Grand Balkan Tour with Pegasus Airlines from Izmir – 6 Countries

Meet at Izmir Airport International Departures Terminal in front of the Pegasus counter. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, departure to Skopje with Pegasus Airlines flight PC1571 at 19:45. Arrival in Skopje at 20:00 local time. After baggage, passport, and customs procedures, transfer to the hotel in Skopje by private vehicle.

Accommodation: Hotel Gold or similar – Skopje

After breakfast at our hotel, we visit the Alaca Mosque in Tetovo, a city with rare architecture in the Balkans. Then, we cross the Mavrovo mountains and arrive in Bitola.

Places to be visited during our Bitola city tour:

• Turkish Bazaar
• Bedesten (Covered Bazaar)
• Ishak Mosque
• Yeni Mosque
• Haydar Kadi Mosque
• Military School, where you will experience the most emotional moments of the trip, where Atatürk graduated
• Atatürk Museum

Then, we head to Resen. In Resen, we see Niyazi's Palace, one of the three most famous figures of the Committee of Union and Progress and renowned for his merits in the Turkish-Greek war.

We then cross the Mavrovo mountains and reach Ohrid, a Balkan city with Mediterranean characteristics. We start our Ohrid city tour at Port Square; after learning about the statues in the square, we finish our tour with a walk in the historical Ohrid houses where the TV series Elveda Rumeli was shot, Hagia Sophia Church, and a presentation of Ohrid's greatest symbol, the famous Ohrid Pearl. After the tour, we have free time.

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

Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Ohrid city center. Guide Recommendation: Ohrid Trout, Meatballs, and Beans in Casserole.

Dinner: Balkan Night with extra local dishes and music at a place determined by the guide – INCLUDED in the price!

Accommodation: Hotel Belvedere or similar – Ohrid

Route: Skopje–Tetovo 61 KM, Tetovo–Bitola 150 KM, Bitola–Resen 32 KM, Resen–Ohrid 36 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 20:30

After breakfast, we first travel to St. Naum with wonderful views, a journey of about one hour. We visit the source of Lake Ohrid. The breathtaking scenery here will amaze you.

After our tour, we leave Ohrid and, after crossing the Albanian border through Elbasan, arrive in Tirana. We will have a panoramic tour introducing this beautiful city, which was caught between wars throughout the 20th century, lived under Enver Hoxha's dictatorship for 40 years, was developed by Süleyman Pasha in 1614, and became the capital of Albania in 1920.

Some of the places to be seen during our Tirana tour:

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

After the Tirana tour, a short free time. After regrouping, arrival at the accommodation point in the Shkodra region.

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

Lunch: Will be taken extra during free time in Tirana city center.

Dinner: Will be taken at our hotel or at restaurants and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation: Hotel Luane Arte or similar – Shkodra

Route: Ohrid–Sveti Naum 29 KM, Sveti Naum–Tirana 139 KM, Tirana–Shkodra 97 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 19:30

After breakfast at our hotel, we cross into Montenegro, one of the world's youngest states. Our first stop is a panoramic break—if parking is available—where you can see the magnificent St. Stefan from above, which was once a fishermen's settlement, later nationalized and sold to a billionaire from Singapore, and is now a holiday spot for the Jet Set.

Continuing our journey along the Adriatic coast's spectacular scenic roads, we see Budva panoramically. Afterwards, we continue to Kotor, an important center of history, nature, and tourism. Here, you will get to know this charming town with a walking tour in StariGrad (Old Town – Fortress).

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

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 at restaurants and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation: Hotel Olea Vitis or similar – Medjugorje

Route: Shkodra–Budva 85 KM, Budva–Kotor 25 KM, Kotor–Medjugorje 198 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 21:00, depending on customs procedures

After breakfast at our hotel, we head to historic Mostar. Upon arrival in Mostar, our walking city tour starts with a visit to the Mostar Bridge. (The bridge, built by Architect Hayreddin in 1557, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. It was destroyed by Croatian artillery in the 1992 war, but with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey, it was reopened in 2004.) We tour the old town bazaar.

After free time, we drive to Blagaj, land of the Alp-eren Dervishes. After our visits in Blagaj, we continue to the capital Sarajevo.

In Konjic (Konyitz), we stop to see the famous Konjic Bridge, which has survived from the Ottoman era to the present and was restored by Turkey, and to enjoy coffee by the Neretva river.

After our break, we arrive in the capital Sarajevo. In Baščaršija, Europe's most exceptional bazaar, we take a stroll. Places to be seen on our cultural city tour:

• Sarajevo Sebil Fountain
• Morica Han
• Hüsrev Bey Mosque (relative of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent)
• Clock Tower
• The famous ritual fountain and meeting point of cultures
• Eternal Flame Monument

During our free time, those who wish can photograph the Latin Bridge where World War I started.

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 Kofte at a local restaurant – included in the tour price.

Accommodation: Hotel Hollywood or similar – Sarajevo

Route: Medjugorje–Mostar 26 KM, Mostar–Blagaj 11 KM, Blagaj–Sarajevo 140 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 20:00, depending on road conditions

After breakfast, we visit Vrelo Bosne, the largest national park in Sarajevo, located at the foot of Mount Igman, which is also the source of the Bosna river. The park is famous for its excellent hiking trails, horse-drawn carriages, and authentic coffeehouses, and was once organized by Tito's orders.

After some free time, we head to Belgrade. After our journey, we begin our Belgrade city tour, one of Europe's oldest cities and the new symbol of vitality, starting at the city's most elegant avenue, Knez Mihailova Street.

Next, we visit Belgrade Fortress, for which Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror was wounded but whose conquest was accomplished by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and which was one of the Ottoman fleet’s supply bases. Within the fortress, we will see:

• Key Handover Monument
• French Statue
• Istanbul Gate
• Military Museum
• Mausoleum of Damat Ali Pasha
• Sokullu Fountain
• The terrace area where we will see the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers

After our tour, we will have some 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 at restaurants and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation: Hotel Abba or similar – Belgrade

Route: Sarajevo–Vrelo Bosne 10 KM, Vrelo Bosne–Belgrade 295 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 20:00, depending on customs procedures

After breakfast, we head to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Our tour introducing this city, which is divided by the famous Vardar River into two different cultures, begins on the Macedonian side, which can be called the land of statues. We see the Great Alexander Statue, noted for its colossal size.

Crossing the Historic Skopje Stone Bridge over the Vardar River, we experience a moment where cultures change instantly and enter the Skopje Turkish Bazaar, one of the finest Ottoman bazaars in the Balkans.

We start our bazaar tour by mentioning the statues at the entrance and visiting the historic Davut Pasha Bath. Continue with:

• Kapan Han (one of the most important buildings of Ottoman bazaar organization)
• Murat Pasha Mosque (has survived despite earthquakes)

After our visits, there will be one hour of free time for shopping in the Turkish Bazaar. Pepper "Shushka", Ustrumca peanuts, and traditional shoes are among the options for purchase. After the tour, transfer to hotel and check-in.

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 at restaurants and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation: Hotel Gold or similar – Skopje

Route: Belgrade–Skopje 432 KM

Estimated hotel check-in time: 20:00, depending on customs procedures

After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Kosovo, one of the youngest countries in the world, whose population mainly consists of Muslim Albanians. We will spend an emotional day on the former Ottoman lands where a humanitarian tragedy took place not long ago.

First, we visit the Mausoleum of Murad I Hüdavendigar. After our visit, a short bus ride takes us to Prizren. During our panoramic tour in Prizren, perhaps one of the most charming cities in the Balkans, the following will be seen:

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

After the tour and some free time, we head towards Matka Canyon, located near Skopje and known for its unique beauty. Following our nature walk here, guests who wish can take a famous boat trip on the canyon during free time.

After the free time, we arrive at Skopje Airport. After ticket, luggage, and passport procedures, departure to Izmir at 20:45 with Pegasus Airlines flight PC1572. Arrival in Izmir at 23:00.

We hope to see you on your next trip…

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.

Route: Skopje–Pristina 92 KM, Pristina–Prizren 85 KM, Prizren–Matka 142 KM