"Great Balkan Tour (7 Nights 8 Days) - 6 Countries 1 Route | Turkish Airlines Flight"
6 countries, 7 nights, a single route! Embark on an unforgettable cultural journey with the Visa-Free Great Balkan Tour, stretching from Montenegro to Bosnia, and from Serbia to Kosovo. You'll enjoy half-board accommodation in 4-star hotels, Turkish Airlines special flight services, and a full schedule of city tours. You will touch history at the Mostar Bridge, enjoy the view at Lake Ohrid, take a swimming break at Budva beaches, and experience peak entertainment with a musical Balkan Night. A fully planned program without surprise extra tours, offering a comfortable and visa-free European experience! 🌍✈️
- Our tour is planned for 7 Nights 8 Days, with round trip from Podgorica.
- Flights are operated by Turkish Airlines special flight.
- Accommodation is in 4* hotels on a half-board basis (breakfast + dinner).
- City tours and Balkan Night mentioned in the program are included in the price.
- Lunches and museum entrance fees are not included in the price.
- To participate in the tour, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the return date.
- There is no visa requirement for Turkish citizens in the Balkan countries.
- Guests wishing to join the Dubrovnik extra tour must have a valid Schengen or Croatian visa.
- The minimum participation requirement is 40 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved, information will be provided before the tour departure date.
- The third bed in triple rooms is an extra bed (foldable).
- Guests under 18 years old traveling without one of their parents need a notarized consent letter.
- Panoramic city tours last approximately 2–3 hours and do not include museum entries.
- Program changes may occur due to weather conditions or local authorities.
- The international exit fee and travel health insurance are the responsibility of the guest.
- The Business Class difference is 200 € round trip, subject to availability.
If you want, I can also prepare a shorter and more sales-oriented version.
At Çukurova Airport International Departure Terminal, we meet with our valued guests at least 3 hours before the flight. After completing ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we will depart for Podgorica at 23:10 with Turkish Airlines Special Flight. We will have dinner on the plane as in-flight catering offered by Turkish Airlines. We will arrive in Podgorica at 00:55 local time. After passport, baggage, and customs procedures, we will transfer to our hotel in Podgorica with our special buses, and spend the night at our Podgorica hotel.
After our breakfast, we leave our hotel and arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania. During our city tour of Tirana, we will visit places such as the Ethem Bey Mosque, which began construction in 1789 and was completed in 1923, Skanderbeg Square, the Eight Pillars Tomb, and the clock tower built by Ethem Bey in 1821, which is a symbol of Tirana. After the tour, there will be free time and then we will head towards Ohrid, the Pearl of the Balkans. We will have a tour introducing the historic city of Ohrid, which was an important base for the Ottomans in the Balkans. During our tour, we will see some of the following places: the Statue of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who are believed to have developed the Cyrillic alphabet in the 9th century, the Church of St. Sophia, Chinar Square, the Turkish Bazaar, the Halveti Tekke, the New Bazaar, Ohrid Market, and Lake Ohrid. After the tour, we will arrive at our hotel where we will stay. Overnight and dinner will be at our hotel (in the evening, a folklore team will perform a Balkan night).
After having our breakfast at the hotel, we set off for Bitola (Manastir). On our way, we will see the Palace of Resna, where Resneli Niyazi, one of the most famous figures of the Committee of Union and Progress who rose to fame for his contributions during the Greek-Turkish War, was born. Upon arriving in Bitola, we explore the city, visiting the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, the Ishakiye Mosque, the New Mosque, and experiencing the most emotional moments at the Military Academy where Atatürk graduated and the Atatürk Museum. Afterward, we head to Skopje. Upon arriving in Skopje, we begin our panoramic city tour. Among the sights we will see in Skopje, the birthplace of our famous poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, are Yahya Pasha Mosque, the Clock Tower, the Turkish Bazaar, Isa Bey Mosque, Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Murat Pasha Mosque, Kapan Han, Sulu Han, and Davut Pasha Bath. We walk along the banks of the Vardar River, observing the Turkish and Jewish neighborhoods on the other side of the river. During this walk, we will see Makedonia Square, the Ottoman Bridge, and the Davut Pasha Bath from the outside. Next, we visit the Turkish Bazaar and start exploring the historical artifacts in the area. We will also visit the 1550-built Kurşunlu Han, which is located within the old Turkish Bazaar. In Skopje, there are currently 3 han buildings remaining from the 17 that were built during the Ottoman period. We will visit the Sulu Han and Kapan Hanı, which were constructed in the second half of the 15th century. After our visits, we will have some free time for shopping in the Turkish Bazaar, where we can acquire items such as Ustrumca peanuts and traditional shoes. At the end of the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel and check into our rooms. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.
After having breakfast at our hotel, we set off for a city tour of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, one of the youngest countries in the world with a population predominantly composed of Muslim Albanians. We will spend an emotionally charged day in the former Ottoman lands where a humanitarian tragedy recently occurred. Among the places we will see panoramically are the Bazaar, the Bazaar Mosque built by Sultan Beyazıt in the 15th century, the clock tower constructed in the 19th century to remind the public of prayer times, the Sultan Murad Mosque built by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in 1461, a bathhouse from the 19th century, the Yaşar Paşa Mosque which began construction in the 16th century and was completed in the 19th century, an Ottoman mansion from the 19th century that now serves as the Kosovo Academy of Science and Arts, and the Murad Hüdavendigar Tomb. After our tour in Pristina, we will travel by bus to Prizren. Before we start our tour in Prizren, one of the loveliest cities in the Balkans, we will have some free time for lunch. During our panoramic city tour in Prizren, we will see the Turkish Bath from the 17th century, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, Prizren Fortress, the Orthodox Church, and the Christ Saviour Church. After the tour ends, we will arrive in Skopje. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.
In the morning, after having breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Belgrade. Upon arrival, during our panoramic city tour, we will see the Saint Sava Cathedral, Kalemegdan Fortress, Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Clock Tower, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Dungeon Gate, Leopold Gate, Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Tašmajdan. After the city tour, we will transfer to our hotel, check-in, settle in, and have some free time. After the tour, we will transfer back to our hotel for dinner at our hotel in Belgrade.
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will set off for Sarajevo with our private bus. Upon arrival, we will begin our panoramic city tour of Sarajevo. The tour includes visits to the most magnificent bazaar in Europe, the main bazaar, the Kuršumlija Medresa, the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Clock Tower, the Catholic Cathedral, Orthodox Churches, Jewish Synagogue, the Latin Bridge where World War I began, and the Fatih Mosque, attributed to Sultan Mehmed II. We will end our panoramic city tour at the eternal flame. After the city tour, there will be free time for rest and lunch. After the free time, we will transfer to our hotel and have dinner at the hotel.
After having breakfast at the hotel, we set off towards Mostar. The city of Mostar is one of the most interesting places to visit, featuring the Mostar Bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture built by architect Hayreddin in 1557. The bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery during the war in 1992; however, it was reopened in 2004 with significant contributions from the Republic of Turkey. After visiting the Mostar Bridge, we will see the Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. Then, we will continue to visit Počitelj, known as the Turkish Village, which is preserved with its historical texture and showcases buildings constructed by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Afterwards, we check into our hotel in Trebinje for accommodation, followed by free time and dinner at the hotel. Depending on the area's occupancy, the Trebinje accommodation may take place in neighboring cities.
After having breakfast at the hotel, we leave the hotel and hit the road. Our first stop is St. Stefan. A stunning island that was reclaimed from the fishermen's settlement area and later sold to a Singaporean multi-billionaire, now transformed into a tourist destination. After a panoramic view of St. Stefan from above, we continue to Kotor. Here, during our walking tour in the Old Town - Fortress, you will get to know this charming place. Our next stop is Budva, one of the most famous holiday centers in the Balkans, with its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife. During our walking tour here, we will visit Stari Grad (Old Town) and the fortress. You will have free time to fully enjoy Budva. Transfer to Podgorica Airport at the time determined by our guide. DAY 9 | We depart for Çukurova with a special Turkish Airlines flight at 01:55, arriving at Çukurova Airport at 05:20, marking the end of our tour.
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
- Departure fee receipt (if previously obtained)
- Travel health insurance policy (if available)
- Comfortable walking shoes (city tours involve a lot of walking)
- Season-appropriate clothing (light jacket/cardigan for evenings)
- Swimsuit & beach sandals (for swimming break in Budva)
- Sunglasses & hat
- Personal medications and prescriptions
- Small backpack (for daily trips)
- Power bank / plug adapter (if needed)
- Cash in Euros (for personal expenses and tips)