from 939.00€ 845.10€
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Balkan Jewels: Intensive Tour of Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo & N. Macedonia

Not Rated

Duration

5

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

8 people

Languages

___

Overview

Number of PersonsPrice / Person
Group 8+ pax939€
Group 2-7 pax1174€
Solo Traveler2230€

Explore the Balkan Jewels in five days, admiring the breathtaking views of UNESCO world heritage sites in Kotor, Ohrid and Berat.  Go back in history while walking through the narrowed streets in Budva and Prizren. Admire the view of Sveti Stefan and visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Kotor, Ohrid and Berat on this Balkan Jewels Tour.

Important information:

* All participants are responsible for having their own health/travel insurance.

*Please ensure you bring your passport or travel document with you during the trip.

*Kindly note that visa requirements are the responsibility of each traveler and Choose Balkans cannot advise on different requirements or restrictions.

* Single Supplement: To guarantee tour departure even for one participant we require a single supplement. If other participants join this tour, you will be refunded 50% of the single supplement amount (528 Euros) and your room occupancy will still be private. We organize small groups up to 8 pax. Please contact us if you are a larger group of participants for a quotation.

* Please note that prices are calculated on double/twin/triple/quadruple room occupancy in 3 star hotel accommodation.

* Single room occupancy is possible at an additional 45 Euro per night per person in 3 star hotel accommodation.

* Private tour is possible at an additional 225 Euros/person.

* Hotel upgrade is possible, please enquire within.

* Children pricing: Age 0 – 1.99 Free of charge; Age 2+ full fare.

* Choose Balkans reserves the rights to add other participants in and during the tour program. If you are interested in a private tour, please contact us for a quotation.

* Private tour is possible at an additional 180 Euros/person.

* Tour’s schedule or itinerary may be affected/adopted due to; weather, Acts of God, labour strikes, bank holidays, site temporary closure/renovation or other external forces outside the Company’s control.

* On request this tour may also depart from other cities of Albania or neighbouring countries such as Kosovo, Montenegro or N. Macedonia. Please contact us for more information on the extra costs.

* Please note that Choose Balkans needs to receive the net (full) quoted amount. Transaction and payment fees are on the sender (you in this case). We will notify you with a print screen of the amount received at our account as soon as we receive your down payment.

* Please note that Credit/Debit card payments are possible at our office in Tirana and apply a 5% bank commission.

* If you confirm to book this tour or any other service offered by Choose Balkans, via Choose Balkans official channels; email/facebook/whatsapp/phonecall or any other form of communication it means that you have read and agreed to the terms &conditions. 

https://choosebalkans.com/terms-conditions-tours/

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • Viewpoint of Sveti Stefan
  • Old historical center of Budva
  • St. Ivan church in Budva
  • The small church of St. Mary in Budva
  • Saint Luke’s church in Kotor
  • Old Town of Kotor
  • Shkodra castle (Kalaja e Rozafes)
  • The pedestrian street (Pedonale) in Shkoder
  • The Catholic Cathedral in Shkodra
  • The Great Mosque in Shkodra
  • Mrizi i Zanave agrotourism
  • The Old Town in Prizren
  • The bazaar in Prizren
  • Prizren fortress
  • The Archeological Museum and its tower in Prizren
  • Sinan Pasha Mosque in Prizren
  • Newborn monument in Pristina
  • Boulevard in Pristina
  • Skanderberg square in Pristina
  • Stone Bridge in Skopje
  • Art Bridge in Skopje
  • Alexander the Great statue in Skopje
  • Old Bazaar in Skopje
  • Viewpoint of St. John at Kaneo
  • Mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke in Ohrid
  • Ohrid bazaar and shopping area
  • The ruins of Ohrid Amphitheater
  • Fortress of Berat
  • Mangalem neighbourhood in Berat
  • Gorica neighbourhood in Berat
  • “Ura e Gorrices” – Gorrica Bridge in Berat
  • The Onufri Museum OR Ethnographic Museum in Berat
  • Xhamia e Beqarit – Bachelor’s Mosque in Berat

Itinerary

Day 1 Tirana (Albania) – Viewpoint of Sveti Stefan (Montenegro) – Budva – Kotor – Montenegrin Riviera
Day 1 Tirana (Albania) – Viewpoint of Sveti Stefan (Montenegro) – Budva – Kotor – Montenegrin Riviera

Our tour leader will pick you up from your hotel in Tirana. Be prepared for a long but amazing day! Our first destination for today is Budva in Montenegro, before getting there we will make a stop at a viewpoint of Sveti Stefan, historically a fishing town on a small island near the coast. However nowadays it is not possible to visit the island anymore as it has turned into an exclusive residential resort. Even while standing on the coast, Sveti Stefan is worth a picture.
We will drive towards Budva, famous for its beaches, gorgeous nature and old characteristic buildings. The city is separated between an old and new part. On the one hand, in the New Budva, there are many modern buildings, offices, shopping malls, restaurants and bars. On the other hand, in the Old Budva, there is the historical centre and many sights to visit, such as the St. Ivan church, the small church of St. Mary and the medieval splendours of the old town.
Our second destination is Kotor, a UNESCO world heritage site. The city is a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets crisscrossing the old town. The intention was to confuse intruders who came to plunder the town, while nowadays it characterizes the city. Many of the old buildings and churches have small plaques on it with their dates of construction and original use. We will visit the Saint Luke’s church which has a great significance for the locals because it represents unity to them. Overnight near the Montenegrin Riviera.

Day 2 Montenegrin Riviera – Shkoder (Albania)
Day 2 Montenegrin Riviera – Shkoder (Albania)

From Montenegro, we will cross the border to Shkoder, Albania. The city is situated in the north-western part of Albania, giving its name to the biggest lake in the Balkans. It is one of the oldest cities in Albania, with a history of a thousand years of habitation. The oldest wall of the Shkodra castle dates from the 1st millennium BCE. The Roman historian Livy cited the town as the capital of the Illyrian king Gent, who fought the Romans in 168 B.C. We will visit Rozafa castle offering tremendous scenery of the lake and the three rivers melting all together in the Adriatic Sea. The city’s architecture is highly influenced by the Venetian style and if you are lucky enough to join the tour of Shkodra in February you might experience the carnival festival. Most of the guests are surprised to learn that most of the Venetian masks are handmade and produced in Shkoder. The city’s favourable geographic position has always been an important trading mark through the centuries, making it possible for different civilizations to encounter. Overnight in Shkoder.

Day 3 Shkoder – Mrizi i Zanave Agrotourism – Prizren (Kosovo)
Day 3 Shkoder – Mrizi i Zanave Agrotourism – Prizren (Kosovo)

Our first destination for today is one of the best slow food Agro-tourism farms in the Balkans where we will take a tour around the farm. In addition, we will learn how the farm started and created jobs for more than 400 people in the surrounding area. The property collects, elaborates and preserves regional bio fresh local products and we will also learn how this family business adopted old communist buildings to serve as storage for local bio products. You will have free time to enjoy a traditional lunch or buy fresh produce products.
After this unique experience we will continue our tour towards Prizren, considered as the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. If you are looking to experience a lively international experience you should visit Prizren during August when the medieval city becomes home to one of the most famous short film festivals in the world named Dokufest. The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention. Filigree artisanal techniques for precious metals are Prizren’s joy and pride, don’t miss the experience of shopping for unique pieces in one of the many filigree stores. If you have to choose just one mosque to visit then visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, rich in arabesque colour and pattern. The view from the fortress on the hill above the town offers a great panorama of the city. Free afternoon in Prizren. Overnight in Prizren.

Day 4 Prizren – Pristina – Skopje (N. Macedonia) – Ohrid
Day 4 Prizren – Pristina – Skopje (N. Macedonia) – Ohrid

Before heading towards N. Macedonia, we will visit the capital of Kosovo, Pristina where we will see the Newborn monument, a symbol of the new country's independence. We will walk towards the main boulevard in the capital, Sheshi Nena Tereza, where you can enjoy a coffee at one of the many cafes and bars. Here we will also pass the Skanderberg square with the statue of Skanderberg himself, the national Albanian hero.
Our tour continues towards Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, where the city has European, Ottoman and even Asian influences. The Stone Bridge connects the new part to the old part of the city. Impossible to miss in Skopje is the Alexander the Great Statue in the center. Another bridge that stands out is the Art Bridge, lined with flamboyant street lanterns and statues of Macedonian artists and musicians. We will wander through the Old Bazaar of Skopje, the biggest one in the Balkans, that combines the modern way of living with centuries of history. The cross on top of the mountain can be seen kilometres away from Skopje and has become a symbol of the city. Overnight in Ohrid.

Day 5 Ohrid – Berat (Albania) – Tirana
Day 5 Ohrid – Berat (Albania) – Tirana

Today we will continue our city tour of Ohrid, one of the most beautiful destinations in N. Macedonia, indicated as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Ohrid city and Ohrid Lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980. Ohrid Lake and its surroundings where inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys. The Lake was named by the Romans as “Lyhnidas” (the Light Lake). Our tour continues to the city of Ohrid, an important centre of Orthodoxy where we will continue our tour and visit the famous view point of church of St. John, the church of St. Nicolas and the mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke. Ohrid became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. During the Ottoman Empire the city grew on the hills and surrounding areas by the lake. Today the city is famous for its architecture, the churches, the castle on top of the city, the amphitheatre, the beautiful view of the lake surrounded by mountains and the pearls from the lake.
Later we will drive towards Berat (Albania), known as the town of 1001 windows part of UNESCO world heritage. Walking through the narrowed stone streets offers a fantastic view of the medieval old houses, with windows that seem to stand on top of each other. The city’s life began in the 6th-5th century B.C. as an Illyrian settlement. Later, in the 3rd century B.C., it was turned into a castle city known as Antipatrea. Uniquely today, residents still live inside of the castle walls. Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communist era in Albania. Berat is also known as the birthplace of Onufri, the famous painter of churches all-over the Balkans, distinguished for creating a specific reddish colour still difficult to imitate. We will continue our tour and visit the Gorica Neighbourhood before heading back to Tirana. This marks the end of this amazing experience through history and culture.

Included/Excluded

  • BB (Accommodation and Breakfast) for all overnights, in 3 star hotels
  • Private transport provided by the Company
  • Professional tour leader
  • Hotel pick up in Tirana
  • Hotel drop off in Tirana
  • Entry tickets for the ‘’will be visited’’ sites
  • Tourist taxes
  • Road taxes
  • International car insurance
  • Petrol
  • Lunches, Dinners, Drinks & Snacks
  • Personal spending
  • Everything that is not mentioned in the included
  • * Tips are not a must in Albania or the Balkans, however, our recommendation is to tip the tour leader/driver as an international practice to tip good service.

Epic journeys

Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off
Personal Tour Guide
Road taxes
Tourists taxes

Tour's Location

10%
from 939.00€ 845.10€

Inquiry

Organized by

Choose Balkans

Member Since 2020

Information Contact

Email

[email protected]

Website

https://choosebalkans.com/

Phone

+355684400400

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