Flight Included Grand Balkan Tour

As the best Balkan tour agency in Izmir, we meet with our valued TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS guests at 23:45 at the International Terminal of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. (PLEASE NOTE! OUR MEETING IS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TOUR DAY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF OUR TOUR DATE IS MAY 15, OUR MEETING WILL BE ON MAY 14 AT 23:45) After check-in and baggage procedures, we will take a direct flight at 01:55 with SUNEXPRESS AIRLINES and arrive at Skopje Airport at local time 02:20. After collecting our luggage and completing passport and customs procedures, we settle into our hotel located in the vicinity of Skopje.

After having breakfast at our hotel, we first start our journey towards the city known as Tetova by the Macedonians and Kalkandelen by the Turks. Here we see the Alaca Mosque, which was commissioned by two sisters and is one of the rare examples in the world in terms of its embroidery and motifs, and you will definitely feel the touch of a woman's hand when you see it. After this visit, we have a tasting of traditional pastries made from goat cheese and ayran at the peak of Mount Mavrovo, surrounded by forests. Then we head to MANASTIR (Bitola), one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and a cultural paradise of Macedonia. After seeing the Old Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishak Mosque, and the New Mosque, we take a short walk on the famous Shirok Street of Manastir. During the walk, we see the house of Eleni Karinte, Atatürk's first love in Manastir, and listen to our guide recount the emotional letter Eleni wrote to Atatürk. Then we visit the Military High School, which serves as a museum today and is a place that reminds us of Atatürk's military education and training, where we will experience emotional moments. Afterward, we head towards Ohrid, the Pearl of Macedonia. On the way, we see Resne, famous for its apples and Niyazi Pasha. We see the palace of Niyazi Pasha, who is considered a traitor by some and a patriot by others. While listening to our guide about Niyazi Pasha, you will understand where the saying

After breakfast, we arrive at St. Naum, a hidden paradise reflecting the harmony of green and blue, which is the source of Ohrid Lake, located on the slopes of Mount Pelister. Here, you can take a 20-minute boat tour with the unique sound of nature and birds (extra) or enjoy a peaceful coffee in nature. We also visit the complex rumored to be the Yellow Saltuk Tomb and the St. Naum Monastery, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We then continue our journey towards Albania. We reach the Macedonia-Albania Border Gate, and after completing passport and customs procedures, we proceed along the Shkumbin River Valley. We pass through ELBASAN, one of the cities established during the Ottoman period in the Balkans, and reach TIRANA, which was rebuilt by Suleiman Pasha in 1614 and became the capital of Albania in 1920. After a pleasant journey through the beautiful mountains, we visit places such as the Ethem Bey Mosque, the Historical Clock Tower, the National Museum, the Opera and Ballet Building, the Parliament and Prime Minister's Buildings, the Presidential Palace, and the Skanderbeg Statue and Square. We complete our tour and move to SHKODRA, which shares its name with the lake it is built on and was one of the important bases of the Ottoman army during the 435 years of Ottoman rule. After seeing the historical Rozafa Castle and listening to its story from our guide, we settle into our hotel located in the vicinity of SHKODRA or ULCINJ. Dinner and accommodation will be at our hotel.

After having breakfast at our hotel, we board our vehicle and head towards the country of MONTENEGRO. We take a short photo break at a point where we can see Sveti Stefan Island, one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Montenegrin coast, via Bar and Petrovac along the Adriatic coast. From here, we continue to BUDVA, one of the most famous holiday centers in the Balkans, known for its vibrant nightlife, and enjoy beautiful views along the way as we arrive at KOTOR, a nature paradise and tourist attraction that has never been conquered by the Ottomans due to its geographical conditions throughout history. During our walking tour in the fortified city of Kotor, we will see many historical buildings, including the Sea Gate, the Arms Square, the Historical Clock Tower, the Shame Column, the Beskuca Palace, St. Triphon Cathedral, the

After breakfast, we visit the Alperenler Tekke in Blagaj, which has been alive for 550 years. This tekke, located in a natural wonder, will impress you greatly. We then arrive at MOSTAR, where we visit the historic Mostar Bridge, which has become legendary in Bosnian history; we will also see the historical Koski Mehmet Bey Mosque, which has not been lost or worn out over time, and enjoy the view of the Mostar Bridge. We also visit the Şehitliks left over from the war. We complete our tour by visiting the Jewelers Bazaar and then give free time in the rich bazaar of Mostar. After leaving Mostar, we head towards SARAJEVO. On our way, we embark on a visually stunning journey through a rare piece of Balkan geography adorned with mountains and rivers. We see the Neretva Bridge, which was blown up to prevent German supply trains from passing during the legendary resistance of the Yugoslav Partisans against Nazi and Italian troops. We arrive at the capital of BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, SARAJEVO, where we will see the Old Library, which burned for days during the Bosnian War and where millions of manuscripts were lost, the Sebilj Fountain, the Inat House, the Hünkâr Mosque, and the Latin Bridge, where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered World War I, took place. We complete our tour by visiting the works in the Austrian section of the old city, such as the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Eternal Flame Monument, the Open Market where the Market Massacre occurred, the Synagogue, and in the Turkish section, the Ferhadiye Mosque, Morica Han, and the Gazi Hüsrev Bey Complex. After our free time in Baščaršija, the symbol of Sarajevo, we proceed to our restaurant for dinner and a traditional Bosnian night. Accommodation will be at our hotel in Sarajevo.

After breakfast at our hotel, we head towards BELGRADE. After a pleasant journey accompanied by the unique natural beauties of the mountains, we reach the Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia Border Gate. After completing passport and customs procedures, we continue our journey towards the capital of Serbia, BELGRADE, which is known for its agricultural organizations. Upon arriving in this city, which is established at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers and is known as the

After breakfast at our hotel, we head towards the capital of MACEDONIA, SKOPJE, the city of Yahya Kemal. We move to the city center and start our walking tour from the Skopje Fortress, seeing the main squares and boulevards, numerous statues, and neo-classical buildings constructed as part of the Skopje 2014 Project. We will see Ottoman architectural works such as the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Sulu Han, Murat Pasha Mosque, the Double Bath, the Old Turkish Bazaar, Kapan Han, Davut Pasha Bath, and the Stone Bridge, as well as many statues of important figures in Macedonian history, such as Tsar Samuel, Justinian, Philip II, Queen Olympia, and the Mother Teresa Memorial House, all while being guided by our tour guide. Afterward, we check into our hotel in SKOPJE. Accommodation and dinner will be at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel, we head to MATKA CANYON, located about 15 km southwest of SKOPJE, where the Treska River meets the Vardar River and is listed among the world's 100 natural wonders. The canyon, with its tranquility and magnificent nature, resembles a hidden paradise with its unique natural beauties and nearly a thousand different plant species. Guests who wish can join a boat tour in this beautiful nature or spend time in the cafes. We then enter Kosovo and continue to the capital, Pristina, where we visit the tomb of Sultan Murat Hüdavendigar, the first and only Sultan martyred in the Ottoman Empire. We then arrive at Prizren, the most charming city in the Balkans, located at the foot of the Shar Mountains, where the Bistrica River flows through. Here, we see the Halveti Tekke, the Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, and the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the finest examples of period architecture. We then give free time in the square where the famous Kosovo Meatballs are found. After regrouping at the time set by our guide, we head to Skopje Airport and, after completing the necessary passport check-in procedures, we take a direct flight with SUN EXPRESS AIRLINES at 03:10 to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport. We bid farewell to our valued guests until we meet again at another TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS organization with unforgettable memories.