Balkan Atlas Tour with Air Serbia - 6 Countries

Meeting in front of the Air Serbia counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 14:00. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, departure for Niš at 17:00 on Air Serbia flight JU1805. Arrival in Niš at 17:25 local time.

After baggage, passport, and customs procedures, we begin our tour in the city of Niš, the birthplace of Emperor Constantine, the founder of present-day Istanbul, one of the oldest cities in history, and Serbia’s 3rd largest city. After our panoramic tour, we proceed to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

Upon arrival in Skopje, after a short panoramic tour, we transfer to our hotel.

• Dinner: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Accommodation: Hotel Story or similar – Skopje
• Route: Niš – Skopje 207 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 22:00, depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast, we depart for a comprehensive tour of Kosovo, one of the world's youngest states, whose population is predominantly Muslim Albanians.

After visiting the Ottoman Mansion dating from the 19th century near Kosovo's capital Pristina, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Murad I (Hüdavendigar), who was martyred by Obilic in the Battle of Kosovo, one of the greatest Ottoman victories in the Balkans, we proceed to Prizren.

During our panoramic tour of Prizren, perhaps the Balkans' most charming city, the following sights can be seen:

• 17th-century Turkish Bath
• Sinan Pasha Mosque, built in 1615
• Prizren Fortress

End of tour and free time. After the tour, we proceed to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

Upon arrival in Skopje, we start our tour introducing the city divided by the famous Vardar River into two different cultures, beginning with the Macedonian side, which can be called the land of statues. Among the statues we first see is the imposing statue of Alexander the Great. Then, crossing the Historic Skopje Stone Bridge built over the Vardar River, we move to the Turkish Bazaar, one of the most refined Ottoman bazaars in the Balkans, and witness how cultures change at a moment’s notice.

After talking about the statues at the entrance of the bazaar, we start our bazaar tour with the historic Davut Pasha Bath. Afterwards, we end our tour after seeing Kapan Han, one of the most important structures of the Ottoman bazaar organization, and Murat Pasha Mosque, which managed to survive despite earthquakes.

After our visits, there will be one hour of free time for shopping at the Turkish Bazaar. You can buy items such as Şuşka peppers, Ustrumca peanuts, and traditional leather shoes (çarıklar).

After our tour, dinner at a local restaurant designated by our guide for Balkan Night is included in the tour price. After our fun evening, transfer to our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by our guide.
• Dinner: Balkan Night at a local restaurant designated by our guide, included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Story or similar – Skopje
• Route: Skopje – Prizren 100 KM, Prizren – Skopje 100 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:30, depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast, we head to Matka Canyon, renowned for its unique beauty. After a nature walk, those who wish can take a boat tour on the canyon’s famous boats during free time.

After our tour, we continue to Tetova, the second largest city in Macedonia where mostly Muslim Albanians live. We see the city panoramically and visit the Alaca Mosque in the city of Kalkandelen (Tetova), which has a rare architecture in the Balkans.

We then drive through the Mavrovo mountains to Ohrid, the pearl of the Balkans. Upon arrival, we start our Ohrid city tour, named after Lake Ohrid, one of the largest lakes in the Balkans and with the character of a Mediterranean town in the Balkans.

We start our city introduction tour with Port Square. After discussing the statues in the square, we take a walk in the district where the TV series Elveda Rumeli was filmed, featuring historic Ohrid houses:

• Historic Ottoman houses
• Ayasofya Church
• Presentation of the Famous Ohrid Pearl, the city’s greatest symbol

After free time, transfer to our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or local restaurants and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Village or similar – Ohrid
• Route: Skopje – Matka Canyon 16 KM, Matka – Tetova (Kalkandelen) 32 KM, Tetova (Kalkandelen) – Ohrid 130 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00, depending on road conditions

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart. After about a one-hour scenic journey, we reach St. Naum. We visit the spring where Lake Ohrid originates. The stunning scenery here will literally take your breath away.

Then, passing through the city of Elbasan, we head to the capital, Tirana. Panoramic tour in this beautiful city, caught between wars throughout the 20th century, ruled under Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship for 40 years, a mountainous Balkan country; rebuilt by Süleyman Pasha in 1614, and declared the capital of Albania in 1920.

Some of the places we will see during our tour:

• Ethem Bey Mosque
• Historic Clock Tower
• National Museum
• Opera and Ballet Building
• Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings
• Presidential Mansion
• Mother Teresa Statue
• Skanderbeg Square

After the Tirana tour, free time. Afterwards, we reach the city of Shkodra and settle in our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or local restaurants and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Exalco or similar – Shkodra
• Route: Ohrid – SV. Naum 30 KM, SV. Naum – Tirana 138 KM, Tirana – Shkodra 103 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:00, depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we cross into Montenegro, one of the world’s youngest countries.

Our first stop is the magnificent St. Stefan, which was once a fishing settlement, later nationalized and sold to a Singaporean billionaire, now a holiday spot for the Jet Set, where you can view it panoramically from above during a break (depending on parking availability).

Continuing along the Adriatic coastal roads with breathtaking views, our next stop is Budva, which we see panoramically, followed by Kotor, an important center of history, nature, and tourism. Here, during your walking tour in StariGrad (Old Town – Fortress), you will get to know this charming town.

After the Kotor tour, we head to the city where we will stay overnight. Accommodation: Medjugorje, Trebinje, or surroundings.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or local restaurants and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Olivia or similar Medjugorje / Hotel Leotar or similar Trebinje
• Route: Shkodra – Budva 85 KM, Budva – Kotor 25 KM, Kotor – Medjugorje 198 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00, depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we set out for historic Mostar. Upon arrival, we begin our walking city tour, starting with the Mostar Bridge. (The bridge, built in 1557 by Mimar Hayreddin, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture.) The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery in the 1992 war, but was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. We stroll in the old bazaar.

After free time, we head to Blagaj, the land of Alp-erens. After our visits in Blagaj, we head to the capital Sarajevo.

We take a break in the city of Konjic (Konyitz), where we see the famous Konjic (Konyitz) Bridge, which dates back to the Ottoman era and was restored by Turkey, and enjoy coffee by the Neretva River.

After our break, we arrive in the capital Sarajevo. Baščaršija, Europe’s most distinguished bazaar, is our next stop. In our tour introducing this cultural city, we will see:

• Sarajevo Sebilj Fountain
• Morica Han
• Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (built by a relative of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent)
• Clock Tower
• The famous fountain, now a ritual and meeting place of cultures
• Eternal Flame Monument

Afterwards, we move on to free time. Those who wish can photograph the Latin Bridge, where World War I broke out, during free time.

Bosnian Kofte at a local restaurant is included in the tour price. After our tour and free time, we transfer to our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or local restaurants and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Sunce or similar – Sarajevo
• Route: Medjugorje – Mostar 26 KM, Mostar – Blagaj 11 KM, Blagaj – Sarajevo 140 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:00, depending on road conditions

After breakfast, we set off for Belgrade. After our journey, we start our Belgrade city tour, the new symbol of vibrancy and activity and one of Europe's oldest cities, with its most elegant street, Knez Mihailova Street.

Then, we move on to Belgrade Fortress, one of the Ottoman navy's supply centers, where Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror was wounded but the conquest was granted to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Within the fortress, we will see:

• Key Handover Monument
• French Statue
• Istanbul Gate
• Military Museum
• Tomb of Grand Vizier Damat Ali Pasha
• Sokollu Fountain
• The terrace where we will see the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, the city's most beautiful view

After our tour, we move on to free time.

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location designated by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be served at our hotel or local restaurants and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Airstar or similar – Belgrade
• Route: Sarajevo – Belgrade 295 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30, depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Niš Airport. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 15:50 with Air Serbia Airlines flight JU1804. Arrival in Istanbul at 16:15 local time.

We look forward to seeing you on your next journey…

• Breakfast: Will be served at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Route: Belgrade – Niš 237 KM