Bosnia and Herzegovina Tour (Ayvaz Dede Festivals)

Meeting at Istanbul Airport international terminal, after ticket and baggage procedures, flight to Sarajevo and arrival. We settle into our bus waiting for us in the area and move to Bascarsija. On our way, we see buildings that still bear the traces of the bombardment during the war, the tram line which is Europe's first electric motor tram line and still actively travels Sarajevo from end to end, buildings belonging to the Tito era Yugoslav People's Army but currently used as Sarajevo university campus, USA's second largest embassy building in the world, Sarajevo city museum, Parliament building, and the region's largest shopping mall built by Arab investors. Our first stop is the martyrdom where the martyrs of the sad war experienced in 1992-1995 and the monumental tomb of the first President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the late Alija Izetbegovic, are located. We recite Fatiha for the war martyrs and get information about the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic and his life from our guide. Then we pass through the cobbled Bosniak – Turkish neighborhood that has managed to survive from the Ottoman period and start our Bascarsija walking tour. Sebilj built with 18th-century Bosniak architecture, "Coppersmiths Street" the only active art street managed to survive from the Ottoman period, Bazaar Mosque, Morica Han and the Young Muslims Organization club "Mladi Muslimani" inside, Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque and tomb (cousin of Suleiman the Magnificent), Clock Tower, Kursunlu Madrasa, Gazi Husrev Bey Museum and Library, Europe's first public toilet, Latin Bridge known as the place where World War I started, Hunkar Mosque built in the name of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, At Meydani - Okmeydani, Bakir Baba Mosque built by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Orthodox Church, Alija Izetbegovic Park and Sarajevo retirees constantly playing chess in the park, Ferhadija Mosque, Ferhadija Street (Sarajevo's Istiklal Street), Jewish Synagogue, Catholic Church – Cathedral – Sacred Heart Church, Sarajevo roses (points where more than one person lost their lives with a bomb during the war), the point where the Bakery massacre took place, the Eternal Flame lit in memory of the liberation of Sarajevo under German occupation by the Yugoslav army on April 6, 1945, Markale District market where 68 people lost their lives and known as the Marketplace massacre on February 5, 1994, and the Vijecnica library built as the Government House (City Hall) during the Austro-Hungarian period and burned during the war causing many manuscripts to turn to ashes. After our walking tour, guests who wish can have Bosniak pastry cooked under the sach for lunch (our lunch recommendation). Free time after the meal. After our walking tour in Bascarsija, we meet at the time determined by our guide and move to our hotel. After resting for about 1 hour at the hotel, we have our dinner at our local restaurant in Bascarsija as Bosniak meatballs "Cevapi". Then, at the time determined by our guide, we move to our hotel for accommodation and end the day.

After breakfast at our hotel, we leave our hotel to tour the city of Mostar, the largest and most beautiful city in the Herzegovina region. Passing through small towns on our way, we arrive at our first stop, Konjic (Sarajevo – Konjic 50 km). In this small city with a population of 50 thousand established on the banks of the Neretva River, the Ottoman bridge damaged in World War II and the 92-95 war and renovated by TR Highways and TIKA, the Mosque with the broken minaret, and the mini bazaar restored to its original state are among the places we will see. After our photo break, we continue our journey. Our second stop is Jablanica, the city where the war took place where the founder of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, received the title of marshal. (Konjic – Jablanica 23 km). In this city, also famous for its lamb roasting, we see the bridge that Tito destroyed as a result of his struggle against the German Nazis in 1943 and the area where the event took place. Then we set off towards Pocitelj. Pocitelj (Jablanica – Pocitelj 76 km) is a typical Turkish village restored to its original state. In this village, located 15 kilometers from the Croatian border and which has managed to survive since the time of Tvrtko I (1381), places we will see: Climbing the watchtower and watching the magnificent view (guests who wish). The village mosque, heavily damaged during the war but restored and put into service again, Hamam, shopping opportunity from the stands selling fruits grown in the region according to the season. Then we move to the Alperenler Tekke, established 5 centuries ago at the source of the Buna river. (Blagaj Tekke, Pocitelj – Blagaj Tekke 24 km). Guests who wish can have lunch with a trout menu at our local restaurant overlooking the Buna river, whose source has not yet been reached and which releases up to 43,000 liters of water per second (our lunch recommendation). Then we visit the tekke, also known as the Sari Saltuk Tekke. We visit the Ali Pasha tomb and Sari Saltuk's tomb located inside the tekke, and in this two-story house built in the form of a typical Anatolian house, we see the Ladies' masjid, Meydan room, Masjid and dhikr room for men, Hamamcik and halvethane, and the room used as a kitchen. Guests who wish can drink Turkish tea in the courtyard overlooking the river. Then we move to our last stop, the city of Mostar. (Blagaj – Mostar 12 km). On our way, we see the Mostar airport and the military area built opposite the airport during the time of Yugoslavia and used as a shelter for planes. This area was prepared for hiding planes by carving out the inside of the hill right across the airport. Upon our arrival in Mostar, we start our walking tour. Places to be seen during our tour: Martyrs' Mosque and the cemetery in its courtyard. A feature of this cemetery is that Croat and Serb Mostar residents who fought shoulder to shoulder with Muslim Bosniaks during the war are also buried there. Mostar Bazaar with pavements processed with stones collected from the river special to the region, Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque. This is the mosque where the most beautiful photo of the bridge is taken. Republic of Turkey Mostar Consulate General, Mostar Bridge – a single-arched bridge built by Mimar Hayrettin, student of Mimar Sinan, in 1566 and destroyed in 1993 but restored again in 2004. Tara Tower – While these towers were reserved for teams ensuring bridge security in the past, they serve as museums today. Kriva Cuprija – Crooked Bridge, Tabakhane Mosque and Hamam – a mosque built specially for themselves by the notables dealing with leather work at the time so as not to disturb the congregation in other mosques as a smell, with water flowing underneath. Free time for shopping and enjoying the city in Mostar. Then, meeting at the time determined by our guide, we set off towards Sarajevo. We have our dinner as a lamb roasting menu at the famous lamb roasters in the town of Jablanica on our way. Then departure to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, accommodation at our hotel.

After our breakfast at our hotel, participation in Ayvaz Dede festivals. Ayvaz Dede is one of the Khorasan saints who came to Bosnia in the 15th century. It is said that he came from Manisa-Akhisar. Bosniaks recognize a completely different world with Ayvaz Dede, they love Islam and the Ottoman Empire with him. When Ayvaz Dede's path falls to Prusac, where the festivals are held today, he sees that the people here are suffering from thirst and the water is blocked by a huge rock. Thereupon, Ayvaz Dede prays for 40 days starting from the early hours of the morning prayer. On the 40th day, he dreams that two white rams hit this rock and the rock shatters. When he wakes up, he finds the rock really shattered and manages to bring water to the town of Prusac through wooden troughs. Ayvaz Dede is remembered with the festivals held today. Although the Ayvaz Dede festivals, which are a deep-rooted tradition, were banned by the communist order after 1946, celebrations continued again after 1990. Today, Ayvaz Dede festivals are celebrated with the participation of tens of thousands of Muslims from all over the world and Bosnia. After the Ayvaz Dede festivals, departure to Travnik, known as the City of Viziers. After our journey through lush green mountains resembling the Black Sea along the way and along the banks of the Bosna River accompanying us along the way, we watch the famous Bosnian Pyramids while passing through the city of Visoko. There is a theory that the history of the pyramids dates back even before the Illyrians settled in the Balkans before the Slavic tribes who started coming to the region in 600 AD. Arrival in Travnik. Places we will see in our Travnik city walking tour: Elci Ibrahim Pasha Madrasa, Plava Voda – Blue Water river and source, Travnik Fortress – Exhibition of local clothes inside the fortress, exhibition of old Travnik photos, mini amphitheater, ruins of the destroyed mosque and its minaret are the places we will see. We take the most beautiful landscape photo of the city from this fortress. Painted Mosque (Sarena Dzamija) and its arasta, Travnik bazaar, the grave of Selami Yurdan, the first Turk martyred in the 92-95 war, tombs of viziers that have managed to survive to the present day, Clock Tower. Guests who wish can have lunch with a menu consisting of Travnik's famous meatballs at the restaurant located in the bazaar after our tour (our lunch recommendation). After free time, we set off towards Sarajevo. We stop by Ahmici village, located on our way and hosted great suffering on April 16, 1993. (Travnik – Ahmici 20 km). We visit the martyrs' monument built in the courtyard of the Ahmici village mosque and the exhibition hall containing photos of the massacre. After listening to the stories of 116 people killed, the youngest being 3 months old and the oldest 86 years old, from our guide, departure to Sarajevo. Upon arrival, we proceed to our local restaurant to have our dinners. After our meal, move to our hotel and accommodation.

After our early breakfast at our hotel, we complete our check-out procedures from the hotel and settle into our bus with our belongings. First, arrival at the national park "Vrelo Bosne", which is the source of the Bosna river at the foot of Mount Igman, where the 1984 Winter Olympics were held. In this natural park where swans and wild ducks live freely, we have the opportunity to see water sources and every shade of green and autumn depending on the season. Then we visit the Tunnel of Life (Tunnel of Hope), which was dug under the airport and was one of the most critical moves of the Bosniaks in the war between 92 and 95. In this tunnel and museum, which broke the Siege of Sarajevo, considered the longest siege in history (4 years 4 months) and changed the course of the war, we feel the war with a 15-minute video prepared from original footage. After visiting this museum where a photo gallery, war map, and tools used during the war are exhibited, departure to the airport. After passport and customs procedures, flight to Istanbul and arrival.