Grand Balkans Tour: 6 Countries, 7 Nights – Departure on November 15 and 16 with Turkish Airlines (Special November Semester Break)

Meeting in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures terminal 3 hours before the flight. After baggage, ticket and passport procedures, departure for Skopje at 08:55 on Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight TK 1003. Arrival at 08:25 local time, followed by departure for Matka Canyon in 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 depart for Tetovo. In Tetovo, we will visit the Alaca Mosque, an architectural masterpiece built in 1438 and restored to its present form in 1833, featuring bright floral paintings unlike other Ottoman mosques typically decorated with ceramic tiles. After our visit, we depart for Bitola. During our Bitola city tour, we will see the Historical Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishakiye 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, and the Atatürk Museum, where you will experience emotional moments during our visit. You may have lunch during the free time in the area. After our break, we depart for Ohrid, our final stop of the day. Situated between high mountains and Lake Ohrid, this city continues to impress visitors with its history as well as its natural beauty. During our panoramic walking tour of Ohrid, we will see Tsar Samuel’s Fortress, which greets the city like a crown above the old town, the Church of St. Sophia, the Ancient Theatre, the only surviving Hellenistic theatre in North Macedonia, and numerous churches and monasteries dating from the Byzantine period. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.  

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we depart from our hotel in our private buses for the Lake Ohrid & St. Naum tour. The first stop on our tour is Lake Ohrid. Lake Ohrid is one of North Macedonia’s largest and most important natural treasures and is located in the southwestern part of the country. Considered one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, Lake Ohrid is famous for its wonderfully clear waters, the natural beauty surrounding it, and its unique worldwide aquatic ecosystem containing more than 200 endemic species, as well as its rich biodiversity. During our break around the lake, you will have the opportunity to take unique photographs. Following our tour, we arrive at St. Naum after an approximately 45-minute journey accompanied by unique views. Upon arrival, we visit the Monastery and Church of St. Naum, one of the most important saints in the region. The historic church, frescoes, and other religious structures within the monastery reflect the artistic and architectural understanding of the Middle Ages. Following our tour, we transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After having breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms, we depart for Tirana, the capital of Albania. During our panoramic Tirana city tour, the Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, Skanderbeg Monument and Square are among the places to be seen. After the free time, we depart for Shkodër at the time specified by our guide. During our city tour, the Ebu Bekr Mosque, Rozafa Castle, Tito Square, and Monument to the Five Heroes are among the places to be seen. Then transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out, we depart for Montenegro. Upon reaching the border and completing customs and passport procedures, we take a break on a hill where we can enjoy a panoramic view of St. Stefan, once a fishing village and later transformed into a town, standing the test of time unchanged over the years, along with its turquoise-colored beaches. We then arrive in Budva, the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its coastal area on the Adriatic Sea, its well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches, and lively nightlife. During our walking city tour, the Old Town Center (Stari Grad) and Budva Fortress are among the places to be seen. After free time for lunch, we depart for Kotor at the time specified by our guide. Located at the deepest point of the Bay of Kotor, the city is known for its beautiful architecture and natural surroundings. Here, we will explore Kotor on foot with a city tour in Stari Grad, the Old Town Center. After our visit to Kotor, we proceed to the Bosnia and Herzegovina border and, following customs procedures, transfer to our hotel in Trebinje or its surrounding area, where we will stay. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out, we set off to discover Bosnia’s historic cities. First, we will visit Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village and preserved with all its historic character, located along our route, where we will see the buildings constructed during the Ottoman Period in the 16th century and Počitelj Fortress. Our next stop will be Blagaj. In this historic town, we will see Blagaj Tekke, built as a dervish lodge during the Ottoman Period, located on the banks of the Buna River and surrounded by high cliffs. You may have lunch during the free time on the banks of the Buna River. After the break, we will arrive in Mostar following a short journey. During our walking tour of the city, founded 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 during the conflicts that took place toward the end of 1992, it was rebuilt in 2004 with major contributions from the Republic of Türkiye. Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is also among the places we will see on our tour. After the tour, we will depart for Sarajevo. The capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is also a highly significant center in the Balkans. The city is a meeting point for Roman Catholics in the west, Eastern Orthodox Christians 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 with its multiculturalism and tolerance. Known for its religious diversity, the city has been home for centuries to Muslims, Christians belonging to different denominations, and Jews living side by side. 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 influences of Ottoman or Soviet-style socialist modernism. After arriving at the city center, during 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 Bosna River; the Latin Bridge, which has survived from the Ottoman Period; and the spot where the Austro-Hungarian archduke was shot, an event that ignited the spark of World War I. We will then proceed to Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s historic center, famous for its narrow cobblestone streets dating from the Ottoman Period, traditional bazaar, and historic mosques. In this area, it is possible to hear the call to prayer while passing by a church or synagogue. Baščaršija Sebil and Pigeon Square, the historic clock tower, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, and Morića Han, the only Ottoman inn preserved from the Ottoman Period to the present day, are among the places we will see in the Baščaršija area. We will conclude our tour by also seeing the Eternal Flame (Vječna Vatra), dedicated to the military and civilian casualties who liberated Sarajevo in World War II. The monument consists of tiles bearing inscriptions in the colors of the former Yugoslavian flag (blue, white, and red), and contains a copper bowl shaped like a laurel wreath with an ever-burning open flame inside. Free time after the tour. Transfer to our hotel at the time specified by our guide. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out, we set off for Belgrade. Upon arriving 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 Internal Affairs building, bombed by NATO and deliberately left in the middle of the city. Continuing our tour, we get off our bus and take a walking tour, during which we will see the Bajrakli Mosque, Belgrade Fortress, Damat Ali Pasha’s Tomb, Clock Tower, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Fountain, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Zindan Gate, Leopoldov Gate, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Kalemegdan, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Tašmajdan Square. We complete our city tour with a walk along Knez Mihajlova Street, considered the heart of the city. During the free time until the meeting time announced by our guide, you can go shopping and enjoy the cafés on the street. Transfer to our hotel at the time determined by our guide. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning and checking out, we depart for Skopje. Located on the banks of the Vardar River, this city is home to many historic mosques, bazaars, and inns, having been under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. Upon our arrival, during our Skopje city tour, the sights we will see include Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Isa Bey Mosque, Kapan Han, the Turkish Bazaar, Skopje City Park, the Stone Bridge—the symbol of the city located over the Vardar River—and Macedonia Square. Free time in Macedonia Square until the time specified by our guide. Then we depart for our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out, we set off for the Republic of Kosovo. Following the customs and passport procedures, we arrive in Prizren. During our tour of the city, nestled on the slopes of the lush Šar Mountains and divided by the Lumbardh River, the Sinan Pasha Mosque, Šadërvan, the city’s main square, the Prizren Hammam, the Bayraklı Mosque, and the Halveti Tekke are among the places to be seen.  After our tour, we depart for Pristina, Europe’s youngest capital. Germia Park, the Kosovo National Museum, the Yaşar Pasha Mosque, the historic Clock Tower, and the Tomb of Murat I, who lost his life in the First Battle of Kosovo, are among the places we will see. After our tour, transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. Following the baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, departure for Istanbul at 20:35 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 1020. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:55 local time and the end of our tour.