Great Balkans Tour from Ankara with Kosovan

Meeting in front of the airline counter at the Esenboğa Airport departure terminal. Departure to Tirana, the capital of Albania, at 16:20 with AJet Airlines flight VF627. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival at 17:40 local time. Following entry procedures, we set off with our private vehicle waiting at the airport towards the historic city of Shkoder in northern Albania. Shkoder, one of the oldest and most important cities in Albania, attracts attention with its historical and cultural richness. During our city tour, we will see the Rozafa Castle, which is considered the symbol of the city and is located in a position overlooking the view of Lake Shkoder, panoramically. Afterwards, a short walk is taken on Pedonal Street, the center of the city; historical buildings, cafes, and local life in the region are observed. During the tour, the Ebu Bekir Mosque and its surroundings are introduced panoramically. After free time, our city tour in Shkoder is completed. Shkoder will fascinate you with its natural beauties and rich historical texture. Overnight stay and dinner at our hotel.

Tirana – Shkoder: 100 km

Total distance to be covered: 100 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we set off on an unforgettable journey towards the fascinating coasts of Montenegro. Our first stop is Sv. Stefan, famous for its rich history and dazzling view. We will watch the magnificent view of this islet from the hill, an ideal point to photograph this region, where every corner is like a postcard. Afterwards, we arrive in Budva, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans. After our panoramic Budva tour, our next stop is Kotor, the fascinating city of the Balkans famous for its fjords! During our walking tour in this magnificent medieval town, you will feel the historical atmosphere of the narrow streets and the old city, and discover the heart of Kotor. With its unique architecture and sea view, this small town will take you on a journey through time. After the free time we will give in Kotor, we depart for our hotel in Medjugorje or its vicinity. After our dinner at our hotel, we retire to our rooms to rest. Overnight stay at our hotel.

Budva Tour INCLUDED! | Kotor Tour INCLUDED!

Shkoder - Budva: 85 km | Budva - Kotor: 22 km | Kotor - Medjugorje: 191 km

Total distance to be covered: 298 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we depart for Sarajevo. Our first stop is Pocitelj, which carries the past to the present with its stone houses and historical texture. In Pocitelj, which largely preserves its historical texture and is known as the Turkish Village, we will have the opportunity to see the works built by the Ottomans in the 16th century up close and feel the unique atmosphere of the region. After our trip here, we depart for Mostar. Here, we will see the Mostar Bridge, which was built in 1557 by Mimar Hayreddin, one of the students of Mimar Sinan, and is accepted as one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture. This bridge was destroyed during the war in 1992, but was rebuilt in its original form in 2004 with the great contributions of the Republic of Turkey and has become the symbol of Mostar again today. We will have the opportunity to visit the historical bazaar and stone streets around this bridge, which elegantly connects the two sides of the Neretva River. After discovering the fascinating atmosphere of Mostar, we will visit the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, one of the most important religious buildings of the city. Here, we will both examine the architectural details belonging to the Ottoman period and watch the magnificent view of the Mostar Bridge from the courtyard of the mosque. Afterwards, we depart for Blagaj, known for its natural beauty and peaceful environment. Blagaj is an impressive settlement where history and nature are intertwined, established where the Buna River, the strongest water source in Europe, is born. After a short free time here, we depart for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After our arrival, we will see that it has been the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and went down in history as the place where the First World War broke out upon the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by the Serbs in 1914. In the 1992 war, it suffered great destruction as a result of the devastating wars between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, but Sarajevo has managed to preserve its beauty to a large extent. During our panoramic city tour, we will see the famous Baščaršija, the historical Ottoman inn Morica Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the religious cosmopolitanism of the city, the Synagogue, the Gazi Husrev-bey and Ferhadija Mosques, the Latin Bridge where the Franz Ferdinand assassination took place in 1914, the Old Library, and the western-style buildings formed during the city's 40-year Austro-Hungarian rule. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Blagaj Tour INCLUDED! | Mostar Tour INCLUDED! | Pocitelj Tour INCLUDED!

Medjugorje – Pocitelj: 18 km | Pocitelj – Blagaj: 28 km | Blagaj – Mostar: 13 km | Mostar – Sarajevo: 125 km

Total distance to be covered: 184 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we leave our hotel and start a pleasant journey towards Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Belgrade, which has been one of the most important cultural and strategic centers of the Balkans throughout history, attracts attention today with its vitality, mobility, and historical texture. In this fascinating city, we will have the opportunity to discover the intersection point of Ottoman and European cultures. After our arrival in Belgrade, a panoramic city tour begins where we will discover all the splendor of the city. Here, you can feel the historical atmosphere and discover the texture that brings Belgrade's past and present together. Afterwards, we go to the point where the Sava River meets the Danube River, one of the most impressive points of the city. In this unique view, it will be a great pleasure to discover this region, which has been the focus of many conquests and victories throughout history. As we continue to discover this ancient city, for which Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded but whose conquest was destined for Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter the Belgrade Fortress, which was used as a supply center for the Ottoman navy. While following the traces of history in this fortress, we will see important points such as Kalemegdan and Tašmajdan. During our tour, we will see the Tomb of Damad Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period. During these visits, you will deeply discover the rich history of Belgrade and have information about the cultural heritage remaining from the Ottoman period of the city. At the end of our tour, we leave the city's history and lively atmosphere behind and move to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Sarajevo – Belgrade: 287 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we depart for Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Skopje is one of the important cultural centers of the Balkans with its heritage from the Ottoman period and its modern structures. We start our tour with the historical sites in Skopje, the city where the famous Turkish poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı was born. Our first stop is the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1492, which is one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the city. Then, we visit the Murat Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque is particularly notable for its decorations and architecture dating back to the Ottoman era. Continuing our tour, we will see Kapan Han and Sulu Han, located in the heart of Skopje. These structures, which are beautiful examples of Ottoman-era inns, were once important centers where merchants stayed and conducted trade. Afterwards, we visit the Stone Bridge, which has become the symbol of Skopje. This bridge was built in the 15th century and connects the two banks of the Vardar River. Walking across the Stone Bridge, we will continue our tour by seeing the Turkish and Jewish quarters on the banks of the Vardar River. During our walk along the river, we pass through Macedonia Square. This square is the largest and most central point of Skopje and is surrounded by modern buildings. Here, we will encounter the statue of Alexander the Great and other monuments. Then, we see the 15th-century Ottoman Bridge from the outside and visit the Daut Pasha Hamam to feel the splendor of the Ottoman era once again. We continue to explore the city by walking towards the Old Bazaar of Skopje. Before arriving at the bazaar, we see the Clock Tower, which was built in the 16th century and is one of the symbolic structures of Skopje. Here, we will visit the Sultan Murad Mosque and the Isa Bey Mosque, which are among the early Ottoman mosques. The mosques are an important part of the city's Islamic heritage and are remarkable for their architecture. Finally, we give free time in the Old Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find many products ranging from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After the pleasant time you will spend in the bazaar, we will return to our hotel in the evening.

Dinner: An unforgettable dinner awaits you accompanied by traditional Balkan music and local dance performances. While experiencing the opportunity to discover the fun and cultural side of Skopje with this special Balkan night, you will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the most exclusive venues in the region. We will turn this night into an authentic experience with performances by our artists, consisting entirely of conservatory students and teachers, who perform live without playback, featuring the best music and folklore of the Balkans. We will be happy to host you at our own establishment, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Balkan Night INCLUDED!

Belgrade – Skopje : 430 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we leave our hotel and set off for Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Upon our arrival in Pristina, we begin our panoramic city tour where we will discover the modern and historical aspects of Kosovo. During our tour, we will also visit many valuable structures from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yasar Pasha Mosque. During this trip through the city's historical heritage, we will have the opportunity to commemorate this important historical event and its place in Ottoman history by visiting the Tomb of Sultan Murad I Hüdavendigâr, the Ottoman Sultan who was killed in the Kosovo Field as a result of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo. After our tour in Pristina, we depart for Prizren, known as the cultural capital of Kosovo. Upon our arrival, we begin to explore the narrow streets of Prizren, which resemble an Anatolian Ottoman city with its architecture and shop signs full of Turkish inscriptions. In the city, we will visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the most important structures of Ottoman architecture. In addition, the Halveti Tekke, the Bayraklı Mosque, and the Mehmet Pasha Hamam are among the other important Ottoman works to be seen. After the free time we will spend in Prizren, we begin our return journey to Skopje in the evening. Upon our arrival, we are transferred to our hotel and, after having our dinner, we retire to our rooms. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Pristina Tour INCLUDED! | Prizren Tour INCLUDED!

Skopje – Pristina: 90 km | Pristina – Prizren: 85 km | Prizren – Skopje: 165 km

Total distance to be covered: 340 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we depart for our Resen and Bitola tour, famous for their magnificent nature and historical richness. We set off for Bitola, which was once one of the most important cultural and trade centers of the Ottoman Empire. Upon our arrival in Bitola, we visit the Military High School where the great leader Atatürk was educated and the Atatürk Museum from the outside. In this magical city, we will also discover historical works from the Ottoman era such as the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishak Pasha Mosque, and the Yeni Mosque. While feeling the historical texture of Bitola, you will have the chance to take a pleasant walk in the nostalgic streets of the city. After a short break here, we continue towards Resen, where we see the Palace of Resneli Niyazi Bey, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history, panoramically. Resen offers a fascinating atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After our tour, we head towards Ohrid. Breathtaking views will accompany us along the way. Upon our arrival in Ohrid, we will carry out a tour introducing the historical city of Ohrid, which was one of the important bases of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Places we will see during our tour include: the Monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius, 9th-century Byzantine monks believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet, and important structures such as the Church of St. Sophia. We will also have the opportunity to walk around the heart of the city, Chinar Square, and visit the Turkish Bazaar from the old Ottoman period. Here, you can visit the Halveti Tekke and feel the cultural texture of the city closely. Then, by visiting the New Bazaar and the Ohrid Market, you will witness the daily life of the local people. Finally, Ohrid's famous lake and the fascinating view of the lake will accompany our tour. After our tour, free time and transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay and dinner at our hotel. After our dinner, you can enjoy the fascinating atmosphere of Ohrid in the silence of the night, take a short walk along the shore of the lake, or retire to your rooms to rest.

Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

Skopje – Bitola: 170 km | Bitola – Resen: 30 km | Resen – Ohrid: 35 km

Total distance to be covered: 235 km

After our breakfast in the morning, we leave our hotel and set off for Tirana, the capital of Albania. An impressive tour awaits us in this beautiful city, which is rich in terms of history and culture, where we will explore Tirana, accepted as the center of Bektashism in Europe. Upon our arrival in Tirana, we visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the most important symbols of the city. This structure, whose construction began in 1789 and was completed in 1923, is one of Albania's cultural heritages. We take a short break at Skanderbeg Square and see the Skanderbeg Statue rising proudly in the middle of the square. The Clock Tower, the symbol of Tirana, built by Ethem Bey in 1821, is also one of the highlights of our tour. During this tour, Tirana's modern face and historical past will come together to ensure you collect unforgettable memories. After free time, transfer to the airport. Upon arrival at the airport and completion of boarding procedures, our flight to Esenboğa Airport will take place at 18:30 with AJet airlines' scheduled flight VF628. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, we arrive in Ankara at 21:40 and our tour ends. We bid you farewell with the hope of seeing you again on your next trip.