Kosovo Grand Balkan Tour with AJet Including Extra Tours and Dinner SJJ-SJJ

Day 1: Istanbul – Sarajevo – Mostar – Blagaj – Počitelj - Medugorje

After completing our ticket, baggage, and boarding procedures at the International Departures Terminal of Sabiha Gökçen Airport, we depart for Sarajevo at 13:25 on AJet Airlines flight VF97. Following the approximately one-and-a-half-hour flight, we arrive in Sarajevo at 14:20 local time. After completing entry procedures, our first stop is Mostar, famous for its historical and cultural richness. Here, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built in 1557 by architect Hayreddin and considered one of the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture. This bridge was destroyed in 1992 but was rebuilt in 2004 with contributions from the Republic of Türkiye. After exploring Mostar’s enchanting atmosphere, we will visit the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. We then depart for Blagaj. Blagaj was established at the source of the Buna River, one of the most powerful water sources in Europe. After a short period of free time here, we continue to Počitelj. Visiting Počitelj, preserved with its historical texture and known as the Turkish Village, we will see the works built by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Finally, we depart for Medugorje. Medugorje is a peaceful place famous for its religious visitors. After arriving at our hotel, we retire to our rooms to rest. Overnight at our hotel.

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

Sarajevo - Mostar: 130 km | Mostar - Blagaj: 12 km | Blagaj - Počitelj: 30 km | Počitelj - Medugorje: 20 km

Total distance to be covered: 192 km

Day 2: Medugorje – Kotor – Budva – Sv. Stefan – Shkodra

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and set off toward enchanting Kotor. You will enjoy magnificent views during our journey. Upon arriving in Kotor, during our walking tour of this medieval town famous for the fjords of the Balkans, you will feel the historical atmosphere of the narrow streets and the old town and discover the heart of Kotor. With its unique architecture and sea views, this small town will take you on a journey through time. Afterwards, our next stop is Budva, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans! Following our panoramic city tour, we depart for Sv. Stefan, famous for its rich history and breathtaking views. We will admire the magnificent view of this islet from above. This area, with every corner resembling a postcard, is an ideal spot for photography. After all these discoveries, we continue to Shkodra, the beautiful city of Albania. After dinner at our hotel, we retire to our rooms to rest. Overnight at our hotel.

Kotor Tour INCLUDED! | Budva Tour INCLUDED!

Medugorje - Kotor: 191 km | Kotor - Budva: 22 km | Budva - Sv. Stefan: 15 km | Sv. Stefan - Shkodra: 85 km

Total distance to be covered: 313 km

Day 3: Shkodra – Tirana – Ohrid

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and set off toward Tirana, the capital of Albania. An impressive tour awaits us in this beautiful city, rich in historical and cultural significance, where we will discover Tirana, regarded as the center of Bektashism in Europe. Upon arriving 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, and it is one of Albania’s cultural heritage sites. We take a short break at Skanderbeg Square and see the statue of Skanderbeg rising proudly in the middle 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 Ohrid. Breathtaking views will accompany us along the way. Upon arriving in Ohrid, we will take a tour introducing the historic city of Ohrid, which was once one of the important Ottoman bases in the Balkans. Among the places 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 Činar Square, the heart of the city, and visit the Turkish Bazaar dating from the former Ottoman period. Here, you may visit the Halveti Tekke and experience the city’s cultural texture 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 enchanting views will accompany our tour. After our tour, free time and transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay and dinner at our hotel. After dinner, you can enjoy Ohrid’s enchanting atmosphere in the quiet of the night, take a short walk along the lakeshore, or retire to your rooms to rest.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED!

Shkodra – Tirana: 100 km | Tirana – Ohrid: 135 km

Total distance to be covered: 235 km

Day 4: Ohrid – Resen – Bitola – Skopje

After breakfast, we depart for our tour of Resen and Bitola, famous for their magnificent nature and historical richness. At our first stop in Resen, we see a panoramic view of the palace of Niyazi Bey of Resen, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resen offers an enchanting atmosphere with both its natural beauty and Ottoman traces. After a short break here, we set off toward Bitola, once one of the Ottoman Empire’s most important cultural and commercial centers. Upon arriving in Bitola, we visit from the outside the Military High School where the great leader Atatürk studied and the Atatürk Museum. In this magical city, we will also discover historical Ottoman-era monuments such as the Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and New Mosque. While experiencing Bitola’s historical texture, you will have the opportunity to take a pleasant walk through the city’s nostalgic streets. After our visit, we proceed toward Skopje, accompanied by lush green mountains. Macedonia’s breathtaking views will accompany us along the way. 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 is especially notable for 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, fine examples of Ottoman-period inns, were once important centers where merchants stayed and conducted trade. We then 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. Walking across the Stone Bridge, we will continue our tour by seeing the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods along the Vardar River. During our riverside walk, 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 Ottoman Bridge dating from the 15th century from the outside and visit the Daut Pasha Hammam, once again experiencing the grandeur of the Ottoman period. We continue exploring 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 have free time in the Turkish Bazaar. You can find many products in this bazaar, from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After enjoying time in the bazaar, we transfer to Restaurant Gardenia for Balkan Night. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel and then retire to our rooms. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Dinner: An unforgettable dinner accompanied by traditional Balkan music and local dance performances awaits you. During this special Balkan night, you will have the opportunity to discover Skopje’s entertaining and cultural side while being hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the region’s finest venues. We will turn this night into an authentic experience with live performances of the best music and folklore of the Balkans by our artists, all of whom are conservatory students and teachers, performing without playback. We will be delighted to welcome you at our own establishment, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Thank you for your understanding. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED! | Balkan Night INCLUDED!

Ohrid – Resen: 34 km | Resen – Bitola: 31 km | Bitola – Skopje: 70 km

Total distance to be covered: 134 km

Day 5: Skopje – Pristina – Prizren – Skopje

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and set off toward Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Upon arriving in Pristina after our journey, we begin our panoramic city tour, where we will discover Kosovo’s modern and historical aspects. During our tour, we will also visit many valuable structures from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During this excursion 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 of Pristina, we depart for Prizren, known as Kosovo’s cultural capital. Upon arrival, we begin exploring the narrow streets of Prizren, whose architecture recalls an Anatolian Ottoman city and whose shop signs are 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 Tekke, Bayraklı Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Hammam are also among the other important Ottoman works to be seen. After free time in Prizren, we begin our return journey to Skopje in the evening. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel and retire to our rooms after dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

Pristina Tour INCLUDED! | Prizren Tour INCLUDED!

Skopje – Pristina: 90 km | Pristina – Prizren: 85 km | Prizren – Skopje: 165 km

Total distance to be covered: 340 km

Day 6: 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, continues to attract attention today with its vitality, dynamism, and historical texture. In this fascinating city, we will have the opportunity to discover the intersection of Ottoman and European cultures. After arriving in Belgrade, a panoramic city tour begins, during which we will discover all the city’s splendor. Here, you can feel the historical atmosphere and explore Belgrade’s character, which brings together the past and present. We then go to the point where the Sava River meets the Danube, one of the city’s most impressive locations. It will be a great pleasure to explore this unique landscape, an area that has been the focal point of many conquests and victories throughout history. As we continue discovering this ancient city, for whose conquest Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded but which was ultimately conquered by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter Belgrade Fortress, used as a supply center for the Ottoman navy. While tracing history in this fortress, we will see important sites such as the 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 proceed to our hotel, leaving the city’s history and vibrant atmosphere behind. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Skopje – Belgrade: 430 km

Day 7: Belgrade – Sarajevo

After breakfast, we depart for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon arrival, we discover 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 damage as a result of the devastating conflicts among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, but Sarajevo managed to preserve much of 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 rule. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Belgrade - Sarajevo: 294 km

Day 8: Sarajevo - Istanbul

After breakfast, we vacate our rooms and have free time until the transfer time. Transfer to Sarajevo Airport. After completing boarding procedures, we fly to Istanbul at 15:35 on AJet Airlines’ scheduled flight VF98. Following our arrival at Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 18:30, our tour ends. 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 non-refundable.)

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

**Limited availability is offered for each tour.**

Positive Aspects of the Tour

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

• Ottoman History: Important structures and cultural heritage from the Ottoman period are visited, offering 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 the Kotor fjords and 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: Accompanied by a guide, participants have the opportunity to obtain detailed information about the cities and historical sites.

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

• All Tours Included: All excursions and extra tours included in the program are included in the tour price, allowing participants to visit all major attractions 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 Spending: The tour is ideal for guests who do not wish to spend money. Apart from lunch, optional tips, and souvenirs for loved ones, there are no extra expenses from your pocket.

Considerations

• 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 between Skopje and Belgrade, are covered amid beautiful scenery throughout the tour, but there may be days when you spend a long time on the bus. Nevertheless, comfortable travel is ensured with breaks along the way.

• Limited Free Time: Free time may be limited because the tour program is comprehensive. However, the tour offers the opportunity to visit all major attractions with a guide.

• Seasonal Weather Conditions: Weather conditions in the Balkans may be variable during certain periods. Therefore, choosing suitable clothing can make this situation more comfortable.

• Accommodation and Service Quality: Although the hotels included in the tour have been carefully selected from options that reflect the region’s character and local culture, hotels in some smaller cities may not offer facilities as extensive as luxury hotels in Türkiye. However, comfort and cleanliness are given careful attention at these hotels.

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

City Hotel Breakfast Dinner

Skopje 4* Vlaho etc. Hotel Restaurant Gardenia

Skopje 4* Vlaho etc. Hotel Hotel

Belgrade 4* Nobel etc. Hotel Hotel

Sarajevo 4* Holiday etc. Hotel Hotel

Medugorje 4* Sole etc. Hotel Hotel

Shkodra 4* Holiday Koplik etc. Hotel Hotel

Ohrid 4* Beograd etc. Hotel Hotel

With AJet Airlines

Departure Point Arrival Point Departure Time Arrival Time

Istanbul Sarajevo 13:25 14:20

Sarajevo Istanbul 15:35 18:30