8 days
Daily Tour
20 people
English
Discover amazing sites in these 8 days in Albania Kosovo and Macedonia Tour. Also explore the culture, history, and nature of this part of the Balkans. Which used to be closed to tourists for a long time but is now ready to be discovered.
Learn about the capital of Albania. Tirana is not only the capital of Albania, but it is also the main economic and cultural center of the country. Life in Tirana revolves around the beautiful Scanderbeg Square located in the center of the city. This retreat in the middle of the bustle of the biggest city in Albania boasts museums, an Opera house, the Palace of Culture, and countless shops and cozy cafes.
The buildings you will see as you walk around the square are a reflection of the periods that have influenced Tirana’s architecture. Only the Clock Tower and Et’hem Bey Mosque remain as reminders of the city’s Ottoman past.
Start by learning about the medieval history of Albanians in Krujë, the place where the name “Albania” originates from. Kruja is a place of Heroes and tales as old as its history. The cobblestone streets in the old town whisper about wars and invasions but also about a great man who did not let his country fall into the hands of the enemy. The ethnographic museum in Kruja shows Albanian daily life throughout the years. However, just behind the ethnographic museum is the Scanderbeg Museum which shows the history of one of the Greatest Albanian Heroes.
The Museum of Scanderbeg was designed as an ancient fortress. It is composed of separate pavilions, each representing a piece of Kruja, Albania’s heroic struggle against Ottoman invasion. These include the pavilion of antiquity and early middle age, the Albanian princedom pavilion, the pavilion of the ottoman invasion, the medieval fortress pavilion, and the Albanian resistance pavilion.
Each of these, in its own way, reflects the life and activity of Albania’s most famous national hero.
Kruja Castle was built in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. Charles I of Anjou rebuilt the walls in the 13th century and the Turks rebuilt them again some centuries later. In 1617 an earthquake caused great damage to the walls, after which they were reinforced with 9 towers. The highest and most well-defended part of the fortress is a clock tower. It used to serve as an observation platform during times of war.
These 8 days in Albania Kosovo and Macedonia continue with a trip to Koman Lake. We will see the three power-plants installed in the lake which together produce about 60-70% of Albania’s electric needs.
We will sail through the lake for about 2 hours, enjoying one of the most scenic routes in Albania. Once we reach the other side of the lake we will take the minibus and transfer to the town of Gjakova in Kosovo. In the afternoon the group will have some free time to explore the city.
Meanwhile, learn more about the Christian heritage of the area through the Fresco narration at the Patriarchate of Peja. Many consider it the mother of all Serbian Orthodox Churches. Peja is a beautiful city in Kosovo, that deserves a visit as it is of historical and cultural heritage. In Peja, you will learn about the Kosovar War.
Then take a guided tour of Ohrid, the lake-side UNESCO city with a rich and ancient history dating back to the 4th century BC. By the end of 8 days in the Albania Kosovo Macedonia Tour, you will have experienced a wide range of Balkan life. Likewise will most likely have fallen in love with our beautiful region.
8 days in Albania Kosovo and Macedonia to remember.
After the group lands in Albania, you will be welcomed by the Albanian travel agency representatives. Next we transfer from the airport to the hotel in the capital city of Albania, Tirana. In the afternoon we will visit some of the best sites in Tirana, including Scanderbeg square, Et’hem Bey mosque, Toptan Castle, and the Pyramid.
In the morning we will visit Kruja, its castle, and Scanderbeg Museum. Kruja was the most important town for the Albanians during the 15th century. It successfully withstood at least three major sieges by the Ottoman Empire. The museum we will visit, is dedicated to the Albanian medieval hero Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg. Lunch will be in the agritourist center of Marikaj where will experience true Albanian hospitality.
Our day starts with a trip to Koman Lake. We will see the three power-plants installed in the lake which together produce about 60-70% of Albania's electric needs. We will sail through the lake for about 2 hours, enjoying one of the most scenic routes in Albania. Once we reach the other side of the lake we will take the minibus and transfer to the town of Gjakova in Kosovo. In the afternoon the group will have some free time to explore the city.
Our journey will take us to Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo. There we will visit the Museum of Kosovo, the Etnographic Museum and the center of the city. The next transfer is to Peja where we will visit one of the most important Serbian religious sites, the Patriarchate. The Patriarchate is part of UNESCO Heritage list. In the afternoon we travel to Gjakova to visit the Grand Bazaar, Hadumi Mosque and Tekke complex.
We will travel to a very important city during the Albanian National Awakening Movement of the 19th century, Prizren, Kosovo. There we will visit the memorial house of the Albanian League, Sinan Pasha’s mosque, the Orthodox church and the center. Prizren is well known for its beautiful mosques and preserved churches. During the Ottoman period, Prizren was one of the most important centers of the Kosivar Vilayet (an ottoman administrative district). Leaving Prizren, we will travel through the scenic route of the Sharri Mountains towards Ohrid, Macedonia.
With the assistance of the local guide, we we will visit Samuel castle, Saint John Caneo, the amphitheater, and more. Lunch will be in Ohrid. In the afternoon we will travel to visit Saint Naum monastery, deeply venerated by Macedonians. Saint Naum helped spread the Bible and increased the literacy rate in the region.
Our journey will lead us toward Albania through Qafa e Thanes border control. The first stop will be in Elbasan where we will visit the Ottoman Castle and Saint Mary Church. We will then reach Tirana where our first visit will be in the newly opened bunker which was designed as an anti-atomic bunker for the chief of staff and the leadership during communism.
Breakfast in Tirana. In the morning before departure we visit the National History Museum. We will then head to the Airport where our tour will end.
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