Balkans Priština Arrival, Sarajevo Departure 6N/7D

Day 1: PRISTINA - PRIZREN

We depart from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight, arriving at Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia and has been recognized by many states, including Turkey. Kosovo holds a significant place in Ottoman history. Upon arrival, we are welcomed by our transfer vehicle and begin our tour with our guide. Our first stop is the mausoleum of Sultan Murad I, the Ottoman Sultan who was martyred in the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, and the Selamlık building next to it, which is now a museum. Here, we have the opportunity to see photos of Sultan Reşad’s last visit to the Balkans in 1911.

We then head towards Prizren. En route, we stop at the square where Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević made his infamous "Greater Serbia" speech, marking the beginning of Yugoslavia's dissolution. After a 1.5-hour journey, we arrive in Prizren, Kosovo's second-largest city, rich in Ottoman heritage. We check into our hotel and take a short break.

At the appointed time, we begin our walking tour of Prizren with our guide. Key sights include the Halveti Lodge, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bathhouse, the Namazgah where Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror prayed with his army, Bayraklı Mosque, the Maraş Bridge, the 400-year-old plane tree, Emin Pasha Mosque, the Turkish Consulate in Prizren, Taş Bridge, Shadervan Square, Sinan Pasha Mosque, St. George and Catholic Churches, and the Arasta Mosque Minaret, which survived despite the destruction of the mosque during the Yugoslav era. We also visit the Serbian neighborhood, which still bears the scars of the war.

After the tour, we enjoy some free time to explore this charming city. At the designated time, we have dinner and return to our hotel for the night.

Day 2: PRIZREN - SKOPJE

After breakfast, we check out from our hotel and depart for Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, located 100 km away. Upon arrival, we begin a walking tour of the Skopje Turkish Bazaar with our guide. During the tour, we visit Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Jewelers’ Street, Arasta Mosque, the iconic Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods, Davut Pasha Bathhouse, Çifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sulu Han, Kapan Han, and Kurşunlu Han.

We also see the colossal Alexander the Great Statue, which sparked a naming dispute with Greece in 2011, the statue of Philip II (Alexander’s father), the Macedonian Archaeological Museum, the National Theater, statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius (creators of the Cyrillic alphabet), St. Spas Church, Mother Teresa Memorial and Museum, and the Old Train Station, which still shows damage from the 1963 earthquake.

After free time in the city, we meet for dinner at the designated time and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 3: SKOPJE - TETOVO - OHRID

After breakfast, we leave Skopje and drive to Tetovo, a small town built during Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign, about an hour away. In Tetovo, we first visit the Harabati Baba Lodge, the Bektaşi center of its time. After learning about its history and activities, we proceed to the Alaca Mosque, built in 1833 by Abdurrahman Pasha, famous for its baroque-style decorations made using paint derived from animal blood, plant roots, and egg whites.

Next, we travel to Ohrid. Upon arrival, we take a guided tour of this historic city, an important Ottoman base in the Balkans. Highlights include the 1,100-year-old plane tree, Zeynel Abidin Pasha Lodge, Ali Pasha Mosque, Ohrid Bazaar known for its pearl shops, Ayasofya Church, and the Ancient Theater. After the tour, we have dinner and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 4: OHRID - STRUGA - TIRANA

Following breakfast, we depart for Struga, a town on the western shore of Lake Ohrid, where the Black Drim River originates. After learning about the town from our guide, we proceed to Albania, crossing the Kafasan border. Along the way, we see mushroom-shaped bunkers built by the infamous dictator Enver Hoxha during his rule (1945–1985).

Our first stop in Albania is Elbasan. Here, we visit Elbasan Castle, the Turkish streets, and the Hünkar Mosque before continuing to the capital, Tirana. In Tirana, we take a panoramic city tour, visiting the Turkish and U.S. Embassies, Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, and the Presidential Palace. After the tour, we have dinner and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 5: TIRANA - SHKODRA - KOTOR - MOSTAR

After breakfast, we travel to Shkodra, located by Lake Shkodra in northern Albania. Once a strategic Ottoman city, we explore the fortress and city walls before continuing to Montenegro.

Our first stop in Montenegro is Podgorica, where we take a panoramic city tour and see landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, Millennium Bridge, and King Nikola Statue. We then proceed to Kotor, a UNESCO-protected medieval town. In Kotor, we visit sites such as the Square of Arms, Clock Tower, Pillar of Shame, St. Tryphon Cathedral, and Craftsmen’s Street.

After free time, we head to Bosnia and Herzegovina, passing through Trebinje, Ljubinje, and Stolac before arriving in Mostar. Following dinner, we check into our hotel for the night.

Day 6: MOSTAR - BLAGAJ - JABLANICA - KONJIC - SARAJEVO

After breakfast, we start our tour of Mostar. Key attractions include the Martyrs’ Mosque, the cobblestone Mostar Bazaar, Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, the Turkish Consulate in Mostar, the iconic Mostar Bridge, Tara Tower, Kriva Ćuprija (Crooked Bridge), and Tabakhane Mosque.

We then visit the Buna River spring and the Alperen Lodge in Blagaj, famous for its Ottoman architecture. Later, we drive to Jablanica, known for its role in Tito’s resistance against the Nazis, and then to Konjic, where we see the Ottoman Bridge and historic bazaar.

Our final stop is Sarajevo, where we enjoy dinner and stay overnight at our hotel.

Day 7: SARAJEVO

After breakfast, we check out and begin our Sarajevo city tour with our guide. We visit the Martyrs' Cemetery, the resting place of Bosnia’s first President Alija Izetbegović, and learn about his life.

We then explore Baščaršija (the Ottoman bazaar), visiting landmarks such as Sebilj Fountain, Copper Alley, Morića Han, Gazi Hüsrev Bey Mosque and Library, Latin Bridge, Ferhadiye Mosque, Ferhadiye Street, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the Jewish Synagogue, and Sarajevo Roses.

After our tour, we proceed to Sarajevo Airport for our flight back to Istanbul, concluding our Balkan adventure. 

Day 2: PRIZREN - SKOPJE

After breakfast, we check out from our hotel and depart for Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, located 100 km away. Upon arrival, we begin a walking tour of the Skopje Turkish Bazaar with our guide. During the tour, we visit Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Jewelers’ Street, Arasta Mosque, the iconic Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods, Davut Pasha Bathhouse, Çifte Hamam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sulu Han, Kapan Han, and Kurşunlu Han.

We also see the colossal Alexander the Great Statue, which sparked a naming dispute with Greece in 2011, the statue of Philip II (Alexander’s father), the Macedonian Archaeological Museum, the National Theater, statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius (creators of the Cyrillic alphabet), St. Spas Church, Mother Teresa Memorial and Museum, and the Old Train Station, which still shows damage from the 1963 earthquake.

After free time in the city, we meet for dinner at the designated time and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 3: SKOPJE - TETOVO - OHRID

After breakfast, we leave Skopje and drive to Tetovo, a small town built during Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign, about an hour away. In Tetovo, we first visit the Harabati Baba Lodge, the Bektaşi center of its time. After learning about its history and activities, we proceed to the Alaca Mosque, built in 1833 by Abdurrahman Pasha, famous for its baroque-style decorations made using paint derived from animal blood, plant roots, and egg whites.

Next, we travel to Ohrid. Upon arrival, we take a guided tour of this historic city, an important Ottoman base in the Balkans. Highlights include the 1,100-year-old plane tree, Zeynel Abidin Pasha Lodge, Ali Pasha Mosque, Ohrid Bazaar known for its pearl shops, Ayasofya Church, and the Ancient Theater. After the tour, we have dinner and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 4: OHRID - STRUGA - TIRANA

Following breakfast, we depart for Struga, a town on the western shore of Lake Ohrid, where the Black Drim River originates. After learning about the town from our guide, we proceed to Albania, crossing the Kafasan border. Along the way, we see mushroom-shaped bunkers built by the infamous dictator Enver Hoxha during his rule (1945–1985).

Our first stop in Albania is Elbasan. Here, we visit Elbasan Castle, the Turkish streets, and the Hünkar Mosque before continuing to the capital, Tirana. In Tirana, we take a panoramic city tour, visiting the Turkish and U.S. Embassies, Skanderbeg Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, and the Presidential Palace. After the tour, we have dinner and spend the night at our hotel.

Day 5: TIRANA - SHKODRA - KOTOR - MOSTAR

After breakfast, we travel to Shkodra, located by Lake Shkodra in northern Albania. Once a strategic Ottoman city, we explore the fortress and city walls before continuing to Montenegro.

Our first stop in Montenegro is Podgorica, where we take a panoramic city tour and see landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, Millennium Bridge, and King Nikola Statue. We then proceed to Kotor, a UNESCO-protected medieval town. In Kotor, we visit sites such as the Square of Arms, Clock Tower, Pillar of Shame, St. Tryphon Cathedral, and Craftsmen’s Street.

After free time, we head to Bosnia and Herzegovina, passing through Trebinje, Ljubinje, and Stolac before arriving in Mostar. Following dinner, we check into our hotel for the night.

Day 6: MOSTAR - BLAGAJ - JABLANICA - KONJIC - SARAJEVO

After breakfast, we start our tour of Mostar. Key attractions include the Martyrs’ Mosque, the cobblestone Mostar Bazaar, Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, the Turkish Consulate in Mostar, the iconic Mostar Bridge, Tara Tower, Kriva Ćuprija (Crooked Bridge), and Tabakhane Mosque.

We then visit the Buna River spring and the Alperen Lodge in Blagaj, famous for its Ottoman architecture. Later, we drive to Jablanica, known for its role in Tito’s resistance against the Nazis, and then to Konjic, where we see the Ottoman Bridge and historic bazaar.

Our final stop is Sarajevo, where we enjoy dinner and stay overnight at our hotel.

Day 7: SARAJEVO

After breakfast, we check out and begin our Sarajevo city tour with our guide. We visit the Martyrs' Cemetery, the resting place of Bosnia’s first President Alija Izetbegović, and learn about his life.

We then explore Baščaršija (the Ottoman bazaar), visiting landmarks such as Sebilj Fountain, Copper Alley, Morića Han, Gazi Hüsrev Bey Mosque and Library, Latin Bridge, Ferhadiye Mosque, Ferhadiye Street, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the Jewish Synagogue, and Sarajevo Roses.

After our tour, we proceed to Sarajevo Airport for our flight back to Istanbul, concluding our Balkan adventure.