Kosovo Great Balkans Tour with AJet Including Extra Tours and Dinners PRN-SKP

Day 1: Istanbul - Pristina – Prizren - Pristina

Meeting in front of the airline counter at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport departure terminal. Departure to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, at 16:15 with AJet flight VF101. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival at 16:55 local time and, after border entry procedures, transfer to Prizren with our private vehicle waiting at the airport. Upon arrival in Prizren, we will visit Sinan Pasha Mosque, Halveti Tekke, Bayraklı Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Hammam in Prizren, which, with its architectural silhouette, the call to prayer rising from its minarets five times a day, and Turkish inscriptions on road and shop signs, gives the immediate impression of an Anatolian Ottoman city. After our Prizren tour, we then depart for Pristina. Upon arrival in Pristina, we begin our panoramic city tour, where we will discover Kosovo’s modern and historical aspects. During this tour, we will also see many valuable Ottoman-era structures. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yaşar Pasha Mosque. During this trip through the city’s historical heritage, we will see the Tomb of Ottoman Sultan Murad I Hüdavendigâr, who was killed in the Kosovo Plain as a result of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, and we will have the opportunity to commemorate this important historical event and its place in Ottoman history. After our tour in Pristina, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Prizren Tour INCLUDED!

Pristina – Prizren : 85 km | Prizren – Pristina : 85 km

Total distance to be covered: 170 km

Day 2 : Pristina – Bitola - Resne – Ohrid

After breakfast, we set off for our tour of Resne and Bitola, famous for their magnificent nature and historical riches. We head toward Bitola, once one of the most important cultural and commercial centers of the Ottoman Empire. Upon arrival in Bitola, we visit from the outside the Military High School where the Great Leader Atatürk studied and the Atatürk Museum. In this enchanting city, we will also discover historical monuments left from the Ottoman era such as the Turkish Bazaar, Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and Yeni Mosque. While feeling Bitola’s historical texture, you will have the chance to enjoy a pleasant walk through the city’s nostalgic streets. After a short break here, we continue toward Resne and see panoramically the Palace of Resneli Niyazi Bey, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resne offers an enchanting atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After our tour, we continue on to Ohrid. Breathtaking scenery will accompany us along the way. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we will conduct a tour introducing the historical city of Ohrid, which was one of the important bases of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Places we will see during our tour include the Monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius, 9th-century Byzantine monks believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet, and important structures such as the Church of Saint Sophia. We will also have the opportunity to stroll through Çınar Square, the heart of the city, and visit the Turkish Bazaar dating back to the old Ottoman period. Here you may visit the Halveti Tekke and feel the cultural fabric of the city up close. Then, by visiting the New Bazaar and Ohrid Market, you will witness the daily life of the local people. Finally, Ohrid’s famous lake and its mesmerizing view will accompany our tour. After our tour, free time and transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay 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.

Resne Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!

Pristina – Bitola: 270 km | Bitola – Resne: 30 km | Resne – Ohrid: 35 km

Total distance to be covered: 335 km

Day 3 : Ohrid – Tirana – Shkodra          

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and head toward Tirana, the capital of Albania. In this beautiful city rich in history and culture, an impressive tour awaits us as we explore Tirana, considered the center of Bektashism in Europe. Upon arrival in Tirana, we visit the Et'hem Bey Mosque, one of the city’s most important symbols. This structure, whose construction began in 1789 and was completed in 1923, is one of Albania’s cultural heritages. We take a short break at Skanderbeg Square and see the Skanderbeg Statue standing proudly in the middle of the square. The Clock Tower, the symbol of Tirana, built by Et'hem Bey in 1821, is also one of the highlights of our tour. During this tour, Tirana’s modern face and historical past come together to help you create unforgettable memories. After free time, we set off for the historic city of Shkodra in northern Albania. Shkodra will captivate you with its natural beauty and rich historical texture. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Tirana Tour INCLUDED!

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

Total distance to be covered: 235 km                  

Day 4 : Shkodra – St. Stefan – Budva – Kotor – Medugorje        

After breakfast, we embark on an unforgettable journey toward Montenegro’s enchanting coasts. Our first stop is St. Stefan, famous for its rich history and dazzling view. From the hilltop, we will admire the magnificent view of this islet, every corner of which looks like a postcard and is an ideal spot for photography. Afterwards, we arrive in Budva, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Balkans. After our panoramic Budva tour, our next stop is Kotor, the enchanting city famous for its fjords in the Balkans! On our walking tour in this magnificent medieval town, 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 view, this small town will take you on a journey through time. After free time in Kotor, we head to our hotel in Medugorje or the surrounding area. After dinner at our hotel, we retire to our rooms to rest. Overnight at our hotel

Budva Tour INCLUDED! | Kotor Tour INCLUDED! 

Shkodra - Budva: 85 km | Budva - Kotor: 22 km | Kotor - Medugorje: 191 km  

Total distance to be covered: 298 km                  

Day 5 : Medugorje - Blagaj - Mostar – Sarajevo        

After breakfast, we depart for Sarajevo. Our first stop is Blagaj, built at the source of the Buna River, Europe’s strongest water source. After a short period of free time in this magnificent natural setting, we head to Mostar. In Mostar, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built in 1557 by architect Hayreddin. This masterpiece of Ottoman architecture was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war in 1992; however, thanks in large part to contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened in 2004. After the Mostar Bridge, we will visit Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. Then we continue to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, this city, which for centuries was the cultural capital of the Balkans and entered history as the place where World War I broke out following the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Serbs in 1914, was heavily damaged in the 1992 war due to destructive conflicts between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, yet Sarajevo managed to preserve much of its beauty. During our panoramic city tour, we will see the famous Baščaršija, the historic Ottoman inn Morica Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the city’s religious cosmopolitanism, the Synagogue, the Gazi Husrev-beg and Ferhadija Mosques, the Latin Bridge where Franz Ferdinand’s assassination took place in 1914, the Old Library, and the Western-style buildings formed during the city’s 40-year Austro-Hungarian rule. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Blagaj Tour INCLUDED! | Mostar Tour INCLUDED! 

Medugorje - Blagaj: 28 km | Blagaj - Mostar: 12 km | Mostar - Sarajevo: 130 km

Total distance to be covered: 162 km                     

Day 6 : Sarajevo – Belgrade           

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and begin a pleasant journey to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Belgrade, one of the most important cultural and strategic centers of the Balkans throughout history, also stands out today with its vibrancy, movement, and historical texture. In this enchanting city, we will have the opportunity to explore the crossroads of Ottoman and European cultures. After 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 texture that brings Belgrade’s past and present together. Then we head to one of the city’s most impressive points, where the Sava River meets the Danube River. In this unique view, exploring this area, which has been the focus of many conquests and victories throughout history, will be a great pleasure. As we continue to discover this ancient city, where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded in pursuit of its conquest, but whose conquest was achieved by Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter Belgrade Fortress, used as a supply center for the Ottoman fleet. While tracing the marks of history in this fortress, we will see important points such as the Fortress Square and Tašmajdan. During our tour, we will visit the Tomb of Martyr Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period, and Bayraklı Mosque, one of the few surviving Ottoman structures in Belgrade. During these visits, you will deeply explore Belgrade’s rich history and learn about the cultural heritage remaining from the Ottoman period. At the end of our tour, we leave behind the city’s history and lively atmosphere and head to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Sarajevo – Belgrade : 287 km                       

Day 7 : Belgrade - Skopje           

After breakfast, we depart for Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Skopje is one of the important cultural centers of the Balkans with its Ottoman heritage and modern structures. We begin our tour with historical places in Skopje, the city where the famous Turkish poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı was born. Our first stop is Mustafa Pasha Mosque, one of the city’s largest and most magnificent mosques, built in 1492. Next, we visit Murat Pasha Mosque, built in the 15th century. This mosque stands out especially 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-era inns, were once important centers where merchants stayed and traded. Afterwards, we visit the Stone Bridge, which has become the 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 point and is surrounded by modern buildings. Here, we will encounter the statue of Alexander the Great and other monuments. Then we see the Ottoman Bridge from the outside, dating back to the 15th century, and by visiting the Davut Pasha Hammam, we will once again feel the splendor 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 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 give free time in the Turkish Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find many products from traditional handicrafts to souvenirs. After the pleasant time you spend in the bazaar, we will return to our hotel in the evening. 

Dinner: An unforgettable dinner awaits you accompanied by traditional Balkan music and local dance performances. While experiencing the entertaining and cultural side of Skopje with this special Balkan night, you will be hosted at Restaurant Gardenia, one of the most select venues in the region. With the best Balkan music and folklore presented live, performed by our artists who are all conservatory students and teachers without playback, we will turn this night into an authentic experience. We will be delighted to host you at our own Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje. 

Balkan Night INCLUDED!

Belgrade – Skopje : 430 km                          

8. Gün : Skopje - Istanbul         

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and head to Skopje Airport. After arrival at the airport and boarding procedures, we will fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 14:20 with AJet Airlines scheduled flight VF264. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival in Istanbul at 16:50 and the end of our tour. We bid you farewell, hoping to see you again on your next trip.