BALKANS TOUR FROM THE BEGINNING

 

INCLUDING EXTRA TOURS

 

WITH AJET AIRLINES

 

VISA-FREE

 

7 NIGHTS OF HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

 

DEPARTING FROM ISTANBUL

 

DEPARTING TO TUZLA

 

NORTH MACEDONIA – SERBIA – BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA – MONTENEGRO - ALBANIA

• Day 1



• İstanbul – Tuzla (Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Sarajevo
• FLIGHT DETAILS
• DEPARTURE - AJET Airlines - SAW- TZL - VF271 - 12:35 - 13:35
• RETURN - AJET Airlines - TZL - SAW - VF272 - 14:35 - 17:20
• After our ticket, baggage and boarding process at Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s International Departures Terminal, we take the AJET Airlines flight VF271 at 12:35 and head to Tuzla Airport in Bosnia Herzegovina, which is approximately 2 hours away. After about a one and a half hour flight, we arrive at Tuzla Airport at 13:35 local time. After our country entry formalities, we move to Sarajevo with our private vehicle waiting at the airport. After arriving in Sarajevo, we conduct a panoramic city tour in this city that has been the cultural capital of the Balkans for centuries and was the place where World War I erupted after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Serbs in 1914. Sarajevo has suffered extensive damage due to the destructive war among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks in the 1992 war, but still retains much of its beauty. During our tour, we will see the famous Baščaršija, the historical Ottoman inn Morica Han, the Catholic Cathedral reflecting the city's religious cosmopolitanism, the Synagogue, the Husevo Bey and Ferhadija Mosques, the Latin Bridge where the assassination of Franz Ferdinand took place in 1914, the Old Library, and the western-style buildings formed during the 40-year Austro-Hungarian rule. After completing our tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

• Day 2
• Sarajevo – Mostar – Blagaj – Počitelj - Trebinje
• After breakfast in the morning, we depart the hotel and head towards Mostar. The Mostar Bridge, constructed in 1557 by Architect Hayreddin, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery fire during the war in 1992 but was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. After visiting the Mostar Bridge, we will see the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. Next, our tour of Blagaj begins. During this tour, we will visit Blagaj, where Europe’s strongest water source, the Buna River, originates. After a short free time, we will proceed to Počitelj. We will visit Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village, which is preserved with its historical texture and see the works constructed by the Ottomans in the 16th century. After the excursion, we head to our hotel in Trebinje or its surroundings, check-in, settle in, and overnight and dinner at our hotel.

• Blagaj Tour Included! Počitelj Tour Included! Mostar Tour Included!

• Day 3
• Trebinje - Kotor - Budva – Shkodra
• After breakfast in the morning, we depart from the hotel and enter Montenegro, one of the youngest countries in the world, famous for the Adriatic Sea. Our first stop in Montenegro is Kotor, a breathtaking medieval town famous for its fjords in the Balkans. We will walk through the Old Town-Castle on our tour to get to know this charming town. Next, we will take a panoramic view of Budva, one of the most famous holiday resorts in the Balkans with its magnificent beaches and vibrant nightlife. After taking a panoramic view of the remarkable Sveti Stefan, a former fishermen's settlement that has been repurposed for tourism, we continue our journey to Shkodra. After arriving in Shkodra, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight and dinner at our hotel in Shkodra.

• Kotor - Budva Tour Included!

• Day 4
• Shkodra – Tirana - Ohrid
• After breakfast in the morning, we depart from the hotel and arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Following this, our city tour starts. Notable places we will see in Tirana, considered the center of Bektashism in Europe, include the Ethem Bey Mosque, which began construction in 1789 and was completed in 1923, Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower built by Ethem Bey in 1821, the statue of Skanderbeg, and the Peace Bell made from bullets melted down during the rebellion by children from Shkodra in 1999. After the tour, we proceed to Ohrid. After arriving in Ohrid, we will conduct a tour of the historic city, which was one of the important bases of the Ottomans in the Balkans. During our tour, we will see the Monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who are believed to have developed the Cyrillic Alphabet, the Church of St. Sophia, the Ancient Theatre from the Roman period, Chinar Square, the Turkish Bazaar, the Halveti Tekke, the New Bazaar, Ohrid Market, and Lake Ohrid, which are some of the places to see. After the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight and dinner at our hotel in Ohrid.

• Day 5
• Ohrid - Resne - Bitola – Ohrid
• After breakfast in the morning, we set off for the Resne-Bitola tour. In this tour, we first head to Resne with our special buses. Along the way, we visit the palace of Resne’s Niyazi, one of the most famous figures of the Young Turks. Then we proceed to Bitola and during our visit in Bitola, we will see the Turkish Bazaar, the Bezistan, the Ishak Mosque, the New Mosque, and visit Atatürk's Military Academy, where he graduated, and the Atatürk Museum (from outside). After the tour, we return to Ohrid. Overnight and dinner at our hotel.

• Resne – Bitola Tour Included!

• Day 6
• Ohrid – Tetova (Kalkandelen) – Skopje
• After breakfast in the morning, we check out of the rooms and proceed to Skopje. On the way, we stop in Tetova (Kalkandelen) to visit the Alaca Mosque. Then we continue our journey to Skopje. Upon arrival in Skopje, our city tour begins. Among the places we will see in Skopje, the birthplace of our famous poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, are Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Murat Pasha Mosque, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, and the Stone Bridge, as we continue walking along the Vardar River and viewing the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods across the river. During this walk, we will see Macedonia Square, the Ottoman Bridge, and the Davut Pasha Bath from outside, the Clock Tower built in the 16th century, the Sultan Murad Mosque built in the 14th century, and the Isa Bey Mosque built in the same century. Then we will have free time in the Turkish bazaar. After the free time, we will transfer to our hotel. In the evening, we will have an unforgettable Balkan night with folk team performances of regional dances along with exquisite Balkan music and dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Skopje.

• Tetova (Kalkandelen) Tour Included! Dinner Show Balkan Night Included!

• Day 7
• Skopje - Belgrade
• After breakfast in the morning, we check out of the rooms and head towards Belgrade. After arriving in Belgrade, our city tour begins in Serbia's capital, a symbol of vitality and movement, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Among the places we will visit are the Old Palace, beautifully decorated with magnificent wooden ceilings from the Turkish period, Belgrade Fortress at the junction of the Sava and Danube Rivers, Kalemegdan Park, the Military Museum, the tomb of Şehit Ali Pasha, and the Bayraklı Mosque. After the tour, we will have overnight and dinner at our hotel in Belgrade.

• Day 8
• Belgrade - Tuzla (Bosnia-Herzegovina) - Istanbul
• After breakfast in the morning, we check out of the rooms, and after breakfast, we transfer to Tuzla Airport. After our boarding process, we take AJET Airlines scheduled flight VF272 at 14:35 to Istanbul. Arrival at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul at 17:20 marks the end of our tour. We bid you farewell until we see you on your next trip.

- Round-trip flight tickets with Ajet Airlines from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen HL / Tuzla (Bosnia-Herzegovina) / Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen HL - Total of 7 nights accommodation in 4* hotel category: 2 nights in Ohrid, 1 night in Podgorica or Shkodra, 1 night in Trebinje or Medjugorje, 1 night in Sarajevo, 1 night in Belgrade, and 1 night in Skopje - Breakfasts - Dinners - All transfers mentioned in the program - City tours specified in the program - A Balkan Night adorned with meals, entertainment, and folklore performances - Blagaj Tour - Počitelj Tour - Mostar Tour - Kotor and Budva Tour - Resne – Monastery Tour - Tetova (Kalkandelen) Tour - All highway, parking, and check-point expenses - Professional Turkish guiding services - Mandatory Insurance (Professional Liability)

- Foreign Departure Tax Stamp - Travel Insurance (20 Euro) - All hotel extras and personal expenses - Extra tours organized that are not included in the program - Lunches - City Taxes and Kotor Entrance Fee: 20 Euro (**Must be paid to the guide during the tour.**)

- General Terms are an integral part of the tour program and cannot be considered independently from the tour program.

- In the event that sufficient participation for the trip is not achieved, Turdan Tura may cancel the tour up to 21 days prior to the tour movement date. In such a case, the cancellation information will be communicated to the guest. The full amount of the tour fee will be refunded to the guest. In the refund of additional services purchased outside of the tour, domestic connecting flights purchased from Turdan Tura will also be refunded to the guest. However, if a visa service is requested using a travel health insurance for visa application made on behalf of the guest, these services cannot be refunded as they are deemed used. If a visa application has not been made, the visa and travel health insurance can be canceled, and the fee will be refunded. If the guest purchased the domestic connecting flight from a different service provider independently of Turdan Tura, in the event of the tour being canceled by Turdan Tura, the guest cannot request any refund from Turdan Tura. The guest accepts in advance all financial and moral losses that may arise due to the cancellation of the tour; Turdan Tura cannot be held responsible.

- Turdan Tura has the right to show goodwill and not cancel the tour if sufficient participation for the trip is not achieved. In this case, as it would be considered a private arrangement for the guest, the included guiding service in the package will only cover the airport transfers for the international round trip.

 

Cancellation and Changes

- In our tours, tickets for transportation are arranged at the time of reservation. In cancellations made more than 30 days before the tour departure date, the ticket costs will be reflected as a penal amount, and there is no right to cancellation & modification and refund for these tickets.

- Guests have the right to cancel without penalty up to 30 days prior to the tour departure date, provided they inform Turdan Tura in writing, except for flight tickets for which payment has been made and/or commitment has been undertaken by Turdan Tura to the airline company. If there are less than 31 days until the start of the trip, the guest can cancel by paying a penalty equivalent to a percentage of the remaining tour fee from the flight ticket price; in case of cancellation with 15 days or less remaining until the start of the trip, the guest must pay the full penalty amount of the tour fee. In case of cancellation requests, since the cancellation and refund conditions of additional services like domestic connecting flights, visa service, and travel health insurance may vary depending on the time of cancellation request, it is necessary to request information in advance regarding refunds. Turdan Tura cannot make any commitment regarding the refund of additional services.

 

Guiding Services and Extra Tours

- The days and times of the tours indicated in the program may change at the discretion of the guide, depending on the open/closed status of museums and archaeological sites, as well as weather conditions. Different guides may accompany our guests during the tours.

- Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are organized for the general introduction of the cities and consist of a maximum of 2-3 hours of panoramic tours conducted from within the vehicle without including museum or archaeological site entries. Panoramic tours, including other tours indicated in the program, will not be held if not allowed by local authorities or if closed roads prevent access, or if weather conditions make the tours impossible. Turdan Tura is not responsible for the inability to conduct these tours. Some tours may have to be conducted using public transport or on foot in areas with closed roads or where vehicle entry is not permitted.

- Our guide, while adhering to the content of our tours, may make changes to the days of the city tour and/or additional tours based on the number of participants, the opening status of museums and archaeological sites. This applies as well to changes that may occur regarding flight times.

- For tours conducted by Speed Boats, guests should avoid heavy meals and excessive water consumption just before boarding the boat. Guests with stomach, back, or neck issues, as well as pregnant guests, are required to inform their guides.

- There is no refund if the services included in the prices, like tours or meal services, are not participated in.

 

About Flights

- Turdan Tura acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger, and in case of disputes, the relevant provisions of Turkish legislation, as well as the Hague Protocol and the Warsaw Convention, will be applied.

- Scheduled and charter flights may experience delays or changes in flight times. Turdan Tura is obligated to inform about these changes as soon as possible. The passenger accepts the risk of changes/cancellation of the flight time when purchasing the trip.

- Children aged 0-2 only pay the airport tax.

- According to airline rules, if the outbound flight of round-trip tickets purchased is not used, the return flight is canceled by the airline.

- Check-in and boarding procedures that must be completed for those participating in airplane tours are personal responsibilities and must be carried out by the guests at the airports or via the airline's online systems before the flight.

- Last-minute delays and gate changes during flights are announced audibly at the airports and shown on the information boards. This information must be monitored by the guests themselves.

- Turdan Tura is not responsible for the guests who are not present at the specified airport at the specified times in accordance with airline rules, do not complete their check-in and boarding procedures on time, or complete their procedures on time but do not board the plane. All expenses related to obtaining new round-trip tickets and transfers in the destination area for guests who miss their flight are their responsibility.

- Generally, the baggage weight limit for flights departing from Turkey is 20 kg. This weight may vary according to the airline and the country to which you are traveling. If there are domestic flights in the country to which you are traveling, the baggage weight for these domestic flights may be reduced to 15 kg. Excess baggage weight/price rules are determined by airlines, and Turdan Tura is not responsible for it.

- Guests who wish to upgrade their tickets with miles (to business or first class) can have this done, depending on the availability of the airline after the tickets have been issued. No mil guarantees are provided for each flight. Please check if the program's tickets are eligible for upgrade.

- Some airlines may charge extra fees for food, beverages, and online check-in services.

 

Other Matters

- Turdan Tura will not accept responsibility for any changes or cancellations made by guests directly contacting the hotel. In this case, the cancellation conditions of Turdan Tura will apply.

- In situations where hotel(s) are provided only by category information without name specifications in the tour program, the hotel(s) will be communicated to the guest by Turdan Tura 48 hours before the departure of the trip.

- During special periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, and sports tournaments, hotels may be located farther than the specified locations or kilometers. In such cases, information will be provided by Aente 15 days before the tour departure date.

- At the time of registering for the purchased tour, the guest must enter/declare the name as it appears on the passport, date of birth, and passport number correctly in the system. Flight tickets are issued based on this information. Penalties for flight ticket cancellations or changes resulting from incorrect information will be charged to the guests.

- To use your mobile phone abroad, check with the company your line belongs to, before leaving Turkey, to ensure your phone is open for international use.

- The check-in time for accommodation at hotels is 3:00 PM, and the check-out time is noon.

- Requests related to the room (high floor, close to general areas, smoking/non-smoking, bed type) are communicated to the hotel by Turdan Tura. Efforts will be made to ensure that the reserved rooms correspond to the preferences of the guests according to the hotel's availability. The fulfillment of these requests is subject to the availability at the time of hotel check-in and cannot be guaranteed by Turdan Tura.

- The breakfast offered in hotels may differ from the rich traditional Turkish breakfast. It is generally served as a continental breakfast consisting of limited options like butter, jam, bread, and tea or coffee, and may be served in a separate room allocated for groups.

- In some cases, a double room may have a double bed instead of twin beds. Most European hotels offer twin rooms that can be combined if necessary.

- The child and extra bed policies vary for each hotel and room type.

- All extra beds and baby cots are provided upon request and based on the hotel's availability and must be approved by the hotel.

- The capacity for extra beds or baby cots in the room is 1 (maximum).

- In triple rooms, there is an application for extra beds, which are smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. The extra beds consist of foldable beds and coach beds. Our guests accept that they have acknowledged the potential crampedness and bed types caused by extra beds added to standard rooms during their reservations for triple rooms and/or reservations with children.

- If the number of children and their ages, who will stay together with adults in hotel reservations, are misstated by our guests, relevant hotels may charge additional fees. In such cases, the responsibility lies with the guest who made the erroneous declaration. Hotels may request identity verification for age determination of children.

- In reservations for 2 adults + 1 child, there may not be a separate bed for the child. Child prices are only applicable when the child stays alongside two adults. Child discounts are valid for one "single child" that fits the age group staying next to two adults.

- Daily exchange rates are reflected in TL prices. The rates applicable at the time of payment are valid. Any additional requests, and some extra services taken at the hotel (mini-bar, ironing, etc.) will be subject to extra charges by the hotel. These expenses will not be included in the purchase and will be paid directly to the hotel during your stay.

- Some countries have different applications regarding city, tourism, or local taxes. Any such city, tourism, or other taxes applied will be collected from the guest either on entry or exit from the hotel.

- Distances indicated in the programs are based on map data. Travel times may increase due to traffic, weather conditions, geographic location of the country visited, roadworks, and road conditions.

- Turdan Tura can change the order of cities in the program or the main airline to be flown if deemed necessary or in compulsory situations without altering the content of the program.

- The personal belongings, bags, luggage, passports/identities of participants in the tour are under their own responsibility, and Turdan Tura is not responsible for lost, forgotten, or stolen items. If forgotten items are found, the expenses incurred during the transportation of these items to the country and/or individual will be the responsibility of the item owner.

- Participants in the tour are required to carry their travel health insurance policies and any medications/medical reports for any health issues with them.

- For potential extra expenses, a government-issued photo identification/passport and a credit card or cash deposit may be requested at check-in by the hotel. The deposit requested at the time of checkout will be a transaction between the hotel and the guest, with no intervention from Turdan Tura.

 

 

Visa and Passport

- Guests must ensure that their passports are valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.

- To have an entry-exit stamp on your passport at customs crossings/border points, there must be at least 2 blank pages in your passport.

- Being exempt from a visa or having obtained a visa does not mean that you will be allowed to enter/exit a country; the immigration officer has the authority to deny you entry/exit, and Turdan Tura is not responsible for this; responsibility lies with the passenger.

- Non-Turkish citizens or those who have dual citizenship and will participate in the tour using their other country's passport must personally consult the relevant consulates about the visa procedures implemented by the country they will travel to; otherwise, Turdan Tura will not be held responsible for any consequences.

- To avoid issues with customs police at the border of the country being visited due to ripped, worn, wet, and/or similar damaged passports, the passports should be renewed. Otherwise, the responsibility lies with the passenger.

- Minors under the age of 18 traveling alone or with only one parent may be asked by the police officer for a joint consent document from the parents, so it is recommended that guests under 18 and their parents pay attention to this matter.