Kosovo Balkan Heart Tour with Thy Extra Tours Including Evening Meals 5 Nights OHD-SJJ

Day 1: Istanbul – Ohrid - Tirana – Shkodra

Meeting at the Turkish Airlines counter in the departure terminal of Istanbul Airport 3 hours before our flight. We depart for Ohrid at 10:35 on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1011. Following a comfortable flight, we arrive in Ohrid at 11:15 local time, and after completing entry procedures, our city tour begins with our private vehicle waiting at the airport. We will take a tour introducing the historic city of Ohrid, which was one of the important Ottoman bases in the Balkans. Among the sights we will see during our tour are important structures such as the Monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the 9th-century Byzantine monks believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet, and the Church of Hagia Sophia. We will also have the opportunity to stroll through Çınar Square, the heart of the city, and visit the Turkish Bazaar dating from the former Ottoman period. Here, you can visit the Halveti Lodge and experience the city’s cultural fabric up close. Afterwards, you will witness the daily life of the local people as we explore the New Bazaar and Ohrid Market. Finally, Ohrid’s famous lake and its fascinating scenery will accompany our tour. After free time, we depart for Tirana. Upon our arrival in Tirana, we visit the Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the city’s most important landmarks. Construction of this building began in 1789 and was completed in 1923; it is one of Albania’s cultural heritage sites. We take a short break in Skanderbeg Square and see the Skanderbeg Statue rising proudly in the center of the square. The Clock Tower, a symbol of Tirana built by Ethem Bey in 1821, is also one of the highlights of our tour. During this tour, Tirana’s modern face and historical past come together, allowing you to create unforgettable memories. After free time, we set off toward the historic city of Shkodra in northern Albania. Shkodra will enchant you with its natural beauty and rich historical texture. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED!

Ohrid - Tirana: 125 km | Tirana – Shkodra: 100 km

Total distance to be covered: 225 km

Day 2: Shkodra – Prizren - Pristina - Skopje

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and depart for Prizren, known as the cultural capital of Kosovo. Upon arrival, we begin exploring the narrow streets of Prizren, with its architecture reminiscent of an Anatolian Ottoman city and shop signs filled with Turkish inscriptions. In the city, we will visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, one of the most important examples of Ottoman architecture. The Halveti Lodge, Bayrakli Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Bath are also among the other important Ottoman works to be seen. After free time in Prizren, we set off toward Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Upon arriving in Pristina, we begin our panoramic city tour, where we will discover the modern and historical aspects of Kosovo. During our tour, we will also visit many valuable structures from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During this journey through the city’s historical heritage, we will visit the Tomb of Ottoman Sultan Murad Hüdavendigâr I, who was killed on the Kosovo Plain as a result of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, giving us the opportunity to commemorate this important historical event and its place in Ottoman history. After our tour in Pristina, we begin our return journey to Skopje. Upon arriving in Skopje, our first stop is the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1492 and one of the city’s largest and most magnificent mosques. We then visit the Murat Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque attracts attention particularly with its Ottoman-era decorations and architecture. Continuing our tour, we will see Kapan Han and Sulu Han, located in the heart of Skopje. These structures, beautiful examples of Ottoman-era inns, were once important centers where merchants stayed and conducted trade. Afterwards, we visit the Stone Bridge, which has become a symbol of Skopje. This bridge was built in the 15th century and connects the two banks of the Vardar River. We will continue our tour on foot from the Stone Bridge, seeing the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods along the Vardar River. During our walk along the river, we pass through Macedonia Square. This square is Skopje’s largest and most central area and is surrounded by modern buildings. Here, we will encounter the statue of Alexander the Great and other monuments. We then see the 15th-century Ottoman Bridge from the outside and visit the Daut Pasha Bath, once again experiencing the splendor of the Ottoman period. We continue discovering 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 symbolic structures. Here, we will visit the Sultan Murat Mosque and Isa Bey Mosque, among the early mosques of the Ottoman Empire. The mosques are an important part of the city’s Islamic heritage and attract attention with their architecture. Finally, we provide free time in the Turkish Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find many products ranging from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After enjoying your time in the bazaar, transfer to Restaurant Gardenia for Balkan Night. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel and retire to our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Skopje.

Dinner: An unforgettable dinner accompanied by traditional Balkan music and local dance performances awaits you. You will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the region’s most distinguished venues, while experiencing Skopje’s entertaining and cultural side during this special Balkan night. With live performances of the finest Balkan music and folklore by our artists, all of whom are conservatory students and teachers, performed without playback, we will transform this evening into an authentic experience. We will be delighted to host you at our own establishment, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight stay at our hotel in Skopje.

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

Shkodra – Prizren: 186 km | Prizren – Pristina: 85 km | Pristina – Skopje: 165 km

Total distance to be covered: 436 km

Day 3: Skopje – Belgrade

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and begin a pleasant journey toward Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Belgrade, one of the Balkans’ most important cultural and strategic centers throughout history, still attracts attention today with its vitality, liveliness, and historical character. In this fascinating city, we will have the opportunity to discover the meeting point of Ottoman and European cultures. Following our arrival in Belgrade, a panoramic city tour begins, during which we will discover the city’s full splendor. Here, you can feel the historical atmosphere and explore the character that brings Belgrade’s past and present together. We then go to the point where the Sava River meets the Danube River, one of the city’s most impressive locations. It will be a great pleasure to explore this unique area, which has been the focus of many conquests and victories throughout history. As we continue discovering this ancient city, for whose conquest Fatih Sultan Mehmet was wounded but which was ultimately conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter Belgrade Fortress, used as a supply center by the Ottoman navy. While tracing the footprints of history in this fortress, we will see important sites such as Fortress Square and Stone Square. During our tour, we will visit the Tomb of Martyr Ali Pasha, an important figure of the Ottoman period. During these visits, you will explore Belgrade’s rich history in depth and learn about the city’s cultural heritage from the Ottoman period. At the end of our tour, we leave the city’s history and lively atmosphere behind and proceed to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Skopje – Belgrade: 430 km

Day 4: Belgrade – Sarajevo

After breakfast, we depart for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon arrival, we visit a city that was the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and went down in history as the place where World War I broke out after Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated by Serbs in 1914. During the 1992 war, it suffered extensive destruction as a result of devastating conflicts among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, but Sarajevo largely succeeded in preserving its beauty. During our panoramic city tour, we will see the famous Baščaršija, the historic Ottoman inn Morića Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the city’s religious cosmopolitanism, the Synagogue, the Gazi Husrev Bey and Ferhadija Mosques, the Latin Bridge where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, the Old Library, and the western-style buildings constructed during the city’s 40-year Austro-Hungarian administration. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Belgrade - Sarajevo: 294 km

Day 5: Sarajevo – Počitelj – Blagaj – Mostar – Sarajevo

After breakfast, we depart from Sarajevo. Our first stop will be Mostar, famous for its historical, cultural, and architectural richness. Here, we will see Mostar Bridge, built in 1557 by Mimar Hayruddin, one of Mimar Sinan’s students, and considered one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture. The bridge was destroyed during the 1992 war, but with the major contributions of the Republic of Turkey, it was rebuilt true to its original form in 2004 and has once again become a symbol of Mostar. We will have the opportunity to explore the historic bazaar and stone streets surrounding this bridge, which elegantly connects the two banks of the Neretva River. After discovering Mostar’s fascinating atmosphere, we will visit the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, one of the city’s most important religious buildings. Here, we will examine architectural details from the Ottoman period and enjoy the magnificent view of Mostar Bridge from the mosque’s courtyard. We then depart for Blagaj, known for its natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere. Blagaj is an impressive settlement where history and nature intertwine, established at the source of the Buna River, one of Europe’s strongest water sources. After a short period of free time here, we continue to Počitelj, which carries the past into the present with its stone houses and historical character. In Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village and preserving much of its historic character, we will have the opportunity to see works built by the Ottomans in the 16th century up close and experience the unique atmosphere of the region. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Počitelj Tour Included! | Blagaj Tour INCLUDED! | Mostar Tour INCLUDED!

Sarajevo - Mostar: 120 km | Mostar - Blagaj: 12 km | Blagaj – Počitelj: 22 km | Počitelj - Sarajevo: 150 km

Total distance to be covered: 304 km

Day 6: Sarajevo - Istanbul

After breakfast, rooms are vacated and free time is provided until the transfer time. Transfer to Sarajevo Airport. Following the boarding procedures, flight to Istanbul at 20:35 on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK1026. Following a comfortable flight, arrival at Istanbul Airport at 23:35, marking the end of our tour. We say goodbye to you, hoping to see you on your next journey.

*Balkan Special Cancellation Protection Package: 50 Euros*

(With the Cancellation Protection Package, we offer our guests the right to cancel their reservations without penalty under any circumstances. With this application, you may 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 protection package fee and any additional service fees, if applicable (visa, insurance, etc.), are not refunded.)

**The specified cancellation protection package is not valid for group reservations.**

**There is limited availability for each tour.**

Positive Aspects of the Tour

• Comprehensive Visits: A broad travel program covering the Balkans’ important cities and tourist attractions is offered. Many important cities, such as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar, Ohrid, and Skopje, are visited.

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

• Religious and Cultural Richness: The region’s cultural diversity is explored by visiting structures belonging to different religions, including mosques, churches, and synagogues.

• Natural Beauty: Magnificent natural attractions such as Lake Ohrid are experienced throughout the tour.

• Visa-Free Travel: The tour includes destinations that do not require visas, reducing additional paperwork and costs.

• Professional Guidance: Guided tours provide the opportunity to obtain detailed information about the cities and historical sites.

• Local Cuisine Experience: Participants enjoy a gastronomic experience through dinners filled with traditional Bosnian dishes, Balkan cuisine, and local flavors.

• All Tours Included: All excursions and additional tours included in the program are included in the tour price, allowing participants to visit all important sites without paying an additional cost.

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

• No Need for Extra Spending: The tour is ideal for guests who do not wish to spend money. Apart from lunch, optional tips, and souvenirs for your loved ones, you will not need to spend any extra money.

Points to Consider

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

• Long Journeys: Intercity distances, such as the journey between Skopje and Belgrade, pass amid beautiful scenery throughout the tour, but there may be days involving long periods on the bus. Nevertheless, comfortable travel is ensured with breaks along the way.

• Limited Free Time: Since the tour program is comprehensive, free time may be limited. However, it offers the opportunity to visit all important sites accompanied by a guide.

• Seasonal Weather Conditions: Weather conditions in the Balkans can be variable during certain periods. Therefore, it is possible to make this situation comfortable by choosing suitable clothing.

• Accommodation and Service Quality: Although the hotels included in the tour are carefully selected from among options reflecting the character and local culture of the region, hotels in some smaller cities may not offer facilities as extensive as luxury hotels in Turkey. However, comfort and cleanliness are given due attention at these hotels.

• Food and Cuisine Experience: The tour offers the opportunity to try the region’s distinctive local flavors. Balkan cuisine is full of rich and delicious dishes, but some flavors may be unfamiliar to certain participants. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the local culture and cuisine up close, although it may be useful to keep in mind that you may encounter different flavors.

City Hotel Breakfast Dinner

Shkodra 4* Holiday Koplik etc. Hotel Hotel

Skopje 5* New Star etc. Hotel Restaurant Gardenia

Belgrade 4* Nobel etc. Hotel Hotel

Sarajevo 4* Holiday etc. Hotel Hotel

Sarajevo 4* Holiday etc. Hotel Hotel

With Turkish Airlines (All Dates Departing on Fridays)

Departure Location Arrival Location Departure Time Arrival Time

Istanbul Ohrid 10:35 11:10

Sarajevo Istanbul 20:35 23:35

With Turkish Airlines (All Dates Departing on Thursdays and Sundays)

Departure Location Arrival Location Departure Time Arrival Time

Istanbul Ohrid 13:05 13:40

Sarajevo Istanbul 20:35 23:35