Grand Balkans Tour 6N/7D

1st Day: Pristina, Prizren

Meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticket, passport, and baggage procedures, we will depart to Pristina on Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight. Upon arrival, we will reach the capital of Kosovo, Priština, which has declared its independence unilaterally from Serbia and has been recognized by many states, including Turkey, and has played crucial roles in Ottoman history. With our guide and the transfer vehicle awaiting us at the airport, we will embark on a panoramic city tour that introduces us to this beautiful city, with a history dating back 15 centuries. The city tour includes the Clock Tower, Kosovo Museum, Fatih Sultan Mehmed Complex dating back to the 15th century, Yashar Pasha Mosque, and Çarşı Mosque. After the city tour, we will begin our tour of Prizren on foot with our guide. Following the tour, we will proceed to our designated restaurant for dinner at the time specified by our guide. After dinner, we will check-in to our hotel in Prizren for accommodation.

2nd Day: Skopje

After breakfast, we check out from our hotel and depart to the capital of Macedonia, Skopje. Upon arrival in Skopje, we start with a panoramic tour around the city, including the Macedonian Parliament Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University Library, the largest US Embassy in the world, the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, and the French Cemetery from World War I. Then, we get off the bus near Skopje Fortress and begin our walking tour. Our walking tour starts in the Turkish Bazaar of Skopje, which has preserved its original name and the influence of the Ottoman Empire for over 500 years. During the tour, we will visit Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Jewelers Street, Arasta Mosque, Stone Bridge, Turkish and Jewish Quarters, Davut Pasha Bath, Double Bath, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sulu Han, Kapan Han, Kurshunlu Han, the controversial Alexander the Great Statue, the Statue of Philip II (Alexander's father), Vardar River, Macedonian Archaeological Museum and Archive, National Theater Building, statues of the saints Cyril and Methodius who invented the Cyrillic alphabet, St. Spas Church from the 17th century, Mother Teresa Monument and Museum, and the Old Train Station building that was destroyed during the 1963 earthquake. After the walking tour, you will have free time. We will meet again at the designated time determined by our guide and head to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we will check-in to our hotel in Skopje. Guests who wish to explore the illuminated city can enjoy their time in the city center after dinner.

3rd Day: Skopje, Ohrid

After breakfast, we will travel by bus to Kalkandelen (Tetovo), a charming town located 1 hour away from Skopje, which was built during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In Kalkandelen, our first important stop is the Harabati Baba Tekke, a prominent Bektashi center during that period. We will receive information about the tekke from Cemali, the caretaker of the tekke for the past 20 years, and then visit Bektashi dervish Abdulmuttalip in another corner of the tekke to learn about its history and ongoing activities. Next, we will visit the Alaca Mosque, built in 1833 by Abdurrahman Pasha, before heading towards Ohrid. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we will embark on a tour to explore the historical city, which served as an important Ottoman stronghold in the Balkans. During the tour, we will visit landmarks such as the 11-century-old plane tree, Zeynel Abidin Pasha Tekke (Halveti Tekke), Ali Pasha Mosque, the City Square, the renowned Pearl Shops of Ohrid Bazaar, Ohrid Market, the Statue of St. Clement, a shop where we can witness papermaking using a technique practiced in China in the 2nd century BC, St. Sophia Church, and the Ancient Theater. After the tour, we will enjoy an evening dinner overlooking Lake Ohrid at a local restaurant, followed by accommodation at our hotel in Ohrid.

4th Day: Struga - Podgorica

After breakfast at our hotel, we start our journey at Struga, a town located on the western coast of Lake Ohrid, predominantly inhabited by Muslims. We witness the Kara Drim River, which originates from Lake Ohrid, and learn about Struga from our guide. We then proceed towards Albania, crossing the Kafasan border and immediately encountering the famous "Bunkers," mushroom-shaped concrete bunkers built by the notorious dictator Enver Hoxha between 1945 and 1985, with an estimated count of around 300,000. Our first destination in Albania is Elbasan, where we take a break at Elbasan Castle in the city center, observing the Turkish streets and Hünkar Mosque. Continuing our journey, we head towards the capital city, Tirana. In Tirana, established by Süleyman Pasha in 1614 and serving as the capital of Albania since 1920, our panoramic bus tour includes notable landmarks such as the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, the U.S. Embassy, the 4-minaret Namazgah Mosque funded by the Diyanet Foundation, the statue of Tirana's founder Süleyman Pasha, Tirana City Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National Museum, University Building, Opera and Ballet Building, the Skanderbeg statue, Parliament, Ministry buildings, and the Presidential Palace. After our tour of Tirana, our next stop is Shkodra, a city located near Lake Shkodra, forming the border between Albania and Montenegro. This historically significant city, which remained under Ottoman rule for 435 years, offers sights such as the city castle and walls. During our break in the city center, we take a short walking tour before crossing into Montenegro, one of the former six republics of Yugoslavia and which gained independence from Serbia through a referendum in 2006. In the capital city of Podgorica, we have our evening dinner at a local restaurant before heading to our hotel.

5th Day: Kotor - Mostar

After breakfast at our hotel, our first stop is the town of Struga, located on the western coast of Lake Ohrid, where the majority of the population is Muslim. We will see the Kara Drim River, which originates from Lake Ohrid, and our guide will provide us with general information about Struga. We then continue our journey towards Albania, crossing the Kafasan border. Upon entering Albania, we immediately see the famous "Bunkers," mushroom-shaped concrete bunkers built by the notorious dictator Enver Hoxha between 1945 and 1985, with an estimated count of around 300,000. Our first destination in Albania is Elbasan. We drive through the city and take a break at Elbasan Castle located in the city center. After seeing the Turkish streets and Hünkar Mosque surrounding the castle, we continue our way towards the capital city, Tirana. In Tirana, which was established by Süleyman Pasha in 1614 and has been the capital of Albania since 1920, we will embark on a panoramic tour by bus. The tour includes the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, the U.S. Embassy, the construction of the four minaret Namazgah Mosque funded by the Diyanet Foundation, the statue of Tirana's founder Süleyman Pasha, Tirana City Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National Museum, University Building, Opera and Ballet Building, the Skanderbeg statue, a national hero for Albanians, Parliament, Ministry buildings, and the Presidential Palace. After our tour of Tirana, our next stop is Shkodra, located on the border between Albania and Montenegro, near Lake Shkodra. This city, which was under Ottoman rule for 435 years and is one of the most important strategic cities in the Balkans, is known for its city castle and walls, which we will visit. During our break in the city center, we will take a short walking tour. After free time in the center, we will cross into Montenegro, one of the six republics of the former Yugoslavia, and which gained independence from Serbia through a referendum in 2006. In the capital city of Podgorica, we will have our evening dinner at a local restaurant before heading to our hotel.

6th Day: Jablanica - Sarajevo

We leave our hotel and begin our tour of Mostar. During the tour, we visit the Martyrs' Mosque and its courtyard cemetery, the famous Mostar Bazaar with its cobblestone streets made of stones collected from the local river, and the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, known for capturing the most beautiful photo of the bridge. Among the places we will see are the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Mostar, the Mostar Bridge, the Tara Tower, and the Kriva Cuprija - the Crooked Bridge. We then proceed to the Alperen Tekke, a dervish lodge established five centuries ago at the source of the Buna River. Along the way, we also see Mostar Airport and the military area across from the airport, which was used as a shelter for planes during the Yugoslav era. This area was carved into the hill opposite the airport for the purpose of hiding aircraft. Next, we arrive at our stop, the city of Konjic. This small city with a population of 50,000, located on the banks of the Neretva River, suffered damage during World War II and the 1992-1995 war, but its Ottoman bridge has been restored by the Turkish Highways and TIKA, and we will also see the Broken Minaret Mosque and a restored mini bazaar. After a photo break, we continue our journey. Our final destination today is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we have our evening dinner at a local restaurant and then proceed to our hotel for accommodation.

7th Day: SARAJEVO

After having breakfast at our hotel, we check out at 8:00 and head towards the Baščaršija. Along the way, we pass by buildings still showing the scars of the war, the tram line, which is Europe's first electric motor tramway and still active throughout Sarajevo, the buildings that were once part of the Yugoslav People's Army during Tito's era but are now used as the Sarajevo University campus, the second-largest U.S. embassy building in the world, the Sarajevo City Museum, the Parliament building, and the largest shopping mall in the region built by Arab investors. Our first stop is the Martyrs' Memorial, where we pay our respects to the victims of the tragic war of 1992-1995 and learn about the life of Bosnia and Herzegovina's first President, Alija Izetbegović. We then walk through the Bosniak-Turkish neighborhood with its preserved Ottoman-era Albanian cobblestone streets, and our walking tour of Baščaršija begins. During the tour, we visit the 18th-century Sebil, the active art street called "Bakırcılar Sokak," the Čaršija Mosque, the Morića Han and the Young Muslims organization's local "Mladi Muslimani," the Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque and tomb, the Clock Tower, the Kuršumli Medrese, the Gazi Husrev-bey Museum and Library, Europe's first public toilet, the Latin Bridge known as the place where World War I started, the Hünkar Mosque built in honor of Mehmed the Conqueror, the Horse Square - Okmeydanı, the Bakır Baba Mosque built by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, the Orthodox Church, Alija Izetbegović Park where elderly Sarajevo residents play chess, the Ferhadija Mosque, Ferhadija Street (Sarajevo's Istiklal Avenue), the Jewish Synagogue, the Catholic Church - Cathedral - Church of the Heart of Jesus, the Sarajevo Roses (locations where multiple lives were lost due to bomb explosions during the war), the site of the Breadline Massacre, the eternal flame lit in memory of the liberation of Sarajevo from German occupation on April 6, 1945, the Markale Market where the February 5, 1994 massacre took place, resulting in the loss of 68 lives, and the Vijećnica (City Hall), built during the Austro-Hungarian period and burned during the war, causing the destruction of many manuscripts. After our walking tour of Baščaršija, those who wish can enjoy a cup of coffee at the famous Historical Coffeehouse overlooking the iconic Sebil. Additionally, those interested can purchase traditional Bosnian coffee here. We then head to Sarajevo Airport, marking the end of our tour.