Kosovo – Albania & North Macedonia 2025

Orientation walk and welcome dinner.
Your adventure begins once you land at Prishtina airport, where our representative will be waiting for you and to transfer you to the hotel. By evening, we meet once again for a welcome meeting and dinner at 7 pm. We’ll be collecting your insurance details and provide next kin of information at this meeting, so please bring it with you. If you can’t arrange a flight that will arrive in time for the meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you’re able to attend. If you arrive before noon, then we make sure to let you enjoy the best of your time.

The tour begins with an interesting outline of ancient historic, cultural, religious, natural and Archaeological exploration. We start the day by visiting the Gracanica Monastery (UNESCO Protected heritage), Ancient Ulpiana (one of top Roman town II A.C), Marble Cave of Gadime (natural mystery). We come back to the town, have lunch and do a city tour highlighting the best of the new and old town such as: Bazzar Mosque (the oldest Mosque in Kosovo) clock tower, ethnographic museum (300 years old Ottoman house), Yugoslavian Obelisk of Brotherhood, New Born, Heroinat Memorial, National Library, St. Teresa Cathedral.   From Prishtina, we head to Mitrovica, to deliver a brief city sightseeing, including the famous bridge over the Iber river which divides the town, and visit the mineral museum to introduce the mineral wealth of Kosovo. On the way to Mitrovica, we get the chance to see Gazimestan (monumental tower for the battle of Kosovo field, 1389) and Sulltan Murad Mausoleum.When in Mitrovica, we also go to visit Prekaz, the complex of Jashari Family, distinguished for the glorious history of the last war in Kosovo 1999. After Prekaz, we head to Peja for overnight.

The route of the day take us to the most desired cultural cradle of Kosovo. We start the day with a brief walk in Peja, to get to see the main landmarks, as the city bazaar, (also cheese bazaar if it’s Saturday), Orthodox Patriarchate of Peja, ethnographic museum, waterfall of white Drini and move to nearby town of Deqan to get to see the characteristic Albanian Kulla (towers) in Isniq / Deqan, representing Albanian Authentic architecture and also Orthodox Monastery of Deqan Visoki, another UNESCO – heritage site. Next we pass to the pretty town of Gjakova, distinguished for cultural preservation, to visit the Characteristic Old Bazaar of Gjakova, Hadum Mosque, Sheh Emini Tekke and reach Prizren the cultural capital of Kosovo for dinner and overnight. In the evening after dinner we might climb to the fortress to experience a stunning sunset over a beautiful area.

After breakfast, we enjoy an impressive walk in the old town of Prizren to get to understand why it is the iconic image of Kosovo, which makes all the country proud of it. Once done with Prizren, we cross the border to Albania to reach the terminal of Fierza lake to make our way the the ferry journey on the lake Komani and end up in Tirana. Overnight in Tirana. Free evening.

• Tirana – Sky Tower – 400 (Albanian Lek),
• Tirana – National History Museum – 700 Albanian Lek,
• Tirana – National Art Gallery – 200 Albanian Lek,
• Tirana – Bunk’Art Gallery – 500 Albanian Lek,
• Cable train to Dajti mountain (1400 Albanian Lek).
  

Tirana, the capital, is biggest city of Albania, compact, quite and diverse with architectural influences from Italy and Turkey. We enjoy a walk of central Tirana, to visit the most important landmarks, the Skanderbeg Monument, the mosaic on the National History, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, which sits right on the city’s main square. By noon, once we are done with a delicious lunch, we go visiting and enjoying emblematic town of Kruja. It hosts the most legendary landmarks of Medieval Albania. We visit its castle and Scanderbeg Museum. Kruja was the most important town for the Albanians during the 15th century, especially, for Albanian uprising, after successfully endured three major sieges by the Ottoman Empire. Besides history, the town is distinguished for local food and winery, which undoubtedly, we’re going to try it in one of many authentic restaurants. In Kruja we have some time reserved for shopping in large bazaar of Kruja, to see enormous local handicrafts, souvenirs and other local items with national or traditional motives. Out of the town, before leaning Albania stop to see the statue of former American President George D. Bush. Our tour will continue to the Archaeological Park of Apollonia, visiting nearby monastery of the 14th century, Church of St. Mary and ruins of ancient city of Apollonia of Illyria, which was founded at the beginning of the 7th century BC. The site displays lots of exemplary of antiquity and witness an ancient civilization. After tour, we reach the city of Vlora. Overnight in Vlora

Vlora is the city of Albanian Independence, major seaport and tourist resort. We have an interesting visit and to see the Independence museum. Then, we keep our way driving down south, along the spectacular Albanian Riviera, through alpine Llogara Pass, to experience the dramatic landscape. En route we pass the castle of Porto Palermo, located near Himara, also known as the castle of Ali Pashe Tepelena. Alongside the road you may observe several beautiful coastal villages like, Borsh, Qeparo, Himara and Dhermi, which are the most well-known for enchanting beaches. Anyway we stop briefly in local eatery in Himara or Dhermi Beach for refreshment. By afternoon, we arrive in Saranda and start exploring this beautiful coastal town, the Lekursi fortress overlooking the Corfu Island and Monastery. In addition, we continue to the ancient city of Butrint, another UNESCO World Heritage site, considered the best archaeological site in Albania and one of the most important in the Balkans, dating back 2500 years. It affords an impressive view around and Butrint, which is truly one of the last unspoiled natural and ancient historical spot in the Mediterranean. On the way to Gjirokaster, we also stop to experience Blue Eye, water spring as one more natural phenomenon which deserve our attention for exploration. Overnight at Gjirokaster.

After breakfast, we start a discovery walk in Gjirokaster, to explore why it’s an UNESCO heritage city, described as a ”rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town”. Exploring this stoned-houses town, cobbled stone street, old bazaar, fortress and other interesting sites, it really takes you back in time and provides you with an exciting experience.

By afternoon, we march ahead to Berat, to a comfortable journey in ‘city of one thousand windows’ and has been declared as a museum city. It is built on the slopes of mountain Tomorri, on very characteristic architecture of houses, various buildings with a dominating castle overlooking the city. We let you make sure, why Berat, presents Albanian Architectural pride.

Also, we don’t skip the chance to visit the famous Onufri Museum, with outstanding paintings and iconography from Albanian master painters. In the old part of the town we visit several Byzantine churches known for their inspiring architecture. Dinner and overnight in Berat. Option activities: since we have the half day free we advise to try some optional local activities to get the best of the town. You may visit the Cobo winery to try some authentic local wines.

From Berat, one the way to Macedonia, we stop for a brief visit to Elbasan, for seeing the city central fortress, try an authentic meal of Elbasan, before crossing the border at Qafe Thane, enter Macedonia and spend the overnight in Struga. It’s impressive stay, next to the Ohrid shore, calm, relaxing and known for the water walls.

Ohrid – it’s a kind of reason to visit Macedonia. The town is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The best part of it is the wonderful mix of natural beauty and historical monuments that makes you adore your time in here. Ohrid is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has been referred to: as “Jerusalem of the Balkans”, even though only 70 of them are already preserved. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments which makes the tourism here predominant and the professional local guide will make you sure to get to see the best of this pearl.

Ohrid – it’s a kind of reason to visit Macedonia. The town is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The best part of it is the wonderful mix of natural beauty and historical monuments that makes you adore your time in here. Ohrid is notable for once having had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a “Jerusalem of the Balkans”, even though only 70 of them are already preserved. The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. The professional local guide will make you sure to get to see the best of this pearl. Optional: Since we have all the day long to enjoy in Ohrid, we also suggest and might arrange to go to Bitola for a quick visit; to see a beautiful town well-renowned for its historic, political and cultural preservation. Also, we wouldn’t skip the chance to visit the impressive archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis.

From Ohrid, once we arrive in Skopje, we reach the hotel to drop off our luggage, meet our local guide and begin a walking tour to start feeling in love with this beautiful and historic town. The walk takes us to the main landmarks of Skopje, the bazaar, stone bridge, warrior on horse, city center, sculptures bridge and several other attractions which make Skopje the way it is. Free afternoon – optional activities: Cable car to Millennium Cross. It’s a 66-m. high cross lifted on the top of the Vodno Mountain, in honor of 2,000 years of Christianity.

As long as we are in Skopje, we don’t skip the chance to be fascinated with the stunning Matka Canyon. Matka is one of the most popular outdoor destinations for the locals in Skopje. Canyon is 15km on the west from the city, covering roughly 5,000 hectares. It is a home of more than 70 species of small butterflies and several medieval monasteries. There, we’ll experience a boat trip and explore one of the many caves inside the canyon.