a dervish lodge during the Ottoman Period, located on the banks of the Buna River and surrounded by high cliffs. During the free time by the Buna River, you can enjoy your lunch. After our break, we will take a short journey to Mostar. In this city, built around the Neretva River, our walking tour will first take us to 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 Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. After the tour, we will proceed to Sarajevo. As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo holds great significance in the Balkans.

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 intentionally 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, where we will visit the Bayraklı 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, Kalemegdan Square, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Tašmajdan. We will complete our city tour with a walk along Knez Mihajlova Street, considered the heart of the city. During the free time given until the meeting time announced by our guide, you can shop or enjoy the cafes along the street. We will transfer back to our hotel at the time determined by our guide. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms, we will head to Skopje. This city, located by the banks of the Vardar River, is home to many historical mosques, bazaars, and inns due to the influence of 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, and Kapan Han, Turkish Bazaar, Skopje City Park, the symbol of the city, Stone Bridge, and Macedonia Square. There will be free time at Macedonia Square until the time indicated by our guide. Afterward, we will proceed to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we will set off for the Republic of Kosovo. Following customs and passport procedures, we will arrive in Prizren. Our tour will take us through this city, nestled on the slopes of the lush Shar Mountains and divided by the Lumbardh River, where we will visit notable sites including Sinan Pasha Mosque, the main square known as Shadervan, Prizren Bath, Bayrakli Mosque, and Halveti Teke. After our tour, we will head to Pristina, the youngest capital in Europe. We will see 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. Following luggage, ticket, 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.