Kosovo Great Balkans Tour with AJet, Including Extra Tours and Dinner, PRN-SKP
Tour Detail
Day 1: Istanbul - Pristina – Prizren - Pristina
Meeting in front of the airline counter at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport international departure terminal. Departure to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, at 16:15 on AJet flight VF101. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival at 16:55 local time and, after entry procedures into the country, departure to Prizren with our private vehicle waiting in the area. Upon arrival in Prizren, we will see Sinan Pasha Mosque, the Halveti Tekke, Bayrakli Mosque, and Mehmet Pasha Hammam in Prizren, which gives the immediate impression of an Anatolian Ottoman city with its architectural silhouette, the call to prayer rising from its five minarets, and Turkish phrases on road and shop signs. After our Prizren tour, we then head to Pristina. Upon our arrival in Pristina, we begin our panoramic city tour where we will explore Kosovo’s modern and historical aspects. During this tour, we will also see many valuable buildings from the Ottoman period. We will see the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Mosque and the 18th-century Yashar Pasha Mosque. During this visit 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 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 - Resen – Ohrid
After breakfast, we depart for our tour of Resen and Bitola, famous for their magnificent nature and historical richness. We set off toward Bitola, once one of the most important cultural and trade 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 magical city, we will also discover Ottoman relics such as the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, Ishak Pasha Mosque, and the Yeni Mosque. As you feel the historical texture of Bitola, you will have the chance to take a pleasant walk through the city’s nostalgic streets. After a short break here, we continue to Resen, where we panoramicly see the Palace of Resneli Niyazi Bey, an important figure who left his mark on Balkan history. Resen offers a fascinating atmosphere with both its nature and Ottoman traces. After our tour, we proceed toward Ohrid. Breathtaking landscapes will accompany us along the way. Upon arrival in Ohrid, we will take a tour introducing the historic city of Ohrid, which was one of the Ottoman Empire’s important bases 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 city’s cultural texture up close. Then, by exploring 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 retreat to your rooms and rest.
Resen Tour INCLUDED! | Bitola Tour INCLUDED!
Pristina – Bitola: 270 km | Bitola – Resen: 30 km | Resen – Ohrid: 35 km
Total distance to be covered: 335 km
Day 3: Ohrid – Tirana – Shkodër
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, where we will discover 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 proudly standing 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, allowing you to create unforgettable memories. After free time, we head toward the historic city of Shkodër in northern Albania. Shkodër will enchant you with its natural beauty and rich historical texture. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.
Tirana Tour INCLUDED!
Ohrid – Tirana: 135 km | Tirana – Shkodër: 100 km
Total distance to be covered: 235 km
Day 4: Shkodër – St. Stefan – Budva – Kotor – Medugorje
After breakfast, we embark on an unforgettable journey to Montenegro’s enchanting coast. Our first stop is St. Stefan, famous for its rich history and dazzling scenery. From the hilltop, we will admire the magnificent view of this islet, each 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 city, 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 the free time we will have 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!
Shkodër - 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 head to Sarajevo. Our first stop is Blagaj, built at the source of the Buna River, Europe’s strongest water spring. After a short free time in this magnificent natural setting, we continue to Mostar. In Mostar, we will see the Mostar Bridge, built in 1557 by Architect Hayreddin. A masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, this bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war in 1992; however, with major contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was restored and reopened in 2004. After the Mostar Bridge, we will visit the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. Then we head to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we see 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 Austrian-Hungarian Crown Prince Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed by the Serbs in 1914. In the 1992 war, it suffered major destruction due to the devastating conflicts among 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 western-style buildings formed during the city’s 40 years under 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 toward Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Belgrade, one of the Balkans’ most important cultural and strategic centers throughout history, still stands out today with its vibrancy, activity, and historical texture. In this captivating city, we will have the chance to discover the point where Ottoman and European cultures intersect. After arriving in Belgrade, a panoramic city tour begins where we will explore the city’s full splendor. Here, you can feel the historical atmosphere and discover the fabric of Belgrade that brings together the past and present. Then, we head to one of the city’s most impressive spots, where the Sava River meets the Danube. In this unique setting, discovering this region, which has been the focus of conquest and victory many times throughout history, will be a great pleasure. As we continue exploring this ancient city where Fatih Sultan Mehmed was wounded for its sake, but whose conquest was achieved by Suleiman the Magnificent, you will encounter Belgrade Fortress, which was used as a supply center for the Ottoman fleet. While tracing history in this fortress, we will see important points such as Castle Square and Stone Square. During our tour, we will visit the Tomb of Şehit Ali Pasha, one of the important figures of the Ottoman period, and the Bayrakli Mosque, one of the few surviving Ottoman structures in Belgrade. 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 behind the city’s history and lively atmosphere and go to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.
Sarajevo – Belgrade : 287 km
Day 7: Belgrade - Skopje
After breakfast, we head to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Skopje is one of the Balkans’ important cultural centers with its Ottoman heritage and modern structures. We begin our tour with historical sites 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 in the heart of Skopje. These structures, fine examples of Ottoman inns, were once important centers where merchants stayed and traded. Later, 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. Walking across the Stone Bridge, we will continue our tour by seeing the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods along the Vardar River. During our walk by the river, 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 from the 15th century, and by visiting Davut Pasha Bath, 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 stand out with their architecture. Finally, we give free time in the Turkish Bazaar. In this bazaar, you can find many products ranging 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 exclusive venues in the region. With live performances of the best Balkan music and folklore, delivered without playback by our artists, all of whom are conservatory students and teachers, we will turn this night into an authentic experience. We will be pleased to host you at our own restaurant, Restaurant Gardenia Skopje. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.
Balkan Night INCLUDED!
Belgrade – Skopje : 430 km
8. Gün : Skopje - İstanbul
After breakfast, we leave our hotel and head to Skopje Airport. After arrival at the airport and check-in procedures, our flight to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport will take place at 14:20 on 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.