Tour Detail
7 Nights 8 Days – 4* Hotels – Dinner Included
No Extra Tour Local Restaurants Makedonian Night and Bosnian Meatballs INCLUDED!!
A Journey to the Heart of the Balkans, Where Civilizations, Cultures, and Beliefs Meet
English
Türkçe
Español
Français
Deutsch
हिन्दी
Air Albania with Grand Balkan Tour
7 Night 8 Days
Book Now, Pay Later
Tour Program
Meeting point in front of the check-in desk at the Istanbul Airport International Departure Terminal. After ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, we will depart for Tirana at 10:40 AM on Albania Airlines flight ZB1005. Arrival in Tirana at 11:40 AM local time. After passport, luggage, and customs procedures, we will transfer by our private buses to Ohrid, the jewel of the Balkans, passing through Elbasan. After our arrival, we will have a tour in Ohrid city, which takes its name from Lake Ohrid, one of the largest lakes in the Balkans; among the places to be seen are the Halveti Tekkesi, which has survived since the 17th century, the iconic Plane Tree of Ohrid, the Turkish Bazaar, the Ali Pasha Mosque, which has been reopened for worship after long restoration work, Ohrid Port, the Quarantine Church, traditional Turkish and Khorasan houses that will make you feel like you are in a movie set, Arches, the Ancient Egnatia road, the Aya Sofya Church, and Samoil Castle viewable panoramically.. After our tour, we will provide free time for shopping in the Ohrid bazaar. During this free time, we will have the chance to get information about and shop for pearl production, which is one of the important traditions of the city throughout Ohrid's history. After the free time, we will arrive at our hotel.
After breakfast, we start our tour with a journey of approximately 1 hour to reach St. Naum, accompanied by breathtaking views. We see the source of the Kara Drin, where Lake Ohrid originates. The stunning scenery here will take your breath away. Afterward, we head to Resne. In Resne, we visit the Palace of Resneli Niyazi, one of the most famous figures of the Committee of Union and Progress, who gained fame due to his contributions during the Turkish-Greek War, and then we arrive in Bitola. During our city tour in Manastir (Bitola), we visit Magnolya Square, the Clock Tower, the New Mosque, the Bazaar, İshak Pasha Mosque, and experience the most emotional moments of our tour at the Military High School where Atatürk graduated and the Atatürk Museum. After our visit, we continue our journey to the capital, Skopje, for our city tour. We begin our panoramic tour of Skopje, the city where Yahya Kemal Beyatlı was born, also known as the city of statues, and see the Macedonian Gate, the statue of Mother Teresa, the Macedonian Square, the statue of the Horseman (Alexander The Great), the statue of Justinian, many statues of famous national heroes, the Vardar River, and the Stone Bridge. We will also visit the Fortress Walls, the Old Town dating back to the Ottoman period, and see the magnificent architectural heritage of the Ottomans in the Balkans, including Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Sultan Murad Mosque, Davut Pasha Bath, Kapan and Sulu Hani. After our visits, we will transfer to our hotel in Skopje. Overnight at our hotel.
After having breakfast at our hotel, we head to the Matka Canyon, known for its unique beauty. After enjoying a pleasant walk where we will take stunning photos, we will have a short free time and then meet in our vehicle to head towards the capital of Kosovo, Pristina, located a short distance away, to visit the Ottoman Mansion from the 19th century and the Tomb of I. Murad (Hüdavendigar), who was martyred by Obilic in the Battle of Kosovo, one of the greatest victories of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. Following our visit, we will embark on an approximately 100 km journey to Prizren, which is considered one of the prettiest cities in the Balkans and Kosovo, located by the Bistrica River. We will see Prizren Fortress panoramically, and after a lunch break, we will have the chance to see Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath and Mosque, Minaret Mosque, Sinan Pasha Mosque, Stone Bridge, Turkish Consulate Building, Kadiri Tekke, Saraçhane Mosque, Şadırvan Square, and the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which are part of Serbian Heritage, with exterior descriptions. After our tours, we will return to Skopje with a journey of about 3 hours. Overnight at our hotel.
After having our breakfast at the hotel, we are heading to Belgrade. Upon arrival, we begin our panoramic city tour of Belgrade. During our panoramic tour, we will see places such as Student Square, Knez Mihailova Street, French Monument, Kalemegdan Fortress, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Clock Tower, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Dungeon Gate, Defterdar Gate, Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Republic Square, Scale Square, and the National Museum of History. After the tour, we will have free time and transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
After having breakfast at our hotel, we set off for Sarajevo. While traveling along the mountainous Balkan roads, we arrive with stunning views after approximately a seven-hour journey, and we start our panoramic city tour. We begin our exploration at Baščaršija, one of the most distinguished bazaars in Europe. First, we see the Baščaršija Mosque and the Sebilj fountain, which is the symbol of Sarajevo. After that, we visit Morica Han, where we will hear brief explanations. Then, at the courtyard of Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, which contains the tomb of Gazi Husrev Bey, we will learn about the clock tower, the first Turkish-style toilet system used in Europe, and the fountain, witnessing the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures in Sarajevo, known as the Jerusalem of Europe. During our free time, guests may choose to see structures such as the Latin Bridge, the famous Eternal Flame, the Cathedral of the Heart of Jesus, the Synagogue, and the Orthodox Church. After our free time, we will transfer to our hotel. Accommodation is at our hotel.
After having breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we set off towards Mostar, accompanied by beautiful views in the ecosystem of the Neretva River. We take a short break in a small, charming town known as Konjic (Konyitz) today, which is mentioned in the Travelogue of Evliya Çelebi as the place where horses rested and drank water. After seeing and photographing the Konjic Bridge, built by IV. Mehmet, we continue our journey through Jablanica. We will have the chance to see the most beautiful nature views created by the Neretva River along this route. Upon our arrival in Mostar, we will see the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque and the Turkish Consulate Building, and we will visit the famous Mostar Bridge, which was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war that began in 1992, but was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If we are lucky, we might see brave Bosniak youths performing jumps from the bridge for show purposes. After our free time, we complete our tour of Mostar and set off for Blagaj. After a short journey, we get off at the parking point in Blagaj and, after a walk, we will have free time in the area where the Buna River originates, which also hosts the Alperenler Lodge. Our guests can visit the lodge or take the best photo of the lodge from the outside during our free time. After our tours, we will transfer to our hotel. Depending on the occupancy, we will stay overnight in Trebinje or in the Medjugorje or Blagaj region nearby. Overnight at our hotel.
After having our breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Montenegro, one of the youngest countries in the world. Our first stop will be Kotor, an important historical and natural paradise and a tourist attraction. Here, we will get to know this charming town during our walking tour in Stari Grad (Old Town-Castle). After the outdoor explanations of historical landmarks such as the Arsenal Square, Clock Tower, Shame Monument, Government Palace, Guardian Tower, Saint Tryphon Church and Square, Kalambaka (Tulumba) Square, Saint Luke and Nikola Churches, we will have some free time. After our free time, we will pass through Budva and make a stop to view the magnificent St. Stefan, which, after being confiscated from fishermen and sold to a Singaporean multibillionaire, is currently undergoing restoration efforts to become a tourist site, and we will then head towards the Albanian city of Shkodra. After our arrival, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
After having our breakfast at the hotel, we move to the capital Tirana.. This beautiful city, which was caught in wars throughout the 20th century and experienced the dictatorship regime of Enver Hoxha for 40 years, is a mountainous country in the Balkans, established in 1614 by Suleiman Pasha and became the capital of Albania in 1920. We will have a panoramic tour to introduce this city. During our tour, we will see Ethem Bey Mosque, Clock Tower, National History Museum, and Opera House located in Skanderbeg Square. Some of the places we will see from our vehicle include the Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings, Presidential Palace, Mother Teresa Square, and Tirana Pyramid. After our Tirana tour, we will have free time. Then we will provide transfer to Tirana Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we will depart to Istanbul at 17:40 by Albania Airlines flight ZB1003 and arrive in Istanbul at 19:40. Looking forward to seeing you on your next trip…
Tour Route
What's Included
- Round-trip Economy Class Flight Tickets from Istanbul to Tirana with Albania Airlines
- Local Transportation Services
- Local professional Turkish-speaking guiding services
- 2 Nights Accommodation in 4* Hotels in Skopje, 1 Night in Ohrid, 1 Night in Belgrade, 1 Night in Sarajevo, 1 Night in Trebinje or surrounding Medjugorje or Blagaj region, 1 Night in Shkodra with a total of 7 Nights of Breakfast Included
- 5 dinners at hotels in Skopje, Ohrid, Belgrade, Trebinje, and Shkodra
- Macedonian Night at a Local Restaurant
- Boşnak Meatballs at a Local Restaurant
- Panoramic city tours in Prizren, Pristina, Skopje, Ohrid, Resne, Bitola, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Konjic, Mostar, Kotor, Shkodra, Tirana
- Kosovo Crossing Fee
- Sveti Naum Tour
- Matka Canyon Tour
- Blagaj Tekke Tour
- Mandatory local guiding services in some cities
- All highway check-point and parking fees
- City Taxes
- Customs Duties
- Panoramic city tours as specified in the program
- Airport taxes and service fees
Not Included
- Tour organized by the guide
- Museum and archaeological site entrance fees.
- Add-ons at the hotel.
- All personal expenses
- Lunches
- All trips and tours not specified in the program.
- Optional driver and guide tips
- International exit fee
- International travel health insurance
What to bring with you?
- During the trip, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes or sports shoes. It is also advisable to bring a sweater or similar clothing for the night.
Languages on tour
What to know
- In our tours, a rotation (seat change) is applied daily in the seating arrangement, and a fixed seat and front seat guarantee are not provided. Seat changes are organized by the tour guide.
- When entering Turkey from abroad, a minimum of 3 days accommodation is required to bring items (such as alcohol - cigarettes etc.)
- When entering Turkey from abroad, the duty-free shopping limit is: Cigarettes: 3 cartons, Alcoholic Beverages: 1 liter of alcoholic drink (excluding alcoholic drinks with more than 22% alcohol content, wine, and champagne), Alcoholic Beverages: 2 liters of alcoholic drink (including alcoholic drinks with less than 22% alcohol content, wine, and champagne), Perfume: 600 ml, Makeup or Skin Care Products: 5 pieces, Chocolate and Confectionery: 2 kg, Coffee: 1 kg, Tea: 1 kg.
- Guides can make changes in the program flow as long as they show every place specified in the program, depending on weather and road conditions.
Our partners
