Kosovo Big Balkan Tour from Diyarbakır with AJet, Including Extra Tours and Dinner, 7 Nights

Day 1: Diyarbakır - Skopje

Meeting at Diyarbakır Airport departure terminal on Saturday evening at 21:30. Departure from Diyarbakır to Skopje non-stop and direct at 00:30 with AJet Airlines flight VF5515. After an approximately two-and-a-half-hour comfortable journey, arrival at 02:15. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Skopje.

Day 2: Skopje - Pristina - Prizren - Skopje       

After breakfast, we depart for Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. After our journey, upon arrival in Pristina, we begin our panoramic city tour, where we will explore both the modern and historical sides of Kosovo. During the tour, we will also visit many valuable structures from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During this visit through the city’s historical heritage, we will have the opportunity to commemorate the important historical event and its place in Ottoman history by visiting the Tomb of Murad I Hüdavendigâr, the Ottoman Sultan who was killed in the Kosovo Plain as a result of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. After our tour in Pristina, we head to Prizren, known as the cultural capital of Kosovo. Upon arrival, we begin exploring Prizren’s narrow streets, whose architecture resembles an Anatolian Ottoman town and whose shop signs are filled with Turkish inscriptions. In the city, we will visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the most important works of Ottoman architecture. In addition, the Halveti Tekke, the Bayrakli Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Hamam will be among the other important Ottoman monuments we will see. After free time in Prizren, we begin our return journey to Skopje in the evening. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel and after dinner, we retire to our rooms. Overnight in Skopje.

Dinner: An unforgettable dinner awaits you accompanied by traditional Balkan music and local dance performances. While discovering Skopje’s fun and cultural side with this special Balkan Night, you will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the region’s most distinguished venues. We will make this night an authentic experience with live Balkan music and folklore performed by our artists, all of whom are conservatory students and teachers, without playback. We will be delighted to host you at our own business, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Pristina Tour INCLUDED! | Prizren Tour INCLUDED! | Balkan Night INCLUDED!

Skopje – Pristina: 90 km | Pristina – Prizren: 85 km | Prizren – Skopje: 165 km  

Total distance covered: 340 km

Day 3: Skopje – Matka Canyon - Tetova (Tetovo) - Bitola - Resen – Ohrid

After breakfast, we head toward Matka Canyon amid lush green mountains. Are you ready to discover Matka Canyon, located among the enchanting forests and vast meadows of Mount Vodno? This natural wonder of approximately 5,000 hectares will take you to mystical medieval monasteries and soothing lake views. While walking on rugged cliffs, you can observe the region’s endemic plant and animal species. For nature lovers, a walk along the green trails is the best way to be at one with nature. After our Matka Canyon tour, our first stop is Tetova (Tetovo), one of Macedonia’s most striking towns. Here, we will visit the Painted Mosque, one of the most colorful and impressive mosques in the Balkans. Built in the 15th century, this mosque will captivate you with its vibrant exterior colors and intricate decorations. As we explore this exquisite example of Ottoman architecture, we will embark on a journey deep into history. After our visit in Tetova, we continue to Bitola. Upon arrival in Bitola, we visit the Military High School where the great leader Atatürk studied and the Atatürk Museum from the outside. In this enchanting city, we will also discover Ottoman-era historical sites such as the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and the New Mosque. As we feel the historical texture of Bitola, you will have the chance to enjoy a pleasant walk through the nostalgic streets of the city. After our tour, we continue to Resen. In Resen, we panoramically view the Palace of Resneli Niyazi Bey, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resen offers a fascinating atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After a short break here, we head to Ohrid. The breathtaking scenery along the way will accompany us. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we will conduct a tour introducing this historic city, which was once one of the important Ottoman strongholds in the Balkans. Among the places we will see during the tour are the Monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the 9th-century Byzantine monks believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet, and important landmarks such as St. Sophia Church. In addition, we will have the opportunity to stroll through Çınar Square, the heart of the city, and explore the Old Turkish Bazaar dating back to the Ottoman era. Here, you may visit the Halveti Tekke and feel the cultural texture of the city up close. Then, by visiting the New Bazaar and Ohrid Market, you will witness the daily life of the local people. Finally, Ohrid’s famous lake and its mesmerizing view will accompany our tour. After the tour, free time and transfer to our hotel. Overnight and dinner at our hotel. After dinner, you may enjoy the magical atmosphere of Ohrid in the silence of the night, take a short walk along the lakeshore, or retire to your room to rest.

Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

Skopje – Matka Canyon: 15 km | Matka Canyon – Tetova: 35 km | Tetova – Bitola: 145 km | Bitola – Resen: 32 km | Resen – Ohrid: 50 km

Total distance covered: 277 km

Day 4: Ohrid – Sveti Naum – Elbasan - Tirana – Shkodër       

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and embark on an exciting journey to St. Naum, located at the source of Lake Ohrid and the St. Naum Monastery, referred to as “A Corner of Heaven in the Balkans.” In this enchanting place, you will have the opportunity to photograph the unique beauty of the landscapes in the heart of nature. During our free time, we will enjoy exploring this historical and natural wonder. After a day full of unforgettable memories and wonderful photos, we depart for Tirana, the capital of Albania. Passing through Elbasan, we arrive in Tirana, a city rich in history and culture. In this beautiful city, an impressive tour awaits us as we explore Tirana, considered the center of Bektashism in Europe. Upon arrival in Tirana, we visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the city’s most important landmarks. This structure, whose construction began in 1789 and was completed in 1923, is one of Albania’s cultural heritage sites. We take a short break at Skanderbeg Square and see the Skanderbeg Statue standing proudly in the middle of the square. The Clock Tower, built by Ethem Bey in 1821, is also one of the highlights of our tour. Afterwards, we visit the Peace Bell, a meaningful monument made from melted bullets by the children of Shkodër during the 1999 uprising. During this tour, Tirana’s modern face and historical past come together to create unforgettable memories. After free time, we head to the historic city of Shkodër in northern Albania. Shkodër will enchant you with its natural beauty and rich historical texture. Overnight and dinner at our hotel.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED! | Sveti Naum Tour INCLUDED!

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

Total distance covered: 235 km

Day 5: Shkodër – Sv. Stefan – Budva – Kotor – Medugorje        

After breakfast, we set off on an unforgettable journey to the captivating shores of Montenegro. Our first stop is the famous Sv. Stefan, renowned for its rich history and breathtaking scenery. We will admire the magnificent view of this island from above, making it an ideal spot for photography with its postcard-perfect scenery. Next, we arrive in Budva, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans. Our Budva city tour begins. On this walking tour, we will see Budva, one of the Balkans’ most famous holiday centers, with its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife. Our next stop is Kotor, the enchanting city famous for its fjords in the Balkans! On our walking tour of this magnificent medieval town, you will feel the atmosphere of its narrow streets and the old town, and discover the heart of Kotor. With its unique architecture and sea views, this small town will take you on a journey through time. After free time in Kotor, we head to our hotel in or around Medugorje. After dinner at the hotel, we retire to our rooms for rest. Overnight at our hotel.

Budva Tour INCLUDED! | Kotor Tour INCLUDED!

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

Total distance covered: 298 km

Day 6: Medugorje – Počitelj – Blagaj – Mostar – Sarajevo        

After breakfast, we depart for Sarajevo. Our first stop is Počitelj, a historically preserved village known as the Turkish Village, where we will see Ottoman works built in the 16th century. After the visit, we continue to Blagaj, built at the source of the Buna River, one of the most powerful water sources in Europe. After a short free time in this magnificent natural setting, we continue to Mostar. In Mostar, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built by Mimar Hayreddin in 1557. This masterpiece of Ottoman architecture was destroyed in the war in 1992 by Croatian artillery; however, with significant contributions from the Republic of Türkiye, it was reopened in 2004. After the Mostar Bridge, we will visit the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. Then we continue to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we visit a city that was the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and became known in history as the place where World War I began after the assassination of Austrian-Hungarian Crown Prince Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Serbs in 1914. In the 1992 war, it suffered great destruction due to devastating conflicts between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, yet Sarajevo managed to preserve much of its beauty. During our panoramic city tour, we will see the famous Baščaršija, the historic Ottoman inn Morica Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the city’s religious cosmopolitanism, the Synagogue, the Gazi Husrev Bey and Ferhadija 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 Sarajevo’s 40-year Austro-Hungarian rule. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight 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 covered: 192 km

Day 7: Sarajevo – Srebrenica - Belgrade         

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and begin a pleasant journey to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Along our route, we first stop in Srebrenica. On this tour, we will visit the Bosniak cemetery, where one of the greatest massacres of the last century took place during the Bosnian War, where thousands of Bosniaks were killed and buried in mass graves, and where the first documented genocide and the largest massacre in Europe since World War II occurred. After our visit, we continue to Belgrade. Belgrade, historically one of the most important cultural and strategic centers of the Balkans, still stands out today with its vibrancy, dynamism, and historical texture. In this captivating city, we will have the opportunity to discover the intersection of Ottoman and European cultures. Upon arrival in Belgrade, a panoramic city tour begins, where we will explore the city in all its splendor. Here, you can feel the historical atmosphere and discover the fabric that brings together Belgrade’s past and present. We then head to the point where the Sava River meets the Danube, one of the city’s most impressive locations. In this unique view, exploring this area, which has been the focus of many conquests and victories throughout history, will be a great pleasure. As we continue to discover this ancient city, where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded in the course of his conquest, which was completed by Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter Belgrade Fortress, used as a supply center for the Ottoman navy. While tracing the marks of history in this fortress, we will see Kalemegdan and Tašmajdan, among other important sites. During our tour, we will see the Tomb of Şehit Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period. These visits will allow you to deeply explore Belgrade’s rich history and learn about its Ottoman-era cultural heritage. At the end of the tour, we leave the city’s history and vibrant atmosphere behind and go to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Sarajevo – Belgrade: 287 km

Srebrenica Tour INCLUDED!

Day 8: Belgrade - Skopje – Diyarbakır          

After breakfast, we head to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Skopje is one of the Balkans’ important cultural centers with its Ottoman heritage and modern structures. We begin our tour with the historical sites in Skopje, 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 city’s largest and most magnificent mosques. Then we visit the Murat Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque is especially notable for its Ottoman-era decorations and architecture. Continuing our tour, we will see Kapan Han and Sulu Han in the heart of Skopje. These structures are fine examples of Ottoman caravanserais and were once important centers where merchants stayed and traded. Afterwards, we visit the Stone Bridge, which has become a symbol of Skopje. Built in the 15th century, this bridge connects the two banks of the Vardar River. Walking from the Stone Bridge, we continue our tour along the Turkish and Jewish quarters on the banks of the Vardar River. During our riverside walk, we pass through Macedonia Square. This square is the largest and most central point of Skopje, surrounded by modern buildings. Here, we will encounter the statue of Alexander the Great and other monuments. Then we see the Ottoman Bridge from the outside, dating back to the 15th century, and visit the Davut Pasha Hamam to once again feel the magnificence of the Ottoman era. We continue exploring the city by walking toward Skopje’s Turkish Bazaar. Before reaching the bazaar, we see the Clock Tower, built in the 16th century and one of Skopje’s landmark structures. Here, we will visit the Sultan Murat Mosque and the Isa Bey Mosque, among the early mosques of the Ottoman Empire. 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 items, from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After the enjoyable time you spend in the bazaar, transfer to the airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, departure on AJet Airlines scheduled flight VF5516 at 03:15 on a direct non-stop flight to Diyarbakır. After a pleasant and comfortable flight, arrival at Diyarbakır Airport at 06:45 and the end of our tour. We bid farewell to our valued guests, hoping to see you again on your next trip.

*Balkan Special Cancellation Guarantee Package: 50 Euro*

(With the cancellation guarantee package application, we offer our guests the right to cancel their reservation 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 the event of cancellation, the full tour fee is refunded, while the cancellation guarantee package fee and any additional service fees (visa, insurance, etc.) are non-refundable.)

**The stated cancellation guarantee package is not valid for group reservations.**

**There is a limited number of seats available for each tour.**

Positive Aspects of the Tour

• Comprehensive Visits: The tour offers a broad itinerary covering important Balkan cities and tourist points. Many important cities such as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar, Kotor, Ohrid, and Skopje are visited.

• Ottoman History: Important structures and cultural heritage from the Ottoman period are visited, offering an enjoyable experience for those interested in history.

• Religious and Cultural Richness: Structures belonging to different religions (mosques, churches, synagogues) are visited, allowing the region’s cultural diversity to be discovered.

• Natural Beauty: Natural wonders such as the Kotor fjords and Lake Ohrid are experienced throughout the tour.

• Visa-Free Travel: The itinerary includes destinations that do not require a visa, reducing extra paperwork and costs.

• Professional Guidance: Accompanied by a guide, there is an opportunity to learn detailed information about the cities and historical places.

• Local Culinary Experience: With traditional Bosnian dishes, Balkan cuisine, and local delicacies served at dinner, participants enjoy a gastronomic experience.

• Restaurant Gardenia Skopje Experience: The opportunity to enjoy local flavors and a special Balkan Night at Restaurant Gardenia Skopje, one of Skopje’s most distinguished restaurants, is offered.

• All Tours Included: All excursions and optional tours in the program are included in the tour price, so participants can visit all important points without paying extra.

• Dinner Included: Dinner is included in the program every day, preventing participants from incurring extra expenses while tasting local flavors.

• No Need to Spend: The tour is ideal for guests who do not want to spend money. Aside from lunch, optional tips, and souvenirs for loved ones, there will be no extra out-of-pocket expenses.

Situations to Consider

• Intensive Program: Traveling to a different city every day makes the tour very rich and full, but this pace may be tiring for those who want to explore more.

• Long Journeys: Intercity distances (for example, Skopje-Belgrade) are covered amid beautiful scenery, but there may be long periods spent on the bus during the trip. Nevertheless, comfortable travel is ensured with breaks along the way.

• Limited Free Time: Since the itinerary is comprehensive, free time may be limited. However, the opportunity to visit all important points with a guide is provided.

• Weather Conditions Depending on Season: Weather conditions in the Balkans can be variable in some periods. Therefore, choosing suitable clothing can make this more comfortable.

• Accommodation and Service Quality: The hotels in the tour, selected carefully among options reflecting the region’s character and local culture, may not offer the same wide range of facilities as luxury hotels in Türkiye in some small towns. However, comfort and cleanliness are prioritized in these hotels.

• Food and Culinary Experience: Throughout the tour, the opportunity to try the region’s unique local flavors is offered. Balkan cuisine is rich and delicious, but some participants may encounter tastes they are not accustomed to. This is a great opportunity to get to know the local culture and cuisine more closely, though it may be helpful to keep in mind that you may encounter different flavors.

City Hotel Breakfast Dinner

Ohrid 4* Beograd etc. Hotel Hotel

Shkodër 4* Holiday Koplik etc. Hotel Hotel

Medugorje 4* Kaktus etc. Hotel Hotel

Skopje 4* Vlaho etc. Hotel Restaurant Gardenia

Skopje 4* Vlaho etc. Hotel Restaurant Gardenia

Belgrade 4* Nobel etc. Hotel Hotel

Sarajevo 4* Holiday etc. Hotel Hotel

With AJet Airlines

Departure Point Arrival Point Departure Time Arrival Time

Diyarbakır Skopje 00:30 02:15

Skopje Diyarbakır 03:15 06:45