Kosovan Grand Balkans Tour with A-Jet Airlines

After our ticket, baggage, and boarding procedures at Sabiha Gökçen Airport International Departures Terminal, we depart for Sarajevo with Ajet Airlines flight VF97 at 12:45. After a flight of approximately one and a half hours, we arrive in Sarajevo at 12:50 local time, and following passport control procedures, we carry out our Sarajevo city tour with our private vehicle waiting at the area. Having been the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries, it went down in history as the place where the First World War broke out upon the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbs in 1914. In the 1992 war, it suffered great devastation as a result of the destructive wars between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, but Sarajevo has largely managed to preserve its beauty. During our panoramic city tour, we will see the famous Baščarşi, the historical Ottoman inn Morica Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the religious cosmopolitanism of the city, the Synagogue, the Hüsrev 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.

After our morning breakfast, we depart from Sarajevo. Our first stop will be Mostar, famous for its historical, cultural, and architectural richness. Here, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built in 1557 by Mimar Hayreddin, one of the students of Mimar Sinan, and accepted as one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture. This bridge was destroyed during the war in 1992, but was rebuilt in accordance with its original form in 2004 with the great contributions of the Republic of Turkey, and today it has once again become the symbol of Mostar. Gracefully connecting the two banks of the Neretva River, we will have the opportunity to explore the historical bazaar and stone streets around this bridge. After exploring the fascinating atmosphere of Mostar, we will visit the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, one of the most important religious structures of the city. Here, we will both examine the architectural details belonging to the Ottoman period and be able to 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 intertwined with history and nature, established where the Buna River, the strongest water source in Europe, is born. After a short free time here, we move on to Pocitelj, which carries the past to the present with its stone houses and historical texture. In Pocitelj, which has largely preserved 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 tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Počitelj Tour INCLUDED! | Blagaj Tour INCLUDED! | Mostar Tour INCLUDED!

Sarajevo - Mostar: 120 km | Mostar - Blagaj: 12 km | Blagaj – Pocitelj: 22 km  |  Pocitelj - Sarajevo: 150 km

Total distance to be covered: 304 km

After our morning breakfast, we leave our hotel and start a pleasant journey towards Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Having been one of the most important cultural and strategic centers of the Balkans throughout history, Belgrade still draws attention with its vibrancy, liveliness, and historical texture today. In this fascinating city, we will seize the opportunity to discover the intersection point of Ottoman and European cultures. Upon 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 of Belgrade that brings its past and present together. Afterwards, we go to one of the most impressive points of the city, the point where the Sava River meets the Danube River. In this unique scenery, it will be a great pleasure to explore this region, which has been the focal point of many conquests and victories throughout history. As you continue to discover this ancient city for which Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded, but whose conquest was granted to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, you will encounter the Belgrade Fortress, which was used as a supply center for the Ottoman navy. While tracing history in this fortress, we will see important points such as Kalemegdan and Tašmajdan. During our tour, we will visit the Tomb of Şehit Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period, and the Bayrakli Mosque, one of the rare surviving Ottoman structures in Belgrade. During these visits, you will deeply discover the rich history of Belgrade and gain knowledge about the cultural heritage of the city remaining from the Ottoman period. At the end of our tour, we leave the history and lively atmosphere of the city behind and proceed to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Sarajevo – Belgrade : 287 km

After our morning breakfast, 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 remaining from the Ottoman period and its modern structures. We begin our tour with the historical places 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, one of the largest and most magnificent mosques of the city. Afterwards, we visit the Murad Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque particularly draws attention with its engravings and architecture dating from the Ottoman period. 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 period inns, were important centers where merchants once stayed and traded. Then, 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 riverside, 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. Afterwards, we see the 15th-century Ottoman Bridge from the outside and will feel the splendor of the Ottoman period once again by visiting the Daut Pasha Hamam. We continue to explore the city by walking towards the Old Bazaar of Skopje. Before arriving at the bazaar, we see the Clock Tower, built in the 16th century and one of the symbolic structures of Skopje. Here, we will visit the Sultan Murad Mosque and Isa Bey Mosque, which are among the early period mosques of the Ottoman Empire. The mosques are an important part of the city's Islamic heritage and draw attention with their architectures. 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 shows. While experiencing the entertaining and cultural aspect of Skopje through this special Balkan night, you will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the most exclusive venues of the region. We will transform this night into an authentic experience with the live performances of the best music and folklore of the Balkans, performed by our artists consisting entirely of conservatory students and teachers without any playback. We will be happy to host you in our own establishment, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight stay at our hotel in Skopje.

Balkan Night INCLUDED!

Belgrade – Skopje : 430 km

After our morning breakfast, we leave our hotel and set off for Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Following our journey, with 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 belonging to the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During this trip we will make within the historical heritage of the city, we will find the opportunity to commemorate this important historical event and its place in Ottoman history by visiting the Tomb of Murat 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. With our arrival, we begin to explore the narrow streets of Prizren, which resemble an Anatolian Ottoman city and are full of shop signs with 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, Bayrakli Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Hamam are among the other important Ottoman works to be seen. After the free time we will spend in Prizren, we start our return journey to Skopje in the evening. With our arrival, we are transferred to our hotel and withdraw to our rooms after having our dinner. Overnight stay 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 morning breakfast, our first stop is Tetova, one of the eye-catching towns of Macedonia. Here, we will visit the Painted Mosque (Alaca Camii), one of the most colorful and impressive mosques of the Balkans. Built in the 15th century, this mosque will practically enchant you with the vibrant colors and detailed decorations on its exterior facade. While exploring this rare example of Ottoman architecture, we will embark on a journey into the depths of history. After our visit in Tetova, we depart for our Resen and Bitola tour, famous for their magnificent nature and historical riches. We set off towards 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 remaining from the Ottomans, such as the Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and 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, and we panoramicly see the Palace of Niyazi Bey of Resen, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resen offers a fascinating atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After our tour, we make our way towards Ohrid. Breathtaking scenery will accompany us along the road. With our arrival in Ohrid, we will carry out a tour introducing the historical city of Ohrid, which became one of the important bases of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Among the places we will see during our tour are important structures such as the Monument of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, 9th-century Byzantine monks believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet, and the Church of St. Sophia. In addition, we will have the opportunity to wander around Square Square (Çınar Meydanı), the heart of the city, and visit the old Turkish Bazaar dating from the Ottoman period. Here, you can visit the Halveti Tekke and closely feel the cultural texture of the city. Then, by visiting the New Bazaar and Ohrid Market, you will witness the daily life of the local people. Finally, the famous lake of Ohrid 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 lake shore, or withdraw to your rooms to rest.

Tetova Tour INCLUDED! | Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

Skopje – Tetova : 52 km | Tetova - Bitola: 149 km | Bitola – Resen: 30 km | Resen – Ohrid: 35 km

Total distance to be covered: 266 km

After our morning breakfast, leaving our hotel, we set off on an exciting journey towards St. Naum, called "A Corner of Paradise in the Balkans", where the source of Lake Ohrid and the Monastery of St. Naum are located. In this fascinating place, you will find the opportunity to photograph the unique beauties of landscapes located in the heart of nature. In our free time, we will enjoy exploring this historical and natural wonder. After our Sveti Naum tour, we depart for our Resen and Bitola tour, famous for their magnificent nature and historical riches. We set off towards 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 remaining from the Ottomans, such as the Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and 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, and we panoramicly see the Palace of Niyazi Bey of Resen, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resen offers a fascinating atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After our tour, we make our way towards Ohrid. Breathtaking scenery will accompany us along the road. With our arrival in Ohrid, 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 lake shore, or withdraw to your rooms to rest.

Sveti Naum Tour INCLUDED! Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

Ohrid  – Sveti Naum: 29 km | Sveti Naum - Bitola: 80 km | Bitola - Resen : 33 km |  Resen - Ohrid: 36 km

Total distance to be covered: 178 km

After our morning breakfast, we leave our hotel and set off for Tirana, the capital of Albania. Passing through Elbasan, arrival in Tirana, which is rich in historical and cultural terms. In this beautiful city, an impressive tour awaits us where we will discover Tirana, accepted as the center of Bektashism in Europe. With our arrival in Tirana, we visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the most important symbols of the city. Started to be built in 1789 and completed in 1923, this structure is one of the cultural heritages of Albania. We give a short break in Skanderbeg Square and see the Statue of Skanderbeg proudly rising 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. Afterwards, we visit the meaningful Peace Bell made by children from Shkodër in 1999 from melted lead during the riots. During this tour, the modern face and historical past of Tirana will come together allowing you to accumulate unforgettable memories. After our tour, transfer to the airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, departure for Istanbul with AJet Airlines scheduled flight VF368 at 18:55. Arrival at Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 20:40 and the end of our tour. We bid farewell to you, our esteemed guests, with the wish to see you again on your next travel.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED!

Ohrid  - Elbasan: 91 km | Elbasan – Tirana : 38 km

Total distance to be covered: 139 km