5Countries Grand Balkan Cultural Tour 6N/7D

1st Day: ISTANBUL – SARAJEVO

Departure from Istanbul on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight to Sarajevo. Arrival in Sarajevo and transfer to the hotel with our guide. We will visit the Tunnel of Hope, a critical move made by the Bosniaks during the war of 1992-1995. This tunnel, dug under the airport, played a crucial role in changing the course of the war, and we will experience the war through a 15-minute video prepared with original footage at the tunnel and museum. (The War Tunnel tour may be conducted or not, depending on the guide's decision to ensure the smooth running of the tour.) After exploring the museum showcasing a photo gallery, war maps, and equipment used during the war, we move on to Bascarsija. On our way, we will see buildings still marked by the traces of bombardment during the war, Europe's first electric tram line still active in Sarajevo, buildings that belonged to the Yugoslav People's Army during Tito's era but are now used as Sarajevo University campus, the second-largest US embassy building globally, Sarajevo City Museum, the Parliament building, and the largest shopping mall in the region built by Arab investors. Our first stop is the Martyrs' Cemetery, where we pay our respects and learn about the life of Bosnia and Herzegovina's first President, Alija Izetbegovic, from our guide. Then, we proceed through the Bosnian-Turkish neighborhood with Albanian cobblestones that has survived from the Ottoman period, starting our walking tour of Bascarsija.

During our tour, we will see:

Sebil built with Bosnian architecture from the 18th century, "Bakircilar Sokak," the only active art street that has survived from the Ottoman period, Carsija Mosque, Morica Han and the Young Muslims Organization local inside, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque and Tomb, the son-in-law of Suleiman the Magnificent, Clock Tower, Kursumli Medrese, Gazi Husrev Bey Museum and Library, Latin Bridge, known as the starting point of World War I, Hunkar Mosque, built in honor of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Horse Square - Arrow Square, Orthodox Church, Alija Izetbegovic Park, Ferhadiye Mosque, Ferhadiye Street, Jewish Synagogue, Catholic Church – Cathedral – Church of the Heart of Jesus, Sarajevo Roses (locations where multiple people lost their lives with a bomb during the war)

After the walking tour in Bascarsija, those who wish can enjoy their coffee with a view of the famous "Sebil" at the "Famous Historical Coffee Shop" or buy historical Bosnian coffee. After free time, we have dinner at a local restaurant and proceed to our hotel for accommodation.

2nd Day: SARAJEVO - KONJIC - JABLANICA - BLAGAJ - MOSTAR

07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we leave the hotel and start our tour to Mostar. Our first stop is Konjic (Sarajevo - Konjic – 50 KM), a small town with a population of 50,000 people, located on the banks of the Neretva River. In this town, we will see the Ottoman bridge that was damaged during World War II and the 1992-1995 war, as well as the Broken Minaret Mosque, a mini bazaar restored to its original form by TC Highways and TIKA. After our photo break, we continue our journey. Our next stop is Jablanica, the city where Yugoslav founder Josip Broz Tito received the title of marshal. (Konjic, Jablanica - Konjic 23 KM) In this city famous for its lamb skewers, we see the bridge destroyed by Tito in 1943 during his struggle against the German Nazis and the area where the event took place. Afterward, we head to the Alperen Tekke, built five centuries ago near the source of the Buna River. (Blagaj - Jablanica 59 KM) On our way, we see Mostar Airport and the military area built opposite the airport and used as a shelter for airplanes. This area was prepared by carving the inside of the hill for hiding planes. We visit the Sari Saltuk Tekke, also known as the Yellow Saltuk Tekke, located at the source of the Buna River, which has not yet been reached and produces up to 43,000 liters of water per second. Inside the tekke, we visit the tomb of Ali Pasha and Sari Saltuk, and in the two-story house built in the typical Anatolian style, we see the Women's Prayer Room, Square Room, Mosque for Men, and Zikr Room, as well as the rooms used as a small bath and halvethane. Those who wish can enjoy Turkish tea in the courtyard overlooking the river. Our last stop for today is the city of Mostar. (Blagaj - Mostar 12 km) During our tour, we will see:

Mostar Bazaar, Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, Mostar Bridge, Tara Tower, Kriva Cuprija (Crooked Bridge)

After having dinner at a local restaurant in Mostar, we proceed to our hotel for accommodation.

3rd Day: MOSTAR - KOTOR - ST. STEFAN - BUDVA - PODGORICA (or accommodation in Shkodra)

07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we head to Montenegro. Passing through the towns of Stolac, Ljubinje, and Trebinje, we exit Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once we cross the Montenegro border, we arrive in the medieval city of Kotor, protected by UNESCO. In Kotor, accompanied by our local guide, we will visit:

Weapon Square,Clock Tower, Column of Shame, St. Trifun Cathedral, Craftsmen Street, Tulumba Fountains, River Gate, St. Luke Square

Our journey continues to Budva. (Budva - Kotor 22 KM) In Budva, with our local guide, we will have a walking tour to see:

Budva Castle, Fortress built by Napoleon, Shops preserved in their original form within the fortress, Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Marina

After free time for shopping in Budva, we reach St. Stefan Island. (Budva - St. Stefan 11 KM) After a photo break to immortalize the magnificent view, we travel a short distance to the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica. In the capital Podgorica, we have dinner at a local restaurant and proceed to our hotel for accommodation. (If staying in Shkodra, there will be no stop in Podgorica.)

Day 4: PODGORICA (or Shkodra) – SHKODRA – TIRANA – ELBASAN – STRUGA – OHRID

After breakfast, we will embark on a panoramic city tour of the capital, Podgorica, with our bus.

During the tour, we will visit the Millennium Bridge, a city park built by the Azerbaijani Presidency, the Millennium Bridge, and the statue of King Nikola.

Then, crossing the border, we enter Albania. Our first stop is Shkodra, a city located next to Lake Shkodra, which forms the border between Albania and Montenegro. This city, which remained under Ottoman rule for 435 years and strategically significant in the Balkans, boasts a city fortress and walls. During a short walking tour in the city center, we'll explore the castle and the surroundings. After free time in the city center, we continue our journey to the capital, Tirana. (Shkodra - Tirana 115 KM). Tirana, founded in 1614 by Suleiman Pasha and serving as the capital of Albania since 1920, will be the next destination. Our panoramic tour with the bus in Tirana will include:

The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, the U.S. Embassy, the construction of the 4-dome Namazgah Mosque funded by the Diyanet Foundation, the statue of Tirana's founder Suleiman Pasha, Tirana City Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National Museum, University Building, Opera and Ballet Building, Skander Beg statue, Parliament and Ministry buildings, Presidential Palace.

After the Tirana tour, our next stop is Elbasan. (Tirana - Elbasan 42 KM). Passing through the city with our bus, we take a break at Elbasan Castle in the city center. After seeing the Turkish streets and Hünkar Mosque around the castle, our journey continues towards the Kafasan border crossing. We see the mushroom-shaped concrete bunkers, called "Bunkers," built by the famous dictator Enver Hoxha, who ruled the country from 1945 to 1985, and then cross the border to enter Macedonia. Our first stop in Macedonia is the town of Struga, located on the western shore of Lake Ohrid and mostly populated by Muslims. (Elbasan - Struga 78 KM). In Struga, we see the Black Drim River, which originates from Lake Ohrid, and learn general information about Struga from our guide. After free time for photos in this city known as the City of Poets, we continue to Ohrid. (Struga - Ohrid 14 KM). Upon arrival in Ohrid, we have dinner with a view of Lake Ohrid at a local restaurant, followed by accommodation in our hotel in Ohrid.

Day 5: OHRID – KALKANDELEN – SKOPJE

After breakfast, we will have a guided tour of the historic city of Ohrid, which served as an important stronghold for the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Places we will visit during the tour:

The 11th-century plane tree, Zeynel Abidin Pasha Tekke (Halveti Tekke), Ali Pasha Mosque, Ohrid Bazaar famous for its City Square and Pearl Shops, Ohrid Market Square, St. Clement Statue, a shop where paper is made using a technique applied in China in the 2nd century BC, Hagia Sophia Church, Ancient Theater.

After the tour, we head to the charming town of Kalkandelen (Tetovo), built during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. (Ohrid - Kalkandelen 130 KM). In Kalkandelen, our first important stop is the Alaca Mosque, built in 1833 by Abdurrahman Pasha. The interior and exterior decorations of the mosque, made with a paint created by mixing animal blood, plant roots, and egg white, are captivating. These decorations represent a rare Baroque style found in Ottoman works. Next, we visit the Harabati Baba Tekke, the Bektashi center in the region. After learning about the history of the tekke from its guardian, Tetovalı Cemali, and hearing about the work done from Bektashi dervish Abdulmuttalip, we proceed to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. (Kalkandelen - Skopje 40 KM). Upon arrival in Skopje, we have dinner at a local restaurant, followed by accommodation in our hotel in Skopje. Optionally, guests can spend the night exploring the beautifully illuminated city center.

Day 6: SKOPJE – PRISTINA SULTAN MURAD TURBE – PRIZREN – SKOPJE

07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we depart for the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. In Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, which played key roles in Ottoman history, we visit the tomb where the internal organs of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I, who was martyred in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, are buried. We also visit the Selamlık building, which is used as a museum, located right next to the tomb. Inside the building, we have the opportunity to see photos of the visit of Sultan Reshad, the Ottoman Sultan who last visited the Balkans in 1911. On our way to Prizren, we see the square where Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic initiated the election campaign for the Kosovo war on the 600th anniversary and first used the term "Greater Serbia," which would later lead to the end of Yugoslavia. After a one-and-a-half-hour journey, we arrive in Prizren, the second-largest city in Kosovo and a city with many Ottoman monuments. We start our city tour in Prizren. During this walking tour with our guide, we will see:

Halveti Tekke, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hammam, Namazgah where Fatih Sultan Mehmed prayed with his army, Bayraklı Mosque, Maraş district and Maraş Bridge, 400-year-old large plane tree, Emin Pasha Mosque, TC Prizren Consulate building, Stone Bridge on Bistrica (Akdere), Şadırvan Square, Sinan Pasha Mosque, Aziz Gorgi and Catholic Churches, Arasta Mosque Minaret, which survived despite the mosque being demolished during the Yugoslav era, Serbian neighborhood still showing the destructive effects of the war.

After our tour, there is free time to enjoy this beautiful city. Later, at the time determined by our guide, we head to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we return to our hotel in Skopje.

Day 7: SKOPJE – MATKA CANYON – ISTANBUL

07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and first climb Vodno Mountain, located on the outskirts of Skopje, to have a panoramic view of the city. While ascending Vodno Mountain, you will feel like you are on the Bursa Çekirge Road. Later, we head to Matka Canyon, a natural wonder near Skopje. (Matka Canyon - Depending on the region's density on Saturdays, Sundays, or official holidays, the guide has the initiative to make decisions). Here, those who wish can join a boat tour and enjoy coffee. After our Matka Canyon tour, we disembark near Skopje Castle and start our city tour. We start our walking tour in Skopje Turkish Bazaar, where the Ottoman Empire ruled for more than 500 years and still preserves its original name. Places we will see during our tour:

Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Goldsmiths Street, Arasta Mosque, Stone Bridge, Turkish and Jewish Quarters, Davut Pasha Hammam, Double Hammam, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sulu Inn, Kapan Inn, Kurşunlu Inn, the enormous Alexander the Great Statue that caused the name crisis with Greece in 2011, the statue of Alexander the Great's father, 2nd Philip, Vardar River, Macedonia Archaeological Museum and Archive Building, National Theater Building, Museum of Resistance, sculptures of saints Cyril and Methodius, who invented the Cyrillic alphabet, 17th-century Saint Spas Church, Mother Teresa monument, and Teresa Museum, the Old Train Station building that survived in its collapsed state since the 1963 earthquake.

After our walking tour, we head to Skopje Airport. After passport and customs procedures, we depart for Istanbul on the scheduled flight. Hope to see you on the next tour...