KURBAN BAYRAMI SPECIAL
Turkish Airlines WITH BALKAN TOUR 4 COUNTRIES VISA-FREE !!
4 NIGHTS 5 DAYS – ACCOMMODATION IN 4* HOTELS
Kosovo – Macedonia – Albania – Montenegro
Pristina - Prizren – Podgorica – Kotor – Shkodra – Tirana– Elbasan - Ohrid – Sveti Naum – Bitola (Monastery) – Skopje - Matka Canyon – Tetova (Kalkandelen)
Tour Departure Date
May 28
Day 1 Istanbul – Pristina – (Prizren) – Podgorica
Meeting point at the Turkish Airlines Check-in Counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, we depart for Pristina on Turkish Airlines flight TK1017 at 8:00 AM. Arrive in Pristina at 08:40. After passport, luggage, and customs procedures, we depart for the city tour of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, which has a large Muslim Albanian population and is one of the youngest states in the world. We will experience an emotionally charged day in these former Ottoman lands, where a humanitarian tragedy occurred quite recently. Among the places we will see are the Bazaar, the Bazaar Mosque built by Sultan Beyazid in the 15th century, and the clock tower built in the 19th century to remind the public of prayer times. Afterward, we will have free time. Guests who wish may participate in the optional tour to Prizren, one of the sweetest cities in the Balkans and Kosovo, and the Murad Hüdavendigar Tomb (45 EUR). First, we will visit the Murad Hüdavendigar Tomb and take a short bus ride to Prizren. During our panoramic tour in Prizren, we will visit the Turkish Bath from the 17th century, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, and Prizren Castle. Afterward, we will have free time to explore this charming city. Following the tour, we will transfer to our hotel in the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Dinner: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Accommodation: Oasis Hotel etc. – Podgorica
Route: Pristina – Prizren; 83 KM, Prizren – Podgorica 230 KM
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated to be around 20:30 depending on customs clearance
Day 2 Podgorica - Shkodra (Kotor-Tivat-Perast-Budva)
After breakfast we leave the hotel for a tour of Podgorica. Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro and the largest city in the country, develops its architectural planning under European influence. After completing our panoramic city tour, we have free time. Guests may join the optional tour to Kotor-Tivat-Perast-Budva (70 EUR). Our first stop is Kotor, a small city that is quite important in terms of historical and architectural artifacts, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. We will walk through Kotor, seeing its most important structures, and continue to capture views of the Bay of Kotor. We will visit the beautiful town of Perast with its stunning landscapes, and finally reach Tivat, known as Montenegro's Monaco. You can relax in Tivat's luxurious cafes or unwind by swimming or walking along the beach. After our tour, we will proceed to Budva. After a panoramic tour in Budva, we will make a short stop to see St. Stephen from above, a former fishing settlement that has become a holiday destination for the jet-set due to its purchase by a Singaporean multimillionaire. We will then transfer to our hotel in Shkodra. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Included in the tour price and will be taken at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Dinner: To be taken at a restaurant determined by the guide at an additional cost.
Accommodation: Alis Hotel etc. – Shkodra
Hotel Check-in Time; Estimated around 19:30 depending on road conditions
Day 3 Shkodra – Tirana – Elbasan - Ohrid
After breakfast we head to Tirana. After our arrival, we begin to explore the capital of Tirana. The beautiful city that has served as the capital of Albania since 1920, established by Suleyman Pasha in 1614, has endured wars and 40 years of Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship. During our panoramic tour, we will see Iskander Bey Square, Ethem Bey Mosque, the Historical Clock Tower, National History Museum, and Opera House. Among the sights from our vehicle will be the Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings, Presidential Palace, Mother Teresa Square, and the Tirana Pyramid. After our tour, we will proceed to Ohrid, known as the pearl of the Balkans, passing through Elbasan. We will start our tour in Ohrid at the Harbor Square, talking about the statues we will see, and during our walk in the neighborhood where the historical Ohrid houses are located, we’ll visit the historical Ottoman houses, the Church of St. Sophia, and conclude with the presentation of the famous Ohrid Pearl, which is the largest symbol of Ohrid city. Afterward, we will have free time for shopping in the Ohrid market. In this free time, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about the important traditions of pearl production history in Ohrid and make purchases. Following our free time, we will arrive at our hotel. In Ohrid, during the free time, guests may participate in the optional Ohrid Lake Boat Tour (15 EUR). Guests may also participate in the optional Macedonian Night Dinner Tour (45 EUR). Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Dinner: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Accommodation: Aqualina Hotel etc. – OHRID
Route: Shkodra – Tirana 100 KM, Tirana – Ohrid 130 KM
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated around: 20:30 depending on customs
Day 4 Ohrid (St. Naum – Resne – Bitola – Skopje
After breakfast at our hotel, we will have free time. Guests who wish may join the St. Naum – Resne – Bitola tour (65 EUR). We will depart from the hotel and head to St. Naum – Resne – Bitola. Our first stop will be St. Naum, where we will find ourselves amidst breathtaking views while taking about a one-hour journey. We will visit the source of Lake Ohrid. The magnificent view here will take your breath away. We will then head to Resne. We will see the palace of Niyazi, one of the three most famous figures in the Union and Progress Committee, who gained fame due to his contributions during the Turkish-Greek War as we arrive in Bitola. While in Bitola, we will explore the Turkish Bazaar, the Bezistan, Ishak Mosque, New Mosque, Haydar Pasha Mosque, and you will have deeply emotional moments as we visit Atatürk’s Military Academy from which he graduated, along with the Atatürk Museum. After our tour, we will transfer to our hotel in Skopje. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Included in the tour price and will be taken at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.
Dinner: To be taken at a restaurant determined by the guide at an additional cost.
Accommodation: Gold Hotel etc. – Skopje
Route: Ohrid – St. Naum; 30 KM, St. Naum – Manastir; 105 KM, Manastir – Ohrid; 70 KM, Ohrid- Skopje 165 KM
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated around 19:00 depending on road conditions
Day 5 Skopje – Istanbul (Tetova(Kalkandelen)
After breakfast at the hotel, we start our tour introducing this city, where two different cultures are separated by the famous Vardar River. We first focus on the Macedonian side, known as the land of statues, with the massive Statue of Alexander the Great being among the first notable sights we see. We then cross the Historic Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, witnessing instantly how the cultures change before arriving at the Skopje Turkish Bazaar, one of the finest Ottoman bazaars in the Balkans. We begin our bazaar tour by discussing the statues at the entrance and visiting the historical Davut Pasha Bathhouse, then we will see the Kapan Han, one of the most important structures of Ottoman bazaar organization, and the Murat Pasha Mosque, which has survived despite the earthquakes. Following those visits, we will have an hour of free time for shopping in the Turkish Bazaar. Among items you can purchase are Şuşka pepper, Ustrumca peanut, and traditional shoes. After our sightseeing, we will have free time. Later, guests may join the optional tour to Tetova (Kalkandelen) and Matka Canyon (45 EUR). Initially, we will head to Tetova, known as the second largest city in Macedonia, and formerly referred to as Kalkandelen in our history. There, we will see the famous Alaca Mosque and the complex with its madrasah and city center. After that, we will visit the Matka Canyon, known for its breathtaking beauty. During our pleasant walk, we’ll capture stunning photos, followed by our transfer to Skopje Airport. After completing ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, we will leave for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK1006 at 20:15, arriving in Istanbul at 22:45. We hope to see you on your next trip...
Breakfast: Included in the tour price and will be taken at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken at a location determined by the guide during free time at an additional cost.