Western Balkans Panorama

We recommend that you be present at the Istanbul Airport International Terminal at least 3 hours before the flight. After baggage and passport procedures, we depart for Tirana with the scheduled flight of Turkish Airlines. After landing, we set off towards Tirana city center. In our Tirana city tour that we will carry out after arrival; important structures such as Skanderbeg Square, the Skanderbeg Statue which is the symbol of the city, the National History Museum Building, the Palace of Culture, the Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the Clock Tower will be seen panoramically. At the end of our tour, we set off towards Budva, the popular holiday resort of Montenegro. After arrival, we move to the center for the Budva city tour. With our arrival, we will take a short walk in the walled Budva old town. Free time until the meeting time to be notified by our guide. Afterwards, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

Wake up freely and your day is free. Our guests who wish can participate in the DEEP BLUE MONTENEGRO TOUR (Kotor-Porto Montenegro-Perast-Lady of Rocks Boat Tour) to be organized as an extra by our guide. For a day full of activities, we first set off towards Porto Montenegro. Porto Montenegro is one of the most luxurious yacht marinas in Europe, located in Tivat and in the Bay of Kotor region of Montenegro. It can be called a complex that contains luxury residences, hotels, luxury shops, and cafe restaurants rather than an ordinary yacht marina. After our visit here, we will set off towards Perast. Perast is a small but historically and visually impressive town on the Adriatic Sea coast of Montenegro. It has a rich maritime history; it is home to many historical buildings and churches dating back to the Renaissance period. Especially the baroque-style buildings built in the 17th and 18th centuries reflect the historical and cultural richness of Perast. You can take very beautiful photos here. Then, we go by boat to the Lady of the Rocks island located just off the coast of Perast. The church on the island, whose local name is Gospa od Škrpjela, was built in the 17th century. The Lady of the Rocks island is known as a place where prayers and wishes related to maritime are fulfilled. According to the legend, the island expanded and took its current form as a group of fishermen started throwing stones they pulled from the sea in the 15th century onto the island, which was a smaller rock fragment at that time. These stones accumulated over time and increased the size of the island. At the end of our visit, we board our vehicle from Perast and set off towards Kotor, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, accompanied by the unique views of the Bay of Kotor. We will visit the walled Kotor old town, which dates back about 2000 years. St. Tryphon Cathedral, the Sea Gate with the coat of arms of the Republic of Venice on it, the Flour Square, which is surrounded by various cafes and restaurants today and is known for its lively atmosphere, and the Nikola Durkovic Monument are some of the important points to be seen. At the end of our tour, transfer to Budva and our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

•DEEP BLUE MONTENEGRO TOUR: (Kotor-Porto Montenegro-Perast-Lady of Rocks Boat Tour - (Adult: 85 Euro / 02-12 Years: 60 Euro)

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE DEEP BLUE MONTENEGRO TOUR:

Transportation to the points in the program, Turkish guidance- Mandatory local guidance in the regions, Kotor Entrance Fee – Lady Of Rocks Entrance Fee, boat fee between Lady of Rocks and Perast,

After checking out and having an early breakfast, we set off for Mostar, home to the Mostar Bridge, one of the most important symbols of the Balkans. Upon our arrival in Mostar, we disembark and walk towards the Old Bridge Area of Mostar, famous for its narrow stone streets, traditional Bosnian houses, and various shops. The most important monument we will see here is the Mostar Bridge. The Mostar Bridge was built in the mid-16th century during the Ottoman Empire by Mimar Hayreddin, a student of Mimar Sinan, and is one of the typical examples of Ottoman architecture. Built using cut stone, the bridge reflects the aesthetic and engineering achievements of its time. During the Bosnian War, in 1993, the Mostar Bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery. This event became a tragedy that highlighted the symbolic value and cultural importance of the bridge. However, with the support of the international community, the bridge was rebuilt in 2004, remaining faithful to its original plans. Another important monument we will see on our Mostar tour is the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. The mosque was built between 1617 and 1618 by Koji Bey, the grandson of the Ottoman vizier and Governor of Bosnia, Köprülü Mehmed Pasha. The name of the mosque comes from the person who commissioned it. It is a single-domed structure that is an impressive example of typical Ottoman architecture. Built using cut stone, the mosque features elegant decorations and details unique to Ottoman architecture. The mosque, which was damaged during the Bosnian War, has been restored with international support and efforts. After some free time in Mostar, we set off for Sarajevo. Sarajevo is a city that has hosted many different civilizations throughout history and is a geography where different ethnic groups have lived together in peace for centuries. Even today, when you stop at a point and look around, it is possible to see a mosque, a synagogue, and a church at the same time. This feature makes the city a 'meeting point of cultures'. Upon our arrival in the city, we will disembark and start a walking tour in Baščaršija, famous for its narrow streets, traditional shops, and cafes dating back to the Ottoman period. On our tour of Baščaršija, we will see the Sebilj Fountain, the Coppersmiths' Bazaar (Kazandžiluk), Ferhadija Street where you will experience the atmosphere of both the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods together, the Latin Bridge where the event that triggered the First World War took place, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral; our tour will end at the Eternal Flame monument, built in memory of those who gave their lives for the independence of Yugoslavia in the Second World War. After the free time given by our guide, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

Leisurely wake-up and check-out. Our guests who wish may join the optional Travnik-Vrelo Bosne-Tunnel of Hope tour with lunch organized by our guide. On this tour, we will first visit the Vrelo Bosne National Park, which is the source of the Bosna River and also the drinking water source for the city of Sarajevo. You can take magnificent photos in this park with its spectacular flora, springs, streams, and waterfalls, and start your day with a coffee. After our visit, we head to the Tunnel of Hope. Built to provide contact with the outside world for Sarajevo, which was besieged during the Bosnian War, this tunnel is a structure that played the most important role in the liberation of the city. In the film we will watch in the video room, we will see the siege of Sarajevo, the situation before the tunnel, the construction of the tunnel, and the developments after the tunnel. We will have the opportunity to experience the part of the tunnel that is open to visitors. Afterwards, we will visit the museum located here, where materials used both during the tunnel's construction and while it was actively operating are exhibited. After our visit here, we set off for the city of Travnik. Travnik is famous as a city that was the center of Bosnian viziers during the Ottoman period. After our lunch, we start our city tour. Important places we will see here include the Elči Ibrahim Pasha Madrasa, which has been operating since the Ottoman period and will give us an idea about madrasa education; Travnik Fortress; the Alaca Mosque (Suleymaniye Mosque), which is famous for its colorful decorations and is an elegant example of Ottoman architecture; the house where Nobel laureate writer Ivo Andrić was born (from the outside); and Plava Voda, where it is rumored that Fatih Sultan Mehmet performed his ablutions. After the free time, we return to Sarajevo. Our guests who wish may join our optional Bosnian Night program at an authentic restaurant organized by our guide. We set off by our vehicle for the night to be held at an authentic restaurant near Sarajevo. We will taste the most beautiful flavors of Bosnian and Balkan cuisine on a night where a music group that will present examples of traditional Bosnian songs and sevdalinkas and a team that will perform traditional Bosnian folk dances will take the stage in turns. At the end of the night, we will return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

•             Travnik-Vrelo Bosne-Tunnel of Hope with Lunch : (Adult: 85 Euro / 02-12 years: 65 Euro)

•             Bosnian Night at an Authentic Restaurant : (Adult: 75 Euro / 02-12 Years: 55 Euro)

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE TRAVNIK-VRELO BOSNE-TUNNEL OF HOPE TOUR: 

Transportation to the points in the program, Turkish guidance - Mandatory local guidance in the regions, Vrelo Bosne Entrance Fee – Tunnel of Hope Entrance Fee, Travnik Fortress Entrance Fee - Lunch and 1 non-alcoholic drink

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE BOSNIAN NIGHT AT AN AUTHENTIC RESTAURANT: 

Transportation to the points in the program, Turkish guidance - 4-course dinner (meat-chicken), 2 drinks

After morning wake-up, check-out, and breakfast, we set off for Belgrade. We disembark in the center of Belgrade and start our walking tour. The first of the important points we will see on the walking tour is the Bayrakli Mosque, a work from the Ottoman period. Then we continue towards Kalemegdan. Kalemegdan is a large fortress and park complex located in the historical center of Belgrade and is one of the most important symbols of the city. Its name means "fortress square". Kalemegdan is a photo spot that offers exquisite views at the point where the Sava and Danube rivers meet. At the end of our tour here, we walk through Knez Mihajlova Street, the most important street of the city, where the shopping center, stylish cafe restaurants, and shops are located in the heart of the city. Free time until the meeting time to be announced by our guide. Meeting at our vehicle and transfer to our hotel. Our guests who wish may join our optional Serbian Night program at an authentic restaurant organized by our guide. We set off for dinner at Skadarlija, Belgrade's famous bohemian street. We will taste the most beautiful flavors of Serbian and Balkan cuisine accompanied by traditional Serbian and Balkan songs. Return to our hotel at the end of the night. Overnight at our hotel.

• Serbian Night at an Authentic Restaurant : (Adult: 75 Euro / 02-12 Years: 55 Euro)

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE SERBIAN NIGHT AT AN AUTHENTIC RESTAURANT:

Transportation to the points in the program, Turkish guidance - Dinner (1 drink)

Leisurely wake-up and your day is free. Our guests who wish may join the optional Zemun-House of Flowers and Museum of Yugoslavia-Nikola Tesla Museum tour organized by our guide. On our tour, we will first visit the Nikola Tesla Museum - depending on our appointment time. The museum is a science and technology museum dedicated to the life and work of the Serbian-born scientist Nikola Tesla. In the museum, where we can see photographs, letters, and documents containing his scientific work regarding Tesla's life, we will experience the most exciting moments while experiencing the working models of Tesla's inventions. Our next visit point will be the House of Flowers and the Museum of Yugoslavia. We will make a visit where we will witness the history of Yugoslavia and excerpts from the life of Josip Broz Tito. The House of Flowers hosts the mausoleum of Tito, the founder and long-time leader of Yugoslavia. The Museum of Yugoslavia offers a unique collection where a large collection regarding the Tito era and Yugoslav history is exhibited and where we will see gifts, documents, uniforms, and works of art from that period. After our visit, we will have been informed about the country of Yugoslavia that existed in the past. Our last stop on our tour will be Zemun. Zemun, which offers traces of the Austro-Hungarian period, is a historical and fascinating district of Belgrade located on the banks of the Danube River. It fascinates visitors with its unique atmosphere, cobblestone narrow streets, historical structures, and river views. The view of the Gardoš Tower, one of the most famous points of the district, from below is impressive. The coastal road Zemunski Kej, where we will take a short walk, is a beautiful spot for unique photos. While its historical bazaar and old churches shed light on Zemun's multicultural past, its fish restaurants and cafes on the Danube bank offer a great opportunity to experience local flavors. In Zemun, which is an ideal region for those looking for a calmer and more nostalgic environment compared to Belgrade, you can taste local flavors during the free time given or shop for local products from the public market Pijaca Zemun. At the end of our tour, we transfer to the airport. Departure for Istanbul on the scheduled flight of Turkish Airlines. Arrival at Istanbul Airport and the end of our tour.

• Zemun-House of Flowers and Museum of Yugoslavia-Nikola Tesla Museum :(Adult: 80 Euro / 02-12 years: 55 Euro)

SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE ZEMUN-HOUSE OF FLOWERS AND MUSEUM OF YUGOSLAVIA-NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM TOUR:

Transportation to the points in the program, Turkish guidance - Mandatory local guidance in the regions, House of Flowers and Museum of Yugoslavia entrance fee, Nikola Tesla Museum entrance fee