Private Tour Of Albania, North Macedonia And Kosovo – The Land & The People

Itinerary

Day 1: Tirana - Durres - Berat

Pass By: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Be ready for leaving Tirana at 09:00 and driving toward Durres. Named also as an “Open Book of History”, it is living proof of the last 25 centuries and many civilizations. Founded as Greek Colony, the city had passed glorious points in History,

Stop At: Durres, Durres, Durres County
City tour of Durres with a visit at the “Roman Amphitheater”, Medieval Market and more.

We will leave Durres behind to head toward another city with great importance for Albanian History, Culture and Heritage. Being part of UNESCO World Heritage, Berat is known as a typical Ottoman Style City with a local blend of styles in architecture, With more than 20 centuries of history, it is a mosaic city of different cultures and influences.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Durres Amphitheatre, Rruga Kalase, Durres Albania
Visit at the Roman Amphitheater, one of the biggest in Balkans with 20000 seats.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Berat, Berat, Berat County
We will leave Durres behind to head toward another city with great importance for Albanian History, Culture and Heritage. Being part of UNESCO World Heritage, Berat is known as a typical Ottoman Style City with a local blend of styles in architecture, With more than 20 centuries of history, it is a mosaic city of different cultures and influences.
City Tour of Berat into its 3 typical neighborhoods “Kala”, “Mangalem” and “Gorica”.
Duration: 12 hours

Stop At: National Iconographic Museum Onufri, Located in the Inner Part of Saint Mary Church in Berat Castel, Berat Albania
Visit at the Orthodox Monastery, “Dormitory of Saint Mary” and “Onufri” museum of Iconography.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Berat Castle, Rruga Mihal Komnena, Berat 5001 Albania
Guided tour in the castle.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Berat

Day 2: Berat - Zverneci Monastery - Vlora - Albanian Riveira

Stop At: Zvernec Monastery, Zvernec Island, Vlore Albania
After leaving Berat, the next stop will be the Zverneci Monastery, This Byzantine Style Monastery is located on an island and surrounded by salty water by Narta Lagoon. To reach the monastery, you follow the charming bridge that, stretching over the water, connect the island with the land.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Vlore, Vlore, Vlore County
Visit the city of Vlora, known as the City of Albanian Independence. Short city tour of Vlora and Drive along the amazing Albanian Riviera.
Some free time along the coast of Riviera and visits in typical villages and local restaurants to get introduced better with the local culture and heritage.

Overnight in Saranda or Typical Villages along the Albanian Coast.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Saranda or Typical Villages along the Albanian Coast.



Day 3: Saranda - Archaeological Site of Butrint - Gjirokastra

Stop At: Butrint National Park, SH81, Butrint Albania
Part of the UNESCO heritage, Butrint is also the most important Archeologic site in Albania. The ancient Greek and later Roman city and bishopric in Epirus inhabited since prehistoric times. Visit in Butrint and the pretty Island of Ksamil.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster, Gjirokaster County
After experiencing the golden Antiquity, we will go deeper in the Medieval times in stone, a mystic city like Gjirokastra. As Ismail Kadare (Albanian Writer) describes it, it is not a city like the rest. Under the solid, grey stone tiles and stones swarm the soft and vital flesh of life. City Tour of Gjirokastra along the typical cobblestone paths connecting the typical fortress style houses. Overnight in the City.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Gjirokaster Castle, Gjirokaster Albania
Guided tour inside the castle to explore the un numerous stories and legends.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gjirokastra

Day 4: Gjirokastra - Permet - Voskopoja

Stop At: Permet, Permet, Gjirokaster County
We leave the city to drive deeper into the East and to explore more. A short stop at Permet by the Vjosa River. Vjosa is still one of the very few wild rivers in Europe. On the other hand, Permet is the center of Albanian Slow Food and local gastronomy, In addition, we will take a windy, bumpy road toward the village of Voskopoja.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Voskopojë, Albania
Voskopoja has been a glorious settlement in the 18th Century, a center of Aromanians in Balkans. Furthermore, the second Book Press in the Ottoman Empire was located there. Different from today, Voskopoja is believed to had a population of nearly 15000 inhabitants where different ethnicities were living in harmony.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Voskopoja

Day 5: Voskopoja - Korca - Pustec - Bitola

Stop At: Korce, Korce, Korce County
After an introduction to the culture of the of Aromanians in the main church of Voskopoja, we will head toward the city of Korca. The biggest city in the Albanian South – East and furthermore a cultural center with the first Albanian School.
Visit at the renovated Bazaar in Korca.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Pustec Municipality, Albania
The South-East of Albania is the region with the most ethnicities in Albania and the next destination will be the Macedonian community along the Prespa Lake. In addition, Pustec is a small municipally but surrounded by gorgeous nature and unique culinary. Furthermore, the place is not very touristy yet and either commercial.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bitola, Bitola, Pelagonia Region
In addition, the last destination for the day will be the historical city of Bitola. The unique Architecture, Wide pedestrian boulevard, and historic buildings make an interesting attraction to visit while in North Macedonia. City tour of Bitola.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Bitola

Day 6: Bitola - Ohrid

Stop At: Heraklea Lynkestis, Bitola 7000, North Macedonia
The day starts with a visit to an archeologic site, the city of Heraklea Lynkesist. An ancient city founded in the 4th century BC by Philipe II, the father of Alexander the Great.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ohrid, Ohrid, Southwestern Region
we will head toward Ohrid. Probably the most picturesque city of North Macedonia, Ohrid is a harmonic blend of History, Culture, and Religion. It has been called the Jerusalem of the Balkans.
City tour of Ohrid. Visit at the Samuil Fortress, St Sofia Church and Old Greek Theater located in the old neighborhood. Exploration of the local market and the city center in the lower part of the city. Overnight in Ohrid.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Tsar Samuel's Fortress, Braka Miladinovtsi st, Ohrid Republic of North Macedonia
Visit at the Fortress of Ohrid for a panoramic view of the city.
Duration: 20 minutes

Pass By: St. Jovan Kaneo, Kaneo Plaosnik Pateka, Ohrid 6000 Republic of North Macedonia
.

Pass By: Saint Climent of Ohrid, Kuzman Kapidan, Ohrid 6000 Republic of North Macedonia
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Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Ohrid

Day 7: Ohrid - Skopje

Stop At: Skopje, Skopje, Skopje Region
Leaving the Ohrid we will head toward the Capital of Skopje. It is a city where you can clearly notice the North Macedonian Pride for their culture and heritage. City tour of Skopje and overnight at the Capital.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skopje

Day 8: Skopje - Matka Canyon - Pristina

Stop At: Matka Canyon, Street 1, Skopje 1000 Republic of North Macedonia
Leaving the Capital to head toward the Grand Park of Matka Lake. It is a wonderful, complex park of not just nature. Famous for its canyons, this park has been the homeplace of some medieval orthodox monasteries in centuries.
Free time in the Matka canyons.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Pristina, Pristina
Leaving the park we will cross the border and head toward the newest country on the Europe, Kosovo. The next destination will be its capital, Pristina. Visits in the capital, a city with strong former Yugoslavian style and architecture. We will find an interesting blend among the typical Ottoman Style building of the 18th century, Cold Brutalism and Modernity.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Pristina

Day 9: Pristina - Gracanica Monastery - Decan Monastery - Prizren

Stop At: Gracanica Monastery, Gracanica Kosovo
This day is dedicated to the Orthodox Heritage in Kosovo and 2 remarkable Monasteries, part of UNESCO Heritage.
Few kilometers from Pristina, in the Serbian Komunity of Gracanica is located the monastery with the same name.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Decan, Decan
The next visit will be in the Monastery of Decan, both part of the UNESCO Heritage and build by the same dynasty of Serbian rulers and the same school of architecture.
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Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gjakova, Gjakova
Short visit to the city of Gjakova.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Prizren

Day 10: Prizren - Kruja - Tirana

Stop At: Prizren, Prizren
Prizren is called also the Cultural Capital of Kosovo. Lied on both sides of Bistrica River, under the Prizren’s Castle this city has played a major role in Albanian History and Politics of the 19th Century. Visit at the House of the Prizren League. It is one of the most important buildings of the 19th century in Albanian History. Visit in the Fortress of Prizren and City Tour. In addition, visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the House of the League.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Kruje, Kruje, Durres County
In the return, a short visit to the Medieval city of Kruja. A medieval city and stronghold of 15th century in Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire led by Skenderbeu. Visit on the traditional bazaar in Kruja and the Historical Museum of Skenderbeu.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Tirana, Tirana, Tirana County
Our tour ends in Tirana

Stop At: Albanian League of Prizren Museum [Muzeu Lidhja Shqiptare e Prizrenit], Rr. Sharri, Prizren Kosovo
Visit at one of the most important Political heritage of the 19th century for Albanian History.
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.