Balkans Itinerary – Albania and Montenegro Tour

Day 1 - Budva
On arrival at either Dubrovnik, Budva, Podgorica or Tirana, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Budva to check-in. Depending on the time of your arrival, there should be time to visit the old town. The Old Town, along with the city of Budva was said to have been discovered by a Greek sailor by the name of Boutoua. Much of the architecture in the Old Town is of Venetian design and you will find doors, hinges, windows, balconies and many other small but noticeable things seem to hold the Roman style of the Republic of Venice.
Overnight in Budva (B)

Day 2 - Perast and Kotor
This morning you will get to visit Perast, the most picturesque baroque town on the whole of the Adriatic coast. Begin with a drive along the panoramic road overlooking the Boka Bay before you take a boat tour to get an artificial island, built in the 15th century. Here you will visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rock and the museum built on the island. The Church is a shrine and a treasury which houses a large collection of silver votive tablets. It’s then time for a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Kotor. The old port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period and is a the typical Mediterranean landscape. Her you get to explore the old town and the Cathedral of St Thryphon, before later that afternoon travelling to Petrovac. Overnight in Petrovac (B)

Day 3 - Lovcen National Park, Njegusi and Cetinje
Today you will discover the charms of Lovćen National Park and Njegusi while enjoying the spectacular mountain landscapes and visiting traditional Montenegrin villages. You begin the day with a drive to Lovcen Mountain, home to important cultural and architectural heritage. There is the opportunity if you wish to climb the 461 steps to the top of one its peaks, located at 1657 metres above sea level. Here you will find the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, a Montenegrin poet, philosopher, and prince.
Next stop is Njegusi, a traditional Montenegrin town hidden in the mountains. You will explore its picturesque streets and can admire the views they offer of the Dinaric Alps across the bay. Why not try some of the famous Njegusi prosciutto and other locally produced ham and cheeses?

The next stop on this Balkan itinerary is Cetinje, the ancient capital of Montenegro. Founded at the foot of Lovcen Mountain in the 13th century, it is at an altitude of 650 metres above sea level, in a unique climate zone. The city is called an open-air museum and it is the country’s cultural centre with many historical and architectural monuments. Take a guided tour of the city and visit the Monastery of Cetinje. This was built in 1701 by Bishop-Prince Danilo, the founder of the Petrović Njegoš dynasty. In the afternoon you will return to the hotel in Petrovac.
Overnight in Petrovac (B)

Day 4 - Sveti Stefan Island, Shkodra and Tirana
Your tour continues as we travel to Sveti Stefan Island, one of the most exclusive summer resorts of Adriatic coast. This island was once a shelter during attack by pirates and Turks, but today it is home to a luxury hotel with private access for exclusive guests. This was where tennis player Novak Đoković chose as his wedding destination. You leave the luxury of Sveti Stefan Island and continue to Shkodra, the most important town of northern Albania and the Illyrian capital in the 3rd century BC. Here at Rozafa Castle, enjoy the spectacular views and experience the supremacy the Illyrians would have felt over their enemies standing in such an imposing castle.
Overnight in Tirana (B)

Day 5 – Kruja and Durres
Today’s destination is the historic town of Kruja, located 32km northwest of Tirana, on the slopes of Sari-Salltiku Mountain. Here you can visit The Restored Castle and Citadel, Scanderbeg and the old Bazaar for souvenirs. There is the option of taking lunch in traditional restaurant in Kruja before travelling on to Durres, the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. Legend says that it was founded by Epidamnos, the Illyrian King of the area, who called it by his own name and named the port area after his grandson, Dyrrah.
Overnight in Durres or Tirana (B)

Day 6 – Berat and Cobo winery
After breakfast we set off to explore Berat one of the most attractive towns in Albania. This UNESCO world heritage site is considered one of the best examples of Ottoman architecture outside of Turkey. Visit the castle which still has a living quarter within it and the Onufri museum. Onufri was an Albanian Icon master painter of the 16th century who painted many orthodox churches in Albania and Greece. You can finish the day with a visit to a local a vineyard to try some of the local tasting Albanian wine. (Optional)
Overnight in Berat (B)

Day 7 – Ardenice, Apollonia and Vlora
After breakfast, your tour leaves for Vlora. On the way you stop at the Monastery of Ardenica. Inside you can admire the paintings from 1743-1745 by Albanian artists such as Konstandin and Athanos Zografi, as well as Konstandin Shpataraku. Then continue to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia, one of the most important cities in Roman times. The Roman Emperor Augustus Octavian studied here. Continue to Vlora where you will visit the Independence Museum, situated in the original house where the first Independent Albanian Government had its offices. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Overnight in Vlora (B)

Day 8 - Zvernec monastery and the Albanian Riviera
After breakfast, your Balkan tour continues to the thirteenth century, Byzantine style monastery in Zvernec. It is then time to take the winding road through the spectacular Albanian Riviera. Have a break at the town of Himara for refreshments by the sea, before the breathtaking scenery of Llogara 1000m above sea level. Your tour will then take you to the famous beaches of Saranda. In the evening, there may be the opportunity to visit the Lekuresi Fortress, with beautiful views of the bay and the Island of Corfu situated only 7 km away.
Overnight in Saranda (B)

Day 9 - Butrint
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint. It’s one of the most important archaeological sites in the country containing different artifacts and structures which date from the Bronze Age up until the 19th century. There are several major monuments including the city walls, late-antique baptistery, great basilica, the theatre and Venetian castles. The rest of the day is for you to relax on one of the Ionian beaches.
Overnight in Saranda (B)

Day 10 - Blue Eye Spring, Gjirokastra and Permet
Your trip continues to Gjirokastra but we stop on the way to visit the Blue Eye Spring, a beautiful fresh water spring that is said to look like a human eye. We continue to Gjirokastra, another UNESCO site and museum town with beautiful and very distinct architecture. The town of Gjirokastra is built on the slope of a hill and is known for its characteristic and narrow coble stone streets. The city was besieged and captured by the Ottomans in the 15th century, but unlike many other towns in Albania it flourished under its new rulers. In the 17th century it had over 2000 houses and was a very important trading town. The castle itself stands like a balcony over the city and gives visitors a wonderful view of the local area. Afterwards, you will travel to Permet through breathtaking scenery of the mountainous areas of Leskovik and Kolonja.
Overnight in Permet (B)

Day 11 - Korca and Pogradec
After breakfast, continue the tour to Korca, where you visit the Museum of Medieval Arts and the Mosque of Mirahori, one of the oldest in the country. In the afternoon we travel to Voskopoja, one of the most important towns in the Balkans since the beginning of the 18th century. Here you can visit a number of monuments and Churches with frescoes from the Zeografi brothers. We end the day by travelling to Pogradec on the shores of Lake Ohrid. There should be time for a visit to what used to be the old fishing villa of the dictator before visiting the small village of Tushemisht to explore traditional village life. Overnight in Tushemisht or Pogradec (B)

Day 12 - Sveti Naum Monastery and Ohrid
Our journey continues to the Sveti Naum Monastery, a captivating religious complex nestled amidst breathtaking scenery. After immersing ourselves in the monastery's rich history and architecture, we return to Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cultural significance. The afternoon unfolds with a series of visits. We view the Church of St. Sophia, a magnificent structure dating back to the 11th century, before venturing to St. Clement's Church, a masterpiece of Byzantine and Italian Renaissance art that dominates the Old Town. At Plaoshnik, we step back in time to the 9th century, where St. Clement of Ohrid established Europe's first university, educating an impressive 3,500 students. We then ascend to St. John at Kaneo, a picturesque church perched on a promontory overlooking the lake and mountains, offering panoramic vistas that will leave you speechless. Finally, we visit Samuil Fortress, a testament to the region's rich history, before concluding our day with an overnight stay in Ohrid.
Overnight Ohrid (B)

Day 13 – Elbasan, Dajti mountain and Tirana
Your brief excursion into North Macedonia ends as we head back to Tirana. On the way you will stop for a coffee and visit Elbasani Castle and view the Saint Mary Church, located inside the castle. The drive continues to Tirana and in the afternoon, we take a relaxed trip up the mountain with the Dajti Express cable car gondolas. Here, on your last night of the Balkan tour of Albania and Montenegro, you will get great views over Tirana and its surroundings.
Overnight in Tirana (B)

Day 14 - Tirana
After breakfast at a suitable time, you will be met and transferred to the airport for your departure flight.