Western Balkans Highlights

Arrival in Albania and transfer from the airport to Tirana. In Tirana we visit Et’hem Beu Mosque, Mother Theresa square, ex- residential area called the “Block”. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Accommodation in “Golden City” Hotel.

Today we visit Kruja, the castle and Scanderbeg Museum. Lunch will be in the agritourist center of Marikaj. Free time in the afternoon in Tirana.

We continue traveling to Ardenica monastery, the place where our National Hero Scanderbeg was married in the 15th century. Arrival in Berat, a city protected by UNESCO. We visit the castle and Onufri museum. Lunch in the castle of Berat. In the afternoon we walk through Mangalem and Gorica neighborhoods to finish in grandeur with a photo shooting of Mangalem quarter by night.

Stopover in Vlora, the city where the independence of Albania was proclaimed in 1912. In Llogara N.P we will have lunch as we listen to Isopoliphonia a traditional way of singing in Southern Albania. The journey continues to Saranda through Himara, Borsh and the other villages. Along the way we will have several breaks in Himarë, Borsh, Porto Palermo etc.

Tour Butrint archeological center. Next we travel to Gjirokastra where we visit the Castle and the Ethnographic Museum. We continue driving to Përmet where we will be accommodated. Free time in the afternoon. Tonight we have invited a Folk Group who will perform for us traditional melodies called: Kaba from Përmet region.

Today we travel through Ersekë and the Gërmenj Park were will have an organized picnic lunch. In the afternoon we reach Korçë where we visit the city center, Mirahori Mosque and Icon’s Museum.

When we will be in Tushemisht we can relax and enjoy a coffee in Drilon, a place which attracted very often even the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha and have lunch as well. We cross the border between Albania – Macedonia through Tushemisht border check-point and visit the venerated monastery of Saint Naum. After the monastery we drive to Ohrid where we will be accommodated.

Ohrid is one of the oldest cities of the Balkans, an important center of the Episcopal Church of Rome and Byzantium. Today will visit Samuel castle, Saint John Caneo, the amphitheater etc.Next (all optional) we can take a boat and sail through Ohrid. The remainder of the day at group leisure.

We resume driving to the city of Skopje via Ohrid – Tetovo – Skopje. In the afternoon we visit in Skopje the: Macedonian Square, Stone Bridge, Old Bazaar, Mother Theresa memorial house, Old train station etc.

Today we travel to Prizren. Prizren is one of the few cities in Kosovo to have 3 religious communities cohabiting together (Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim). It is known as well as for the Albanian National Weakening movement. Lunch will be organized in the vicinity of Prizren. On the way from Skopje to Prizren we will stop several times to enjoy the nature.

Next we travel to Gjakova and visit the Ottoman bazaar, one of the longest in the Balkan. Arrival in Decani where we visit the Serbian Orthodox Monastery protected by UNESCO. Visoki Dečani is one of the largest medieval churches in the Balkan beautifully preserved to nowadays. It stores many frescos dating to the 14th century. After the visit in Deçan we travel to Rugova gorge for lunch. In the afternoon we head back to Peja and visit another important religious site for the Serbian people, that of Peja Patriarchate. The Serbian Patriarchate of Peja is considered a place of exceptional importance for the Serbian people because it is the place from where the Serbs through their Archbishops all crowned here, preserve their National and Spiritual Identity.

We continue to Budva – Montenegro, driving through Rozaje – Kolasin – Cetinje – Budva. Along the way we make several short breaks combined with walking and photo stops. In Cetinje we have a city walk through the old Montenegrin Capital and it’s historic buildings. From Cetinje we drive to Budva as one of the most interesting coastal towns of the Adriatic sea.

Visit the castle of Budva and old town. Transfer to Kotor a city part of UNESCO World Heritage list. Next we travel to a traditional restaurant near Kotor to experience true Montenegrin cuisine. Proceed to Shkodër, Albania through Budva – Bar – Muriqan (PKK) – Shkodër where we will be accommodated.

We take a walk through the pedestrian street renovated recently. The pedestrian street leads us to the Catholic Cathedral one of the biggest in the Balkan. Next we drive to the castle of Rozafa and visit this imposing castle which dates back to the 4th century BC. Transfer to the airport. End of the program.