Balkan Tour (Departure to Sarajevo – Return from Pristina) 7N/8D

Day 1: Sarajevo

Departure from Istanbul and arrival in Sarajevo. On our way, we will see buildings still bearing the traces of bombardments from the war period, the first electric motor tram line in Europe which is still actively operating and traversing Sarajevo end-to-end, buildings belonging to the Yugoslav People's Army from Tito's era now used as Sarajevo University campus, the second-largest U.S. embassy building in the world, Sarajevo City Museum, the Parliament building, and the region's largest shopping mall built by Arab investors before reaching Baščaršija.

Our first stop will be the Martyr's Memorial, where we pay respects to the martyrs of the tragic war of 1992-1995 and Alija Izzetbegović's memorial tomb. After reading Fatiha for the war martyrs, we stroll through the Ottoman-era Bosnian-Turkish neighborhood with its preserved cobblestone streets, starting our walking tour of Baščaršija. Some of the places we'll see during our tour include:

·       'Sebil', built in 18th-century Bosnian architecture

·       'Bakırcılar Sokak', the only active art street from the Ottoman era

·       Carsija Mosque

·       Morica Han, including the local youth Muslim organization 'Mladi Muslimani'

·       Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque and Mausoleum, a legacy of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman's grandson

·       Clock Tower

·       Kurshumli Madrasah

·       Gazi Husrev Bey Museum and Library

·       Europe's first public toilet

·       The Latin Bridge, known as the place where World War I started

·       Hunkar Mosque, built in honor of Fatih Sultan Mehmet

·       Horse Square - Okmeydanı

·       Bakir Baba Mosque, commissioned by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality

·       Orthodox Church

·       Alija Izetbegović Park, where retired Sarajevo residents play chess

·       Ferhadija Mosque

·       Ferhadija Street (Sarajevo's Istiklal Avenue)

·       Jewish Synagogue

·       Catholic Church - Cathedral - Church of the Heart of Jesus

·       Sarajevo Roses (marks where multiple lives were lost due to a bomb during the war)

·       The site of the Breadline Massacre

·       The Eternal Flame lit on April 6, 1945, in memory of Sarajevo's liberation from German occupation by the Yugoslav army

·       Markale District Market, where the February 5, 1994, massacre claimed 68 lives

·       Vjecnica (Viyeçnitsa) Library, built as the City Hall during the Austria-Hungary era, which was burned during the war, leading to the destruction of many manuscripts.

Day 2: Sarajevo – Travnik – Sarajevo 

After breakfast, we depart for the city known as the City of Viziers, Travnik. During our journey through lush green mountains reminiscent of the Black Sea and along the banks of the Bosna River, we pass through the city of Visoko, where we can catch a glimpse of the famous Bosnian Pyramids. Arrival in Travnik. During our walking tour of Travnik, we will visit:

·      Elci Ibrahim Pasha Medrese.

·      Plava Voda - Göksu River and its source.

·      Travnik Fortress - Inside the fortress, we'll see a display of traditional costumes, an exhibition of old Travnik photographs, a mini amphitheater, and the remains of a ruined mosque and minaret. We take the most beautiful panoramic photograph of the city from this fortress.

·      Alaca Mosque (Şarena Dzamija) and its marketplace.

·      Travnik Bazaar.

·      The grave of Selami Yurdan, the first Turkish martyr in the 1992-1995 war.

·      Tombs of viziers that have survived to this day.

·      Clock Tower

Then, we head towards Sarajevo. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ahmići, which witnessed great tragedies on April 16, 1993. After hearing the stories of the 116 people, ranging from a 3-month-old baby to an 86-year-old, who lost their lives here, we continue our journey to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we proceed to a local restaurant for our evening meal. After dinner, we head back to our hotel for accommodation.

Day 3: Sarajevo – Konjic – Jablanica – Blagaj – Mostar

After breakfast, we check out from our hotel and begin our tour of Mostar. Our first stop is the city of Konjic. Among the places we'll visit here are the Ottoman bridge built by the Turkish Ministry of Highways and TIKA, the Broken Minaret Mosque, and a mini bazaar restored to its original form. Our next stop is Jablanica. Here, we see the bridge destroyed by Tito in 1943 during his resistance against the German Nazis and the area where the event took place. We then head to the Alperen Tekke, built five centuries ago at the source of the Buna River. Along the way, we pass by Mostar Airport and a military area used as shelter for planes during Yugoslavia's time.

Our final destination for today is the city of Mostar. During our tour, we will visit:

·      Martyrs' Mosque and the cemetery in its courtyard, where Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs who fought side by side during the war are buried.

·      Mostar Bazaar, paved with stones collected from the river, a special feature of the region.

·      Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, known for capturing the best view of the bridge.

·      Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Mostar.

·      Mostar Bridge - Built in 1566 by Mimar Hayrettin, a student of Mimar Sinan, destroyed in 1993 but restored in 2004.

·      Tara Tower - Originally part of the bridge security team, now serves as a museum.

·      Kriva Cuprija (Crooked Bridge).

·      Tabakhane Mosque and Bathhouse - Specifically built for the leatherworkers to avoid discomforting the congregants in other mosques due to the smell, with water flowing underneath.

After having dinner at a local restaurant, we stay overnight at our hotel in Mostar.

Day 4: Mostar – Kotor – St. Stefan – Budva – Podgorica (or Accommodation in Shkodra)

After breakfast, we head to Montenegro. We pass through the towns of Stolac, Ljubinje, and Trebinje before exiting Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon crossing the Montenegro border, we arrive at the medieval city of Kotor. During our guided city tour in Kotor, led by a local guide, we will visit:

·      Arms Square

·      Clock Tower

·      Pillar of Shame

·      Saint Tryphon Cathedral

·      Craftsmen Street

·      Tulumbas Fountains

·      River Gate

·      Saint Luke Square

Our journey continues towards Budva. During our walking tour in Budva, also guided by a local, we will see:

·      Budva Castle

·      The fortress built by Napoleon

·      Shops preserved in their original medieval form within the castle walls

·      Catholic Church

·      Orthodox Church

·      Marina

After free time for shopping in Budva, we reach the island of St. Stefan. After a photo break to capture the stunning scenery, we take a short trip to Montenegro's capital, Podgorica. In Podgorica, we enjoy our dinner at a local restaurant before heading to our hotel.

(If staying in Shkodra, Podgorica will not be visited)

Day 5: Podgorica (or Shkodra) – Shkodra – Tirana – Elbasan – Struga – Ohrid

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

·      Presidential Palace

·      City Park built by Azerbaijan

·      Millennium Bridge

·      Statue of King Nikola

Next, we cross the border and enter Albania. Our first stop is Shkodra, a city situated near Lake Shkodra that forms the border between Albania and Montenegro. Here, we will visit the city fortress and walls. After free time in the city center, we continue our journey towards the capital, Tirana. In Tirana, the capital of Albania, our bus will take us on a panoramic tour where we will see:

·      Embassy of the Republic of Turkey

·      Embassy of the United States

·      4-minaret mosque funded by the Diyanet Foundation

·      Statue of the founder of Tirana, Suleiman Pasha

·      Tirana city square

·      Ethem Bey Mosque

·      Clock Tower

·      National Museum

·      University Building

·      Opera and Ballet Building

·      Statue of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, in the square

·      Parliament and Ministry buildings

·      Presidential Palace

After our tour of Tirana, our next stop is Elbasan. We pass through the city and take a break at Elbasan Castle in the city center. After seeing the Turkish streets around the castle and the Hunkar Mosque, our journey continues towards the Kafasan border crossing. Here, we see the mushroom-shaped concrete bunkers, known as "Bunkers," built by Dictator Enver Hoxha, with an estimated number of around 300,000. We then cross the Kafasan border and enter Macedonia. Our first destination in Macedonia is Struga, located on the western shore of Lake Ohrid and predominantly populated by Muslims. In Struga, we see the Black Drin River and its source from Lake Ohrid and learn general information about Struga from our guide. After free time, we continue towards Ohrid. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we have dinner at a local restaurant overlooking Lake Ohrid and then stay overnight at our hotel in Ohrid.

Day 6: Ohrid – Tetova – Skopje

After breakfast, we will have a tour introducing the historical city of Ohrid. During our tour, we will visit:

·      A 1100-year-old plane tree

·      Zeynel Abidin Pasha Tekke (Halveti Tekke)

·      Ali Pasha Mosque

·      City Square and the famous Ohrid Bazaar with its Pearl Shops

·      Ohrid Market Square

·      Statue of Saint Clement

·      Shops showcasing the paper-making technique from the 2nd century BC, similar to that practiced in China

·      Hagia Sophia Church

·      Ancient Theater

After our tour, we will travel by bus to Kalkandelen (Tetovo), which was built during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In Kalkandelen, we will visit two important stops. First, we will explore the Alaca Mosque, known for its interior and exterior decorations made using a paint created from a mixture of animal blood, plant roots, and egg white, which will enchant you with its rare Baroque-style decorations rarely seen in Ottoman works.

Next, we will visit the Harabati Baba Tekke, a Bektashi center from that era, where we will learn about the tekke from Cemali, the caretaker of the tekke for 20 years from Tetovo.

At the designated time by our guide, we will head to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Upon arrival in Skopje, we will have our dinner at a local restaurant and then stay overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Day 7: Skopje – Matka Canyon – Sultan Murad Mausoleum – Prizren

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and first head to Mount Vodno to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Then, we proceed to the natural wonder of Matka Canyon in Skopje. Following our tour of Matka Canyon, we disembark near Skopje Fortress and begin our city tour on foot, starting at the historic Turkish Bazaar of Skopje, which has preserved its original name despite the Ottoman Empire's 500-year rule and still retains its old charm.

During our walking tour, we will visit:

·      Mustafa Pasha Mosque

·      Goldsmiths Street

·      Arasta Mosque

·      Stone Bridge, an iconic symbol of Skopje built over the Vardar River

·      Turkish and Jewish Quarters

·      Davut Pasha Hamam

·      Çifte Hamam

·      Murat Pasha Mosque

·      Sulu Han

·      Kapan Han

·      Kurşunlu Han

·      The colossal Alexander the Great Statue, which sparked the name dispute with Greece in 2011

·      Statue of Alexander's father, Philip II

·      Vardar River

·      Macedonia Archaeological Museum and Archive Building

·      National Theatre

·      Museum of the Macedonian Struggle

·      Statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius, creators of the Cyrillic alphabet

·      17th-century Church of the Holy Salvation

·      Monument and Museum of Mother Teresa

·      Old Train Station building, preserved in its 1963 earthquake-damaged state

We regroup at the designated time and then depart for Kosovo's capital, Pristina. En route, we visit the square where Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević initiated the 600th anniversary of the Kosovo War in 1989, leading to the "Greater Serbia" expression and ultimately Yugoslavia's dissolution. We also stop by the tomb containing the internal organs of Ottoman Sultan Murad I, who fell in the Kosovo Battle of 1389, and the Selamlık building. Later, we head to Prizren for dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Day 8: Prizren – Pristina – Istanbul 

After checking out from our hotel following breakfast, we begin our tour in Prizren, the second-largest city in Kosovo, known for its many Ottoman-era landmarks. Accompanied by our guide, we will visit the following places:

·      Halveti Tekke

·      Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hamam

·      Namazgah where Fatih Sultan Mehmed prayed with his army

·      Bayraklı Mosque

·      Maraş District and Maraş Bridge

·      A 400-year-old great plane tree

·      Emin Pasha Mosque

·      Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Prizren

·      Stone Bridge over Bistrica (Akdere)

·      Şadırvan Square

·      Sinan Pasha Mosque

·      Aziz Gorgi and Catholic Churches

·      Arasta Mosque Minaret, the mosque itself was destroyed during Yugoslav times, but its minaret managed to survive

·      The Serbian Quarter, where we can still see the destructive effects of the war

After free time, we will head to Adem Jashari International Airport in Pristina by bus. Following passport and customs procedures, we will board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul.