10 Day Grand Balkan Tour
10 Days/9 Nights Hosted Tour

Day 1

AIRPORT / TIRANA

Depending on time of arrival in Tirana, we may do a short city tour before or after check in at the hotel. In the evening, we'll have dinner at a traditional restaurant and then explore the nightlife of Tirana, walking in the ex-block area known as "the forbidden town" where the villas of the communists’ leaders are still standing next to trendy boutiques, expensive jewelry shops and active local pubs. Overnight in Hotel 4* Hotel Opera or Hermes

Day 2

TIRANA / KRUJA / DURRES / TIRANA

After breakfast drive to Kruja where you will see examples of an age of unbounded creativity. The tour begins with the visit to Kruja–one of the biggest cities in Northern Albania is the “city of history” and the best known as hometown of Albanian’s National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.
Visit to the Castle, Skanderbeg Museum and Ethnographic Museum. After the visit of the castle, is free for you to explore Kruja’s old bazaar with authentic and antique shops. Continue to Durres the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium. Formerly Durrazzo is one of the oldest towns in Albania. The 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. Visit to the town including the Byzantine city walls,Roman amphitheater and the Archaeological Museum.  Drive to Tirana, overnight in Hotel 4* Hotel 4* Hotel Opera or Hermes (B)

Day 3

TIRANA / APOLONIA / BERAT

After breakfast, proceed to the ancient Greek settlement of Apollonia – (founded in 588 BC). After the visit to Apollonia proceed to Ardenica – where is a medieval monastery surrounded by stonewalls. Here you will admire Marry Church and Saint Triadha Chapel. After the visit to Apollonia continue to Berat - the other one “Museum City”. Continue the tour of marvelous city of Berat - known as “the city of thousand  windows” Visit the lovely painted Mosque of the Bachelors and the Tekke of the Helvetis with its beautiful portico. Visit to Onuphri Icon Museum that contains some of the finest examples of his work as well as other outstanding Albanian artists. Overnight in Berat- Berat Mangalemi or Rezidenca Desaret  (B)

Day 4

BERAT / ELBASAN /POGRADEC

Morning departure to visit Pogradec - on the Roman via Egnatia route to the east. Drive through Elbasan (ancient Scampa).A short stop to Visit its fine Ottoman walls and continue to Pogradec. Arrive at Lake Ohrid - one of the deepest freshwater lakes in Europe –it is the home to a number of fish and birds found nowhere else in the world. Enjoy the lunch at local restaurant in Drilon (nice spot not far from Ohrid Lakewhich has been a preferred holiday place for the ex-dictator Hoxha) – decorated with willow trees, and streams flowing down to the lake. Overnight in Pogradec. Hotel Perla or Pogradeci (B)

Day 5

POGRADEC / OHRID, MACEDONIA

After breakfast, we will visit Drillon National  Park on the shores of Lake Ohrid. After crossing the border into Macedonia, visit the Monastery of St. Naum and the springs of the lake. Then you drive towards Ohrid town on the opposite shores of this beautiful lake. Visits to the 11th century castle and other important ancient churches and schools of Ohrid. Orthodox Byzantine monks brought Christianity to Ohrid in the 10th century from Greece through the effort of Sts. Cyril and Methodios who crafted the Cyrilic Alphabet here for overnight in in Ohrid.  Hotel in Old Town- Hotel Aleksandrija or De Lago (B)

Day 6

OHRID / SKOPJE

Skopje was an important city for the Ottomans from the end of the 14th century. The Skopje of today retains that influence and is a thriving modern city. The largest Turkish bath in the Balkans is located here and is now an art museum. Later we will visit the old Turkish bazaar and the National Museum.  Overnight in Hotel Super 8 Skopje or De Koka (B)

Day 7

SKOPJE / PRIZREN

After breakfast drive to Prizren in Kosovo, a true open air museum and one of the most beautiful towns of Kosovo. It is situated on the slopes of the Sharr Mountains and on the banks of the river Bistrica. The craftsmen of Prizren are well known for their beautiful gold and silver articles and other folk handcrafts. From all the cities of Kosovo, Prizren has best preserved the architectural style of the past. Dinner and overnight in Prizren at Hotel Theranda or Centrum (D, B)

Day 8

PRIZREN / SHKODER

Visit the old part of the town and the City Museum. Then drive to the border to cross into Albania. Arrival at the northern Albanian city of Shkodra. Shkodra has been an important city for Albania for over 2,000 years. Once part of the Venetian empire, Italian influence is everywhere evident in Shkodra. Visit Rozafa Castle Dinner and overnight in Shkodra. Hotel Carmen or Rozafa (D, B)

Day 9

SHKODER / PODGORICA / BUDVA

After breakfast we will do a city tour of Shkodra including the old town centre City Tour Marubi Phonoteka , Catholic Cathedral  , Mesi Bridge. Departure from Shkodra driving across the border into Montenegro. We will drive to capital Podgorica formerly known as Titograd.  Continue with City tour of Podgorica. Drive to Budva, one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic is now the most famous summer resort on the Montenegrin coast. We will visit the Old Town and hear the legends about the Theban king Cadmus and development of the town from Greek period to turbulent middle ages, the devastating 1976 earthquake and the latest progress of the best-known spot on the Montenegrin coast. City Walls, The Square of Poets, The Citadel, Clock Tower, the Square of Old City Church, St Trinity Church, City Harbour. Overnight in Budva, Hotel Hermes (B)

Day 10 

BUDVA / DUBROVNIK AIRPORT

After breakfast Depart from Scenic Kotorr with its scenic bay. The fjord lies just beyond on the coastal road to Croatia. It is the only fjord in the Mediterranean. Continue to Dubrovnik, Croatia (B)

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