GREAT BALKANS 6 COUNTRY TOUR 

 

KOSOVAN PROGRAM!

 

VISA-FREE! 

 

EXTRA TOURS INCLUDED!

 

MACEDONIAN NIGHT INCLUDED!

 

DINNER INCLUDED!

 

ACCOMMODATION IN 4* HOTELS! 

 

7 NIGHTS 8 DAYS 

 

6 COUNTRIES - 4 CAPITALS - 21 CITIES 

 

ALBANIA - KOSOVO - MACEDONIA - SERBIA - BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA - MONTENEGRO

 

Tirana - Elbasan - Ohrid - Sveti Naum - Struga - Matka - Skopje - Prizren - Belgrade - Sarajevo - Konjic - Mostar - Blagaj - Trebinje - Herceg Novi - Kotor - Budva - Petrovac - Bar - Shkodra - Tirana

• Day 1
• İstanbul – Tiran – Elbasan - Ohrid
• FLIGHT DETAILS
• IST - TIA - ZB1011 - 16:00 - 16:45
• TIA - IST - ZB1010 - 12:20 - 15:00
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Flight details may vary depending on tour dates. Passengers buying domestic connecting tickets are kindly requested to gather information.
• Meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal, .... in front of the counter. After ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, we will depart for Tirana with Albania Airlines’ flight ZB1011 at 16:00. Arriving in Tirana at 16:45 local time. After passport, luggage, and customs procedures, we will pass through Elbasan by our private buses and head to Ohrid, the pearl of the Balkans. Transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• Dinner: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time, extra.
• Accommodation: Hotel Aqualina etc. – Ohrid
• Route: Tirana-Ohrid ;131 KM 
• Check-in Time: Estimated: 21:00 depending on customs passage time.

• Day 2
• Ohrid – Sveti Naum – Matka Canyon – Skopje
• After breakfast, we will tour Ohrid city, named after Ohrid Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Balkans. During the tour, we will visit places such as the Halveti Tekke, which has been standing since the 17th century, the symbol of Ohrid, the Plane Tree, the Turkish Bazaar, the Ali Pasha Mosque, reopened after long restoration work, Ohrid Port, the Quarantine Church, and the Turkish and Horasan houses, Abbayas, the Ancient Egnatia road, Keraklea Lynketis, the Clock Tower, St. Dimitri Church, Hagia Sophia Church, and St. Clement Monastery will be seen panoramically. After the tour, we will have free time for shopping in Ohrid Bazaar. Incicilik is one of the important traditions of Ohrid throughout history. During free time, you will have the chance to see all production stages and make purchases. After free time, we first arrive at St. Naum with fantastic views after an approximately 1-hour journey. We visit the source of Ohrid Lake. The magnificent scenery here will take your breath away. After our visits to Sveti Naum, we move to the capital Skopje. We head to Matka Canyon, known for its unique beauty. After visiting Matka Canyon, we will transfer to our hotel in Skopje. Overnight at the hotel. 

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Gold Hotel etc. - Skopje
• Route: Ohrid – St. Naum ;23 KM , St. Naum – Matka 194 KM , Matka – Skopje 14 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:00 depending on road conditions.

• Day 3
• Skopje – Kosovo (Prizren) - Skopje
• After breakfast at our hotel, we start our city tour in the capital Skopje. In our panoramic tour introducing Skopje, the city where Yahya Kemal Beyatlı was born, we will visit the Old Train Station, the monument of Mother Teresa born in Skopje, Stone Bridge, Castle Walls, the Old City from the Ottoman period, Bazaar, and outdoor narrations of Mustafa Pasha, Sultan Murad Mosques, Davud Pasha Bath, Kapan, Sulu, and Kurşunlu Han. After our visits, we then move to Kosovo, one of the youngest states in the world, where most of the population consists of Muslim Albanians. We will spend an emotional day in the old Ottoman lands, which recently experienced a humanitarian drama. We start by visiting the Murad Hüdavendigar Tomb. Next, we arrive in Prizren, possibly one of the cutest cities in the Balkans. During our tour in Prizren, we will visit the Turkish Bath from the 17th century, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, Prizren Castle, the Orthodox Church, and Christ Saviour Church. After the tour ends, we return to Skopje. Overnight at the hotel. 

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: Extra local dishes and music will be enjoyed during the Macedonian Night, arranged by the guide (Included in Price).
• Accommodation: Gold Hotel etc. - Skopje
• Route: Skopje – Pristina 92 KM, Pristina – Prizren 85 KM, Prizren – Skopje 161 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:00 depending on customs passage time.

• Day 4
• Skopje – Belgrade
• After breakfast at the hotel, we head towards Belgrade. Upon arrival, we start our panoramic city tour of Belgrade. During our panoramic tour of Belgrade, we will see the Kalemegdan Fortress, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Clock Tower, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Zindan Gate, Leopoldov Gate, Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Stone Square. After the tour ends, we have free time and then transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Abba Hotel etc. - Belgrade
• Route: Skopje – Belgrade 432 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on customs passage time.

• Day 5
• Belgrade – Sarajevo
• After breakfast at our hotel, we head towards Sarajevo. Upon our arrival, we start our panoramic city tour. We stroll through the most outstanding bazaar in Europe, Baščaršija. We visit the Lead Medresse, which has been active since the Ottoman period. Then, we visit the Husein Bey Mosque, a relative of Sultan Suleiman. During our tour, we will see the Clock Tower, the Catholic Cathedral, Orthodox Churches, and Jewish Synagogue in Sarajevo. We then tour the Latin Bridge where World War I broke out and drink water from the fountain at the gate through which Fatih Sultan Mehmet entered the city. Finally, we visit the Fatih Mosque, attributed to Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and transfer to our hotel to check in. Overnight at the hotel. 

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: In a local restaurant, we will have Bosnian meatballs, which is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Holiday Hotel etc. - Sarajevo
• Route: Belgrade – Sarajevo 295 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on customs passage time.

• Day 6
• Sarajevo – Konjic – Mostar – Blagaj – Trebinje
• After breakfast at our hotel and vacating the rooms, we will depart for Mostar with our private buses. The journey to Mostar will take approximately 2.5 hours with breaks at several points. Our first stop will be in the city of Konjic, where we will see the famous Konjic Bridge, which has been restored by Turkey, and take a coffee break by the Neretva River. After that, we arrive in Mostar, and during our walking tour, we will first see the Mostar Bridge (built by Architect Hayreddin in 1557, this bridge is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture). The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery in 1992 but was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. We will also see the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. After our tour of Mostar, we will visit Blagaj and then move to the city of accommodation. After our tour ends, we will transfer to our hotel located in the authentic city of Trebinje (or its surroundings). Overnight at the hotel. 

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Leotar Hotel etc. - Trebinje 
• Route: Sarajevo – Konjic 62 KM, Konjic – Mostar 64 KM, Mostar – Blagaj 13 KM, Blagaj – Trebinje 109 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on road conditions.

• Day 7
• Trebinje – Kotor – Budva - Shkodra – Tirana
• After breakfast at the hotel, we will cross into Montenegro, one of the youngest states in the world. Our first stop will be Kotor, an important historical and nature paradise and a tourist attraction. During your walking tour in Stari Grad (Old Town) in Kotor, you will get to know this charming town. After the tour in Kotor, we will pass through Budva, which was once a settlement area for fishermen. After a panoramic stop where we can view the magnificently restored island of St. Stefan, we will head to Tirana, the capital of Albania, by passing through Shkodra. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Lunch: To be taken at a place determined by the guide during free time; extra.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Te Stela Hotel etc. - Tirana
• Route: Trebinje – Kotor 95 KM, Kotor – Shkodra 108 KM, Shkodra – Tirana 101 KM
• Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on customs passage time.

• Day 8
• Tirana – Istanbul
• After breakfast at our hotel, we will start our city tour in Tirana. We will perform a panoramic tour of this beautiful city, which has been caught between wars throughout the 20th century and has lived under the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha for 40 years, which was established in 1614 by Suleyman Pasha and became the capital of Albania in 1920. During our tour, we will see the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the historical Clock Tower, the National Museum, the Opera and Ballet Building, the Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings, the Presidential Mansion, the Mother Teresa Statue, and Skanderbeg Square. After our tour in Tirana, we will have free time. Then we will ensure our transfer to Tirana Airport. After ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, we will depart for Istanbul at 12:20 with Albania Airlines’ flight ZB1010 and arrive in Istanbul at 15:00. We hope to see you on your next trip.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and included in the tour price.

- Economy Class Flight Tickets with Albania Airlines from Istanbul to Tirana and back to Istanbul - Local Transportation Services - Local professional Turkish guiding services - 7 Nights Accommodation Including Breakfast in 4* Hotels: 2 Nights in Skopje, 1 Night in Ohrid, 1 Night in Belgrade, 1 Night in Sarajevo, 1 Night in Trebinje or Surroundings, 1 Night in Tirana - 4 Dinners taken in hotels in Skopje, Belgrade, Trebinje, and Tirana - Macedonian Night at a Local Restaurant - Bosnian Meatballs at a Local Restaurant - Panoramic city tours of Prizren, Skopje, Tetova, Ohrid, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Konjic, Mostar, Trebinje, Kotor, Budva, Shkodra, Tirana - Kosovo Crossing Fee - Sveti Naum Tour - Matka Canyon Tour - Blagaj Teke Tour - Mandatory local guiding services in some cities - All highway check-point and parking fees - City Taxes - Customs Duties - Panoramic city tours specified in the program - Airport taxes and service fees

- Tours organized by the guide - Entrance fees for museums and historical sites. - Extras taken at the hotel. - All personal expenses - Lunches - All trips and tours not specified in the program. - Optional driver and guide tips - Departure fee for leaving the country - International travel health insurance (20 Euros)

- It is mandatory to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the end date of a tour purchased during foreign trips. Passports older than 10 years are not valid for international travel, and they must be renewed before the tour departure date. Torn and worn passports cannot be used for entry. - In cases where minors under 18 years old who are not legally adults do not participate in the tour with one or both parents, a consent letter from one or both parents is required. It is mandatory for those participating in the tour to carry the required consent letters during the trip. - Guests who register for the tour have the right to cancel free of charge up to 30 days before the tour departure date. If cancellation is made 30-15 days before the tour, a penalty will be applied. No refunds will be given and the full tour fee will be penalized if cancellation is made less than 14 days before the tour departure. The cancellation request must include relevant documents from authorities in Turkey, such as hospital reports, workplace permission letters, etc., and these documents will unfortunately not be accepted for cancellations of hotels and services booked outside of Turkey. - To be able to shop and spend money in all countries included in the tour, it is sufficient to carry Euros. Guides will assist with currency exchange in areas where local currency is used. - Comfortable walking shoes or sports shoes should be preferred during the trip. It is also advisable to bring a cardigan or similar clothing for the night. - Our tours apply rotation (seat changes) in daily seating planning, and fixed seating and front seat guarantees are not provided. Seat changes are organized by the vehicle guide. - To bring goods (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) from abroad into Turkey, a minimum of 3 days of accommodation is required. - When entering Turkey from abroad, the duty-free shopping limits are: Cigarettes: 3 cartons, Alcoholic Beverages: 1 liter of alcoholic beverages containing more than “’ alcohol, excluding wines and champagnes; Alcoholic Beverages: 2 liters of alcoholic beverages containing less than “’ alcohol, including wines and champagnes; Perfume: 600 ml; Makeup or Skin Care Products: 5 items; Chocolate and Candies: 2 kg; Coffee: 1 kg; Tea: 1 kg. - During the tour, guides can change the program flow while ensuring that they show all the places mentioned in the program due to weather and road conditions. - Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation of 25 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved, the last cancellation notification date is 20 days before the tour departure. The canceled tour due to insufficient participation will be informed by the tour operator. - In cases where only category information is provided without specifying names in the tour program and/or when there are options for the same destination, the hotels will be informed by the tour operator 2 days before the tour departure. - During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be utilized at distances beyond the specified kilometers. In such cases, information will be provided by the tour operator 15 days before the tour departure. - Triple rooms may be allocated depending on hotel availability, and the bed allocated to the third person in such rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since the extra beds are either folding beds or couch beds, tour participants must accept the possible tightness and bed types in 3rd person and/or child reservations. Child discounts apply only for a single child that meets the age criteria accompanied by 2 adults. - Services included in the tour program, breakfast taken at hotels, are generally served with a limited menu consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea or coffee in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country being visited and may be served in a separate hall designated for the group. - Included in the tour package, panoramic city tours are organized for the general introduction of the cities and are conducted as panoramic tours with the guide's narration from the vehicle for a maximum of 2-3 hours, excluding museum and historical site entrances. If there are cases where local authorities do not grant permission for the visits or if any events cause roads to be closed, or if weather conditions make it impossible to conduct the tour, the tour operator cannot be held responsible for the inability to carry out the aforementioned tours. Some tours may have to be conducted by public transportation or on foot at locations where closed roads or vehicle access restrictions exist. - During the journey, waiting times at customs gates passed by road may exceed standards, and the tour operator cannot be held responsible for any negatives resulting from these waiting times. - Extra tours are organized by local tour operators with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If sufficient numbers are not achieved, excursions cannot be conducted, or extra tour prices, content, and the vehicles used may vary based on participant numbers. Additionally, the days and times of the tours may be changed by the guide depending on the open or closed status of the museums and historical sites to be visited and weather conditions. - Participation in extra tours is optional and is not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to participate in the extra tours organized during the tour are considered to accept waiting at a convenient rest area along the route. These passengers will be dropped off at the rest area before the extra tour starts and will be picked up from the location where they were left after the tour is completed. - For participants in tours with flights, check-in and boarding procedures are personal processes that must be done by the guests at the relevant airline counters at the airports or online through the airline companies’ websites before the flight. - Tour participants who are not present at the specified airport at the times announced by the tour operator, who do not perform check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who perform these procedures on time but do not board the plane cannot hold the tour operator responsible for their inability to fly. Guests who miss their flights are responsible for any expenses incurred for the new round-trip flight tickets and transfers in the destination region necessary for them to join the tour. - The tour operator acts as an intermediary between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the 28.09.1955 Hague Protocol. There may be a risk of delays for scheduled and charter flights, and existing travel and flight times may change. The tour operator is obliged to inform as soon as possible about these changes. Passengers accept the risk of time changes when purchasing the trip. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport fees and terminal service fees. - The types of vehicles used in our tours are classified according to the number of participants as follows. The types of vehicles listed below are determined according to the number of participants in each of our tours. - Our transportation in tours is classified according to the number of participants as follows. The types of vehicles listed below are provided according to the number of participants in each of our tours. There are no headphones in our vehicles. In vehicles with TV units, we recommend bringing an external charger as charging your phone in such vehicles may reduce your phone’s battery life. Minibuses (up to 19 people): Volkswagen Crafter, Mercedes Sprinter Midibuses (20-32 participants): Otokar Sultan Maxi, Otokar Sultan Mega, Isuzu Novo Lux Buses (33-54 participants): Mercedes Travego, Mercedes Tourismo, Temsa Safir, Man Neoplan