Balkan Tale Tour

Following our meeting at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, we depart for Sarajevo with Pegasus Airlines' scheduled flight. Upon our arrival at Sarajevo Airport, after completing our passport and customs procedures, we begin exploring Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with our vehicle waiting for us. During our walking tour in this unique city where East and West, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture meet on the same streets, some of the things we will see are the Sebilj fountain (the symbol of the city), Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Bezistan, Clock Tower, the colorful shops of Baščaršija, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Eternal Flame, Latin Bridge, and Fatih Mosque. After our tour, we give free time in the historical bazaar of Sarajevo. You can drink Bosnian coffee in cafes specific to Bosnia, taste famous Bosnian pastries, or stroll through the streets of the city remaining from the Ottoman and European periods to experience the unique atmosphere of Sarajevo. For our dinner, we move to our local restaurant in Baščaršija and eat cevapi, the world-famous delicacy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After dinner, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we set off to explore one of the richest routes of Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of history, nature, and culture. Our first stop is Konjic, one of the most beautiful small towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina, established on both banks of the Neretva River, with its historical stone bridge and impressive scenery. Here, we take a short coffee break accompanied by the view of the Neretva River and the historical bridge. Coffee and other beverages are not included in the tour price and are at our guests' own expense. After our break, we depart for Počitelj Village, which has survived from the Ottoman period and resembles a living open-air museum. Set on a slope overlooking the Neretva Valley, we feel the centuries-old Balkan atmosphere in this historical Ottoman settlement with its stone houses, hammam, mosque, clock tower, and old cobblestone streets. After our visit to Počitelj, we reach Mostar, one of the most important cities of the region. Known for its world-famous bridge, which was destroyed by the fire of Croatian artillery during the recent Bosnian War and later rebuilt with the contributions of the Republic of Turkey and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mostar will take you to a completely different atmosphere with its narrow and authentic streets remaining from the Ottoman Empire. During our tour, the Mostar Bridge, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Turkish Consulate, historical bazaar, and martyrs' cemetery are some of the places we will see. If we are on a lucky day, we can also see the young people jumping from the bridge for show purposes, whose story goes back centuries. After our tour, we give free time for you to shop for souvenirs specific to Mostar and enjoy the historical bazaar. Afterwards, we depart for Blagaj, established right under huge cliffs at the source of the Buna River. We give free time in Blagaj, which is one of the most photographed spots of Bosnia and Herzegovina with its unique natural scenery where water emerges from between rocks and its historical tekke. Entrance to the Blagaj Tekke is not included in the tour price. Guests who wish can visit the tekke by paying the entrance fee individually. After our Blagaj tour, we return to Sarajevo. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and set off for Vrelo Bosna, one of the most beautiful natural areas of Sarajevo. Located on the foothills of Mount Igman, around the springs where the Bosna River is born, Vrelo Bosna is one of the most special spots of the city with its lush nature, clear waters, small ponds, wooden bridges, and walking paths. Following our enjoyable tour here, we set off towards Serbia accompanied by the lush mountains, valleys, and winding roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Entering Serbia by passing through the border gate on the Drina River, whose name we are familiar with from history books, we reach Belgrade, one of the most vibrant metropolises of the Balkans and the capital of the former Yugoslavia. During our walking tour upon arrival, Knez Mihailova Street, Kalemegdan, Monument of Gratitude to France, Istanbul Gate, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, panoramic viewpoint, Victor Statue, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, Clock Tower, and historical walls will be just some of the things we see. After watching one of the most beautiful views of the city at the unique panoramic point where the Danube and Sava rivers meet, we give free time on the lively streets of Belgrade. Guests who wish can shop around Knez Mihailova, try different flavors at the ice cream shop recommended by our guide, or drink a pleasant coffee while viewing the city. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and set off for North Macedonia. Following the passport and customs procedures at the border gate, we enter North Macedonia and reach the country's capital, Skopje. Upon our arrival, we begin to explore Skopje, one of the most characteristic capitals of the Balkans. During our tour of the streets of one of the largest bazaars established outside the capital in Ottoman history that has survived to the present day, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, Çifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murat Mosque, Clock Tower, Stone Bridge, Skopje Fortress, the statue groups built within the scope of the 2014 Project, Macedonia Square, Vardar River, and the Alexander the Great Statue will be just some of what we will see in this impressive city. During our free time in the historical bazaar where Ottoman heritage intertwines with Balkan culture, if you are lucky and they are not sold out, you should eat the famous badem ezmesi (almond paste), if it is in season, you must definitely drink a cold boravitsa, and taste kikiriki. After our free time, we move to our restaurant for the Macedonian Night, which is one of the most colorful and enjoyable organizations of our program, including dinner, music, and entertainment, included in our tour fee. After the night where we will have plenty of fun while enjoying local dishes accompanied by Rumelian, Balkan, and Macedonian melodies, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and depart for Kosovo. Following the passport and customs procedures at the border gate, we enter Kosovo, one of the youngest countries in Europe. Our first stop is the Tomb of Sultan Murad Hüdavendigâr, one of the most important points of Ottoman history in the Balkans. By visiting the tomb located in the place where the internal organs of Sultan Murad I, who lost his life after the 1st Battle of Kosovo in 1389, were buried, we witness one of the most special heritages of our history in the Balkan geography. After our visit, we set off for Prizren, which carries many traces from the Ottoman Empire to the present day and where you will feel yourself as if you are in an Anatolian town while wandering through its streets. During our walking tour in Prizren, the Sinan Pasha Mosque, Arasta Mosque Minaret, Ottoman Bath, Stone Bridge, Turkish Consulate, and the panorama of Prizren Fortress will be just some of the things we will see. During our free time around Shadervan Square and its surroundings, we recommend you to taste the delicious dishes of the region and enjoy the historical streets. After our Prizren tour, we move towards Albania. After our border procedures, we reach Shkodër, one of the most important cities in the north of the country, and check in to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and set off for Tirana, the capital of Albania. During our city tour in Tirana, which has become one of the most colorful cities in the Balkans in recent years, the heart of the city Skanderbeg Square, Et'hem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, the square where the National Historical Museum is located, and buildings reflecting different periods of the city will be some of the places we will see. After our visit to Tirana, where we can see Albania's past and modern face together, we move to Elbasan, which was an important military and commercial center during the Ottoman period, and visit the Elbasan Fortress and the historical fortress area. After Elbasan, we continue our journey towards the North Macedonia border. After passport and customs procedures, we reach the region where the St. Naum Monastery, also known as Sari Saltuk, is located, established right on the bank of the source of Lake Ohrid. During the free time to be given here, you can visit the church where the tomb of St. Naum is also located, or you can take a boat tour on the Black Drim natural springs, which fascinate those who see them with their clarity. After the enjoyable time we will spend in St. Naum, we depart for Ohrid. After checking in to our hotel, dinner and overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and begin to explore Ohrid, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most beautiful cities of the Balkans with its lake, historical texture, and famous pearls. During our walking tour in this city, which is established on the shores of Lake Ohrid, famous for its pearl, and is itself like a pearl in beauty, Ohrid houses, Church of Saint Sophia, Damat Ali Pasha Mosque, Halveti Tekke and Mosque, and the Turkish Quarter will be some of the places we will see. After discovering Ohrid on foot, we give free time so that you can shop, examine the famous Ohrid pearls, and enjoy the lakeside. We especially recommend you to drink a glass of Turkish tea or Turkish coffee in the Turkish Quarter. After the free time, we set off for Bitola, or as we know it more closely, Manastir. Manastir, which was one of the most important military, administrative, and diplomatic centers of the Balkans during the Ottoman period, also has a very special place in the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We make our first visit in the city to the Manastir Military High School where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was educated. Following this historical structure that witnessed Atatürk's youth years and educational life, we continue our walk on Shirok Street, the most famous spot of the city. After a short free time we will give on Shirok Street, which is accepted as the heart of the city with its historical consulate buildings, elegant structures, cafes, and lively social life where we can see the traces of the Ottoman period together with European architecture, we depart for Skopje. Upon our arrival in Skopje, we have our dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to our hotel after dinner. Overnight at our hotel

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and set off for Matka Canyon, one of the last and most beautiful nature stops of our journey in the Balkans. In this impressive geography formed by the Treska River just outside of Skopje, we take a delightful walk accompanied by lush nature, steep cliffs, and canyon views. After the enjoyable time we will spend in Matka Canyon, where we will say goodbye to the Balkans in the heart of nature after cities, historical structures, and cultural riches, we set off for Skopje Airport. After our baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport with Pegasus Airlines' scheduled flight PC354 at 17:35. With our arrival in Istanbul at local time 21:00, we come to the end of our Balkan Tale tour, which extends from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia, from North Macedonia to Kosovo and Albania, filled with history, culture, nature, and Balkan flavors, and we say goodbye to meet again on another trip.