- 1
Day 1-2: Tirana, Albania
Starting your Albanian vacation with an afternoon arrival, our small group tour begins with a delightful dinner at a restaurant that specializes in serving traditional local food.
Day 2 is a full day tour, including Et'hem Bey Mosque (beautiful and unusual exterior frescoes), the Clock Tower, and the National Historic Museum. We also visit the area of Tirana called Blloku (“The Block”), the location of former Communist dictator Enver Hoxha and politburo members had their villas.
- 2
Day 3: Tirana – Apollonia – Saranda (via the sea route)
Tour the ancient city of Apollonia, founded in 558 BC by settlers from Corfu and Corinth.
Afterwards, enjoy a brief stop at the top of Llogora Gorge with wonderful views of the coast below before continuing on a pleasant drive, approx. 2 hrs, along the Albanian Riviera passing quaint small coastal villages enroute to Saranda.
- 3
Day 4: Saranda-Butrint -Saranda
This morning visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint. This site is extraordinary!
This afternoon, a short walking tour. In the town center, the ancient ruins are thought to be one of the earliest Jewish Synagogues in Albania, approximately dating to the 4th century AD. You will have some independent time to browse if you wish.
Dinner at Lekursi Castle & Restaurant to enjoy sunset.
- 4
Day 5: Drive to Berat
Visit Berat, a UNESCO site. We proceed first to the wonderful Citadel (a walled fortress complex), where people continue to live. We will have lunch at a traditional restaurant inside the Citadel.
Afterwards, a walk around the large citadel complex visiting the Onufri Museum (an old Orthodox church which displays many of the iconic paintings by Onufri and his followers) and several churches and mosques. Enjoy spectacular views and observe everyday life as we wander about.
From here go to the old town where you overnight in a traditional Berat house turned hotel
- 5
Macedonia
Day 6: Berat - Pogradec & Tushemisht - Ohrid
We drive approx. 3.5-4 hours to Ohrid.
After 3 hrs drive, arrive at Pogradec on the southern shore of lake Ohrid. A stop for lunch at a lovely restaurant on the shore of the lake.
After lunch, it’s a twenty-minute drive to the border with Macedonia, passing thru the picturesque village of Tushemisht and then Drilon, a place of natural beauty which the Albanian dictator used for relaxation and fishing.
Five minutes after crossing into Macedonia, arrive at Sveti Naum and visit the monastery complex St. Naum (dated from 9th century). It is situated on a rock right above the lake, a monument of and devoted to the miracle worker St Nahum. Tour here approx. 1 hr.
Afterwards, continue drive, 45 minutes, to Ohrid, enjoying panoramic views of Lake Ohrid, Galicica National Park, fishing villages stretching along the lake`s coast: Pestani, Trpejca, Lubanista seeing their typical rural architecture.
Arrive at the stunning, mountain-fringed shores of Lake Ohrid. Transfer to your hotel facing the lake
- 6
Macedonia
Day 7: Ohrid
We explore the town of Ohrid, Macedonia on foot. Situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid at 695m above sea level, the town is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe.
Stunning architecture and landscapes!
- 7
Macedonia
Day 8-9: Ohrid-St. Jovan Bigorski-Skopje
A scenic drive through the mountains and villages, following along the border with Albania, will take us to the Monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski (famous for its beautiful wood carved iconostasis) before reaching Skopje with its 6th century fortress and 15th century stone bridge.
Full day visit of Skopje.
- 8
Kosovo
Day 10: Skopje - Prizren- Monastery Visoki Decani,-Pec (Peja)
We drive north crossing the border to Prizren, an important trading town, through which passed old roads towards the Adriatic coast and the interior of the Balkan peninsula.
After our tour of Prizren, continue to Pec/Peja. Enroute visit Monastery Visoki Decani, UNESCO. There are currently about 22 monks living here at this time.
Transfer to hotel
- 9
Serbia
Day 11: Pec (Peja) - Novi Pazar-Kopaonik
This morning we visit of the magnificent Patriarchate of Pec, UNESCO. The complex has four churches built from 1220 to 1330. The nuns returned to the Patriarchate in 1957 to maintain and care for it. There are currently twenty-five nuns residing here at this time
Those signed up for the tour ending in Kosovo will return to Tirana today with the guide and depart on Day 12.
Those on the full tour, cross the border, scenic drive along the valley of the River Ibar, to the southern Serbian town of Novi Pazar, capital of the southern area of Serbia called Sandzak. It is a predominantly Muslim community.. It is a predominately Muslim community. Enjoy a walking tour of Old Town--very Turkish; and visit another UNESCO site, Sopocani Monastery, one of the best monasteries in Serbia.
Continue to Continue to Kopaonik in the mountains, for overnight.
- 10
Day 12: Monastery Studenica (UNESCO) – Sirogojno- Zlatibor
We start with a drive to Monastery Studenica (UNESCO site), founded by Stefan Nemanja. This is considered to be the crowning achievement of medieval culture and art in Serbia.
Continuing our journey, we ascend to Mount Zlatibor, a National Park of golden pines.
- 11
Day 14: Monastery Studenica - Sirogojno-Zlatibor
Start with a drive to Monastery Studenica (UNESCO site), founded by Stefan Nemanja. This is considered to be the crowning achievement of medieval culture and art in Serbia
Then beautiful drive through the countryside to the open-air museum village of Sirogojno.
Continuing our journey, we ascend to Mount Zlatibor, a National Park of golden pines, after which it got its name (Zlatan - golden,Bor – pine tree).
- 12
Day 13: Belgrade
This morning drive to Belgrade with en-route stops in the towns of Oplenac and Topola.
- 13
Day 14-15: Belgrade
Two full days touring including a walking tour of the main square, the fortress of Kalemegdan, the bohemian/artist quarters of Skradarlija, Tito's Complex and New Belgrade.
- 14
Day 16: Depart Belgrade
