Others

Matka Canyon - Boat Ride Prizren - Walking tour with a local guide Ohrid - Leader-led Orientation Walk Ohrid - Lake Ohrid Boat Cruise Berat - Castle Visit Berat - Walking tour with a local guide Tirana - Walking tour with a local guide Kruja - Fortress Visit Mrizi I Zanave - Farm to table Lunch Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Card (1 day local transport and entry to sites) Dubrovnik - City Walls Walk

Meals

11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

PRIVATE VEHICLES: Our private vehicles are locally sourced and are air conditioned and comfortable, which makes travelling enjoyable. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it. Private vehicle , Taxi

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. EUROPEAN LEADERS: Intrepid trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. We also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. EUROPEAN HOTELS: Hotels in Europe often don’t have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially by American or Australian standards. Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges. Hotel (11 nights)

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Others

Other activities and services not included.

Optional

Skopje - Daut Pasha Hammam - MKD60 Skopje - Iconic Stone Bridge - Free Skopje - Holocaust Memorial Centre - MKD300 Skopje - Kale Fortress - Free Skopje - Mount Vodno Cable Car to Millennium Cross - MKD100 Skopje - City Museum - Free Ohrid - St Jovan Church - MKD150 Ohrid - Robev Family House National Museum - MKD150 Tirana - National Art Gallery - ALL200 Tirana - Sky Tower - ALL400 Tirana - Dajti Mountain Cable Car - ALL1000 Tirana - Bunk’Art Gallery - ALL500 Tirana - National History Museum - ALL700 Kotor - Cruise on Kotor Fjord - EUR40 Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5 Kotor - Fortress - EUR3 Kotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4 Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27 Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR99 Dubrovnik - War Photography Museum - EUR10 Dubrovnik - Rector’s Palace - EUR13 Dubrovnik - Lokrum Island Boat Trip - EUR27 Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Museum of Croatian War of Independence - EUR4

Flights

International flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Skopje
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Skopje

Welcome to Skopje. If you arrive early in North Macedonia’s capital city, you may like to step back in time with a visit to the Daut Pasha Hamam or explore the 30 mosques, innumerable caravanserais, and hammams that fill the winding streets as a testament to Skopje’s Ottoman past. Discover the statues and grand monuments the city has become famous for, like the massive statue of Alexander the Great on horseback in the centre of Macedonia Square, or stroll past Byzantine domes, Turkish baths, and neo-classical buildings, sampling gozleme and baklava along the way. Meet your leader and fellow travellers at a 6pm welcome meeting and afterwards you may like to head out together to a local bar or restaurant to celebrate the start of your adventure.
Day 2 Day 2: Skopje / Matka Canyon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Skopje / Matka Canyon

Venture out to Matka Canyon, a deep ravine cut into the Suva mountains by the Treska River, 15 kilometres southwest of the city. This area is home to several medieval monasteries, caves, and over 70 species of endemic butterflies. Explore the canyon’s sights by boat or take one of the many nature walks in the canyon, or up to the tracks that hug the ridge high above the valley. When you arrive back in Skopje, the afternoon and evening are yours to explore the city your way. Get lost in the narrow lanes of Caršija, Skopje’s most atmospheric neighbourhood, or take in the stone bridge over the river Vardar. Perhaps visit the Museum of the City of Skopje, which is housed in the old Railway Station, and learn the story behind the building’s clock.
Day 3 Day 3: Skopje / Prizren
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Skopje / Prizren

After breakfast, head out on a day trip to historic Prizren – Kosovo’s second biggest and arguably most beautiful city. Prizren was spared from destruction in the 1999 conflict and is filled with traditional handicraft shops and Ottoman charm. When you arrive, you’ll meet up with a local guide and take a tour of the city. Starting alongside the Bistrica River, walk the Old Town, taking in the cobbled Shadervan Square and the Old Stone Bridge. See famous mosques and the abandoned Serbian Orthodox churches, which stand as sombre reminders of the ethnic divisions that still simmer under the surface. After, sit down for a group lunch of traditional Kosovan favourites like pies, flija (layered crepes served with sour cream and butter), stuffed peppers, sarma (grape or vine leaves stuffed with grains and minced meat) and kebab. In the late afternoon, return to Skopje.
Day 4 Day 4: Lake Ohrid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Lake Ohrid

In the morning, board your private transport to Lake Ohrid and enjoy the scenery during the drive. Europe’s oldest lake, and one of the oldest human settlements in the world, Ohrid has a wealth of historic sites and religious monuments to discover. The town is said to have once been home to 365 churches, one for each day of the year, earning it the nickname “the Macedonian Jerusalem”. Despite being a World Heritage site for over 30 years and having historical excavations dating back to Neolithic times, the town remains under the radar for visitors. Get your bearings on an orientation walk around the old bazaar area and enjoy free time to explore on your own.
Day 5 Day 5: Lake Ohrid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Lake Ohrid

Embark on a scenic cruise on the turquoise waters of Lake Ohrid, ringed by mountains, attractive villages and beaches, and take in the views of the town and the surrounding scenery. At 34 kilometres long, 14 kilometres wide, and over 300 metres deep, all shared between Albania and North Macedonia, there’s plenty to explore. The afternoon is free for you to discover the area your way. There are many churches and monasteries to visit, but one of the most popular is the Macedonian Orthodox Church of Sveti Jovana Kaneo, situated on a rocky outcrop above the town, overlooking the lake. Past the church you can wander around to the back of town, exploring the old walls and fortress, and admiring the views of the lake. Lying on the shores of the lake, with well-kept grounds that are home to peacocks, the Sveti Naum Monastery is also a great option. Tast Samoil’s Fortress stands on the top of Ohrid Hill and overlooks the town, while a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre was uncovered near the Upper Gate – in summer it’s still used for concerts and performances.
Day 6 Day 6: Berat
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Berat

Take it slow as we cross the border into Albania and continue to the remote and rarely visited town of Berat, a gem of a town that was lucky to escape destruction during communist times. Learn about the city on a guided walking tour before climbing up to the still inhabited fortress for fantastic views over town. In the afternoon there is plenty of time to mingle with locals at the park or at the city’s many cafes. The warmth of the Albanian people is infectious and you’re bound to find yourself swapping stories over a glass of raki or three. In the evening enjoy a traditional Balkan dinner with your group, featuring dishes like stuffed peppers, cheese and spinach pies, hearty meat dishes, and plenty of grilled and fresh veggies.
Day 7 Day 7: Tirana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Tirana

After breakfast, transfer to Tirana. Learn how the Alps in the rugged north are considered so fierce they’re called ’accursed’, while the south has one of Europe’s least known and most beautiful coastlines. With its unique mixture of cultures and customs, Tirana is filled with mosques, citadels, Ottoman architecture, and the medieval atmosphere of the Balkans. On arrival, embark on a guided tour to get your bearings in Albania’s capital which is compact and ideal to explore on foot. Filled with architectural influences from Italy and Turkey, upgrades have been made all over town, such as new parks and wide pavements, a process that’s still on-going. If the weather is good, you may like to take a cable car ride up Dajti Mountain for breath-taking views of the city below.
Day 8 Day 8: Tirana / Kruja
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Tirana / Kruja

Today, take a half-day trip to the mountain village and former Albanian capital of Kruja. Kruja was the last stronghold of Skanderbeg’s (the national hero of Albania) army until the Ottomans took over the entire country. Pay a visit to the fortress and enjoy some free time to explore the citadel and famous bazaar area. On your return to Tirana, you may like to visit the National History Museum which has a giant mosaic on its facade that represents the development of Albania’s history. The main sight in Tirana is the 1821 Et’hem Bey Mosque, right on the city’s main square. Closed under communist rule, the mosque resumed as a place of worship in 1991, a reopening that was considered a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania. Take a look at the frescoes outside and in the portico that depict trees, waterfalls and bridges – motifs rarely seen in Islamic art.
Day 9 Day 9: Kotor
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Kotor

After breakfasting, you’ll head off for Kotor – a picturesque medieval town located on the fjord of the same name. Along the way, stop at Fishte for an unforgettable lunch at a local Albanian farm. You’ll enjoy organic produce, fresh meat and wild fish that’s prepared on-site, among the gorgeous midday views of the farm surrounding you. After swapping stories with the locals, continue on to Kotor, where you’ll enjoy a free evening to walk the streets lit up at night, find a good bar to sit and people watch or head to a restaurant for dinner – your leader will know all the best spots.
Day 10 Day 10: Kotor
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Kotor

Enjoy a free day to take in Kotor, Montenegro’s fortified town wedged between soaring mountains and sparkling Adriatic waters. This 5th-century World Heritage-listed city is set on a secluded bay, with towering peaks surrounding a rocky coastline dotted with pretty waterside towns. Its winding alleyways are the ideal spot to mingle with the locals. Check out the 12th-century Cathedral, the South Gates, and the Armoury Square. Later, perhaps take a cruise on the Kotor Fjord – the longest fjord south in Scandinavia – and visit an island with a church that’s almost as big as the island itself. In the evening the city walls are lit up and provide a beautiful night-time view.
Day 11 Day 11: Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Dubrovnik

Today you will be transferred to picture-perfect Dubrovnik. The main pedestrian promenade, once a shallow sea channel, is now paved with glistening white limestone, in stark contrast to the warm red terracotta roofs. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful city. Join your leader for a walk along the city walls of ‘Game of Thrones’ fame and gaze out over monasteries with cloistered gardens, fine baroque churches with copper domes, and the sparkling waters below.
Day 12 Day 12: Dubrovnik
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Dubrovnik

Your Western Balkans trip comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for today and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time. As there is so much to see in Dubrovnik, we recommend you stay a little longer. We are happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Please speak to your agent at the time of booking.

12 days tour

Western Balkans Uncovered

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Western Balkans Uncovered

Day 1: Skopje

Day 2: Skopje / Matka Canyon

Day 3: Skopje / Prizren

Day 4: Lake Ohrid

Day 5: Lake Ohrid

Day 6: Berat

Day 7: Tirana

Day 8: Tirana / Kruja

Day 9: Kotor

Day 10: Kotor

Day 11: Dubrovnik

Day 12: Dubrovnik

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