The Most Enjoyable Way to Discover the World Starts with Uçur Tur...
Great Balkan Tour with Turkish Airlines (TIA-SJJ)
Tour Program
1. Day Istanbul – Tirana - Ohrid
Meeting at Istanbul airport and flight to Tirana with THY flight TK1073 at 08:10. Arrival at 08:00 local time. Welcomed by our guide at the airport, then we depart by our bus for our city tour. The places we will see on our panoramic tour by bus are; Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, U.S. Embassy, construction of the 4-minaret Namazgah Mosque financed by the Diyanet Foundation, the statue of Süleyman Pasha, founder of Tirana, Tirana city square, Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National Museum, University Building, Opera and Ballet Building, the statue of Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero, located in the square, Parliament and Ministry buildings, Presidential Palace. After our Tirana tour, our next stop is Ohrid. We will take a tour introducing the historic city of Ohrid, which was one of the important bases of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. The places we will see during our tour are; the 11-century-old plane tree Zeynel Abidin Pasha Lodge (Halveti Lodge), Ali Pasha Mosque, City Square and Ohrid Bazaar, famous for its pearl shops, Ohrid Market, St. Clement Statue, the shop where we can see paper making in the technique applied in China in the 2nd century BC on streets reminiscent of Safranbolu, Hagia Sophia Church, Ancient Theater. After our walking tour, we head to our local restaurant for dinner, and after dinner, accommodation at our Ohrid hotel.
2. Day Ohrid – Kavadarci – Skopje
07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we leave our hotel and travel by bus to Tetovo, a charming small town city built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. ( Ohrid - Tetovo 130 KM ) The first of our two important stops in Tetovo is the colorful mosque built by Abdurrahman Pasha in 1833, which we visit. The mosque’s interior and exterior decorations, made with paint created by mixing animal blood, plant roots, and egg white, will fascinate you. The decorations are in the Baroque style, rarely seen in Ottoman works. Then, with our vehicle, we go to the Harabati Baba Tekke, the Bektashi center here in that period. After receiving information about the tekke from Tetovo’s Cemali, the 20-year caretaker and attendant of the tekke, we go to Abdulmuttalip, a Bektashi dervish residing in another corner of the tekke, and listen to the history of the tekke and the works carried out there from him as well. At the time determined by our guide, we depart for Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. (Tetovo– Skopje 40 KM) We get off our bus near Skopje Castle and begin our city tour. We start our tour on foot in Skopje’s Turkish Bazaar, with its original name, where the Ottoman Empire ruled for more than 500 years and which has still managed to preserve its old character. The places we will see during our tour are; Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Goldsmiths Street, Arasta Mosque, the Stone Bridge built over the Vardar River and symbol of Skopje, the Turkish and Jewish Quarter, Davut Pasha Bath, Cifte Bath, Murat Pasha Mosque, Sulu Han, Kapan Han, Kurshunli Han, the gigantic Alexander the Great Statue that caused a name crisis with Greece in 2011, the Statue of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, the Vardar River, the Macedonia Archaeological Museum and Archive building, the National Theater Building, the Museum of Resistance, the statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who invented the Cyrillic alphabet, the Church of Saint Spas dating back to the 17th century, the Mother Teresa monument and Teresa Museum, the Old Railway Station building, which remains as it was destroyed in the 1963 earthquake, and free time after our walking tour. At the time determined by our guide, we meet again and have our dinner together at our local restaurant. Afterwards, accommodation at our hotel in Skopje. Guests who wish may spend time in the center after dinner to enjoy this city, which is beautifully illuminated at night.
3. Day Skopje – Sultan Murat Tomb – Prizren – Skopje
07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After breakfast, we head to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. In Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, which has played key roles at many points in Ottoman history, we visit the tomb where the internal organs of Ottoman Sultan Murad I Hüdavendigar, who was martyred in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, are buried. We also visit the Selamlık building, located right next to the tomb and used as a museum. Inside the building, we have the opportunity to see the photos from Sultan Reşad’s visit, the Ottoman Sultan who last visited the Balkans in 1911. As we travel from the tomb toward Prizren, we see the square on our route where, in 1989, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević launched his election campaign for the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo and where the rally was held at which the phrase “Greater Serbia,” which would later bring about the end of Yugoslavia, was used for the first time, as well as the monument in the square. Then, after a one-and-a-half-hour journey, we arrive in Prizren, Kosovo’s second-largest city, which contains many Ottoman works. We begin our Prizren city tour. On this walking tour, conducted with our guide, we will see: the Halveti lodge, Gazi Mehmet Pasha bathhouse, Namazgah where Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s army prayed, Bayraklı Mosque, Maraş neighborhood and Maraş bridge, the 400-year-old great plane tree, Emin Pasha Mosque, the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Prizren, the Stone Bridge over the Bistrica (Akdere), Shadervan Square, Sinan Pasha Mosque, the Churches of St. George and Catholic, the minaret of Arasta Mosque whose mosque was demolished during Yugoslav times but whose minaret managed to remain standing, and the Serbian neighborhood where we can still see the devastating effects of the war. After our tour, free time to enjoy this beautiful city. Later, at the time determined by our guide, we set off to have dinner, and then depart for our hotel in Skopje for accommodation.
4. Day Skopje – Belgrade
07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we are heading towards Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and one of the oldest cities in the Balkans. After the necessary breaks en route, arrival in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The places we can see with our vehicle, accompanied by our guide or during free time: New Belgrade, the Mausoleum of Josip Broz Tito in Dedinje
New Palace of Justice, Federal Parliament, Terazije Street, National Theatre, Square of the Republic, Stone Square, Ali Pasha's Tomb, Bayrakli Mosque, after visiting the Church of St. Mary of the Rose, St. Sava Cathedral, the General Staff building, police headquarters building, and the Chinese Embassy, which were bombed in Belgrade by NATO in 1999 due to the Kosovo events. After free time in the center, we meet again at the time determined by our guide and have dinner together. Then, we stay overnight at our hotel.
5. Day Belgrade – Sarajevo
07:00 Breakfast. 08:00 Departure from the hotel. After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we set off for Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon our arrival in Sarajevo, we head to Baščaršija. Along our route, we see the buildings that still bear the traces of wartime bombardment, the tram line that was Europe’s first electric motor tram line and still actively runs across Sarajevo, the buildings belonging to the Yugoslav People’s Army from the Tito era but now used as the Sarajevo university campus, the U.S.’s second-largest embassy building in the world, the Sarajevo city museum, the Parliament building, and the largest shopping mall in the region built by Arab investors, arriving in Baščaršija. Our first stop is the memorial cemetery, where the martyrs of the tragic war of 1992-1995 and the mausoleum of Alija Izetbegović are located. We recite Fatiha for the martyrs of the war and receive information from our guide about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first President, Alija Izetbegović, and his life. Then, passing through the cobblestone Bosniak-Turkish neighborhood that has survived from the Ottoman period, we begin our walking tour of Baščaršija. Places we will see during our tour; Sebilj, built in 18th-century Bosnian architecture; the only active art street that has survived from the Ottoman period, “Copper Street”; the Bazaar Mosque; Morića Han and the “Mladi Muslimani” office of the Young Muslims organization inside it; Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque and tomb, built by Gazi Husrev Bey, the son of Sultan Selim’s uncle, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman; the Clock Tower; the Kuršumli Medresa; Gazi Husrev Bey Museum and Library; Europe’s first public toilet; the Latin Bridge, known as the place where World War I began; the Hünkar Mosque built in the name of Fatih Sultan Mehmet; Horse Square – Archery Field; Bakır Baba Mosque built by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality; the Orthodox Church; Alija Izetbegović Park and Sarajevo retirees who always play chess in the park; Ferhadija Mosque; Ferhadija Street (Sarajevo’s Istiklal Avenue); the Jewish Synagogue; the Catholic Church – Cathedral – Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Sarajevo Roses (points where multiple people lost their lives in a single bombing during the war); the site of the Bread Market massacre; the eternal flame lit in memory of the liberation of Sarajevo, occupied by the Germans, by the Yugoslav army on 6 April 1945; Markale Neighborhood Market, known as the site of the Market massacre on 5 February 1994 in which 68 people lost their lives; and Vjećnica (Vijećnica) Library, built during the Austro-Hungarian period as the Government House (Municipal building) and burned during the war, causing many manuscripts to turn to ash. After our walking tour in Baščaršija, we have dinner and then proceed to our hotel for accommodation.
6. Day Sarajevo – Konjic – Jablanica – Blagaj – Mostar – Sarajevo
07.00 Breakfast – 08.00 Depart from the hotel. Leaving our hotel, we depart to take a tour of Mostar, the largest and most beautiful city in the Herzegovina region. Passing through the small towns along the way, we arrive at our first stop, the city of Konjic (Konyits, Sarajevo – Konyits 50 km). In this small city of 50,000 people, established along the Neretva River, the places we will see include the Ottoman bridge, damaged during World War II and the 92–95 war and restored by the Turkish General Directorate of Highways and TIKA, the mosque with the broken minaret, and the mini bazaar restored in accordance with the original. After our photo break, we continue our journey. Our second stop is Jablanica, the city where the war took place in which Josip Broz Tito, the founder of Yugoslavia, received the title of marshal. (Yablanitsa, Konyits – Yablanitsa 23 km) Also famous for its spit-roasted lamb, in this city we see the bridge destroyed by Tito’s struggle against the German Nazis in 1943 and the area where the event took place. Then we head to the source of the Buna River, whose source has not yet been reached and from which up to 43,000 liters of water per second flows, to the Alperenler Lodge established 5 centuries ago. We visit the lodge, also known as the Sarı Saltuk lodge. We visit Ali Pasha’s tomb and Sarı Saltuk’s tomb located inside the lodge, and in this two-story house built in the style of a typical Anatolian house, we see the women’s prayer room, the main room, the men’s prayer room and dhikr room, the small bathhouse, the retreat room, and the room used as a kitchen. Guests who wish can drink Turkish tea in the courtyard overlooking the river. Then we head to our final stop, the city of Mostar. (Blagay – Mostar 12 km) Along the way, we see Mostar Airport and the military area built opposite the airport during Yugoslavia’s time and used as a shelter for planes. This area was prepared for hiding aircraft by hollowing out the hillside directly opposite the airport. Upon our arrival in Mostar, we begin our walking tour. Places to be seen during our tour: the Martyrs’ Mosque and the cemetery in its courtyard. One special feature of this cemetery is that Croat and Serb residents of Mostar, who fought shoulder to shoulder with Muslim Bosniaks during the war, are also buried here; the paved Mostar bazaar decorated with stones collected from the river specific to the region; Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. This mosque is the one from which the most beautiful photo of the bridge is taken; Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Mostar; Mostar Bridge – a single-arch bridge built in 1566 by Mimar Hayrettin, a student of Mimar Sinan, destroyed in 1993 but restored again in 2004; Tara Tower – while these towers once belonged to teams ensuring bridge security, today they serve as a museum; Kriva Cuprija – the Crooked Bridge; Tabakhane Mosque and bathhouse – a mosque built for the leather-working notables so as not to disturb the congregations of other mosques with their smell, and where water flows underneath.
Free time to shop and enjoy the city in Mostar. Then we meet at the time determined by our guide and set off toward Sarajevo. On the way, in the town of Jablanica, we have our dinner at the famous lamb roast restaurants as a lamb roast menu. Then departure for Sarajevo. Upon arrival, accommodation at our hotel.
7. Day Sarajevo – War Tunnel – Istanbul
After having breakfast at our hotel, we check out and leave the hotel at 08:00. First, we visit the Tunnel of Life, one of the most critical moves by the Bosniaks in the war fought between 92 and 95, dug under the airport. In this tunnel and museum, which broke the Siege of Sarajevo that changed the course of the war and is considered the longest siege in history (4 years and 4 months), we feel the war through a 15-minute video prepared from original footage. (Depending on the guide’s discretion, the Tunnel of War tour will be conducted or may not be conducted so that the tour does not fall behind schedule). Then we continue toward Baščaršija. On our way, we see the buildings that still bear the traces of wartime bombardment, the tram line that was Europe’s first electric tram line and still runs actively across Sarajevo, the buildings belonging to the Yugoslav People’s Army from the Tito era but now used as the Sarajevo university campus, the building of the USA’s second-largest embassy in the world, the Sarajevo City Museum, the Parliament building, and the largest shopping mall in the region built by Arab investors, and arrive at Baščaršija. Our first stop is the martyr cemetery, where the martyrs of the tragic war of 1992-1995 and Aliya Izetbegović’s memorial grave are located. We recite Fatiha for the war martyrs and receive information from our guide about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first President, Alija Izetbegović, and his life. Then, passing through the cobblestone Bosniak-Turkish neighborhood that has managed to survive from the Ottoman period, we begin our walking tour of Baščaršija. The places we will see during our tour are; the Sebilj built with 18th-century Bosnian architecture, Bakırcılar Street, the only active artisan street that has survived from the Ottoman period, the Çarşı mosque, Moriça Han and the Mladi Muslimani organization headquarters inside it, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque and tomb of Gazi Hüsrev Bey, the cousin of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the Clock Tower, the Kurşunlu Madrasa, the Gazi Husrev Bey museum and library, Europe’s first public toilet, the Latin Bridge known as the place where World War I began, the Hünkar Mosque built in the name of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the Horse Square - Archery Square, the Bakır Baba Mosque built by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, the Orthodox Church, Alija Izetbegović Park and the Sarajevo retirees who constantly play chess in the park, the Ferhadija Mosque, Ferhadija Street (Sarajevo’s Istiklal Street), the Jewish Synagogue, the Catholic Church - Cathedral - Church of the Sacred Heart, the Sarajevo Roses (points where more than one person lost their life due to a bomb during the war), the site of the Breadline Massacre, the eternal flame lit in memory of the liberation of Sarajevo occupied by the Germans by the Yugoslav army on April 6, 1945, the Markale Market, known as the Market Massacre on February 5, 1994, where 68 people lost their lives, and the Vijećnica library, built during the Austro-Hungarian period as the Government House (Municipal building) and during the war set on fire, causing many manuscripts to be reduced to ashes. After our walking tour in Baščaršija, we depart for Sarajevo Airport. After passport and customs procedures, we head to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and arrive. Thus, we come to the end of our Balkan tour. We hope to see you again on another organization…
Services
What's Included
‣ THY flight ticket between Istanbul – Tirana / Sarajevo – Istanbul
‣ Tours and visits specified in the program
‣ Airport استقبال and round-trip transfers
‣ Accommodation in 4* and/or 5* hotels in double and triple rooms
‣ Open buffet breakfasts
‣ 6 dinners included (drinks taken at meals are not included in the price).
‣ Luxury bus and professional driving service to be used throughout the tour
‣ Professional guiding service
‣ City taxes
‣ Inter-country crossing taxes
‣ Blagaj Dervish Lodge
‣ Sarajevo War Tunnel
Not Included
‣ Personal expenses
‣ Hotel extras
‣ Drinks taken during dinners and breaks.
‣ Museums and historical sites not specified in the program
‣ Lunches
‣ International departure fee
‣ All expenses not specified as included in the price
‣ Travel health insurance
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