Reveire Of Sultans

11 Days From Istanbul (Turkey) to Sarajevo (Bosnia&Herzegovina)

Day 1, Arrive to Istanbul

You will meet with our local guide at the Istanbul Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Check inn and free time for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel for you and for your travel partners. Accomodation at the hotel in Istanbul.

*D – Dinner at the hotel.-

Day 2, Istanbul

Breakfast at the hotel After we will start Istanbul Heritage Tour with our coach.We will have our lunch at local restaurant during our tour. End of the tour transfer back to hotel and freetime for leisure. At Evening, meeting at the hotel lobby for our dinner transfer. We will get our dinner in traditional Turkish Restaurant with live traditional music. End of the dinner, return back to hotel and freetime. Accomodation at the hotel in Istanbul.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Istanbul-Turkey

**Istanbul Heritage Tour : We will discover many heritage for Turkish History on this tour. We will visit, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome of İstanbul, Tour of “Sultan Ahmet Center”, the heart of the “Old City” from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Hagia (St.) Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinianus,  St.Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand yeras; it is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture;after having been the Patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II. the Conqueror and in to a museum by Atataurk in 1935. Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. The last great imperial mosque of the classical period; it is name comes from 20.000 marvellous blue-toned Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls. Hippodrome, center of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome. Lunch at the Special Turkish Restaurant Topkapi Palace, this extraordinary and secret palace was the residence of the Imperial Ottoman Sultans and the center of the Ottoman might for nearly 400 years.The building are a typical example of Ottoman architecture and the rooms exhibit rich collections of porcelains, robes, weapons,shields,armors,Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts as well as Ottoman treasures and jewellery. ( Treasury and Harem sections are not included in the program and are due to extra entry ) Grand Bazaar, the largest covered narket in the world with more than 60 streets and 4.000 shops, where you may find in a authentic oriental atmosphere all kind of gifts, leather clothing,rugs and kilims, antiques,jewellery,hand-woven fabrics etc… 

Day 3, Istanbul – Edirne

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. We will moving to Edirne, which is called western gate of Turkey. Once we reach to Edirne, we will start our Edirne Tour. We will have our lunch during the tour. After trip, we will transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner will be served in our hotel. Accomodation at the hotel in Edirne.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Edirne City Tour : The Edirne tour starts with an early departure from Istanbul, as you will have a nice drive ahead of you, first alongside the European Cost of the Marmara Sea, and then towards inland Thrace. You will witness the unique countryside lifestyle at this region. Major sights to visit in Edirne are; The Selimiye Mosque, the masterpiece of Architect Sinan and The Üç Şerefeli Mosque, as well as the The Covered Bazaar. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453; until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) which became the empire’s new capital. This beautiful city is famed for its many mosques, elegant domes and minarets; and it contains the ruins of the ancient palace of the Sultans. The Selimiye Mosque, built in 1575 the master architect Sinan,his masterpiece by his own words, is located in Edirne as well. It has the highest minarets in Turkey, at 70.9 meters, of an altogether grandiose appearance, and a cupola three or four feet higher than that of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. 

Sofia-Bulgaria

Day 4, Edirne – Sofia (Bulgaria)

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. We will move forward to Sofia, Capital of the Bulgaria (311 Km – Approx : 4 Hour). Arrival & Sofia City Tour. We have our lunch at local restaurant during the Sofia City Tour. After transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner and Accomodation at the hotel in Sofia.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Sofia City Tour : The tour starts with a visit to Boyana church (UNESCO listed site), the National Historical Museum – here you will see many collections of artifacts of Balkan history. Then you will go to Pancharevo Lake for lunch and rest with touch of the nature. We will proceed to the city center, across the National Palace of Culture and through the ancient St. George Rotunda, the Administration of the President, the National Archeological Museum, the 16th century Banya Bashi Mosque, St. Nedelya – old metropolitan cathedral, the National Theatre, the former Royal Palace (now housing the National Revival Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum), the Russian Church St. Nikolay, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, The National Assembly Square, where, in the middle of the square sits the impressive Tsar Osvoboditel (King Liberator) monument, erected in 1907 by the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi, The Holy Synod, Saint Sofia Church, The Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art, the Alexander Nevski Cathedral – the biggest one in Bulgaria and according to many – the most spectacular building in Sofia. The tour end at Alexander Nevski Cathedral.

Day 5, Edirne – Skopje (Macedonia)

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. We will move to Skopje by our private coach (244 Km – Approx : 4 Hour). Once we reach to Skopje, we will start our Skopje Tour. We will have our lunch during the tour. After trip, we will transfer to hotel and check inn. At Evening, meeting at the hotel lobby for our dinner transfer. We will get our dinner in traditional Turkish Restaurant with live traditional music. End of the dinner, return back to hotel and freetime. Accomodation at the hotel in Skopje.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Archaeological Museum of Macedonia in Skopje

**Skopje City Tour : Listen as your guide tells you about the square’s many important monuments and sculptures. These include the statue of Tzar Samuil, ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, and statues of Goce Delchev and Dame Gruev,  two leaders of the Macedonian liberation struggle in the beginning of 20th century. Head out to the main pedestrian street in Skopje and visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje. Cross the Vardar river via the 15th-century Stone Bridge from where you can see more sculptures of figures from Macedonian history.  Continue walking to the old part of the city and to the Old Bazaar to explore its stalls and Ottoman architecture. Visit the most famous church in Skopje, Sveti Spas, the Church of the Ascension of Jesus, with its wood-carved iconostasis.

Day 6, Skopje – Ohrid

Breakfast at the hotel and check out from our rooms. Transfer to Ohrid (178 Km – Approx : 3 Hour and 30 Minutes). We will have our lunch at local restaurant once we reach Ohrid. Arrival & Ohrid City Tour. End of the trip, transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner and Accomodation at the hotel in Ohrid.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Church of St John the Theologian Kaneo-Ohrid-Macedonia

**Ohrid & Mavrovo Trip : We will start our inspirational tour to the National Park Mavrovo. In approximately 2 hours drive from Ohrid, you will arrive to Mavrovo, where our friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you around the place to see the memorable sunken church of St. Nikola, based in the artificial lake Mavrovo and the spectacular scenery around. From Mavrovo, the tour continues to the monastery complex St. Jovan, nested on the slopes of mountain Bistra, from where you get  perfect opportunity for photo shooting session.

Day 7, Ohrid – Tirana – Schkoder

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to Tirana with our luxury coach (138 Km – Approx : 3 Hour by coach). Arrival to Tirana and Tirana City Tour. We will have our lunch in Tirana at local restaurant. After, transfer to Schkoder. Arrival & transfer to hotel and check inn. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Schoker.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Tirana City Tour : Explore Tirana starting with National Historical Museum: the country’s largest museum which holds many of the country’s archaeological treasures. Visit Et’hem Beu Mosque: the oldest buildings left in the city. Capture the beauty of Tabake Bridge: a famous stone footbridge that takes its name from the many butchers and tanners who operated in the area during the Ottoman era in Albania. Checkout The Pyramid: also known as ‘’Enver Hoxha Museum’’, a structure and former museum in Tirana. Proceed transfer to the airport for your flight back home; bringing back wonderful memories and momentous souvenirs from Awakening Illyrian Dream vacation.

**Schkoder City Tour : Shkodra, the largest city in the north of Albania is located on the east side of Shkodra Lake. The city is one of the oldest in Albania and it is also an important cultural and Economic center. Inhabited continuously since its foundation in the 4th century BC, Shkodra still is the classic example of a city with most modern and humorous citizen in Albania. Shkodra is also the centre of Albanian Catholicism as well as a fine example of tolerance between religions, with the city comprising all the major faiths found in Albania.

Day 8, Schkoder – Budva & Kotor

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to beautiful Dalmatian Coastal City Budva with our luxury coach (102 Km – Approx : 2 Hour and 30 Minute by coach). Arrival to Budva and Budva City Tour. We will have our lunch in Budva at local restaurant. After, transfer to Kotor. Arrival and city tour in Kotor. End of the tour, transfer to  hotel and check inn. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kotor.

Historic town of Perast-Bay of Kotor-Montenegro

**Kotor Tour : Visit beautiful Kotor Old Town, a well preserved urbanization typical of the middle ages built between the 12th and 14th century.

**Budva Tour :Discover ‘’the place to be seen’’, Budva Old Town. A very old historical town where you can gaze the Adriatic Sea. Continue journey to the charming Sveti Stephan Island, a unique place not only Montenegro or Budva’s Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean.

Day 9, Kotor –Blagaj & Poçitell & Mostar – Sarajevo

Breakfast and check out from hotel. Transfer for Blagaj & Poçitell & Mostar Trip (187 Km – Approx: 4 Hour by coach). We will have city tour and lunch in Mostar. After transfer to Sarajevo (129 Km – 2 Hour and 30 Minutes by coach).Arrival to Sarajevo, transfer & checkinn to the hotel. Dinner & Overnigt in the hotel at Sarajevo.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Blagaj – Bosnia

**Mostar & Blagaj & Pocitell Trip : Our First stop of the day is a short visit to the old part of Konjic town. Unique, prehistorically inhabited, famous for 17th century 6-arch Old Bridge, looming over the turquoise Neretva river, it is a day’s perfect start. Standing at the site of WW2’s last day, during the Nazi withdrawal, we learn the story of the ‘monument to human stupidity’, the mystery of Tito’s Bunker, Boracko Lake glacier and few other stories before we continue our way. The ride continues by passing the large, dammed but very beautiful Jablanicko lake, with a short stop at Jablanica where we learn the WW2 story of ‘Neretva Battle’. Then we continue through some really amazing parts of Neretva river canyon, telling the unique stories of Herzegovina, before we arrive to our second stop – Počitelj. Unique, Medieval, dating back to the Ottoman era, present day Ottoman-Mediterranean style architecture fortress in Počitelj town, is one of the very few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present times. After Pocitelj, we keep going, and after a short ride we arrive to Blagaj. Blagaj town is home to the Buna river spring – Europe’s most beautiful, most powerful, clean and drinkable river spring, settled beneath few hundred meters of rocks. Water comes out of quite large but stunningly deep cave, which springs amazing 43 cubic meters of water per second. Just next to the spring, under the rock, is home to Blagaj Tekke – Dervish house, dating most likely to a pre or early Ottoman era from early 16th century, and it is a unique sacral-residential example of Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a visit to Blagajska Tekija and Izvor rijeke Bune we stay there for bit longer as it is time for lunch. Due to the cleanliness of Buna river, the most important thing to taste in Blagaj today is the local trout. Later, only 15 minute further, it is time for the visit to Mostar, which is the most important jewel in this Herzegovina day trip. As soon as we arrive to Mostar, we start our 2 hour walking tour which will cover most important sites and locations in Mostar. We focus at Mostar’s Old Bridge, Old Bazaar and Old Town, but offer stories of Mostar’s uniqueness, in regards to historical and cultural diversity. In Mostar we give our guests free time to explore on their own as we simply do not like to hold a candle all the way. After Mostar it is time to go back to Sarajevo, and it will take us around two hours ride before we are home.

Day 10, Sarajevo

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the fullday Sarajevo City Tour. We will have our lunch during the city tour at local restaurant. At Evening, meeting at the hotel lobby for our dinner transfer. We will get our dinner in traditional Bosnian Restaurant with live traditional music. End of the dinner, return back to hotel and freetime. Accomodation at the hotel in Sarajevo.

*B-L-D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

**Sarajevo City Tour : Capital of the Bosnia, Sarajevo is one of the top destination on Balkan Region. The main sights of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture and will show you a unique line where East meets West.  Starting with Bascarsija Square, an outdoor market that was built in 15th century you will get short tour introduciton The wooden fountain Sebilj, one of the main simbols of Sarajevo will be our first stop. our guide will tell you some of the secrets of this  Sarajevans favorite meeting point also known as the Pigeon Square. Heading to Kazandziluk (Coppersmith Street), where you can feel like you’ve stepped back into the 16th century as you browse the copper crafts, from jewelry to pottery. After Bravadziluk street, famous for its restorautns you will get to the pearl of Austro Hungarian architecture, also one of the symbols of this remarkable city – The City Hall. The tour will contine along the Miljacka river to our next stop. Worldwide know site .-Latin bridge, the place of Assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand that triggered WWI. Heading back to Ottoman area, you will enjoy stories about Gazi Husrev Bey and his heritage we still are proud of. Once you step from Ottoman area to Austrian part of the town, you will be fascinated by totally different street style and architecture. Find out why Sarajevo is know as Europian Jerusalem… 

Sarajevo Landscape

Day 11, Departure from Sarajevo

After breakfast, we will check out from the hotel. Transfer to Sarajevo airport for your flight home…