FLIGHT-LESS BALKAN TOUR 2027 SEASON

As the best Balkan tour agency in Izmir, we meet with our esteemed Odin Tour guests at 23:45 at the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport International Terminal. (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 have our non-stop (DIRECT) flight at 01:55 with our flight belonging to SUNEXPRESS AIRLINES and arrive at Skopje Airport at local time 02:20. After collecting our luggage and completing our passport and customs procedures, we settle into our hotel located in the vicinity of Skopje.

After having our breakfast at the hotel, we start our journey towards the city known as Tetova by the Macedonians and Kalkandelen by the Turks. Here, we see the Alaca Mosque, which is a rare example in the world in terms of its embroidery and motifs, built by two sisters, and you will definitely feel the touch of a woman's hand when you see it. After this fascinating visit, we head to MANASTIR (Bitola), one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and a paradise of history and culture in Macedonia. After seeing the Old Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishak Mosque, and the New Mosque, we take a short walk on the famous Sirok Street of Manastir. During the walk, we see the house of Atatürk's first love Eleni Karinte in Manastir and listen to the emotional letter that Eleni wrote to Atatürk from our guide. Then, we visit the Military Academy, where Atatürk received his military education and training, which is now serving as a museum, and recall the emotional moments of Atatürk's life. Afterward, we set off towards Ohrid, the Pearl of Macedonia. On the way, we see the famous Resne, known 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 “Neither a martyr nor a veteran, Niyazi went to the grave” comes from. Among the places we will see are the most important church of the Byzantine period in Ohrid, St. Panteleymon, the Hagia Sophia Church, which is still used for concerts today, the Roman Amphitheater, the Fortress of Tsar Samuel, the Square of Chinar, the Ohrid Halveti Tekke, and the Historical Chinar Tree, and the statue of the Brothers Cyril and Methodius, who are thought to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet. (As an extra) Later, we enjoy a pleasant boat tour on Lake Ohrid, where you can see unique views. After free time, we have dinner at our hotel and organize a Macedonian Entertainment. After Macedonian music and our traditional meal, we go to our rooms to rest.

After breakfast, we arrive at St. Naum, a hidden paradise reflecting the harmony of green and blue, which is the source point of Lake Ohrid, located on the slopes of Mount Pelister. Here, you can take a 20-minute boat tour with the unique sound of nature and bird chirping (extra), or enjoy a peaceful coffee surrounded by nature. We visit the St. Naum Monastery and the complex rumored to be the Sarı Saltuk Tomb, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, we 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 developed by Suleiman Pasha in 1614 and became the capital of Albania in 1920. Having been caught in wars throughout the 20th century and living under Enver Hoxha's dictatorship for 40 years, this beautiful city of Albania, known for its mountainous landscape, will showcase places like Ethem Bey Mosque, Historical Clock Tower, National Museum, Opera and Ballet Building, Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings, Presidential Palace, and Skanderbeg Statue and Square. We complete our tour and arrive in Prizren, where we settle into our hotel. Accommodation and dinner at our hotel.

After breakfast, we start exploring Prizren, which has a historical significance for the Ottomans dating back 15 centuries. Located at the foot of the Sharr Mountains, with the Bistrica River flowing through it, we see the Halveti Tekke, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, and the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the finest examples of period architecture. Then, we give free time in the square where the famous Kosovo Meatballs are found. After reuniting at the time set by our guide, we leave Prizren. On our way to Pristina, we visit the tomb of Sultan Murat Hüdavendigar, who was martyred in the first and only battlefield of the Ottoman Empire. After this visit, we reach the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. From our bus, we will see the Clock Tower, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Complex, built by the Ottomans in the 15th century, and the Yaşar Pasha Mosque, one of the most important works of the 18th century. After our panoramic tour, we set off towards the capital of Macedonia, Skopje. After a short journey, we arrive in Skopje. Our first stop is MATKA CANYON, located at the confluence of the Treska River and the Vardar River, which is listed among the world's 100 natural wonders. The canyon, with its tranquility, will enchant you with its magnificent nature, resembling a hidden paradise with its unique natural beauties and nearly a thousand different plant species. In this beautiful canyon, guests who wish can join a boat tour or spend time in its cafes. After our visit to Matka Canyon, we return to Skopje and settle into our hotel. Accommodation and dinner at our hotel.

After having breakfast at our hotel, we set off towards Belgrade, the jewel of the Balkans. Meaning “white city” in Serbian, this city is located at the meeting point of the Sava and Danube Rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. Upon our arrival, we start our walking tour to get to know the historical city closely, seeing magnificent structures such as Parliament, Old Palace, National Museum, and the Scale Fountain. We visit the fortress that dominates the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. Guided by our tour guide, we see the Clock Tower Gate, Istanbul Gate, and the meeting point of the Danube and Sava Rivers, Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Military Open Air Museum, and the Gratitude Monument to France. During our free time, those who wish can stroll along Mihailova Street, which resembles Belgrade's “Independence Avenue”. At the end of this beautiful day, we settle into our hotel in Belgrade for dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast at our hotel, we reach NOVI SAD, the second most beautiful city in Serbia (only with us). Novi Sad began to urbanize in 1694 when Serbian merchants established a trading colony opposite the Petrovaradin fortress. Novi Sad, which was under the Ottoman Empire from 1526 to 1687, later became a city under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Novi Sad is the capital of the Vojvodina region in northern Serbia and one of the centers of culture, art, and economy in the country. Since the 20th century, almost all Serbian poets, writers, and journalists have spent part or all of their lives here. Known as the Athens of Serbia, Novi Sad is also a complete student city and offers many opportunities for young people. Hosting one of Europe’s largest music festivals, the Exit Music Festival, which young people eagerly await every year, and receiving the title of European Youth Capital in 2019 is proof of this. You can see this youthful influence in its streets and cafe-bars. Among the places we will see in Novi Sad are Saint George's Cathedral, Orthodox Bishop's Palace, Novi Sad City Hall, Trg Slobode (Freedom Square), Catholic Mary Church, and Petrovaradin Fortress. After our visit to Novi Sad, we set off towards the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SARAJEVO. In the evening, after arriving in Sarajevo, we participate in the Bosnian Night. Accommodation at our hotel.

After breakfast, we first visit the Alperenler Tekke, located in Blagaj, one of Europe's strongest water sources, which has been alive for 550 years, right by the Buna River. Founded in this region, which joined the Ottoman lands in 1465, this tekke is one of the most important places in both the culture of Sufism and the introduction of the Balkan peoples to Islam. This tekke, located in a natural wonder, will impress you greatly. We arrive in MOSTAR from the banks of the Buna River. The city of Mostar, built on both sides of the Neretva River, was one of the administrative and cultural centers of Bosnia during the Ottoman period. In our tour, we first visit the Historic Mostar Bridge, which was built in 1557 by Mimar Hayreddin, a student of Mimar Sinan, but was destroyed during the war in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004 with significant support from Turkey using special materials and stones. This bridge, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a symbol that unites not only two banks but also different cultures. We visit the historical Koski Mehmet Bey Mosque to view the Mostar Bridge and the Karagöz Mosque. We see the Martyrdoms left from the war. We also visit the Jeweler's Bazaar and complete our tour, giving free time in Mostar's rich bazaar. After our free time, we return to our hotel in the evening.

After having breakfast at our hotel, we begin our walking tour in Sarajevo, which has served as the cultural capital of the Balkans for two centuries and is considered the Jerusalem of Europe due to its religious diversity. Although it suffered great destruction during the war in 1992 between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, it still retains much of its beauty. We start our walking tour by seeing the Old Library, the Sebilj Fountain, the House of Inat, the Hünkâr Mosque, and the Latin Bridge, where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered World War I, took place in 1914. We complete our tour by seeing works such as the Church of the Sacred Heart, the Eternal Flame Monument, the Open Market where the Market Place Massacre occurred, the Synagogue, and in the Turkish section, the Ferhadiye Mosque, Morica Han, and Gazi Hüsrev Bey Complex. After our free time in Baščaršija, the symbol of Sarajevo, we transfer to the airport at 18:00. We fly to Izmir with the scheduled flight of Sunexpress Airlines at 20:50. After arriving in Izmir at 23:30 local time, we conclude our tour.