Balkans’ Hidden Gems
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
Depart for Tirana, Albania's vibrant capital.
Arrive in Tirana. After check-in, relax and soak in the colourful façades, grand boulevards, and lively squares. Dinner tonight at the hotel sets the tone for your Balkan adventure.
Discover Tirana’s mix of Ottoman mosques, Italian architecture, and communist-era relics. Visit Skanderbeg Square, Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Bunk’Art 2. Enjoy lunch, then stroll the lively cafés and colourful Blloku District before our Welcome Dinner.
Travel to Kruja, birthplace of national hero Skanderbeg. Explore the cobbled Old Bazaar, see artisans at work. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum. Continue to Durrës, one of the Adriatic’s oldest ports, and marvel at the Roman Amphitheatre. Dinner by the seaside rounds out the day.
Journey through rolling countryside to the 13th-century Ardenica Monastery with its stunning frescoes. Explore ancient Apollonia, surrounded by olive groves and marble ruins. Arrive in Berat, the “City of a Thousand Windows,” famed for its charming whitewashed hillside houses. A family hosted dinner awaits tonight!
Wander Berat’s UNESCO-listed old quarters and hilltop fortress. Visit the Onufri Museum, where vivid icons tell stories of faith and artistry. Cross into North Macedonia, winding through serene valleys to Lake Ohrid. Check in at your lakeside hotel and enjoy dinner by the water.
Travel along Lake Ohrid to St. Naum Monastery, a peaceful 10th-century sanctuary with gardens and springs. Travel along Lake Ohrid to St. Naum Monastery, a peaceful 10th-century sanctuary with gardens and springs. We return to Ohrid for a guided tour of cobbled streets, the Ancient Theatre, and Samuel’s Fortress.
We begin the morning with a short boat ride across crystal-clear waters before traveling on to Skopje. Experience Skopje’s vibrant history; stroll Macedonia Square, cross the iconic Stone Bridge, and explore Kale Fortress with panoramic views. Visit the Mother Teresa Memorial House and wander the lively Old Bazaar. Dinner features Macedonian wine, local music, and warm hospitality.
Enjoy a free day. Optional excursion to Matko Canyon includes a gentle boat ride to Vrelo Cave, a hidden stalactite wonder. Return to Skopje for relaxed exploration or riverside cafés. Dinner celebrates Balkan flavours and leisurely charm.
Drive along historic Rruga e Arbrit through green valleys, mountain passes, and hidden villages. Stop in Tetovo to admire the vividly painted mosque, continue past Mavrovo Lake, and visit Bigorski Monastery. Return to Tirana for a festive Albanian Farewell Dinner with folk show and overnight.
Depart Tirana and cross into Montenegro, where mountains tumble to the Adriatic. Stop in Fishta Village for lunch, then continue toward Montenegro with a tasting of local delicacies during a boat ride on Skadar Lake. Descend winding coastal roads with sweeping views of the Budva Riviera before checking into your seaside hotel and enjoying fresh Montenegrin coastal cuisine.
Follow the Adriatic coast to Kotor, a UNESCO treasure embraced by rugged mountains. Explore the medieval Old Town, take a boat ride to the storied islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, and immerse yourself in a hands-on local cooking class.
Enjoy a full day to explore Budva and its surroundings. Perhaps drive into Lovćen National Park for sweeping mountain and Adriatic views, and visit the Njegoš Mausoleum, honoring Montenegro’s poet and ruler. Return to Budva for a Farewell Dinner with local wine, music, and memories beneath the Mediterranean sky.
Transfer to the airport, carrying the spirit of the Balkans—the people, flavours, and unforgettable landscapes.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
