Albania, Kosovo and N. Macedonia tour from Skopje in four days

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Skopje (N. Macedonia) – Pristina (Kosovo) – Prizren
6 stops
1
Skopje
Our tour leader will come and pick you up at your hotel in Skopje and head towards the capital of Kosovo, Pristina
Admission ticket free
2
Pristina
We will visit the Newborn monument, symbol of the independence and being a young new country. We will walk towards the main boulevard in the capital. Sheshi Nena Tereza is a nice street to stroll through and enjoy a coffee at one of the bars. Here we will also pass the Skanderbeg square with the statue of Skanderbeg himself, the national Albanian hero.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
3
Prizren
We will continue our tour towards Prizren. The city is considered to be the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and as a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention. The view from the fortress on the hill above the town offers a great panorama of this astonishing town.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
4
Prizren
We will continue our tour towards Prizren, considered as the cultural capital of Kosovo, mixing its rich history, incredible nature, religious tolerance and gastronomic delights. Prizren has played an important role in the region as an Illyrian settlement and a crossroad for the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, contributing to the unique architecture of the city. The river flows through the heart of the old town and under the many bridges that crisscross the city. If you are looking to experience a lively international experience you should visit Prizren during August when the medieval city becomes home to one of the most famous short film festivals in the world named Dokufest. The best way to explore the town is by wandering through the streets passing by elegant medieval houses that fight for your attention. Filigree artisanal techniques for precious metals are Prizren’s joy and pride.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
5
Sinan Pasha Mosque
If you have to choose just one mosque to visit then visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque, rich in arabesque colour and pattern.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
6
Kalaja Fortress
The view from the fortress on the hill above the town offers a great panorama of this astonishing town.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Prizren – Kruja (Albania) – Tirana
7 stops
7
Kruje
oday we will leave Kosovo and cross the border to Albania. Our first destination will be Kruja, a historical city symbol of the Albanian resistance against the expansion of the Ottoman Empire during the XV century. Kruja is situated in central Albania on a rocky mountainous terrain about 560 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Sarisalltik Mountain.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Kruja Bazaar
Walking through the narrow streets and the wooden houses of Kruja’s Medieval Old Bazaar (one of the biggest and oldest in Balkans) gives you a sense of a passage through the history. This is the best place to shop for souvenirs in Albania, from typical to more unique and handmade souvenirs such as carpets, jewelries etc.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
9
Kruja Castle
The castle of Kruja (built during the 5th century A.D.) is strategically placed on the top of a rocky hill, making it difficult for the enemies to attack
1 hour • Admission ticket included
10
Skanderbeg Square
We will walk towards Skanderbeg Square, named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The main square is surrounded by the National Museum, the Bank of Albania, the Opera house, Skanderbeg Statue, Ethem Beu Mosque and fancy bars.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Bunk'Art 2
After strolling around the bustling streets of Tirana, we will visit BUNKART, one of the most interesting museums in Tirana. Initially designed as a nuclear bunker offering shelter to the Albanian communist supreme leader Enver Hoxha and his close party members during the cold war. The bunker was kept strictly secret to the general public until 2016, when the Albanian government decided to initiate an interesting project that converted the nuclear bunker into a museum. BUNKART is a video museum exhibition dedicated to the history of the Albanian communist army and to the daily lives of Albanians during the regime.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
12
Rruga Murat Toptani
Our tour continues towards Tirana Castle, found in the city center. The castle is now a pedestrian street where modern and tradition perfectly merge creating one of the fanciest areas of modern Tirana
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
13
Blloku
Our last attraction for this tour will be the colorful, lively and vibrant Blloku Neighborhood. Not to be missed is Tirana’s delicious food varieties, from the tasty and cheap street food to the finest gourmet
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Tirana – Berat – Ohrid (N. Macedonia)
4 stops
14
Berat
After breakfast we will drive towards Berat, known as the town of 1001 windows, part of UNESCO world heritage. Walking through the narrowed stone streets offers a fantastic view of the medieval old houses, with windows that seem to stand on top of each other. The city’s life began in the 6th-5th century B.C. as an Illyrian settlement. Later, in the 3rd century B.C., it was turned into a castle city known as Antipatrea. Uniquely today, residents still live inside of the castle walls.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
15
Berat Castle
Berat has it all; a beautiful medieval castle, ancient churches and mosques, a lively lower town consisting of grand old houses draped on steep hillsides, an old stone bridge, great museums and remains from the communist era in Albania
1 hour • Admission ticket included
16
National Iconographic Museum Onufri
Berat is also known as the birthplace of Onufri, the famous painter of churches all-over the Balkans, distinguished for creating a specific reddish colour still difficult to imitate
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
Gorica Bridge
We will continue our tour and visit the Gorica Neighbourhood.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Ohrid – Skopje
2 stops
18
Ohrid
Today we will continue our city tour of Ohrid. Ohrid is one of the most seductive destinations in N. Macedonia, indicated as one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. Ohrid city and Ohrid Lake are part of UNESCO World Heritage since 1980. Ohrid Lake and its surroundings where inhabited by the Illyrian Tribe of Enkeleys. The Lake was named by the Romans as “Lyhnidas” (the Light Lake). Our tour continues to the city of Ohrid (UNESCO world heritage) an important centre of Orthodoxy. We will visit the famous view point of church of St. John, the church of St. Nicolas and the mosque Halveti Hayati Tekke. Ohrid became an important centre for the Orthodox believers during the Byzantine Empire and is famous for its 365 Orthodox churches, said to have one church for each day of the year. During the Ottoman Empire the city grew on the hills and surrounding areas by the lake. .
4 hours • Admission ticket free
19
Skopje
Driving back to Skopje, remarks the end of this amazing tour through three Balkans Countries.
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• All participants are responsible for having their own health/travel insurance
• Tour’s schedule or itinerary may be affected/adopted due to; weather, Acts of God, labour strikes, bank holidays, site temporary closure/renovation or other external forces outside the Company’s control.
• Please note that prices are calculated on double/twin/triple/quadruple room occupancy in a 3 stars hotel accommodation
• Single room occupancy is possible on 35 Euros extra charge per night per person in a 3 stars hotel accommodation
• Tips are not a must in Albania or the Balkans, however, our recommendation is to tip the tour leader/driver as an international practice to tip good service.

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