Balkan 3-in-1 Tour: Kosovo Albania North Macedonia
Day 1
Istanbul – Pristina – Prizren – Kruja - Tirana
Meeting at the Pegasus Airlines counter at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport … After ticket, luggage and passport procedures, we depart for Pristina at 08:10 on flight PC341 by Pegasus Airlines. Arrival in Pristina is at 08:45. After passport, baggage and customs procedures, we set off for a panoramic city tour of Kosovo's capital, Pristina. The panoramic sights include the Bazaar, the Bazaar Mosque built by Sultan Bayezid in the 15th century, and the clock tower. We then head towards Prizren, considered one of the prettiest towns in the Balkans and Kosovo! During our tour in Prizren, we will visit the 17th-century Turkish bath, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, and Prizren Fortress. Afterwards, we will depart for a tour of Kruja. Kruja is one of the most beautiful places you can see in Albania. Located 40 km north of Tirana, the capital of Albania, this castle is surrounded by steep cliffs and has a surrounding wall stretching 800 meters in length. In Kruja, situated at a vantage point overlooking the Fushe Kruje plain, the Skanderbeg Museum, Sarı Saltuk Lodge, Esad Toptani Pasha Mansion, Kruja Castle, Dolma Baba Bektashi Lodge, Ottoman Bath, and Murat Bey Mosque are among the must-see attractions. After the tour, we move to Tirana for check-in and dinner at our hotel.
Lunch: Will be taken at an extra venue to be determined by the guide during free time.
Dinner: Will be at our hotel or at a place determined by our guide and is included in the price.
Route: Pristina – Prizren; 85 Km, Prizren – Kruja; 170 Km, Kruja – Tirana; 40 Km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00, depending on customs clearance.
Day 2
Tirana – Struga - Ohrid
After breakfast at our hotel, we take a panoramic tour to get to know Tirana, the capital of Albania. During the tour, we will see Ethem Bey Mosque, the historic Clock Tower, the National Museum, the Opera and Ballet Building, the Parliament and Prime Ministry Buildings, the Presidential Palace, Teresa of Calcutta Statue, and Skanderbeg Square. After the tour, we move towards Ohrid, the pearl of the Balkans. Before reaching Ohrid, we visit the small town of Struga and then arrive in Ohrid. Upon arrival, we begin our city tour of Ohrid, which takes its name from Ohrid Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Balkans. Our tour starts at the Harbor Square, where we will discuss the statues we see, and during our walk in the neighborhood with the historic Ohrid houses where the series "Elveda Rumeli" was filmed, we will see historic Ottoman houses, the Church of St. Sophia, and end our tour with a presentation of the famous Ohrid Pearl, the largest symbol of Ohrid. Guests wishing to join the boat activity on Ohrid Lake organized by our guide can do so for an additional fee (15 EUR). After the tour, we will have free time before transferring to our hotel in Ohrid for dinner.
Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken at an extra venue to be determined by the guide during free time.
Dinner: Will be at our hotel or at a place determined by our guide and is included in the price.
Route: Tirana - Struga; 120 Km, Struga - Ohrid; 15 Km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 20:00, depending on customs clearance.
Day 3
Ohrid - St. Naum – Resne – Bitola (Manastir) – Skopje
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for a tour of St. Naum – Resne - Manastir (Bitola). First, we make a one-hour journey with magnificent views to reach St. Naum. We visit the spring where Ohrid Lake originates. The breathtaking scenery here will surely leave you mesmerized. Then we head to Resne. We will see the Palace of Resenli Niyazi, one of the three most famous figures of the Committee of Union and Progress, known for his contributions in the Greco-Turkish war, and then proceed to Bitola. During our city tour in Manastir (Bitola), we will visit the Turkish Bazaar, the Bedesten, Ishak Mosque, Yeni Mosque, Haydar Pasha Mosque, and experience some poignant moments by visiting the Military High School where Atatürk graduated and the Atatürk Museum. After the tour, we head to Skopje and begin our city tour, where the famous Vardar River separates two different cultures. Our tour starts on the Macedonian side with the impressive statue of Alexander the Great, then we cross the historic Skopje Stone Bridge over the Vardar River and witness how cultures change in an instant as we step into the Skopje Turkish Bazaar, one of the most excellent Ottoman bazaars in the Balkans. Starting our tour of the bazaar near the statues at its entrance, we will visit the historical Davut Pasha Bath, Kapan Han, and the Murat Pasha Mosque, which has survived despite earthquakes. After all the tours, we check into our hotel in Skopje and enjoy dinner there.
Breakfast: Will be taken at our hotel and is included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken at an extra venue to be determined by the guide during free time.
Dinner: Will be at our hotel or at a restaurant determined by our guide and is included in the price.
Accommodation: Skopje
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 19:00, depending on road conditions.
Route: Ohrid - Bitola (Manastir); 75 Km, Bitola (Manastir) – Skopje; 170 Km
Day 4
Skopje – Matka Canyon – Pristina – Istanbul
After breakfast at our hotel, we have a brief free time in Skopje, and then we visit the exceptionally beautiful Matka Canyon. Guests interested may join a boat tour here (extra fee). After the tour, a transfer to Pristina airport. After completing ticket, baggage and passport procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Ajet Airlines flight VF102 at 18:00. Arrival in Istanbul is at 20:40. 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 at an extra venue to be determined by the guide during free time.
Route: Skopje - Matka; 15 Km, Skopje - Pristina; 110 Km.
The main cities to be visited on the tour program, the daily route sequence, and the estimated departure-arrival times will be shared in advance: The schedule of which city will be visited on which day in Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia, the times for intercity transfers, and the approximate arrival times will be shared with participants before the trip. This way, guests can better plan their days, making arrangements for shopping, free time, or additional tours in advance.
The tour lasts for 3 nights and 4 days, and accommodations are generally provided in 3 or 4-star hotels near the city center in double rooms; an extra fee may apply for single occupancy: Throughout the tour, accommodation will generally be provided in safe and easily accessible 3 or 4-star hotels close to the city center for 3 nights. Rooms are mostly shared double rooms, and guests wishing to stay alone may be charged an additional fee under “single room difference.”
What is included in the price (transportation, accommodation, specific meals, panoramic city tours, guiding services) and what is not included in the price (visa procedures if required, personal expenses, museum and site entrance fees, extra tours, lunch/dinner) should be clarified before the tour: What is included in the tour price (air/road transportation, hotel, breakfast or some meals, panoramic city tours, professional guiding, etc.) should be clearly stated during the sales phase. Additionally, extra costs such as visa fees, additional tours, entrance fees for museums and sites, personal expenses, and certain meals should be explained in detail in advance to avoid any surprise costs later on.
Passport validity period, visa requirements, green passport rights, and documents that may be needed for border crossings (travel health insurance, photocopy of identity, etc.) should be checked before the tour date: When entering Balkan countries, it is generally expected that your passport is valid for at least 3-6 months, so this period should be reviewed before the tour. Which countries require visas from Turkish citizens, the exemption status for green passport holders, and the documents that may be requested at the border such as insurance policies, reservation prints, and identity photocopies should also be clarified before the tour.
It is recommended to bring season-appropriate clothing, comfortable walking shoes, personal medications, a power adapter (if needed), and cash euro and/or credit cards for extra expenses; the exchange to local currencies can generally be done upon arrival: Since Balkan cities often require walking, layered clothing suitable for the weather and comfortable walking shoes are very important. You can carry your personal medications, any adapters for different plug types used in hotels, and a bit of cash in euros along with your credit/bank cards, while currency exchange transactions can usually be carried out at exchange offices or banks in the country you are visiting.
It should be noted that there may be small changes in the schedule and content of the tour program due to weather conditions, traffic, congestion at border crossings, or decisions by official authorities, and that the guide's information and directions should be followed in such cases: Especially during border crossings and intercity travels, delays may occur due to traffic, weather conditions, or customs congestion, resulting in minor shifts in the program flow. In such cases, changes for the safety and comfort of the group should be primarily considered based on the real-time information and directions given by the tour guide.
What's Included
-3 Nights Half Board Accommodation (Includes Breakfast and Dinner),
-Breakfast on the first day,
-International flight tickets,
-All tours mentioned in the program,
-All international transfers,
-Professional Turkish Guiding services,
Not Included
-Airport transfers in Istanbul,
-Travel Insurance,
-Lunches,
-Overseas exit fees,
-Personal Expenses,
-Tips for the guide and driver (optional).
Season-appropriate comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Cash in euros and a bank card
Travel health insurance policy and important contact numbers
Phone, charger, and plug adapter (if needed)
Personal medications and basic hygiene items
Camera or a smartphone with sufficient memory
