Explore the Highlights of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia

Explore the highlights of Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia
Discover three fascinating countries on this two-week trip, including one of the world’s newest countries: Kosovo. Independent since 2008, Kosovo is often referred to as ‘newborn.’ Along with Albania and Macedonia, this is a region that is off the beaten track and most travelers still know little about. On this trip, you’ll have the chance to get to know them by exploring their varied treasures from their rich history to their incredible scenery including dramatic mountains, lakes, and pretty valleys.

Day 1. Tirana Airport- Kruja:

Landing in Tirana airport. Meet our representative and drive to Kruja o/n kruja. Hotel Panorama. Diner with a folk live folk show at Hotel Panorama.

Day 2.Kruja- Lezha- Shkodra

After breakfast, we will start a sightseeing tour of  Kuja including the Skanderbeg museum, ethnographic museum, and bazaar. Time for shopping in the old bazaar. Continue to the Holly mountain of Sarisalltik and visit the Bectasci Teqe (Sufi Dervishes Sanctuary) located at 1400m. Drive to Shkodra, before we drive Shkodra. We will stop in a Family private house in Fushe – Kruja. Where we can meet with local people, visit the house, the garden and try Albanian traditional homemade spirit  ‘Raki’. Drive to Shkodra, Visit Rozafa Castle. Overnight in Shkodra. Dinner at Local Restaurant close to our Hotel

Day 3–  Shkodra- Komani- Lake- Fierza- B. Curri- Valbona

In the early morning, we will drive, to Koman to rich the ferry, which goes through the spectacular canyon of river Drin. The lake is created, after the construction of the dam of Koman, in the 80-ies. Arrive in Fierza. Transfer to Bajram Curri town, where we will have a traditional lunch in one of the best restaurants in town. Later the transfer will continue along the beautiful valley of river Valbona, until the picturesque location of Valbona, where we will stay overnight. Dinner and accommodation: village of Valbona  Dinner and Overnight at  Hotel Margjeka

Day 4 Valbona- B. Curri- Decane-Gjakovo (Kosovo) – Prizren

After breakfast back to the town of Bajram Curri, cross the Border to Kosovo Arrive at Decani Monastery visit the monastery and drive to  Gjakova town, Sightseeing the town and bazaar. Time for lunch, later we will drive to City of Prizren ss tour of  Prizren including league of Prizren museum, Overnight in hotel Theranda Dinner at Local Restaurant

 Day 5.- Prizren- Prishtina- Skopje

After breakfast drive to Pristine. Sightseeing tour of Prishtina. Then continue to Skopje the capital of Macedonia start the city tours including, fortress, Turkish bath, art museum, old city and bazaar, national museum, monument mother Theresa, the stone bridge, old Bazar, monument of the holocaust, Overnight in Hotel 4* Hotel Bushi Resort. Dinner at Local Restaurant

Day 6. Skopje Mavrovo- Struga-  Ohrid: 

After breakfast drive to  Mavrovo National Mavrovo drive through Mavrovo lake and canyons of Rivier Radika. Leave Mavrovo to matka canyon. Including Matka Canyon boat trip for about 1 hour.  Time for lunch in Matka. Then continue to visit Sveti Jovan Bigorvski/Saint John  Monastery,  Drive to Struga, the town of poetry, where an international festival of poetry called the Struga Poetry Evenings. The tour starts from the Drim Hotel, the place where the River Drim flows out of Lake Ohrid. Then we do a sightseeing tour of Struga on foot. The town is located on both banks of the River Drim. First, the Church of St George is visited. We can make a coffee break afterward we will visit the cave of churches in Kalista Monastery.  Drive to Ohrid  o/n  Hotel  4*

Day 7.  Ohrid,

Tour the city of Ohrid on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia on a half-day sightseeing tour of the center of Christianity for Slavs. The 4-hour guided tour takes in all the main sights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only a handful inscribed both for their culture and natural landscape. ss Ohrid incld st.Sofia, st. klement, ikonengalerij, fortress of king samuil, plaosnik, st.kaneo. Small boat ride, visit in st.Naum, o/n ohrid. Hotel 4* 

Day 8.  Ohrid –  Bitola – Monastir – Prespes Lake – Galicica National Park- Ohrid

After breakfast  Drive to city of Bitola. The stately old architecture of Bitola goes back to more than a century ago when the town was a Centre for international diplomats to the Ottoman administration. Next to the city of Bitola will be a visit to the ruins of the ancient city of Heraclea- Drive to Prespa lake enjoying walking around the lake and drive to Galicica National Park (with local minibusses)  the continue to visit in St.Naum, o/n Ohrid. Overnight in Hotel 4*

Day 9: Elbasan – Berat. Overnight in Berat
After breakfast crossing the border into Albania, Drive to Elbasan Drive through Elbasan (ancient Scampa). A short stop to Visit its fine Ottoman walls and castle. Continue to Berat visit Berat known as a “city of one thousand windows”, and has been declared as a museum city. The old name of the city was Antipatrea. It is built on the slopes of mountain Tomori, with a castle dominating the city. At the Onufri Museum, we see paintings by this outstanding painter from the 16thC, as well as paintings from his son Nikolla. In the old part of the town, we visit several Byzantine churches known for their inspiring architecture. Overnight: Hotel Mangalemi or similar, Option visit the Cobo winery

Day 10: Bogova – Canyons of Osumit – Corovoda (including minivans) – Over night in Berat

After breakfast- Departure to the canyons of Osumi. The trip lasts 1 hour and 30 min (60 km). Arrival between canyons Osumi is a miracle among the canyons, down a blue waterfall. Then drive with local minibusses close to the mount of Tomorri. Back to Berat. Overnight in Berat Hotel  Grand White or Mangalemi

Day 11. Berat – Durres- Tirana- Tirana- Airport

Drive to Durres, After breakfast drive to Durres, one of the oldest towns in Albania dating back to the 6th century BC. Visit the old town, including the Byzantine city walls, Drive to Tirana   start sightseeing tour, see the Skanderbeg Square, the Mosque of Et’hem Bey, the Clock Tower, and the statue of G.K. Skanderbeg, Albania’s national hero; the Palace of Culture, built with Soviet assistance; and the National History Museum, with a mosaic on its facade portraying Albanian history. Walk Upon to the former Communist Residential area, with modern bars, restaurants, and pubs where populated by different age groups, Departure at 19:00 from Tirana to Tirana airport.