Grand Balkan Tour Without Visa With Ajet: 6 Countries TIA-TIA

Meeting at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, departure to Tirana at 07:10 with Ajet Airlines flight number VF367. Arrival in Tirana at 07:55 local time.

After passport, baggage, and customs procedures, we travel by private bus to the city center of Tirana, the capital. Throughout the 20th century, this mountainous Balkan country experienced wars and lived under Enver Hoxha's dictatorship for 40 years. This beautiful city was developed by Süleyman Pasha in 1614 and became Albania's capital in 1920. We will take a panoramic tour introducing this city.

Places to see during our tour:

• Ethem Bey Mosque at Skanderbeg Square
• Historic Clock Tower
• National History Museum
• Opera House
• Parliament and Prime Minister's Offices (from the vehicle)
• Presidential Mansion (from the vehicle)
• Mother Teresa Square (from the vehicle)
• Tirana Pyramid (from the vehicle)

After our Tirana tour, free time. Later, via Elbasan, we arrive at Ohrid, a Mediterranean town in the Balkans.

We start our tour introducing Ohrid with Port Square. During our walk in the district where the TV series "Elveda Rumeli" was filmed and where historical Ohrid houses are located, we see Ottoman houses, Hagia Sophia Church, and a presentation of Ohrid's most famous symbol: the Famous Ohrid Pearl. After our tour, we move on to free time. After free time, transfer to our hotel.

• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by our guide.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere etc. – OHRID
• Route: Tirana–Ohrid; 395 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00 depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast, we first arrive at St. Naum after about a 1-hour journey with stunning views. We see the source of the Black Drin, which feeds Lake Ohrid. The scenery here is breathtaking.

Then we move to Resen. In Resen, we see the Palace of Niyazi of Resen, one of the three most famous figures of the Young Turks and renowned for his role in the Turkish-Greek war, then continue to Bitola.

Places to visit during our Bitola city tour:

• Magnolia Square
• Clock Tower
• New Mosque
• Bedesten
• Ishak Pasha Mosque
• Military High School where Atatürk graduated
• Atatürk Museum

After our visit, we continue on to the capital Skopje, where we start our city tour. We start our tour with the Macedonian side, known as the land of statues, separated by the famous Vardar River between two cultures. First, we see the Grand Alexander statue, which attracts attention with its massive size.

Then we cross the Historic Skopje Stone Bridge built on the Vardar River and witness how cultures suddenly change, passing into the Skopje Turkish Bazaar, one of the most qualified Ottoman bazaars in the Balkans. We start our bazaar tour from the historical Davut Pasha Bath at the entrance, then continue with Kapan Han and Murat Pasha Mosque to finish our tour.

After our visits, one hour of free time for shopping will be given in the Turkish Bazaar. (Among the items you can buy: Shushka pepper, Strumica peanuts, traditional slippers.) At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and room allocation.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by our guide.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Gold Hotel etc. – SKOPJE
• Route: Ohrid–Sv Naum; 30 KM, Sv Naum–Resen; 70 KM, Resen–Bitola; 35 KM, Bitola–Skopje; 170 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00 depending on road condition

After breakfast at our hotel, we proceed to Matka Canyon, known for its unique beauty. After taking wonderful photographs during our enjoyable walk and a short free time, we meet back at our vehicle.

We set out to visit the 19th-century Ottoman Mansion near Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, one of the youngest countries in the world, and the Tomb of Sultan Murad I (Hüdavendigar), martyred by Obilic at the Battle of Kosovo, one of the greatest Ottoman victories in the Balkans.

After our visit, and a journey of about 100 km, we arrive in Prizren, established on the banks of the Bistrica (Akdere) River, considered one of the most charming cities of the Balkans and Kosovo. Places to see during our panoramic tour in Prizren:

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

End of the tour and free time, followed by return to Skopje. Evening Balkan Night with local dishes and music.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by our guide.
• Dinner: Balkan Night with local dishes and music at a location determined by our guide. (Included in tour price.)
• Accommodation: Gold Hotel etc. – SKOPJE
• Route: Skopje–Pristina; 100 KM, Pristina–Prizren; 100 KM, Prizren–Skopje; 170 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast, departure for Belgrade. After our journey, we start our Belgrade city tour, the new symbol of liveliness and movement, and one of the oldest cities in Europe, with Knez Mihailova Street, the city's most elegant street.

Then we pass to the Belgrade Fortress, where Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror was wounded but the conquest was granted to Suleiman the Magnificent, one of the supply centers of the Ottoman navy. Places to be seen inside the fortress:

• Key Delivery Monument
• French Statue
• Istanbul Gate
• Military Museum
• Tomb of Damat Ali Pasha
• Sokullu Fountain
• Terrace area where we will see the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers

After our tour, we move on to free time.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Abba Hotel etc. – BELGRADE
• Route: Skopje–Belgrade; 450 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00 depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we move to Sarajevo. While traveling along the mountainous Balkan roads, and accompanied by spectacular scenery, upon arrival we start our panoramic city tour.

We stroll in Baščaršija, the most exceptional bazaar in Europe. On our tour introducing this cultural city:

• Sarajevo Sebil Fountain, the symbol of the bazaar
• Morica Han, one of the city's most authentic spots
• Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, a relative of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
• Clock Tower
• The famous fountain turned into a ritual and a meeting point for cultures
• Eternal Flame Monument

Then we move on to free time. Guests may photograph the Latin Bridge where World War I started during free time. After our tour and free time, transfer to our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by the guide.
• Dinner: Bosnian Meatballs at a local restaurant, included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Holiday Hotel etc. – SARAJEVO
• Route: Belgrade–Sarajevo; 295 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00 depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we set out for Mostar accompanied by beautiful views within the ecosystem of the Neretva River.

We take a short break in the small and charming city known as Konjic (Konyitz) today, described in Evliya Çelebi's Travelogue as "the place where horses rest/drink water". After seeing and photographing the Konjic Bridge, built by Mehmet IV, we continue via Jablanica.

Upon arrival in Mostar, we start our walking city tour by seeing the Mostar Bridge. The bridge, built by Architect Hayreddin in 1557, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war in 1992, but with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened in 2004. We tour the old city bazaar.

After free time, we head to Blagaj, land of the Alperens. In Blagaj, after getting off at the vehicle parking point and walking, free time in the area where the Alperen Tekke is located and the Buna River springs. Guests can visit the Tekke or take the most beautiful photo of the Tekke from outside.

After our tours, transfer to our hotel. Depending on intensity, accommodation in Trebinje or in the surrounding Medjugorje or Blagaj region.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or restaurant and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Leotar Hotel etc. – TREBINJE
• Route: Sarajevo–Konjic; 60 KM, Konjic–Mostar; 70 KM, Mostar–Blagaj; 20 KM, Blagaj–Trebinje; 100 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:30 depending on road condition

After breakfast at our hotel, we cross into Montenegro, one of the world's youngest countries. Our first stop is Kotor, which is an important historical and natural paradise and a touristic attraction. On our walking tour in Stari Grad (Old Town-Fortress) we will get to know this charming city. Historical landmarks to be seen:

• Arsenal Square
• Clock Tower
• Shame Monument
• Government Palace
• Guardian Tower
• St. Tryphon Church and Square
• Kalambaka (Tulumba) Square
• St. Luke and Nikola Churches

After free time, we pass through Budva and take a panoramic stop from above to see the magnificent St. Stefan and Budva, which was once a fisherman settlement, then nationalized, later sold to a Singaporean billionaire, and nowadays being restored and brought to tourism (depending on availability at the vehicle parking area).

Then we move to the Albanian city of Shkoder. After arriving in Tirana via Shkoder, transfer to our hotel.

• Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time at a location determined by the guide.
• Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
• Accommodation: Te Stela Hotel etc. – TIRANA
• Route: Trebinje–Kotor; 95 KM, Kotor–Shkoder; 110 KM
• Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00 depending on customs crossing time

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Tirana Airport. After ticket, baggage and passport procedures, departure to Istanbul at 08:55 with Ajet Airlines flight number VF368, arrival in Istanbul at 11:35. Hope to see you on your next trip…

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