Istanbul & Bosnia and Herzegovina Tour - 8 Days/7 Nights

Arrival at Istanbul Airport. Transfer and check into your hotel. You’ll have free time for the rest of the day. After a short rest, you can start exploring Istanbul on your own.
Overnight stay in Istanbul. 

Today, we will explore the Sultanahmet area and visit several Ottoman and Byzantine monuments. Our itinerary includes Topkapi Palace, which served as the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. Here, you will have the opportunity to witness the sultans' dazzling treasures and valuables, and if you choose to visit the Treasury and Harem sections, you'll see even more.
Hagia Sophia: visit Hagia Sophia (Saint Sofia), the world's largest cathedral, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 6th century A.D. Its gigantic structure, beautiful frescoes, and architecture will amaze you.
We will also stroll through the historical Hippodrome Square, which was used as a meeting place for chariot races during the Roman and Byzantine periods. You will see the Serpent Column from Delphi, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Afterwards, we will visit the legendary Blue Mosque, built in the 17th century, it has six beautiful minarets and takes its name from the more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles used in its interior decoration.
We have a lunch break at a local restaurant and then visit the Grand Bazaar.
The Grand Bazaar is the world's oldest and largest covered market, comprising 61 streets. It boasts over 4,000 shops selling various items, including carpets, jewellery, leather goods, souvenirs, clothing, bags, decorations, spices, and home textiles.
Accommodation in Istanbul. (Breakfast - Lunch )

Let us take you on a delightful tour of Istanbul starting at 08:30 after breakfast. Our first destination is the Spice Egyptian Bazaar. This vibrant market is a feast for your senses, with its oriental ambience, colourful stalls, and the aroma of exotic spices, herbs, and flowers. Here, you can find typical products such as sweets, nuts, dried fruits, and small souvenirs to take back home. Afterwards, visit Rustem Pasha Mosque.
Rüstem Pasha Mosque was built in 1561 by Rüstem Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, during Sultan Suleiman I's reign. It is one of the hidden jewels of Ottoman architecture, attracting attention with its walls covered in thin blue tiles decorated with beautiful motifs.

Next, on the Bosphorus Tour by boat, we will take you to the Golden Horn, where we will embark on a memorable cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. This breathtaking strait separates the two continents of Europe and Asia and links the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea. During the cruise, you will enjoy stunning views of Istanbul's iconic landmarks, such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, Maidan Tower, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Forest and impressive wooden ancient mansion on the shores of the Bosphorus.  Once the cruise ends, you will have time to explore the area and shop.
Accommodation in Istanbul. (Breakfast )

Take a flight from Istanbul to Sarajevo with Turkish Airlines or AJet Airlines. We will arrive at Sarajevo and transfer to Baščaršija, the city centre. On our way, we may see some traces of war, including destroyed buildings. Visit several places in the city, such as the Alija Izetbegovic Mausoleum, built in honour of Bosnia and Herzegovina's first president, the graves of martyrs, and Bosnia's well-paved roads and Balkan architecture.

Explore the Old Town of Sarajevo in Baščaršija. It has a 400-year history and was built during the Ottoman Empire. It has been serving as the center of the city for four centuries. We will have lunch at a local restaurant and continue our tour with a visit to Sebilj fountain, which is the symbol of the city, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Clock Tower, Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa, Europe's first public toilet, the Latin Bridge where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria took place, leading to the outbreak of World War I, Hünkar Mosque, At Mejdan (Horse Square), Jewish Synagogue, Saint Anthony Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Vijećnica Library, the Eternal Flame, dedicated to the victims of the Second World War, and the Markale market, which is known as the location of the attack that took place on February 5, 1994, during which 68 people lost their lives.

After our tour, check in at our hotel and have some time to rest. Later in the evening, we will return to Baščaršija to have dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy the city's nightlife.
Accommodation in Sarajevo. (Breakfast – Dinner)

After breakfast, we will drive to Mostar, the largest and most beautiful city in the Herzegovina region. We'll pass through steep mountains and green forests and arrive at Konjic after a 50-km ride. This small city is built on the banks of the Neretva River, has a population of 50 thousand and is home to the Ottoman bridge, which was bombed during the 1992-1995 war, the Vardačka Mosque with the broken minaret, and the restored mini bazaar.
Our second stop will be Jablanica, the city where Josip Broz Tito, the founder of Yugoslavia, took the title of marshal after the war. (Jablanica, Konjic – Jablanica 23 km) Afterwards, we will go to Pocitelj (approx. 76 km), a typical Turkish village restored to its original form. Next, we will go to Blagaj and visit the Dervish House (Alperenler Lodge), established five centuries ago. This place is also known as the Sarı Saltuk Lodge and is built on the banks of the Buna River, with an average water flow of 43,000 gallons per second. Inside the lodge, we'll see the tombs of Ali Pasha and Sarı Saltuk and enjoy the view of the river in the courtyard with a cup of Turkish tea or coffee.
Afterwards, take a fantastic trip at the most beautiful Mostar city in the Balkans. In Mostar, we'll visit the Martyrs Cemetery and see the Mostar Bridge, the only arched bridge built by Mimar Hayrettin, a student of Sinan the Architect, in 1566. The bridge was destroyed in the war in 1993 but was rebuilt in its original form by the Turkish Government in 2004. Later, we'll visit the Tara and Halebija Towers, Tabačica Mosque, the public bath, and the 500-year-old bazaar.
You have free time to shop and enjoy the city; then, we'll meet at the time determined by our guide and depart for Sarajevo to have a delicious dinner with roast lamb. On our way back, we'll stop at Jablanica and continue our journey.
We'll arrive in Sarajevo and stay in Sarajevo. (Breakfast - Dinner)

After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart at 09:00 for Travnik, the city of Viziers, located in central Bosnia. We will arrive in Travnik city after a beautiful journey through the green mountains along the Bosnian river (approx. 90 km). Here, we will see the Elči Ibrahim-Pasha Medresa, Plava Voda (Blue Water) and its source, Travnik Castle, clothing and souvenir shops, mini-amphitheater, mosque, and minaret ruins. We will take the most beautiful pictures of the city from atop this castle. Next, we will visit the Alaca Mosque (Šarena Džamija) and its arasta, Travnik bazaar, and the Clock Tower.

After the tour, we will have lunch consisting of Travnik's famous meatballs at a local restaurant inside the bazaar, and we will enjoy homemade baklava and coffee with walnut filling at the renowned cafe known as Lutfina Kahva next to the Plava Voda spring (Coffee and baklava will be our treats). After some free time, we will set out for Sarajevo. On the way, we will stop by the village of Ahmići and take an hour-long break in Bosnia. Then, as it is the last evening of our tour, we will have a delicious gala dinner with Bosnian dishes at Turkuaz Restaurant, which is within walking distance of our hotel.
 Accommodation in Sarajevo. (Breakfast – Dinner) 

After having breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and visit the Vrelo Bosne nature park (On request -extra )  at the foothills of Mount Igman, which is the source of the Bosnian River. We will enjoy wandering among the lush greenery and wild ducks living freely in springs, trees, streams, and lakes. Then, we will visit the Tunnel of Hope, built for the people of Sarajevo, which was bombarded for 4 years and 4 months by the Serbs and Croats during the war between 1992 and 1995. After visiting this tunnel and the museum that changed the course of the war and helped end the siege of Sarajevo, we will head to the Baščaršija and have free time for shopping.

Afterwards, we will be transferred to the Sarajevo Airport at the appointed time. Upon our arrival in Istanbul, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Istanbul  ( Breakfast )

Free time, depending on your flight time.  Transfer from the hotel to Istanbul Airport will be made 4 hours before your flight. (Breakfast)

** Note: If your flight from Istanbul is after 20:00 pm, you may discover some shopping centres at your own will. Some more popular malls are Akmerkez, İstinye Park, Zorlu, Kanyon, Cevahir, etc.