ISTANBUL (IST) – TIRANA
We will meet our valued guests three hours before departure at Istanbul Airport. Departure with flight number *** of the airline to Tirana, followed by arrival. Upon arrival, we will depart from the airport and travel via Elbasan to reach Ohrid, North Macedonia. During this tour, panoramic sightseeing will include St. Panteleimon, the most important Byzantine church in Ohrid; the Hagia Sophia Church, still used today for concerts; the Roman-era amphitheater; Car Samuel Castle; St. Bogorodica Perivlerta; 4th-century churches; Keşanlı İmareti; 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 our guide. Overnight stay at our hotel in Ohrid. Dinner served at the hotel.
TIRANA – OHRID
After having breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we proceed to Ohrid. After completing border crossing procedures, we arrive in Ohrid, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During our city tour, the places to visit include St. Sophia Church, St. Panteleimon Church, the Ancient Theatre, Tsar Samuel's Fortress, Çınar Square, Halveti Tekke, Kuloğlu Mosque, Emin Mahmut Mosque, and the historic streets of Ohrid.
In the evening, guests who wish may join the organized dinner program featuring a Balkan Night.
Overnight stay at our hotel in Ohrid. Dinner will be served at our hotel.
Ohrid – Resne – Bitola (Monastir) – Skopje
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Bitola (Monastir). En route, we will enjoy a panoramic view of Niyazi Bey's mansion in Resne. Niyazi, one of the three most prominent figures of the Committee of Union and Progress, gained fame for his contributions during the Turkish-Greek War. Upon arrival in Bitola, we begin our city tour with visits to the Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishakiye Mosque, Yeni Mosque, and the Military High School where Atatürk graduated, along with the Atatürk Museum—moments that promise to be deeply moving. Afterward, we proceed to Skopje. Upon arrival, 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 Macedonia Square, the Ottoman Bridge, and Davut Pasha Hamam from the outside. Next, we enter the Turkish Bazaar to explore its historical monuments. One notable structure is Kurshumli Han, dating back to 1550, located within the old Turkish Bazaar. In Skopje, seventeen han buildings were constructed during the Ottoman era; 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 conclusion of our tour, we transfer to our hotel and check into our rooms. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.
Skopje–Pristina–Prizren–Skopje
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 here following the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. After the tour, we proceed to Prizren, another important center of Kosovo known for its many artifacts from the Ottoman era. During the city tour in Prizren, we will visit the Halveti Tekke, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hamam, the Ottoman cemetery, 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. Following the tour, we head to Skopje for an overnight stay at our hotel, with dinner served on-site.
Skopje – Belgrade
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 back to our hotel for room allocation, check-in, accommodation, and free time. Overnight stay at our hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
BELGRADE – SARAJEVO
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart by our private bus and head to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we begin our panoramic city tour of Sarajevo. Highlights include Baščaršija, Europe's most exquisite bazaar; Kuršumli Madrasa, which has been in operation 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 the Conqueror. Our panoramic city tour will conclude at the eternal flame. After the tour, you will have free time to rest and enjoy lunch. Following this, we transfer back to our hotel for an overnight stay. Dinner will be served at the hotel (served as a Bosnian Night with local music and dance performances; note that the Bosnian Night may take place at different hotels or restaurants depending on availability).
Sarajevo – Mostar – Počitelj – Sarajevo
After breakfast at the hotel, we set off towards Mostar. On the way, we stop in Konjic to admire the famous Konjic Bridge, a historic Ottoman structure restored with Turkish support that has stood from the Ottoman era to the present day. We also enjoy coffee by the banks of the Neretva River and have the opportunity to shop for handcrafted wooden items in local artisan workshops. Afterward, we continue our journey to Mostar, one of the most captivating destinations on this tour. The iconic Mostar Bridge, designed by the architect Hayreddin and built in 1557, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Although it was destroyed during the war in 1992 by Croatian artillery, thanks largely to contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened to the public in 2004. Following the bridge visit, we proceed to see the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. Next, we head toward Počitelj, a well-preserved historic town known as the "Turkish Village." Here, we explore buildings constructed in the 16th century under Ottoman rule. Finally, we check into our hotel in Sarajevo, where we will have free time and dinner.
SARAJEVO – ISTANBUL
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.