Albania, also known as "The Last Secret of Europe" or "Pearl of the Balkans" is a country with many assets: fantastic scenery, an unspoiled environment, turquoise blue seas, rich past and friendly locals.
* Depending on the time of arrival you may start with the visits of the city.
We will start the discovery of Albania with a visit of the capital!
A city since 1614 and the capital of Albania since 1920, Tirana is the country's main cultural hub. You will be able to discover a city famous for the colorful facades of its buildings and the harmony between the various religions in the country.
The visit of the National Museum located on Skanderbeg Square will be a nice introduction to the rich Albanian history!
Close to this square, we will be able to see the mosque "Et'hem Bey", which has been preserved even during the communist era for its historical value, the opera, the clock tower and the palace of culture. We will then discover the superb Orthodox Cathedral as well as the Catholic Cathedral.
Overnight stay in Tirana.
Tirana - Budva, (180 km) 3h 40 min
Departure to the city of Budva in Montenegro. Budva is a Montenegrin town on the Adriatic Sea. Part of the Budva Riviera, it's known for sandy beaches and nightlife. Stone walls built by the Venetians surround the narrow streets of the medieval old town (Stari Grad). This historic district is home to a seaside citadel and religious sites like the Church of Santa Maria in Punta, established in the 9th century.
Overnight stay in Budva.
Budva - Perast, (35 km) 1h
Perast is an old town on the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. It is situated a few kilometres northwest of Kotor and is noted for its proximity to the islets of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks. There you will have the opportunity to have a trip with boat to visit the small island where is located near with Perast.
Perast - Kotor, (12 km) 20 min
Departure to Kotor, a city that attracts its visitors by both: natural beauty and historic importance. It is surrounded by 4.5 km of Venetian Walls and is situated on the bay of Kotor.
You may decide to visit the city during the morning and to take your time by visiting the bay and also make a trip with a ferry in the bay.
Kotor - Cetinja, (74 km) 1h 40 min
Cetinje is a town of great historical significance, being founded in the 15th century and because it became the center of Montenegrin life and both a cradle of Montenegrin culture and an Orthodox religious center. Its status as the honorary capital of Montenegro is due to its heritage as a long-serving former capital of Montenegro. There, you will the time to do some hiking and see the ancient city and learn more about its culture.
Cetinja - Podgorica, (56 km) 1h 20 min
During the afternoon we will depart to Podgorica, which is the actual Montenegrin capital.
Overnight stay in Podgorica.
Podgorica - Ostrog, (45 km) 1h
After the visits of the city we will make our way to Ostrog to visit the monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church. This monastery was built in the 17th century sitatued against an almost vertical background.
Ostorg - Durmitor, (100 km) 2h
Later during the day we visit another UNESCO World Heritage, the Durmitor National Park where you will have the lucky chance to exploring that place which can take about 1h 30 min. This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is traversed by rivers and underground streams. Along the Tara river canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, the dense pine forests are interspersed with clear lakes and harbour a wide range of endemic flora.
Overnight stay in Durmitor.
PASSPORT NEEDED TO CROSS THE BORDER WITH KOSOVO!
Durmitor - Pec, (200 km) 4h
The city of Peja or Pec (in Serbian), is a city and municipality located in the Pe? District of Kosovo. There is another Monastery in Peja, the Patriarchate of Peja. It is is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near the city of Pe?, in Kosovo. The complex of churches, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, is the spiritual seat and mausoleum of the Serbian archbishops and Serbian Patriarchs.
Overnight stay in hotel in Pec accompany with traditional music.
Pec - Prizren, (100 km) 1h 40 min
After a taste breakfast in Pec you will head towards the city of Prizren. Prizren is a charming city of mosques and monasteries dating back to the 14th century. Happily, spared (mostly) from both the "destroy the old, build the new" drive of the communists during the early years of their rule in Yugoslavia, as well as the ethnic and religious atrocities that plagued the Western Balkans in the last decade of the 20th century, Prizren has the best-preserved old town in the country by far, and is often referred to as the cultural capital of Kosovo.
Prizren - Prishtina, (110 km) 2h 20 min
Pristina or Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the homonymous municipality and district. The city has a majority Albanian population, alongside other smaller communities. Pristina is the second-largest Albanian-speaking city in the world (after Tirana in Albania). Geographically, it is located in the north-eastern part of Kosovo close to the Goljak mountains.
Overnight stay in Prishtina.
Prishtina -> Skopje, (95 km) 1h 50 min
Departure to the Macedonian capital city.
We use the day to get to know the capital better and visit the Stone Bridge, the Memorial House of Mother Theresa, the Museum and all there is to discover. Then, you will continue your journey in direction of Canyon of Matka.
Skopje - Canyon of Matka, (17 km) 30 min
Matka, meaning "womb" is a canyon located west of central Skopje, Macedonia. It is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Macedonia and also home to several medieval monasteries. The Matka Lake within the Matka Canyon is the oldest artificial lake in the country and is rich in a wide variety of plants and animals, some of which are unique to the area. Visits of the city and its main sites. You will enjoy its special architecture which shows also its emplacement between the East and the West.
Canyon of Matka -> Prilep, (160 km) 2h 10 min
Then, in the evening you will visit the city of Prilep in Macedonia. The main square in Prilep is called "Alexandria", in honor of Alexander the Great. Today we visit the city of Prilep. The Treskavec monastery, built in the 12th century in the mountains about 10 km (6 mi) north of Prilep under Zlatovrv peak, at the edge of a small upland plain 1100 meters above sea level. Several ancient sites grace Prilep including one at Markovi Kuli, St. Nicola’s church from the 13th century, St. Uspenie church in Bogorodica, St. Preobrazenie church and the Tomb of the Unconquered, and a memorial in honor of the victims of fascism located in Prilep's central park.
Overnight stay in Prilep.
Prilep -> Bitola, (45 km) 40 min
Heading towards Skopje, we will make a stop in Bitola, the second-largest city and one of the oldest cities on the territory of The Republic of Macedonia. Bitola offers you to visit the Širok Sokak, meaning "Wide Alley" which is a long pedestrian street that runs from Magnolia Square to the City Park. Here you can also visit the Clock Tower. Visit at the Church of Saint Demetrius and the Jeni Mosque that is located in the center of the city.
Bitola -> Galicica, (65 km) 1h 20 min
Driving towards the Galichica national park on the Macedonian side of the same mountain, situated between the two biggest lakes in the republic: Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. You can hike up to the top of the mountain to enjoy the amazing view across the two lakes.
The floral life in the Galichica National Park represents over 1000 species, of which a large number of relicts and endems. This is a nice drive through the park that will bring you to a very positive mood and will help you relax.
Galicica -> Ohrid, (40 km) 1h 10 min
The city of Ohrid is located on the shores of the lake with the same name. This lake is in UNESCO classified for its flora and fauna as well as one of the oldest lakes. In the city of Ohrid you may enjoy the visit of the Saint Sophie cathedral. You may also spend some time next to the lake and relax.
Overnight stay in hotel in Ohrid where you will have company kept by folk music.
Ohrid -> Tirana, (135 km) 2h 30 min
In the morning, you will keep your journey for Tirana when there you can rest and relax. Then you can enjoy the night life of the capital in the district of Blok: Once reserved to the communist nomenclature is now a trendy neighborhood and the place where you can have a drink or find a nice restaurant to relax.
Overnight in Tirana.
This is the last day of your trip to Albania.