6 Countries and Traces of History in the Magnificent Balkans

Meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures terminal in front of the Turkish Airlines counter 3 hours before the flight. After baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, departure to Skopje at 08:55 with Turkish Airlines flight TK 1003. After our arrival at 08:25 local time, we set off for Matka Canyon with our vehicle waiting at the airport. The canyon is famous for its prehistoric caves and many medieval monasteries. After a photo break at Matka Canyon, one of North Macedonia's most popular outdoor destinations and natural beauties, we move to Tetovo. In Tetovo, we will visit the Alaca Mosque (Painted Mosque), an architectural masterpiece built in 1438 and restored in 1833 to its current state, which features bright floral paintings unlike other Ottoman mosques that typically have ceramic tile decor. After our visit, we move to Bitola. During our Bitola city tour, the places to see include the Historical Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishakiye Mosque, the New Mosque, which is one of the most prominent elements of the city silhouette, 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 can have your lunch during the free time in the region. After our break, we move to Ohrid, which will be the last stop of our day. Located between high mountains and Lake Ohrid, this city continues to impress its visitors with its nature as well as its history. In our panoramic walking city tour in Ohrid, we will see Tsar Samuel's Fortress, which stands like a crown over the old city, the Church of St. Sophia, the Ancient Theatre, which is the only Hellenistic theatre that has survived to the present day 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.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we depart from our hotel for the Lake Ohrid & St. Naum tour with our private buses. Our first stop on the tour is Lake Ohrid. Lake Ohrid is one of the largest and most important natural treasures of North Macedonia and is located in the southwest of the country. Recognized as one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, Lake Ohrid is famous for its magnificent clear waters, the natural beauties around it, its unique water ecosystem worldwide with more than 200 endemic species, and its rich biodiversity. You will have the opportunity to take unique photos during our break around the lake. After our tour, we arrive at St. Naum with a journey of approximately 45 minutes accompanied by unique views. After our arrival, we visit the St. Naum Monastery and Church, one of the most important saints of the region. The historical church, frescoes, and other religious structures located inside the monastery reflect the art and architectural understanding of the Middle Ages. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms in the morning, we move to Tirana, the capital of Albania. In our panoramic Tirana city tour, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, Skanderbeg Monument and Square are among the places to see. After the free time, we move to Shkoder at the time specified by our guide. In the city tour we will perform, Abu Bakr Mosque, Rozafa Castle, Tito Square, Five Heroes Monument are among the places to see. Then transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms in the morning, we move to Montenegro. After our arrival at the border and customs and passport procedures, we take a break on a hill where we can panoramically see St. Stefan, which was once a fishing village and then converted into a city and defies the years without changing today, and its turquoise beaches. Then we arrive in Budva, the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its coastal region along the Adriatic Sea, well-preserved medieval walled city, sandy beaches, and vibrant nightlife. In our walking city tour, the Old Town Center (Stari Grad) and Budva Castle are among the places to see. After the free time for lunch, we move to Kotor at the time specified by our guide. Located in the deepest part of the Bay of Kotor, the city is known for its beautiful architecture and natural environment. Here, we will discover Kotor by taking a walking city tour in the Old Town Center, Stari Grad. After our Kotor trip, we move to the Bosnia and Herzegovina border, and after customs procedures, we transfer to our hotel where we will stay in Trebinje or its surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms in the morning, we set off to discover the historical cities of Bosnia. First, we will visit Pocitelj, which is preserved with all its historical texture on our way and known as the Turkish Village, and see the buildings built during the Ottoman Period in the 16th century and Pocitelj Castle. Then our next stop will be Blagaj. In this historical town, we will see the Blagaj Tekke, which was built as a dervish lodge in the Ottoman Period, located on the banks of the Buna River and surrounded by high cliffs. You can have your lunch during the free time on the banks of the Buna River. After the break, we will arrive in Mostar with a short journey. In our walking tour in the city established around the Neretva River, we will first see the Mostar Bridge. The bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, is the symbol of the city. Although it was destroyed in the conflicts that took place in late 1992, it was rebuilt in 2004 with the great contributions of the Republic of Turkey. In our tour, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is also among the places to see. After our tour, we move to Sarajevo. Sarajevo, the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is also a center of great importance in the Balkans. The city is the meeting point of Roman Catholic peoples in the west, Eastern Orthodox 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. In the city, which is also known for its religious diversity, Muslims, Christians of different denominations, and Jews have lived together for centuries. In the city, which reflects its wide historical diversity in its architecture, while some points resemble a Central European city, it is possible to encounter the effects of Ottoman or Soviet-like socialist modernism in a different point a few streets away. After our arrival in the center, in our walking city tour, we will see Vijecnica (Central Library), which was built as a municipality during the Austro-Hungarian Empire but is used as a national library today, Inat Kuca with its surprising story, the Bosna River, the Latin Bridge that has survived from the Ottoman Period to the present day, and the point where the Austro-Hungarian archduke was shot, which was the moment the spark of World War I was ignited. Then we will move to Bascarsija, the historical center of Sarajevo, famous for its narrow cobblestone streets from the Ottoman Period, traditional bazaar, and historical mosques. In this region, it is possible to hear the call to prayer at the same time while passing by a church or a synagogue. Bascarsija Sebilj and Pigeon Square, historical clock tower, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Morica Han, the only Ottoman inn preserved from the Ottoman Period to the present day, are among the places we will see in the Bascarsija region. We will end our tour by seeing the Eternal Flame (Vjecna Vatra), dedicated to the military and civilian losses that liberated Sarajevo in World War II. The monument consists of tiles with inscriptions in the colors of the old Yugoslav flag (blue, white, and red), and it contains a copper vessel in the shape of a laurel wreath with an open flame that is always burning inside. After our tour, free time. Transfer to our hotel at the time specified by our guide. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms in the morning, we set off for Belgrade. With our arrival in Belgrade, we start our panoramic city tour. During our panoramic city tour, we see the city's daily life, important buildings, and the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs bombed by NATO, which was consciously left in the middle of the city. In the walking tour we will take by getting off our bus in the continuation of our tour, the Bayrakli Mosque, Belgrade Fortress, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Clock Tower, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Fountain, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Kalemegdan, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Tashmajdan are the places to be seen. We complete our city tour with a walk on Knez Mihajlova Street, which is considered the heart of the city. Here, you can shop and enjoy the cafes on the street during the free time given until the meeting time to be notified by our guide. Transfer to our hotel at the time to be specified by our guide. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of the rooms in the morning, we move to Skopje. This city on the banks of the Vardar River is home to many historical mosques, bazaars, and inns because it has remained under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. In our Skopje city tour that we will perform upon our arrival, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Isa Bey Mosque and Kapan Han, Turkish Bazaar, Skopje City Park, the Stone Bridge, which is the symbol of the city located on the Vardar River, and Macedonia Square are among the places to see. Free time in Macedonia Square until the time specified by our guide. Then move to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel and checking out of our rooms, we set off and depart for the Republic of Kosovo. Following the customs and passport procedures, we arrive in Prizren. During our tour of the city, which clings to the slopes of the lush Shar Mountains and is divided by the Lumbardh River, we will see the Sinan Pasha Mosque, the city's main square Shadervan, the Prizren Hammam, the Bayrakli Mosque, and the Halveti Tekke. After our tour, we depart for Pristina, the youngest capital of Europe. Among the places we will see are Germia Park, the Kosovo Museum, the Yasar Pasha Mosque, the historic Clock Tower, and the Tomb of Sultan Murad I, who lost his life in the 1st Battle of Kosovo. Following our tour, we transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. After baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 20:35 with Turkish Airlines flight TK 1020. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:55 local time and the end of our tour.