5-Country Balkan Tour Itinerary (TIA-SJJ)

You, our valued guests, will meet at Istanbul Airport three hours before departure. Flight *** operated by the airline departs for Tirana at ** and arrives at **. Upon arrival, we depart from the airport and travel via Elbasan to reach Ohrid, North Macedonia. During this tour, panoramic sightseeing includes St. Panteleimon, the most important Byzantine-era church in Ohrid; the Hagia Sophia Church, still used today for concerts; the Roman amphitheater; Car Samuel Fortress; St. Bogorodica Perivlerta; 4th-century churches; Keşanlı Imaret; Kuloğlu and Emin Mahmut Mosques; Çınar Square; and the Ohrid Halveti Tekke. After the tour, you will have free time for shopping and personal needs. Transfers to our hotel will take place at the time designated by your guide. Overnight stay at our hotel in Ohrid. Dinner served at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we will depart for Ohrid. Following border crossing procedures, we arrive in Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our city tour includes visits to the Church of St. Sophia, the Church of St. Panteleimon, the Ancient Theatre, Samuil's Fortress, Plateau of Plane Trees, Halveti Tekke, Kuloğlu Mosque, Emin Mahmut Mosque, and the historic streets of Ohrid. In the evening, guests who wish may join the organized Balkan Night dinner program. Overnight stay at our hotel in Ohrid; dinner will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Bitola (Manastir). On the way, we will view from a distance the mansion of Niazi of Resne, one of the three most prominent figures of the Committee of Union and Progress, who gained fame for his contributions during the Turkish-Greek War. Upon arrival in Bitola, we begin our city tour, visiting the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishakiye Mosque, the New Mosque, as well as the Military High School where Atatürk graduated and the Atatürk Museum—moments that will be among the most emotional of our journey. Afterward, we proceed to Skopje. Once we arrive, we start our panoramic city tour. Among the sites we will see in Skopje, the birthplace of our renowned poet Yahya Kemal Beyatli, are Yahya Pasha Mosque, the Clock Tower, the Turkish Bazaar, Isa Bey Mosque, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Murat Pasha Mosque, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, Davut Pasha Hamam, and the Stone Bridge. We walk along the Vardar River, admiring the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods on the opposite bank. During this walk, we will view externally Macedonia Square, the Ottoman Bridge, and Davut Pasha Hamam. Next, we enter the Turkish Bazaar to explore its historical monuments. Another notable structure we visit is Kurshumli Han, dating back to 1550, located within the old section of the Turkish Bazaar. In Skopje, during the Ottoman period, 17 han buildings were constructed; today, only three remain. We visit Sulu Han and Kapan Han, both built in the second half of the 15th century. Following our visits, free time will be provided in the Turkish Bazaar for shopping. Items available for purchase include Suska peppers, ostrich peanuts, and traditional slippers. At the end of our tour, we transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Kosovo, beginning our journey. We start with a panoramic tour of Pristina, visiting landmarks such as the 19th-century Clock Tower, the Kosovo Museum, the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Complex built by the Ottomans in the 15th century, the Yasar Pasha Mosque, and the tomb of Ottoman Sultan Murad I Hudavendigar, who was killed during the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Following this, we travel to Prizren, another important center of Kosovo known for its many artifacts from the Ottoman era. Our city tour here includes the Halveti Tekke, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hamam, the Ottoman cemetery, the Sinan Pasha Mosque—one of the finest examples of period architecture—the Serbian quarter where the destructive effects of war are still visible, and the City Fortress dating back to the Roman era. After the tour, we proceed to Skopje for an overnight stay at our hotel, followed by dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we will depart for Belgrade. Upon arrival, our panoramic city tour will include visits to St. Sava Cathedral, Kalemegdan Fortress Square, the Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Clock Tower, Damat Ali Pasha Mausoleum, Zindan Gate, Leopoldov Gate, Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Stone Square. Following the city tour, we will transfer to our hotel for room allocation, check-in, accommodation, and free time. Overnight stay at our hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart by private bus to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we begin our panoramic city tour of Sarajevo. Highlights include the historic Baščaršija bazaar, the Kuršumlija Madrasa (operating since the Ottoman era), Hüsrev Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, the Catholic Cathedral, Orthodox churches, the Jewish Synagogue, Latin Bridge where World War I began, and the Fatih Mosque attributed to Sultan Mehmed II. Our panoramic tour will conclude at the eternal flame. After the tour, you will have free time to rest and enjoy lunch. Following this, we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. Dinner will be served at the hotel as part of a Bosnian Night experience, featuring local music and dance performances. Please note that due to availability, the Bosnian Night may take place at different hotels or restaurants depending on demand.

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off towards Mostar. Along the way, we stop in Konjic to admire the famous Konjic Bridge, a historic Ottoman structure fully restored with Turkish support, and enjoy coffee by the banks of the Neretva River. Visitors can also shop for handcrafted wooden items from local artisan workshops. Following this stop, we continue our journey to Mostar, one of the highlights of the tour. The iconic Mostar Bridge, designed by the architect Hayreddin and built in 1557, stands as a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Although it was destroyed during the 1992 war by Croatian artillery, it was successfully rebuilt in 2004 thanks largely to contributions from the Republic of Turkey. After visiting the bridge, we proceed to see the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. Next, we head toward Počitelj, a well-preserved historic town known as the "Turkish Village," where we explore buildings constructed during the 16th century under Ottoman rule. Finally, we check into our hotel in Sarajevo, followed by free time and dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, rooms must be vacated. At the scheduled meeting time, we will transfer to the airport in our private vehicle. Following ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on the airline's scheduled flight at ***. After approximately 1.5 hours of travel, we will arrive at Istanbul Airport at local time at ***, marking the end of our tour.