Montenegro and Kosovo with the Great Balkans Tour THY Semester Special

We meet at the departure terminal of Istanbul Airport 4 hours before our flight. We will depart for Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, at 08:30 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1003. After a comfortable flight, we will arrive at 08:00 local time and, after completing our entry procedures, we will start our panoramic city tour with our private vehicle waiting for us. Skopje is one of the important cultural centers of the Balkans, carrying traces of the Ottoman period and filled with modern structures. We start our tour by visiting the historical sites in the city where the famous Turkish poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı was born. Our first stop is the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1492 and one of the largest mosques in the city. Then we will see the Murat Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque is notable for its decorations and architecture from the Ottoman period. As our tour continues, we will visit the Kapan Han and Sulu Han located in the center of Skopje. These structures were important centers where merchants stayed and traded, representing beautiful examples from the Ottoman period. Later, we will see the Stone Bridge, which has become a symbol of Skopje. Built in the 15th century, this bridge connects both sides of the Vardar River. Walking from the Stone Bridge, we will continue to explore the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods along the banks of the Vardar River. During our riverside walk, we pass through Macedonia Square. This square is the largest and central point of Skopje, surrounded by modern buildings. Here, we will encounter the statue of Alexander the Great and other monuments. Then, we will see the Ottoman Bridge from the 15th century from the outside and visit the Davut Pasha Bath to feel the grandeur of the Ottoman period. We continue to explore the city by walking towards the Turkish Bazaar. Before reaching the bazaar, we will see the Clock Tower, one of Skopje's symbolic structures, built in the 16th century. Here, we will visit the Sultan Murat Mosque and the Isa Bey Mosque, which are among the early Ottoman mosques. These mosques are an important part of the city's Islamic heritage and stand out with their architecture. Finally, we give free time in the Turkish Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find many products from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After enjoying your time 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 fun and cultural side of Skopje with this special Balkan night, you will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the finest venues in the region. With live performances of the best Balkan music and folklore, performed by our artists, who are all conservatory students and teachers, we will turn this night into an authentic experience. We will be happy to host you at our own Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight stay at our hotel in Skopje.

Balkan Night INCLUDED!

After our breakfast, we depart from our hotel and head towards Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Upon our arrival in Pristina, we will start our panoramic city tour, where we will explore both the modern and historical aspects of Kosovo. During the tour, we will visit many important structures from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During our exploration of the city’s historical heritage, we will visit the Tomb of Sultan Murad Hüdavendigâr, who lost his life in the Kosovo Plain as a result of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, giving us the opportunity to commemorate this significant historical event. After our tour in Pristina, we will move on to Prizren, known as the cultural capital of Kosovo. Upon arrival, we will start exploring the narrow streets of Prizren, filled with architecture reminiscent of Anatolian Ottoman cities and shop signs in Turkish. We will visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the most important structures of Ottoman architecture in the city. Additionally, the Halveti Tekke, Bayraklı Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Bath are among other important Ottoman artifacts to be seen. After spending free time in Prizren, we will begin our journey back to Skopje in the evening. Upon our arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel and after having dinner, we will retreat to our rooms. 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 breakfast, we set off for our tour of Resne and Bitola, famous for their magnificent nature and historical riches. We head towards Bitola, once one of the most important cultural and trade centers of the Ottoman Empire. Upon our arrival in Bitola, we will visit the Military High School, where the great leader Atatürk studied, and the Atatürk Museum from the outside. In this magical city, we will also explore historical artifacts from the Ottoman period 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 enjoy a pleasant walk through the nostalgic streets of the city. After a short break here, we continue to Resne, where we will see the Palace of Resneli Niyazi Bey, an important figure who made his mark on Balkan history, from a panoramic view. Resne offers a captivating 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 conduct a tour introducing the historical city of Ohrid, which has been one of the important bases of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Among the places we will see during our tour are: the Monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius, believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet in the 9th century, and the Church of St. Sophia. We will also have the opportunity to stroll around the heart of the city, the Platan Square, and visit the Turkish Bazaar from the old 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 locals. Finally, the famous lake of Ohrid and its mesmerizing view will accompany our tour. After our tour, we will have free time and transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel. After dinner, you can enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of Ohrid in the silence of the night, take a short walk by the lakeside, or retreat to your rooms to rest.

Resne Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

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

Total distance to be covered: 235 km

After our breakfast, we depart from our hotel and head towards Tirana, the capital of Albania. In this beautiful city, rich in historical and cultural aspects, an impressive tour awaits us where we will explore Tirana, considered the center of Bektashism in Europe. Upon our arrival in Tirana, we will visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the most important symbols of the city, which began construction in 1789 and was completed in 1923, and is one of Albania’s cultural heritages. We take a short break at Skanderbeg Square, where we see the statue of Skanderbeg proudly rising in the center of the square. The Clock Tower of Tirana, built by Ethem Bey in 1821, is also one of the highlights of our tour. During this tour, the modern face of Tirana and its historical past will come together to create unforgettable memories. After free time, we head towards the historical city of Shkodra in northern Albania. Shkodra will enchant you with its natural beauties and rich historical texture. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED!

Ohrid – Tirana: 135 km | Tirana – Shkodra: 100 km

Total distance to be covered: 235 km             

After our breakfast, we set off for an unforgettable journey to the enchanting beaches of Montenegro. Our first stop is Sv. Stefan, famous for its rich history and dazzling views. We will admire the magnificent view of this islet from above, as every corner is an ideal spot to photograph this postcard-like region. Next, we arrive in Budva, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans. Our city tour of Budva begins. During this walking tour, we will see the stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife of Budva, one of the most famous holiday centers in the Balkans. Our next stop is the mesmerizing city of Kotor, famous for its fjords! During our walking tour in this magnificent medieval town, you will feel its narrow streets and the historical atmosphere of the old town, discovering the heart of Kotor. With its unique architecture and sea view, this small town will take you on a journey through time. After our free time in Kotor, we head to our hotel in Medugorje or its surroundings. After dinner at our hotel, we retreat to our rooms to rest. Overnight stay at our hotel.

Budva Tour INCLUDED! | Kotor Tour INCLUDED!

Shkodra - Budva: 85 km | Budva - Kotor: 22 km | Kotor - Medugorje: 191 km  

Total distance to be covered: 298 km              

After our breakfast, we head towards Sarajevo. Our first stop is Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village, where we will visit the preserved historical structures built by the Ottomans in the 16th century. After the visit, we will see Blagaj, located at the source of the Buna River, which is the strongest water source in Europe. After a short free time in this magnificent natural scenery, we head towards Mostar. In Mostar, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built by Architect Hayreddin in 1557. This bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war in 1992; however, it was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. After the Mostar Bridge, we will visit the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. We then continue to Sarajevo. Upon our arrival, we will explore Sarajevo, which has been the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and is historically significant as the place where World War I broke out after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Serbs in 1914. During the 1992 war, it suffered great devastation due to the destructive wars among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, yet 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 city’s religious cosmopolitanism, the Synagogue, Hüsrev Bey and Ferhadiye Mosques, the Latin Bridge where the assassination of Franz Ferdinand took place in 1914, the Old Library, and the Western-style buildings that emerged during the 40 years of Austro-Hungarian rule. After our tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

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

Medugorje - Počitelj: 20 km | Počitelj - Blagaj: 30 km | Blagaj – Mostar: 12 km | Mostar - Sarajevo: 130 km

Total distance to be covered: 192 km          

After our breakfast, we leave our hotel and begin a pleasant journey to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Throughout history, Belgrade has been one of the most important cultural and strategic centers of the Balkans, and today it stands out with its liveliness, dynamism, and historical texture. In this enchanting city, we will have the opportunity to explore the intersection 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 explore the texture that brings together Belgrade's past and present. Then, we go to one of the most impressive points of the city, where the Sava River meets the Danube River. It will be a great pleasure to explore this area, which has been the focal point of many conquests and victories throughout history. While continuing to explore this ancient city, where 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 the traces of history in this fortress, we will see important points such as Kale Square and Stone Square. During our tour, we will visit the Tomb of Şehit Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period. During these visits, you will deeply explore Belgrade's rich history and gain insight into the cultural heritage left from the Ottoman period. At the end of our tour, we will leave behind the history and vibrant atmosphere of the city and move to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Sarajevo – Belgrade: 287 km

After our breakfast, we have free time until the transfer time and check out of the rooms. At the time determined by our guide, we will transfer to Belgrade Airport. After completing the boarding procedures, we will fly to Istanbul at 20:20 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1084. Following our arrival in Istanbul at 00:10, the tour ends. We bid farewell to you, hoping to see you on your next journey.

*Balkan Special Cancellation Assurance Package: 50 Euro*

(With the cancellation assurance package application, we offer our guests the right to cancel their reservations without penalty under any circumstances. With this application, it is possible to cancel your reservation up to 9 days before the tour departure date. In case of cancellation, the entire tour fee will be refunded, while the cancellation assurance package fee and any additional service fees (Visa, insurance, etc.) will not be refunded.)

**The specified cancellation assurance package does not apply to group reservations.**

**There are a limited number of spots available for each tour.** 

IMPORTANT NOTE

It is not possible to continue the rest of the tour without participating in the Montenegro stage, to wait by separating from the group during this stage, or to rejoin the group later. Guests who do not meet the entry requirements for Montenegro cannot participate in this tour.

The visa fee and any visa application/service fees are not included in the tour price.